I'm sure Jake will put more info up soon, but just a heads up about the Conville course, which is a subsidised alpine mountaineering course run from Chamonix in the French alps each year. Its a great course and a number of UBMC members have done it over the years.

You can get more information at http://www.pyb.co.uk/courses/conville.php and it is well worth thinking about if you are considering going to the Alps this summer. It costs £70 for 3 days tuition with a mountain guide (1 guide to 3 students) and is good fun. The course covers glacier crossing, crevasse rescue, moving together, using huts, doing an alpine route etc (or thats what I did!).

The deadline is 17th April.......good luck

Good job Starley, i was going to nudge a few people this week to get some information up.

I plan to do the course this summer and intend on apply for the last date in june/first two dates in July,

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Level-headed member of Gadd-vey

Wee Rosy and myself will be applying for mid-July. Still two spaces in our car for getting there!

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Developing Nicely.

Awesome. Let us know if I can help with anything!

I'm going to apply for this. Does anyone know how hard it is to get places? The website says if lots of people from one group (ie UBMC) apply they might only give places to one or two of them, but this may not be an issue.

In my year 4+ of us from UBMC did it, at different times, but it didn't seem to be a problem. I have heard of people being rejected for being over qualified, but they had done some big peaks in Nepal etc. Experience wise I had one scotland, a weekend of winter, some rock and lots of enthusiasm!

It's a really good course to apply to! I really enjoyed it last year.

With regards to filling in the application, I had a bit of help off those who had done the course before me - just a little bit of proof reading to make sure it appeals to what they are looking for in an application.

If you think it will help you, I'm happy to send anybody who's applying, a copy of my application form to see what I wrote to get a place on the course.

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"I'm not mad, I just see things differently"
No longer VP : But still Vaguely Philippino
FYI: Actions speak louder than wombats

Those were the days...

I had almost no winter experience, only had a day out in crampons on a glacier. My key selling point was being on committee and mentioning that i was keen to pass on what i learnt onto others in my club.

Starley would doubtlessly be enthused to help anyone with their application forms.

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Great Free Blowies (men or women) - 07702218917

A meeting will be held on Monday 22nd March, 7pm at the Guild (Joe's bar) if your interested in applying!

This will be a great chance to:

• Find people to go with
• Discuss transport and dates
• Talk to those who have been before
• Learn about skills and equipment you may need
• See some of applications from previous years

As has been mentioned:

The courses last 3 days and are run over a period of about 2 months over the summer.
Usually people spend about 3 weeks (or more!) and do the course at the beginning of this time.
It's a great chance to meet other students

For more advice on applying, I;m sure that Alek, Tommy, Starley T, Tom G, JCB will be happy to help!
On that note: are you okay to email applications?

I will also be applying probably July-ish

Bloody typical, i cannot make then. ah well i'm sure i'll be able to put something together and get the others to check it.

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Level-headed member of Gadd-vey

Will be there Jake.

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Developing Nicely.

I am also willing to give any help/ tips to people applying or just looking to go out to the Alps

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Mountain sec .... once upon a time

turns out i won't be able to come to this ... however, if anyone needs any help with conville applications, or wants any info on going to the alps just send me a message

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Mountain sec .... once upon a time

Thanks Alice

Some reading for those who are feeling keen or bored...

http://www.pyb.co.uk/courses/course-not ... ode=JCMT01
http://www.thebmc.co.uk/Pages.aspx?page=123
http://www.pyb.co.uk/information/top-ti ... -alps1.php
http://www.pyb.co.uk/information/top-ti ... -alps2.php

I will probably be selecting 11th,14th and 18th as preferred dates - and stay out there for a couple of weeks after.

Bring a bivi bag... like a hobo.. that is all you need.
lol

In reality, I missed out on the prospect of doing a couple of routes in the Alps last year with the Conville people after the course as i didn't have a bivi bag. :/
Rather than pay the extortionate hut fees, most seemed to bivi outside, get up early and miss the traffic up whatever route they were doing and come back down to pick up their bivi stuff after the summit.

Side note: Many people seemed to come out on their own last year, there was only one smallish warwick uni group when I was there. Maybe this is the year for Birmingham to invade and annoy the mad old man who runs the campsite!

anybody remember his name? - I loved the crazy rumours about him that go about on the campsite there!

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"I'm not mad, I just see things differently"
No longer VP : But still Vaguely Philippino
FYI: Actions speak louder than wombats