Introduction and Blog goals.
Hi all, I'd like to start my first post by introducing myself and setting out the goals I want to achieve with this blog.
I'm Mike and I've been a keen hill walker for about 20 years when I was first persuaded to head off to the Lake District with a friend to climb this hill he called Fairfield. There was a promise of fantastic views and even the possibility of jets roaring down the valleys below as we ascended to the summit and it all sounded at least worth a try to see what it was all about.
I had no proper walking clothing or boots at the time except for a rucksack that I'd bought a year or two previously and been used once, but was assured that a few layers of t shirts, track suite bottoms and Rockport boots (remember them) would be fine! Along with a light jacket, a whole 500ml bottle of water, a shop bought sandwich and a chocolate bar, that's the only gear taken up the hill that day. Well, I was a complete novice and only 20.
As it was, the skies were overcast and the cloud base was low so we saw very little in the way of views all day, but I enjoyed the walk and the day and thought to myself that I'd happily return for another walk one day. It turned out that would be my only walk in the Lakes for nearly 10 years with only a couple of walks up Winter Hill nearer to home in Manchester sufficing.
My interest for the outdoors and walking was reignited whilst watching a TV show by Ben Fogle and a hastily arranged trip to climb Snowdon with my girlfriend came about although this time I did almost have all the correct clothing and a set of walking poles that we shared between us! I should add, this was February and still being a novice I'd not thought that even though the weather was mainly ok but cloudy, that there may be snow and ice higher up.
I did say almost all the correct gear. Our footwear of choice this time was a pair of Timberland boots (I know, I'm shaking my head too) but although we did hit snow towards the final third of the climb, made it fine to the summit where we enjoyed more fine views.
Getting down was another story that involved us mainly sliding on our behinds in as a controlled way as possible using our single walking pole each to stop any slides. I went into a slide at one point but managed to dig my walking pole into the snow which stopped me, bending the pole a full 45 degrees in the process. It was all quite silly really and I wouldn't advise doing anything similar now without all the correct gear and knowledge of how to use it. We got down ok in the end, very relieved but also having, in a strange way, enjoyed the day.
By this point I'd met a friend Gary through work who had told me he also was into walking and had been in the cadets and done DofE courses (don't mention the Gold!) and who very kindly had borrowed me a map for my previous Snowdon walk. Many walks and adventures have followed with him and friends of his and I may even revisit those in future blogs.
So rolling on to today, I've now climbed 63 Wainwrights and although that isn't even a third of them, over 20 of them have been climbed this year so far with the aim being to reach 100 by the end of the year. I do recommend taking every walk in and not treating them like just another tick on the list but I do think ticking off the Wainwrights is a great experience which gets you out to different parts of the Lakes rather than the same areas which has happened to me in the past with Langdale (it is beautiful though and has the ODG).
With the mention of the Old Dungeon Ghyll, ODG, that brings me on to what I would like to achieve with this blog. As well as sharing my walks, pointing out where to park, the best routes, ridge walks and extending routes, I would also like to share the best pubs to eat and drink at after a long walk. Not only for the walk you might have just done, but to suggest other walks that can be undertaken from the same pub. Where possible I'll give a little history of the pub, whether they offer accommodation, beer selection and menu choices. It's easy to go to the same great pub time and again but the Lakes has many great pubs and hidden gems.
So that's it. I've wittered on far longer than I originally intended. I'll sign off for now and post up an upcoming walk very soon.
If you’ve enjoyed this post please Like, Subscribe and Share. Thanks.
I'm Mike and I've been a keen hill walker for about 20 years when I was first persuaded to head off to the Lake District with a friend to climb this hill he called Fairfield. There was a promise of fantastic views and even the possibility of jets roaring down the valleys below as we ascended to the summit and it all sounded at least worth a try to see what it was all about.
I had no proper walking clothing or boots at the time except for a rucksack that I'd bought a year or two previously and been used once, but was assured that a few layers of t shirts, track suite bottoms and Rockport boots (remember them) would be fine! Along with a light jacket, a whole 500ml bottle of water, a shop bought sandwich and a chocolate bar, that's the only gear taken up the hill that day. Well, I was a complete novice and only 20.
As it was, the skies were overcast and the cloud base was low so we saw very little in the way of views all day, but I enjoyed the walk and the day and thought to myself that I'd happily return for another walk one day. It turned out that would be my only walk in the Lakes for nearly 10 years with only a couple of walks up Winter Hill nearer to home in Manchester sufficing.
My interest for the outdoors and walking was reignited whilst watching a TV show by Ben Fogle and a hastily arranged trip to climb Snowdon with my girlfriend came about although this time I did almost have all the correct clothing and a set of walking poles that we shared between us! I should add, this was February and still being a novice I'd not thought that even though the weather was mainly ok but cloudy, that there may be snow and ice higher up.
 | |
| Heading up Snowdon |
I did say almost all the correct gear. Our footwear of choice this time was a pair of Timberland boots (I know, I'm shaking my head too) but although we did hit snow towards the final third of the climb, made it fine to the summit where we enjoyed more fine views.
 |
| What a view. |
Getting down was another story that involved us mainly sliding on our behinds in as a controlled way as possible using our single walking pole each to stop any slides. I went into a slide at one point but managed to dig my walking pole into the snow which stopped me, bending the pole a full 45 degrees in the process. It was all quite silly really and I wouldn't advise doing anything similar now without all the correct gear and knowledge of how to use it. We got down ok in the end, very relieved but also having, in a strange way, enjoyed the day.
 | |||
| Very relieved! |
So rolling on to today, I've now climbed 63 Wainwrights and although that isn't even a third of them, over 20 of them have been climbed this year so far with the aim being to reach 100 by the end of the year. I do recommend taking every walk in and not treating them like just another tick on the list but I do think ticking off the Wainwrights is a great experience which gets you out to different parts of the Lakes rather than the same areas which has happened to me in the past with Langdale (it is beautiful though and has the ODG).
With the mention of the Old Dungeon Ghyll, ODG, that brings me on to what I would like to achieve with this blog. As well as sharing my walks, pointing out where to park, the best routes, ridge walks and extending routes, I would also like to share the best pubs to eat and drink at after a long walk. Not only for the walk you might have just done, but to suggest other walks that can be undertaken from the same pub. Where possible I'll give a little history of the pub, whether they offer accommodation, beer selection and menu choices. It's easy to go to the same great pub time and again but the Lakes has many great pubs and hidden gems.
 |
| Kirkstile Inn, what a view. |
So that's it. I've wittered on far longer than I originally intended. I'll sign off for now and post up an upcoming walk very soon.
If you’ve enjoyed this post please Like, Subscribe and Share. Thanks.
My next walk will be Sour Howes, Sallows and Troutbeck Tongue from Troutbeck.
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