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.

Why we need to have the right kit for the job

For my job I have to make sure that my PPE (personal protective equipment) is as good as it can be, the fit and the functionality. I choose my kit to help me stay as warm and as dry as possible, very difficult when we live in a warm, wet, martime climate; as the last months worth of weather has shown.

I try and use the best that's available and most of this mimics some of the worlds most adapted animals for their environments. Outdoor kit has come on leaps since the token woolly jumper

Here are two articles by leading scientists gear and outdoors people. Taken from UKC one of the website dedicated to the outdoors and its supporters.

Part 1 http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=5105

Part 2 http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=5163

As an enjoyable addition to these have a look at http://innovation-for-extremes.net/gear-timezone/

Enjoy the articles and have a look at your wardrobe and see if its fit for purpose.Then come out on the hills and try some of it out.