My Mountain Days
Ever since I was young, I excelled outside rather than being stuck in a classroom. Building dens from a young age and fishing in the local ponds, getting grubby was my thing. Joining the Cubs and Scouts introduced me to climbing and camping, skills that to this day are a requirement for basic safety outdoors.
Living in the south of England, the hills were some distance but we always found time to visit them and excuse the phrase but
“ get lost for the weekend “
Away from the hustle and bustle of it all.
Growing older, the better the days out became, venturing out in to some wild weather at times to build skills and gain confidence, with friends and sometimes on my own.
The Lake District was where I visited most before moving to Fort William, Night navigation with friends were always a great time and ventured out as often as we could. Scrambling and Climbing when ever the weather allowed, constantly building skills. My first real taste of Winter was spent wild camping by Red Tarn, with some winter mountaineering during the day and night.
Moving to Scotland was a big turning point for myself, based in Fort William at the time, I had hills and climbing crags in every direction. Everyday was spent in that year discovering the wilderness. Camping in winter in the Mamores, to visiting Bothy’s with friends across Scotland. Climbing or Scrambling on as much rock as I could find. With Scottish winters and the typically Scottish weather, that will change constantly, you have to be ready for anything. I spent a lot of time on the West Coast mountains and visited many of the same summits more than once. Why? you may ask me, Well no two days are the same, plus it enabled me to head up different routes and really discover the mountain.
If you were to ask me if I’d like to walk up a hill or go scrambling, scrambling wins.
5 years of Scottish winters, has been fun, I say 5 winters, lockdowns and lack of winter hasn’t helped but in between the excursions into the hills have been epic. From a solo climb of Steall Falls in Glen Nevis, to traversing the Torridon Giants, Winter Skills courses and Camping in caves on the Cuillin at christmas time, I’ve made the most out of what winter we have had.
Not one to chase mountain summits, I am slowly and at a leisurely pace, making my way through the 282 Munro’s that are in Scotland. I moved away from the hustle and bustle of the cities and like to keep that way when venturing out in to the great wilderness of Scotland.
