Why
Why the mountains?
The really important “why”. As so many people struggle to understand why I would choose to put myself through pain and expose myself to risk to be up in the mountains. To answer it with specific examples would be wrong, hopefully some of the routes/trips covered by the blog will help with that, but I guess it’s the challenge to push myself that much further to be part of something incredible.
A bit about me
I’m a mountaineer. Actually, for now let’s say I’m more of an aspiring mountaineer.
This all really started in early 2008. A friend asked if I’d fancy going on a trek to Everest Base Camp, just as I was starting to run seriously. Having always enjoyed walking in the mountains, without plans for the year and admittedly yes I was sat in a pub when he asked, I quickly replied with “Yes”.
During 2008 we walked throughout the United Kingdom (Peak District, Lake District, Highlands and Snowdonia), before travelling to Nepal in November 2008 where we completed the Everest Base Camp trek and reached the summit of Kala Patthar. I guess the trip does one of two things to people, “I’ve had my fill of mountains” or “I need to do more of this”. Sitting on top of Kala Patthar, after a 12hr walk (including a scramble over a glacier) that day, I was treated to one of the most incredible views I’d ever seen, the sun setting on Everest. I was the second type.
Returning from Nepal, I decided to take the experience of walking/trekking onward and pick up the skills/know how to tackle more technical routes/peaks. So I was soon on a winter walking/mountaineering course in Snowdonia in February 2009. And then off to Morocco in March to summit Mount Toubkal.
I’m now gearing up to trips to the Alps to attempt several 4000m peaks including Mont Blanc, and beyond that an Aconcagua expedition in 2010. The aim is to continue pushing and learning at altitude. In the future sure I’d like to attempt further notable peaks but the dream will be to be part of expeditions to remote areas that attempt first ascents.
Why the site?
Because whenever I’m looking at what to climb, I liked to find out what people had done before, not just the technical information but a bit of the human element too, what went wrong and how they got through it etc. The same applies to kit, I’d much rather hear from people in the community than read through reams of technical information and marketing nonsense (I work in marketing). Quite often it was hard to find good information and when I did, it was scattered all over the place.
So this is part diary for me, but also put together in the hope that people will come across the site and find out information for a future trip, learn from my mistakes and be able to spend longer up in the clouds away from the Internet! It’s also an attempt to explain “Why the mountains?”.
Ian
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#1 by Kevin McEwen at June 17th, 2009
Great idea, your website, just found it today.
#2 by Rick at July 6th, 2009
Ian, brilliant! You are a few steps ahead of me. It will be great to find out what you going through. Maybe I’ll be able to avoid some errors.
“Life is brought down to the basics: if you are warm, regular, healthy, not thirsty or hungry, then you are not on a mountain. . . . Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall – it’s great when you stop.” -Chris Darwin ,The Social Climbers
#3 by Tash at August 4th, 2009
Hi there,
Ok this may seem dumb but the whole garde 1 scrambling thing does this mean you have to be pretty decent at this. I have never experienced mountain trekking or climbing or anything like that in my life but I am pretty fit and really want to give it all a go its something I have a passion for yet I haven’t tried it. I am off to England soon to do some trekking in scotland and wales and maybe the lake district and want to do some trekking and view some beautiful scenery….I was looking at The Glyders via Bristly Ridge climb would that be too advanced? I am also doing it with my dad who is slightly overweight…..what are your thoughts and advice?
Thanks
#4 by Ian at August 6th, 2009
Hi Tash,
I’d strongly advise you to do some walking first, just to get a feel for what the terrain/mountains are like in each area, North Wales/Lake District and Scotland are all quite different. Check out some of the Cicerone guide books for ideas (“Great mountain days in the Lake District” and “Ridges of Snowdonia” are both good places to start).
Weather is hugely important, even on the normal paths, and can make a simple route tough. If you do set your mind on a scramble do it in dry conditions with little wind and stick to grade 1.
Realise also that it’s easy to lose the route on scrambles when you start out and it can get a lot more tricky if you do. Whilst it’s lovely to do without crowds, sticking to busy routes at peak times is the best bet at first.
Also think about how you’ll handle exposure to heights/steep drops. The first few times it can be disconcerting so build up to it.
Bristly Ridge isn’t too bad but slightly harder than Tryfan North ridge to me, so if you set your heart on it then do that first in good weather and see how you feel. There’s plenty of options to drop back to the road or go further into the Glyders from there.
Finally scrambling is dangerous, I’ve been lucky a couple of times after pushing myself too far. Take it slowly, enjoy the mountains and be ready to walk away if you’re not comfortable.
Any questions feel free to ask at ian2707@gmail.com
- Ian
#5 by phil at October 2nd, 2009
What a load of old codswallop, you are making easy routes sound like the living end.
All the gear…No idea.
#6 by Ian at October 4th, 2009
Hey Phil,
Thanks for the comment. Appreciate the routes I’m describing aren’t tricky but we all start somewhere, and there’s a lot of people out there who are trying them for the first time too. I’m just enjoying/describing the experience and hope the notes over time will be a decent reference for others doing similar and me to look back over.
- Ian
#7 by Yaz at October 11th, 2009
Hi
think the website is a great idea and I agree it’s better to be safe than sorry went up bristly ridge yesterday for the second time and it can be quite tricky in places, you see so many people walkng in snowdonia without the right equipment or preparation who end up being injured or having to be rescued, at great expense to the mountain rescue service when some forethought could have prevented this.
#8 by Andrew Deacon at December 24th, 2009
This is an interesting site, I hope you keep it up. Most outdoor blogs are either about climbing or walking and it’s nice to read about a few scrambles for a change. Ignore the anonymous “old codswallop” toss, everybody has to climb at their own level and try to push their own personal limits. The interest in a blog like this is the recalled experience of pushing those limits, not where the limits are, otherwise we would all subscribe to Ueli Steck’s blog and be done.
Rgds
Andrew
#9 by Ian at January 7th, 2010
Hi Yaz/Andrew,
Thanks for the comments and sorry it’s taken a while to post back, I’ve been busy with moving into my first home and then Christmas!
Glad you enjoyed Bristly Ridge Yaz, it’s a fantastic route and one well worth getting up really early for to have to yourself.
Appreciate the support for the site Andrew.
Couple of posts to tidy up and get posted and then in a weekend or two I’ll be out and about in the snow getting back into it all, so hopefully plenty of posts on the horizon.
- Ian
#10 by james at January 30th, 2010
Phil,
I think you need to appreciate what Ian is doing rather than criticising his advice. Given Tash’s question it was a pretty decent answer!
I have found Ian’s site very useful as I am visiting Nepal next week for an EBC trek and have found info on this site and depth that the guides dont publish.