⛰️ 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.