Lectures and Training
The club runs a series of safety and skills lectures and training events order to encourage good mountaineering practices on all club meets and beyond. All of the subjects taught are essential mountaineering skills and could quite possibly be life saving at some point. Remember, whether you are a complete novice, or a seasoned mountaineer, you may be able to learn something from these excellent sessions. The sessions are not compulsory, but the committee strongly advises that attendance would be wise, and there is usually a good get together at our usual pub after each lecture. Likewise the training events can be a lot of fun as well as providing you with important skills.
Many of the event dates for the 2007-2008 year are still to be confirmed. Some dates are already shown on the events calendar. Once more events are confirmed this page will be updated. In the meantime here is a list of the events which were run in 2006-2007 for reference (many of the same events will be run this year).
2006-2007 Events
The Slideshow
Wednesday 20th September 2006, 7pm - Tower building lecture theatre T9by the DURC Committee
The slideshow will give you the opportunity to meet the committee and have all your questions about the club answered (with the Climax being the slideshow containing lots of pretty pictures of what we have got up to in the last year… and our Gear Secretary providing a quick demonstration of the kit you will need to bring!)… It’s not to be missed!
Navigation Lecture
Wednesday 4th October 2006, 6.30pm - Scrymgeor building room 2.08by Roger Wild, Mountaineering Council of Scotland
Never navigated before? Unsure how to use a map and compass effectively? Skills a bit rusty? Then this is the perfect lecture for you! Roger Wild uses an enjoyable combination of theory and practice to make maps come to life. The club does not have guides, or leaders and it is therefore essential that everyone in your group is a competent navigator.
First Aid Training
Saturday 21st October 2006, 1pm-4pm - Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Seminar Rooms A & Bby Ian Roy, First Aid Lecturer
It is difficult to escape the fact that mountaineering, whether you are out for a ‘bimble’ in a valley, or ice-climbing has inherent dangers. Accidents can and do happen in the mountains and by attending this session, you will obtain have the skills to deal with them.
Safety and Skills Lecture
Wednesday 1st November 2006, 6.30pm-8.30pm - Tower building lecture theatre T9by Roger Wild, Mountaineering Council of Scotland
The vast majority of our trips take place in winter conditions and many of our new members will feel inexperienced in such elements. This lecture attempts to approach many of the major points in winter safety and is thus an important session for new members and old.
Safety and Good Practice Weekend
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th November 2006 - Glenmore LodgeThis weekend seminar will be held at Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms. It is open to ALL members and should to be a valuable seminar highlighting the importance of safety in the hills.
More information will be made available nearer the time.
Tayside Mountain Rescue Team Lecture
Wednesday 22nd November 2006, 7.30pm - Tower building lecture theatre T9by Alf Ingram, Tayside MRT
Tayside MRT lecture covering the activities of MRT and how to stay safe on the hills.
Dave MacLeod Guest Lecture
Monday 11th December 2006, 7.30pm - Tower Building Main Lecture Theatre (Tower Extension)Tickets available on door: £5 (£3 concessions)
One of our Honorary Vice Presidents, Dave MacLeod (world famous climber) is coming to give us a guest lecture. He will be talking about his experiences in winter climbing; struggling with grade V, gaining an eye for new routes and progressing to onsighting IX and doing the first grade XI (The Hurting). He'll also have some footage of continental mixed climbing and will talk about preparations for some current projects in Scotland (i.e a growing obsession with Ben Nevis!).
Dave MacLeod will also be in Dundee on December 9th (see his website for info).
Avalanche Lecture
Tuesday 16th January 2007, 7.30pm - Tower Building Main Lecture Theatre (Tower Extension)by Blythe Wright, Scottish Avalanche Information Service
As mentioned previously many of our trips take place in winter conditions, and being able to spot an avalanche risk is an essential self-preservation skill. Blythe Wright from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service gives an excellent lecture on snow safety, avalanche risk, what to do if you are caught up in an incident and interpretation of avalanche warning reports. Avalanches are more common in Scotland than you might think, and this lecture will help to draw your attention to this risk. New members and old will benefit from this one.
Tiso Winter Experience
Wednesday 17th January 2007, 7.30pm - Discovery Pointby Stuart Johnston
Details of this Tiso event will be announced nearer the time.
Winter Experience
Sunday 21st January 2007As you can see from the Meets Card, each year the club goes to ‘wherever there’s snow’ to have our Winter Experience. This takes the form of seasoned members teaching those less experienced, new tricks. This is an essential trip for all those intending on going on trips in 2nd semester (and its good fun too… playing in the snow followed by Hot Chocolate in Aviemore!)
Additional Lectures
More lectures will be organised - keep an eye on the announcements forum for more information!
Mountaineering Training Courses
Check out the training courses page for info about subsidised mountaineering training courses - includes Alpine traning courses in France and Switzerland.