Poly-baggers' Register & Hall of Fame
Moel Fama (Famau) 554.8m, P278m - a 'popular' poly-bagging peak in North-East Wales, UK - photo Mark Trengove
(This picture file is licensed under the Creative Commons License)
A ‘poly-bagger’ is a person who enjoys reaching the summit of a particular hill or mountain many times (Greek: πολύ = much), and who keeps a record of her/his ascents.
A ‘poly-bagger’ is a person who enjoys reaching the summit of a particular hill or mountain many times (Greek: πολύ = much), and who keeps a record of her/his ascents.
Poly-bagging has always been a niche affair in the peak-bagging world, but came into its own in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many peak-baggers were confined to a very local area during lock-downs.
Poly-bagging has always been a niche affair in the peak-bagging world, but came into its own in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many peak-baggers were confined to a very local area during lock-downs.
Most poly-baggers are also mainstream peak-baggers too, often poly-bagging a local peak as an exercise activity. Consequently, many of the peaks chosen are obscure and little known. The routes up them can vary greatly, from brief ascents up a small local hill to more challenging hikes up mountains as high as 3000m+, involving considerable distances and metres of ascent.
Most poly-baggers are also mainstream peak-baggers too, often poly-bagging a local peak as an exercise activity. Consequently, many of the peaks chosen are obscure and little known. The routes up them can vary greatly, from brief ascents up a small local hill to more challenging hikes up mountains as high as 3000m+, involving considerable distances and metres of ascent.
Poly-bagging can offer a somewhat different experience from that enjoyed in traditional peak-bagging. It generally is a low-carbon ‘green’ activity, and affords an opportunity to explore a particular hill or mountain in detail, and in every season and weather.
Poly-bagging can offer a somewhat different experience from that enjoyed in traditional peak-bagging. It generally is a low-carbon ‘green’ activity, and affords an opportunity to explore a particular hill or mountain in detail, and in every season and weather.
In general, the Register brings to the fore a different group of people in the peak-bagging world than those who appear in the many other international and national peak-bagging registers and Halls of Fame. Although the Hall of Fame and Register is, under the BwB aegis, international in nature, nearly all the participants live in the USA or UK.
In general, the Register brings to the fore a different group of people in the peak-bagging world than those who appear in the many other international and national peak-bagging registers and Halls of Fame. Although the Hall of Fame and Register is, under the BwB aegis, international in nature, nearly all the participants live in the USA or UK.
The Poly-baggers’ Register cannot differentiate between brief hikes up low hills, and more committed ones up high mountains. Even low hills can still offer hikes with some effort, depending on the route taken.
The Poly-baggers’ Register cannot differentiate between brief hikes up low hills, and more committed ones up high mountains. Even low hills can still offer hikes with some effort, depending on the route taken.
Nor can the Register or, from 2020, Hall of Fame be anywhere near comprehensive. It is only a small yearly snap-shot of those who keep a record of their ascents who are in contact with me, or who publish their figures on websites in the public domain. It does not include people who make many ascents of the same hill for other purposes, such as stalking, guiding or religious purposes. Nor can it include those of whom the web-master is unaware, who refuse inclusion, or who do not keep records of their ascents. For example, the fell-runner Andrea Priestly is known to have put up thousands of ascents of Dumyat, a 419m hill in central Scotland, but the specific number is unclear as she has not kept a record of her ascents.
Nor can the Register or, from 2020, Hall of Fame be anywhere near comprehensive. It is only a small yearly snap-shot of those who keep a record of their ascents who are in contact with me, or who publish their figures on websites in the public domain. It does not include people who make many ascents of the same hill for other purposes, such as stalking, guiding or religious purposes. Nor can it include those of whom the web-master is unaware, who refuse inclusion, or who do not keep records of their ascents. For example, the fell-runner Andrea Priestly is known to have put up thousands of ascents of Dumyat, a 419m hill in central Scotland, but the specific number is unclear as she has not kept a record of her ascents.
The Hall of Fame and Register also include a number of deceased persons, but only where the number of their ascents can be reliably estimated, at least to a minimum figure.
The Hall of Fame and Register also include a number of deceased persons, but only where the number of their ascents can be reliably estimated, at least to a minimum figure.
For 2019, the first year of the Register, only the number of summits at the year-end was shown – to provide a base-line for future years. From 2020, a Hall of Fame has been added to the Register, and the number of ascents in that particular year is shown in both.
For 2019, the first year of the Register, only the number of summits at the year-end was shown – to provide a base-line for future years. From 2020, a Hall of Fame has been added to the Register, and the number of ascents in that particular year is shown in both.
To qualify for the Register, a person must:
To qualify for the Register, a person must:
· Climb a hill or mountain of at least 30 metres (98.4ft) of prominence, of any height, and
· Climb a hill or mountain of at least 30 metres (98.4ft) of prominence, of any height, and
· Put up a total of at least 100 ascents.
· Put up a total of at least 100 ascents.
To qualify for Level 1 of the Hall of Fame (from 2020), the threshold to enter is a total of 500 ascents. The Level 2 threshold is 1,000 ascents, Level 3 is 2,000 ascents, Level 4 3,000 ascents, and Level 5 5,000 ascents.
To qualify for Level 1 of the Hall of Fame (from 2020), the threshold to enter is a total of 500 ascents. The Level 2 threshold is 1,000 ascents, Level 3 is 2,000 ascents, Level 4 3,000 ascents, and Level 5 5,000 ascents.
If you would like to make a claim to enter the Register or Hall of Fame, please contact the Poly-bagging HofMeister by the e-mail address shown on the home page of this website.
The Register and, for 2020 onwards, Hall of Fame, will appear on a different sub-page for each year below this web-page.