Peak Mountaineering
The climbing blog of Paul Lewis
Archive for April, 2008
April 29, 2008 at 10:19 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
Along with many of our fellow instructors we are big fans of fig rolls - tasty, nutritious and cheap hill food that brings a smile to everyones face when you are 6 pitches up and blood sugar levels are plummeting. If you share our passion (some would say obsession) for these taste packed treats, you will be as shocked as we were to hear that they are in very short supply at the moment.
Apparently the Turkish fig harvest has been devastated by excessive heat, which has reduced the pollination levels of local wasps by over 40%. Whats more, other fig crops were found to have excessively high levels of a naturally occuring toxin rendering them inedible. The upshot is that new supplies of Jacob’s finest won’t be on the shelves for several months.
Of course we are saving the remaining packets in our cupboard to auction on ebay to fig starved addicts at exhorbitant rates when the reality hits home. However, if you weren’t as well stocked up as us we can share our second top hill food recommendation to tide you over…………malt loaf.
The supermarket’s all do their own version but Soreen malt loaf is the daddy (and worth the extra cost!). Great carbo loading and only about 3% fat. Beats those pricey energy bars hands down. Happy munching.
Cal
April 27, 2008 at 6:21 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
Ben & Tom on Tryfan Bach
It was my birthday yesterday and we’ve been away in North Wales for a family weekend. We booked the Climbers Club Cwm Glas Mawr hut which is in a fantastic isolated spot in the Llanberis Pass. You can’t drive up to the hut which does mean you have to carry everything up (and, as on Friday night, it’s usually raining!), but once you are there it’s a fantastic private place to chill out.
Yesterday the weather was great so we took the boys on their first ever multipitch route on Tryfan Bach. Needless to say they loved it, and it was brilliant to get them onto something longer than the single pitch routes they have tackled so far. We celebrated with cakes in Betwys then headed back to the hut for the first BBQ of the year. Tinnie in one hand, sausage in the other and a brilliant location - the perfect birthday.
Today started with rain, so after breakfast and a run up to Pen-Y-Pass, we headed out of the mountains and found sun in Llandudno for some serious beach football. Tragically, the family tradition of fresh doughnuts on the pier was stumped by the kiosk having run out of doughnut mixture - but at least our waistlines will thank us!
As for my age - well it was the big 21 of course (again!).
Cheers,
Paul
April 25, 2008 at 7:13 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
The dappled sunlight peeking through the early season leaves. The touch of skin on gritstone on a warm and peaceful afternoon. The adrenalin buzz as another classic problem is sent…………You guessed it - I’ve had far too much Chardonnay! But hey. It’s 8.15pm and I’m still looking out on the dying rays of the sun after a brilliant spring day (and I’ve even bought a new pair of shorts) - summer is just around the corner. Bouldering at Burbage East, biking in The Derwent and orienteering with some budding athletes of the future…..it’s been a great week.
My day job has been finishing the remaining orienteering sessions in a number of local schools. Great children out for a challenge - hard to beat that. Then we’ve fitted in a few trips to ‘the grit’ and a ride in the Derwent Valley in beautiful weather. You can see why I’m buzzing!
Come and join us for some biking or/and climbing this summer and see what I’m making such a fuss about. All sessions come with a zero disappointment guarantee!
Have a great weekend.
Cheers,
Paul
April 24, 2008 at 8:35 am · Filed under peak mountaineering
A millionaire landowner has lost his bid to ban ramblers from entering his 70-acre estate in Stirlingshire. Euan Snowie had wanted the Boquhan Estate in Kippen exempt from the 2003 Land Reform Act’s right-to-roam provisions. Stirling Council and the Ramblers’ Association fought the case.
Sheriff Andrew Cubie said the land sought by the pursuer to be excluded from the act was excessive and in his ruling said only a small amount of land adjacent to Boquhan House would be inaccessible to the public. The decision comes after bus tycoon Ann Gloag won the right to restrict access to her property in June last year.
Ramblers Scotland president Dennis Canavan welcomed the court’s decision and said it sent a message to all landowners of big estates that the public were allowed access in accordance with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
He added: “The decision also sends a message to local authorities that access rights apply along driveways and past gatehouses. There are a number of cases around the country where signs have been erected and gates locked and we hope the authorities will now take action knowing that the courts will back them up.”
You can read more about the ruling and watch a short video clip here…..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7362539.stm
April 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
EAT (Eastern Active Technologies) are the first company to offer a full range of edible gear to help reduce packweight on long trips. Blueberry flavoured shelters, egg noodle sleeping mats and passion fruit rucsacs. Excellent.
Our favourite bit of EAT kit is their trekking poles……
“By compressing beef, chicken, shrimp and textured vegetable protein under high heat and temperature we are able to offer our customers a sturdy and truly nutritious pair of sticks.”
What an awesome idea. You could turn up at Ogwen Cottage after a tough day on the Glyders and watch the faces of the people queueing at the cafe as you tuck into your trekking pole instead! Obviously it is important that you eat your food in the right order but the website has some advice on that too…
“You’ll definitely have to be careful not to bite off more than you can chew; make sure you have enough sack left to carry your uneaten gear back home. In fact, we make the SnackPack in an extra large version for just that reason. It’s made to reduce in size as you’re reducing your load so you finish it up the last night out. Eat the rest of your CaliforniaRoll (sleeping mat) and SnackSack (sleeping bag) for breakfast, and carry the lightest load of all to the trailhead. You might want to save a strap or two to chew on while in motion, but it’ll be hard to resist just gobbling it all. Offered in four delicious flavours and two practical sizes.”
Save a strap or two to chew on while in motion - priceless! You can check out their website for yourself at www.ediblegear.com and make your own mind up.
The site is well worth a surf, is very well written and we even believed it for a while. But before I go - our very favourite bit comes in the FAQ section:
Question: Aren’t animals attracted to equipment made of out food?
Answer: No. Animals aren’t stupid. Animals don’t consider Edible Gear food. You on the other hand, are clearly smart enough to understand that weight saving takes precedence over everything. As you’re choking down your sleeping pad just think to yourself how easy it’ll be to heft that pack tomorrow morning with two ounces less weight.
Brilliant fun. Now, where’s that raspberry flavour climbing rope gone?!
Cheers,
Cal
April 18, 2008 at 7:14 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
What a varied few days. Firstly, we’ve been running some orienteering sessions in Stockport schools which have been great fun. In the space of a few hours its possible to introduce children to the concept of a map as a plan view, get them orientating their maps and even building a map to use for a ’star’ orienteering event - and they love it! I hope some of them are able to carry on using their new found skills in the future but at least what we’ve done this week is a start. If you fancy trying this exciting sport there are lots of permanent courses set up around the country or there is sure to be a welcoming local club to show you the skills. If you are in the Manchester area try the Manchester and District Orienteering Club (MDOC) website. At this time of year there will be lots of evening and Saturday morning events starting and they are great fun (and great exercise!).
The schools sessions have taken up each morning, then in the afternoon we’ve fitted in a mountain biking session for Nigel, Alex and James, and finally a lead climbing refresher this afternoon for returning client Bruce. We biked around Bakewell on Wednesday in lovely Spring sunshine then climbed at Windgather in a howling gale. Very bad planning!
I’m taking a weekend off and Cal is going climbing. We hope you have a fantastic weekend.
Cheers, Paul
April 16, 2008 at 6:43 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
There a quite a few new articles in our Advice Articles section for you to enjoy…..
- ‘The lord of the swings’ offers advice on choosing a general purpose ice axe.
- ‘Canny crampon choice’ - the title speaks for itself!
- ‘One life (left) - live it’ tells the tale of an accident in Jordan…and a lucky escape (this has also just been published in Mountain Rescue Magazine).
- ‘Learn from my (lack of) experience’ - let some of my mountain epics help you avoid the same mistakes!
Our webmaster Paul has also categorised all the articles to make them easier to find and, as always, they are supported by some great photographs. Enjoy.
April 16, 2008 at 6:34 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
I’ve been out with Mike and Vanessa on an introductory navigation course for the last couple of days. We’ve had a mixed bag of weather ranging from beautiful blue skies and sunshine to snow showers - but overall the Peak was in fine form for Vanessa’s first trip up from St Albans. Mike, being a local lad from Sale, had more knowledge of the area, but we still found a variety of new locations including a blast across the Kinder plateau to test out compass bearings and distance measurement. By the end of the two days the team were ‘navving’ like pros and both sailed through the NNAS bronze assessment.
Some days when I head out I have to stop and remind myself that this is actually work…. these were two of those days. Good company, a good walk and the Peak District in that beautiful changing phase between winter and spring -it’s all good!
Thanks for a great few days Vanessa (hope your journey back went okay) and Mike (let me know if you carry on to do the Mountain Leader Award).
April 13, 2008 at 9:28 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
Beam me up! Adrian, Shauna and Lizzie wait to be hoisted back to safety
6 brave climbers joined me today for a rescue skills course at Burbage North. Fortunately, although cold, the weather was kind to us (and I even saw a patch of blue sky for a minute or two!) and Lizzie, Matt, Shauna, Mark, Tom and Adrian spent the day getting themselves (and others) up and down ropes in true get out of that style.
There is a lot to take in on this course, but luckily everyone was well up to the task and the day flowed brilliantly. I really enjoy running these courses because I think they provide essential skills that every climber should know. They are a bit like first aid training (which I also think every climber should do) - you hope you never need the skills but it’s really reassuring to know you have them to deal with a situation if it does occur.
A big thanks to all the group and it was really inspiring to chat with you all and discuss your upcoming adventures for the year. Slovenia, Lundy, Font, Italy and the Alps with a bit of Wales and the Lakes thrown in for good measure - have a great time everyone and remember to keep practicing those skills!
(and a big thanks to Steve and Piers for all your help too)
Cheers, Paul
April 12, 2008 at 9:52 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
Windgather Rocks
Today I’ve been at Windgather Rocks with Laura, Steve, Jonathan, Lorna, Mike and Fiona. They have all done various amounts of indoor and outdoor climbing and were keen to get more experience outside. The morning was pretty wild with heavy hail showers (is this really April?!) and generally damp and grim conditions.
But….this afternoon the sun Gods shined on us and everything dried up and perked up. The team were fantastic, and climbed a whole range of routes with some close to onsight ascents of Portfolio to round off the day.
The quote of the day goes to Fiona who realised a tight rope was giving her an advantage on Heather Crack. When Laura asked if she should give her some slack Fiona said “no chance. I know it’s cheating, but I like it!” Classic.
Thanks to you all for a great day and I hope you had a good walk on Sunday. I was running the day for John at Highpoint so thanks to him for that too.
Cheers,
Paul
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