Meet FAQs
The Club aims to organise simple accommodation, with the aim of getting a group of members in one place for a weekend of climbing and some socialising, hopefully with a group meal (where possible).
Climbing huts provide basic accommodation, and could be described as filling the gap between a bothy and a hostel. They usually have one or two shared sleeping areas, and vary from cosy with hot showers to “off grid” - we will describe the facilities available in the meet description so that you’ll know what you’re signing up for!
If you have not climbed outdoors, please get in touch with the committee or other members. We are running a series of training events, for all levels of experience (see http://southamptonclimbingclub.org/training-coaching/ for more information).
On some meets we stay at a campsite instead of in a hut. We contact the campsite to let them know a group is coming so that they can put us in the same area, then put the details of the campsite on the meet page so members can book with them directly. It is important to still sign up on the club website, as this lets us know who is coming (so that we can add you to the Facebook event) and ensures that we have emergency contact details.
Please remember that we are sharing the campsite with other people and behave accordingly.
If the meet is full, there are often a number of other people who would like to attend; please let the meet secretaries know that you can no longer attend the meet, and we will be able to help you publicise this with others in the club.
Please note - you are responsible for arranging your replacement. You can find more information on the club’s policy on refunds and the reasons for these policies here: Club Policies & Guidance
The UKC website lists all the crags in the area, and latest access information, it’s a good idea to check this before climbing. You can find the crag locator here: https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/map/
We travel to most meets by car, as the parking is often limited at huts and crags, we ask members to share transport as much as possible.
For those trying to reduce their environmental footprint, we are planning on posting information about alternative travel options where possible on the meet page.
If you need a lift or can offer spaces in your own car, please use the Facebook group to arrange this. Ultimately how the travel cost is shared is up to the driver of the car, but it’s usual to divide the cost evenly between the occupants.
If you don’t have a climbing partner - no problem! We organise meets to get people together and climb, there are several options: come to the wall (or the pub after), post a message on the club Facebook page or discord channel - we usually have a dedicated one for each meet, or (if these don’t work) let us know so we can pair you up or make a threesome.
Getting together in the pub before the meet has been a useful platform in the past, and we plan to try and promote this in the future.
We don’t want people without a climbing partner to be put off, so if you are unsure that you have the necessary experience please get in touch with other members or the committee. Whilst we do not offer organised training at all meets, the more experienced climbers are often happy to pair up or make a threesome. “Seconding” routes is a great way of gaining experience, and the way a lot of us progress through the grades. If you’ve not climbed outside before, we organise beginners’ meets with training which are a great first step outside, and a good way to meet potential climbing partners.
Some of our meets may also include training events that are bookable separately - you must be booked onto a meet first though. Typically our winter meet will provide a range of training options but we are sometimes able to offer other sessions at other meets.
If this is your first trad meet then there are a few nice to have items that will make your life easier on your first meet. We have put together a handy quick-reference for some of the most important bits of gear - What to bring to your first trad meet - this isn't an exhaustive list and the club has gear that can be loaned.
If this is your first sport climbing meet then there are a few nice to have items that will make your life easier on your first meet. We have put together a handy quick-reference for some of the most important bits of gear - What to bring to a Sport meet - this isn't an exhaustive list and the club has gear that can be loaned.
Usually you will need to bring a sleeping bag, although do bear in mind that some huts are warmer than others! We will post on the meet description if bedding is provided. Most huts provide a foam mattress.
Some Huts have alpine style bunks (one big bunk), others have single bunk beds. Some have a mixture.
On most hut-based meets we cook a group meal on the Saturday night, and make porridge or provide bread and cereal for breakfast in the mornings. Please ensure any dietary requirements are included on your booking form if we are providing meals.
On camping meets members usually cook their own food, often over a BBQ if the weather is suitable or head to the nearest pub!
Most of the huts and campsites we stay at have showers (although they are not necessarily hot) and flushing toilets, although you will need to bring your own towel etc.
Some huts do not have mains water or electricity, so filling a few bottles of drinking water before arrival is a good idea. We will make sure that this is clear on the meet page on the website where possible, if this is the case.
If the above doesn't answer your questions or you need further clarification on any issues then please get in touch and we will do our best to help. For specific meets, we may direct your question to the people leading that event so please bear with us if we don't get back to you immediately.