Showing posts with label Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Walking with Dogs


With more than a few column inches in the blogosphere this month being devoted to the subject of walking with dogs (Andy, John, WD), Ali and I borrowed a Jack Russell (“Gadget”) for a test drive.


A pleasant lunchtime stroll through the local footpaths of Hampshire led us through fields of golden oil seed rape and into woods carpeted with bluebells.

Monday, March 26, 2007

UK Outdoor Bloggers Forum

Well there has been much talk of a forum for UK Outdoor Bloggers - e.g John

I have taken the liberty to setup this free offering. If it develops into a useful resource I will be happy to migrate it to a more permanent home or to hand it over to someone else.

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk-outdoor-bloggers-forum?hl=en

Well its up and you could be the first to post...

I will sweep up the history from your blogs and post them into the forum over the next day or two to start discussions going.

You just need a free google account to register and there are no restrictions at present.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Duke of Edinburgh


With an MSc assignment deadline looming for Ali I stepped in to cover her commitment to a Bronze DofE group today.

Together with another leader we had a group of six enthusiastic teenagers on a planned practice walk through Staunton country park.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my first encounter with a DofE group. It was a great feeling to help them with their navigation and to be "putting something back" into the community.

Whilst time is limited this year I would like to be more involved with DofE in the years to come. To this end I have signed up for the Mountain Leader Award http://www.mlte.org/ so I can start working on my logbook. I hope to complete my ML Training week at Plas y Brenin towards the end of the year.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Gear: New Alpenstock Vista


To buck the current lightweight trend we look back to the times when gear was gear.







Coming very soon our full Alpenstock review - a handy pole that replaces the need for an ice axe.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Craggy Island


Today we both signed up for membership at the Craggy Island indoor climbing wall in Guildford. http://www.craggy-island.com/ Whilst sports climbing is not really our bag, indoor climbing will help us with ropework practice, finger and body strength and general route finding and confidence for scrambling.

We enjoyed a few hours climbing easier grade 3 and 4 as well as attempting a 4+. We took it in turns to watch and belay Alan on some more demanding routes up to 5+.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Scotland bound


En route to Glencoe to start our winter mountaineering course with http://www.adventurepeaks.com/ we called in on Clare and Tony in the Lake District. Taking advantage of the sunshine they took us on a great walk up to Allcock Tarn - thanks guys!

Monday, January 01, 2007

2007 The adventure continues

Happy new year to you all - here are our plans, subject to change, for 2007:

  • February - Scottish Winter Mountaineering skills course
  • April - Essential Alpine Skills course, Plas y Brenin
  • June - First Alpine expedition - Chamonix
  • August - Mont Blanc
  • December - Scottish winter climbing
and in between, as many hill days in North Wales and the Lake District as we can muster

"We've come this far. Let's make the last step together"
Jim Wickwire, Summit of K2, 1978