Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

@nauls ^montane, or paramo

@edmundro robust approach shoes that you can also take up the route, 15-20L rucsac for second to bring gear up. bivi etc. if you're feeling vulnerable, but the lakes are well populated so shouldn't be more than 15 mins from a person sighting a distress call..

walking poles are for simians who haven't mastered the art of up-right articulation!

I know I sound like an old codger but always have a map and compass, and practice at home first.

You don't have to be one of those plonkers with a map case around your neck, and you can never get dangerously lost in England anyway (just pick a direction and walk, you'll find a country pub soon enough!) but good to keep in your bag if you're not sure how far you've got to go, or even if you come across a lost person/group (which has happened to me countless times).

Walking poles are great if you've got a heavy pack, 15 mile days, steep ascents/descents, but a day walk in England you'll be fine without them.

Wouldn't know about brollies... a lot of people in the US hike with them, apparently. For me this is just extra ammunition for the 'trails in the US are for wimps' argument.

I've not seen many brollies that could withstand a day in the Scottish hills!

I dunno, I'm partial to the odd roll up when I climb so thought it'd keep me dry while I chuff away. That and something to keep the wind at bay on coffee stops.
Apparently dedicated hiking umbrellas are a thing:

Makes sense in rainforest or to keep the sun off but as mi7rennie says, prob no use for uk hills..
..and he looks like a proper twat...

Surely a bit of suffering is part of the experience

How about gaiter recommendations, Rab ones look decent at £30?

Oh and cheers @rive_gauche

Ooo gaiters, never had a pair of those before...
On the subject of Rab, I got an email from rockrun today, they've got some deals on at the mo on jackets and other end of line stuff.

Just found this thread, caught up on last few pages, nice writeup of that Scotland Trip.

Will be hiking sections of a race for later in year, first recce was last Sunday on familiar path Rushup Edge with some Nav practice using map & compass and spending a few hours eating only fig rolls.

Pics: Crowds at Mam Tor, counted 22 in the air at one point. Arrived back at Rushup at Sunset, Alpkit Gamma doesn't really cut it for faster paced stuff, new torch on way.

Next trip if conditions right will be next Thurs > Good Friday possible cheeky wild camp on tops somewhere.

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just picked up the Langdale FRCC guide for our Lakes trip next weekend. Exciting stuff...

oh yes, you must do the R-L girdle of Pavey Ark :)

How about gaiter recommendations

Which ones from Rab?

For a maintained path in good weather I'd just wear trail runners and no gaiters. You only need gaiters for snow, scree, heavy rain/boggy/streams, or really heavy bush.

You can get really lightweight gaiters for trail runners that stop stones getting in your shoe, they might be what you're after.

Makes sense in rainforest

Doing a lot of my hiking in rainforest I don't think you could take three steps without destroying it haha

That's already been recommended actually. According to the guide:

An unsatisfactory expedition

Looks like you can find a traverse at whatever grade and terrain you fancy. Nice.

Fancy a look at Gimmer chimney as well.

unsatisfactory my ares - it's a classic Arthur Dolphin chossfest!!

plunging your fingers through wet peaty tussocks in a desperate bid to stop your skidding feet from realising that 50ft swinger which is only backed up by a thread past a sapling root - character building..

on gimmer, iirc the 'alphabet' routes are worthwhile

The Hispar ones, 35 quid actually.

My boots were completely sodden after half an hours rain in the Beacons the other week, that's the only reason I want them really.

Ah I see, they've got that elasticated bit halfway up which is what I didn't like about my Vaude ones, the elastic was over the top of my boots and rubbed my calf... just personal preference though, you can always return them.

I don't know how far a good pair of softshell trousers would go to solve your problem, presumably more comfortable than chunky sweaty gaiters.

Castleton -> Buxton via Millers Dale, the Quarries, & the HSE Laboratories completed, great day out made it a tiny pub crawl too (see Ale thread).

Had a short day at Tarn Crag at Stickle Barn in the Lakes on Friday.
Had great fun on a long Diff with Liz managing a bold lead on the final pitch, complete with danger sheep on the belay ledge.
Embarrassed to say we got spat off a V Diff later on due to howling wind blowing Liz off the wall. Weird route, considerably harder than nearly all the HVS we've done. There's a sling and krab up there where we abandoned ship if anyone wants to go get it ;)
Pissed it down yesterday so spent the day mooching around all the outdoor shops is Keswick. Stumbled across a Salewa sample sale, Liz scored a £300 down jacket for £80. Win.

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Nice!

If weather a bit iffy but you want outdoor activity, then consider the via ferrata at honister.

And low bridge end farm, st johns in the vale for great cake, coffee or hot chocolate :)

Cheers Rive, we're def going back up in the Summer.
Liz's aunt and uncle(who we stayed with) are just outside Kendal so perfect base for a week of exploring. They're also a font of knowledge as they've hiked up almost every summit, path and fell over the last 50 years of living there(they're late 60's and still walk the Matterhorn every year!).
Def want some much longer days in better weather though...

Plans afoot for Avon Gorge next weekend.
Might get there super early and cook up bacon sarnies on the Breakfast Ledge.
Have found a progression ticklist up to HVS on ukclimbing for the Gorge which we might try and rattle through over the next couple of weeks if time/weather allows.

No cooking, but a fantastic 4hr odyssey across the Dawn WalkS 4a* to the Lunchtime Ledge and up and out of the Gorge via Bob's ClimbVDiff**. Linking the two felt like a proper quest despite easy grade.

Had to wait at the first belay for a bit for the sun to dry the start of the traverse(top left in pic) so did a spot of gardening on the hugely brambly ledge.
Started grey but topped out in glorious sunshine for ice creams and a great walk down.
5 pitches, just over 100m of runout traverses, polished holds, old pegs, overhangs and very crap to absolutely bombproof gear. Stakes at the top would be nice tho instead of the rusty fence/brambles anchors.
Epic fun. Should take more pics..

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nice one ed :)

talking of crap belays, swanage - standing in rabbit holes... :$

Bolted stance at the end of the 2nd pitch was lovely, shiny new chains, a peg and an old caving bolt with a rusty biner that had to be older than me. Only comfortable and actually safe one of the day.
I had a bit of a kneebar into some bird of prey favourite spot to dismember things: such bones, many feather. Wow. Shorts reek of death now.

I'm loving my Dolomite Cinquantquattro HighGTX boots, purchased on recent ski trip in Itay. Goretex lining, Vibram sole and DAS footbed system.
All for €99.

Great pics and stories @edmundro

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Do they have a gusset between the tongue and the upper? If not the goretex will just keep the rain in, rather than out... still, nice looking boots though.