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The title's probably a touch dramatic, but in my post New Year's zombie-like state of mind, it seemed to do the trick. Â Of course, if you believe the Mayans we've just had our last New Year's Eve parties (no loss there really) as the world is due to end sometime this year. Video by CGP … Continue reading A Day of Judgement
Whilst everyone else is starting the New Year with positive thinking (that is apart from the effects of last night's drinking), I thought I'd take an opposite tack and talk about failure. In my walking career I've notched up a few failures and whilst I've not let them get to me too much, I'd be … Continue reading Failure
With my career break now over half gone and opportunities for trips disappearing fast, I took an 11 day trip to Cumbria to bag some Wainwrights and Nuttalls. Â Having done the majority of the convenient stuff in the easily accessible centre of Lakeland, this was always going to be about knocking off some of the … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011)
Not everyone is interested in the stats, so let's keep the analysis in a separate post. Summits bagged The 29 Wainwrights "bagged", in order, are: Dodd (Skiddaw) Whinlatter Barf Lord's Seat (M) Broom Fell Graystones Ling Fell Sale Fell Barrow Outerside Mellbreak (M) Rannerdale Knotts High Crag (H) High Stile (Wainwright summit) Red Pike (Buttermere) … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): The Stats
Wasdale to Borrowdale Having weighed up whether to do the walk over Lingmell or chicken out and just take the easier option straight over Sty Head Pass from Wasdale, there was a certain irony in me ending up doing both. Here's how it happened...I woke up in a more positive frame of mind, had a … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 8 – Monday 11 July
So that's it. As I limp away from Carlisle Castle through the urban ugliness of the city centre, I'm not feeling any sense of achievement. That came about 4 miles out from Carlisle, when I knew I'd make it (somehow), but completely evaporated on the slog over the tarmac. If the Cumbria Way finished in … Continue reading Cumbria Way – The End of the Walk
Today was an ordeal. Woken by the patter of rain on the window, and having seen the forecast last night I knew it was going to be damp. In the event it rained pretty much all day and I couldn't see anything above 200m for most of the day. Having been first down for breakfast, … Continue reading Cumbria Way Day 3
Having a miserable time at work, I couldn’t wait to get away for my annual Lake District trip.  Black Combe and Eskdale were sitting there egging me on, and so I planned a trip to take in the far south west corner of the lakes. Genesis of the Trip I'd been staring at the bottom-left … Continue reading Escape to Eskdale
My three month sabbatical was drawing to a close, but I had time for one last mountain binge. Having failed to achieve a family camp in Langdale during half term due to awful weather, it seemed natural a few weeks later to head to Langdale solo and see what I could do by myself. Monday … Continue reading The Last Hurrah
Let's start by adding a 5th lesson to last night's list: don't expect a good night's sleep in a tent. Â I know the first night in a strange bed isn't usually great, but you can multiply that by 10 when sleeping in a tent and on a very (too) thin mat. Â I probably did sleep … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 2 – Tuesday 17 April
I woke at sunrise which I considered good as that's what is probably going to happen whilst I'm sleeping in the tent. Â After final checks and packing of last minute items I set off. Â The first thing I noticed as I walked down the road to the station was that I somehow must have left … Continue reading A Lakeland Round 2007: Day 1 – Monday 16 April
Sunday 17 July 03:50 Â We arrive at Southwaite Services on the M6 for our Scafell Pike briefing. Â It's annoying to see people in sleeping bags, indicating that there's a fair chance they've had some sleep. Â I take the opportunity for a wash, a fry-up and, most importantly a cup of tea. 04:32 We set-off for … Continue reading UK Three Peaks (2005): Scafell Pike