Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2017 i Trail

One good reason for taking to the hills in the depths of winter is simply and sublimely illustrated here by Alyn Wallace. After spending a foggy night on Corn Du’s south slope, the young Brecon Beacons-based photographer had almost given up hope of clear skies. Then this happened. “I had been patiently waiting for a chance to camp under the stars and in the snow – the cold weather brings the clearest skies. When I arrived at the peaks to pitch camp the wind was both strong and icy cold; you could barely see your hand in front of your face through the mist and spindrift. Just as I was thinking about calling it a night the wind died down, the mist cleared and the sight of the stars emerging…

What’s your next big challenge? “I’ve dreamed about climbing El Cap” Scafell Pike, Snowdon or Ben Nevis? Ben Nevis. Scotland is my country and Ben Nevis is the highest mountain. You could revisit its amazing north face pretty much every day for the rest of your life. The highest mountain you’ve climbed? It’s not that impressive! Kilimanjaro, just below 6000m [5895m]. It’s more about technical interest for me. Who’s your mountaineering hero? Robin Smith died tragically young [at 23, on an expedition in the Pamirs] but he was an Edinburgh University mountaineer and a pioneering climber in the Fifties and Sixties, really ahead of his time. What do you love most about the mountains? It’s wonderful being out in the some of the most remote and savage parts of the…

GLYDERFACH SNOWDONIA Jumping for, er, joy are Joy Dutton and Richard Bugler from Wolverhampton. Joy said, “A lovely couple patiently took a number of pics so we could capture this moment [on The Cantilever] perfectly.” BWLCH CILIAU SNOWDONIA Taking in “the amazing view over Llyn Llydaw” from the Watkin Path is Nick Cason, in a pic snapped by a fellow walker. Nick said, “Oh I wish sometimes I lived closer than the Norfolk Broads!” TRYFAN SNOWDONIA Pawsing awhile is Ruby the Jack Russell (4 ) from Hereford, in a photo taken by her owner Richard Ashurst. Richard reported that Ruby was worn out; given those little legs, we’re not surprised! GRAIG FAN DDU BRECON BEACONS Introducing ‘The Routemasters’: clockwise Gareth, Mike, Simon and Gareth from Cardiff. Simon said they were…

“Green Gable nestles against its bigger brother’s flank, sharing the family name but shorter in stature by nearly one hundred metres” Go The Lakes in Winter Do Great & Green Gables I’m going to let you in on a bit of insider knowledge. When articles like this are written it’s preferable that they have some kind of ‘hook’. There’s a whole bunch of hills out there, and it’s helpful to justify why we’re telling you about mountain A rather than peak B. This is no great secret; in fact it’s a fairly typical element of magazine writing. I’ll tell you what is a secret, though: up until recently, I’d never been up Great Gable. Yeah, I know. It’s one of the elite Lakeland fells, which any hillwalker worth their salt…

“Viewed from Scales Tarn, Sharp Edge is high, airy and offensively vertical.” Go The Lakes in Winter Do Sharp Edge There are places for which the adjective ‘Alpine’ is regularly used and perfectly apt: the Cuillin of Skye; the ridges of Torridon; high and narrow parts of north Wales; and, naturally, the Alps. But it’s not often applied to the Lake District. Perhaps we need to establish what we mean by ‘Alpine’. If used solely to describe mountainous landscapes whose upper reaches pierce the 4000m ceiling, then nothing on our elevationally mediocre islands is going to measure up. But if being ‘Alpine’ is a matter of attitude rather than altitude, the UK’s peaks have much to offer. Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis is a classic Alpine-style route. Cyfrwy Arête on…

Go north Wales Do a snowy scramble I look up from my snow-crusted boots, taking a break from the monotony of focusing hard on every delicate foot placement, and allow myself a few seconds to absorb the surroundings. My concentration has been broken by the hum of helicopter blades thumping somewhere beneath me, shattering the silence of the empty valley below. Ahead of me is a beautifully sculpted ridgeline, crowned by a pristine dollop of snow, knobbled like the backbone of an enormous alligator, leading straight to the summit of the third highest mountain in Wales. I don’t mind admitting this place has taken me by surprise. I know I’m in Snowdonia because I drove through Bethesda a couple of hours ago, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. It…

Coated in a pristine dusting of snow, it’s during the winter that mountains are often at their most breathtaking. But one of the biggest obstacles many walkers face when it comes to making the most of the hills during the cold season is that of expense. Flick through a gear catalogue or even the review pages of Trail and you could be forgiven for assuming that winter walking requires special winter walking gear and that this kit will cost a small fortune. To be fair, that’s not a wholly inaccurate assumption; but neither is it entirely true. Read on… Dig out your summer stuff If you’re a reasonably dedicated hillwalker the rest of the year, the chances are that you’ll already have much of the required gear in your kit…

A MAPS Clear a space, spread your maps out and you’ll have a brilliant view of the land. This makes it easy to choose the route you want to follow. PICTURED: Harvey Maps Dartmoor North & Dartmoor South £12.95 each B MOON CHART If you’ll be camping, it’s helpful to know which phase the moon is in. At its fullest, on a clear night you can often see a surprising amount without a torch. Check it out on www.moonconnection.com PICTURED: Moon Phases Calendar £free C NORTHERN LIGHTS ALERT Always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis? Get an alert to your mobile or email to notify you when and where the Northern Lights can be seen. PICTURED: AuroraWatch UK Alerts £free D MICRO ADVENTURES If you don’t have the time or cash…

Hill-bagging stats Walking the Wainwrights, the Munros, the Corbetts or the Welsh 3000ers? These routes have got you covered. Gradient profile We map every route for its unique gradient profile, giving you a pinpoint impression of its progressive steepness and the heights you’ll hit. What are the Trail 100? They’re your tick-list of the 100 UK mountains you MUST climb! Download the full list from: LFTO.com/trail100 Always take a map on the hill We aim to provide the most accurate information, but you must ALWAYS use an Ordnance Survey or Harvey map on the hill and double-check any directions against it. BEFORE YOU GO... If you’re likely to encounter snow or ice on your walk you need to take precautions. You MUST have ice axe, crampons and the skills to…

Win Hill is regarded by many as one of the ‘classic’ viewpoints in the Peak District. This shapely peak rises to 462m above beautiful Ladybower Reservoir and is perfect for a short hill day. It’s a very popular climb and on the top you will find Winhill Pike, a rocky and narrow crest culminating in the summit. This is an exciting place to be, and it overlooks vast swathes of moorland for miles around. Winhill Pike is known locally as ‘The Pimple’ and the two main routes of ascent to it are from the village of Hope and from Yorkshire Bridge (which is the way taken here). It is quite a steep climb of around 300m and requires a fair bit of stamina. It can also be rough and slippery…

Strathyre is a charming little village that sits within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Strathyre also gives its name to the valley that meanders through the landscape. It is thought to translate from Gaelic as ‘Twisting Valley’, and it was part of the main droving route between the Highlands and Lowlands in the 17th century. Rising steeply above the village is Beinn an t-Sithein. Pronounced Ben Shee-han, this name has its origins in Scottish folklore and is thought to mean ‘Fairy Mountain’. Robert Kirk, who was born in 1644 near Strathyre, documented many similar stories during his life. Yet it wasn’t until 1815 (over 120 years after his death) that Sir Walter Scott published Kirk’s work in a book called The Secret Commonwealth that is still in…

1 SH879297 Exit the car park, going left then right through the second gate before the bridge (signposted ‘Aran Path’). Follow the track to rise to a stile, gate and ‘bridleway’ sign right. Cross the stile (signposted ‘Aran Ridge path’), taking the rising track beyond over two stiles by gates. Follow the rising track to take the left fork at a split by a post with ‘A.R.’ on it. Rise steeply through a wall gap. Beyond, stay on the lower right path by the fence, dipping to go left and right around a boggy hollow. Cross a stile in a corner. Climb steeply beyond by the fence right. Follow the fence, crossing a stile left of a gate. Continue by the fence, passing around boggy hollows. Further on stay left…

“Glen Lyon is long, lonely and lovely...” Glen Lyon is long, lonely and lovely. But if the snowplough hasn't been, the glen's far end may be a snowscape too far. Yet the glen foot also offers a big drift of loneliness and a shovelful of loveliness. This is the back of Ben Lawers, and the lower but intricate Munros of the Mairg group. Or, if you’ve got low cloud and soggy snow, tracks lead over to the back of Schiehallion and – if you can find it – a little limestone pothole. At the end of the day the light in the darkness is the Fortingall Inn, one of Scotland's oldest. And the streetlights throw the long shadow of something even older: the Fortingall yew tree. According to legend, Pontius…

We were very fortunate to meet and climb for a good while with Alan Hinkes OBE in early December. We ascended Nethermost Pike east ridge and onto Helvellyn where he left us as he descended via Striding Edge. A true gentleman (and fellow Yorkshireman). With me were Kev Newbold and Paul Richmond. Wayne Richardson, via email Ed – Yes, Alan is a big fan of the Lakes. See page 54 for some insider knowledge! Get in touch with Trail! You know you want to... trail@bauermedia.co.uk @trailmagazine facebook.com/trailmagazine #trailmagazine…

As much as I have enjoyed mountain adventures with my boyfriend Gareth, I have found bigger is not necessarily better! One of my favourite adventure-filled places is not a mountain, but it has so much atmosphere, plenty of places for scrambling and loads of scope for different mini adventures (including wild camping and wild cooking). This place is called World’s End! On a clear day you have breathtaking views in every direction, with an ancient feel because of the limestone tops. On a snowy and foggy day, you have danger, excitement and a sense of being on a real adventure – especially when you can barely see 2ft in front of you! (I completely trusted Gareth during this adventure, and not once worried that we might be lost.) Then you…

GREAT CRAG LAKE DISTRICT Whoops! The Foulkes, Saxby and Smith families from Willaston in Cheshire nearly all managed to smile for the camera. Jonathan F, who took the pic, said the group spent a great weekend walking in the Borrowdale area. Each issue we’ll be giving away the new Summit 25/38 mattress from Multimat’s Expedition range. New materials make this self-inflating sleeping mat tougher and lighter for durability on unsupported expeditions. Tested to -35 deg C, its wedge profile maximises comfort and minimises weight, while a warm zone improves tog value under the torso. Send your shots, marked ‘Summit selfie’ to trail@bauermedia.co.uk…

Iain Cameron (left) knows A LOT about snow. He photographs it, measures it, writes about it and generally spends most of his spare time in it, on it or looking for it. The Royal Meteorological Society publishes his research and he has co-authored a book on snow. Having inspired and amazed with his snow-based discoveries in the UK, Iain’s obsession has also revealed dramatic and changing weather patterns. For hillwalkers, snow spells beauty, fun and danger in equal measure. Heading out on a trail with the crunch of glittering névé underfoot can transform a great day into an unforgettable experience; but how much do we know about snow in the UK? A keen Scottish-based hillwalker himself, Iain reveals some fascinating aspects of the white stuff that every outdoor enthusiast should…

Striding Edge is one of those ‘Marmite’ ridges, whose exciting yet relatively straightforward challenges have brought walkers to their knees quivering in fear; while some scramblers deride it as barely worth the effort! As usual the reality is somewhere in between. It’s a justifiably popular and enjoyable easy scramble, but it should not be taken lightly (even in the best of conditions) by those with a fear of heights or who have yet to gain experience of the hands-on-rock joy that is scrambling. In summer, it rolls the best of many short challenges encountered individually elsewhere into one short but fantastic ridge. A wonderful airy, narrow but not quite knife-edge arête, with a short awkward downclimb; plenty of hand- and footholds; and just enough exposure to give a frisson of…

The mountain chain marching east from Bridge of Orchy stands like a giant rampart guarding the southern flank of Rannoch Moor. Seen from the watery wilderness of the moor these burly hills are an impressive sight – a view only bettered by the expansive prospect from their summits, poised on the edge of sweeping escarpments that drop to the moor far below. In summer’s long daylight a traverse of four or five Munros is possible, but in the hard days of winter the two spectacular eastern peaks of the range are challenge enough. Start with something a bit left-field: the north ridge of Beinn Achaladair. Few people come this way, but the ridge turns out to be something of a secret mountaineering gem, a scrambly ascent that with added snow…

1 SH829392 Exit the car park, going right down the lane. Continue on it to leave it left (after a steeper rise) down a rough track (marked ‘Unsuitable For Motor Vehicles’). Pass through a gate to follow the track, staying ahead at a junction to pass a permissive path right and pass through two gates in quick succession. Follow the track beyond to a wall and makeshift gate by a stile. 2 SH815381 Cut left, keeping the wall right to rise over boggy ground. Soon a faint path develops, crosses a stream and heads uphill, keeping the wall right. Higher up pass through the end of a wall. After a large post follow the path away from the wall, passing a huge solitary boulder. Cut right, rejoining the wall to…

1 NN666482 Head down the wooded track to a bridge over the River Lyon. Keep left, to Dericambus farm. Pass between buildings, to a gate on the right. A faint old green track zigzags directly uphill. Where the track fades, cross the stream on the right and head west, up heathery rough ground, to the minor summit (but major viewpoint) Creag Dhubh. 2 NN661470 Head south-east across the wide, flat col, quite boggy unless frozen. Follow a fence up a long, gentle ridgeline. At 800m altitude the ridgeline levels off. Follow the fence south then south-west, then uphill south to a fence corner on the main ridgeline. Beyond the fence corner, turn left on a well-trodden ridge path for the short rise to Meall Greigh. The further cairn, with views…

1 NN742470 At the west end of Fortingall, take a track to the right (east) of the wide stream Allt Odhar (Allt Muilinn on Harvey map). Pass between houses onto the hill track rising beyond. Follow this uphill, with ever widening views. After roughly 5km, it passes through a wide col and is joined by a fence on its right. It runs level by the fence, to pass through a slightly higher col. 2 NN720511 The track runs down north-west towards the head of the remote back valley Gleann Mor. In clear conditions, Schiehallion rises impressively on the other side. 3 NN710526 After 2km the track turns down right towards the Glenmore hut just below, but keep ahead, on faint wheel marks, slanting down to join the stream Allt Creag…

WE SAY... Aonach Mor is a mountain of strong contrasts. To the west it faces Fort William and has all the trappings of easy access and uplift provided by the Nevis Range ski grounds; to the east it is utterly wild, trackless and tricky to access. If you want a quick fix the western side of the mountain is ideal; if on the other hand you like your adventure to be engrossing and fully committing it’s to the east you must head. The eastern approaches are a series of stepped and complex interlinked corries that end at a long headwall. This wall is made up of precipitous buttresses of distinct, pink granite. From a distance they look to be a formidable barrier; happily, although the crags are the domain of…

You may not know that you know it, but most hillwalkers have a passing acquaintance with this shapely wedge of moorside mountain. The West Highland railway line cuts across its foot, and the A82 bypasses it before curving up to the higher reaches of Rannoch Moor. Anyone who’s driven south out of Glen Coe has seen it – but that doesn’t mean they’ll have clocked it, which is a shame. This Munro has a sweeping summit: from its 1002m top it soars over the moor below for 1.5km, reaching 1038m at its highest point. From there, the hills of Glen Coe and the Black Mount scatter to the north-west; Rannoch Moor, seemingly empty, can be seen below; and as you turn towards the east on a clear day Ben Alder…

You can be old school (using a map and counting contours), new school (plotting your route on mapping software or online) or properly down with the kids (using an app). You can do it before, during or after your walk. Here are a few options: GPS unit or watch The easiest solution is to use a GPS unit or a watch, which has either GPS functionality that records your route as you walk or an altimeter that records your ascent. Generally, these are more frugal power-wise than phone apps and don’t compromise your communication device. Some will record your ascent on the go so you can track your progress as you walk. All should allow you to download your route later into mapping software. An app or tracker If you…

Go The Lakes in Winter Do The Coniston Fells If I went through the motions as many times as possible it would become natural. There would be nothing to worry about. It would be fine. It was nearly two years ago since I passed my winter skills course, and said skills were a little rusty. Nerves were getting the better of me. I swung my axe again. If the worst happened, I’d remember how to do an ice axe arrest. I’d chosen this route as an entry-level winter adventure, as a good stepping stone and confidence boost for getting back into the winter mountains. It didn’t require anything too technical – I hoped. With a white cloak snapping in the wind behind him, The Old Man of Coniston stood high…

DAY 1 ✱ Tackle Sharp Edge in winter conditions Sharp Edge is the spiky way up Blencathra but if it's not scary enough for you in summer and you want some truly epic credentials, give it a shot under ice. It's a demanding mountain day so you'll need well-honed winter skills. Discover what it's like and whether you've got what it takes on page 48... ✱ Climb to the roof of England If you're after something a bit less spiky than Sharp Edge, Scafell Pike is a short day’s walk from Wasdale. It attracts more than its fair share of visitors so make the most of England’s highest mountain out of season and save the lesser-known fells for the summer. Its cliffs tend to be less perilous than those on…

The usual definition of the phrase ‘boxing clever’ is to use one’s resources beyond conventional ways. This is equally apt for ‘boxing’ in navigation; it is a much underused technique, and yet it’s incredibly effective and very straightforward to master. When plotting a route to your objective, you navigate a series of short ‘legs’. Each leg starts from a known point and leads to an identifiable point in the landscape/on the map known as an ‘attack point’. Given good visibility, your attack point can be quite a distance from where you are. Consequently there may be obstacles in your path that are difficult to walk over, such as rough ground or a bog, which require you to deviate from your original bearing. To keep on track we can use ‘boxing’…

Match the stiffness of your boots with the stiffness of the crampons to ensure the latter stay attached to the former. Crampons rated as C1 are flexible enough to be used with 3-4 season boots rated as B1. Crampons rated as C2 are stiffer and are only suitable for stiffer 4-season boots rated as B2. If you attach a stiff C2 crampon to a bendy B1 boot, the boot will tend to twist and roll out of the crampon on more uneven terrain. The binding system that holds crampons onto boots comprises of straps, but some C2-rated crampons have a heel clip that can be used to provide a quicker and more secure binding to B2-rated boots that have a matching lug for the heel clip. The metal components of…

HIGHLANDER CLASSIC GAITERS £9 If saving cash is your number one priority then these very low-priced gaiters are ideal. They are made by Highlander, a company that manufactures a wide range of performance gaiters, and this is its entry-level option. There is a lace hook and underfoot webbing stirrup that is easily adjusted. A zip at the back allows entry while cord ties are provided at the top. The material is polyester with a PVC waterproof coating so it won’t be as breathable as higher-priced options (although even the most breathable gaiters are still pretty sweaty so this may not be an issue for you). They also only come in one size, so they either fit or they don’t. Higher-priced gaiters have benefits in their details, but if you don’t…

If you desire a walk in complete isolation, then this one is as good as it gets. Lank Rigg is possibly the westernmost fell in the Lake District, and even getting to the west coast of Cumbria is no easy feat for those who are not from the locale. This short round takes in Grike and Crag Fell, from where there are some surprisingly striking views along Ennerdale. Starting from the Cold Fell road, the climbing starts immediately but is relatively easy going , ascending a grassy slope. There is a short descent then a gradual rise to climb to the intriguingly named Grike before an easy traverse to reach Crag Fell. The view along Ennerdale is truly special and really makes the day on this walk, looking along the…

Views into two classic Snowdonia valleys in one day: Nant Peris and the Llanberis Pass, dominated by the Snowdon massif at its head – and then up and over the Glyderau to Ogwen, to check out the unmistakeable Tryfan skyline and Rhaeadr Ogwen (waterfalls) nestling in the valley below. And all this with the potential to tick off the quiet Glyderau peaks of Mynydd Perfedd and Foel-goch, if you’re hungry for tops. This route is flavoursome enough, though, if the weather dictates that higher summit objectives are not the dish of the day; but don’t underestimate the total ascent! Instead, dine on the deliciously silent Cwm Bual and then explore ‘The Mushroom Garden’ as identified on OS 1:25,000 maps via contours and cwms that carry you below the rather obscure…

Bala beside Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) is fast developing as a good base for the best that south Snowdonia has to offer. Facilities are excellent and there’s a cosmopolitan mixture of hillwalkers, mountain bikers and kayakers roaming the streets. Its growing reputation is well-deserved as it is surrounded by some stunning mountain ranges. From the superb summits of Aran Fawddwy and Aran Benllyn to the wilderness of Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant, the one thing you won’t be troubled with is overfull car parks, crowds and eroded paths. Throw in a circuit of Dduallt and Rhobell Fawr, and you’ll be hooked on this rugged area of Wales and the solitude to be found here. TRANSPORT The nearest railway stations are Wrexham, Chester and Barmouth. Lloyds Coaches service T3 links Bala…

1 SH788292 At the road go right, descending over the bridge. Rise through a gate and continue right of a house. Follow the track and before it passes through a ruined wall leave it right, crossing a stile. Go ahead to go right of a fence corner. Keep the fence up left, continuing along the hillside. Pass through two walls, following the fence to bend right and pass through a gate. Take the track and stay left at the next fork. Near a farmhouse stay by the fence right to just before a gate. Cut back left, rising to curve right. Climb the track, passing through a wall. Follow the track to soon descend and continue to reach a river and fording point. 2 SH808291 Cross the ford, taking the…

“The mountains around Kentmere offer a walk that is a true get-away-from-it-all experience.” Kentmere was once a sort of ‘Spaghetti Junction’ for packhorses transporting goods across the Lakeland fells. In its heyday lines of up to 30 horses would travel to all points of the compass. Road improvements of the 18th century bypassed the valley and saw its importance vanish, and it became a peaceful backwater frozen in time. This time-locked spirit of the place imbues the surrounding summits, ridges, crags and fells with a wonderfully relaxed character. Indeed, more than anywhere else in the Lakes the mountains around Kentmere offer a walk that is a true get-away-from-it-all experience. Far and away the best way to savour these hills is in a horseshoe round. The peaks that cluster around the…