Tag Archives: mountain rescue

#143 – Dogged determination – Training a Search and Rescue dog in the mountains of North Wales

Posted on 04/11/2013 by Paul Shorrock

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, … Continue reading →

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

#140 – The Berwyns – Gnarly little hills!

Posted on 23/09/2013 by Paul Shorrock

The mountains of North Wales attract hill-walkers and mountaineers from all over the UK and beyond, and no wonder.  The peaks of Snowdonia are the ones that people drive miles for, but there are hidden ranges of hills that no … Continue reading →

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

#138 – “To Hergest Ridge you should come ….”

Posted on 27/08/2013 by Paul Shorrock

“So if you feel a little glum, To Hergest Ridge you should come. In summer, winter, rain or sun, It’s good to be on horseback”.   From “On Horseback” by Mike Oldfield In 1973 an unknown musician released an album that … Continue reading →

Posted in 6. Mid and South Wales | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

#135 – Three days in the Aran Hills of Wales (Part 1)

Posted on 15/07/2013 by Paul Shorrock

So, where are these Aran Hills then?  I Have to confess that for years I didn’t have a clue where they were, and I didn’t get round to tracking them down until a year or two ago.  It was only … Continue reading →

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

#133 – Rising to the challenge – The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge walk

Posted on 17/06/2013 by Paul Shorrock

 As challenge walks go, the circuit of the Yorkshire Three Peaks is challenging!  As the name suggests there are three peaks on the route – Pen y Ghent (691 metres), Whernside (728 metres) and Ingleborough 723 metres).  Not big hills … Continue reading →

Posted in 3. Yorkshire Dales | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

#132 – “A hard day’s night”? – or – A fun night out with a search dog

Posted on 02/06/2013 by Paul Shorrock

Some people might have wondered why I recently returned to mountain rescue after a break of 15 years.  It’s quite simple really – it’s fun!  It’s not always easy to remember that when the phone rings in the early hours … Continue reading →

Posted in 2. Lake District | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

#131 – Night (and day) time wanderings in the Clwydian Hills – Moel y Plas

Posted on 20/05/2013 by Paul Shorrock

Saying that life has been busy over the past couple of months isn’t the half of it!  In January my Border Collie ‘Mist’ passed her obedience and stock (sheep) tests, and began her training as a Search And Rescue (SAR) … Continue reading →

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

#128 – Man’s (and woman’s) best friend learning to search for avalanche victims in North Wales

Posted on 28/04/2013 by Paul Shorrock

Statistics tell us that the average UK resident can currently expect to live for over 80 years.  Bury that same UK resident (or any human for that matter) in an avalanche, and life expectancy drops to about 15-20 minutes!  Because … Continue reading →

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

#123 – Fun in the snow – Helvellyn by Swirral Edge and Striding Edge

Posted on 25/03/2013 by Paul Shorrock

“The Spine” has gained a reputation for being one of the toughest challenges in the UK adventure-racing calendar, and with good reason – after all, running 268 miles along the Pennine Hills in winter in seven days is never going … Continue reading →

Posted in 2. Lake District | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

#119 – A busy weekend!!

Posted on 25/02/2013 by Paul Shorrock

Just back from a good weekend – training with ‘Mist’ with Search And Rescue Dogs Association (Wales) on Saturday, and I passed the selection hill-day for my local Mountain Rescue team NEWSAR (North East Wales Search And Rescue) on Sunday.

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments