What are the Benefits of Club Membership?
Apart from the obvious benefits of meeting like-minded mountain enthusiasts and taking part in club activities what else does club membership offer?
- A quarterly newsletter circulated by post or email
- Access to the Club Hut in the Patterdale and The Chamois Club Hut in Snowdonia
- As the CMC is affiliated to the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) all club members have third party liability insurance for rock-climbing and mountaineering activities, through the BMC.
- As a member of a BMC affiliated club you are able to upgrade your BMC membership to full member status, you are able to receive a discount in many outdoor shops (usually 10%) and you will be contributing to the aims and objectives of the BMC, including maintaining access to crags.
How do I Join the Club?
Before joining the CMC you will need to take part in some club meets to find out if the club is right for you, to arrange this please contact us using the contacts page of this website. Having got to know a few club members please ask for an application form. Your application must be proposed and seconded by two current club members, one of which must be a committee member. You must have demonstrated rock climbing or mountaineering competency and have attended a number of (outdoor) meets to show commitment to the club. After being submitted your application will go up for approval at a committee meeting. Following approval you will be required to pay your membership subscription fees (2023), which are as follows…
| Individual £30 | All club benefits i.e. BMC 3rd Party Insurance, newsletters, use of CMC and Chamois Club huts, discounts at certain gear shops. |
| Joint £60 | Spouse & partner may be Joint Members. Both adults are entitled to all benefits of membership. |
| Junior £20 | Junior members over 16 but under 18. Parent/guardian consent required. |
| Student £20 | Members in full time education. |
| Country £11 | A member who leaves the area and disengages from club activities. Receives newsletter but not entitled to other club benefits including BMC 3rd Party Insurance. |
| New | New members, or those whose membership has lapsed, must pay a £5 (re)joining fee. |
Do I need to be an experienced climber to join the Club?
The simple answer is no, however the club wants to be sure that prospective members are able to climb safely without putting themselves or others at risk, before joining the club. That’s why applicants must be proposed and seconded. What you do need is to have an interest in climbing/mountaineering and a genuine interest in becoming an active member of the club.
What if I’m a Complete Beginner?
Beginners are welcome although officially the club does not teach people to climb. Neither does the club have equipment to loan to those without it. If you’re looking for a training course in the necessary techniques then we can recommend contacting a local indoor climbing wall or outdoor centre.