Copeland Chase

The Copeland Chase 

For £9 what can go wrong?

At the last minute I decided to enter a revived classic tradional Mounatin Orienteering event hosted by West Cumbria Orienteering Club in the little visited fells around Kirkland. 

                                    An early start and with a forecast getting better thro the day I met up with John

the orgainser and registered, did the usual faffing and then was given a map to set off.

Walking to the start I was trying to work out the scale dimensions and a 1:15000 with 5m contour interval with O type colours took a little time to get used to.
In the end it took a looong time to get used to as I cleared, set off from the start and then found the out-run track runnable I got my head down and shuffled quickly.





Its unusal not to be flogging up a steep hill in the first 1km and I was going quicker than ususal. A bloke from WCOC came past and I sort of tagged onto the back of him. The Plateau arrived with a fence and jumped it and shot off into some tussocks not unlike on the OMM a few weeks previous. I marched on thro and started to drop quickly. I saw Steve Heaton and Kaaren Nash behind me and this spurred me on.

I then stopped at the coll I thought was my No. 1 and realised I was facing the wrong direction nothing fitted, so i did the classic thing when in a rush, of trying to make it fit!!. I thought I would give up on No. 1 and just go round the others, not dibbing.
I set off downhill to number 2 and then realised the sheepfold fast approaching was in the wrong vallet when I unfolded the map to have a look for a line to No. 3!!!!!

 OOh long uphill back to 2 where I had just been stood!!!! (the kites were a little flattened)

So a day of pics and fun and meeting some old and new friends.

All the pics can be found here on my Google + page 

If you want an original please contact me. 

 

A great day out and an expereince I can share 

Results can be found here 

All for £9 Si dibber hire , comprehensive map, and FREE tea and cake at the end.
What could go wrong?

Hope to see you on the next one? 

Somewhere!!!!!

Running the Tour of Mt Blanc

Running the Tour of Mount Blanc

A few years ago I was lucky enough to be able to buy a bike and get out with some good mates from Bolton CTC and Lancashire Road Club nearly every week.

                                        I even get a mention for an Omnium trophy I won a long time ago.

  Click here

We had a few other stars who helped inspire and had a few laughs with Jeremy Hunt went on to become a pro rider. Craig Battresby went onto elite cycling as an amateur. Clive Burke and Bobhat (Ian Roberts ) were stalwarts and other names pictured left at York Rally wher Clive bought a brand new Tri suit. 

Clive, Bobhat and I decide that we should climb Mt Blanc one year we decided on early June. To cut a multitude of epics short (please ask about all the stories) we had to turn around and come back down. Sadly on this snowy descent Bobhat slipped and fell and was killed. 

The last picture of him is with me top left of this collage. 

I decided to honour my friends memory and after being inspired into further lightweight adventures by the Crane brothers, cousins of Nick Crane running the length of the Himalaya in 100 days. Click Here

I had five days off work and ran from home to the train station in Bolton to get to Manchester Airport. I took one KIMM  bag 7kg in total no tent, stove etc just a cup, spoon, sleeping bag and minimal kit. 

I set off from Chamonix in mid-June to run the famous Tour De Mount Blanc. This was in the days before UTMB points dictated the run that we choose to do. I just wanted to be in the mountains and reasonably close, to lay a few to ghosts to rest, to a friend of mine. I recently read Heather Dawe Book, cunningly called Adventures In Mind, where she tells of a similar tail. 

I travelled as far as I could each day as a solo experience. For pictures I ran forward balanced my (film) camera set the self timer and ran back PDQ to then head back to the camera. So did more than the official route and time I should of done. 

Note the plastic bread bags on my feet to keep out the snows of the passes. My feet went green for weeks after as the dye came out of my Walshes Fell running shoes
Kit was a cotton T shirt, Oakley Factory Pilots frames as worn by Greg Lemond, Ron Hill Tracksters over Freedom Shorts. Spare T shirt, Cotton neck scarf, sleeping bag, Karrimat, Spoon and Mug, one extra pair of undies/ socks.

I managed to run round the route in 40hrs. I lost my money in Italy after buying a small bag of biscuits, I just ran away from it as I left it on a bench. On my return to France I managed to change £5 to buy tywo bottles of wine so had something to do at least. I found a park to sleep under the ping pong tables but was rescued by a runner from Somerset who let me sleep in his car. 

I had a great adventure and it stemmed a lot more. Do not be constrained by perceptions, remember friends and loved one's and enjoy every step of your journey.

I feel its time to get back to Mt Blanc soon along with a few more Adventures that I have in Mind.

OS and Silva Navigation App

OS and Silva two of the worlds renowned names in Navigation have teamed up with an App and Map approach to Mountain Safety. I was shown the app at Keswick Mountain Festival and when it came out on Android I downloaded it to test it out. Its very simple and works well. I was out on a Navigation training course yesterday in a very wet Langdale vally with James and Kathryn from Dorset. We were looking at traditional map and compass techniques and I showed them this app to help compliment their new skills.


We had a great day out in the warm rain in the Langdale Valley and James and Kathryn helped me to realise what I take for granted in my work as an International Mountain Leader whilst working in our fantastic scenery in the Lakes. They took lots of photos and were awed by the landscape and will hopefully come back to the lakes. We finished off with a liquid debrief at the National Trust run Stickle Barn Tavern in the sunshine. 

.http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/blog/2014/06/our-os-locate-app-goes-worldwide/ 

Google Play link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.ordnancesurvey.oslocate.android

Itunes link https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-locate/id810024913

It is worth noting that the App is there to back up Map and Compass skills not to replace it.  Map and compass skills need to be practised 

If you wanting to get out and practice Navigation get in touch. 1:1 and groups are easily accommodated You cant not learn something from it.

Everlasting Pint

The Everlasting Pint. 

This has been a much sought after slice of indulgence for many a long time. 

Man has tried to conquer this like the alchemists of old. 

Here is my version of an everlasting pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord

This is a classic brew that I have tried to enjoy to the max. Many times!!

Thanks 

I hope you enjoy it many times over. 

Alpine Climbing is great fun

Here is an insight int what Alpine Climbing was really like in the 1930's Some of the belays and axe techniques may be a bit iffy but everyone was happy. All St Bernards should have a big barrel of grog to aid climbers, dont you think?

If thats not to your taste try three on a rope. You know what they say about three being a crowd?

Enjoy them

Natures Works in Borrowdale

Jim Langley from Natures Works normally based in North Wales came to Borrowdale in Cumbria to give some invaluable CPD for mountain Leaders on the ecology of the upland environment. 

Jim's knowledge and passion are infectious as he put across in  great style what we can see and identify around us. 

In a place that I work regularly, this opened my eyes to not only the flora and fauna but the geology of my area of work also. 

This the fault line in Combe Ghyll not far from Raven Crag Borrowdale.

Dog Violet enjoying some shade

Good to meet Ian from Striding Ahead  Clare from Alternative Adventure Rachel and Amy.

If you get the chance to get out on a course with Jim and Natures Works please do so. As Mountain Leaders and lovers of a fantastic workplace this will certainly help you enhance your own and your clients days out in the hills. 

As Jim wasn't to busy on the Sunday we went with his dad Richard to have a look at Striding Edge on Helvellyn. 

Another stunning area alive with features that we sometimes forget to look at while we are gripped to the rocky ridge.

It seems to have a been a play day for a lot of folk including the RAF

Keela also joined in by sitting on the trig point. We met some great groups out. Particularly the ladies from Rainford who filled the car up on the way back to Glenridding! Great end to a fab weekend. 

All pics can found by clicking  here 

Scafell Trail Race at Keswick Mountain Festival

High Terrain Events  put on a tough hard route from Keswick to the roof of England Scafell Pike. 

This was part of the Keswick Mountain Festival and at the end of very busy week of events. 

I was marshaling at Styhead Pass with Joe Faulkner from NAV4 on the summit of Scafell Pike, I think Joe managed to have a clear summit for part of the day. I was in the cloud all day thankfully not windy. This meant an early start at 05.30 for us to briefed drink tea and be in place ready for the runners to come through. 

                                                                                                                                                                First Runners Donald and Daisy at my Checkpoint were chased very closely by the winner Ricky Lightfoot a  local lad from Cumbria.

The conditions at the checkpoint did not change until all the runners were heading back off the mountain onto the trails to finish back in Keswick

Fist lady was Victoria Mousley, an old friend re-aquainted from many years ago. Its a strange world we live in.

Off they went into the mists this was a good test of folks navigation and mountain running and some fast trail running back to Keswick.

Joe and I met up at Styhead as we swept the mountain to make sure all the runners were safe and off the mountain. 

 There are also some pictures on my Facebook Page 

For a full selection of pictures I managed to take CLICK HERE.

Dan Snow The History Man on Helvellyn

   On a very wet windy gusts of 45mph sort of day in Cumbria. A very different day to the 22C we had only the day previous We shared an iconic ridge with Dan Snow  The History Man from BBC TV's The One Show 


   Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were asked to give some advice on this aspirationl lakeland edge during the filming along with one of the Fell Top weather assessors Jason who was leading Dan on one of his usual routes to the Summit of the third highest mountain in England. 
 This is Mike Blakey the Team Leader of Patterdale, whose dog, Moss, has become a SARDA search dog. Again this is an entirely volunteer run search and rescue service 24 hrs 365 days a year. The SARDA training is very extensive and commiting providing an invaluable addition to Mountain Rescue. Well worth supporting along with Mountain Rescue Basecamp








The rain started early on as we met at Greenside Mine. Have a look at some of Greenside history it makes for interesting reading and helped shaped the Ullswater valley and make it what it is today. Filming started on the way up in the heavy rain. Never an easy thing for all concerned as you can see from the expression  on Keela the dogs' face. We set up a KISU for the film crew and Dan Snow to settle down in at Red Tarn for some lunch. This lasted longer than we thought as we rechecked the howling conditions from the warmth of the shelter.          We sat out the storm chatting and telling stories while the KISU shelter rattled around our heads. This lightweight, relatively inexpensive pieces of outdoor kit should be always packed in your bag. They really are lifesavers and can turnaround a cold and demoralised party very quickly once inside.

 Once the weather started to clear a little ie winds gusting to 20mph Dan and the film crew and Jason moved up onto Striding Edge to film some more.

I was not guiding on this one and wasn't needed as MRT member so Simon, Mike, Francis and I went back to the valley. As I normally work as an IML all over the world especially in the Lake District its normally me that would be leading so I went to watch and take photos as the clouds scudded over the ridge.

         Dan & Jason moving along the edge Red Tarn to their right Nethermost Cove to the left.

 The mist rolls by as they disappear toward the summit of Helvellyn. 

Have a look out on the One Show for Dan and Jason's Adventures and if you would like to stride out on the edge hope you get in contact soon