More excitement.

I'm camping out later this week with Rixy.

Hopefully heading for Scafell and Scafell Pike. Would love to have done it with the whole group, but wanted to include a camp...this is the only date available this month due to other commitments, the next 2 months are a definate NO, as the Wife is due to give birth at the end of September...and November/December will be too cold for us lacking experience :-D

So, camping it is...and then at the end of the week, a ridiculously early start as I'm covering First Aid at the Yorkshire Dales Walking Festival.

I'll update as soon as I can, and will hopefully have some great pictures of the camp.

Snowdon Nigh Walk: Success

Well, we did it!

Yeah I know, a little surprising.
Don't get me wrong, we're capable, just not very experienced.

It all started a few weeks back, when Steven decided we were doing Snowdon for the night walk.
I got my planning head on, checked routes, and arranged the date suitable for us all.
Game on!

The four of us grew to 6, then the day before it was back down to 4. No worries, didn't know the other 2 too well anyway.
The plan was to be on the way by 20:00, arrive at 23:00 and set off up to the summit at 00:00.
The sunrise was going to be 04:50 on the day, we wanted to be there for it and these timings gave us plenty of time for any 'what if's'

Friday came, the excitement brewing more than it had done throughout the week.

The bag had been packed, unpacked and checked and repacked already...but we'll just double check it eh?
I checked the bus over, gave her some go-go juice and some air in the tyres, then bribed everybody with biscuits to set off early. Dave and Rixy rolled over like a dog, Steve had better things to do, but was ready by 18:40. I picked Steve up, then Dave and then Rixy. We set off in some of the best weather we have had all year, it was hitting 26 deg c in our neck of the woods!

The drive down was as amusing as I expected, and by the time we got there our ribs were hurting with laughter. Seriously though, imagine if a Crayfish was the size of a dog!

We have arrived. Now don't get me wrong, I expected there to be a few other people to be there, but not so many! There were only a hand-full of parking spaces left. We managed to get a good one (right at the bottom of the Miners Path), that wasn't cramped, which enabled us to spread our kit all over the place and give us room to Kung-Fu fight the midges away.

Looking up the Miners Path with 'Green Eyes'

There was a faint mist in the air, but this wasn't going to put us off in the slightest. It was still warm, and we all opted to pack the fleeces away and set off in short sleeves.

I popped over to the parking meters, £5 for 4 hours or £10 for 24 hours At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask when he robbed people. The time was 23:15 ish on the 5th or July. I was happy to listen to my 10 pound coins slide into the pockets of the government and issue me with a ticket that expired at 23:59 on the 5th of July!!! WHAT THE HELL???

What irked me more-so was the fact that some people hadn't even bothered with a ticket, yet me who had the decency to do so was robbed of a little more than 23 hours parking.
There's no way I was going to drop another tenner in there, so I took the risk that if I had being issued a ticket, I could argue the toss seeing as the ticket showed the issue time.

So, we set off, up the Pyg track.
Here's where we started comparing torches.
Steven and I had LED Lenser H7 copies. I think mine was a good find at £15 delivered from Ebay...and the light from them is amazing! Rixy had a 22 LED miners lamp and Dave had an Energizer head lamp and Tesco £15 Cree LED torch.

Despite the variations, none of them were better than the others. We weren't trying to land on a runway, we were trying to climb a mountain. They all lit up the path in front of us enough to be able to see where we were walking.

I knew the beginning was supposed to be a little testing, but didn't expect it to climb so much, so quickly. Never mind, it was easy going and easy to follow really.
We saw a few trains of head torches coming down the mountain. Somebody asked if we were doing the 3 Peaks, erm, no, we're actually just idiots out for a night walk!
We carried on going until we hit the junction with the path up Crib Goch. Here's where I wanted to turn right...but seeing as I had 3 friends with me who insisted it was a ridiculously stupid idea, we headed off further on the Pyg track.
It was pitch black, we couldn't make anything out more than 50 feet in front of us. That was until Steve and Rixy dug out their night vision. This stuff is amazing. We could see Llyn Llydaw in the bottoms, which was futher away than I expected.

Further on this track, the going got tougher. It was easily do-able, but we lost the path a few times. We could see it ahead of us, and we knew where we had come from, but it just seemed to disappear. I dare say that in day light it would have being easy to see where it was going.

We had to take a short rest because Dave and Rixy were scared after seeing a light about 30 feet in front of them. They described it as a meteor...but if it was, and it was so close, we would have been dead.

Ste and I didn't see it, but then again we aren't fantasists haha. Whatever it was, it was a talking (piss taking) point for a while.

We carried on another mile and a bit then took a break for a snack and to recover a little (the heat was terrible despite it being the very early hours of the morning).
The ascent started up to the peak and it was steep. It was at this point  I realised my boots were hurting my feet. We stopped for a(nother) breather, and for me to check them out.

Thank the Lord above for Compeed. This is the first time I have had to use it, and I will never be without it again. (I've since invested in some new boots and some 1000 mile socks)

Once my feet had been patched we carried on up the zig zags towards the top. I was just telling Steve that there would soon be a view when Rixy, who was a couple of hundred yards in-front, shouted down 'Oh my god, there's a view here!'

As the track meets the Llanberis path, there's quite a good view of Llanberis and Caernarfon all lit up in the night. The night vision was let loose again, and the mist in the valleys was stunning. It was kinda creepy too in a way. Looking around, things were looking good for a clear summit at this point.

We carried on up the track towards the summit station.

We were going to head straight for some shelter from the wind to brew up, but it would have been rude not to visit the summit first.

We got there and set the camera up for the obligatory trig point shot.

Obligatory Trig Poing Shot

We probably spent 20 minutes up there, just taking it all in, looking around at what there was to see, and being eaten by the clouds. It was a strange experience watching whisps of cloud heading towards you and consuming one another.

As we had been climbing up on the lee side of the mountain, any prevailing weather had dissipated...but being stood on the summit and looking towards the windward side of the mountain brought on a different type of weather. The clouds were blowing up and there was a damp mist in the air.

We went down to the summit station to have food and drinks. I opted for an MOD All Day Breakfast, Coffee, Oat Bars and an Oatmeal Block with ration pack Peanut Butter. Heck, I was full.

We had to try be quiet here, as there were so many people trying to sleep (around half a dozen in sleeping bags and another few like us). We didn't particularly want to be noisy, but we were elated being up there.

Dave catching some Zzz's at the Summit Station

As we sat there pondering (Dave sleeping) it began to get a little lighter. We headed off to the summit to ensure we got a prime spot before the world ascended on us. As it happens, we needn't have bothered as there were probably only another 6 people there for the sunrise. We sat down waiting. Making sure the cameras were pointing in the right direction.

We sat there. Waiting, watching. What can only be described as a defining moment of the trip, the sun started to rise. The warming orange glow in the clouds, The sky getting lighter and our surroundings becoming more apparent.
It was cool watching the clouds form and then dissipate over the hill in light, fluffy whisps.
It's really hard to take describe as I just sat there taking it all in.

I have to admit, although the sun was coming up quite quickly, I was getting rather bored waiting now, and wanted to head down (to get back before a parking ticket???)

I pushed Steve into finishing up quickly with his time lapse video (he should be a little more firm in future as his video is cut too short haha)

We headed back down the Llanberis path, onto the Pyg and then down to the Miners. How the hell we managed it I'll never know, but we strolled off path and onto a scree slope. Never mind, we could manage it, we were just tired enough to not want it.

We hobbled and complained all the way down the slope until we hit Glaslyn. This was a ripple free mirror image of Snowdon...with the cloud forming at the peak. We were happy to look back and realise we had probably grasped the only half an hour of clear views from the summit.
From here the walk was quite easy, very picturesque...but very boring. I just wanted to get my head down and get back the the motor.
It was a straight forward path down to Llyn Llydaw and then back to the motor. The clouds forming on the surface of the water were a breathtaking sight.
Hopefully the pictures will paint the picture that this walk deserves?

We got back to the van...NO TICKET. Bonus, but they need to adjust their parking meters to prevent this (in my eyes anywah)
The car park was full, and there were 3 or 4 cars waiting on the road to get in. We changed our boots, threw the kit in the back and then headed off home.
Not without a stop at McDonalds for a breakfast of course!

Destination Yorkshire Dales

Well, this Sunday we are planning on either Pen-Y-Ghent or Ingleborough.

It looks like it might be a cold one so I'll be digging around in my kit to see what I have.

Fortunately, I found my North Face windproof fleece this weekend, which I haven't seen all year, so that'll be getting used.

The weather for the week is below freezing temperatures, a risk of fog, and some snow showers.

How we'll be effected won't be know until the end of the week, but I don't really care. I'll be out there regardless.

Again, it's down to me and Rixy. All the others  have 'prior engagements', but I'm sure they're just too soft for the weather.

I might look into the possibility of doing both together, but I'm thinking not due to our lack of experience and the short days.

I'm hoping it will be clear. Cold I can cope with, but fog I can do without.

Anyway, keep your eyes peeled, I'll be posting up a trip report when we're back. Now, what to have for lunch while we're up there?

Pen-Y-Ghent

Ingleborough

The Bagging List

I guess every hiker has a bagging list?
I do, and it includes many of the highest peaks of the UK, Ben Nevis, Scafell, Snowdon etc.

So why do I want to do them?

I decided, not long since, that I want to get back into walking. I decided that a walk around the park wasn't good enough any longer. I wanted to get back into walking, which I did with my old man some 20 years ago, at the age of 13/14. I also have some personal mountains to climb.
I'm not entirely sure what these personal mountains are yet, but on the few walks I have done, I have felt a sense of achievement, a sense of being 'on top of the mountain'.
I always feel good after a hike, no matter how hard it was.

My outlook, was to start with Simons Seat, as I remember this being the first hill I climbed with my Dad, and at 1500ft it shouldn't be too hard?
My Brother and I had a failed attempt at the beginning, which he is unfortunately still suffering from!
The second attempt, a success.
The second attempt was a success in a few different ways. A group of 5 of us 'bonded' in the good old fashion of walking together, only 2 of them knew each other, but they were all friends of mine. We made the round trip in one piece. We made it to the top in horrible weather, all things considered.
It was a success, and I was happy.

The next Peak on my list was going to be one of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, Pen-Y-Ghent, Ingleborough, or Whernside. Only 1 of the group could make it, Rixy, and he was one of the more experienced. We chose Whernside as he had done it before, but I hadn't.

Whernside has been done. Another 'achievement unlocked' for me - walking in the snow.
It wasn't bad snow, but I had a grin like a Cheshire Cat inside my hood.
Rixy was a great walking partner, and we had some very, very random topics of conversation.

So back on to my 'Bagging List'...

We have done Simon's Seat @ 15000ft
We have done Whernside @ 2415ft
I think the next should be either Pen-Y-Ghent @ 2277ft or Ingleborough @ 2372ft
Also on my list, I have;
Scafell @ 3163ft and Scafell Pike @ 3209ft
I have Helvelynn @ 3117ft, via Striding Edge of course.
Skiddaw @ 3054ft
Great Gable @ 2949ft
Pillar @ 2927ft
Blencathra @ 2848
Crinkle Craggs @ 2818ft
Coniston Old Man @ 2635ft
Buckden Pike @ 2303ft
Kinder Scout @ 2807ft
Gragareth @ 2057ft

At some point, I also want to complete Ben Nevis @ 4409ft and Snowdon @ 3560ft.

(All heights shamelessly stolen from THIS wonderful website)

Now, these are on my list for the simple reason that I want to do them. I'm sure there are many more peaks, many more beautiful walks, but this is about me climbing mountains!
When I figure out what the mountains are that I'm climbing, I'll be sure to let you know.

Once these are finished? Well who knows eh!
So far, 3 walks in, and I'm loving it. I already have dates planned for next year, and plan on getting at least 18 peaks in, a night walk, and the Yorkshire 3 Peaks for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

I'll point out at this point, that I am fully aware I'm a novice walker, I have mediocre gear, and little experience (although pretty good knowledge)  of what I am doing.
I don't plan on going un-prepared. As my buddies will tell you, I'm usually over prepared.

I'll leave you with a few pics now. I've blatantly stolen these from Google Images.
While searching for them, it became apparent, that when you climb mountains, you have a clear picture of what is out there.

Striding Edge

Coniston

Snowdon, Crib Goch

From what I know, this is Crib Goch, a route up Snowdon. I did this back in '92 with my old man. I would have been 13 years old. I've never seen it from this angle before because it was COVERED in cloud when we did it. Good job really, it looks scary haha!

Into the clouds.

Well, that's Whernside done.

We arrived at the Ribblehead parking area in good spirits (as always) and donned our gear.

Looking up to the peak, there was a bit of clour cover, but it wasn't going to put us off.

Rixy and I set off walking, he kept telling me how bad a walk it was going to be.

As he said, no point sugar coating it haha.

As we went past Blea Moor signal box, the cloud cover seemed to dissipate from the peak a bit, thankfully, as I wouldn't want to get to the top and not have a view, would I?

 

The going was steady for the beginning, with a few simple stream crossings, that added to the sight seeing I guess. We then hit the hill and slowly wandered up, stopping every now and then to take a breather and take in the views around us.

On the way up, Rixy saw a Collie that looked like Richard Gere. Strangely enough, I saw the resemblance! (I'll point out now that if I told you about ALL the random conversations we had, we would probably be hunted down, put in a straight jacket, and locked in a padded room)

We got a spot of drizzle just before we hung a left, and over the stile.

From my point of view, the going got a bit easier here. Still uphill, but somewhat less strenuous.

I mentioned stopping for a quick snack, and Rixy said 'Just over the next hill then, there's plenty of rocks to sit on'.

When he said plenty, he meant one or two!

 

We sat down and I put my waterproof on, just to keep the wind out. I've been collecting Army ration packs of late, as they are pretty good in my opinion, so I gave the yeast extract, on biscuits brown a go.

NEVER AGAIN! Hell that stuff is foul, I doubt even Bear Grylls would touch it. Fortunately, I have some 'Fruit Spread-Strawberry' as back-up, that went down a treat.

As we were more or less ready for setting off again, it started to hail. Instead of re-packing the waterproof, I kept it on. Good move.

As we trudged on, the hail started coming down, and then the snow flakes.

Now, this may sound a little childish even a little stupid to some people, but it put a HUGE smile on my face. I said to myself that despite the weather, I was going to walk as often as possible, as often as family life allowed. I wanted to walk in snow, it was just something I wanted to do.

When walking as a kid/young teenager with my old man, it was always just Summer walking. I have wanted to do a bit of Winter walking for years, and this was the start of it.

As we wandered further on we stopped to take in the fact that the cloud base was just there, right in front of us, 50 yeards up.

We kept our heads down at this point, as it was getting quite bleak, and cold.

When we hit the summit, it let off a little (but not much). We got into one of the wind breaks up there. There was another couple sat eating their soggy butties.

I had offered to provide the meals, as Rixy had driven, but he decided he didn't want my Curried LAmb.

He announced that he was going to have his Chicken Casserole, at which I think the couple silently scoffed at the idea. That was of course, until the cookers and meals came out. The lady piped up that she thought we were joking. We were deadly serious haha.

We had a bit of a chat, and seriously, if you are reading this, and you are the couple that was up there, it really is part of the fun, part of the adventure.

We set off cooking. Very similar set-ups, gas canister with small burner screwed to the top.

If you have read my blog about Simons Seat (which can be found HERE) you will see that my last idea of cooking was a disaster! Well this time, it was Rixy's turn to need the use of somebody elses gear...mine!

He forgot a lighter, I had a few spares 'just in case'. His cooker was taking forever, so while I was tucking into my Sausage and Beans, he was using my stove to warm his food. Oh, and he borrowed my spare mug for his brew.

We talked on the way up about my idea of packing everything 'just in case', but as you can see, it helps sometimes.

We hurried along, had our snap, had our brew's, and then headed off after checking we had packed everything away, including all our rubbish. (It bugs me when people leave rubbish behind, even the slightest bit, but I can bend over so many times to pick up the odd bottle top, I can only fill so many tight pockets with bits)

We both knew it wouldn't be long before we were back to seeing the fields below, but it was quite windy, and freezing on the face and soaked gloves (note to self, windproof doesn't necesarily mean waterproof!) so we kept our heads down.

Ingleborough

After a short while, there it was...the descent. Oh my god! It was hard work, harder than the ascent. My knees were killing me, but my boots were holding out well and not rubbing.

For those who don't know it, it's a quick drop of about 750ft (very rough estimate) down some steep, stone, man made steps. I can imaging it being deathly in icy conditions.

Fortunately, after probably 20 minutes, it levels off and it's through a few fields and farms, up to the tunnel under the railway, back onto the original path, and then back to the motor.

Happy Rixy

Looking back up towards the peak

All in all, it was pretty easy going, the descent being the hardest part.

The climb up? Yeah, it's kind of hard, but my aim is to get out and climb mountains. I'm under no illusion it will be easy. I don't ever think I will do it stood on my head kin of thing, asI know that is the attitude of silly people.

I'm out to climb physical mountains, and climb personal mountains.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day. It added to my 'bagging list' for 2012/2013, it was a hill I had never hiked before, it also gave me route knowledge for the 3 Peaks Challenge, which we will be doing for charity (probably in October 2012) Near the top of the descent, Rixy showed me the rough route of the 3 Peaks Challenge. It's going to be a killer, but all for a good cause.

Just to add, one of our conversations was about Tele-transportation machines, and whether the useage would be charged pence per mile, with an altitude gain surcharge or not? That's the sort of randomness that I enjoy.

Whernside at the end of the week.

Seing as a couple of us will be doing Whernside at the end of the week, I guessed I would need some more suitable kit.
Happliy, I found a Berghaus 35 Ltr rucksack up in the loft, so I can't overload myself with gear, neither do I have to cram it all into a 25 Ltr rucksack.
I bought a treking pole, even though I should use them in pairs! I also bough some water repellant trousers, Regatta Geo's, which will also keep me warmer than my Nosi-Life's.
I have some gas for my stove, which hasn't arrived yet!!!

I'm looking forward to it, as I haven't done it before, but I understand it's a long slog.
We will be setting off from the Ribblehead Viaduct, and completing the 7.5 mile, 1500ft ascent walk.
I think we're down to just me and Rixy (Jake)
Steve doesn't have suitable gear, Scott will have to be up early (1am) Monday for work, and Jools has family commitments. Brother Dave STILL isn't fit for purpose yet, so he can bloody well behave himself and sit at home haha.

It's the highest of Yorkshire Peaks, and one of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge, which we are looking to do next year in memory of a friend, and to support the Anthony Nolan Trust, as his family requested.

Yorkshire Dales 3 Peaks Challenge. "Let's just get on with it"

Well, it's with great regret that an Airsoft friend of mine passed away  on Oct 29th, after suffering with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. You can read a little of his story HERE on the Daily Mail website.

Today is his funeral, but I'm unable to attend due to work commitments, which is quite saddening.

Due to such a sad loss or a great man, and his families wishes for people to support the Anthony Nolan Trust, I am planning, in 2013, to do the Yorkshire Dales 3 Peaks Challenge.
The challenge takes on/around the Pen-Y-Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside hills in the Yorkshire Dales.
The route will take in 26 miles and 5250ft ascent/descent, all within 12 hours (usually).
With Rob being a 'man of action' though, and always challenging himself to be the best, I may look at shortening this time if I feel it can be done quicker by the team.

I say 'team' as I know that when I let more people know about this, they will join in, I may however just open it to those of Cerberus Airsoft, which is where I know Rob from.

Keep your eyes peeled here, and I shall be advertising the date this is going to happen, as soon as I have plans confirmed.