Photo Shoot with Berghaus on Helvellyn

Five go Mad on a Mountain (and a Dog)

Photo Shoot with Berghaus 

On Sunday I was asked to go along as the safety person to accompany the Berghaus photo shoot on Helvellyn. 

We met in a very wet and windy Glenridding with the Athletes and local photographer Stuart Holmes from Keswick. 

While we drank tea, ate cake and waited for the strong winds and rain to disappear we managed to catch up with Steve Birkinshaw, Charlie Sharpe, Jo Zakrzewski all world class elite athletes and looking to take part in the Dragons Back Race in 2015. 

Stuart got into the swing of things early on as we left the village making the guys warm up by running up and down the road. 

After this we set off to the hills now covered with a new layer of snow still with strong winds but easing later in the day. 

Only two days before I had been up Helvellyn as part of the safety checks for the Lakes Mountain 42  organised by NAV4 Adventure  in +19C in shorts and T Shirt with Keela my dog. 

24 Hours later the weather had changed abit and was now -2C and 35mph winds.

Our day was forecast for continuing strong winds rain and snow clearing in the afternoon. Charlie is know for wearing shorts and managed to stay like this all day. 

Jo sadly had to leave early her excuse was that Poldark was on at 9 and she need ed time to get ready for all the smouldering from the TV.

We carried on with Stuart and Angela, from Berghaus, directing the runners all over dressing them like a doting mother and looking after Keela

 

We were fortunate with the weather later in the day. 

Notice the wind on Ullswater making a very un-natural looking break point near Outward Bound.

Our day topped safely out on the summit for the obligatory summit selfies and 

We then continued Northwards along the ridge  avoiding the cornice and the areas of small avalanches. capturing the fantastic light at the end of the day

A great day with a safe circuit of one of the iconic fells in the Lake District with a great group of talented world class athletes getting ready to take on further challenges. 

I am able to help out with safety cover for any of your events worldwide do contact me.

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