adventure - travel - vanlife
The un-ending cold snap that embraced the UK had one unexpected benefit in that the mountains were still snow covered in April. I was headed for the Tatras in Poland this Easter yet I looked on in envy at the fabulous winter conditions across the UK mountains being reported Read More …
Excited! because the flight to Sardinia is booked for 20th April, for a week rock climbing and camping in the mountains…and in the sun! That’s not me! Frustration! because I’ve been told the only gear I need to take is a harness and shoes, when everyone knows a trip is Read More …
While climbing at Swiss Cottage on Saturday we starting chatting to guy who was belaying a couple of kids. Turns out he is setting off to Nepal tomorrow as part of an Everest expedition. I promised Partha a mention on my blog and I’m sure everyone will join me in Read More …
My blog has been somewhat neglected for the past few months – a combination of winter lethargy and personal ‘stuff’ to deal with, though I’ve continued to keep a watching eye on others travels and musings. I’ve also been spending more time indoor climbing – usually at Westway in London Read More …
I’d originally planned to join Icicle Mountaineering’s Alpine Autonomy course but the weeks didn’t quite work out so I was booked on the Intro 4000m Summits & Skills course, excited about my first taste of alpine walking/climbing. My slight concern with the intro course was that it assumed no previous Read More …
Just returned from a week in the Alps, courtesy of Icicle Mountaineering in Chamonix. Had a great week of walking, climbing, via ferrata, glacier travel and which culminated in us summitting Gran Paradiso (4,061m) in Italy. I’ll write up more details shortly but I’ve posted a selection of photos taken Read More …
Well, I’m busy sorting gear for next week in Chamonix courtesy of Icicle Mountaineering on their 4000m Summits & Skills course. I’d hoped to do the Alpine Autonomy course but the timings didn’t work for me though apparently there are only another two people on the course with me so the Read More …
A tortuous 5 hr journey had me arriving in moody Ogwen Valley replete with a shrouded Tryfan occasionally offering a glimpse of it’s teeth. A steady stream of showers had punctuated the journey, the next one arriving just as I pitched the Laser Comp. There’s something splendidly raw about Gwern Read More …
In lieu of hill time, whilst I’ve been busy at work and the weather has been lousy, I plumped for having a go at some indoor climbing. A couple of lessons at Craggy Island in Guildford sorts you on the basics of ropework, which is basically knowing how to tie Read More …
It’s a little late but I thought I’d drop in a quick summary of our snowy exploits in Snowdonia over the New Year. No winter wild-camp, base-camp was a small hotel in Betws-y-coed, but as we drove up the weather was deteriorating as we headed west along the A5. Snow…let Read More …