New Slings Anyone?

Having just watched this it may be time to have a rethink about your climbing kit
http://www.dmmclimbing.com/video.asp?id=5


Have a look at the video and you decide whether to knot or not??
Take care out there

Cheers

Stuart

Forest Sell Off Campaign

Have a look at this coming up soon on 19th Feb

http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2011/02/02/second-lakeland-rally-in-protest-against-forest-sell-off
Please try and attend go for a ride or a walk also
Cheers

Sunny Start now very windy!

Gone for run but it's very windy nearly blew dog over

High Rigg Vumbria (click on this for map info)

Stuart created a waypoint using MotionX-GPS!

Date: 3 Feb 2011 2:48 pm

Latitude: 54.588307º N

Longitude: 3.071637º W

Altitude: 1,105 ft

I set off from the car in shorts and windproof top. It was only windy and stoill a bit sunny. On reaching the first top I could see the rain/ sleet approaching turned round and dressed in what i had with me in the car. On the way back up I took sevearl pics as I couldnt hold my camera still. 

Have a look at the synoptic chart for the day and you will see why its so windy. I would recommend checking the weather every time you venture out to see what the change will be during the day. 

You're looking at : Today

1000ft Fall and still Map Reading

Here is a very lucky man. Almost seems incredible.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12319952

Remember that its still Winter out there and the ground in the Lakes is still hard. Take winter kit with you and if you are unsure of how to use a map or your other kit please get in touch for a course that can only benefit you.
Take care

The Prophet

In a week where the 17th Jan is said to be Blue Monday. I had a tax return to do and watched a film called the Prophet starring Leo Houdling. Back in the day when I was in Bolton with the glitterati of  80/90's climbing. Paul Pritchard,, Mike Lovatt, Mark Leach, Phil Kelly,  Hank Pasquill,
There was another Prophet known as Tony Preston. I met him at Bolton Climbing wall on a thursday night, ran by Mike Quinn and Deninis Gleeson. I used to run with Tony on the 3 towers and X-Country races and others. Its very sad news that Tony died on 2nd Jan. He will be greatly missed.
Here are some reviews of the original Prophet.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=440770
http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=3368
http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=163315
http://www.ukclimbing.com/photos/search.html?climber=tony+preston

Have a great time doing what you are doing and always do it with a smile.
Cheers

Stuart

Avalanches in the UK

Avalanches do occur in the UK. Here is a picture I took of the remanant of an Avalanche in the Howgills Cumbria after the last thaw we had. Have a look at this article.

http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2011/01/05/mountain-safety-legend-will-open-avalanche-training-centre

This could be a very valuable resource for all mountain users. The use of tranceivers in the UK is becoming more prevalent and should not be disregarded. There have been several accidents this year and last in England alone, along with fatalities.

If you are a serious winter mountaineer consider going on a transceiver course.

Stay safe and enjoy.

Short Walk on Helvellyn

Yesterday Simon, Glen, Steve and myself went for a short walk on Helvellyn. Practising some winter skills of movement and snow/ weather observations. The use of ice axes and a short journey
As you can see the weather detoriated during the day and snow fell on strong westerlies above 400Mtrs
During the day visibility came down and as we dropped back down to the car the snow turned to rain. This will possiblity consolidate the new snow on top of some old snow and ice. Please remember to take full winter kit with you incl map, compass, torch, crampons and ice axe. If you would like to know about turining your Summer skills into Winter Skills do not hesitate to contact me.

Happy Christmas and New Year

Here's wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year. I hope to meet up with you sometime in 2011.
Keep your Adventures In Mind and when you want make them a reality get in touch.

All the best
Stuart

Christmas Eve in the Drug Tank

Christmas Eve and its still cold in the Lakes. -9C at home at 06.30. A quick ring around and although still feeling groggy I met up with Ben, John and Craig at 07.30 for a quick trip up Launchy Gill. A great start saw us ditching our rucksacks and heading up, its a bit weird not carrying a winter sac but liberating. A few teams were ahead of us but as we soloed a few pitches we soon passed them. Good to see Paulo and Dominic in the gyhll. At the main falls we had a play around. I felt the cold a bit after still feeling unwell and warming up and cooling down
After a cuple of hours Craig had to goto work at Cyclewise in Whinlatter, Ben and John carried on to find another gyhll and I came home for a second breakfast.

Le Tour de Helvellyn en Hiver 2010

I have been working with Joe Faulkner of NAV4 on the first running of a potential classic fell run on the shortest weekend of the year. There was heavy snow at the start at 7.30 in the morning but the day brightened. The roads to the checkpoints proved to be very interesting, the temperature during day remained well below zero and was approx -10C at Askham at the finish.

Have a look at the results and more pics on Facebook and NAV4 website. A long cold day for the runners, marshalls, and a sterling job from Lindsey and her mum in the kitchen. Congratulations to Joe for a great job done on the event and the efforts of everyone involved for putting it together.

Skiing on Blencathra

I set off today on a bright and sunny day after some lunch at home andthought about some skiing to exercise me and the dog. Blencathra looked fantastic as I drove into the Lakes. A skin up Scales Fell ridge to the top and back down in time for hot vimto and a brandy snap seemed to fit the bill.

After climbing up to the top of the combe, the cold northerly 20mph wind was blowing the fine powder around. I put on my skins and set off for the summit. It was such a great day, just wearing a pair of Montane terra thermic pants and a Montane Kyrpton Jacket Iwas toasty going up hill. Click on the link to Outdoor Warehouse for technical info on this new jacket, its a fantastic piece of kit with a great hood, that I have worn for all sorts of Adventures!

Some great vistas today the whole of the pennines lakes and southern scotland covered in white. Sadly my camera battery died and I only got shots on the way up. 20 mins back down after a couple of falls that Keela dog thought was great and exciting. There's supposed to be a bit of a thaw towards weekend and then poss a freeze again. It may consolidate the snow I hope so.

Winter Snow Kayak and Canoe

Here is another option for some winter fun. You just need a kayak or canoe or sledge, a slope and a video recorder. Then slide down and walk back up. Half of it is great fun the other half is quite a hot job. Hows your winter fun going? If you are interested in Winter Skills courses in the Lake District there is some great conditions to be sampled. Feel free to get in touch and come and have some safe fun.

Cheers

Stuart

Winter Climb on Helvellyn 30-11-10

On St Andrews day in unusual conditons for the time of year me and Steve decided on an afternoon climb on Helvellyn. It would mean a quick walk in from Glenridding as the roads are quite slippy at the moment. After a quick bite to eat and gearing up I had forgot the guidebook and with very little visibilty from red tarn we had to guess at a route. After a short time we arrived on the summit wind break, a great relief as we had strong easterlies blowing up the gully. Note our iced up faces as spindrift came upwards. Down Swirral Edge and back to the car at 5 just in the dark. If you have any plans to convert your Summer experiences to Winter get in touch as I will be running some Winter Skills courses.

Cheers

Stuart

Sledging On the Lawn

Here I am with Keela my dog having a bit of fun on my front lawn in the first powder snows of winter.

Snow on the Lawn

Here is the sunset over Blencathra in the Lake District today. The snows have arrived and the roads are bad. Please consider your journey and pack acordingly for a safe day out. I will be running some winter skills courses in the Lakes if the snowy conditions continue. For you to transform from Summer walking to Winter safely contact me now.

Take care

Stuart

GYHLL SCRAMBLE VIDEO

A bit of personal Gyhll Scrambling or Gorge walking here in Cumbria. If you want to join in get in touch. Cheers.

Stuart

C2C Oct 2010 Movie

Here is a video I made about a recent C2C coast to Coast Trip on a very wet and windy weekend. Hope you enjoy it.

Outward Bound Old and New

For all the old and new Outward Bound staff and students have a look at this.

Click on the links below.

Big Jack Charlton Ex England 1966 World Cup winner.

Has a Break in the Lakes.

Some great footage.

Stuart

AiM Greenland 2010

Click on the pic to start a slide show of my recent Greenland trip. I was working for BPE Expeditions and was trying some sample Montane kit. I had a good group and I think they will be taking away a great deal from a very cutting edge frontier adventure personal development expedition.

Gyhll Scramble in Lake District

Personal Gyhll Scrambling in the Lake District. Having a great time out, get in touch if you want to come along and enjoy the fun. Enjoy the sunshine and don't waste the water.
Keep up to date and have a look on You Tube for more Adventure In Mind Videos.