The Day After the Night Before No one had seemed that bothered about staying in the pub, helped by the live music act’s rather dubious renditions of what had up to that point been some well-loved songs, and so we … Continue reading Beer and Bogs in Borrowdale
Preparation I walked back into the large meeting room that was our base of operations and immediately noticed the tenser atmosphere. All had been going swimmingly when I’d stepped out an hour or so before for another meeting, and we … Continue reading Out in the Eastern and Far Eastern Fells – Part 1
I lay in my sleeping bag nervously watching the tent flexing and straining under the force of the icy wind blowing down from the head of Eskdale, hoping it would hold as it was now too dark to shift camp to somewhere more sheltered. Memories of a past windy camp came back to both haunt me and at the same time boost my confidence that my tent would hold… Next morning I emerged to the new snowfall, pulling on my outer layers in the biting cold and tunneling my way out through the snowdrift surrounding Monica to inspect her sorry and bedraggled state after a night standing up to the Lake District winter…
Continue reading “A Snowy Saunter around the Southern Fells”
After I had to abort my Far Eastern fells trip back in July, a second attempt was always going to be on the cards. This time, though, the weather was, for the most part, more favourable. Here’s the story. Planning … Continue reading Trip Report: Far Eastern Odyssey – The Redemption
Last night certainly put the wild into wild camping. 7 hours of constant heavy rain and strong winds battered the tent, and with each climactic gust I watched for signs that my shelter wasn’t going to hold.
Continue reading “Positive Mental Attitude”
Thursday was always predicted to be the worst day in terms of weather but even so the forecast I picked up on Wednesday morning seemed better than before I left home. How wrong I was.
Continue reading “The wind and my 11 inch sausage”
I woke with a start as sunlight streamed into the tent. This was surprising enough given the miserable day 2 morning conditions of the previous attempt at this trip. But more surprising still was that I ever got to sleep at all.
Continue reading “Deer, bruises and a perfect pitch”
I ambled along Fenchurch Street, by now used to the looks of mild disdain that the sight of a guy dressed for the outdoors and carrying a rucksack evokes in city folk. I left them to hurry on to their early heart attacks while I headed for nature’s playground, deriving extra satisfaction from the fact that it’s a Tuesday and I’ve finished with work for the week. Continue reading “The Odyssey resumes”
Faint strains of cuckoo song broke through the assortment of snoring and farting noises as the new day dawned.
Continue reading “A Far Eastern Odyssey – Part 3: Whiffs of Vanilla and Echoes of Thriller”
As I passed Lining Crag, two guys came towards me, clearly heading down to Stonethwaite. We stood and exchanged a few words as the wind drove rain in our faces and challenged the waterproofness of our outer layers. They’d come from Sergeant’s Crag and before that, Eagle Crag, but were now calling it a day due to the conditions. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as my route would take me over Greenup Edge and an aborted attempt on Ullscarf before descending to Grasmere.
As I trudged up through the wind, rain and low cloud, I reflected on what the guys had told me. I was aware of the two fells, but to say I knew any more than their names and approximate stature would be a lie. But clearly these two guys, when they could have been snug in a cosy pub, had chosen to go out in this weather and climb them. And they seemed perfectly happy with their choice. So maybe there was something worth investigating…? Continue reading “Favourite Fells – Eagle Crag”
Some say that it’s the wettest place in England. Many would say that it’s not a great fell. All I know is that it is one of the places I most dream of being in the Lake District. Continue reading “Favourite Fells – Seathwaite Fell”
Quite simply, Yewbarrow is the best fell in Wasdale. But before you Great Gable or Scafell lovers shoot me down, let me explain my reasoning. Continue reading “Favourite Fells – Yewbarrow”
I suppose it was inevitable that Helvellyn would come out as one of my favourite fells. My first mountain experience took place there, and it’s my most visited fell (jointly with Skiddaw). Now Helvellyn is not what I call a beautiful mountain, (although individual parts of it are), and it’s mainly the quality of the walks on the mountain, and its close neighbours, that propel it to a high spot on my list. Continue reading “Favourite Fells – Helvellyn”
I reckon few have Lingmell in their top 10 fells, so why do I ? It’s quite remarkable considering it’s the most recently climbed fell on my list of favourites and has had to compete with the likes of Scafell, Bowfell, assorted Langdale Pikes etc. All of which it has beaten. Continue reading “Favourite Fells – Lingmell”
At one point, I considered leaving Scafell to the end of my Wainwright round, and making it my last fell. If I had done, then clearly I wouldn’t be writing this post now. But I wanted something more symbolic for my final fell and chose Haystacks, leaving me free to visit Scafell sooner rather than later. Continue reading “Favourite Fells – Scafell”
