The Open University Mountaineering Society (OUMS) aims to bring together people who share the common interests of the Open University and the great outdoors – generally walking, scrambling and climbing, although some members also go cycling and kayaking.
The society usually meets for one weekend a month in one of the country’s mountain areas, with occasional meets in coastal areas in the south-west or Wales. In some years there are trips abroad organised by enthusiasts in the group.
Generally members arrive on the Friday evening, walk on Saturday and Sunday (or depending on the meet some may climb, cycle or kayak). On Saturday evening there is usually a communal cook and members share the wide selection of food (joining in with the 'cook-in' is optional and some prefer to cook their own meal or go out for pub food). Members generally depart for home on the Sunday afternoon or evening.
Accommodation is usually in youth hostels or bunkhouses. In the summer some meets are based at a campsite instead.
Everyone is welcome, whether novice or experienced. We pride ourselves on being a friendly crowd, and do our best to make new members feel welcome. You do not need to be able to navigate as there are usually experienced members willing to lead walks. However, we encourage members to learn as this gives more options for walks for each meet – if you want to learn there will usually be someone more experienced willing to help.
Membership is open to students and staff of the Open University (past or present) and individual membership costs £15 per year. Children may attend as guests, but their parents remain responsible for their safety and behaviour at all times.
More information can be found on our website (www.oums.co.uk), and we also have a Facebook group listing the upcoming meets (just search for Open University Mountaineering Society).
Future Plans
New Year Meet, Lake District. Jan 18th – 20th Peak District, Meet and AGM. Feb 9th – 16th Alps, winter walking. Feb 17th – 23rd Scotland based at Glen Nevis Youth Hostel. Mar 23rd – 24th Snowdonia. Mid to late July, dates to be confirmed, Zillertal Alps, Austria 5/6 day hut-to-hut trek.
Lake District Meet
The meet was based at the Agnes Spencer Memorial Hut in Patterdale.
The meet was based at the Agnes Spencer Memorial Hut in Patterdale.
Mountaineering Society - April - New Members' Meet, Coniston
We are staying at Coppermines Cottage - a bunkhouse in the Coppermines Valley above Coniston. There are plenty of walks, long and short, directly from the hostel. People will arrive during Friday evening, there will be a full day's walking on Saturday, and a shorter walk on Sunday to allow people to set of for home mid-afternoon. There will likely be a choice of walks on Saturday, depending on the weather and how far people want to walk. You will need to bring food, a sleeping bag and normal walking gear.
We are staying at Coppermines Cottage - a bunkhouse in the Coppermines Valley above Coniston. There are plenty of walks, long and short, directly from the hostel. People will arrive during Friday evening, there will be a full day's walking on Saturday, and a shorter walk on Sunday to allow people to set of for home mid-afternoon. There will likely be a choice of walks on Saturday, depending on ...
OU Mountaineering Society - Winter walking in Scotland
The Open University Mountaineering Society is holding its winter meet in Scotland near Roy Bridge. We will be staying in a bunkhouse, which is booked for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. However several of the people attending are likely to be staying on for the whole week.
This is not really a beginner's meet, as winter in Scotland usually requires ice axes and crampons and a reasonable degree of fitness. New members are always welcome, but for this meet we'd rather you already had some walking experience.
More details via the OUMS website (www.oums.co.uk) or our Facebook group (just search for Open University Mountaineering Society within Facebook.
The Open University Mountaineering Society is holding its winter meet in Scotland near Roy Bridge. We will be staying in a bunkhouse, which is booked for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. However several of the people attending are likely to be staying on for the whole week. This is not really a beginner's meet, as winter in Scotland usually requires ice axes and crampons and a ...
Contacting OUMS
This group was set up on Platform as a way of making our existence known to OU students, now that advertising in the Sesame magazine is far too expensive for student societies to afford. It was never really intended that Platform be used as a discussion forum, so any messages posted here may go for some time without an answer!
Members of the committee can be contacted via the links on our website: www.oums.co.uk. The website also has an FAQ page that should answer most of your questions.
There is also a Facebook group, for those of you who use that. Just search for Open University Mountaineering Society.
This group was set up on Platform as a way of making our existence known to OU students, now that advertising in the Sesame magazine is far too expensive for student societies to afford. It was never really intended that Platform be used as a discussion forum, so any messages posted here may go for some time without an answer! Members of the committee can be contacted via the links on our ...
Dean talks volcanoes at Royal Geographical Society
Open University Dean of Science Hazel Rymer, who is Professor of Environmental Volcanology, presents a lecture entitled: From the ashes: Volcano research in Central America at the Royal Geographical Society, London on Thursday 12 May.
The talk will take the audience on an exhilarating journey to the sites of Professor Rymer's volcanology projects in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, highlighting the immense power of these natural phenomena, and the impacts they have on the environment.
This is a free event organised by Earthwatch. Earthwatch events offer the opportunity to learn from scientists on the frontline of environmental action, about the issues that matter to the future of the planet, and how you can play a role in tackling them.
The lecture starts at 7pm but doors open at 6 pm. Download free tickets to the event here.
Useful links
Earthwatch offers the opportunity to work alongside research scientists on projects around the world, including Professor Rymer's volcano projects in Nicaragua and Iceland.
Photo: Professor Hazel Rymer at work
Open University Dean of Science Hazel Rymer, who is Professor of Environmental Volcanology, presents a lecture entitled: From the ashes: Volcano research in Central America at the Royal Geographical Society, London on Thursday 12 May. The talk will take the audience on an exhilarating journey to the sites of Professor Rymer's volcanology projects in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, ...
