old - Fazer Owners Club - old
General => General => Topic started by: Hedgetrimmer on 25 October 2013, 08:42:28 pm
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Well, it's that time of year. The weather has now obviously turned away from summer, it's dark when I go to work in the morning and set to be dark when I come home after the clocks are adjusted soon. Any decent biking weather now will be confined to very short days. So I figure it's time to start saving for next year's fun. This year, I achieved the things I set out to do, largely because I kept my targets to sensible proportions. Last January, I told a work colleague that I would have a gen 1 thou by the end of June (got it at the end of May), this starting from bugger all money in the bank. I promised myself that I would get this one Ivanised, and in time to still get some decent rides in before the new winter approached. Well, it's done, and I didn't waste a minute of decent riding weather this year, over 6000 miles covered, a touch of camping, and new roads and areas explored, met lots of you guys and had a bit of fun. Yep, it's been a pretty good year for me - a quite large proportion of that is down to you Foccers so many thanks for that :thumbup .
And so, what of next year? Now is the time for me to start easing back on the riding, and begin to save for whatever next summer has to offer. I've got a couple of things I would like to achieve next year. Firstly, I'm hoping to do the R1 forks and R6 rear shock mod for the bike, plus a few more minor cosmetic touches. Secondly, I would like next year to be the one in which I finally crack my Euro-touring cherry. I feel quite driven to get this one under my belt as something of a priority; 30+ years riding and apart from 8 months or so in Germany with an FZR1000 EXUP, (largely wasted cos I was on the piss most of my free time :lol ) I have done very little on the continent. I did do a trip from northern Germany to Le Mans, a few rides to the Moehne See (which was the local-ish run for a couple of us on a Sunday), visited my brother at RAF Bruggen a few times, but that's it. So I've decided that next year is the year this must be put right.
And of course, still more places to explore and hopefully people to meet in good ol' Blighty.
So that's next year's goals. Again, not too ambitious - after all, I'll still be paying off this bike and, no doubt like many of you, I don't exactly rake it in money-wise. And I hope I might be able to achieve a couple more things on top of that, but unclear what else at this early date. Got all winter to think about that now!
Roll on 2014!
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good thinking nick...I know what you mean about the lack of biking weather in the coming months!
I have toured Europe a lot in the cage with family and whilst it is tempting, it really is a slog from Yorkshire to the channel then a long day down to Austria or Switzerland. for that reason I tend to keep the bike in this country, with the Scottish hills only a few hours away, as is wales, and the lake district about two hours away I could think I was spoilt for choice. I also have the Yorkshire moors and dales in very close proximity.
I also enjoy a few days in cornwall/devon area and am fortunate that I can go last minute when the weather is looking good for a few days. lets face it, for biking and camping the weather makes it or breaks it! I will try and head in that direction at least once next year but that is a full days ride off the motorways from here.
whatever we do I know we will enjoy.....good to have something to think about on the winter evenings!
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(http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr19/dickturpin22/2013-04-20152927_zpsbf0eebcf.jpg)(http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr19/dickturpin22/2013-05-08152118_zps7b0c07d2.jpg)(http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr19/dickturpin22/2013-07-10120338_zps1df05571.jpg)
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(http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr19/dickturpin22/2013-05-07203044_zps1a908d25.jpg)
A few from this summer!
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First pic - Lake District?
Second pic reminds me of the coast road of Kintyre.
Third pic - I've got that one, Aberystwyth, twice this year!
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pic 1, yes top of newlands pass near buttermere
pic 2, between newquay and padstow
pic 3, as you said.
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2 out of 3, not bad? :lol
I 've walked the fells extensively around Buttermere, a really beautiful, peaceful place. Been to the top of Red Pike, Haystacks, did Robinson from there too. Got loads of photos from then, but cheating to post them here, as they weren't taken on a biking trip! Must go back on the bike soon, perhaps next year.
I've also walked that stretch of the Cornish coast - Minehead to Penzance in about 1996 or thereabouts. If you can park up the bike and get on the coast path it's well worth walking a few miles of it - rugged and wild.
And Wales of course - what can anyone add?! :)
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Nick....the best thing about having a bike........you dont have to walk anywhere!!!! :b .......& you get to pollute the countryside while admiring it!! :rolleyes ..........ha ha only pissin about of course.....i love a good walk but my feet have always disintegrated through distance & it really winds me up, i just cant enjoy much more than 20 miles without worrying about walking on bloody stumps....
Fair play to yous guys though for getting about so much, pretty inspirational really & im sure next year will only get better....ive had a pretty good time myself really this year considering im a bike tourist, managed a few good runs up in scotland & a few in wales.....& even learned how to fall off :o
I cant deny that the bike being lain up for the winter will save me a pretty penny & i know ill be chomping at the bit to get back on it come april time. 8)
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Not a bad biking year for me this year. I toured Skye on my own in February/March. I managed to do my first Euro tour and lap the Nurburgring several times. I lost my chicken strips and did my first clutch change (well, still doing it :lol ). Covered about 8 or 9 thousand miles over both bikes and had a great deal of fun doing so.
Next year I plan to hit the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy, via the ring (again). I want to do a track day too, maybe at Knockhill as that is my local track. I also intend to add my third bike to the garage and am half way there with the pennies. I just need to decide what bike to go for, although it will definitely be a focused sports tool. Finally I would like to do a wee bit of advanced training. Maybe something like the police riders assessment or something similar.
Here is to another year of keeping it shiny side up
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Ah, that's a good idea, track day!
Another thing I've not yet done. Training too, some good courses out there these days. Which one to choose?
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maybe at Knockhill as that is my local track.
Your a fifer then Adee????, im from Glenrothes even though i live in Wales
Ill give you a shout when im up next year. 8)
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Scotland is never far from the top of my list of where to go, but obviously it's a bit of a trek from where I am so needs some prior planning. Twice I've ridden to Skye, and had to turn around because of the lateness of the day and the fact that my tent was parked elsewhere, so this is unfinished business for me. So next time I cross that bridge, the tent will be on board, and I'll spend a couple of days on the island.
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Fair play to you guys , iv'e not done nearly as much in the three years iv'e had the fazer , managed some maintenance stuff and had the major service done + valve check . Done my first biking tour to Scotland this year . Hopefully next year I will go to North Wales and go to Silverstone for motogp .
I am hoping to do some mods next year to compliment the mods done by previous owner - carbon stubby exhaust slip on , ivans jet kit installation , k&n air filter .
On my biking bucket list - biking tour of Europe , track day , route 66 on a Harley , ride around the med , do some motocross .
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Not had a bad year apart from hitting that damned pheasant 2 weeks ago. Got bike repaired and went to Dartmoor last weekend. Came back filthy, 3 hour clean now nicely tucked up in garage waiting DRY day for rideout before the year is out!
Dartmoor in background, Stonkingly good Fazer 8 in foreground !!!! :lol
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Hi Dickturpin. is pic 4 Padstow inner harbour looking across towards the old railway station and car parks? Was there about 6 weeks ago.
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Excellent stuff nick. Touring Europe isn't cheap, what with the price of fuel etc. but if your a biker, the experience and memories mean far more than money. Places like the pyranees, Swiss and French alps etc have to be done to be believed. And the lack of traffic is unlike anything you will find in blighty. I've been hooked since my first foray on a '88 zx10 to the bol dor back in the early nineties. All the stuff you read about foreign coppers nicking you and fining you gazillions of euros on the spot for speeding won't be a worry once your off the motorways, which I avoid like the plague anyway coz there boring and have tolls. I know you already really appreciate your bike already, once you've done Europe you will be even closer to it, just like all relationships I guess, the more you go through together, the more you bond
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Lol, yeah, me and a mate got nicked for speeding leaving the circuit at Le Mans (me on the EXUP, him on a ZXR750). They were pulling all the speeding Brits, anyone else they just let go, foccers. Plus, I ended up paying mine and his fines, for reasons I don't recall now. Not having family or any other ties, I pretty much work to feed the biking habit, so as long as I can get the dosh together in the first place, I don't mind spending it on fuel, bike mods and bike trips. I need to save enough so that I don't have to worry about costs when I go on a Euro tour tho - nothing worse than a trip of a lifetime and having to watch the pennies!
I did have all the French currency, holiday booked and everything ready for the Bol D'Or myself in 1991, all ready to go, but had my big stack a couple of weeks before, so never did make that one. For some reason, probably the morphine, whilst in ICU I had a very vivid dream that I was in a French hospital - weird.
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Yes savvy it is padstow harbour. I found a campsite there from which u can walk into the harbour area and have a beer without needing to ride back to campsite which is a plus .
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Season?
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Winter riding? Been there, done that. I'll leave that to you young sprogs now :lol
Slightly more seriously tho, cutting back on the winter riding is the only way I can ever get the money together to pay for the things I want to do next year, in better weather :)
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Noggy, from Glasgow mate. I know Knockhill is not exactly "local", but it is as local as any other :)
Nick, get your arse to skye. It is well worth it. I rode up one day. Rode round the mouse ears several times the next. Rode back home the next. Foccin fantastic. Maybe we should arrange a foccers outing to the island for next Spring?
[/size]Esetest, had the major service DONE? I had mine in bits withing weeks of ownership :lol
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This was the furthest I got to on Skye last time before turning around (had to get back to Kinlochleven, where the tent was pitched). Not a great photo of the Black Cuillin. I wanted to get round to the other side of this range as there is apparently a campsite there, and better views of the famous landmarks of the Cuillin Ridge, Sgurr Alisdair etc.
Next time, next time..... :)
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I had a very vivid dream that I was in a French hospital - weird.
Make sure you keep it a dream, been there done that, not pleasant.
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Skye? Take yer walking boots with you!
The problem with Skye (the island of mist) is that in a country with dreadful weather, Skye arguably has the worst weather of anywhere in the country.
My last couple of visits the Cuillin Ridge has eluded me. High winds, too much snow, low cloud and so on. Loads of gorgeous smaller hills and fab low land walks.
I'm not a camper but the Glen Brittle Campsite though basic has a good reputation, and a fantastic location.
If you like a roof over yer heid but don't wanna fork out a fortune, The Waterfront Bunkhouse next door to The Old Inn in Carbost is good. The Old Inn is a cracking wee proper local pub (strangely owned by a couple of Cornish dudes), very friendly, good real beer and excellent food at very reasonable prices, probably gets seriously mobbed in the middle of summer though. There's wigwams just along the road from Carbost at Portnalong, and they have nice wee bothy style self contained units good for small groups too, as well as a hostel (one big bunk room though)
Carbost and that ridge;
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8655469045_f53c3430e3_z.jpg)
You get a great view of that ridge from Ergol (boat trips in summer), there's usually loads of pretty picture landscape snappers hanging out here waiting for the light to do something, umm but not in this weather :lol ;
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3337/3448776218_e9653293d4_z.jpg?zz=1)
Bla Bheinn, considered by many to be Scotland's finest hill, it has it's own personal cloud, so even on nice days you often can't see foc all on the summit, for once I got lucky,
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3616/3672830702_9c2eb4641c_z.jpg?zz=1)
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Yeah, you're bang on VNA. where there's hills, there's weather! :\ Chance you take with visiting hilly/mountainous country, but worth it for those sublime moments when the light does break through. That's why I liked doing the backpacking and camping - yes you get wet sometimes, but when the rain clears and the sun comes out, and there you are to see it on some high ridge with no one else around - it's the only thing that for me comes close to the sheer joy of the b iking experience at it's best. And I guess going camping with the bike is the closest I can get to combining the two.
Some nice shots there mate, thankyou :)
A shot or two of my last backpacking trip in the Lakes region (very amateur I'm afraid!):
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Yup the Outer Hebrides can be enjoying sunshine whilst Skye is covered by the clag.
Backpacking and camping! Yer obviously made of sterner stuff than I, as that great writer on backpacking Chris Townsend says, well I'm just dipping my toes in!
There's nothing like being on top of a nice big hill on a fine day, yes even more so if you have the hill all to yourself.
Have you tried Arran? Would make a good stop for a few days walking. Not so sure about the campsite in Glen Rosa though, always looks a bit grim to me.
Looking over at Cir Mhor whist working my way down off North Goatfell;
(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4026/4413905288_6d59d4a55a_z.jpg?zz=1)
Watch out for the snow melt though! Getting my boots off ready to go in. The water was up to my dangly bits - never been so cold in my life, and was lucky to stay upright. Learned quite a few things that day about winter walking - the hard way - doh!
(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4028/4413892502_bf0d7eb752_z.jpg)
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Think I'll have to start a landscape photography/backpacking/hill walking thread!
I wouldn't say I'm made of sterner stuff - apart from seeing some light dustings on the tops in the Lakes, I haven't braved those winter snow conditions!
A couple of the places I pitched camp, again, in the Lakes region:
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I just stick to the easy routes in winter. I try to avoid steep slopes that can hold a lot of snow. I also learned last winter that any route that mentions even an easy scramble I should avoid (more becuase I walk by myself) I pay attention to the mountain weather and avalanche forecast.
You wouldn't believe what you'll see on certain popular hills in winter - anything goes. I did Schiehallion back at the beginning of February (very popular hill) and it was nuts. Was a beautiful day, you were walking on snow 15 minutes from the car park, clear blue skies and no wind. But looking at the hill I could see there was a cloud and bit of white haze around the summit. I figured it might be a bit breezy up on the top.
The car park was full, cars parked down the road and all over the place, the hill was jumping, though the upper reaches of the hill were much quieter, most folks turned back.
I saw guys in jeans, a fella with a massive camera backpack and tri-pod who said he was heading for the top, though the look on his pissed off girl friend suggested otherwise. Two young ladies with matching pink handbags and pink wellies. I bumped into three guys wearing parka jackets, combat trousers and drinking cans of cider and guinness on the summit, one of them was complaining that his boot kept coming off, and he has his sock off to empty the snow out of it! Wasn't too bad when I was on the summit, but on leaving the wind kicked up, the kind off wind you can lean into and it'll hold you up. The spin drift can really cut into you, popped on my cheap ski goggles and saw the three lads running past me a full tilt perhaps in fear of their lives! I watched em run doon the hill a bit and saw one fella go head over heel and a boot flying off up into the air. Bet he froze that foot and I'll bet it hurt thawing out. Couldn't get a shot of em as my camera had frozen at that point, warmed it up inside my jacket.
Was walking on snow and ice two weeks ago on Aonach Beag and Mor (was over 4000 feet though), absolutely perfect day, but the price for such a day seems to be weeks of shite weather.
Naw, but backpacking, that's hardcore Sir. Was thinking maybe next summer I should really pick a fine hill, wait for a guid day and head up in the evening, watch the sun go down, have a wee bivvy bag kip, and watch it come back up again. Sort of dip ma foot in.
Anyway Schiehallion;
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8442924884_873f72f761_z.jpg)
The wind picking up;
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8439524950_187919f677_z.jpg)
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I really enjoyed some easy scrambles in the Lakeland fells. Nothing too tricky. There's a nice bit towards the top of Haystacks, above Buttermere - a load of old Japanese ladies and gents managed to negotiate it! And on the corridor route on Scafell, there's just one little bit where you're on a narrow, crumbly ledge and a bit of a scramble to it. With the big pack, had to face the wall and edge around - bit of a drop into the gully if you got it wrong, but saw all kinds doing the route. I was worried about such bits before I got to them cos of my gammy arm and shoulder - limits my options for hand holds a little, but I always managed when I encountered any thing like that, and enjoyed doing it.
Haystacks, and from the route:
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Don't mind a wee bit of scrambling, just not in winter!
I dropped off the wrong side of the hill on Scafell for the route I was taking. I had my first proper experience of being just a bit lost on that hill.
There's another thing about backpacking, I dunno if I could carry it all. I've been getting obsessed about weigh recently, particularly as I've had knee issues. Gone is the big slr replaced by a micro 4/3rds digi cam, but even that baby is a kg. Can't cut out the camera though.
Yeah I did Liathach last year. Spoke to the fella at the hostel I was staying, he reckoned I'd be fine. Was a perfect day, but yeah I felt at times my rucksack was trying to kill me, and had to turn and face the rock going down which I hate. I hadn't planned to do that one whilst I was away that time, so it wasn't till I got back down the road that I referred to my big guide book, seems it's considered a serious undertaking - consider hiring a guide and all that. I am beginning to think the guide books over egg it a bit, but then perhaps they have to.
The Lakes look great, but a bit too busy at times.
Liathach;
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5279/7443128870_fe00bbb971_z.jpg)
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Oh sod it - it's my thread and if we wanna talk backpacking for a bit....... :lol
I heard about that one on Scafell, was told you're supposed to have some proper climbing skills for that. I think I'll have to take up climbing in my next life, love reading all the books on it.
Liathach is on my list of ones I've got to photo, as are An Teallach and many others. I started doing my long distance backpacking because of a book by Mark Wallington called 500 mile walkies, where he takes a dog around the SW coast path (not his dog, he borrowed one). I had been unemployed for some years and was climbing the walls (pun not intended!) and thought, I could do that. So I sold a few bits and pieces to buy the kit - all cheap crappy Millets gear, weighed a ton. A mate joined me for the first week out from Minehead, but had knee problems and had to jack it in. I carried on. Did about 200 miles, it took a month (but hey, I was unemployed, no hurry!) Loved every minute.
I also like a bit of watercolour painting now and again, and particularly like the accessible style of David Bellamy (not the botanist) who's books about painting in the wild places of Britain I love. So I basically started to think, I want to see all those wonderful scenes for myself. So next, I planned a walk across Wales, which I did from Chepstow to Conwy. But both times I didn't have a camera. So then, when I finally found work again, I started to go visit all those places by bike, this time with a camera. But although I thoroughly enjoy all that, it just isn't the same as being on foot, no time constraints, go where you want, when you want. Everyone should have the chance to do something like that at least once in their life.
Then, I got this current job, saved up 6 months, bought all the best light weight kit (about £2500 worth), handed my notice in, and buggered off to do my 2 month trip to the Lake District. I would've got a job up there too, only I couldn't seem to sort out any accommodation while I found my feet - maybe I just didn't try hard enough for some reason. Got home, only to be asked to go back to my job - that's luck I don't see a lot of!
So now I've got all this quality backpacking kit, but no time to keep the fitness up to use it. But oh boy, is it ever lighter than that first "Millets special" set up I used to use! I could never have dragged that stuff up all the tops I did in the Lakes, but despite gammy knees myself, if I had the time to ease back into it, I know I could still do it. A lot of things in my current kit are designed to be multi purpose which also saves weight. There are loads of places out there that advise on going lightweight as well as selling the kit, and it's a side to the whole thing that's quite addictive, easy to become a real kit-head! Expensive tho :\
A shot of (I think) Bow Fell, from a very boggy slog up to top of High Raise, and a shot from above Easedale Tarn, on the way over to the Langdale Pikes:
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Wow, those are quite some backpacking adventures.
I love the idea of it, the freedom, the romance, living in the wilds and all that.
But then I think of trying to set up a tent in the pouring rain and so forth.
Aye fitness. Mines improved a good wee bit, I've just gotta keep it going and try and build on it more. Giving up smoking might help!
Compared to where I was a few years ago, struggling to get up any sort of hill, repeatedly injuring my knees etc, well I'm chuffed to be getting up some big hills on a fairly regular basis, or should that be irregular considering the weather. I'm not minded to head out unless there's a good chance of seeing the view from the top of the hill.
But then there's those machines out there. When I was up Aonach Beag and Mhor, I met a fella who in his words had just popped over from The Grey Corries and was eyeing up Ben Nevis and headed off apparently to pop over to the Ben, then back down somewhere in Glen Nevis where he was camping. To me those two hills, the Aonachs represent a full days strenuous walking, never mind adding on another up to another 6 hills! Wasn't your good self I bumped into Nick, was it?
Also met Mollie, the first dog to have been recorded as having dome a round of the Corbetts, and of course her owner. She told me she'd been round the Munros 6 times! Not sure I'll ever get round once!
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Nah, not me mate! I did quite well all things considered, but my method is a steady plod. I did carry all the heavy old kit to the top of Cadair Idris, huffing and puffing on the last long stretch, and a couple of guys up there could barely lift my pack off the ground - all technique tho! Had a ciggy as soon as I sat down at the top :lol
Scotland! Ah, a real challenge that always seemed to me. Everything is so much more remote, I really don't know how you can do it without camping. Not sure I'd want to do those walks without an ice axe, maybe even crampons in some of the conditions your pics show? That would definitely be a step up from what I've done. Conditions can get pretty severe up there, you hear of some pretty grim tragedies when the weather turns suddenly. Doesn't that kind of thing worry you? Or just a case of watching the mountain forecast carefully before you go?
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Had a ciggy as soon as I sat down at the top ([url]http://foc-u.co.uk/Smileys/efocicon/lol.gif[/url])
:eek :D :lol
Who knows, maybe I'll try a wee overnight backpack sometime. Though having said that some of the more remote hills I've been looking at, well a mountain bike might be the answer (ie to avoid backpacking or using bothies!). So maybe going to try a wee bit cycling again, though it's cycling that gave me my first knee injury, and I think it keeps coming back and biting me - but that's another story.
All technique? A good bit of impressive strength and determination too I say!
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Why do people go places like that?
Not a Mcdonalds in sight :lol
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Why do people go places like that?
Not a Mcdonalds in sight
I think you've just answered your own question :pokefun
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Not sure I'd want to do those walks without an ice axe, maybe even crampons in some of the conditions your pics show? That would definitely be a step up from what I've done. Conditions can get pretty severe up there, you hear of some pretty grim tragedies when the weather turns suddenly. Doesn't that kind of thing worry you? Or just a case of watching the mountain forecast carefully before you go?
I guess driving to work down the power station access road did it to me. Everyday seeing the Arran hills covered in snow.
Yes crampons and axe are really a must. If you take only one of the two, take the axe. The axe is handy for getting up steep slopes, using as a tool on wee slippy bits etc, but it's real purpose is to stop you in the event of a fall - self arrest. When ever you are on or near steep slopes that you could potentially slide down you should have the axe in your hand. There's a few good u-tube videos showing you the various uses of the axe. And you are supposed to practise self arrest. I need to do a bit more of that. Found a nice steep slope last winter with a safe run out, so I figured, why not, and flung myself down it, then tried to get on the axe as per video. Didn't quite get it right, I got it in but it was slipping from my hands, so I hung on for dear life, it bit, but bloody hell my shoulder hurt like hell afterwards. So I need more practise but hopefully, fingers crossed, I'll never ever have to use it in anger.
You need reasonably stiff boots for crampons. Worth practising getting them on and off, it's easy, but you don't wanna be mucking about with them on the hill. I take my gloves off to get em on, so you want em on quick. Just a matter of reading a little on their use. Brilliant things. The one thing to watch out for is snagging em on your gaiters, my gaiters have a few holes punched in em where I caught the crampon and subsequently fell flat on my face - apparently for a few of folks that's the last thing they ever do. But you just learn to walk like John Wayne.
At the end of the day I'm just going out for a walk, I'm not a climber. Most outings you end up carrying the axe and crampons attached to your bag all day. If the surface of the snow is soft you don't need the crampon.
The weather forecasts are good, I like the Mountain Weather Information Service http://www.mwis.org.uk/index.php (http://www.mwis.org.uk/index.php)
I'm looking for a good chance of clear tops, little or no precipitation, and ideally winds less than 30mph. Wind chill can really cut you in winter.
Avalanche forecast is the other thing to check - http://www.sais.gov.uk/ (http://www.sais.gov.uk/)
And just like summer, when things can get nasty too, it's knowing when to, and being able to take the decision to turn back - summit fever is a terrible thing!
But I mean pick a good day, a safe route (though some can throw up the odd surprise), check the avalanche forecasts (even though you think your route is safe), and go, gotta be a darn sight less dangerous than riding a motorcycle - is it not?
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Ha, that depends on how you ride :lol
At least that's one thing you can do if you're backpacking - pitch the tent and wait for the worst to pass. I did a beginners course in mountain navigation when in the Lakes last year and really enjoyed learning a couple more things to help me look after myself, and wish I could do more. I even looked into costs of a guided trek to K2 in the Karakoram, but that's just dreams I guess. So much I missed out on in this life, that I won't get to do now. Ever thought of going somewhere like that with the camera? I reckon you could turn out some really good work with what those places have to offer.
Yes, I thought you'd be using axe and crampons - sensible precautions. I think checking snow layers for avalanche conditions would probably be in your skill set too?
Be careful about overnight-ing in the hills tho - it's VERY addictive!
Now tho, all my plans involve bikes. Things would have to change drastically for me to be able to go back to the hills on foot. So next year it's aim for the Alps on the bike. Mountains, always mountains! They really get in your blood, don't they?!
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Plenty of folks have had their tents destroyed by severe winter weather in the highlands :eek
Loads of hills here in Scotland to keep me busy!
I thought you'd be using axe and crampons - sensible precautions. I think checking snow layers for avalanche conditions would probably be in your skill set too?
Be careful about overnight-ing in the hills tho - it's VERY addictive!
It's more a case of carrying em. I do love it when you get nice crisp icy snow and have the chance to get the old crampons on, you can make good progress with em. If the snow is really soft and plentiful, I learned the hard way (again), it's best to keep the walk short or turn back, it just knocks the shit out of you and it's asking for knee trouble.
I keep to ridges, avoid concave slopes which hold snow etc. I don't know much about reading the snow and I'm not sure I want to, that might start me doing things I'm not sure I want to do. Glenmore Lodge do courses in all that kind of stuff, though from what I've read they can be quite full on.
I just see it as going for a hill walk, but there's snow about, I'm not doing the full on front pointing crampons pulling myself up slopes with axes and stuff, just trying to follow relatively safe ridge routes. And anything that mentions a scramble I forget about it, winter scrambling is proper climbing as far as I am concerned.
I've had a few cracking days when there's been zero wind and you can just sit on the top of the hill soaking up the sun taking in the view, even taking a 15 minute kip in the sun. It's just waiting for those windows of opportunity.