As a number of you may remember I joined the HMC as a raw and somewhat naive youngster 20 years ago in 1978. My memories of my first Tuesday club evening remain vivid with the' hardcore climbers' huddled together in a corner of the Station Hotel bar discussing latest routes and their conquests from the previous weekend. The 'walkers' were discussing in another corner the achievements of  Wainwright and Poucher  with a similar enthusiasm and vigour, and  in true HMC style did not welcome the intrusion of a spotty and lanky newcomer who's only notable achievement was an weeks adventure holiday to the Peak District. 

To my rescue that evening came Doreen Goodey - then unmarried, who to this day has the knack of welcoming potential members and providing the encouragement to return for a second and subsequent Tuesdays - Thank you Doreen. How the club has changed in those few years with our welcoming attitude to new members!

There are many members today who have notched up many more years than myself and I'm sure some are nearing 30+ years of loyal and distinguished membership. Unfortunately, we cannot claim to have amongst our membership today our founding fathers - although some of you will remember the characters who formed the club and created the structure which remains today.

In this 40th Edition of Crux we have been fortunate in obtaining an article from Graham Daniels, and another from Duncan Hector, founding members who recount some of the trials and trepidation's of those early days.
For myself and I should imagine many others the club has given us the opportunity to venture to the hills with like minded 'characters' and explore the various corners of the UK . It has also given us the confidence to explore Europe and further afield and established the independent personalities which in my opinion makes our membership so colourful.

In the 40 years since the first meetings and trips to North Wales the club has grown in strength  and is now  an established and recognised 'establishment' in Herts. Our meets programme although still featuring the Snowdonia centre - our 'home' for so many years, is varied and regular and gives us the opportunity to 'get away from it all' on a monthly basis.
This edition of Crux is packed with news and articles from the last 40 years but is also current with our meet programme for the next 12 months. I'm back to the UK early May 98 - not forgetting the day trip to the 40th celebrations on 18th April.

The Skill: That rope is there for safety, but G. A. Davies needs all his experience to inch his way up the Spiral Staircase, in Llanberis Pass, Snowdonia.

years, boasts the proud record that not one of their members has ever suffered any injury in a fall or accident while climbing.

The club provides a focal point for all in Hertfordshire - men and women - who share a common interest in any of the many facets of mountaineering. 

Membership is at the moment approaching 40. About 20 are active members who regularly participate in weekend climbs. The club is very active. So far this year they have made 14 excursions to Wales, making several serious ascents.

Earlier this year they had the misfortune to lose their base camp in Wales, after the landlord had his house burnt to the ground. But their search for a new home was quickly over when they were given permission to use the new Herts Snowdonia Centre, at Nant Gwynant.

During the winter the club have their meets there. In the summer months camping meets are held at different venues according to the wishes of the members. Recent past meets have been held in Derbyshire, the Lake District and on the Sandstone outcrops near Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Alpine

Besides making journeys in Britain to find climbable

An Article published in the Welwyn Times on December 2nd 1966.

The North Herts Mountaineering Club, in existence for 9