Mountaineering Society Outdoor Climbing Give-It-A-Go

Hanging out has never been so literal

In practical day-to-day life, it’s not often that feelings of a soothing appreciation for nature and a harrowing fear of an imminent plummet can be conjured in such rapid succession. Yet, beside a towering crag alcoved by bushes and flora, the Mountaineering Society’s outdoor climbing Give-it-a-Go session provided just that.

About 50 kilometres north of St Andrews, the Mountaineering Society hosted the event on Sunday 20 September. Open to all students regardless of climbing experience, the day trip promised an opportunity for participants to gain insight into outdoor climbing and the community surrounding it before committing to purchasing a membership for the academic year. 

Hosted every year, the event is free of charge and has consistently proven its widespread popularity amongst students. Sign-ups were held in person about a week prior, on the afternoon of 15 September, and before the designated time of 18:00 sharp, the line to register had already amassed dozens of students. However, with a limited amount of gear and transportation available, only a cohort of about twenty students were selected to go on the trip via a randomised poll. 

For participants, the day began at 9am as they rallied beside a building off the perimeter of the Saint Sport football pitches, referred to by Mountaineering Society members as the beloved “gear shed”. From there, climbers were boarded into various cars and vans and bound for a scenic hour-long commute to Kierrie Hill. A Spotify jam featuring a variety of 70s hits like Queen’s ‘Cool Cat’ and Kiss’ ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You’ set the lively ambiance for the morning excursion, and participants were given the chance to exchange introductions with one another, share their enthusiasm and nervousness for the day ahead — or catch up on sleep. 

There was a wide range of experience amongst the climbers at the outing. While many participants arrived without possessing their own gear, they more than made up for it with eagerness and a vast repertoire of hearty snacks — other, more experienced climbers came prepared with their climbing shoes, an impressive assortment of carabiners, rope, and other equipment.

After arriving at Kierrie Hill and taking a quick hike to the crag, participants dropped their bags in the grass beside the wall and settled in for the day ahead, playfully piling their horde of whole foods on a conveniently levelled boulder. Though the wall itself was a completely natural rock formation, it had been fitted with anchor points that outdoor climbers could use to secure their ropes. In a style of climbing known as lead climbing, an individual ascends the rock while attached to a harness, progressively clipping their rope into these anchor points sequentially as they make their way upwards. The members of the Mountaineering Society swiftly allocated climbing paths amongst themselves, and lead climbed to set up secure routes. Once the preparations were complete, climbers were given full freedom to choose their climbing paths and scale up the crag at their own pace within a judgement-free environment. The crag unfolded into a tapestry of routes, ranked on a UK system from the easiest climbing path at 1 to the most challenging 9B+; Kierrie Hill harbored gentle grade 4 climbs suitable for beginners to advanced 7B routes, offering something for climbers at every level of experience. Mountaineering members taught participants to tie the knot that fastened their harnesses and stayed on the ground to help belay the rope. Belaying is the practice of controlling the tension on the climber’s rope, securing the climber, and being vigilant of potential falls. 

Working with a limited supply of climbing gear that was lent to climbers without equipment of their own, students shared harnesses and proper climbing shoes, taking turns on the wall and waiting patiently for equipment to become available once more. In between climbs, on the ground below, the society had cultivated a vibrant and welcoming environment in which people of all different ages and degrees could linger and socialise. Basking in the abundant sunlight, they gathered on the side in nooks and hollows between rocks, reclining into the crevices or criss-crossed in the grass with snacks in hand, exchanging casual conversation, planning the holds for their prospective climbs or reflecting on their performance moments prior. 

The trip concluded at around 5pm, when vehicles returned to St Andrews, bringing climbers home with tender forearms and a profound sense of physical accomplishment. Especially after Freshers’ Week, the trip also provided a tranquil escape from the endearing, but oftentimes hectic bustle of St Andrews. Beyond offering an opportunity to engage in physical activity that is otherwise largely inaccessible to the average person, the outing proved equally valuable as a social experience, bringing participants together through the shared experiences of challenging, but ultimately fulfilling climbs.

Photo by Sakura Mogami