The X-IT

20/05/2022

Its been a lovely few weeks in the valley, wanders a plenty. https://youtu.be/e6O1f7rz9nM

18/05/2022

Off for a jaunt in the back garden after work, nice mind.

12/05/2022

It's been a little while, but back on it! https://youtu.be/ywG2gmj6Iv4

06/05/2022

Room with a view. Grasmere from the fells.

19/04/2022

Tan Hill was the place to be Thursday night :)

29/01/2022

Little Win having a bad ear day.... gusty on the little fells too.

27/01/2022

Crosby.

23/01/2022

Sat having a cuppa in my lovely warm van browsing some photos from this month. There are many shots of Blea Tarn, but this one is mine.

09/01/2022

Another dog, another place. What was funnier was Winnie dropping a stick in front of the figure and looking bemused as to why it was ignoring her.

06/12/2021

Long days driving yesterday so a bit of a lie in, then coffee, then wanders with Sarah after work. Sarah went to Dublin and I got me a wonderful new espresso cup :)

04/12/2021

You are not alone.

03/12/2021

(Please note any derogatory comments will be removed, only the MR Teams have right to complain, and they don't)

Winter is not a time for the inexperienced and especially not for those without the correct kit. If you need any advice over the coming months please message me and I'll get back to you asap. Better still, book me for a walk and we'll take in the right walks for your experience and kit. You don't have to hit the highest peaks to enjoy the wintery weather. :)

03/12/2021

Getting out, keeping the mind active with all the right thoughts.

02/12/2021

Just hours after Storm Arwen subsided, me and Win headed out for a low level wander. Safe to say I was a little emotional at the devastation at Blea Tarn. Tragically three people lost their lives during Arwen, one very close to home in Ambleside.

https://youtu.be/GoVs621qYWs

November 2021 brought the violent and destructive Storm Arwen.Reports hinted that, although powerful, the North West would not be hit as hard as East side of...

27/11/2021

A bit of time to myself enjoying the less trodden path.

16/11/2021

The landscape we love would be nothing without our farming community and the decades of of hardworking care and attention. But who's resting friend does this belong to?

05/11/2021

Me and a hoss.

27/10/2021

Hello, it's been a little while. My other venture has taken front seat for a little while but I'll be back out on the fell this weekend with a new booking. As with all my walks we will take the day as it comes and if the weather turns, so shall we. Back down to a low level wander.
But more importantly this weekend, the clocks go back. That along with the ever diminishing amount of day time and cloud cover, light won't be on your side soon.
Take a torch (no not your phone torch, that wouldn't light a path if you were on your hands and knees). A good guide is 200 lumens or above. I would recommend something with replaceable batteries over a usb charged one. You won't be able to charge a usb one in the driving rain, let alone use it while it's charging. Take a spare torch and / or spare batteries.
And... From experience, you'll maybe want to consider a head torch. If the wind hits you'll want both hands free for holding on to rocks, branches and even walking poles.
Set off early and be realistic about your destination and time to walk.
Let someone know where you're going and how long you expect to be.
Take warm clothes, not the ones you're wearing.
Be mindful of everyone in your groups abilities.
It may be autumn, but it's as cold as winter on the high fells.

10/10/2021

It's a glorious day in the valley. Bowfell looks appealing, but off on music trails today not footpaths. Imagine waking up to this view from a cosy bed and a log fire going. Check out Great Langdale Glamping. A little bit of luxury looking over one of the most beautiful views in the world.

10/10/2021

Adventure Smart #5 : Ice
A nice short one for you all this morning. Unless you're looking to climb a frozen waterfall then todays post is nice and simple.
When it gets really cold, ice forms on wet things like rocks, paths, lakes, tarns, you....
As the weather turns colder ice is something to think seriously about. As with advice on temperature, things get colder the higher you go. Also keeping in mind wind speed (which admittedly has a small effect on ground temp) we must always keep in mind the summits of our walks may start to have ice forming. If you intend on walking in the winter, it wouldn't be a bad decision to carry either crampons or microspikes with you on all walks. Ice can make for a difficult if not dangerous days walking.
Even the moisture in the air (it doesn't even have to be dew point) can cling to rocks, grass and paths and freeze over night.
Ice on your walk can be much like black ice on the roads, you may not even see it below your feet.
For larger bodies of water, I would say steer well clear. Even if the lake or tarn looks well frozen over, it may still be the case parts haven't and falling through ice can be painful, cold and almost impossible to climb out of.
Especially on some lakes, small deposits of oil, fuel and other substances can prevent or limit the freezing effect and you may wander into dangerously thin ice.

With the right gear, ice can be the makings of an awesome day out. If you're really gripped by the idea of winter walking, invest in some good spikes. Where ice is concerned, carry at the very least microspikes (simple over boot covers with hardened steel plates and spikes). I would avoid buying full rubber sock type as the path and the rocks will eventually cut through, something with chains around the boot would be safer, and definitely not the "going to the shops" YakTraks.
Where you're feeling more adventurous and want the full winter experience, invest in some proper winter boots with a B rating and a set of crampons with a C rating to ensure youre covered for whatever the fells throw at you.

Safe wanders, now to do a snow dance!

James

09/10/2021

Back on the fell after a little time off. 4 absolute gentleman from London. A fantastic wander on the Waterfalls and Mountain Tops booking. All 4 summited Bowfell in less than wonderful conditions but great weather for walking. Very proud of my guests today, they nailed it without any trouble at all.

08/10/2021

Wanders with Sarah to the local pool before work. Lovely chilled evening.

08/10/2021

Adventure Smart #4 : Snow
Yes, snow. "Snowmaggedon" as some of our newpapers have coined it. Snow can be a very real problem on the fell. As some of you are well aware, the conditions in valley can be very different to the summit. We see headlines and warnings of 'the first snow on the summits in Scotland' can be equally as problematic and fun elsewhere in the country. As we already dealt with temperature, this effects the conditions the higher we go. Precipitation in the form of snow will start to equalise the air temperature as it falls and what will be rain the valley can very likely be heavy snow on the mountain.
Like much of my advice, the rule I go by is "if it's in the car, it's not in your bag". Seems stupidly obvious but stood in the carpark in langdale, the rain is falling. As you climb higher the rain turns to snow and if your kit is in the car, it's time to turn back.
As we head into winter I would advise the purchase of some decent walking spikes and maybe some good walking poles, but this is just for the walker. Heading for steeper slopes, I would replace the poles for a good walking axe. Over the years I've been given much advice, maybe too much, on what to buy. All I would say is go to a trusted source for your kit, maybe something in the local area to where you walk. For walking spikes, buy something with bailing plates. These plates will have a some mechanism to bounce snow off the spikes. Especially in wet snow, it can start packing on the sole of your boot, very quickly covering the spikes and then completely negating their effect, if anything, making them more of a danger.
For the use of kit, I would say it would be good to find a local expert who can advise on use and emergency procedures. Have a look on YouTube for using an walking axe and self arrest. (I may have a video available in future if we actually get some snow!)
Now onto the actual white stuff. Snow can be fun, dangerous, exhilarating, challenging and everything inbetween.
Snow can hide features and dangers, from simply covering rocks and dips in the terrain right up to cornices and avalanche.
Be mindful when walking, especially off paths, that snow can lay over small gullies and becks, even in some cases hiding entire bodies of water (believe me, I've been there!).
Two very good examples of cornices in the UK, ones I've observed myself, are the face of Helvellyn and the gullies of Ben Nevis.
Firstly the face of Helvellyn. A popular mountain all year round, cornices build up on the eastern face of the summit. As the prevailing wind blows west to east, snow will start to gather on the edges of the eastern face. This gradly builds as the snow falls creating a 'lip' or cornice. The cornice will have very little or any support under it, there will be very soft snow here as there's no weight to compact it. I've seen people standing on the cornice above red tarn, maybe unknowingly. It is always best to steer clear of any edges, but keep in mind the prevailing wind and the terrain. This can also apply to avalanching, but not limited to. Avalanching is an ever growing research science, a much bigger topic than I can deal with in this update. MWIS (Mountain Weather Info Service) have an avalanche prediction section on their website, this is worth keeping an eye on, especially in the run up to the trip.
Secondly, the Ben Nevis example. Gullies can be extremely dangerous. Not just for you, but potentially for people below (although this also applies to cornice). Snow, like with cornicing, will gather in the gullies and build up over time. As there's little weight there to compact this, snow in gullies can give way quickly and dramatically. In the example of Nevis, the gullies on the north face get little or no sunlight during the year. I've been on Nevis in June with Gardyloo Gully (the navigation point for the summit during bad weather) completely impacted with snow, with people jumping up and down on it. Always, unless you are a very experienced climber / walker, stay very clear of gullies.

I know this is a very long winded post, but this could be a lot more detailed. I'll post some Youtube videos shortly on the various topics addressed here.

Snow in the mountains is fun! Seriously good fun. I've taken in mountains in the Lake District with my son (aged 11 at the time) in full winter conditions. We've summited, put on our waterproofs and slid back down the fellside on our bums :) Respect the dangers, do a little risk assessment, pack for the worst case, let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back, but mostly.... have a fantastic time.

Now fingers crossed for SNOW this year!!!!

James.

07/10/2021

Just a small addition to this mornings post:
There is a bit of talk in the media about the weather about to change to "milder" conditions. These conditions are slightly above average for this time of year and by no means a return to the temps of summer. The change is also associated with possible strengthening winds, which would level any chances of feeling the warmth up on the fells. It's also worthy noting that this is a prediction, albeit a very strong chance of happening, but if the winds reverse we could be looking at snow on the fell tops. Be safe, be prepared and most of all have fun!

07/10/2021

Adventure Smart #3 : Rain
Look towards the prevailing wind (generally looking west or south west). If there's a rainbow, it's going to rain. If there's big fluffy clouds, it's going to rain soonish. If there's high wispy clouds, it's going to rain tomorrow. If you're in the Lakes, it's going to rain. If you're wet, it's raining.
Precipitation has a couple of things to keep in mind. One of the more notable things is, you are going to get wet. I know! Seriously though, most clothing is not "waterproof" your jacket will eventually let water in, especially on pressure points like shoulder straps and hip belts. Very few bags are waterproof, unless it's an actual roll-top waterproof bag like Ortlieb or Overboard. Anything sensitive to water, like phones, drones, cameras should really be packed in watertight cases or dedicated waterproof stuff sacks (and even then inside a main stuff sack of your bag). Water has a habit of finding its way into places.
But that's not the end of it. Water can change the landscape, quite dramatically in some cases. What may have been passable 2 hours ago may now be part of a river. Water, especially fast running water, can hide the terrain underneath, there could be unstable or washed away paths and rocks. Water can be a hugely powerful force, sweeping away large branches, rocks and even you. The valley you arrived in could now be impassable (I'll share a video soon on how quickly some valleys can change).
How do you deal with water? Unfortunately, if you're hiking for a long day or multi day trips, you're not going to win the war, you will get wet. Just keep moving, if you do need to stop, make or find shelter.
The latter of the situations above are much more important.
Check your forecast and pay attention to the warnings, come back another day if needs be. Monitor the situation during your walk, watch the becks and rivers closely. What look like swollen rivers high in the fells could very likely be impassable rivers by the time you get back to the car. Change your route, if you need to cross streams and they are swollen, make sure you're capable, walk with a pole or other support facing the oncoming water. But more preferably, back out or change path.

Remember, you also may have to get home after your walk. There have been a few occasions in the past where our favourite hotel in the Lakes has had to house people overnight as its been impossible for them to get out the valley.

Mostly the rain isn't this much of a problem, but it's always something to keep an eye on during your walk, especially if you're returning via the same path you came and it was already difficult on the way up.

These are very simple guides, if you want more info on weather, how to read it and the effects on you, please send me a message or comment below.

Happy hiking, James.

06/10/2021

Adventure Smart #2 : Wind Chill.
Following on from yesterdays post on temperature, I'm going to put a shorter post up with the attached picture.
You may hear the weather forecasters talk about the temperature and the wind chill factor. This isn't some cool talent show for TV weather presenters (yeah dad joke, sorry). Wind chill has a massive effect on how your body reacts to the temperature. Temp readings for the weather will be taken and predicted by many factors but one of the old school ways is to have a thermometer in a vented box, this stops the wind having an effect on the reading.
So why to you feel the cold? Well, not to get too scientific (because I can't), if your body temp is 36.5c and the air temp is 10c the two masses (you and the air) will try to equalise. As the air is by far the larger mass, you'll lose out and your body temp will be drawn down to the air temp. Think of putting water in a freezer, the water loses :)
Now we take wind chill. As the air passes your body it's constantly winning the equalisation war and drawing more and more heat from your body. As the air flow increases, the colder you get. So you don't "feel cold" you are actually getting colder!
How do you combat this? Layer, trap the warm air next to you. Gloves, hats, buffs. Wear barriers such as waterproof clothes. Keep moving, generate heat with your muscles. Warm fluids, find shelter and get something hot to drink.
The attached image will give you an idea of how wind chill effects the temperature. With this in mind, also think about the Adventure Smart #1, as you climb the temperature drops.
It is also something to keep in mind that wind speeds will generally increase the higher you go, this however isn't strictly the case. Katabatic winds can flow down the side of fells and mountains and cause higher gusts in valleys. But it is a good idea to keep this in mind.

Again any questions, comments or criticism are encouraged.

Happy wanders, James.

05/10/2021

Adventure Smart #1 : Temperature
As with any of my advice posts, I will touch on the what could be the worst case scenario. In my opinion you should always keep this in mind.
Keeping warm can be a challenge at any time of year. Not only can temperature drop over half a degree for every 100m you climb, you can also add to this wind chill.
Lets start with height. More so in the winter months, temperature in the mountains can decrease severely as you climb. Say you start your walk in Wasdale in Cumbria at 10c (there's no wind today) and you'll ascend almost 910m. We'll be a little conservative for the sake of calculation. For every 100m we ascend we drop .65c or thereabouts. So with these numbers in mind we drop around 6c in temperature from the valley floor. 4c is about the low temperature of your fridge, helicopter blades can start to ice over at 4c.
Now take into account your best and worst case scenarios.
Best case, you stop for 30 mins for some lunch, take some pics, fly a drone etc... you will start to feel the cold. Finger tips will maybe start to numb, your body will stop moving and generating heat, your body will start to equalise to the external temperature. Worst case, you or one of your group has an accident and are unable to move on. It could take Mountain Rescue hours to get to you, in this time you will not be able to sustain your own body temp. Yes, this seems dramatic, but these are really situations, read any of the MRT yearly reports or books like Cairngorm John, it happens.
How do you mitigate this risk? This one is simple. EXTRA warm clothes, not the ones you're already wearing. Warm hat and gloves. A means of shelter may not go wrong, a simple bivvy bag to trap heat. Waterproofs, it doesn't have to be raining to feel the benefit of waterproofs, the nature of the fabric can make them very good at trapping heat above layers. The means to make a warm drink, a flask is good, but when it's gone its gone. Although this last point in a situation with a casualty, be wary of feeding an ill person, especially unconcious. If you can speak to MRT on the phone, ask their advice.

I never aim to give advice to sensationalise or dramatise an adventure in the mountains. People have lost their lives at very low elevations purely down to their inability to maintain their body temperature.

Tomorrow we'll deal with another factor of temperature, windchill.

Thanks for reading and please share. James.

05/10/2021

As we're all aware the weather is changing, rapidly at the moment. There are a few things to keep in mind whilst walking in the fells. The next few posts are ones I'd be grateful if you can share, not to promote my business but more to promote being adventure smart. Our Mountain Rescue teams are seeing increased call-outs, not something unusual at this time of year but the increased volume is. Our teams are volunteers with jobs, family and other commitments,. They provide a service because they want to, but they can only work so much and due to the increased risk of covid in limiting and controlled team numbers. Anything we can do as walkers and mountaineers to manage amd limit the risk to us and others will take an avoidable pressure of this service. I'll be putting the first post up tonight. Please share and feel free to comment, critise or question any of these posts, hopefully we can work together to get you out in the fells and get you home safely.

04/10/2021

It's not all going to be gales and blizzards from now on, but the time has passed when you can get off with just 'chancing it'. We all need to make sure we have our winter head on.
Make sure we have the right kit.
Make sure we have the knowledge and experience to use it.
Make sure we check conditions - even if there's no snow, wind can a show-stopper on its own, and wind-driven rain can be a killer.
It's worth the effort of getting it right though: for many people winter is THE season.
https://www.mountaineering.scot/safety-and-skills/thinkwinter

Scottish Mountain Rescue Association of Mountaineering Instructors Mountain Training Glenmore Lodge Sportscotland VisitScotland

29/09/2021

Finally got round to creating a few videos last night and putting the finishing touches to some other projects. Here's the full walk me and dad did last week (don't worry it's not realtime :) ). I'd be grateful if you could like / subscribe / share as it helps me along the way to get business rolling (grovel). James x. https://youtu.be/z8nhqBdLX_I

(Cards added for the daily video diary)After putting together a video diary every day of the 5 day hike across Hadrians Wall with dad, I've decided to collat...