January Night Navigation Course

At the start of January in the Lakes we can never really state what the weather will be from year to the next. So I was watching the weather for the first of many events coming up with a MTA and BAIML slant  to them. As the day dawned the weather was for once looking dry and clear until about 17.00, just as we would be out on the hill practicing our Night Navigation. :(

Andy Turner from Stockport arrived full of the joys after Xmas. I first met him on a NAV4 course along with his wife Tara, he has completed loads of Ironman events. Navigation is new to him and he's very keen to learn and great to have a long. Ian also from Cheshire came up for the weekend as part of experience for completing his Summer ML possibly later in the year Have a look at Striding Ahead to catch up with Ian and Gareth on some great adventures. 

 We set off in the dry as forecast into the Landgale fells starting with some macro navigation to get our eye clicked into the scale and features.

As we went  up hill steadily ticking off features and the contour interpretations. We bumped into Kate from The Epicentre Ambleside who was on her way down from a greasy solo of Jacks Rake. She reminded us of the onset of the rain and noted that Ian was wearing a new Sherpa Waterproof Jacket. As she took our picture she depleted my battery!!

As we arrived at the dam of Stickle Tarn the gloom was gathering and the winds whistling at 35+mph We set off into the gloom with map and compass and our layers on. A great night for testing winter gear, torches gloves and waterproofs. I was using a Suprabeam , Ian and Andy where using Petzls MYO. In these conditions of very limited visibility and driving rain it was very difficult to pick any features out.

We managed five hours out and then had an "etch-a-sketch" route back to the tarn. It was now time to head back down for a liquid debrief.

A great night out with folk very willing to learn.Thank you and if you would like to get out for further MTA BAIML or development of your mountain skills please get in touch and look out on my Facebook page and on twitter @aimcourses

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.

Nav4 TDH Dec 22 2012

This year is the 3rd year of the annual event of the Tour De Helvellyn. Organised by Joe and I from the NAV4 with a lot of help from the whole team. Its traditionally run on the shortest weekend of the year, this year was very close to Xmas and we wondered if people would get a pass out to do it. Its fast becoming a classic in the calender as the weather in the past years has been a massive factor in the days events. This year proved no exception being forecast as "serious winds and rain" the south of England was battered by storms.

 Its  not a standard fell run or trail race drawing on traditions from the LDWA and Orinteering . You have to have some navigation experience you also need some cunning as to plan your start time between 07.00-09.00. NB daylight is at premium and therefore you need to suit your speed to the day. Patterdale Checkpoint (10 Mile) opens at 09.30. I was tasked to kit check again this year and folk were very patient as we try to be fair but keep a level of integrity to the rules. Last year I cheekily asked one person "what was on his butty's" as I would see them at Chk 3 and could help lighten the pack. This year people were volunteering to show me their buttys and survival bags etc. I didnt get to eat any though as it was very wet at the bridge.

Thanks to the people who gave me a hug shook my hand or said thanks its very appreciated especially after 3.5 hrs  in those conditions.

 Some pics from the route. Rachael after trying to sabotage the event. Achille Ratti lads

Bradden still smiling famous for it now. Well done Kim Collinson for going very quick but well done all for pushing him around.

 Trail Running Magazine editor Claire Maxted nicked my brew in an Eden Runners mug at the finish.


A great picture of two of the original Dragons Back finishers from 1992. Martin Stone and Helene Whittaker won it and Joe himself did himself proud this year again.

 More pics can be found here on my Picasa page if you click on this pic. on the right

See you in 2013 at another event?

Nearly the OMM time again

This is the Bridge on the way to Blacksail YHA on the 2008 OMM

Not long now till the @theomm in howling howgills. remember 08 in borrowdale but with wind.  Then you have the Howgills. Big round hills steep climbs and tough decents. The Rab MM was there in 2009 and it doesnt get easier. 

Have a look on the OMM website for more details I think this is my 18th event and hoping to do 21??

This is last years video from Scotland I had a technical problem. answers on a postcard please
Watch out for updates from Adventure In Mind

Ancient Cumbrian and Viking Byways

On a wet day after sitting plotting and scheming with  Joe Faulkner from Nav4 we decided that our eyes were getting square and Keela dog needed a walk. I brought Joe a Tyvek jacket to try out. They look a bit funky and its not writeable what Lindsey said he looked like in it... I was running in one in a cloudy wet windy night and it worked well.
There are many uses for Tyvek try it out on You Tube or Wikipedia

Watch this space on further tests and uses.

So we set off on a new route for me and went by some ancient byways to stretch our legs. We set off towards Ullswater and ended up at Dacre Church  As early as AD 731, the Venerable Bede, in his Ecclesiastical History, speaks of a monastery at Dacre, written as 'Dacore'. There is no later reference to the monastery, and it is assumed to have been destroyed by the Vikings. A church, however, has been present on the site for over a millennium. Archaeological excavations support the view that the church may be built on the site of the former monastery.

The present church is a Norman design. Several notable archaeological remains are at the site. These include various stone bears - the celebrated 'Dacre Bears', and inside the church two fragments of Viking crosses. Above the tower doorway, there is a plaque stating that the church was partly rebuilt by William Pollock. The south door has a large lock dated 1671 inscribed 'AP', referring to the Countess of Pembroke, Lady Anne Clifford The resting place of Viscount Whitelaw, the former Home Secretary, is in the church grounds.

Joe and Keela looking at the quadrangular walls 

 Dacre Castle was a quadrangular building with four turrets, a pele tower design, and built around the time of Henry VII. The castle was restored as a private dwelling in 1688. By 1816 it was being used as a farmhouse. The castle is presently in an excellent state of restoration. It featured in 2007 in Robbie Coltrane's ITV series, "Incredible Britain", where he travelled from Glasgow to London in a classic 1958 Jaguar XK 150 using only minor roads.

A classic gate post in the grounds of Dalemain House This is the site of the start of the now classic Lakes 50 and half way around the 100 mile route. Come have a look at some history if you are around recceing the course or just in the area. 

Cold Crisp day on Blencathra Oct 2012

 A great day out in cold crisp clear and somewhat warm day on Blencathra. Jonny Sarah Keela and Talli and I went up Halls Fell Ridge to the summit.


 Keela and Talli loved the ridge and showed off their scrambling skills.
 We met this bloke in Tweed and  tie on the summit. Great to see standards are still being kept to.


A cold wind was blowing on the summit but the views were fantastic today.

Dragons Back Race

 Here are some of my pics from Dragons Back race. If you use them please credit them, if you would like to give a donation for the pic 50% of that will go to Mountain Rescue. Please use Paypal and pay stumpysmith@yahoo.com 

Thank you

Helene and Steve this years winners at the finish point at a sunny Castle Cennan in Wales


Click on this link below for the drop box collection
https://www.dropbox.com/home/Dragons%20Back%20Sept%202012
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/snylge3x0r8eyng/HJlfp-K_DW

CTC and The Railways

Cycling in the 1950's was a very pleasant affair. Railway trips also "got you there" and were accommodating. The roads were also a joy to be out on. Can we try this again soon please?

 how about a tour out and about with your mates?

Great stuff.
if you wanted off road stuff try this

its tough up north.... 

Japan CCHS 2012

Here are some pictures of a recent trip to Japan with BPE ltd and a great group from CCHS School
https://picasaweb.google.com/117028861008703290070/JapanCCHS2012

We met up with some people and went to help out with some post Tsunami work with
Its not Just Mud at a devastated Ishonomaki.
Please help them out if you are able

We also met Hirsohi Hamatani. A great bloke who was very helpful, with great english and a keen knowledge of Outdoor Experiences. If you need any help while out in the Japanese Northern Alps get in touch.

Hope you like them? A great experience with  great group of girls from CCHS who I  wish all the best. More reports to follow.

Smartphone Scan

If you are using Facebook and have an iphone or Android phone and you want to keep up to date with Adventure In Mind scan this to "like" our page

Click this link to generate a QR code for yourself 

 Click to download the i-nigma iphone app 

Click to download the i-nigma Android app

Click to download the i-nigma Blackberry app

QR codes are now seen everywhere and have a load of uses 

Diamond Jubilee MTB Elastic Time Accident

Just going out for a Jubilee MTB Ride with Sarah and Rich we thought we would do the Glenderaterra route.
It was a warm day and we set off from Keswick along the old railway line. A busy route with lots of C2C riders and day trippers out about. Not 4km along Rich stopped suddenly to avoid a dog, I braked hard and went over the handlebars. I remember very lucidly thinking I need to unclip my feet, along with seeing the floor zoom up to me. I had a crunching feeling as I landed squarely on my nose and my left hand. Strange how time becomes elastic at times like this?

It broke my glassess and the peak of my helmet.

The people with the dog said nowt not even sorry but stood gawping as the blood sped down my face. Sarah went back for the car Rich and I went onto Threlked to get picked up.













20 Mins biking and 6 hrs in A&E later

a bit cleaner but unable to stitch or glue due to dirt. I now have concussion, whiplash, stiff neck and back and a swollen painful left hand. 

No biking for a while..