Journeys by hiking, running, cycling and touring
Living Review It's April 2012 and I've now been using this pack heavily on my walks this year. But when I say pack, I do mean just the pack. I love the pack itself - despite being claimed to be 19L it seems about the same size as my Berghaus Remote 30. Consequently, I've found … Continue reading Geigerrig RIG 1200 Hydration System
You know what, I have a walking trip coming up fast and I'm struggling with my planning for it. Not struggling to come up with a plan - not by a long chalk. My struggle is with my trying not to plan it. In exactly two weeks time, assuming things go ok work-wise, and that … Continue reading A different planning perspective
Our annual gathering of ex-university friends saw us take a cottage in the Hiraethog area of North Wales. Although not a primarily walking-focussed holiday, we did get out a few times: Sunday 8 April: Easter in the Hiraethog A group walk across the moor to the summit of the Marilyn Mwdwl-eithin. We walked along … Continue reading Snowdonia April 2012
Snowdon (or to give the actual summit its correct name, Yr Wyddfa) is probably Britain's most touristy mountain, but under the right conditions can also be a serious mountain on which people die or hurt themselves every year. This post is dedicated to the melting pot and mountain of contrasts that is Snowdon and the … Continue reading Snowdon from various angles
Tryfan and the Glyders are wreathed in cloud as I sit here in the cottage writing this. Patches of sunlight highlighting the yellows of the moor. Yesterday we were up there, as my legs and in particular my knees are reminding me. We picked a good day for it, although the range of weather we … Continue reading Getting Some Rock
"The where ?" I can almost hear people asking. Mynydd Hiraethog, often just called the Hiraethog is an area of moorland between Denbigh and the A5 in the north east of Wales. It lies just outside the Snowdonia National Park, and so doesn't get quite the same level of footfall. There's not much there apart … Continue reading Easter in the Hiraethog
Each lunchtime I take a walk, both for the exercise and to get what passes for fresh air in the centre of London. It’s a walk of about 3 miles, which is about as long as is decent for lunchtime. The terrain isn’t particularly challenging of course, but what it lacks in ruggedness it makes … Continue reading Daydreaming
It's early morning and I'm in a unique situation. Whilst I've blogged from a tent several times before, this is the first time I've done it over a Wifi connection. And moreover, my own home Wifi! Yes, I've never camped in the back garden, and thought it was time I did so. I had an … Continue reading A first date with Monica
Now that my readers have had a few minutes to get over the shock from my last post, and the announcement that Eagle Crag is my favourite fell, it's time to close this thread of posts out. I'm sure that some readers were hanging on to the last post hoping that I would also love … Continue reading Favourite Fells Reflections
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 … 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. Actually the title of wettest place in England is a bit of a moot point. It probably … 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. Yewbarrow's principal asset should be obvious to anyone looking up Wastwater, or indeed looking across from, say Whin Rigg or Illgill Head. It looks great. A number of times I've … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Yewbarrow
When I first heard of Castle Crag my main thoughts were “what a poxy low fell” and “why is it included at the expense of much higher places?” Well, we all know that Wainwright created loads of anomalies when he compiled his 7 volumes, and after much pondering, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Castle Crag
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 … 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. The answer is that … Continue reading Favourite Fells – Lingmell