The club meets weekly every Thursday from about 9p in The Crossed Peels (Wetherspoons) in Stirling-a at the bar if you can't find us.https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/scotland/stirling/the-crossed-peels-stirling
On the first Wednesday of each month (except July and August) there are slideshows and other activities at Stirling County Cricket Club https://www.stirlingcountycc.co.uk/ These usually start at 8:00 pm
Come along one Thursday evening and join in! There are places on club meets for prospective club members and you'll also be able to find out what club members are doing on non-meet weekends that you can join in with. Don't be afraid to ask! Members may also post their weekend plans in the forum or on Facebook so be sure to check. Non members can reply to forum messages - just don't forget to enter the anti-spam code before submitting your message.
For summer meets, you'll need the waterproofs (including waterproof trousers), hiking boots, extra clothing, gloves, hat, food/drink for the lunchtime break, map, compass and a rucksack to put it all in. Its also a good idea to carry items such as a first aid kit, head torch, and survival bag in your rucksack.
For winter meets, when there is snow/ice about, you'll need to add winter boots, crampons (that have been tested for fit with the boots), and a walking ice-axe. Things like extra clothing, head torch etc are essential for winter.
For weekend meets, info about the accomodation will be provided. Depending on the arrangements, you may need to bring a sleeping bag, and in some cases, also a sleeping mat. As a rule, the accomodation is self catering, but being the OMC, there will generally be a pub nearby! Some people will choose to cook their own food while others will head to the pub. Cooking utensils are provided in the huts. Where the club hut is being used, you will need a sleeping bag. We generally use huts/bunkhouses that we know to be of decent quality, reasonably priced, and in a good location.
The more the merrier, and you don't have to have climbed before in order to join in. In the summer, we climb outdoors midweek at crags such as of Auchinstarry, Limekilns, Aberdour, Dunkeld and Cambusbarron. On longer summer evenings we may venture further afield. In the winter, we climb at various climbing walls: The Peak (Stirling), Edinburgh International Climbing Centre (Ratho), and The Climbing Academy and Glasgow Climbing Centre, Ibrox (Glasgow). We occasionally visit The Carnegie Centre (Dunfermline) and The Lowport Centre (Linlithgow).
To join us on the indoor climbing wall, you will need:
(It is possible to hire this at the wall if you wish to find out whether climbing is for you without the initial expense!)
To join us outdoors you will also need:
You may be able to borrow this equipment from a club member, but eventually you will need to invest in your own.
It is recommended that you use a real shop rather than an online retailer for the harness, helmet and rock shoes. Basically, these need to fit properly, and getting a decent fit will involve trying out several differerent harnesses/rock shoes etc. In Stirling, your only real option is Cotswold's. Get advice from the staff in the shop (that's what they are there for) and feel free to ask club members for advice as well. The indoor climbing kit will likely cost you about £100, and adding the stuff for outdoor climbing may cost you an additional £50. Cotswold offers a substantial discount to OMC members. (Check for details of current discount schemes.)
Stirling is situated right next to the Ochil Hills, so it made sense to name the club after the nearest local hill range. (Historically, this practice was adopted by many Scottish mountaineering clubs). The Ochils provide an easy escape to the hills being only a short drive/cycle from Stirling. They are also ideally placed for spur-of-the-moment excursions into the hills, especially during periods of inclement weather!
If you want to learn more about skills such as mountain navigation, rope work in climbing, or use of crampons and axes, experienced members will usually be willing to pass on their knowledge to you informally in the course of a day's walking or climbing- remember to point out your shortcomings in these areas before you set out!
The OMC training committee organise more structured courses, responding to requests from members. In recent years, 'In-house' courses provided by appropriately-qualified club members have included such topics as night navigation, selecting and constructing belays and anchors, abseiling, winter skills and an introduction to winter climbing.
The OMC also subsidises members who attend courses provided by professional providers outwith the club. If these courses are related to personal safety, such as winter skills or First Aid, the club may subsidise participants to up to 50% of the course fees.
If the course is one which leads to an award which can be used professionally (ML, SPA etc) the situation is more complicated. The club may award a subsidy for training courses, but the level of subsidy is dependent on the length of time the applicant has been a member of the OMC, the potential benefits to the club from the member holding the award etc. The Club does not usually subsidise assessments for such professional awards.
Members wishing to attend courses subsidised by the club must always apply before attending. Formal applications should be made through the Club Secretary, but informal contact with the members of the Training Committee is also recommended. All subsidies are, of course, dependent on the money available from the OMC training budget.
The club is affiliated to Mountaineering Scotland and has a Constitution. However these are there for the benefit and protection of the members. The club itself is very informal, enjoying regular meets indoors, outdoors and indoors. Its the perfect way to meet other like minded folk who love the mountains!!
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