Larry Davis and Fran Rautiola - Monadnock poly-baggers. Photo - Larry Davis, with permission
Introduction to poly-bagging
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 an accurate annual record of her/his ascents. The person is likely to be motivated by some form of personal challenge, rather than doing so in a work-related capacity (e.g. a mountain guide).
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 'mainstream' peak-baggers were confined to a very local area during lock-downs.
Poly-bagging peaks
Many poly-baggers are mainstream peak-baggers too, often poly-bagging a local peak as an exercise activity. Consequently, many of the peaks chosen may be 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.
'Green bagging'
Poly-bagging can offer a different experience from that enjoyed in traditional peak-bagging. Normally the peaks are much closer to where people live. It generally is a lower-carbon ‘green’ activity, and affords an opportunity to explore a particular hill or mountain in detail, and in every season and weather.
The annual Hall of Fame and Progress Register brings to the fore a different group of people in the peak-bagging world than those who appear in other international and national peak-bagging tables.
The Annual Tables
The Poly-baggers’ annual Tables include people making brief hikes up low hills, and more committed ascents up high mountains. The */**/~ symbols, described in the key, give some indication on ascent and distance. Even low hills can still offer hikes with some effort, depending on the route taken.
These Tables cannot be anywhere near comprehensive. They are just a small yearly snap-shot of those who keep a record of their ascents who are in contact with me, or who publish their annual bag-totals on websites in the public domain of whom I am aware. Of course, they cannotinclude those with no data, who refuse inclusion, or do not keep any records.
The Tables also include a number of deceased persons, but only where the number of their ascents is accurately known at the time they died .
Qualification
To qualify for the annual Tables, a person must:
· Climb to the summit of 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.
To qualify for Level 1 of the Hall of Fame, 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 43,000 ascents, and Level 5 is 5,000 ascents etc.
The annual Tables can be accessed from the menu bar on this website, or by clicking on the links below: