Hallsfell Ridge on Blencathra was in full winter condition on the rocky section above 600 metres last Saturday. (17th Feb). Dolly, Steve M, Paul and I prayed hard for the mist to lift, but it didn’t. The narrow top of the ridge is an entertaining scramble with axe and crampons.… Continue reading
The MWIS forecast for Lakes for 11 February 2018 was marginal at best, with words like “frequently appalling” cropping up. Nevertheless, a French-American team of Antoine Marnat, Lucile Boust and Andrew Mirelman piled into the van and left York at 7am. While scanning the BBC radio waves for the elusive… Continue reading
There was a very poor forecast (almost) everywhere. So it was time for a day in the Far East (of the Grampians). Paul and I have long served our time in the high Cairngorms, so we were happy to find an alternative to Saturday’s 100 mph gusts and driving rain.… Continue reading
Reports from Helvellyn were of snowdrifts 1500 mm deep, and some avalanche potential. But on the opposite side of Patterdale, the less-frequented Place Fell offered an ascent on more scoured windward slopes, (i.e. on the mountain’s western side) a lesser elevation avoiding the deepest snow, and a pleasant circuit of… Continue reading
By Loch T During the first half of October, Ang and I climbed Kilimanjaro. The trip out was uneventful but the long wait for a connecting flight at Addis was tedious. The walk itself was pretty good. As you ascend you pass through five different zones cultivated forest moorland… Continue reading
I recently spent a week in Scotland, for a spot of walking and climbing, and was delighted to be joined by a number of companions along the way: The drive up to Inverness is a fairly long one, but one thing I take heart from is the point when you… Continue reading
The Lakes of Vens looked impossibly beautiful. High in the mountains at 2400 metres the three blue-green pools lie in a hanging valley surrounded by sensationally jagged ridges, overlooked by a small Club Alpine Francais refuge. We spent most of the afternoon failing to take good enough pictures, and were… Continue reading
July and August came showery and uncertain. In July Angela and I were steered by the weather to the east of the A9 where the vast plateau of A’Bhuidheanach Beag and Carn na Caim is notable chiefly for its emptiness. Even in clear weather, the navigation should not be under-estimated.… Continue reading
Piz Badile & other adventures in the Bregaglia Maria and I took Ruby the campervan over to the Alps for a couple of weeks in July, with the North Ridge of the Piz Badile being the main objective. Our preparation wasn’t the best, with Maria having injured her shoulder falling off… Continue reading
Continuing our club tradition stretching over 20 years, May Day is often the time to take a step off the beaten track, in a wee tent or a cosy bothy (before the midges awaken…..). Watching deer from the front door, red squirrels on the track, gathering wood in the gloaming,… Continue reading
