Club News

by Diana Raynor, AAC(UK) Chairman

You’ve probably noticed we’re busy this year. AAC(UK) members, no longer reluctant to travel, are enjoying exploring the mountains they love. Summer 2023 has seen hutting tours in the Austrian, Swiss and French Alps, and the Dolomites, and meets in Wales, the Lake District and Scotland. The popular family Bergfest – last year at the Franz Senn Hütte run by Allan Hartley, and this year at the Dresdner Hütte organised by James Lynn – is fast becoming an annual highlight. The Bergfest is enriched by two Austrian guides who lead activities, games and singing!

Our 75th Anniversary Autumn Gathering at Glenmore Lodge sold out almost as fast as Glasto and will, of course, be just as exciting. All these fabulous treats happen only because we have volunteers offering their time, expertise, and good sense to supplement the excellent work of Cat Mittins and her colleagues in our little office in Dorset. Our volunteers do all sorts – coordinating tours and meets, and leading them, taking part in committees, helping with admin. And not forgetting the board of directors who do their best to make sure we stay safe, stay legal, and stay solvent.

Volunteer post: Seniors Co-ordinator

Is this something you’d be interested in doing? We’d like a member to work with other Club volunteers on the Activities Team to encourage the organisers of meets and tours to think about putting on some relaxed events to attract keen mountain enthusiasts who might not want to go so fast or so far.

What is a ‘Meet’?

I checked the dictionary because it’s a bit of strange word. A meet is either a competitive sports event (mostly in the US), or a gathering of people who like looking at cars and talking about them, or it’s an occasion when people go fox-hunting. None of those define the AAC(UK) event I’ve just been to; no competing, no cars and no foxes. We were in an Austrian village, staying in a traditional house with geraniums and balconies and lots of beautiful wooden panelling. We (ten assorted members) arrived with our maps, and ideas for walks, and enthusiasm for donning boots and heading into the hills. But a meet isn’t a route march! Nothing is compulsory. People did exactly what they wanted every day – in twos and threes – sometimes a challenging walk to a hut high up, sometimes a wander beside a river, or perhaps a hillside path with flowers to photograph. And plenty of time for a swim at the local Aktivpark, or a visit to an ice-cream café, or simply a chat on the terrace with a cup of tea. It was friendly, relaxed and fun. Anyone can organise a meet; no training is required. Just visit Meets Guidelines on the website under Resources.

Hut fund

AAC(UK) has recently made a donation of €10,000 to Alpenverein TK Windischgarsten towards the cost of modernising the Zellerhütte in the Totes Gebirge. The 11-year programme to bring the hut up to 21st century standards is now complete and a report will appear in the Winter newsletter. Thank you for your support for the fund.

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