CCA General Meeting / guest speaker Rick Agnew – ascending Carstensz Pyramid and the so-called Seven Summits
2025-06-18 19:30 - 21:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the meeting starts at 7.30pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Rick Agnew – ascending Carstensz Pyramid and the so-called Seven Summits
Local alpine climber, Rick Agnew, will talk about his recent ascent of Carstensz Pyramid and the so-called Seven Summits – maybe touching on the quest of completing the volcano and the second seven summits.
About Rick
Rick’s high altitude pursuits have taken him across the world for 40 years. He has trekked, climbed, guided and/or co-guided in Australia, Africa, north, central and southern America, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, New Zealand, Russia as well as in Antarctica.
He has climbed on four 8,000ers multiple times, including Everest, K2, Manaslu and Shishapangma. He is the oldest Australian to have climbed the Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each continent). He is well on his way to completing the volcano seven summits and working his way towards completing a 2nd Seven Summits.
Rick would probably say that Cerro (mountain) Fitzroy has been his hardest climb and his most favourite place – southern Patagonia, Argentina.
After graduating with a forestry degree, Rick undertook his initial officer and pilot training in the Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF), arguably a solid basis for all things high altitude.
Rick has many Australian and international records, but in gliding he holds over 40, including speed, distance and height records.
His qualifications include a doctorate in risk management, a MBA, masters in defence studies, and a post graduate degree in aviation medicine.
When he is not hanging on the ropes, you can usually find him in a glider or blue water sailing.

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker – Matt Clarke, climbing north faces in Chamonix
2025-09-17 19:30 - 21:30
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the meeting starts at 7.30pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Matt Clarke, climbing north faces in Chamonix
Learn what it’s like to plan for and climb in the birthplace of alpinism!
Matt has just returned from a 4 month trip climbing mostly in Chamonix in the French alps. He completed numerous classics during his visit, including the 1,500m north face of the Grandes Jorasses, crossing from France into Italy, as well as a solo ascent of the Matterhorn and many more.
Come along to hear tips and tricks for planning such a trip, how to find partners safely, and how to manage yourself and others when the bad weather invariably comes and puts a downer on your trip.

CCA General Meeting (AGM) / guest speaker – Caitlin Horan: North American Climbing Adventures: from limestone sport climbing at Wild Iris to big alpine adventures in the Bugaboos, there is a story here for every climber
2025-11-12 19:00 - 21:30
This meeting will be our AGM, so we will include election of CCA office bearers for 2025/2026 and a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest. The meeting will be followed by our guest speaker presentation, as usual.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the AGM starts at 7pm – PLEASE NOTE EARLIER START THAN USUAL!! A table in the name of CCA is booked for 5.30pm.

Guest speaker: Caitlin Horan – North American Climbing Adventures: from limestone sport climbing at Wild Iris to big alpine adventures in the Bugaboos, there is a story here for every climber
Join me for an evening of adventure as I share stories from my journeys across North America, ticking off some of the continent’s 50 most iconic climbs. From the soaring granite spires of The Bugaboos to the legendary columns of Devils Tower, the rugged beauty of the Grand Tetons, the world-class limestone of Wild Iris, and the dramatic expanse of the Cirque of Towers in the Wind River Range; I’ll take you through the landscapes, logistics and unforgettable moments of climbing in these incredible places. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or aspiring adventurer, there will be a route here for everyone.

Why are “The Bugaboos” named after an object of worry, fear or alarm?
Originally named the “Nunataks”, the Bugaboo spires were first noted by a surveying expedition in the late 1800s. Mining brought the first Europeans to the region with a small, ill-fated gold rush occurring in 1895 and 1896 near Bugaboo Falls. The area was prospected and staked, but the meager deposits turned out to be mostly pyrite and galena. The name “Bugaboo” originated from this rush; the term was used by prospectors for a “dead-end”.
Source, and more interesting information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bugaboos
Cait Horan in The Bugaboos

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker: Duncan Brown
2026-03-25 19:30 - 21:30
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the meeting starts at 7.30pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Duncan Brown
An outdoor athlete’s life is one of trials and tribulations, but few go through as many as internationally renowned Aussie climber Duncan Brown… and all in his own backyard (Australian Geographic Adventure).
Duncan is a prolific first ascensionist who has been quietly putting up an impressive number of new bouldering routes in the ACT region. Most recently, Duncan and his crew have been dedicating significant time and energy to developing a brand new bouldering area at The Outer Rim, out along Corin Road.
This new zone is quickly generating buzz, and Duncan will be sharing insights into the development of the area and what boulderers can expect from this significant addition to the ACT bouldering scene.

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker: TBA
2026-05-20 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-09-16 19:30 - 21:30
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the meeting starts at 7.30pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: TBA
(presentation details TBA)

CCA General Meeting (AGM) / guest speaker TBA
2026-11-18 19:30 - 21:30
This meeting will be our AGM, so we will include election of CCA office bearers for 2023/2024 and a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest. The meeting will be followed by our guest speaker presentation, as usual.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the AGM starts at 7.30pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: TBA
