⛰️ The Hillwalking thread ⛰️

Length of Dursey island – Knockaree hill, Foilcunnis hill, signal tower hill with the Eire sign and Tilickatinna hill. With a cable car over the Atlantic to get to the island and a pop up cafe in a residents garden.

It’s a couple of weekends ago now, but I headed up Carnedd Moel Siabod with my two brothers the other day. One of them isn’t in the greatest health now, so long days carrying a lot of kit are a bit of a no-no for him, hence we took the opportunity to do a night’s camp by the small llyn on the east side, then scramble the classic rocky east ridge the morning after.
Dad introduced us at an early age to the delights of N Wales, often camping at Dol-gam in the valley near the Tyn-y-Coed/Cobdens pubs – he rather liked a beer or two, did my old man. And sometimes camping out up in the hills, so this was a nod to his ideas.

1) Amongst the ruins of the lower slate quarries:-

2) Three no-longer-so-young brothers at a wild campsite in the cwm below the east ridge

3) The same cwm in the morning sun

4) High on said east ridge, looking down to  Llyn-y Foel 1000ft below

All agreed it was a success, even if middle brother was well bolloxed by the end of the walk back to the cars.

couple of days spare in norway from work and a local contact took us a couple of hours south somewhere I can’t spell in trollheimen national park. 1400m straight up from the fjord. my knees hurt now.

Sgurr Mòr in Knoydart is bottom of the Walk Highlands list of most climbed munros. It is famous for the miles of bog, annoying descent and reascent, the eleven miles of single-track road that takes an hour to drive to the start… basically the shear effort required for one solitary hill.

It was mine and my other half’s second last munro and a day of blustery showers and amazing light in the sunny spells. The views west from the SW ridge up the peak to the west are stunning, Sgurr na Ciche looking like the Matterhorn from there. We did it as a group of three and it was a long hard day indeed. Stunner of a hill mind.

Great photos guys !

Kaiserstuhl Germany

Snowdon horseshoe this morning. Left the car in the lay-bys below pen-y-pass at 6am. Back at the car for midday. Apart from at the summit saw barely anyone else. No wind across crib goch but it was a bit damp and greasy. First time across there and it’s definitely a bit airy…

Molkenrein, Vosges

First time across there and it’s definitely a bit airy…

Great, innit? Crib Goch is a nice balance of scary but doable.

Glyders today with the boys. Totally lucked out with the conditions in North Wales this week.

the boys wanted to tick off snowdon so we did south ridge up and pyg down. proper windy on the ridge and the summit, I didn’t envy the queue I could see over crib goch…

Has anyone used Kahtoola exo spikes, these are the intermediate spike that can be fitted to hiking boots and running shoes. They are not as aggressive as a full on spike, more of a stud. I’ve been caught out in ice twice this year in the lakes and dolomites and these look good, and are very packable but would appreciate opinions

Kahtoola exo spikes

No, but we use Nortec Alp’s.

They are not a replacement for a crampon or for poor route choice.

But, they grip on ice really well, they are more comfortable and you’re less likely to trip, they fit on anything, easy / light to carry ‘just in case’. I’m a real fan.

Ideal for paths like this

looks interesting but a bit more of a spike than I was originally thinking of, what are they like when you come off the ice onto rock and gravel? ( where I think the slightly shorter stud could be better ) Or are you constantly taking them on and off depending on the conditions?

Cracking day round Coire Lair on Friday.

Wow!!

looks interesting but a bit more of a spike than I was originally thinking of, what are they like when you come off the ice onto rock and gravel? ( where I think the slightly shorter stud could be better ) Or are you constantly taking them on and off depending on the conditions?

@claudie

Fine, we walk on them just fine between ice and snow. I suspect they will wear out quickly that way, but I would rather that and stay on my feet well…

Chilly local wander around the Ochils today – Glentye Hill up to Meikle Corum and back.

Great to be out stretching legs again, but a change from yesterday’s shorts weather on the bike to gloves and warm hat on today…

Has anyone used Kahtoola exo spikes, these are the intermediate spike that can be fitted to hiking boots and running shoes. They are not as aggressive as a full on spike, more of a stud. I’ve been caught out in ice twice this year in the lakes and dolomites and these look good, and are very packable but would appreciate opinions

IME the Eco spikes would be fine for ice on a relatively smooth path, but once you get into mixed ice and snow, softer or uneven ground you really need something with more ‘bite’.  I carry some Grivel Explorers which work with both trail running shoes and boots – been up plenty of hills in all conditions.

Little 15km walk with friends around Malham yesterday. It was a glorious start to the day then the clouds and wind rolled in to make it bloody cold and slightly grim

Edit: double post

Ah, the mighty Malham Cove, lovely to see it.

A few photos from a bit of an adventure I did the week before last. Had a couple of days’ annual leave to use before the year end, and it was my birthday, so decided to go exploring some secret bothies hidden deep within the peak district.

Day 1

Started by getting the train from Leeds to Sheffield, then the bus to cutthroat bridge on the snake pass. I recommend the cafe in Sheffield bus station by the way.. gigantic bacon butty reasonably priced. Cash only, mind.

Up onto Derwent edge. Bit of an inversion. Over lost lad then down to Derwent resr. No wind, millpond flat. Then carried on up the reservoir, then the river Derwent, past slippery stones and onwards up the the cabins. That part of the Derwent is really lovely and very wild feeling. I need to get back up there on a hot day in summer.

Arrived at the cabins about 30 mins before sunset. Got set up and had a little explore and filtered some water. Managed to get a phone signal by walking up to the top of the hill.

Then had beef hotpot dehydrated meal (which was really pretty good), loads of hot chocolate and tea, and a couple of beers / hip flask of Laphroaig.

Then sat under my sleeping bag (it was bloody freezing) and watched a couple of films on my phone and listened to some tunes.

Photos below are out of sequence (can’t be arsed re- uploading)

Day 2

I woke up at sunrise about 8am. Beautiful morning. Went and dug a hole (if you know what I mean) then had tea, coffee, and porridge, and filtered some more water.

Signed the bothy book, then packed up and headed back the way I came towards slippery stones, then on up cut gate towards langsett.

At the summit the clag started to descend. Breeze had picked up but it was at my back so no problem really.

Seemed a bit strange to be on foot as I’ve only ever ridden that trail before (many,.many times) it’s a bit cut up with water damage at the moment.

Descended to langsett and then had to decide whether to get my skates on and march to make the train at Penistone in just over an hour, or take it steady and get the next one.. decided on the latter and stopped by the rest to make some instant noodles and a coffee.

After that I potterd down into Penistone taking various footpaths and the Trans Pennine trail. Spotted a big pink penis….which was part of a poster advertising a Penistone copen mic comedy night (I’m such a child). Made it to the station with about 5 mins to spare, then back to Leeds.

I was a bit hungry at that point so went into kirkgate market for a reasonably priced and delicious shawarma, then bus back home.

I absolutely love living up north of England and the opportunities it gives you for this type of caper ?

Day out on some localish hills Wednesday

El Bouf, that hut is Baltic in a heat wave. Let alone when its actually winter. Nice to have a night out tho?

Haha yeah it was a tad chilly!

I drank a lot of hot tea and hot chocolate and had 2x coats and my big sleeping bag and a hat. Oh and a couple of beers /hip flask gave me a nice warm beer jacket.

Was fine really. Great trip overall.

Since investing in some decent gear over the past few years, I think I now prefer bothies/bivvies/camping in the autumn and winter, due to lack of bugs and not getting all sweaty and dehydrated.

It’s also quieter in the hills, and easier to find the time to do it, as the rest of the family are more inclined to stay indoors in comfort. They think I’m off my head (probably right tbh)

Great trip report @el_boufador!

Anyone got any walking planned over Xmas ?