Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i Trail

There’s a great tradition in the UK for introducing mates to hills. You kind of need it, really. We’re not talking about guiding them to the summit of the Matterhorn or tackling the Cuillin ridge. Just the good, honest pastime of braving the weather with a bunch of selected individuals you suspect might need to get out more in the British hills. Nothing is quite as rewarding as seeing the love you have for – let’s face it – a rather peculiar and illogical hobby spread to another’s face as they finally see what all the fuss is about. And as so many who walk will attest, you could be igniting a flame that will see them right for life. But it’s quite an important task: a route that isn’t…

The Ultimate Navigation School seems to have taken a shine to you lot – they've offered 10 per cent off all of their courses only for readers of Trail. The offer is live now and applies to all courses running from June to September, inclusive. The navigation training school launched this year and was set up by world navigation expert Lyle Brotherton. It places high value on quality teaching and every instructor has at least 15 years experience working in mountain rescue, the military or in teaching navigation. Courses are run for every level, covering the basics right the way up to night navigation and take place across the UK. Unlike any other navigation course, t hey're also accredited. If you're new to navigation and want to get to grips…

Scafell Pike, Snowdon or Ben Nevis? I’d prefer to be on the hills surrounding any of them. Just as nice but with far fewer people. The highest mountain you’ve climbed? El Misti (5822m, Peru). Although, strictly speaking, I only got to the volcanic rim and not the summit, struck by altitude sickness after climbing up from 3000m in one go. Who’s your mountain hero? Fell-runner Joss Naylor. What do you love most about the hills? Their freedom, beauty, silence, scale and timelessness. They make me feel small, insignificant and strangely reassured. What’s your nickname? I was called the ‘Duracell Bunny’ at uni. Most memorable day in the outdoors? Doing the Isle of Skye’s Cuillin Ridge with my husband. Funniest thing you’ve seen on a hill? I was once picking blueberries…

SNOWDON SNOWDONIA This photo of Roy Partington was taken by Dean McMackin on the summit of Snowdon. Says Roy, "Dean has never done anything like this before, so how lucky can you be to witness your first spectacular sunrise on Snowdon firast time there! We set off driving to Snowdonia at 10.30pm on a Friday evening as Saturday‘s forecast was for a clear sky. We got to the summit in time for dawn at 5.30am. When your are privileged to witness views like this, all the hard work and tiredness is forgotten as nature delivers bang on cue with something as magnificent as this.” WETHERLAM LAKE DISTRICT Michael a nd Beth Ericsson. on the top of Wetherlam after completing the Coniston Horseshoe after scrambling up Dow Crag via the South…

That’s the Cleveland escarpment, the northern edge of the North York Moors.” Alan Hinkes OBE gestures enthusiastically at a rise of land away to the south, before swinging his arm around to the west to point out Pen Hill above Leyburn and the entrance to Wensleydale; the industrial heartland of Middlesbrough and the Teesmouth estuary to the north; and the hazy blue of the North Sea coast to the east. For Hinkes, the first (and to date, only) Brit to have climbed all 14 of the world’s 8000 metre peaks, the Cleveland Hills are where it all began, and he’s clearly, and quite reasonably, proud of this little corner of England he calls home. The obelisk we’re standing below is a monument to famed 18th century circumnavigator Captain James Cook…

I stood beside my walking partner, contemplating the problem ahead. The ground steepened and then the path simply disappeared, ending at the foot of several giant, crampon-scratched slabs of cold stone. It was good rock – sticky granite – but the recent rain had left it dark and glistening. “Probably a bit beyond you, this route,” I said to her. “But there has to be a path around it if we just drop down to the side. We’ll give that a go.” She stared at me thoughtfully, as if considering my suggestion, then returned to eating the deer droppings she had recently found. And so it goes on like this, my life as a hillwalker. Because more often than not I wander the mountains and hills of this country with…

RUFFWEAR ROAMER LEASH £39 A waist-attaching bungee leash was a revelation for hillwalking with my dog. Due to the sheer number of sheep and other livestock in the National Parks, off-lead walking is a treat, but a normal hand-held lead is a bit of a faff – what with juggling maps, walking poles and poo bags… it has the potential to go wrong, very wrong! So the Roamer Leash is ideal for liberating your hands. If you have a strong dog that pulls, you do have to be careful that he doesn’t pull you over on uneven, downhill terrain. But a very stretchy bungee section makes it comfy to wear by acting as a shock absorber, and gives my four-legged friend a little more freedom. www.ruffwear.co.uk – Find out how…

You can look after yourself in the hills, but what if your mates want to come too? You might need a bit extra, here are some basics: A REPAIR KIT Carry a repair kit, including duct tape, paracord, spare laces and a penknife to temporarily patch up broken kit. PICTURED: 9m Gorilla Tape £2.50; 1.2m Type III 550 paracord £1.48; Victorinox Mountaineer Pocket Knife £40 B WATERPROOFS Even if it’s 20 deg C and sunny with clear skies when you set off, the weather can change dramatically and quickly higher up. Always carry your waterproofs and instruct your friends to do so as well. PICTURED: Mountain Equipment Lhotse/Manaslu £330 C WHISTLE In an emergency, keep the group together unless they also carry navigational equipment and can safely get off the…

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…

The first time I walked over the Stiperstones I thought I’d taken a wrong turn, daydreamed down the M5 and parked up somewhere near Dartmoor. And I assumed I was still half-asleep when road signs pointed towards an isolated hamlet called The Bog. This five-mile Shropshire ridge, part of which is a National Nature Reserve, is capped by a series of quartzite outcrops which, from a distance, look just like some of those high granite tors in the West Country. The jagged rocks offer interesting little scrambles and are a marked contrast to the flowing contours of the nearby Long Mynd. They also provide the backdrop to a host of local legends: a ghostly Saxon warrior called Wild Edric, and the spiky crag known as the Devil’s Chair. When the…

Ben Loyal is often known as the ‘Queen of Scottish Mountains’. While any royal connotations with its name appear to be wrong, it does have an impressive castle. The granite tower of An Caisteal, the castle, is Ben Loyal’s highest top at 765m and is just one of the five rocky tops that crown the ridge. This circular route takes in all five castellations. From each of the tops, you gain fantastic panoramic views over the surrounding countryside, composed as it is of vast swathes of wild land and water. The shifting white sands of the Kyle of Tongue in particular are a sight to be seen. In the middle of the Kyle you can see the Rabbit Islands, so named because rabbits were introduced to them in the 1700s…

1 NY263235 From Keswick Bus Station pass Booths supermarket on your left to a mini roundabout. Turn right here along the High St and continue when it becomes pedestrianised. At the far end of the Market Square, take the left exit to pass the George Hotel and continue straight 1 ahead to the outskirts of town. 2 NY271230 Turn right onto Springs Road and follow this to Springs Farm, where the tarmac ends. Pass the farm shop and continue beside the stream through woodland. Just before a washed away bridge, turn right towards Rakefoot Farm and Walla Crag, then bend left to rise above the stream at a higher level. 3 NY278224 Pass a mobile phone mast, dip slightly into the top of woodland, before bending sharp left across a…

TRYFAN SNOWDONIA Sean Hughes and girlfriend Sarah Stewart‘s first Tryfan summit after a scramble up the north face in March on a beautiful bluebird day. 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, w hile a warm zone improves tog value under the torso. THIS COULD BE YOU! Send your shots, marked ‘Summit selfie’ to trail@bauermedia.co.uk…

Buachaille Etive Mòr The drive into Rannoch Moor is awesome in any weather or season. The mountain dominates your view as you approach, daring you to make the attempt, which turns out to not be that difficult – just long. And as you drive home you only need to look back at it ‘guarding the glen’, in keeping with its namesake, and say to yourself “I was up there !” What could be better? John O’Brien Scafell Pike from Seathwaite It‘s got it all: great walking up Grains Gill, then on to Esk Hause, then my favourite bit of Lakeland – the highest ridge walk in England – up on to Great End, then the Pike itself. Back along the ridge the same way, but a diversion to take in…

“Just because the calendar says summer’s here, Mother Nature won't necessarily play ball” Most hillwalkers look forward to the warmer months, since the longer, lighter days bring with them a whole host of new opportunities for exploration and discovery. Of course, these also come with certain risks and dangers that are less relevant during cooler weather. And talking of weather, just because the calendar says summer’s here, Mother Nature won’t necessarily play ball. You see the main picture? It was taken on Ben Nevis in mid May, and there’s still snow... Here’s a guide to the kit you’ll need and the concerns to bear in mind when making the most of summer in the mountains. Sun Risk You could be out in the sun (fingers crossed) all day with little…

1 Check the map Try to identify an area where the contours are widely spaced and there’s a stream or river nearby. Avoid areas with the blue ‘boggy ground’ symbol and marshy areas near ponds or lakes. If you’re near a path, it's best to aim for somewhere out of sight, pitch late in the day and leave early. 2 Find a patch of dry, flat ground The ground should be firm, not boggy or bumpy, but soft enough to allow you to push your tent pegs into. This is a balancing act and may also be influenced by how thick your sleeping mat/pad is. Put the tent up and get inside to test the ground for a suitable sleeping surface before you peg it out. 3 Do you want…

VANGO NITESTAR 375 £50 As long as you don't have to carry your sleeping bag far, there’s no need to bust your bank balance as this low-priced bag will keep you warm and cosy while camping. It’s made from synthetic insulation and is rated as warm down to -8 deg C. However, the drawback is that the weight and packed size is pretty big, so carrying this in a rucksack when backpacking is not as straightforward as higher-priced bags. But being synthetic means its performance won’t dip as drastically as a down bag if it gets damp. Also, you get a good shoulder baffle, a great hood and a soft, slightly brushed, polyester lining, which all adds up to this feeling very warm and cosy. VITAL STATS Insulation Single hole,…

This is a very fine outing indeed, and hitting Wales’ highest peak Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the cherry on the top. On your way, take in the glory of finding a quiet way onto the majestic peaks of Y Lliwedd and work hard to gain height towards Snowdon’s summit on the steep, upper section of the Watkin Path. Regardless of your relationship with the summit cairn on Snowdon, it’s a breathtaking vista on a clear day – to the Glyderau in the north, Moel Hebog and the Nantlle range to the south-west and the Moelwynion to the south-east. And whisk yourself away along the mountain’s attractive Bwlch Main and southern ridge, towards your final triumph, Yr Aran. This beautifully shaped peak stands guard over Snowdon’s southern hemisphere, protecting the beguiling…

A brand new fell that nobody knows about and that never got named! Okay, you're not going to say that about Lakeland today. But when they did last say it, back in 1876, that undiscovered peak was Esk Pike. To find Esk Pike as if for the first time, take it by the untrodden east flank above Angle Tarn. It's one of those Lake District ascents of bare rock and little grassy terraces all over. The rocks are clean, grippy, and gently angled. Whatever route you choose, chances are your line has never been used before, unless your first ascent already got snatched by a sheep. Esk Pike leads naturally to Bow Fell. And to add some adventure to the afternoon, descend alongside the Great Slab to the great hollow…

1 NG561215 From the car park, return to the road and gain the main Blabheinn footpath on the north side of the Allt na Dunaiche. The path ascends through a wooded area above the gorge, then passes onto open ground. Soon after the main path crosses the burn, leave it to head north-west across the boggy floor of Choire a’ Caise. Follow the main north-west branch of the burn steeply uphill, climbing rough ground and scree beneath the east face of Clach Glas to reach the saddle between it and Sgurr nan Each. 2 NG532225 Note that a retreat back down Choire a’Caise is the last safe descent option until you’ve reached the other side of Clach Glas. The climbing commences straight away on the north ridge of Clach Glas.…

1 NY291121 From Ullscarf to High Raise the handrail line of rusty fence posts continues, with a mostly faint path across some boggy bits and occasional hillocks. There are many distracting braiding paths on the descent to the boggy col between Ullscarf and Greenup Edge – maintain your rough line. Cross the Easedale to Borrowdale path then rise up a stony wet scar to Low White Stones then by fence posts up to the trig point of High Raise. 2 NY280095 Return to the rough southerly line towards Thunacar Knott. The path veers noticeably left at a slight re-ascent, then cut across to a pile of stones above a tarn. Descend open rough ground across Martcrag Moor on a westerly arc, later briefly following aheadwater stream of the Stake Beck…

WE SAY... On first acquaintance, the North Ridge of Tryfan looks like a fairly simple mountaineering challenge. From the road you can see its full length and although it is clearly fairly steep, it would appear to be a straight scramble up its crest. However, like all great mountain challenges all is not as it seems, and to tackle it is not just a case of swarming up it in a direct line. To succeed, you need to apply good route-finding technique and be able to make judgements on balancing commitment to risk with your standard of mountaineering skills. This is the great joy with a route like this: once you’re established on it, it takes on a whole different character and what looked like a clear crest from afar…

1 Carve a spoon Forgot your spork? Never mind, with a knife, a stick, some practice and quite a lot of care, you can carve your own. You’ll find instruction in The Swiss Army Knife Book (see p18) and a lot of satisfaction in the task. 2 Do a Mountain Rescue refresher No-one wants to call Mountain Rescue but sometimes it’s the wisest recourse in the event of an accident, or you getting lost. Remind yourself of who to call, the information they’ll need and what you need to do in the event of an accident so you can react immediately and appropriately. Simply read, or download, the easy-to-follow ‘How it works’ fact file PDF at www.mountain.rescue.org.uk – and turn to p72 in this issue. While you’re about it, register…

It’s the time of year when what many consider the ultimate British mountain comes into season: Wales’ highest, biggest, grandest, most famous peak… er, what’s it called again? But Snowdon really is amazing for so many reasons as it has everything you could possibly expect from a mountain and yet saves a bit back to surprise you still. It’s probably the only mountain that trained Everest mountaineers and yielded some of the most history-making rock climbs on the planet, that also has a puffer train running up it and a summit that has been host to everything from a grand piano played by Bryn Terfel and ice cream-licking sandal wearers, to geared-up mountaineers and hillwalkers having the best day of their life – possibly all at the same time. It’s…

We apologise for the hours you’re going to lose to this – if you consider it a loss, we think of it as time well spent. Introducing OS Maps new 3D mode. Explore every hill in the UK from every aspect and every angle. With this new feature, you can view pre-plotted routes, close in on crux features, fly through valleys and zoom from place to place. It’s one of the most exciting things to happen to your desktop since... well, that’s your own private business. On a practical note, it provides a level of detail and mapping capability not seen before. You can plot routes and view them on real mountain terrain, with such close-up precision that you can essentially take a virtual walk before doing the real thing.…

Dear Trail… I’ve just read the article ‘The Mountain Stage’ (Spring 17), and there it is, in black and white, ‘Puzzle Wood in the New Forest’... Excuse me, but Puzzlewood is in the Forest of Dean! I should know, it’s where I live. Puzzlewood has been used in many films and TV programmes and is visited by many fans. They’d be disappointed if they went looking for it in the New Forest! A resident of the Forest of Dean, via email Ed – You are indeed right, dear Forest of Dean resident. Our sincere apologies.…

“The air is crystal clear and the Highland vistas are brimming.” The forest paths are shaded and cool. But through the canopy, the sky is blue, textured with wisps of cloud. The track climbs, the trees pull back, and there it is: the mountain. Its best view, too, the rippling north face rising from a rolling sea of heather. We stop for a moment. Smiles break. Photos are taken. The excitement is tangible. This is what I wanted. Welcome to Ben Nevis, gents. I think you’re going to like it here... CONSIDERATION The preparation for this moment began some time ago. When two mountain rookies express a desire to climb the country’s highest peak, it’s not something you just leap into. The first question is an obvious one: are they…

What is a horseshoe? There is a particular elegance in being able to climb a succession of peaks and taking advantage of high-level links to do it efficiently. This is the base theory behind most of Britain’s horseshoe trails and applying it has generated a huge number of superb walks. Some of our greatest mountain routes fall into this category and the range of difficulty, both in terms of endurance and technicality, can at times stretch this theory to the limit! The gold-standard horseshoe is perhaps the Fairfield Horseshoe. It’s difficult to place which was the first, and it’s certainly impossible to determine which is the best (they are all brilliant), but Fairfield is probably where it all started. It is arguably the most well-known, and although there is no…

Excitement tingles in my belly. I rustle in my sleeping bag, toss away my book and gaze upwards at stars zipping across the night sky. I can hardly bear to blink, in this darkness pricked with coloured light. When I look down at my feet, I see beyond the rumpled red nylon, over the rocks and grass of the summit, down across the south-west Lakes and far over Morecambe Bay. I see the coastline of Wales outlined against the black sea. Its hills faintly illuminated by a smudged moon. How am I going to sleep? I wonder. Lying in the Lake District and looking at Snowdonia. How am I ever going to sleep? One long blink, then another, leads me gently that way. The night deepens, lights shine on, and…

Regatta Halin 2 £120 n Weight 2618g The low price is exceptionally good for this two-pole tunnel design with a front porch entry. It lacks the finesse of higher-priced tents, but does the job well enough. Robens Voyager 2 £200 n Weight 2826g An outer-first pitch, two-pole tunnel design that’s extremely stable, but only has the front porch for gear and entry. It’s also heavier than tents with more space. Marmot Vapor 2P £220 n Weight 2689g Masses of space with two porches and entrances, plus a square-sided inner. However, the Vapor is slightly heavy and has almost more space than needed. Snugpak Scorpion 2 £275 n Weight 2644g Outer-first pitch and reassuringly stable, thanks to the three-pole geodesic design – but there’s only the front porch entry, it’s relatively…

If you like hidden remote summits where other walkers are few and far between, then Hart Side will make a perfect day out in Lakeland’s Eastern Fells for you. It’s one of several tops that form part of a long ridge, descending easterly from Stybarrow Dodd to reach valley level at Dockray. A climb to its pleasant summit takes you over Common Fell and Swineside Knott on the Brown Hills ridge as well as Hart Side’s subsidiary top, Birkett Fell, which was named after the highly respected Lord Norman Birkett of Ulverston in 1963. The area you will have walked over is known collectively as Watermillock Common and as it is all Open Access land your right of way is assured. Standing on the grassy, bouldery summit of Hart Side…

Standing high above Beddgelert, Moel Hebog unfairly loses most of its attention to Snowdon, which most people who stay in the village will have come to scale. Although Snowdon is a fantastic walk, do not necessarily dismiss Moel Hebog in favour of it. Standing at only 782m, it is not as high as Snowdon but nonetheless provides a walk full of fun and variety. Starting in the main car park in Beddgelert, you wind your way up through the village and on to the hill before you start the main ascent. With odd patches of easy scrambling, where you’ll just be following the main path over some larger boulders, you’ll climb up what seems like an impassable face very quickly. You’ll then be able to enjoy the fantastic broad summit…

ESSENTIAL The routes described here are graded rock climbs. Vital equipment includes harness, helmet, rope and a small rack of climbing protection. Basic climbing skills are equally essential. See also the note on guides in Practicalities below. Rearing out of the sea to a hard-bitten crest of jagged Munro summits, the Skye Cuillin are uniquely ferocious. This is a landscape of bared teeth, a chunk of the Alps marooned in a watery island setting. A scrambler’s head for heights is essential almost everywhere, while the best routes also require rock-climbing skills and equipment. The famous Cuillin Traverse may be the ultimate prize, but the slightly more manageable rounds here are no less stunning. From the spires of Sgurr nan Gillean’s Pinnacle Ridge to the airy challenge of the Clach Glas-Blabheinn…

Nothing gives a greater sense of purpose to a walk than going from one place to another, across the highest fells. Especially if you can fit 11 Wainwrights into the route. Fabulous views are guaranteed throughout, from the sight of Derwent Water and Blencathra as you rise up Walla Crag, through the first glimpse of Great End on the climb up Ullscarf, to the 360° panorama that greets you atop Scafell Pike. And you can feel smug that you’ve reached the highest point in England from a wild-camping start and not via the tourist route! There’s even a steam train at the end if you prefer to finish at Eskdale Green and ignore the final low-level Muncaster Fell. TRANSPORT Bus X4/5 from Penrith to Workington stops at Keswick for the…

1 NY168049 The high ground is now nearly vanquished, with the broad whaleback of Illgill and Whin Rigg being the last bastions of ground above 500m. These can be deceptively tough as the ground is often rough underfoot and the col (marked by a couple of small tarns) between is surprisingly deep. However, venture out to the craggy edge above Wast Water and the views will reward you handsomely – as long as you have a head for heights! You are descending south-west now, with only a short rise to the summit of Whin Rigg. 2 NY152034 Continue descending onto Irton Fell, there’s a slight col as you pass above Greathall Gill, a chasm leading down into Wasdale. Cross over the remnants of a drystone wall, then go through a…