Sunny Day on High Seat Borrowdale

Here are a few pics from a gret sunndy day out run with Keela the dog around Bleaberry Fell and High Seat near to Borrowdale in Cumbria.
This is a picture of my thumb nail 3 months and now ready to come off.


Its a very boggy route but has some stunning scenery of the Lake District finest and biggest fells.

Here is the view from the Trig point on High Seat looking toward the Helvellyn range. I was using the Viewranger app on my phone which worked very well. The new path to cut out the boggy sections just took me the wrong way back to Shepherds Crag cafe. Great day out. For a view of all the pictures have a look at https://picasaweb.google.com/117028861008703290070/HighSeatRunSept11
Have a great time in the hills

Mars Scafell May 11

Montane Minimus Test

I was recently sent a great jacket from Montane. Its another in the family of the Kyrpton Jacket, which I had a sample of  but made from Pertex Shield. This is a waterproof and breathable taped seam jacket and weighs only 227gms. As such it makes it suitable for Mountain Marathons such as the OMM, LAMM etc. It small enough and light enough to stuff into a pack or on back of harness for the windy and wet days when you get caught out on the hill or crag. The hood is excellent is takes a helmet easily and the closure keeps out the elements. The styling is great with a vivid green and contract red zip, available in other colours. Its minimalistic as the name suggests and sports only one very well thought out pocket with compass/key D ring attachment. The cuffs are velcro closed to keep out the wet stuff. Reflective patches will be useful for the night user. Its another "must have" jacket from Montane. Look out for it in my pictures of my adventures...

Adidas Terrex Race

Here is the full 50 min video of The Adidas Terrex race that I worked on last August.

http://www.dreamteamtelevision.co.uk/view-programmes/adventure-sports/adidas-terrex/
Get yourself a cup of tea and a biscuit and enjoy!

IML Meet

This weekend was the IML meet in the Langdale. We practised some rope work, met some new people and had a good time in the rain
Nice to meet Anne, Mike his partner Caroline and Tim. Hopefully there will be more time to arrange an Autumn meet before the BAIML AGM in December. Thank you to Trekmates for their support and gifts. 

Scafell Pike Trip

Here are a few pics from my quick trip up Scafell Pike today in the sunshine; back down for lunch at home.
Plenty of the wildlife feeling the heat have a look at the happy sheep and the tap and the dogs in the water.  A little bit of snow still in the gully on Great End.
Bumped into Kate from Mountain Life at Reghed on her way up as we were coming down. It was a little bit hazy on the top and we couldn't quite see the Isle of Man or North Wales. Had a great run down and a good recce for a group coming up with me soon. If you have a 3 peaks adventure in mind please let me know.

Warm Day on the Roman Way Lake District

Out with Joe of Nav4 and Tara and the two dogs Keela and Oscar. Joe doing some training and Recceing of the Montane 100 We met up for a cup of tea and a muffin before setting off on the east lakeland section of the route. Its quite a warm day hence Joe  in a vest!

We set off from near Pooley Bridge and walked over Arthurs Pike and Loadpot Hill on some lovely dry conditions. Finishing up at the head of Haweswater. Great day out and good laugh. 

Tara doing some left footed kicking. Not working too well ....
Joe trying to sort out a biscuit problem
Our carriage awaits as we arrive at Haweswater approximately 4 hours later. Thanks Lyndsey. More tea and muffins needed before we can enjoy the rest of St Georges day.

A Sent Email

From John Hamer after a recent NAV4 training course. He had recently completed the Highlander Mountain Marathon. Video on the site or here
"Hi guys,

I'm just back from the Highlander MM.  Had a fantastic time, and learned heaps (mostly what not to do next time!)  The course was tougher than I expected, with some decidedly tricky checkpoints.  Finding a "safe" descent from the top of a 70m cliff is not easy!  The organisers also seem to think it's funny to occasionally hide a checkpoint kite behind rocks.

We made a couple of minor mistakes, one terrible one (costing us about 45 minutes of painful backtracking!), but had a success here and there.  Most importantly, we finished!

Thanks heaps, Stu.  Your skills course made a huge difference, can't imagine how I could have done the event without it."

A great reply and good to hear some of the magic has worked. Thank you very much John

QR Barcodes

Here is a new way to use your smart phone and log onto this blog

This is a great new tool for a speedy instant access to this blog. You could try and download an iphone app for QR readers such as this.

 http://itunes.apple.com/app/i-nigma-4-qr-datamatrix-barcode/id388923203?mt=8

or for Android Phones

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.threegvision.products.inigma.Android

Happy new technology and get in touch soon

Great Site for Cumbrian Fell Walking Fans

Have a look at Online Fellwalking Club if you have an interest in fellwalking and the Wainwrights.

Lots of interesting stuff going on. Go get involved.

Navigation Practice in Lake District

Jon Gupta decided to call in on his way to Scotland for his Winter ML Assessmentat Glenmore Lodge.
There has bee some great snow in the Cairngorms recently.
We went out onto some bleak featureless hills. Sadly no snow to be seen but some challenging navigation terrain. We went round a progressive course and then back for tea and medals (nutella really!). Had a great day chatting and catching up and best of wishes to Jon, Ben and Bruce. I think they are all on same assessment.
Navigaton courses to suit your ability and a time to suit you can be arranged please feel free to contact me.

Wainwrights Fells update

Have a look at this for  a new wainwrights map

UKHillwalking.com

This is a great representation of the classic map. If you are able to use it to navigate around with please let us know. .

Spying onSunny Day in The lake District Cumbria with MTB Cut and Cycleactive

Whilst out for a run on Barton Fell near to the beautiful Ullswater Valley on a brilliant Spring like sunny day. I bumped into Chris and Rich from Cycleactive doing some filming with MTB Cut.  Their backdrop was fantastic with a small patchwork of snow on Helvellyn in the distance. I think there will be some skills videos possibly for production in the near future. One to look out for! I left them to it to complete my run checking sites for upcoming NAV4 event.

Groups in gorges - reconciling conservation and recreation

Have a look at this alternative view of gorge walking canyoneering and kayaking venues. It gives a wider insight to the natural environment that we need to protect and promote. As an activity its one the best to have fun adventure and also find out about some of the rarest areas of our uplands. Share the best practice and Enjoy.

MTB and Adventure Stuff

In the middle of winter, with 17 hours of darkness, 500 competitors head north of Inverness for one of the world's toughest mountain bike races - the Strathpuffer 24-hour marathon.
Have a watch here 

Also have a look at the other episodes in the series its a great show and we dont have one like it in England.
Also somewhere on it is Joe from NAV4. See if you can spot him? Jules Fincham from Cyclewildscotland is also there at about 30mins in

Sad News

Here is some sad news about a controversial figure in Cumbria
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-12685523

This is a picture from the OMM 2008, which Mr Weir had an invvolvement with. This is me crossing the bridge to Black Sail YHA before I found out my car had been written off in Borrowdale

WGL Assessment

WGL Assessment

Hi all
anybody interested in doing a WGL assessment on 4-7 April in the Lakes?

Have a look at http://www.bluedome.co.uk/jobs/whatswhat/wlg-award.html for further info on criteria

and http://www.adventures.org.uk/product...tegoryID=31945 for a booking form
Cheers

Heb Challenge with Helen Skelton

Have a look at this http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/zg1pc/
This is a BBC program Country Tracks presented by #HelenSkeltonUk and shows the beauty and wilderness that is part of the UK.

She tags along with my mate Joe Faulkner of NAV4 fame and the other  racers for a day taster.
Have a look at the website for dates of courses and events coming up.
Cheers

Skiing in France

Well its time to pack for a rare ski holiday to celebrate Tara's 40th Birthday.
We are going to Samoens
Have a great time while we away.


Just a thought for you
I can't believe it, I just got assaulted in the street by a deaf, dumb and blind man. What a senseless a attack.

Capt Kirk meets Leo Houlding meets Plato

This is the interview that created the rap. It is now in all in perspective of why I and many others out there love our jobs and hobbies. We all boldy go to infinity and beyond to make love to that mountain.....

Enjoy