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Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:19 pm
by Zakar
pjm1 wrote:
Zakar wrote:
happyhooker wrote:
Zakar wrote:I'm planning on doing Ben Nevis in May. Will I need crampons/ice axe? I know it's required in winter.
Not if you're doing the tourist path.
How hard is the North Face?
Totally depends on your route and whether you take a difficult gully or an easy one! There are heaps of routes up that side of the Ben, from the Ledge route (easier), Tower ridge (Diff climb and gear recommended) or a very nice ascent via Carn Mor Dearg (one of my faves). The latter takes you away from the Ben and up its neighbour. Having only done this in winter, I can't say what it'll be like in May, but bear in mind it's basically a 40-odd degree slope all the way up to the ridge (about 400m of vertical) and if you slip, you'll be approaching some fair speed by the time your head brains itself on the rocks at the bottom. On that basis, I'd take walking crampons, ice axe and usual safety stuff. Once you summit CMD and head along the arete to the backside of the Ben, the snow (even at that time of year) can be pretty deep. Having said that, the approach up the Ben from the arete is just a rounded hump so very safe and benign - it's just a drag up that final 100m or so.

Far better than the tourist trail which is everything I dislike about walking!
Well, I'm taking the Mrs, so anything too extreme is a non starter at this stage. We'll be doing a guided glacier hike in Iceland in a few weeks, so I'll see on how she handles the crampons/ice axe. If we need to do the pony trail, then so be it.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:23 pm
by backrow
HKCJ wrote:Unfortunately the Otter trail in SA is fully booked for when we want to go so we will be doing the Fannie Botha (fnar fnar) and possibly Fish Canyon. Any boredies done these?
yeah I've done the Otter Trail, about 10 years ago

was a bit cold and boring tbf, very scenic though - main prob was pain in the neck sister in law who whinged about everything and anything for 2 days until she left early, to everyones relief (she was also unfit as feck and couldn't carry her smallish rucksack)

tbh I'm not the long distance hiking sort of person, I get a bit bored with 'ooh isn't this a pretty bay / beach / rock' as all seems much like the previous 247 pretty bay / beach / rocks I saw.

If you in SA may I recommend driving up the Sani pass into Lesotho, the whole thing can be done in a day and I found it far more fun & scenic, I know you like your mountains and stuff and the Drakensburg are pretty cool

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:34 pm
by slick
Booked a long weekend in Glencoe with a couple of mates for later this year - staying at the Clachaig, yeah.

Will NOT be doing Aonach Eagach, will probably do Bidean. Any must do's?

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 7:00 pm
by Sards
I did an hour an a half through one mountain near Citrusdal with my two kids. Lots of scrambling and a bit of climbing. Does that count

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:35 pm
by pjm1
slick wrote:Booked a long weekend in Glencoe with a couple of mates for later this year - staying at the Clachaig, yeah.

Will NOT be doing Aonach Eagach, will probably do Bidean. Any must do's?
Just enjoy it! Stay off the expanses and keep to ridges as far as you can - Coe is dangerous when the snow comes.

Might be heading out to Aonach Eagach next month - fancy doing something a bit juicy before the snow disappears. The alternative is the North half of the Cuillin as that'd also make a fab winter scramble.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:54 am
by slick
pjm1 wrote:
slick wrote:Booked a long weekend in Glencoe with a couple of mates for later this year - staying at the Clachaig, yeah.

Will NOT be doing Aonach Eagach, will probably do Bidean. Any must do's?
Just enjoy it! Stay off the expanses and keep to ridges as far as you can - Coe is dangerous when the snow comes.

Might be heading out to Aonach Eagach next month - fancy doing something a bit juicy before the snow disappears. The alternative is the North half of the Cuillin as that'd also make a fab winter scramble.
I've done the Aonach Eagach before, hence the never again. To be fair I was woefully underprepared for it. Just slowly building now, might look at it again in a couple of years.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:39 am
by slick
At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 8:57 pm
by happyhooker
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Bidean is stunning. Which route are you taking?

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 2:48 pm
by danny_fitz
So, booked my euro tunnel, camp site and mountain hut accommodation in Chamonix. Ascents of Grand Paradiso and Mt Blanc are on the cards.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 3:25 pm
by happyhooker
danny_fitz wrote:So, booked my euro tunnel, camp site and mountain hut accommodation in Chamonix. Ascents of Grand Paradiso and Mt Blanc are on the cards.
Gran paradiso is the embodiment of 'any fat tourist'

Les dents du midi are worth a look.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:00 pm
by danny_fitz
happyhooker wrote:
danny_fitz wrote:So, booked my euro tunnel, camp site and mountain hut accommodation in Chamonix. Ascents of Grand Paradiso and Mt Blanc are on the cards.
Gran paradiso is the embodiment of 'any fat tourist'

Les dents du midi are worth a look.
Well, I have the wife in tow who is not a hard core seasoned Alpinist like me so need to start with the basics. The Eiger can wait till next year.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:13 pm
by slick
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Sorry, didn't see this.

We went up through Coire nan Lochan then down through the Lost Valley.

We ended up doing Buachaille Etive Mor on the Friday which was also stunning. Great weather all weekend and plenty of beers in the Clachaig. Just a brilliant weekend.

Hoping for a weekend in the Cairngorms in May.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:16 pm
by HKCJ
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Off this Friday to do Suilven then got 3 days in Glencore. Forecast is -5 and snow :lol:

Keen to do Arran circuit and Skye in the next few months with a couple of mates who
are also unemployed.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:22 pm
by slick
HKCJ wrote:
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Off this Friday to do Suilven then got 3 days in Glencore. Forecast is -5 and snow :lol:

Keen to do Arran circuit and Skye in the next few months with a couple of mates who
are also unemployed.
If you are ever looking for someone to go with let me know. Bafflingly none of my mates up here are interested so a bit restricted to a couple of times a year getting mates up from down south!

In saying that, you won't get me anywhere near snow and much of Skye sounds terrifying!

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:23 pm
by happyhooker
slick wrote:
HKCJ wrote:
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Off this Friday to do Suilven then got 3 days in Glencore. Forecast is -5 and snow :lol:

Keen to do Arran circuit and Skye in the next few months with a couple of mates who
are also unemployed.
If you are ever looking for someone to go with let me know. Bafflingly none of my mates up here are interested so a bit restricted to a couple of times a year getting mates up from down south!

In saying that, you won't get me anywhere near snow and much of Skye sounds terrifying!
Skye's grand.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:52 pm
by HKCJ
slick wrote:
HKCJ wrote:
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Off this Friday to do Suilven then got 3 days in Glencore. Forecast is -5 and snow :lol:

Keen to do Arran circuit and Skye in the next few months with a couple of mates who
are also unemployed.
If you are ever looking for someone to go with let me know. Bafflingly none of my mates up here are interested so a bit restricted to a couple of times a year getting mates up from down south!

In saying that, you won't get me anywhere near snow and much of Skye sounds terrifying!
Will do. There’s actually a very good group on Facebook called Iona’s adventures that’s really good for meeting people who are planning various hikes and similar if you’re ever looking for some to do. About 1300 people on it now so something every weekend.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:54 pm
by slick
HKCJ wrote:
slick wrote:
HKCJ wrote:
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Off this Friday to do Suilven then got 3 days in Glencore. Forecast is -5 and snow :lol:

Keen to do Arran circuit and Skye in the next few months with a couple of mates who
are also unemployed.
If you are ever looking for someone to go with let me know. Bafflingly none of my mates up here are interested so a bit restricted to a couple of times a year getting mates up from down south!

In saying that, you won't get me anywhere near snow and much of Skye sounds terrifying!
Will do. There’s actually a very good group on Facebook called Iona’s adventures that’s really good for meeting people who are planning various hikes and similar if you’re ever looking for some to do. About 1300 people on it now so something every weekend.
Thanks, I'll take a look :thumbup:

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:03 pm
by frillage
slick wrote:
HKCJ wrote:
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Off this Friday to do Suilven then got 3 days in Glencore. Forecast is -5 and snow :lol:

Keen to do Arran circuit and Skye in the next few months with a couple of mates who
are also unemployed.
If you are ever looking for someone to go with let me know. Bafflingly none of my mates up here are interested so a bit restricted to a couple of times a year getting mates up from down south!

In saying that, you won't get me anywhere near snow and much of Skye sounds terrifying!
If doing the InPin is on the cards I’d be up for it, on the bucket list.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:29 pm
by slick
frillage wrote:
slick wrote:
HKCJ wrote:
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Off this Friday to do Suilven then got 3 days in Glencore. Forecast is -5 and snow :lol:

Keen to do Arran circuit and Skye in the next few months with a couple of mates who
are also unemployed.
If you are ever looking for someone to go with let me know. Bafflingly none of my mates up here are interested so a bit restricted to a couple of times a year getting mates up from down south!

In saying that, you won't get me anywhere near snow and much of Skye sounds terrifying!
If doing the InPin is on the cards I’d be up for it, on the bucket list.
Get. f**ked.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:53 pm
by HKCJ
slick wrote:
frillage wrote:
slick wrote:
HKCJ wrote:
slick wrote:At last. Trip to Glencoe begins tomorrow morning.

Weather looks OK Friday and pretty good Saturday so plan is a low level walk tomorrow then Bidean on Saturday. Can't bloody wait.
Off this Friday to do Suilven then got 3 days in Glencore. Forecast is -5 and snow :lol:

Keen to do Arran circuit and Skye in the next few months with a couple of mates who
are also unemployed.
If you are ever looking for someone to go with let me know. Bafflingly none of my mates up here are interested so a bit restricted to a couple of times a year getting mates up from down south!

In saying that, you won't get me anywhere near snow and much of Skye sounds terrifying!
If doing the InPin is on the cards I’d be up for it, on the bucket list.
Get. f**ked.
And then you can get f**cked again! I’m a hiker not a climber and don’t really do heights all that well tbh.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:03 pm
by frillage
Any fat tourist, you lads will be fine!

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:54 pm
by slick
Any further honesty and I might have to admit I got vertigo on Bidean and had to scramble off on my arse.

But until that point, carry on. :blush:

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:57 pm
by HKCJ
Well back from the Highlands and Glencoe.. what a week. Blue skies, sunshine barely a cloud all week, no midges. Suilven was an amazing climb.. had the bothy all to ourselves. Wild camped on an amazing beach just North of Lochinver, had one of the best fry ups I’ve ever had in Ullapool.. then Glencoe did Bidan, Lost sisters, Pap and Ben Nevis. Weather was just unfcuking real. One of those weeks where Scotland Beats anywhere in the world. Am headed to Skye to do the Skye trail in mid May with a mate and fingers crossed we get half as good weather.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 11:00 am
by HKCJ
Off to Skye tomorrrow for 5 days.. fcuking glorious few days here in Edinburgh which almost certainly means it'll pish down for the entirety of our trip.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 11:01 am
by happyhooker
HKCJ wrote:Off to Skye tomorrrow for 5 days.. fcuking glorious few days here in Edinburgh which almost certainly means it'll pish down for the entirety of our trip.
Perfect, that means there won't be any midges

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 11:42 am
by slick
Taking the day off and going for a little stroll in the Ochils tomorrow, can't bloody wait, weather looks amazing.

Skye for 5 days sounds slightly better tbf

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 12:12 pm
by KnuckleDragger
slick wrote:Taking the day off and going for a little stroll in the Ochils tomorrow, can't bloody wait, weather looks amazing.

Skye for 5 days sounds slightly better tbf
Say hello as you walk through Dollar (although I'll be at work you lucky git....)

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 2:28 pm
by ZappaMan
HKCJ wrote:had one of the best fry ups I’ve ever had in Ullapool.
The Ceilidh Place?

I was back in the UK and Ireland for 3 weeks recently and had some lovely walks - we did portions of the Pilgrim's Way in Kent, and the Kerry Camino and Wicklow Way in Ireland.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 2:29 pm
by frillage
ZappaMan wrote:
HKCJ wrote:had one of the best fry ups I’ve ever had in Ullapool.
The Ceilidh Place?

I was back in the UK and Ireland for 3 weeks recently and had some lovely walks - we did portions of the Pilgrim's Way in Kent, and the Kerry Camino and Wicklow Way in Ireland.
Are they not walkes in Ireland?

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 6:12 pm
by HKCJ
ZappaMan wrote:
HKCJ wrote:had one of the best fry ups I’ve ever had in Ullapool.
The Ceilidh Place?

I was back in the UK and Ireland for 3 weeks recently and had some lovely walks - we did portions of the Pilgrim's Way in Kent, and the Kerry Camino and Wicklow Way in Ireland.
Just had a look. It was the Frigate.

Yeah so many good walks to do in the UK. One of the best things about moving home. We could do a different walk every weekend for the next 10 years and still have plenty left. The other great thing is with the different Seasons here the same walk in January is a completely different walk to June.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:13 pm
by happyhooker
HKCJ wrote:
ZappaMan wrote:
HKCJ wrote:had one of the best fry ups I’ve ever had in Ullapool.
The Ceilidh Place?

I was back in the UK and Ireland for 3 weeks recently and had some lovely walks - we did portions of the Pilgrim's Way in Kent, and the Kerry Camino and Wicklow Way in Ireland.
Just had a look. It was the Frigate.

Yeah so many good walks to do in the UK. One of the best things about moving home. We could do a different walk every weekend for the next 10 years and still have plenty left. The other great thing is with the different Seasons here the same walk in January is a completely different walk to June.
Tbf, you don't need to leave it that long. I got quite badly sunburned recently walking up around malham cove. Because even a ginger couldn't need more than one application of sunscreen as he set out in Yorkshire in FÚCKING FEBRUARY

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:14 pm
by happyhooker
frillage wrote:
ZappaMan wrote:
HKCJ wrote:had one of the best fry ups I’ve ever had in Ullapool.
The Ceilidh Place?

I was back in the UK and Ireland for 3 weeks recently and had some lovely walks - we did portions of the Pilgrim's Way in Kent, and the Kerry Camino and Wicklow Way in Ireland.
Are they not walkes in Ireland?
Nice

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:17 pm
by HKCJ
happyhooker wrote:
HKCJ wrote:
ZappaMan wrote:
HKCJ wrote:had one of the best fry ups I’ve ever had in Ullapool.
The Ceilidh Place?

I was back in the UK and Ireland for 3 weeks recently and had some lovely walks - we did portions of the Pilgrim's Way in Kent, and the Kerry Camino and Wicklow Way in Ireland.
Just had a look. It was the Frigate.

Yeah so many good walks to do in the UK. One of the best things about moving home. We could do a different walk every weekend for the next 10 years and still have plenty left. The other great thing is with the different Seasons here the same walk in January is a completely different walk to June.
Tbf, you don't need to leave it that long. I got quite badly sunburned recently walking up around malham cove. Because even a ginger couldn't need more than one application of sunscreen as he set out in Yorkshire in FÚCKING FEBRUARY

Hahha. It was dumping snow in Glencoe last weekend. I’ve got thermals, waterproofs and sunscreen packed. Fcuking weather in this country!

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:22 pm
by iarmhiman
Anyone done the GR20 in Corsica?

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:27 pm
by happyhooker
iarmhiman wrote:Anyone done the GR20 in Corsica?
Yes Stunning. If you're trying to cram it into a two week holiday, have a long think. I was obscenely fit when I did it and it was a ludicrously hard 11 days. And I mean ludicrously Nowadays at a not exactly inactive 49, I'd be booking in 3 weeks.

But utterly beautiful and that strange balance of a long arduous walk that doesn't require anything more than basic scrambling. Wouldn't do it in mid summer mind you

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 6:13 am
by HKCJ
Currently lying in my tent with the rain pissing down and forecast to rain all day. A small price to pay however for yesterday which was the best days hike I think I’ve ever done. After an initialeasy 15k warm up on Thursday around Rubha Hunish where we got soaked we had far too many beers in the Flodigarry Hotel and set off late at about 9am.. walked the entire Trotternish ridge with a couple of stops on the way and barely a cloud in the sky. The views were just incredible. Has to be the best day of hiking you can do if you get good weather. Quite a few tourists around the Quiraing but once we were past that we didn’t see a soul. Saw a golden eagle and a sea eagle cruising around. Took a detour off to get a better view of Old Man of Storr. Got to campsite in Portree too exhausted to go for dinner.. the Garmin says 4500 calories and 37k so am off for a massive fcuking fry up.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 9:44 am
by Pat the Ex Mat
Nice!

My parents lived on Skye and i have been there sometimes for 3 weeks of solid rain, apart from the glorious sunshine the day you leave.....

:lol:

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:07 am
by HKCJ
Well have finished the trail and now sat in Broadford with a breakfast bap. Rest of the trail was pretty easy compared to Trotternish ridge but we had a fair bit of cloud and rain at night but days stayed dry at least. Could have done it in 4 days but we just found a nice spot last night and decided to give ourselves a wee walk out to Broadford through the ruins of the highland clearances.. very brooding and atmospheric. A great hike all in all and would recommend above West Highland Way.

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:24 am
by slick
HKCJ wrote:Well have finished the trail and now sat in Broadford with a breakfast bap. Rest of the trail was pretty easy compared to Trotternish ridge but we had a fair bit of cloud and rain at night but days stayed dry at least. Could have done it in 4 days but we just found a nice spot last night and decided to give ourselves a wee walk out to Broadford through the ruins of the highland clearances.. very brooding and atmospheric. A great hike all in all and would recommend above West Highland Way.
That's interesting, was planning to that next year but I'll have a look at this one.

Ochils for a day was very nice!

Re: Long distance hiking thread

Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 10:15 am
by Monk Zombie
HKCJ -

What shoes are you wearing on this jaunt?