My “Epic” in Easy Gully

Ben Hedley

05/03/2002 at 00:09

Well, Thats the final straw. Looks like im going to be coming back from Os show axe equipped and the winter skills course is in the process of being researched. See you all in the snow next winter (i'll be the prat wearing snowboard boots and crampons with board stapped to back)

05/03/2002 at 11:37

Ben, check out Glenmore lodge courses. Went there in Feb, had a great time playing in the snow and 80mph winds. Venue is excellent, great food, quality instructors, good bar. Nuff said.

Si

Ben Hedley

05/03/2002 at 12:05

was already looking at these courses

Ben Hedley

05/03/2002 at 12:06

ooops, didn't mean to press submit. thanks, i'll check out the glenmore lodge. do u have a web addy?

05/03/2002 at 13:46

Its WWW.GLENMORELODGE.ORG.UK

We looked at Glencoe as well, can't remember off hand why we chose to go with Glenmore.....but we did!

Si

joan collins

05/03/2002 at 14:00

One thing to bear in mind about Glenmore courses is that the severity of the weather in that part of the country may at times restrict what you can do. The instructors are used to this, and will always find something worthwhile to occupy you, but it won't necessarily be exactly what you've paid up to do. If it's really rough, you may even have trouble accessing or leaving the premises.

PyB, amongst others, run courses on the west coast, mostly the Glencoe area. This is generally less severe weatherwise. It's also significantly more easy to access from most parts of England and Wales. So you might want to consider these factors.

Hedgehope Aztec

06/03/2002 at 00:35

Ben, I've used Glencoe-mountain-sports, I would recommend them. just ask if you want any more info.

Ben Hedley

06/03/2002 at 00:52

thanks mike. their prices look more affordable than others. How good was the tution and do you need your own equipment.

Hedgehope Aztec

06/03/2002 at 01:01

I bought the course (last Easter) for Michele's birthday and for a short one it was very good. They will hire (or sell) you equipment (boots, crampons, axe, etc) if needed (helmets are provided free).

Ninja Marmot

06/03/2002 at 17:25

Sorry, Ben, didn't intend to worry you with that story. Don't know why I 'went off' at that particular point. Guess I was just tired after the 2 hour ascent of the steep part. I am used to being out in winter conditions and being high-up and my 'companion' is a very experienced climber/mountaineer with Alpine experience so it wasn't as though I wasn't safe. It was just one of those idiosyncratic moments.

Damned good fun, though!

Orange Alex Ford

06/03/2002 at 19:22

Here's my four-pennethworth!

I was forging ahead thinking I was helping by finding a safe route for them, and didn't even know what was going on behind me. So there are lessons to be learnt from the tale all round.

It's so easy to loose touch with people you are meant to be out with, when circumstances take hold, particularly on cold, snowy, windy, white-out days.

As I was writing my tome for the features, I sat and wondered what would have become of both Jeannie AND Bob if Jeannie's "Epic" had got worse.

If she really hadn't been able to go on then Bob would have had to make a descision to stay with her and wait for me to go back, or else leave her and go forward to get me. How long would I have waited for them before going back to find them?

Lots of lessons. Serious stuff really.

(Still it was good fun!)

Ben Hedley

06/03/2002 at 19:36

Jeannie. i wasn't worried. i have no winter experience and want to be able to enjoy the hill when i think they are most fun.

p.s. unless im going off-piste big time i wouldn't wear crampons and snowboard boots as they are too soft

Ninja Marmot

06/03/2002 at 19:54

Ben
p.s. I know!!

I happen to love hot sunny days when you can actually linger at the summit over your butties and catch some rays and play catch - me - if - you - can with the sheep at the same time. Then call in at a tarn on the way down and paddle or bathe. I happen to know 2 people who have been skinny-dipping in Stickle Tarn in Langdale ...but my lips are sealed....
:0)

But winter is very different. Much more challenging. It's icy and white and has a cold haunting beauty and it throws out many questions, some of which have no answers...It's spring and autumn which can seem wet and misty and boggy. But still I can get high up and retrieve the heart that I lost to the mountains years ago.

Ninja Marmot

06/03/2002 at 19:57

In case you think I've flipped and gone all poetic -

cairns!!

sheep dip!!

...but poetry and music are in my soul and I can't help it. You know the poem about 'you are nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth'?

Who ever wrote that that never been mountaineering.

Dan G

06/03/2002 at 20:04

oh no, Jeannie's got me all excited again, and now i'm going to get electronically slapped. again.

Ninja Marmot

06/03/2002 at 20:09

Errrr...which part excited you?

Catching the sheep?

Eating butties?

Cold haunting beauty?

no...no... it was the sheep dip!!

Dan G

06/03/2002 at 21:29

Wasn't 'sheep' dipping, I can assure you

Ninja Marmot

06/03/2002 at 22:13

Heeeeee
Heeeeee

:0P

Dan G

06/03/2002 at 22:15

Wonder if this building has a shower. Doesn't have to be a heated one

Ninja Marmot

06/03/2002 at 22:16

Are you still there playing with that damned projector?

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