Attending a Club Meet

Membership of the ESTC is required to participate in a Club meet for insurance purposes. Non-members may attend one meet of no more than three nights in order to determine whether or not they wish to join the Club.

Weekend meets

To make a booking on one of the weekend trips listed on the Events page, please follow the Events booking procedure.

If you need to cancel your place on the meet, this should be done by the Thursday eight days before the meet so that someone else can step in to take the place. If no other participant steps in to take the place then the full cost will be charged. That is, no refund unless we can fill the vacancy.

Children

Children will be charged at the rate for children at the venue or for the full cost of a bed, if they require one, whichever is appropriate. Where children are small and sleep in their parents’ two-bedded room, there will be no charge, subject to the policies of the venue.

Catering on weekend meets

Participants should take their own breakfasts, lunches, snacks and drinks. The Saturday evening meal is communal and cooks will be nominated by the organiser. The cost of the food on Saturday is shared. Wine is usually provided and participants will be asked whether they would like wine and, if so, what colour. The cost of the wine is shared amongst the wine drinkers only.

Transport

The Club normally operates car pools and arranges car sharing where possible for both travelling to and from the meet and during the meet. It is assumed that everyone living in the Edinburgh area will participate in the car pool unless they specifically opt out. The organiser will assist the co-ordination of transport arrangements before the meet by circulating a list of attendees and their contact details, and suggested drivers and passengers. It should be noted that whilst every effort will be made to arrange a lift for everyone, it can not be guaranteed.

The cost per mile is currently 25p per mile.

What to bring

Participants on weekend meets need to bring:

• Their own food for lunches, snacks, breakfasts and their own drinks. Holidays may be fully catered - check with the organiser;

• Sheet sleeping bag/pillow or full sleeping bag according to venue - check the website for the accommodation as they all vary;

• Skis/Poles/Boots;

• Ice Axe/Crampons/Avalanche Equipment, as required;

• Adequate changes of clothing;

• Clothing suitable for the conditions.

Overseas Trips and longer UK Holidays

To make a booking, email/send the booking sheet to the organiser; a place is confirmed when the non-refundable deposit is received by the organiser. The full balance of the cost of the accommodation will be payable before the start of the holiday. 

If you need to cancel the holiday, notify the organiser as soon as possible. If no other participant can be found to take up the place, the full cost of the holiday will be charged

The catering arrangements vary, but will include communal meals with shared costs.

Safety

​The Club recognises that ski touring and other mountain activities carry a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and take responsibility for their own actions and involvement.

All members of a group undertaking Club activities owe a duty of care to the people with whom they share the activity; and this extends to wearing appropriate clothing and being properly equipped to cope with foreseeable hazards. It is difficult to discharge this duty of care unless members of the group stay in visual contact.

Members have the responsibility to check that all their equipment is in sound condition and appropriate to the activity.

All members involved in Club activities must be aware that those often perceived as being ‘in charge’, i.e. leading walks, ski trips, cycle rides or climbs, are not necessarily qualified, do not need to be qualified and are not regarded by the Club, nor regard themselves, as technical experts.

The safety of members is their own responsibility but the Club has a duty of care to make sure that relevant weather forecasts and avalanche reports for the trip are consulted and taken into account and that people are encouraged to use ice axes and crampons where appropriate. Inappropriately dressed members should be advised of the need to wear clothing appropriate to the circumstances. Where members consistently refuse to act on advice, the Committee should be informed to decide on appropriate action.

Where individuals have higher levels of experience, offer advice or have assumed de facto responsibility for route finding etc, they have a greater duty of care. They are expected to ensure that they:

• Select objectives that would normally be within their capabilities and those of the group;

• Have an awareness of foreseeable hazards;

• Make those hazards clear to those involved;

• Minimise those risks where possible;

• Are aware of appropriate actions to take if emergency situations do occur.

For safety reasons, all participants will be asked to complete a route card showing their intended activity and finish time. Whilst this is not mandatory, it is advisable. Each party/participant shall inform the meet organiser by phone by the agreed time when they have safely finished their activity. The meet organiser must make arrangements to receive such calls in a timely manner and initiate action if a group does not report in by the agreed time.

The Club reserves the right to refuse participation of any individual on an event where the welfare or safety of themselves or others might be compromised. A meet organizer may make such a decision and should inform the club Chair.

See also Safety in the Hills.