Walking

Some feedback on my walking menu: Rubbish. I got it very wrong.
We were carrying over 5kg of food each, which pushed our pack weight up close to 20kg (we had everything to be completely self sufficient). Which when coupled with altitude and terrain made for a pretty hard first days walk. We ditched most of the food at a refuge on the morning of the second day, keeping breakfast and snacks, leaving lots of cous cous and rice behind. The weight difference was noticeable and made for much more enjoyable walking.
We found a big breakfast and a couple of snacks during the day was enough to keep us going until we got to a refuge to buy some dinner. The dinners we had were very good, normally 3 courses and plenty of everything.

If I were to do it again (which I intend to) this is the way I'd do it.

The Pyrenees provide a spectacular landscape for walking. The scenery is constantly changing from lush hanging valleys to rocky scree slopes, to snow fields, to boulder fields, to wooded valleys ... and the views from the cols are a bit good. There's plenty of wildlife to be seen too. We saw marmots, vultures, eagles, lizards, snakes, a salamander, and izard.

The only downside to our trip was that the weather on the last day made an ascent of the Aneto impossible so we had a damp hike back into France.

Oh, and crampons are freaking awesome. Bashing down a steep snowfield went from "oh shiiiit" to "aww yeah!" :)

I need some walking/hiking boots. Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for if I want them as waterproof as possible. Gore-Tex, etc?

Make sure they fit properly. Spend a lot of time trying them on. Consider various sock thicknesses.

Gore-Tex

and a rubber bit extending above the sole all the way around will help when the DWR or whatever on the boot eventually gets less effective. Also, one moulded piece of leather > lots of bits of leather.

I hate gore tex in boots, but good boots without are hard to find
I use Meindl Borneo pro
and this is a very good deal on them at the moment, if they fit.
I wax them with Meindl sport wax, and they never let water in, and I get three or 4 years use at about 5 miles most days. http://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/6916403003728376796?client=safari&rls=en&q=meindl%20borneo&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&sa=X&ei=d2QVUdrHNofI0AWZnYCYBw&ved=0CFgQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers

I have some zamberlan leather walking boots for sale.

Only light use, not broken in yet properly.

A very small 8 (really a 7 in my opinion)

Will do a very good price if anyone is interested.

I'm a big fan of Brasher but they take a bit of breaking in. Waxing helps, I use renapur saddle wax. Lasts years as you only use it every few months and it helps seal the seams and soften the leather.

Also, what Alfie said. One piece of leather is better than many. If your budget won't stretch to just one piece then the fewer seams the better.

If you are not used to boots then consider mid height over full height. You lose a tiny amount of ankle support but have less pressure on the back of the Achilles which can become sore if you are not accustomed to high boots.

You won't easily get away from goretex but if you keep the leather proofed then that overpriced ptfe lining is surplus to requirement. My boots generally get wet inside when it rains as I do not wear waterproof trousers so my legs get wet and the water eventually runs down onto my socks which wick the rain onto the rest of my feet.

Yeah, I've found brashers feel like hooves until they're a few years old.

Make sure they fit properly. Spend a lot of time trying them on. Consider various sock thicknesses.

This, also any decent place where you buy the boots from will have an uneven slope. Walk up and down this when you are trying the boots on. You need to ensure that the boots are not too tight on your feet but also that your feet don't slide forward / backwards in the boots when you are on the slope.

Also many good shops will sell insoles that they mold to your feet with a vacuum pump, these are well worth the money.

Put this on my wish list years ago when I was looking into doing LEJOG. Didn't realise it was a walking guide..

John O' Groats to Lands End: The Official Challenge Guide: Amazon.co.uk: Smailes Brian: Books

Anyone want it?

You're walking JOGLE?

No, that's why I'm offering up the book.

That stolen figurine could please even the most demanding follower of Freud.

I have no idea what you're talking about but I would totally walk JOGLE.

You're welcome to the book.

I started reading it but really should be getting through the other 100 more relevant ones.

"jogle for mouthbreathers"?

I found it excellent

national walking month, try it sometime?
good read here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27186709

Fabulous little country, this place we call home.

For the past few days we've taken the coastal path from St. Ives to Penzance, occasionally bumping foreheads on twigs and bashing knees on rocks before fresh seafood and quality ales each evening righted all previous wrongs better than we could have hoped.

I have taken Walk to Work Week a bit too seriously and walked 30 miles since yesterday lunchtime. I am in quite a lot of pain now.

Lovely pics @theory yes, beautiful coast.
@TB dedicated! hope you had i-pod for that distance : /

I'm interested in going on a hiking/trekking trip to the alps somewhere equally as beautiful in Europe but I nobody I know enjoys this kind of thing.

Anyone know of any group trips that don't break the bank?

walk hadrian's wall instead, it's very good

walk teh GR paths, esp GR5, 20, 67

I'm interested in going on a hiking/trekking trip to the alps somewhere equally as beautiful in Europe but I nobody I know enjoys this kind of thing.

Anyone know of any group trips that don't break the bank?

I don't know what the typical group comprises, or if there is such a thing (the photo on this page doesn't do much to attract a young demographic) but this is probably the best place to start...http://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-group.aspx