Still on the subject of why we don't have any trust in the symbols of modern society:

 

So if we can't trust the politicians or the Police, what about that last bastion of justice - the judiciary? Well, sure enough, every now and then they come down on the side of the public as opposed to the Government but let's look a little closer.

 

In 2006 this government introduced new rules as a knee jerk reaction to much hyped cases where millionaires got Legal Aid. The result is that nowthe only hope of getting fair and adequate legal representation is to be rich. In an example from last summer one defendent had a solicitor who openly told a court that if the case were to be heard there and then he would have to walk out leaving the defendent unrepresented. The reason? - months of delay getting approval for Legal Aid while they tried to bring in a new syatem.

 

Even if you do succeed in getting Legal Aid, this is minimal and has a limited amount both in termsd of finance and time. Of course your solicitor won't be getting paid anywhere near the £175 per hour he'll get for private work so you can't expect anywhere near the same level of work. If there's doubt over the legality of evidence? - sorry Legal Aid won't cover that given the maximum amount permissable. I fyou need to get a court order for return of property from the Police? - Sorry you'll have to stand up in court and ask yourself. Want to change your Barister because you're not happy with the lack of representation? - tough luck you'll get who your Legal Aid solicitor has a nice arrangement with.

 

Then we come to the Judiciary itself.

Imagine you're in possession of a court order giving someone 28 days to return a large, framed and mounted, professional studio photo. Now imagine that after 35 days you eventually receive the picture - ripped from its frame and mount, tearing it in the process, and foldd in three. You'd think that a court order would mean the picture being returned in good condition, as it was at the application? Well apparently not! It seems that if you're female, the judge is female (and you have a cosy chat beforehand) all you have to say is "It was OK when I sent it" - and the only liability you have is to tell the person with the court order where the photo was produced and they then have to buy a replacement photo, frame and mount. It's decisions like this that make you feel the law is no longer the servant of the people and the judiciary are out of touch with reality.

 

 

 

I used to have faith in our legal system, but from cutbacks in Legal Aid to moves for longer detention without charege and talk of doing away with Juries there's little left to have faith in. And who is it who elects these magistrates and judges to deliberate matter fairly? Is it the public? Of course not, it's the goverment of course!. Faith in a system with no accountability is as sensible as having faith in a reconciliation while the other party is dropping their knickers in Florence for a "family friend". 

 

Radio 5 Live has been running a series of interesting phone in debates lately that seem to be focusing on why society no longer seems to respect the Police, Politicians or Business. The truth seems to be quite simple: Respect has to be earned, and rather than earn it our Politicains, Police and Business show no respect for us, the people, and act as laws unto themselves.

 

If you talk to pretty much anyone these days for any length of time you'll here the same gripes time after time. People are fed up of businesses doing what the hell they like, then sending you round and round in circles when you try and complain. Take Virgin Media as an example - when someone decided last night to rip the cable feed from the outside wall of the house, disconnecting phone, tv and broadband all I wanted to do was get it fixed. Well simple as it m,ay sound it took 7 minutes on a mobile before even getting to talk to a human being - and even then it was someone in India who was about as easy to understand as talking in machine code to C3PO. One missed, promised, call back later and another 7 minutes before clearing the automated system again. It took nearly an hour of calls at mobile rates before I could get someone to come and look at it today. When they did arrive they slammed the way the installation had been made in the first place, with loose cable running over the garden then a non-sensical diversion to the outside wall where anyone could get at it. Surprise, surprise, now a Virgin engineer has said it needs ripping out and reinstalling we're getting some action, even though months of complaining at thye time got no response. Why don't we trust business anymore? - because they no longer treat us as though our custom matters in the slightest!

 

 

 

 

Well where do you start? Over the last 10 years our government has slowly but surely stolen our rights away. They sent us into a war the majority of people never wanted, justified by lies and exaggerations. Parties make promises at elections, then once they have our votes they do a 90 degree turn and back down on their promises. In any other walk of life this would be obtaining property or services by deception - or at very least breach of contract.

 

We have had the  choice to drink outside on a warm summer day taken away from us, while opening hours are extended to 24 hours a day. The choice to smoke has been removed. We, the public, can have our conversations recorded by the Police and Security Services - but if you're an MP you're above the law.  You used to be able to remain silent under Police questioning, and there are many reasons wh you may want or need to at the time, but not anymore. Just in case you want to remain silent they're now trying to bring in thje right to detain you for over 3 months without charge.

 

Policicians should be the most accountable of all public servants, yet who is it who decides how much they get paid?  Who investigates when MPs are reported for breaking the rules? IN reality an MP can promise whatever he wants, and knows that no matter what he's in a nice cushy job for at least the next 4 years without even the slightest possibility of any accountability. Why don't we trust politicians anymore? - simple, it's because they only care about the people once every 4 years and in between do what they like with impunity!

 

This has been one of the bigest areas of debate lately, with the Police demanding the right to strike. Even Poilce Officers have admitted that they no longer have the respect of the public. Well it's no surprise really. The only times you're likely to see a Police Officer these days is if you're young and don't want to stay indoors all day, or more likely when they decide it's time to cllect more money off us for the Government's coffers. Report a crime and if you're lucky you'll get a crime nmber over the phone in case you need it for the insurance. Over 4 months ago I personally reported a crime of Perjury and Perverting the Course of Justice, with documentary evidence to support it - the reaction so far has been.....absolutely nothing!

 

When you do finally get to see a Police Officer, they act as if they are immune from the law themselves. Their word is accepted, purely on the basis of them being Police Officers, even where evidence is available to show them to be in the wrong. How can they get away with it? Quite simple when the people to investigate any complaint against the Police are their own work colleagues from the same force. Even if the complaint progresses to the supposedly "Independant" Police Commission you can't have that much faith. Last month 100 solicitors working for the IPCC all resigned en-masse on the grounds that the IPCC is institutionally biased towards the Police.

 

From personal experience I know of at least three officers from Cheshire Police alone, DS Paul Fitton, PC Carrie Burke and DS Chris Marlham, who have what would appear to be absolutely no regard for the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, European Convention on Human Rights or honesty. DS Fitton an PC Burke have been reported for numerous offences from falsifying evidence to achieve a conviction to criminal damage, from leaking priviliged (*and inaccurate) information to a 3rd party to criminal damage. And who should investigate this? - well of course it's their own mates in Cheshire Police. Chris Markham, supposedly independant as a member of the Professional Standards Dept, has been reported for everything from refusing to investigate evidence to interfering with an investigation.

 

 

 

Even when the Police admit to wrongdoing - take, for example, the admission that they routinely broke the law by recording solicitors conversations with prisoners - they remain unaccountable. When they shoot an innocent foreign visitor what happens? - no-one to blame of course. When PC Carrie Burke admits in her own statements to breaking PACE her fellow officers report states "innsufficient independant evidence". When you offer evidence to DS Markham, he reports bak as "I have not seen any evidence" - neglecting to state it was offered but he faileto take up the offer. Why don't we trust the Police any more? - simple, they seem to think they are the masters not the servants of the public. When corrupt officers can break the law with impunity, and act as little more than money collectors with no accountability they will never deserve our trust. They are overpaid, jobs for life, boys whose only interest in justice is meeting targets not in finding out the truth.

 

 

Its funny how time seems to fly away with some things and drag with others. Strangely it generally seems to be almost predictable in that when you need time it flys by and when you want something doing it takes for ever - especially if it's dealing with large organisations or teenagers.

 

 

Well Matt's supposed to have had the new site ready a month or more ago and I'm still waiting! Iain's site has taken priority with a complete facelift, and just as that was almost complete he had a comletre hard drive failure so had to start again. In the meantime my site waits - he could walk into a job at Magicalia using this sort of timescale lol.

 

The recent spell of unseasonal weather has brought benefits and disadvantages. On the bright side it's been stunning weather for driving round with the roof down and getting piles of stock photos. On the downside it's only a week till the Winter Skills and that means we need snow! This year's going to be a bt different with just the one lodge and only 12 on the course. The extra spaces are being taken up by Stu and Jules with Max and Cherrie, plus me and Matt. To ease the kitchen situation Matt and I are going to be on breakfast duty, preparing a full cooked breakfast for everyone. It's Matt's first visit to Scotland and will be his first time on snow covered mountains - well at least in the UK.  Personally I'll just be glad when the long drive home's over and it's all finished. If I didn't have to be there as the organiser I wouldn't be going myself this year, but I won't let people down who've been looking forward to this for months.

 

Gear testing's going well. The SatMap 10 is still doing it's thiong on the long term test, and still outperforming the Garmin Vista HCX. Two pairs of approach shoes have been put through the mill, one from Merrell and one from Salomon. Not surprisingly the Merrells have been outstanding and the Salomons a little narrow. It's the same issue with the mid boots from Salomon and it just reinforces the goldenrule of finding what's comfortable first and looking at the name on them second. In the pipeline we've got some Aku Spiders, which hopefully will get a trial over the winter skills weekend.

 The AKU Spder a great looking lightweight winter boot.

 

Also on the horizon, but not too distant is  some serious tent testing in combination with the illustrious Cruxter. Now I reckon I know more than most when it comes to outdoor kit, and there's something about Scandinavian kit that always grabs my attention. Given a free choice I love my Haglofs softshell and rucksack and my Hilleberg tent, so when I heard there was another Norwegian company making tents of the same or even higher standard than Hilleberg my ears started twitching. It didn't take long before emails were winging there way between Norway and home and sure enough I've got two stunning looking tents on their way.

 

This looks likeit could be a Vortex and Crux beater! For the last few years the F10 Vortex has had an honoured position as the finest mountain tent in my collection and the one to go for when you're expecting the worst mountains and weather can throw at you. The Trollspiret looks equally, and possibly more, capable but at a lot less weight. At only 3.4 kilos for a two man it's impressive. The plan is to test it in April in Arran for starters.

 

 

It's 2.2 kilos and a full 3 man 3 season tent - that's less than three quarters of a kilo per person! With a build quality and design similar to the Hilleberg range this looks like a sure fire winner once it realy hits the UK market. At present there's only a single UK distributor but that could well change. Cruxter wil be happy to know it's available in the same bright colours as the Trollspiret above....or more conservative green.

 

 

After Arran there's a planned return to Ireland in the hope of some better weather for the Reeks, and in late summer it's looking like a return to the Caucasus.

 

Well so much for a new year and a new start!

 

The car's moving along bit by bit, and this week saw its first prolonged run of decent weather with the roof down. The next few moths should see it with new alloys and roll bars ready for the summer if we have one. Of course the Laguna had to decide after years of faultless use to have the EPROM chip in the stereo fail. At least a new stereo means I can transfer the one from the Eunos to the Laguna and get something black to replace it with, rather than the incongruous silver which looks so out of place.

 

At last, after months of waiting Cheshire Police's investigation into their own officers has thrown up the expected whitewash and now it's gone on to the IPCC for independent assessment. It seems that even when you're caught out all you have to do is say" I wasn't responsible for that and thought someone else was doing it" and it's ok - no seeking out which one WAS actually responsible. Well let's hope the IPCC can show them a thing or two about how to carry out a professional investigation without the bias of "He has nothing to lose by admitting it and as a Police officer he should be believed"! Complaining against the Police is one of those things that drags on and on when you just want it over and sorted. I think the time issue is almost certainly deliberate in the hope people will eventually get so tired banging their heads against a brick wall and getting nowhere they'll just drop it. What they've failed to realise is that it's what's keeping me going so I won't be dropping it no matter what.

  

Chris birthday is fast approaching, and despte all the nagging he's not bothered getting round to sorting out anything about who he wants to come to a party - so that looks like a non starter now given the time limitations. Matt came close to getting shown the door again after a drunken night with friends ending in him smashing a picture rather than hitting someone. He tried to hit his brother, but I don't think he'll be doing that again in a while after the smack he took.

 

 

It's December the 24th, and there's no Christmas lights or decorations. There's a couple of presents wrapped up in a carrier bag for the kid's grandparents but that's the only sign of Christmas. Christmas is or families and young children, and we made a decision over ayear ago that we wouldn't bother with it. When the kids were still youg, and we were a family there was a point but they're now both nearly adults and since "she" has decided she doesn't now have children that does away with the family bit.

 

Tomorrow will see us set off about 7.30 am for the long drive to Harlech, where the boys will stop till Boxing Day, while I return home in the evening. It's going to be a strange day and the first Christmas spent with Tracy and her parents in nearly 20 years, and harder still for the boys. OK Matt and Tracy have got to know each other fairly well over the last few years but to Chris she's still an unknown quantity. Not surprisingly neither of the kids have had even a christmas card from the person who promised always to be there for them, and while it hurts to see them abandoned like this it's no surprise.

 

It's been a hard year, with a lot of changes pretty much friom the off. January commenced with the ill-founded and illegal search by the police instigated by a ststement now being investigated for perjury. The initial results were potentially catastrophic with seizure of every PC, mobile and PDA leaving work in chaos. It took 5 months and a court order to get the equipment returned, and that was just the start! Now a report lies on the Deputy Chief Constable's desk listing a catalogue of breaches of UK and European law, and a hefty compensation claim underway.

 

Next casualty was the TGO Challenge. After months of preparation and planning a last minute decision to insist on exchanging Finacial Settlement documents by the other side meant pulling out. Of course they knew all about the TGO Challenge and how important it was to complete, and had made assurances that early exchange would be easy.....

 

Mid summer broght a conclusion, of sorts, to the divorce. Eventually personal possessions started finding their way back......though not without pushing deadlines to the limit and beyond! The day it was sorted out came the strangest occurence of the year, as the other side's solicitor told me how I had "been a saviour" in the early days and how they were "not bitter but sad it had come to this" followed by a "you never know in a couple of years" when I said I would have done anything to avoid this. Yeah, just what I needed at the time!!

 

The end of year has been all about the Independant Poice Complaints Commission and their reports into the events of January. With luck I'll get the response before the end of the year, though no doubt it will carry over into next year at least for ensuing court cases. Matt, Chris and I have already had to give statements that we will be prepared to give evidence,

 

New project of the year is the Eunos, and even with a few months to summer work has already commenced. A new "cubby box" under the new stereo, an ashtray to fit the seat divider and new double-power headrest speakers are all fitted and plenty of new additions lined up. The orihginal alloys are a dirty grey, by design not neglect, and are due for a change, so a nice new set of 15" shiny 5 spoke alloys is due in the spring. Tonneau cover and roll bars are the next biggies, along with a trip to cambridge to have the seats properly restored. Throw £450 in for a hardtop and there's plenty to keep me going. For now I've still got the Laguna if I need the space, but 2008 will see this go to be replaced by a camper van.

 

 

It's been a good year for renewing old aquaintances, first meeting up with Cathy after about 12 years. I first met Cathy about 19 years ago, just before Matt was born, when we both lived in Crewe. I was with Tracy and she was with someone, and though we kept in touch for the next 5 years on and off we eventually drifted apart through moving house, marriages and kids. She's still a lovely lady, and though we did give it a go in the early summer I think the damage was too raw and being able to trust was too much too soon. Then there was Lisa! Lisa and I lived together when the boys were very young, and has always been "the one that got away". If there were one woman who could restore my ability to trust it would probably be her. She never did anything wrong, but unfortuanetly her kids and mine just didnt like each other so we went our own ways. For the next few years my ex sister in law would tell me how Lisa was, whilst telling Lisa how I was and we knew how the other was without ever being in touch. So after almost a year of talking on MSN and email we finally met up. She's with someone, of course, and I've certainly no intention of rocking the boat as I'm just happy she's happy, ...... but there's something still there.

 

 

The home front started with the infamous Trina and the sga of the 400 year old bench, pole dancing and ..........well some things hould remain private lol. Though distance to Devon put paid to taht it didn't get any easier when Maria came on the scene.If Devon's a long way then Russia's really keeping it at arm's length. Meeting up in London was more convenient than the foothills of the Caucausus Mountains, but both have their plus points. Cathy came onto the scerne like a breath of fresh air, but demanded more than I could give at the time. There's someone who's starting to become important again, and maybe 2008 will be the year I can start again, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

Work's been as up and down as the rest of the year, with the massive setback of January still having effects as late as Octber. Lost contacts, lost work and lost stock features and pictures all took their toll in haltingthe increasing commissions and it meant reverting to the old faithfulls. Outdoors Magic work increased steadily throughout the year, and there are assurances that next year will finally see the introduction of the new Routes System. PDA Essentials has been another good regular over 2007, with more reviews and features to add to the helpdesk. Whilst the Everest work dried up this year thanks to every contact being unavailable thanks to January, luckily work increased with TGO. The new computer proved essential as the old one came back broken. By December things had finally got back to a similar position to a year ago.....losing all the advantages of the Everest expedition work from 2006. It hasn't helped that over half my stock photos are now useless. For legal reasons I'm not allowed to write about a partner in many walks and scrambles, or publish any image containing them. A bit ironic really after I warned them about insecure email accounts and they did nothing. Now it means either re-walking routes, sourcing "related" pics from commecial and freeware libraries, relying more on OM Gallery for the weekly routes and even turning to P2P at times. It's amazing just how many pictures of the outdoors there are, but there's a big difference between having a photo of the actual route and one of "in the area", and of course there's copyright issues. The OM Gallery is just about worked out now for the weekly routes, and libraries are only OK for generalised shots of ranges or mountains at best. Google Images is a great source of pics for some of the popular areas, and usually has information on the copyright holder, whereas P2P is best suited to those "unidentifiable" shots like birds and plants. You do have to be pretty specific though, as dawn from snowdon may not bring you the expected results....and dont make the mistake i made of mixing up places and putting warrington when i was looking for a photo of the purple screes as heather from wasdale!

 

So tomorrow's Tuesday in this house, when I get back from Wales it's accounts day. With Chris turning 18 in less than 3 months it's all change on the financial front too. It's looking like the new routes section for OM will kick in just about the right time and take over from the payments I lose as he turns into an adult (allegedly). The idea at the moment is for us to hire a room in a pub or club somewhere in town for the evening for his 18th, with all his family and friends invited. Personally I'm amazed the pair of them have made it this far given the issues along the road. It can't be easy feeling abandoned by one mother, but when it's two it must start to make you wonder what you've done wrong. Luckily they've both grown up to realise that it's not their fault at all, and it'll be great to have their real family around to mark a special day. Before then there's Matt turnin 19!

 

Over the next week I'll take a look at next year, and the start of plans for 2011 and the "Big birthday". Plans at the moment range from crossing America on Harleys with the kids to trekking in the Himalaya. Even if I can't forget the past, or forgive certain things, there's a lot to look forward to and a lot I can still do alone.

What a warming sight - a caravan put to perfect use

Well after 7 weeks it's time to start thinking about doing this blog again and it feels like a new beginning.

 

Yesterday would have been my 9th anniversary so seemed a perfect opportunity to escape for the day and get back to what I still love rather than waste time on what I used to. The new car provided a quick getaway from this god-forsaken town and within a couple of hours I was up in the North Pennine hills. With nights drawing the Akto is a little restrictive for spending hours on end inside, but its amazing what a difference a camp fire makes. It's not just about warmth, but the ability to sit outside for an extra couple of hours before heading inside gives an extrra dimension altogether. Luckily I'd planned for the camp fire in advance, and rather than rely on finding kindling I carried my own. What better day than this to combine a new future with burning the past for good, and what makes better kindling than waste paper?

So maya dust and the wedding album in hand, and a few sizeable lumps of wood, the fire was soon underway. For the first time since getting the jetboil it was time to use the Trangia again - the pans are so much better on a fire than a jetboil mug. Next morning I remembered my Ray Mears lessons and after raking off the ashes to scatter to the wind on November 30th it was down to the task of making sure there was no trace of the fire. The stones were all rtemoved and returned to their previous resting places and the pit refilled with the extracted turf - and a final look to check all was as it should be then back off down to the Dales and Ingleborough.

 

At the moment I'm testing 2 different GPS receivers and 3 pairs of different approach shoes - so even a day off becomes work. But hopefully with the past well and truly burned now this is just the start of a new beginning.

Work's finally progressing on several fronts, with changes everywhere. The return of the laptop means a weekend of data organisation and consolidation, stripping all the data fro 2 computers to the external drive before a full clean up of both systems. By the end of the process there should only be one main set of data on one computer instead of duplicates everywhere. Under normal conditions this would make no difference to blogging, but with Matt simultaneously getting close to completing the new site it's going to be important to get the background organisation right. I'm now looking around for free and controllable blogging software to move this blog to the new site.

 

The OM testing days idea is moving too, with Dom and I now working on the first one, probably Paramo and Garmin. It's going to be "interesting" sorting out the BBQ and costings for 50 people, and we'll definitely need to get a 10+ man tent. Once the first one's out of the way we're hoping next year to do at least 4, and I get paid on full daily rate for each :)

 

Nothing new on the lightweight front around at the moment, except if you count the Pound Shop doing sachets of coffee/milk or coffee/milk/sugar at 10 for £1. Jon's sending me some Salomon low cut boots to try out in comparison to the Merrell mid's and with luck I'll get to test them in Ireland or Wales next month.

 

It's been quite a few days since Wednesday morning. The eveing was spent, for a change, in the company of the lids. A few beers with MAtt, Chris, Becky, Sammi and Holly that went on till the early hours of the morning - like the old days. Thursday was Bryan Adams Day. Matt's first ever live gig, along with Becky (well you have to have at least two teens or they feel isolated), KAren from FD and Cathy - first real night out together in 20 years. This all after tuesday night with Lisa back in the old stompng grounds in Crewe. Funny how times have changed but a lot seems to go back to roots.

 

At last the IPCC complaints procedure has started, giving me something to really sink my teeth into. The final few pictures have been Photoshoppped to remove the inadmisable, though there's still at least a month delay before I can get rid of all the USA pictures as I gave 28 days from the date of approval of the consent order. In the meantime it's a good chance to totally clean the PC and remove ten years worth of emails and messenger to delete.  

Friday was party night in glorious Stalybridge with the FD crowd, even though I've left now. A motley crew of about 20 turned up, with only Tasha and Karen familiar faces in reality. Someime around 1 am we stumbled out of the doors and back to Nikki's for a little extra top up. Tonight the saga continues, though only with lil sis and Pressy.........more to come no doubt :) 

Sometimes I just hate Windows Live Spaces!!!! I tried doing this update yesterday but for some obscure reason it decided not to upload ad then to delete everything so I have to start all over again. One day I must get round to looking at the alternatives.

 

So another year ends, and the next one begins. It's this time each year I look back at the year behind me and make plans for the year ahead. This time there's not a lot to look back on. A year of ambitions and plans wrecked by someone else and dreams destroyed. The challenge of doing all the Wainwrights in a year between birthdays went by the wayside as legal issues took the time and energy away, and the TGO Chllenge fell to a deliberate piece of bloody mindedness. But that's all history now.

 

So on to this year. The first thing to consider is the whole purpose of this blog. It started as a personal diary, but recent developments prevent me from mentioning someone at all, and from publishing any photographs whatsoever with her in them. That rather destroys the objective of a personal diary - and undermines totally the concept of free speech!! So what's left is a mountain based blog that somehow has to get updated regularly, but be of relevance. One objecive has to be to move the whole blog elsewhere, such as my own website, to give more control over content - and control access so malicious, lying, cheating people of debatable parentage don't get to see what's happening in the lives of people  they have no right to know about.

 

Blog plans for the next year then include a twice weekly update, mainly consisting of trip reports, equipment reviews and general musing on the whole subject of the outdoors. Highlights planned for the first three months include:

 

Ireland revisited - a return to the Emerald Isle to complete unfinished business and take on new targets.

Water Filters - a look at what they do and which are the most cost effective

Merrell Chameleon II GTX mid boots - review

Paramo Gaiters - review

Book List - Part 2

Back to the Alps - a return to 4000 metres after a 4 year lay off

Live GPS - The future of live GPS tracking by internet

 

That should be enough to start with, along with trip reports, bloggers wild camps etc and should keep the site moving without becoming a daily chore.

 

So here's to year 47 :)

So another week begins, and soon another year. It's a strange time, what with working till 4am to meet a deadline and a long chat with the kids last night - and yes they are teenagers! 2 more days sees me another year older, and the next night I'll be in Liverpool with Matt and Cathy watching Bryan Adams. It's a long way from how I dreamed of things being, but I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that ten years of photos will have to go unseen except to the three of us, that I can never write a word to or about someone who was a big part of our lives - and most of all that we'll never hear from or about them either. Just when I thought there were no tears left...........but now that's history.

 

The wonderful British summer gave me a great opportunity to really test the Paramo gaiters over the weekend, and for once I have to admit to being impressed. Now I've never been the greatest fan of the P word, although I've stuck weith their Explorer pull on over several years. The 3rd element was OK, but somehow I don't trust it to the level of the Changabang - but these gaiters are a different thing altogether. Previous GoreTex gaiters have always performed well but have a nasty habit of the zips nreaking. Now Paramo may not be the height of fashion and stick releigiously to the duller shades of the duller colours in general, but they certainly seem to live up to their claims. A wander over Kinder and it's boot eating morass put these little blue numbers through their paces and they came out with honours. The next big test will be the 27th when I return to Miller's Dale....perhaps for a last time after 40 years of going there. There's nothing like wading through running water to really put waterproofing to the test - and the weather doesn't show any signs of breaking.

 

Also due for review is a new DVD. Within 24 hours of breaking to the new sto the collected Jo(h)ns at OM and TGO the first of the new National Trail DVD's dropped through my letter box - with a real blast of the past. At 15 I cycled the South Downs Way in its then existance from Harting to Eastbourne, and this DVD is the first revisit since for me. Now extended through to Winchester it'll make interesting viewing of my first National Trail, back in the days when I was warming up for the Pennine Way.

 

Well with the clock approaching 5, and another route deadlined for midday, it's time to leave the past behind and close these weary eyes for a couple of hours before a new and uncertain time starts afresh.

 

 

 

 

 

It's amazing how time flies and a month disappears. The last four weeks has seen me in Snowdonia, The Lakes, The Dales and Arran, and it all seems to have gone so quickly. I really have to decide where this blog goes, as it seems there's always something gets in the way of updating it and without updates it dies. Writing ten years out hasn't helped, with having to check every picture and word for references of, or pictures of, a big chunk of life isn't quick or easy.

 

This got me to thinking about "special" places, and what makes them special. Ask a thousand football fans where they'd choose to have their ashes scattered on death and you could probably count on your fingers the number who mentioned the place they religiously flock to every alternate week of the season. Ask a thousand hillwalkers the same question and I think you'd be flooded with grid references and specific hilltop locations. There's definitely something that sets walkers and outdoor people apart, and something that gives a place a feeling so strong.

 

For me there's Millers Dale to Wtedale in the Peak District, which will always be special. I can't count the number of times I've walked this stretch of riverbank and abandoned railway - usually with canine companionship. It's a place that I now go very rarely, just 27th July every year, to reflect on life and remember someone close and really missed that I'll never hear from again. It's a special place because of special memories, not related to what is undoubtedly a stunning Peakland landscape. I wouldn't choose at as a place to scatter ashes though, as it's a place for remembering not one for to remain your lasting view.

 

My choice would probably be Esk Hause now. It's not spectacular or at least not in comparison with places I could choose, but again a memory ;- of wild camping near the shelter in pouring rain and filtering puddle water to cook then waking up to a glorious dawn over Langdale and heading over to Scafell Pike. Days don't get better than that, and the view and feeling will always stay with me. 

 

I still haven't worked out what it is that makes other places, like Blencathra, Great Moss, Ill Crag and Great Gable, places that draw you back when you have uncompleted objectives. Skiddaw doesn't have that same draw, and there's no emotional connection with Blencathra to cloud the issue - Skiddaw just doesn't have that same pull as its smaller neighbour. Ill CRag, too, has a loftier neighbour to attract you that doesn't have the same feel. Ill Crag is one those often overloked gems of the Lakes that most people trudge past on their way to Scafell Pike. Off to one side you get not just a superb view down Upper Eskdale but a real feeling of isolation - especially in the traditional mist.

 

Arran was pectacular. Ardrossan was bathed in sunshine as the ferry steamed out  after a long drive up from Cheshire. Looking in the opposite direction, howver, Arran loomed into view like a scene from a black and white "Lost World" style film. Cloud clung to the upper flanks of Goatfell, but just the sight of the ridge that remained visible was enough incentive to get up to Glen Rosa.

 

Glen Rosa lies just a couple of miles out from Brodick, and has the nearest "official" campsite. It's one of those places that really make me wonder how the laws in Scotland work. The site couldn't be situated better, on a direct route up to The Saddle, but the idea of paying £3.50 a night for the privilige of a bin was a bit galling. Water was from Glenrosa Water flowing through the middle of the section of open moorland, and there were no toilets, washing up areas or anything resembling showers. Great.......wild camping then! Well yes it had all the feel of a wild camp except the way your pockets felt lighter. I do wonder how much further up the track I needed to walk before I could have got the same facilities (minus bin) gratis?

 

Sannox was no drier than Brodick, but at least it has a brewery :-) , and Arran Blone's the only blonde I'll be taking back to a tent. It's actually a really nice and distinctive beer, almost continental in style but a goodtraditional taste. The odd thing is you can buy the same beer cheaper in the co-op in Brodick than direct from the brewery - but you can ghet a few free tastes. If that's not enough distraction then right next door is an outdoor shop - the old independent local type, not one of these internet giants, with a warm welcome and just the right gas to top up supplies.

 

Goatfell, and it's neighbours, are recognised as "a challenge", and once you set foot on the mountain proper, where broad slope turns to rock and gravel, you know why. It seems as if the whole horseshoe is falling apart. Like the Eiger is shedding ice and rock as we suffer global warming, so the Goatfell range are shedding granite. It's almost like walking, and scrasmbling on lose sandstone. Typically for Scotland the cloud hadn't lifted , and the descent from North Goatfell was exciting. From The Saddle down to the overpriced plot of land occupied by my Force Ten saw the emergence of the Arran Midge. This local hybrid seems to be an evolution of the west coast midges, with a voracious appetite supplemented by an abilty to keep eating in the rain. Having pitched end-on into the rain I was faced with choice of opening the upwing doors and getting wet, or the downwind doors to find this black cloud of hovering teeth sheltering from the rain and awaiting my flesh.

 

Goatfell may be the highest Arran peak, and the one you can't miss on the hour long ferry to the Island, but Cir Mor is the impressive one. It looks like it's been cut from volcanic glass, with sharp ridges in every direction, but again underfoot the rock crumbles to the touch just where you want the security of a solid hold. The return to Sannox took in the opposite, north east, ridge that encloses Glen Sannox. A final few scrambles and it was down into the valley and back for another of the well deserved blondes.

 

Now to wait for the speeding tickets do drop through the letterbox - I'm sure at least one (and hopefully not 3) got me on the way there or back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's something special about books. It's not just the written word, but something about the feel of, and from, the physical objects themselves. Delting a file on a computer is easy and can be done with hardly a second thought, but to bin a book seems somehow sacriligeous. Mountaineering books, in particular, hold a special place for the outdoors addict, bringing a mix of compelling storyline, insight into the minds of our top performers and a sense of familiarity from descriptions of places you can connect with.

 

Much of my youth was spent forsaking the latest best seller, or magazines, in favour of winter nights hunched over a torch lit copy of Herzog's Annapurna, Wilf Noyce's South Col and the mandatory Ascent of Everest by Sir John Hunt. Over the years they fell apart bit by bit, and only Hunt's mammoth volume got replaced but the images from all of them were burned into my mind to be revisited later either spiritually or occassionally geographically.The White Spider joined the list of essentials later, its graphic tale inspiring me to accept the Alps as a worthwhile destination and not just a poor man's Himalaya. In a world where change seems a constant, with the objects that clutter our homes now being the themes of "science fiction" even 35 years ago, the mountains are a sanctuary of  consistancy and the descriptions as valid now as they were even before I was born. There's an amazing feeling of almost deja vue when you visit some remote location and the sight in front of you is a a visualisation of the words you've read so many times. To visit first and read later is equally stimulating, transporting you back to not just a place but to feelings, experiences and a time in your life when you shared a similar dream to an author.

 

Over the years I've built up a fair collection of books on mountain themes, and though many remain on the shelves in near pristine condition after just a single read it only takes a single glance at the spines to refresh the mind of the contents of adventure, adversity and a shared love.  Now it's time for me to continue the cycle with my own children, of passing on the value of these diaries of exploration, and in the process to differentiate those that have exceptional qualities from the run of the mill offerings. In doing this I felt it also worthwhile to pass this analysis to a wider audience with a series of reviews. So I begin a list of my favopurite mountain books.

 

 

There's thousands of books on our planet's highest mountains, and distilling these to a few essentials is a hard task - and is perhaps the only list for which I'd specify an order of reading. Some may find it strange that the name Chris Bonnington is missing considering the vast number of published titles from Britain's best known living mountaineer, but ths is down to a personal appreciation of writing styles rather than any feeling on the achievements of a man who has done so much for the average person's perception of mountaineering. For me his writing is very much in keeping with his style of leadership - highly organised and almost scientific as opposed to free flowing and filled with feeling.

 

THE classic book on Everest. Written in 1953 this is the definitive acoount of the first acsent of the highest mountain in the world. It's not exactly the most readable book, in many ways taking the style expected by an army officer giving a report, but the chapter describing the final triumph as Hillary and Tenzing made their way to the summit and then their descent to rejoin the rest of the party is a timeless classic. It's still hard, years after the first reading, to revisit this description without getting swept up with the emotion of two young men literally at the pinnacle of a nations hopes.

 

Recounting one man's version of the tragic events of 1996 where a killer storm hit climbers above the South Col this book has spawned both controversy and a film. As a story the narrative is gripping, written by an accomplished writer and journalist in a style that lends itself to the Hollywood treatment. It's recommended, however, not for its factual assessment of a tragic event but for the way in which a story can get twisted to suit a purpose.Whilst an essential read this should be consumed in combination with the following book to make atrue analysis of events.

 

An essential read for anyone who's lapped up the story of Into Thin Air. This is the account of Anatoli Boukreev,  one of the true heroes of twentieth century mountaineering during the storm of 1996. Vilified in Krakauer's account this well researched volume gives a more factual account of how one man's exceptional actions saved the lives of several mountaineers above the South Col in devastating conditions. Backed up with transcripts and supporting evidence it sets the record straight in such a way that no matter how readable the quality of Krakauer's writing I can never be persuaded to pick up another book by a man I now feel to be discredited and unreliable. Also worth a mention here are Beck Wethers and Matt Dickinson, both who have written on the events of 1996.

 

An omnibus of the combined works of two of Briatain's finest writers, comprising Savage Arena (Tasker), The Shining Mountain (Boardman), Sacred Summits (Boardman) and Everest The Cruel Way (Tasker). This single collection covers a golden age of British Himalayan mountaineering from the mid 70's to the early 80's. For inspiration combined with a frightening sense of realism there is nothing to compare with this collection. The death of this dynamic duo on the North East Ridge of Mount Everest in 1982 not only robbed climbing of one of it's foremost pairings but robbed the world opf mountain literature of two of its finest ever writers.

 

INspired by the likes of Boardman and Tasker, Andy Cave is the climbing Billy Elliot of the once proud coal mining industry. This book goes beyond a simple telling of a decade of mountain life, but gives an insight of a person fighting to find a way from the dark recesses of South Yorkshire coal mining in the Thatcher years to the heights of Changabang and the feelings of freedom found on the end of a rope. Compulsive reading this is a book that once started it's hard to put down.

 

More to come......

This afternoon brought an interesting email on the spread of the outdoors to the urban environment with news of a major festival in the middle of Sheffield. It brings into focus what appears to be a major movement to integrate the two hitherto distinct worlds.

 

Of course the first inroads were when outdoor clothing started becoming fashionable. Now whether this was just down to millions of walkers finally deciding they wanted more than the standard boring colours and started making demands, or whether it was more commercially led as companies like TNF looked for new markets. The Mera Peak suddenly became the "must have" item for chavs - but again that could have as much to do with the properties of the garment and it's suitability for the the less than clement weather of the northern cities (and of course a good hood). Whatever the reason it's indisputable that outdoor clothing is almost as common on the high street now as on High Street.

 

Then came The Rat Race, with its urban adventure races around city centres. Now we The Cliffhanger, a festival of the outdoors in the heart of one of the country's biggest cities. Now Sheffield's always been an urban centre for c limbers, initially as a nearby base for the gritstone edges and then a standard setting centre for indoor climbing walls - but this event takes things a step further. Featuring The British Bouldering Championships, an Alpine Beer Festival, climbing walls, reverse bungee, orienteering races and the obligatory open air market the event is covering 90,000 square metres of Graves Park on July 14th/15th. For more info check out  www.cliff-hanger.co.uk .

 

I'm not really sure what to think about it all and the implications for the outdoors. On the one hand it's great to see the outdoors still attracting new people but at the end of the day it's a finite resource that's already suffered badly in places from overuse. Perhapos this movement will bring some of the activities to the urban environment and in so doing keep a percentage of people in that environment rather than adding pressure to the more scenic areas we love.

So much for taking action on climate change! Next week I have to make the journey from Cheshire to London, and need to be there for 10am. The thoughts of a 3 hour drive down the M6/M1 then the car park that is the M25 didn't exactly fill me with enthusiasm so I started looking at the alternatives. Given that Macclesfield is on the main Manchester to London line my first thoughts turned to the train - much publicised as an alternative to excessive car use. The cost - a whopping £216 return to be there in time!!! I could drive part way, say Hemel Hempstead or Luton (if I want to miss the perpetual M1 roadwork traffic jam) then train the rest of the way, but that combines the worst of both worlds rather than the best of both and there's the add on costs of both car parking and a tube ticket. A little research reveals that the cheapest way by far is to fly! Now there's something seriously wrong when you can park up and fly Manchester (25 mins drive) to London, and get the tube tickets for less than half the price of a return rail ticket (without parking at the station etc).

 

Following on from the  School of self publicity yesterday an undercover PR agent was revealed yesterday, lurking on the threads of Outdoors Magic.Singing the praises of one of the countres leading mountainers on such a forum is nothing unexpected, but it transpires that the person launching the congratulatory thread just happens to run the agency that holds, or did hold, the publicity account for the cmpany where he is lead guide. Now there's nothing wrong with drumming up your own business, but surely a poster should reveal their affiliation - though they're by no means the first industry insider to hide their affiliation at first.  When asked about it though, they did have the grace to admit their roll, though obviously it would have been better from the start - but better late than never as they say.

 

Meanwhile back on OM it seems some people have found a purpose in life in hunting down any little thing they can use to attack people. For one who boasts of liking going out in all weathers and all seasons it's amazing how much time one can spend looking for the smallest little thing to pick on. Well children will be children. One day maybe a supreme negativity will become a supreme social skill, but I won't hold my breath.