Cadair Idris from Llyn Gwernan
Anyone following UK mountain walking blogs at the moment will notice a common theme – at its most basic, the UK is being hammered by one of the longest periods of wet, windy weather that anyone can remember for a long time. So, like many of my fellow bloggers, I have been trawling through the archives for stories and pics that remind us why we spend out time walking up hills only to walk down them again.
Malham sunrise – “Red sky at morning, sailor take warning!”
Fifty years ago, the UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson said, “a week is a long time in politics”. In The Spine Race, a week feels like a lifetime. For the uninitiated, ‘The Spine’ is “Britain’s most brutal race. The longest, coldest and most demanding mountain marathon in Britain. 268 miles of ice, snow, cold and savage winds”. And that’s on a good day!
Photograph © John Bamber
It’s that time of year again. Time for the ‘Spine Race’. For those of you who don’t already know the ‘Spine Race’, it’s an epic seven-day event following the Pennine Way, the national trail that runs along the Pennine Hills, otherwise known as the ‘Backbone of England’. In those seven days the athletes will have to cover 430 kms (268 miles) and ascend 11343 metres (37,215 ft). They also have to carry enough kit to survive 24 hrs.
Most hikers take 2-3 weeks to cover this walk, and usually go in summer – the Spine athletes are setting off in a British winter, which may include anything from wet, muddy days to the full fury of an Atlantic-fuelled blizzard. Along with several others, I’m on the support team, working to keep these athletes safe, but at the end of the day their safety may well depend on their own resources!
That’s why I don’t have a blog for you this week, but you may enjoy visiting these previous posts to get a flavour of the event. See you in a couple of weeks with an update of this years race.
(See posts #61, #62, #114 and #141
Home for two days on the Spine Race – Greg’s Hut in the Northern Pennines (Photograph © John Bamber)
Tryfan in North Wales (JB)
As 2013 draws to a close, it’s good to look back in pictures at another year in the hills, so here are some of my best memories of the old year. Best wishes to all my readers, and here’s wishing you all a great hill year in 2014.
On the ridge from Moel Famau to Moel Llys y Coed
When it comes to mountains, Snowdonia is more than a jewel in the crown – it is the crown. There are plenty more mountain riches though, including our local hills. The Clwydian Range is the first high ground that you pass through as you enter North Wales from England – running south from Prestatyn on the coast, the hills gradually gain height until they reach a high point at Moel Famau.
Idwal Slabs in the Ogwen Valley, with Seniors Ridge left of centre
The great thing about living in or near a mountain area is that you get to know it well. 25 years living in Cumbria left me with loads of good memories and a good knowledge of the Lake District – I could still cross the Lakes National Park without a map, and find my way round most of the north and east in poor visibility by following known landmarks. I’m currently ticking off the important bits of Snowdonia, which is about an hours drive away from where I now live.
Limestone escarpment near World’s End
We went in search of the World’s End! At least that what the map called it, and the British Ordnance Survey maps are respected world-wide for their accuracy and information. So, as we approached World’s End, why was our first view of the Dolomites?
Search dog and handler at work in the mountains of North Wales (RA)
Although it doesn’t feel like it, ten months have passed since ‘Mist’ and I were accepted for training as a search team by SARDA Wales (Search And Rescue Dog Association). “Time flies when you’re enjoying yourself”, as the expression goes, but the training fills a huge part of our lives at the moment. Looking back it’s incredible how much has been packed in, and looking ahead there’s much more to come. Here’s a glimpse of the last few months.
The view from Moel Eilio
Our first (and only) visit to Moel Eilio was in March this year (see post #121) – the photos of the day show rolling green hills with the last remnants of winter snow, and no hint at all of the blizzards that were to hit North Wales two weeks later. The views from the summit ridge were fantastic, and I knew we would return again and again ….
Two men and a dog ….
…. and the highest noodle bar in the UK (JB)
“Do you fancy a couple of days up at Greg’s Hut in January?”
Greg’s Hut in January, altitude 700 metres – outlook bleak!
If anyone other than John Bamber had asked the question, I would probably have answered with a reply that included sex and travel! For those who don’t know it, Greg’s Hut is a bothy, high on the flanks of Cross Fell in the Pennines. At 700 metres altitude, it can be cold and cheerless in summer, so the prospect of staying there in a Pennine winter was not on my short list of ‘Fun Things To Do’. Why did I say, “Sounds like a good idea” ? … Ask the dog ….
Paul offers guided hillwalking in the UK through Hillcraft Guided Walking. He is also a freelance outdoor writer.
Hillcraft Guided Walking Website
Paul Shorrock - One Man's Mountains AKA One Pillock's Hillocks 