Highlights of 2021 At the start of a new year, I like to look back at what I’ve achieved in the previous 12 months. I’m not very good at this. It’s all too easy to compare myself to other seemingly high achievers and play down my own accomplishments. But when I force myself to do this exercise, I start to realise just how far I’ve come in what has been an unusually turbulent year for most. So, in today’s post,…
The magic of a cloud inversion The chatter of excited adventurers carries up from the deep bowl cradling the tarn below. Helvellyn’s answer to the Whispering Gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral. I am high above them, tiptoeing across the narrow ridge, sending pebbles skittering across stone towards their inevitable plunge into the abyss. I move with laser-like precision, my gaze focused on nothing but the line of least resistance through the crag. I reach the summit plateau. Heart hammers against…
Mountain food Do you give much thought to the food you pack for a day in the hills? Or is it a case of I’ll lob in a sandwich and a few snacks, maybe a flask of coffee and hope for the best? It’s enough to think about all the other kit we need and my food choices are often a guesstimate based on experience of how hungry I’m likely to be on a typical mountain day. There’s normally a…
What to expect on mountain leader training You’ve probably ended up on this page if you’re thinking about signing up for the mountain leader training course. Perhaps you’re a little nervous about committing and want to feel more confident about what to expect. While you can (and should) start with Mountain Training’s website to find out more, it’s always nice to hear a first hand account from someone who’s recently experienced what it’s like to attend a mountain leader training course. It’s only…
Pretend Vanlife With 2021 not having the best of starts when it comes to getting out and about, I’m super excited to share some happier news. After years of talking about it, I’ve taken the plunge and bought a van! OK, it’s not really a van. It’s more of a big car – technically a Multi-Purpose Vehicle, or MPV. Vanlife aficionados might well scoff but my pretend van could be the perfect vehicle for everyday adventurers who find themselves with…
When I sit down to write an article, it’s often to share my little adventures away from the rat race. But with mountains off the agenda right now, I thought I’d try something different by writing a post that’s a little more personal. I’m conscious readers don’t know a lot about me. I’m quite a private individual, so other than knowing I’m a former lawyer who’s found solace in the mountains, you’ve had to form your own impression about the…
Like many of us gathered around the wireless on Monday evening, I felt a range of emotions. Despair, sadness, fatigue, fear, anger. This tiny virus certainly seems to have us by the short and curlies with no signs of letting go. I’d ordinarily turn to the mountains to escape. But even they are closed for most of us right now. ‘The hills will still be there waiting when this is all over’, I hear you cry. That’s right, of course,…
‘The past is history. The future’s a mystery. But today is a gift – that’s why it’s called the present’. Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda Goals My goal for 2020 was simple: complete 18 classic Lakeland fell walks, each one inspired by Alfred Wainwright’s excellent book, ‘Fellwalking With Wainwright’. By this time last year, I’d read the book from cover to cover, spread maps across the kitchen table, scribbled notes on scraps of paper and formulated a plan. Things didn’t…
Spend less Many people caught up in the daily grind dream of a more fulfilling life. The events of 2020 have offered a fresh perspective on what’s important. And very rarely does the rat race feature near the top of that list. If you have what society perceives to be a nice, comfortable office job, then you go to work to earn money to pay the bills and buy nice things. Money is a powerful incentive and keeps us plugging…
The mechanics of taking a single step are anything but simple. Each time our feet make contact with the ground, the impact creates a shockwave that erupts through our limbs. Our brains subconsciously anticipate each footfall and make tiny adjustments to ensure the energy efficiently dissipates through our limbs. And it’s not just our legs. Our head, spine, hips and arms all have a part to play in keeping us balanced. Hillwalking and running, although good for us, can increase…