Who Needs A Mountain Mentor?

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Who Needs A Mountain Mentor?

I love being asked for help and advice from people who climb for pleasure, or who want to know how to work out the next step in their outdoor career. I benefited from such advice when I was starting out as a climber forty four years ago aged twelve, and as an outdoor instructor thirty nine years ago, and now that I have built up so much knowledge from my personal adventures and from working as an International Mountain Guide for twenty plus years, I’m super-keen to pass it all on. Most successful people, whatever their field of interest, will probably have had a mentor at some point on their journey. Mentoring is the answer to the problems of missed goals, lost momentum, inability to identify the next step, and failed plans. A mentor should be someone who has done the things you’re striving to achieve, who is truly passionate about the outdoors, who will encourage a growth mindset, and who will challenge you.

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5 Really Cool Things To Look Out For In The Mountains

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5 Really Cool Things To Look Out For In The Mountains

When Anne asked me to write this post my first thought was "Great. I'd love to do this." This was quickly followed self-doubt; I'm no expert naturalist or photographer. I'm an aspirant Mountain Leader, and in my trips into the hills I've had plenty of enjoyment learning about the plants and animals I've seen. Four out of five of these things were seen in one weekend, so there's a lot out there if you keep your eyes open. All the photos were taken in the Lake District, three of them on one of Chris's suggested quality mountain days, and two on other walks preparing for Mountain Leader assessment.

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The Great Gift, 19th July 1919

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The Great Gift, 19th July 1919

11th November 1918: Armistice Day, the ceasefire, the end of World War 1, the day we remember. But what’s the significance of 19th July 1919? Although the fighting had stopped in November 1918, negotiations continued at the Paris Peace Conference until 1920, with England and Germany signing the official peace treaty on 19th July 1919, which became known as Peace Day. A beacon was lit on Scafell Pike on Peace Day in 1919 to signal the end of the war.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Learn To Navigate Using Contours

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5 Reasons Why You Should Learn To Navigate Using Contours

The difference between OK navigation and excellent navigation lies in the ability to read and make sense of contours. Contours are those wiggly lines drawn on the map connecting points of equal height above sea level. “Contour” comes from the Italian word “contorno” meaning "to draw a line". In the UK we have one of the most accurate mapping systems in the world, and our maps use contours to show the shape of the ground in incredible detail.

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Everything You Need To Know About Ticks

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Everything You Need To Know About Ticks

Ticks have been recognised for their ability to transmit disease for hundreds of years. They are currently considered to be second only to mosquitoes as vectors of human and animal infectious diseases worldwide. They are blood-sucking parasitic arachnids, which means that they belong to the spider family. So what should we know about them and the effect they might have on us?

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