World Outdoor Web

Farleton MTB

2008-04-25T19:36:00.004+01:00

The South Cumbria Limestone is a great area for MTB routes, but many of the best routes are out of bounds officially like the stuff on Farleton Knot. If you do tackle the downhill route be prepared for some big drop offs and technical and fast riding! After seeing some youngsters take some big drop offs with ease we realised we had a lot to learn.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO CLIP

Kentmere MTB

2008-04-06T23:13:00.003+01:00

The standard MTB circuit around Kentmere give a classic 2 hour ride.

Here is a short video sequence showing some of the terrain you will cover.

Click here for full route map and elevation data

Fun Figure of Eight - Lakes MTB route

2008-03-08T22:27:00.004Z

There is some great Mountain Biking on the Lakes, and on this day John had a great figure of 8 route planned - lots of great descents, none really technical but enough to make you concentrate! Included were a couple of great water splashes and a fast grassy descent from High Arnside to the finish.

Click here for a 30 second video clip

Extreme (ish) Sledging

2008-02-02T22:52:00.000Z

Short video sequence from a sledging trip to Kirkstone Pass - January 2008, Not that much snow, but you can still have a bit of fun!

Click here for a larger version!

Free Tea Cake in Yorkshire Cafe Shock

2008-01-26T21:39:00.000Z

Such an unusual event I though I better record it! A cool windy circuit around Ingleton, Dentdale and Barbondale from Lancaster saw us dropping in at Stone Close Cafe, Dent.

Not only free but big!

After a couple of weeks of pretty poor weather getting out on a long ride was great. Even saw some Alpacas! We did however fail to extract any useful information about a new cave from a member of the Misty Mountain Mud Miners who we "met"!

Alpacas in Dentdale

Crisp and reasonably even - Kentmere MTB

2007-12-23T11:39:00.000Z

The last day of a 10 day high pressure spell meant John and myself had to make the most of the opportunity. So a quick 2 hour circuit around Kentmere on a quiet Friday morning was the choice. A few technical bits of ice dodging were required, and on one bit John broke through the ice into the mud below and did a front end dismount as his foront wheel staying in the "crem brulee" style
bog!

VIEW VIDEO CLIP HERE

Windsurfing (minus wind and surf)

2007-12-02T19:52:00.000Z

getting to grips with my new "rig"

Coniston on a wet December, rain, no wind, cold - this is reality

Living close to one of the windiest coasts in the UK this seems like a good hobby to pursue, although lying in bed at 8 am listening to the rain drumming on the roof I was having second thoughts. Still by 10am John was helping me put together the mysterious range of parts that make a "rig" up (see I'm learning the lingo!). Despite forgetting some vital bits it all seemed to fit, John bought some spares that made up for my early morning kit packing errors. (note to myself my hands were frozen already so must get some wetsuit gloves! ) Windsurfing was a bit of a misnomer, no wind and certainly no surfing. More like board balancing which is tricky after a gap of about 20 years. Still eventually I got out into the lake and started to get the feel of it a bit. John shouting "sail forward, feet back, sheet in" etc. John later described windsurfing at Roe Island near Barrow, where he had got up to around 40mph the day before; 5mph tidal flows, 20 knots of wind, rocks, mud, other windsurfers coming 40mph in the opposite direction, etc. I feel a long way of that!

I also thought windsurfing was a simple hobby, just you, a board and sail, out in the wind. I was mistaken, you also need a few other bits and pieces, see picture below.

John and his "rigs". Plus the most important bit of kit, a great big van to carry it all in

Winter Birds

2007-11-26T19:53:00.000Z

I'd heard that Starlings can arrive in big numbers in the reed beds at Leighton Moss - certainly a sight worth seeing. We saw a few big groups, couple of times they flew right overhead with a loud noise of 1000's of beating wings! We'll go again in a few weeks to look again I think as the numbers should increase. Also there is a tame robin, it will even eat out of your hand, apparently it's quite famous!

Cave Photos

2007-11-18T00:39:00.000Z

A recent review of a new wide angle Fuji camera (Big Job) with IP67 rating (dust, shock and waterproof) inspired a purchase and the aim of getting some nice cave photos this winter in the caves local to me (Ingleton area of NW England).

Plenty of experimentation will be needed but some nice early shots have been forthcoming. Here is one of the second pitch of Tatham Wife Hole.

We will also be taking some video footage so watch this space! I mean, what else is there to do on a damp foggy evening on the Lancashire/Yorkshire/Cumbria border (Don't answer that question!). Actually the Ingleton police thought we were doing something else as they stopped us as we were driving home and asked us what we were carrying in the back of the car. They must have thought we were smuggling Contraband of some kind!

Skiddaw Mountain Biking. "Just Like Caving..... Muddy"

2007-11-14T02:35:00.000Z

Mid November ride East of Skiddaw, to Skiddaw House.

Lleyn Climbing, Bats, Butterflies and Bruises

2007-10-10T09:47:00.000+01:00

Early October and a fine forecast saw me heading west to Craig Dorys. One of the most notorious crags on the Peninsula (well so the guide said). Amazing clear views stretched as far a St Davids Head 100 miles away and a calm sea reflected the warmth of the bright early autumn sunlight.

Approaching Craig Dorys

Day One

A short walk in through fields of inquisitive cows took us to the top of the crag and a reasonable descent through deep bracken and some boulder hopping to bring the crags into view. First route took an attractive line on the right end of Golden Wall, Knowing Her E2 5B. Following a crack line with mostly good gear this was a reasonable proposition and perhaps quite easy for the grade. The Mermaid who shed her Glove. E4 6A was next up on the menu and although Matthew thought it was not perhaps 6a it certainly was serious with a series of thin moves between 3 metres and 8 metres well above gear and with ground fall an almost certain prospect as the only good runners were at about 4 metres.

Matthew eyeing up the Mermaid

My efforts were not good enough to keep me in contact with the rock and despite a couple of attempts I ended jumaring up the bit between 4 and 8 metres. After this the climbed eased to perhaps no more than HVS. It turns out that this route has been graded at E5. Our decision of what to do next was taken out of our hands by Matthews foot. He stood on a hidden metal spike that was razor sharp and cut a deep wound between his toes. An evening in Bangor Hospital was the sensible option! Mathews spirit was not squashed though and after some food in Caernarvon and some amusement at watching the 'boy racers' on laps of the town in their souped up Peugeot etc we planned to stay for another day.

Matthews Foot

Heading even further west we arrived at Trwyn Maen Melyn overlooking Bardsey Island at the very end of the peninsula. Some weird rock called Gwynd Melange apparently, although we though this was a made up name. Greenish shale with veins/lumps of Quartzite all twisted and folded and also pretty overhanging. One unusual thing about the rock is that it seems to attract butterflies, they must like the minerals the rock is made of.

Day 2 - Bats, Butterflies and Bruising Boulders

Bardsey Island

The Bardsey Ripple E2 5b was a great line following a quartzite band across the crag and right across the steep upper face. The main challenge was finding gear in the contorted rock and trusting the embedded holds were a permanent fixture! I was slightly nervous at the steep and tricky looking start as a slip on the initial section (pulling across from an undercut ledge to some small flakes) would have meant a huge pendulum into a massive boulder. The tricky looking groove in the middle of the route was actually the easiest part of the climb as the traverse across the main face was much steeper than it looked.

Trwyn Maen Melyn - looks like choss but is pretty solid

The next route was The Incredible Surplus Head E3 5c. A direct line up the main face. Plenty of holds in the middle section but a tricky start and an ever steepening finish. Matthew cruised up to the final steepening headwall, and managed to hold on long enough to get some decent runners in. Quite a few butterflies hovered around the rock face and at one point a bat flew out and around in circles, obviously not used to climbers! Moving up to the embedded block he started exploring the options for finishing. At this point his foothold gave way and a couple of brick sized blocks succombed to gravity and looking up seemed to briefly hang in the air before accelerating towrds me. I new I didn't have time to move out the way so I braced myself for an impact, and I certainly got one! One of the large blocks glanced off my shoulder, it was as if someone had given me a good kicking! No blood but a sore shoulder for sure. Matthew continued his struggle and by now had his hands over the top of the crag: but alas the finishing holds were well hidden and a fall was the only option. He fell well though and was not caught by any of the sharp bands of quartzite. He had another go but it wasn't going to happen and so after lowering off I had a got on a top rope and got the gear out. The last three metres kicked out nearly two metres, it was deceptively steep and trusting some of the embedded holds took real bottle on a lead.

A great area to visit, very quiet , I'll be back!

The Taming of The Great Moss, The Shrew and Scafell

2007-09-16T17:15:00.000+01:00

Mid September and Good forecast for Saturday inspired us to a walk up Scafell Pike. Rather than join the hordes of weekend walkers the route we chose would hopefully be quiet. In fact it was deserted apart from one other walker with the same idea and a few people out for a camping trip.

Starting from Cockley Beck (at the head of the Duddon Valley between Wrynose and Hardknott Passes we headed North towards Scafell, up Moasdale, a rather boggy place even after a dry September. An hour of steady walking brought us to the short descent to Lingcove Beck and then some undulating ground on a feint track to "The Great Moss". I think this is one of the greatest features in the Lakes, a 500 M by 500M square of perfectly flat boggy ground. Although in most weathers you can walk straight across it as it seems to be able to soak up a lot of water and you walk across the vegetation without sinking into the depths!

Rather than head straight up to Broad Stand we then headed past Esk Buttress up Little Narrowcove up a steep almost canyon like gully with brooding crags on either side. This took us up to 877 Metres and then just 90 Metres more of ascent would see us on the summit.

At around 800 Metres a mouse like creature scurried across our path, we tracked it down in a small grass hollow and it turned out to be a shrew. Amazing how such small warm blooded creatures can survive in such harsh climates. We were already suffering from cold hands in a harsh wind that had struck up.

Joining the main path meant actually meeting other people, lots of them. On the short section over the summit probably a couple of hundred, maybe more. After being the highest people in England for a while we dropped back down to Broadstand and then the steep descent under East Buttress of Scafell with its impressive cliffs.

The final scramble down the side of Howbeck Waterfalls brought us back to the Great Moss and we took a direct route over it. All that remained was the long walk back to the road at Cockley Beck, enjoying the peace and solitude, how the Lakes should be!

The Great Moss

Slide Show

Helvellyn Triathlon 2007

2007-09-11T23:05:00.000+01:00

Here I am in orange shorts on the last section of the Kirkstone Pass - about half way through the event.
1 mile swim in lake (40 mins)
38 mile bike ride (rather hilly - 2.04 hours)
"run" up and down Helvellyn (very hilly - 2.15 hours)

This took me just over 5 hours this year, but I actually quite enjoyed it! Alistair - a training partner is on the yellow bike here, he finished in front of me eventually after a couple of exchanges of leads beween us on the run.

Via Ferrata in the Ecrin Alps

2007-09-02T21:34:00.000+01:00

The Bridge at Durance - Via Ferratas are fun as well!

It was my first experience of a via ferrata and the ease of movement over the vertical rock faces linked by exciting traverses and fragile looking suspension bridges were certainly a big thrill. Via Ferratas (paths of iron) were originally developed by the Italians during the last war as a way of scaling the rock faces of the dolomites and othwer areas without detection. One can imagine secret hideaways and stores of armaments in inpregnable positions in the Mountains.

Via Ferrata at Vigneaux

Since then there has been a gradual but steady increase in their popularity as a leisure pursuit in their own right. In more recent years there has been a dramatic increase in their numbers as villages and tourist areas have seen their potential as a wasy of luring summer tourists into the ski resorts.

The Briancon area alone has 20 to 30 routes of varying dificulty, certainly enough for a couple of weeks holiday. Some can be combined with walks and mountain summits to make a full day's outing.

The basic techniques are very easy. Just follow the continous cable and keep clipped in at all times. You can make up your own "lanyards" using a friction plate or buy ready put together kit (which do seem rather expensive). All these kits do is provide some shock absorbing capacity in case you fall and load your harness with a heavy load. You do risk internal injuries, broken pelvis, etc without this equipment.

You also need a helmet of course and stout footwear.

The easier routes are an ideal way of introducing children annd beginners to moutaineering/climbing and it is of course possible to rope people up as you would on a climb if they are short of confidence.

Some of the more recent Via Ferratas have amazing cable bridges, Tyrolean traverses across exposed gorges, climbs up the slides of spectacular waterfalls and even routes up massively overhanging walls via ladders where you have to face outwards from the rock face!

There are many guidebooks available as well as free guides produced by the tourist boards.

A day in the Ecrin

2007-08-20T21:53:00.000+01:00

View towards the Bar des Ecrin

The jagged peaks of the Ecrin lie betweeen Grenoble and Briancon. They offer great mountaineering possibilities away from the overcrowded aeas in Chamonix and elsewhere. The main peak in the area is the Bar des Ecrin, a 4,000 metre plus peak of great beauty. We chose a route on the other side of the Glacier Blanche (the main glacier running up to 'The Bar') called Pic de Neige Cordier (peak of the white snow maker?). A pleasant walk up the popular footpath to the mouth of the Glacier Blanche took us from the valley floor near Ailefroide to around 2400 metres. Then it was a case of following a slightly rougher path past a mountain hut until we found a suitable bivouac point near the Ecrin Hut. Some well constructed previously used sites just above the edge of the Glacier proved ideal and about 6 hours after setting off we were settled down in our sleeping bags and makeshift shelters after a quick snack and drink. We watched the moon set and the amazing display of stars commence as we drifted of to sleeping in our lofty position.

At 4 am we awoke to the amazing spectacle of tiny dots of lights bunched together in lines making their way up the edge of the Glacier and towards the Bar Des Ecrin. We had a hot chocolate and snack before setting of upwards first traversing the edge of the main glacier ourselves before heading up a smaller ice slope and towards our own objective. Day dawned with the pink glow of sunrise illuminating the huge 1000 metre face of The Bar Des Ecrin, but we were glad to be on our own and not amongst the large guided groups heading up The Bar. Several 100 metres of ascent brought us to a rocky col and we were unsure of the way on. Piles of precariously balanced rocks seemed to guard the route we thought we had to take. Eventually we worked out that our route lay up a more amenable although still potentially dangerous ridge. 45 minutes of scrambling brought us to the tiny rocky summit with great views in all directions including in the far distance Mont Blanc itself and even The Matterhorn.

5 am - walking up to the Col at Sunrise

Scrambling up the Ridge

Enjoying the Summit Views

After absorbing the great panoramas we roped back down to the col and then retraced our steps to our bivvy site whilst watching climbers tackling the jagged ridge to our left. 6 hours later we were trudging back along the valley floor towards a welcome cold beer and sat discussing the pleasures and efforts of the previous 24 hours.

Gouffre Berger Cave Expedition

2007-08-13T08:20:00.000+01:00

Berger 2007.

The Berger cave is a 1000 metre deep system with its entrance high on the Vercor plateau South West of Grenoble. We were joining up with a UK team comprising mainly of members of the South Wales caving club and we had up to two weeks to equip and clear the cave.

Wednesday

I flew in to Grenoble to meet up with Dick, Sharon, Matt, Alistair, Emma, Lee and Paul (the mad local Englishman whose house we were staying in.

Thursday

Today we had to walk into the cave in showery, thundery weather to leave equipment and camping gear ready for the weekend. The walk in is about 45 minutes through woods and across limestone pavement to a vague valley which is the location for the entrance to this 1000 metre plus deep cave. We met up with the current 'watch' team and a couple of French cavers who had been adjusting the new underground radio system.

Next job was to pitch our tents on the flat bare limestone parent to leave our equipment in until our return the next day.

Friday

Soon enough we were making our way up to base camp and fully laden with enough supplies for a couple of days. We had with us water, food and other bits and pieces to make our stay comfortable whilst we manned the camp and took records of comings and goings, messages via the Nicola phone system. Careful notes on peoples entries and exits, departure and arrival at the camp one phone as well. We also had a short trip into the cave to the first main chamber of Cairn, about 70 metres below the surface.

Saturday

The days main job was to take the bags with our main expedition food in well into the system to ease the start of our main trip. We left these at the bottom of Gontards pitch which is about an hour into the cave. Sharon and Dick came along on the 'reccy' as well.

The days other event was watching Paul and Jules on their epic 24 hour challenge from the bottom of the Berger to the top of Mont Blanc (cycling 100 miles in between the deepest cave expedition and highest peak in Western Europe). This was a real eye opener for Lee!

We also changed our plans in bringing our trip forward a day due to possible storms on Monday. So now Sunday was our departure date, we were to be the last team down and to start the removal of ropes on our return from the lower parts of the system.

Sunday

And so our big day arrived. We welcomed other groups who were also aiming to reach the bottom before we hopefully made the very bottom and started de-rigging. Alistair and Lee set of slightly before I set off with Dick. At first we were traveling through familiar territory down the sections known as "Ruiz", "Holiday Slides", and "Cairn". We were traveling very light weight and so progress down through the Meanders and the impressive pitches of Garbys, Gontards and Aldos was quick. Within an hour and a half we were entering the massive spaces of the master cave. Only my extra bright laser torch could penetrate the darkness here, allowing glimpses of the huge walls and ceilings that dwarfed us. A huge inlet on the left called Petzl Gallery was soon passed and after another short pitch the amazing site of people way in the distance at camp one allowed us the understand the enormous proportions of this part of the cave. Walking down "The Great Boulder Slope" felt like walking down a mountain side at night. 300 metres of descent over a boulder strewn slope brought us to camp one where several people were organising photographic equipment for some shots of "The Hall of the 13", not a separate chamber but a group of impressive formations, possibly the most famous in the world?

We stopped for some food and drink. Alistair assumed the role of cook and handed out cups of French onion and asparagus soup which we gladly consumed. We left a few bits of food for our return before heading on past the amazing formations of "The Hall of the Thirteen" taking a few pictures on the way. Our route continued past amazing flowstone and huge gour pools (like enormous natural dams) and then down more calcite slopes, small pitches and a past an unusual formation called I think the Elephants Do Da, which made a huge noise like a significant waterfall, but in actual fact was just a small jet of water falling from a tube into a calcite bowl. We stopped at this for a while before carrying on down through more great forests of stalagmites in the Salle Germain and Salle des Treize. A large calcite slope brought us to Le Vestier, a small doorway that lead on to the canals (Les Coufinades).

The canals run for a 100 metres or so and have to be traversed via ropes on either side as some of the pools are deep enough for full immersion (which would be pretty unpleasant). A final Tyrolean traverse over a deep pool and we were past the canals and onto further pitches including the famous Cascade Claudine with its original scaffold pole which allowed the first explorers to descend the drop out of the water. Another small pitch called Topographers marked the subtle change of the nature of the cave as the rock got darker and darker and our torches made little impression in the still huge passageway. Around another bend in the passageway some tiny lights in the distance brought into perspective the size of the Grand Canyon, this massive sloping chamber that we were in would take us down to Camp Two via steep slippery paths with in situ ropes.

We had agreed to stop at camp two for some food and a rest, and we also stopped for a brief exchange of experiences with the couple coming out. Whilst we were eating we heard another couple coming up the ropes, this was Ben and Bridget who were the last couple out the bottom cave before we were to de-rigg the pitches below camp two.

There were still 200 metres or so to descend vertically and this included three significant sections which were The Grand Cascades, Little Monkey and Hurricane. Standing at the bottom of these pitches and watching the other members of the team descend through the spray and the darkness brought home the sheer scale and also the remoteness of our location far below the surface of the Vercor Mountains.

Beyond Hurricane the cave followed narrow channels with small drops and a climb around a small wet pitch until after wading through a deep pool we arrived at the end of the cave (although with a boat a further 100 metres is possible). Here the water depth increased, the walls narrowed and the arch shaped ceiling came close the water. Divers have attempted making a connection through to further passages without success. It is believed that the "missing passage" between this point and the Sassenage caves less than a km away are probably submerged fissures with no way through.

We took photos and chatted briefly before starting our exit. Unlike a mountain trip our return was all uphill of course! Rope bags which are easily lowered down the caves many pitches and carried down the boulder slopes have to be carried, hauled and lifted back through the system with great expenditure of effort. Plus many of the ropes are now wet which means they are at least half as heavy again!

I feel fortunate to have had the chance to be the last out the bottom pitches. Climbing up the thin ropes in the spray lashed caverns the inky blackness of the Gouffre Berger seemed to chase me up the ropes. Even with all my head torches turned on I could see no more than a couple of metres below me.

Removing the rather worn rust bolts as I went the cave was left in darkness once more before the next expedition came to challenge its depths. We still had the job of getting more ropes out the cave and of course now carrying the ropes we were collecting. Dick de-rigged the Grand Cascades, a huge series of water chutes were our ropes clung to the side wall in a spectacular position. A dropped helmet by one of our team in a deep pool reminded us of the caution we still had to take. We were now starting to also feel the effort of nearly 18 hours effort and on a few occasions quite minor cuts to our hands resulted in the rather grim spectacle of blood soaked ledges and equipment. We returned eventually to camp two with 4 heavy tackle bags and enjoyed noodles, hot chocolate and cereal bars. All too soon though it was time to continue and we knew the journey through the canals was going to be tough even with just two extra tackle bags we decided to carry on with (the other two bags we would have to leave for other members of the team to collect later in the week.

Retracing our steps gave us a different perspective on the cave and in the Grand Canyon section we even took a different route up the steep muddy slopes which proved to be easier than our outward choice. The pitches of Topographers and Claudines followed and brought us to the canals (Les Couffinades), which despite the bags seemed shorter and less intimidating than on the way out, partly because we were perhaps less worried about getting wet now. Hauling the bags through on the fixed lines was hard work though for sure.

Then the ascent of a huge flowstone cascade marked our return through the Vestierre and back into the huge passageways and pitches leading up to camp one. Our pace now had slowed to what seemed a crawl and a time check showed that it was now nearly 5am, over 16 hours since we left the surface. Mistaking the red rope of a new extension series for the Balcony pitch delayed us slightly but coming up last up the Balcony pitch I found myself following climbing up past blood coated rock and re-belay. Lee had caught his knuckle on behind his rope jammer and a deep cut was enough to way mark the next part of the 'trail' in red until we located a bandage to stem the flow.

5.30 am marked our return to camp one and the sleeping cavers stirred and vacated two of the spaces in the makeshift foil tent. Dick and myself tried out the emergency double skinned foil bags that Alistair had provided us with, unfolding from a pack about the size of a paperback book these provided enough warmth to snooze for a couple of hours whilst the previous occupants of the camp made their way out. Lying back with a view up the great boulder slope a caver using a carbide light was moving slowly out of the cave and lit up the immense upper chamber with a warm guttering light, a unique way to doze off!

I must have slept but it didn't feel like it and at 7.30 we stirred and decided to make some breakfast (hot chocolate and biscuits to follow on from an earlier can of rice pudding). We left the camp behind in darkness and then had to climb up the 300 metre high Great Boulder Slope and eventually up to the junction with the entrance series. I was glad at this point to find my foot jammer that I had dropped on the way out, without it my climbs up the ropes would have been much harder. We took a look at the Petzl Gallery passage before heading into the smaller passages that would take us back to daylight. 200 metres or so of jummaring and the tiring traverse of the meanders and we were at the entrance pitch. The smell of wood smoke and fresh air was vibrant and intoxicating after so long underground. Although it was just 25 hours it felt like days since we set off on our journey. Sharon and Emma were there to greet us on the surface and the sunshine and cups of hot tea were invigorating.

And so our trip was over. Well not quite actually. We had still to return to assist in the removal of ropes from the cave. When we arrived to do this the ropes had been brought back as far as Aldos pitch. The day was wet and the forecast not good, and on our walk into the cave the three of us who were to start the job today were concerned about the amount of rain falling in that it might affect the retrieval of ropes from the bottom of the Aldos pitch which can become impassible at times due to the sheer volume of water.

Dick volunteered to go down the pitch and tie on all the loose bags whilst Julian and I set up a hauling rig at the top ready to hoist the 5 kit bags (which must have weighed 80 kilos or more) up to the top. This was achieved with great satisfaction and with the gradual arrival of more helpers the ropes were eventually all removed and back on the surface. This was a very tiring 7 hour trip and with aching shoulders and tired legs we walked back over the Sornin Plateau with our rucksacks full and appetites for caving and adventure well fed.

Times

camp one from surface 1.31 hours (rest 39 mins)

camp one to camp two 2.49 hours (rest 1.23 hours)

bottom of cave (psuedo syphon) 1.50

total to bottom 8.13 hours

return to camp two?

return to camp one (rest 4.42 hours)

return to surface from camp one 3.25 hours

total trip time 26 hours (6 hours rest)

Titan - The Hidden Peak

2007-07-01T19:36:00.001+01:00

Dick, Tom and Ben

Hidden under unremarkable fields near Castleton is the biggest cave discovery in recent years in the UK. We were lucky enough to be invited along on a trip with South Wales Caving Club. Ben, a keen young caver showed Dick and me the way and after an abseil down an impressive "dug" entrance shaft of 40 metres we were on the edge of the Titan shaft. 130 metres in two abseils passing "The Event Horizon" at half height.

After this memorable descent we had 4 hours to explore other impressive sections of cave including "The Ride of the Valkyries" and Salmon Cavern.

Caked with Peak mud we then made our way back up the 170 metres of rope (hauling bags as we went), exiting the cave after a long and tiring trip.

entering the surface shaft (40 metres)

Starting down the main pitch (80 metres to The Event Horizon)

Click here for a good picture of the view down the shaft

and here for a view looking up

and a Titan photo gallery here

Lancaster to Carlisle overnight

2007-06-22T14:20:00.000+01:00

Midsummer madness? The aim is to cycle overnight from Lancaster to Carlisle, via the Lakes. We will bivvy/camp for a few hours en-route.

Watch this space!

__________________

Well despite the grim foreacast it all went well and we arrived at Carlisle midday on Saturday. You can see the video diary here:

http://www.w-o-w.com/cycling/lancaster-carlisle/video.html

The main challenge was getting Virgin to allow us to put the tandem on the train. You are allowed to put tandems on Pendalino trains despite what the station staff may tell you. Although they can in tehory ask you to book this (free) 2 hours in advance.

The Hidden Costa Blanca

2007-02-12T07:33:00.000Z

Dotted around the hills of the Costa Blanca are some remarkable relics of a time gone by. Before the age of industrial refrigeration the only way to enjoy the luxury of ice throughout the year was throught th euse of huge snow pits, Neveras dug into the ground and filled up throughout the winter. These were not "quick fixes" but major constructions that must have taken vast amounts of labour to complete. The best examples are beautifully built, often situated in natural hollows high on the mountains where snow would drift in the colder winters of the 16th to 19th centuries. The snow holes are up to 20 metres deep with amazing domed roofs (most roofs have fallen in but a few remain).

Of course even when full of snow (which would compress and turn to ice) it was a major job to dig out the frozen blocks and carry these down to the villages and towns on mules and donkeys at night. The snow was layered between straw to aid insualtion, and if you look at the floow in some snow holes you will see drainage channels to take away any melt water. The re contructed Nevera "Pou Cerde" between Torre Manzannes and Jijona has an example of the winding gear that must have been used to haul out the heavy frozen blocks. Some like the fine example at Bocairent are even built cleverly into cliff faces so that access to the bottom is possible via a tunnel. This one is also unusual in that it is built on the edge of the town. I wonder if they ever got enough snow to fill it? It's worth a visit as it has now got a staircase all the way from the floor to the top exit.

The arrival of industrial refrigeration at the end of the 19th century brought an end to this unusal industry and gradually the snow wells are falling into a sad state of decay.

More pictures here

looking throught the lower tunnel entrance of the Rentonar Snow Hole

A Grand Day Out (in the Lakes)

2007-02-05T11:28:00.000Z

A good forecast and dry condtions prompted a trip to Napes crag in the Lakes to do a classic rock route. All snow had disappeared from the fells so with reasonably light weight packs an approach from Langdale s was chosen rather than driving around to Borrowdale. A rough calculation was start at 10 - 2 hours walk - climb and summit by 3pm - back to Langdale by 5pm (20km approx) . It's a long slog up from Langdale along thee valley and up Rossett Gill. The cold frosty valley was left behind and the hard work soon started.

Thankfully Jules who was setting a storming pace had a new camera and stopped a few times to take pictures!

map of route

profile of walk

We sped past Angle Tarn over Esk Hause where Great Gable came into view at last. Then full speed ahead to Sty Head and the climbers path to Napes. The weather was holding with clear blue skies and rock actually warm to the touch as we passed Kern Knotts and Tophet Wall. We had time for a quick rest below Napes Needle and decided on doing Eagles Nest Ridge Direct as our original objective of Napes Ridge was busy with at least two groups of climbers. I won (lost?) the find a stone challenge set by Jules to see who should lead the climb and we were soon in position at the bottom of the arete of this classic mild VS.

The climbing was dleightful. There were enough gear placements to make it feel safe, but in places it is quite delicate and commiting for a mild VS, and having a rucksack on makes the grade feel a bit harder when things get steep. Passign the small ledges on the Eagles Nest and Crows Nest the large ledge below the crux was reached. here a great wire placement makes this a very safe move even though the holds are a bit polished. A full 50 metres leads to a large belay area below easier ground. Jules and Jez followed up and we then tackled the remaining section (diff?) of Eagles Nest Ridge with some VERY exposed moves onto polished ledges it is pretty good value!

belaying

Eagles Nest Ridge Direct

View down route - Napes Needle on Left

Eagles Nest Ridge

Packing away the gear I dropped my helmet and down in rolled out of sight towards a big gully. From the continual sounds of stone fall it was obvious it had gone a long way. So Jules and Jez continued over Gable whilst I went to try and retrieve the helmet. Srambling down steep ground and back around to the bottom of the gully I could see a tiny white spec high up, it had hardly come down any distance at all! At least it was reasonably accessible and also had the extra benefit of getting to a really good viewing point of Sphinx Rock

Sphinx Rock and Wasdale

I met up with Jules and Jez back at Styhead, then it was just flat out again back to Langdale, retracing our steps past Great End (completely snowless) and to big descent back down Rossett Gill with the the Langdale Pikes holding onto sunlight long after the valley was in shadow.

A grand day out it was indeed!

Winter skies near Great End

Three days on the Costa

2007-01-26T23:53:00.000Z

You can get a lot done in three days - a short trip this January to the Costa Blanca gave me the opportunity to do some classic routes on the Alpine sized crags of the Puig Campana and the Ponoch (Ponoig).

The route of Espilon Central with the direct start gives around 400 metres of great climbing up the imposing mountain of the Puig Campana. Climbing with my friend Bruce we had the mountain to ourselves. The top 6 pitches were enveloped in clouds and it was certainly very atmospheric. A serious route as well with some areas of loose rock that have to be avoided. The descent route was not too bad, with a well worn track and cables on the scrambly parts. Certainly worth doing (which I will again on a sunnier day and try the Edwards finish).

We then had a superb day climbing at Rowland and Mark Edwards' (of compasswest) new crag near Finestrat. Superb rock, great lines and amazing scenery will make this a must visit venue, probably just as good as Echo Valley but with more variety of routes.

The last day of this short trip saw us tackle the classic line of Via Valencianos on the Ponoch. at 6a and with the crux section "friggable" it seemed a pretty steady trip, especially as the first 200 metres or so were all more or less scrambling. However the top section of the route is pretty taxing. The crux pitch(s) have to be climbed, there is not enough gear to "cheat" on these. Great pitches they were too. These took a bit longer than we thought as we weren't quite sure of the way on. After the crux there are several more long pitches, and then a long traverse and decent. It took us nearly 9 hours which sounds pretty slow, but we never really ground to a complete halt! A very impressive and exciting route! Some of the other routes on this huge 500 metre clif look awesome, we will be back!

(photos - top the direct start to Espilon Central - bottom on the crux section of Via Valencianos - Ponoch)

Cafes December 06

2006-12-24T17:43:00.000Z

Big Breaky - Cafe hint - instead of buying seperate butties share a breakfast!

"Mad for it" Bacon Beauty!

The Pot of Heysham

Big Hot Choc at Heysham

Big Mug at Wolf House Gallery Arnside

5 hours non-stop in the Dales

2006-12-24T17:04:00.000Z

Wed 27 Sep 2006

After a 3 cafe stop ride a few days before this was a bit of a contrast. Silly really and a bit like not stepping on the cracks on the pavement, but I thought it an interesting challenge to try and ride a good route non-stop. That is no stops what so ever, no feet on the ground, leaning against walls, etc. The predicted onset of autumnal weather was also a spur as the glorious weather was obviously not going to last much longer.

The chosen route was around 110 km (80 miles) from Lancaster, past Kirkby Lonsdale, Dent, Dent Station and Garsdale, Apersett (near Hawes), Ingleton, Wray and back to Lancaster. Obviously I had to be well organised so pockets were well stuffed with food, and water bottles filled. MP3 player ready with a fresh battery in for a bit of on bike entertainment. Finally a camera at the ready for on bike photography, and extra challenge thrown in for good measure!

Leaving Lancaster just before midday steady progress was made with a nice tailwind crossing the Lune at Crook of Lune (negotiating a traffic light without too much difficulty) and on past the Redwell Pub and Arkholme. Clear atmospheric conditions gave good views, in particular White Scar Caves (on the return route) stood out really clearly.

Negotiating the busy A65 without a problem led to Devils Bridge, which was quite busy with a few midweek bikers. Straight past the cafe here of course! Weaving through the lanes towards Barbondale the MP3 player died, so a technical battery change was made on a nice flat section. Barbondale was busy with 4X4's, flat caps,binoculars and large over-sized aerials. I thought it was an early shoot, but a managed to ask one of the drivers what was happening, and it was some hounds being exercised! (so a fox hunt basically!). Shame they couldn't get out their 4X4's to get some exercise themselves.

Straight past the cafes in Dent, still with a reasonable tailwind and legs still felt OK. I knew a big climb was not far ahead, so refuelled on bananas and drink (without stopping of course). Also by this stage I'd managed quite a few few photos. After two hours the big climb past Dent Station and over to Garsdale was the next challenge. This is not a desperate climb, but it is pretty long, perhaps a couple of miles continuous climbing. Dramatic scenery and several buzzards and kestrels provided plenty of interest. As Dentdale receded and views towards Wild Boar Fell and Garsdale advanced. A steep drop to Garsdale head and the Moorcock and still a tailwind blew me on rapidly toward Hawes. At Apersett, just short of Hawes, I cut a corner along narrow lanes (under a viaduct being used by an abseil group from Low Mill). It was still a long climb away from Hawes into a pretty stiff headwind, and with legs starting to feel tired now the challenge was still very real.

Once past Ribblehead Viaduct I felt relieved as the head wind dropped and the Lune Valley came into sight. Some Isostar drink certainly helped, and I eat the last of the food supplies (pockets nearly empty now!).

Straight past the butty van and cafes at Ingleton, past two more sets of traffic lights and though a closed road (closed to cars anyway) brought me to the final stretch. At Caton I took the the cycle path by the river, and exactly 5 hours after leaving I was back in Lancaster. It did feel odd getting of the bike and touching the ground.

Only problem is now I will have to think of another silly challenge!

September Cycle - Knot End and Trough of Bowland

2006-12-24T16:41:00.000Z

John, Phil, Matty and Tom made a "3 cafe" route via Glasson, Knott End, Garstang, Beacon Fell, Dunsop Bridge and the Tough of Bowland. Warm weather and cafe stops made the 80 miles a pleasant challenge, which took 9 hours including stops, punctures, getting lost, etc.

Food options weren't always the healthy ones!