⛰️ The Hillwalking thread ⛰️

Spin, is that one of the routes on the Far East Buttress, Sumo or something?

Pale Diedre on Eastern Ramparts. The main pitch is amazing.

Extraordinary house sized piece of peridotite.

Hard to get a sense of scale on that photo.

Yes, not the best pic. The dried out mud look is really weird and the lentil sized white crystals so vivid.
Only ever did some of the Far East Wall routes, too late now as I climb like a fanny these days.

Beinn Udlamain and Sgàirneach Mhòr this weekend. Two more of the lumps around Drumochter. Cracking views, not the most scintillating of hills.

/Quote Muriel Gray
Nice view of Scheihallion
/End Muriel

In 30+ years of wandering hills in the UK I've never seen such dry conditions. Crispy. 🙁

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Start of the Preselli Ridge on Thursday

@spin dont suppose you have a GR and spot height for Afterthought Arete?

@piemonster

The bottom is around about NJ0007 0201. About 900m asl.

Cheers Spin, bagged Pygmy Ridge and Afterthought Arete today. Need to come back for Final Selection but took a good look at it today, relatively short but looks superb.

Nice one, how did it go?

Splendidly, apart from I should have taken more water.

It wasnt really an exercise in climbing at my limit, more a case of getting multi pitch practise/experience built. Probably a fair few more days like that before wandering onto harder ground. I could certainly see myself soloing those routes some day.

 I could certainly see myself soloing those routes some day.

They're pretty much in that grey area between scrambling and climbing.

The next few weeks are going to be hard to get through after this

Bloody hell there'll need to be a name change to Mont Gris at this rate!

?

Well it's not exactly blanc like it used to be.

Ben Hope on Friday. A rather frustrating view of the inside of a cloud at the top instead of expansive views of the North coast. Later in the day summiteers may have had a glimpse - but we were off by 3pm after a forecast of heavy rain moving in at 3pm... But that's playing 'one day to climb a hill' darts when you book a holiday.

Cracking day out - we're planning a return to Loyal and Kilbreck.

High Cup Nick a couple of weekends ago

Cadair Idris today

Beautiful weather, fantastic views was a great day with my 12 y/o.

Waun Fach to Cwmdu

I had a few problems loading the photos last night but the order they are above is 1, 4, 5, 2, 3

🤦‍♂️

The route was Pengenfford to Waun Fach along the Dragon's Back ridge then south to Pen Twyn Glas and then descending off Pen Allt-Mawr to Cwmdu.

A bit of a wander around the NW Carneddau today, up Cwm Pen Llafar to the Black Ladders, then up onto Yr Elen and back to Bethesda. I shall sleep well tonight, it was chuffing warm out there.

👍

Mrs_oab and eldest_oab had a lovely day on Friday up Stob Gabhar and Stob a'Choire Odhair and the 'other' Anoach Eagach...meanwhile I pushed pixels.

Stob Gabhar is a great hill.

Ben Macdui Friday, spotted a day of decent weather while working nearby so booked a last minute day off and made it up to the summit. Pretty chuffed as wanted to do it for a few years so one that's finally ticked off.

Weekend before I did Mount Keen too, not such perfect views from the top, would have been if I'd hung on few hours more but such is life.

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That’s a grand looking dog!

Managed to stitch together 2300ft of ascent over a 14 mile walk in the Chilterns on Saturday, who says we haven't got hills darn sarf...

#it was very repetitive..

Mrs CM had only 11 munros left to do. She's not very fit really and is slow placing her feet on rough terrain, The group of four north of Loch Mullardoch were always going to be real challange (the summit nearest the starting point she'd done previously). With the boat trip up the loch not being an option again this year we decided to approach the remaining three from Strathfarrar. The gate up the glen opens at 9am and closes at 7pm (it was the first day of September) and cars have to be out of the glen by then. With timescales too tight I dropped Mrs CM and her bike off at the road, drove the car out the glen and cycled the 15.5 miles back to the road end. By now it was midday and 2.00 before I caught up with the other half just short of the Sgurr na Lappaich summit. It's a big drop and reascent to the next summit An Riabhachan and at 5.30 there was a decision to make about An Socach. We decided not to be sensible and continued...it's a bloody long way.

The sun was setting behind the Cuilin when the made our way down from the final top, down a nice ridge curving down northeast into the endless square miles of bog that are a feature of the land surrounding Loch Monar. It's three miles of pathless bog and four of boggy path to get back to the bikes at the road end. The time was now midnight; the 15.5 miles back to the car took another two. Bedtime 4am.

Family walking epic to end all epics. But fun, I think

BTW we met a woman who was running the twelve munros bounding Loch Mullardoch (plus a deleted one). She had set off at 5am and was on summit number ten!

^ that's a great adventure.

Some photos from Hochgern, Bavaria yesterday

As MOAB says, finishing off the Mullardoch round is a good one to tick off.
I did it with 2 friends in late Sept 2003, over the classic 3 days.
Day 1 - the southern side of the Loch from the roadend; Toll Creagach, Tom a'Choinnich, Beinn Fhionnlaidh and Carn Eige, then a camp under Mam Sodhail at Loch Uaine.
Day 2 was up onto Mam Sodhail, a descent that looked like a very long drop to the Bealach Coire Ghaideil, then over An Socach to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan and north to Mullach na Dheiragain. One of the party had done that one before, so went to collect a 'top' of Ceathreamhnan instead, then met us in the valley at the west end of Mullardoch. We camped high that night either in Coire na Breabaig or Coire Lungard.
Day 3 finished off the round over An Socach, An Riabhachan, Sgurr na Lapaich and Creag Dubh.
I wish I'd taken a camera with me, as the weather was great all weekend, but we were trying to keep the weight right down, and I only owned a hefty film SLR at the time.
Slept well back at the bunkhouse that evening.

Sunrise on Pen-y-Ghent Saturday morning

Yes, I know unimaginative doing the Yorkshire 3 peaks, but as a southerner I've had my fill of impassable routes

A couple of shortish days backpacking with my brother in the boggy wilds of the southern Arans

Gwaun y Llwyni from the north:-

The steep eastern face of Drws Bach:-

A misty (and windy) descent to Creiglyn Dyfi:-

Camping below Creiglyn Dyfi:-

(Yes, that is indeed a 40-odd year old Phoenix Phreak, and it's still pretty serviceable)

Walking back out down the Hengwm path to Cwm Cywarch:-

We only did about 10 miles in total between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. But we're not the spring chickens we once were when dad used to bring us up this way, sadly.

From the Pinzgauer Spaziergang (Zell am See to Saalbach) a couple of weeks ago

Yes, I know unimaginative doing the Yorkshire 3 peaks

Its popular for a few reasons but one of them is that it's really good.

Headed south west to D&G to miss the weather and did Curleywee which is a cracking wee hill with the best name. Tent decided it wanted to be a boat, and later found bits of a downed plane.

I may actually have asked about before but not actually pulled the trigger. Mainly as its a something that would get used twice or so a year.
Anyone bought a 60-70 litre pack recently have any feedback? Would need to work on mountain terrain and carry winter kit. I do have a 50l pack, but it doesn't have enough volume.

I can always just default to whatever Osprey have with the right features.

Curleywee

That's a lovely bit of countryside. Also home to many, many adders in my experience 20 years ago, so much so that we risk assessed not to take kids from outdoor centre there.

I think I forgot to post this up a week or so back - a day out doing a circuit of Llyn Cowlyd in near-perfect weather, luckily squeezed in between a couple of wetter periods. I've been lucky, or possibly very choosy, with the weather on the days I've been out this summer.
Loadsa photos on Geograph, with attached map

Set myself the challenge of walking/running the Wainwrights. Not a natural "collector" or box ticker but as someone who has ran and walked a large number of them over the years I wanted to challenge myself to go to different places instead of repeating the bigger walks I have done so many times. Bagged 4 peaks I may not have ever got too given their height and proximity to Helvellyn/Blencathra and my previous habit of trying to squeeze everything out of my 2.5hr drives to the Lakes.  Slept in a Keswick car park and walked over Armboth Fell, High Tove, High Seat and Raven Cragg, Had a great day and kept below the mist on the higher fells, result.

Anyone bought a 60-70 litre pack recently have any feedback? Would need to work on mountain terrain and carry winter kit. I do have a 50l pack, but it doesn’t have enough volume.

What's it for? Winter camping?

Cracker of a day up Stuchd an Lochain, Glen Lyon.

Now tucked up in the van in -2, first time sleeping in it.

@spin
Mostly yes, although there may be the odd overnighter with a need to carry a rope/rack too,  plus some multi day summer stuff.

1 or 2 nights in mild weather is covered.

@matt_outandabout - great photos! Was last up there about '98 and saw bugger all

How's the new van going?

Ingleborough last Sunday. Beautiful fresh start to the day then slowly turned into a cold, windy cloudy Dales kind of day.

@ElShalimo

Van is good apart from I think an elderly leisure battery. We've had fridge, a light and heating on for 3 hours and the voltage is dropping to 10.4v, and so heater keeps stopping. 🤔 Not so great in -2.....

Ah well, we are all alone so can fire up engine if needed.

The good news is that a new leisure battery is about £90

I hope you've got some cheeky red,  or even better tawny port to keep you hydrated

Actually, I brought some summer sunshine from our holiday earlier this year:

https://www.orkneywine.co.uk/online-store/larboard/

👍👍👍

I too am vanning it tonight in Glen Torridon. Not so cold here but had a cheeky sherry just in case...

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Ticked off my hundredth Wainwright today.  12 Wainwright s in one day. I cant think of a place in the lakes where they're so concentrated

Gray crag, thornthwaite crag, high st, kidsty pike, high Raise, rampsgill head, the Knott, rest Dodd, the nab, angletarn pikes, beda Head and finally Brock Crag

Cracking day

@ fingerbang

I was in that neck of the woods today doing a route called the Patterdale Parish Boundary round. Absolutely stunning day as your photos reflect.

Helvellyn the other day. Always worth it for the views...

Classic inside of a cloud view...

Cracking day

I was on High Raise that day too! Agreed, some of the beat weather ever

The clarity on Saturday was fantastic. The golden hour light was without doubt the best I've ever experienced.

I would agree with that - amazing light.

Hill days like that are good for the soul. We spent nearly an hour on the summit it was so nice - the wind even dropped for us.

We did Pillar from Wasdale on Sat, first in a while and just beautiful weather. Really still, bright and nicely cold. Frosting of snow on the very tops but mainly green mountains. Rocks in the shade were treacherous, a thin film of ice.

Not been up Pillar before - nice circuit. Last of the main 800m Lakes peaks for us to do, although there are loads of connected tops we haven't been up.

<br />Speinne Mor is the highest point on the north of Mull - bit of a bog-fest to get there, but it was worth the effort yesterday for the views, with views across to Berneray, Mingulay, Barra, Ardnamurchan, Rum and the Small Isles, Skye, Knoydart, Kintail.

Heading Aviemore direction for a few days over the weekend, fingers crossed conditions play ball. I've not done any Munros yet but will no doubt tick off a couple - any favourites? 

@mark88
MWIS suggests half-decent conditions over the weekend north of the border, so Aviemore should be OK on the whole.
"hail and snow falling to lower elevations in Scotland. Likely to stay chilly into the weekend, sub-zero on tops plus frost overnight into valleys and glens. Some local upland snowfalls possible, although high pressure nearby is likely to bring a fair amount of dry and bright weather plus wind speeds tending to ease."

You have access from Aviemore to several of the highest Munros apart from Ben Nevis. The shortest day out is probably Cairn Gorm itself, optionally extending SW over Cairn Lochan and back via the spurs to the west of the Northern Corries. Or an out-and-back to Beinn MacDuibh if the tops are clear - that can become a long day, mind. Carn Ban Mhor & Sgorr Gaoith from the carpark in Glen Feshie would be reasonable too. There are plenty of other options around the area.

Anyone here done Squareface? (Climb)

https://img.ukclimbing.com/i/314928?fm=jpg&time=1563313197&s=e624566f9c3139403c76fb6804d49a52

Or the Cumming-Crofton Route thats nearby?

Climbed Squareface and Cumming-Crofton in a long day from Invercauld last summer. Also nipped up Beinn a Bhuirdh and Ben Avon as it was such a braw day. Went in from Invercauld by bike up to Clach a Cleirich on the landrover track and excellent path beyond Gleann an t-Slugain. Bike shaves off quite a bit of time, especially on the way back out.

Garbh Coire is absolutely stunning place and both routes are great. Squareface absolutely stonking for the grade. 

Oooh, that sounds a cracking day out.

Now we've got the camper I'm adding a few Cairngorm hills to the list for the next year...

I really want to do some hiking/hill walking (is there a different?!) over the winter.

Feel a bit stupid asking but interested in recommendations for decent walks. <br />I’m based in Midlands (Leamington) and have a camper van so would like somewhere I can get to in under 2 hours on a Friday and then walk Saturday and Sunday.

Welcome any recommendations for walks and places to stay in van (campsites or just places to park up)

Lovely Saturday in the Lakes, little wander over Seat Sandal and Fairfield down Heron Pike to Rydal this afternoon, £2 buses make linear walks a great east option

☝️ lovely @TomB

Rather wintery conditions up Meall Buidhe, Glen Lyon today. After a -4 camp under the Aurora in the van we headed up early to beat the incoming rain and snow. Rather too little a view, but great to stride across the boggy sections this hill is known for.

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Next trip into Glen Lyon will be for the 'big four' round, which I think we will leave until next summer.

I really want to do some hiking/hill walking (is there a different?!) over the winter.

@rockbus - the obvious couple of recommendations are -

- the Peak. I *think* there's a couple of Edale campsites open through the winter. Kinder is lovely, bleak and wild in equal measure through the winter, without being too big a distance or height gain. Ace.

- the hills around Dolgellau are ideal. Cadair Idris is quite steep in places, so perhaps think how to deal with ice if it's there. I also like some of the hills to the north - Y Garn and the Rhinogs https://www.markhorrell.com/blog/2011/the-rhinogs-snowdonias-best-kept-secret/

Matt, I do love that photo of your wife standing on a solid puddle. 'Nonplussed' seems like the word to describe her look.

The Glen Lyon 4
Lots of photos, and a description

@debaser

Nice, both look excellent and that second photo is quite helpful 

Thanks for the response @thelawman

Ended up full of a cold during the week so bailed on Aviemore and went to Aberfoyle for some less committing days out. Got lucky with some excellent conditions.

Drummond Hill looking south over Loch Tay:

Schiehallion:

Very little snow (yet) across the West Highlands, even Ben Nevis looking a bit bare - blue skies, -6C overnight meant lots of ice on Ben More. Having to tread carefully as there wasn’t enough ice for crampons - fortunately the ground was frozen so was able to go up the tussock grass rather than try and negotiate the path which was sheet ice in places.

👍👍👍