Monday 11 May 2015

Clubs for Pubs!

I read to no end of articles saying that mountaineering club memberships in the UK are in decline and that may well be statistically true, but by finding Wolverhampton Mountaineering Club I've thrived. That name will be ever present throughout my posts which I hope highlights its importance in my adventures, journey and completion of my apprenticeship.
 

Finding a club

I love researching things and finding the things I want for a cheaper price, better quality or just a superior over all experience. Finding a club was no exception in terms of  finding a better overall experience with friendly, helpful and experienced members willing to teach me the ropes. My first internet search through up a number of clubs across the Midlands area and as I do, I started firing out emails and seeing who replied first.
 
 My first hit came from a Birmingham based club which was I little far from my house, but I thought I would give it a shot anyway. I set off down the motorway at rush hour on a cold December night in search of the Creation Climbing Centre, I parked up in not the most confidence expelling setting of a dark, poorly lit side road with "Lock up your valuables!" notices on every available surfaces. I entered a cold dark climbing centre which appeared to be an old church and meet a few members of the club climbing away on grades well out of my league. The lady I had emailed greeted me and introduced me to a few of the other members, they were all friendly and I set off up a few routes. The night went on ok, conversation  was a bit difficult as it always is meeting new groups and always feeling the outcast. I got passed around a bit as people left and headed to the pub for a pint and even though I was invited I decided to head off home as I had quite a distance to drive. I left feeling not unwanted, but not wanted at the same time and knew that I must continue on my search.
 
The WMC
The club hadn't actually responded to my email, but I thought I would give it a try anyway. I walked into The Great Western pub in Wolverhampton and asked at the bar for the Mountaineering Club and was directed to a table of older gentlemen with a glass of whisky and a bag of ready salted crisps between them (my first thought was these are not hard-core climbers, but how wrong I was) . I approach the table and asked for the club, I was meet by a man with a wide smile and a long grey beard (Pete) who invited me to the table. He asked me about myself and started informing me about the club, soon I was surrounded by more members entering the room chatting about big plans for the weekend ahead and tales of previous adventures. All I could talk about was a day top roping with Wolf Mountain Climbing centre, but never the less they all involved me in their chats. I suddenly began to fill with inspiration of what I wanted to achieve as they spoke about their expeditions and also a feeling of trepidation as my sudden incompetence compared to these experienced adventures became exposed. But I felt inclined to return the following week after their warm welcome.  
 
Over the next few weeks I once again was looked after by Pete and another perspective member Steve who had been coming to the club for a while, but had never really joined. I continued to feel slightly outcast however, but suddenly realised Dan from the outdoor day had also come along and felt slightly less alone with my inexperience and lack of stories. A weekend meet was approaching and was invited by a few of the members and in particular Steve who offered me a lift along with Dan and one of his friends up to Wales. Steve really made me feel welcome each week and offered me support as a outsider along with Pete and a number of other friendly members. And so my journey with club had begun.
 
Top 5 tips for getting involved with a club
 1. Just go and talk to them (even if you haven't had an email back, but most clubs are getting better at this)
2. Stick with it and keep going (you may feel like an outcast, everyone does at first. Just keep going and talking)
3. Get involved (Make conversation, ask questions, take invitations and don't just sit there in silence)
4. Don't feel boring (Your new to the game, you won't have many stories. But be inspired by the others that do, you will soon have your own)
5. There are plenty of clubs in the sea (If the first club you find isn't what your after try another and another. Don't give up!)
 
Joining Wolverhampton Mountaineering Club has been one of the best things I've ever done. I've found a true passion, meet some of my best friends and also got loads of new tales to tells and skills to go with them.
 
Please feel free to comment with any other tips and experiences that you think are also helpful. The British Mountaineering Council has loads of good information and a database on clubs on their website. And if anyone wants any information on Wolverhampton Mountaineering Club please just ask and you shall receive, I will also post their website link below.
 
Most of all just get out there, out of your comfort zone and get some badass stories and adventures to talk about!
 
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