morethanmountains

Keswick Mountain Rescue team were out, along with the other emergency services, for thirteen hours yesterday evacuating people to safety. They did a wonderful job but even they could not prevent the damage to people's homes and businesses. We have just had a walk around Keswick to start to get an idea of some of the devastation caused by yesterday's floods.

The following three pictures were taken around 11am today (Friday 20th). Despite the fact that it rained for much of the night the water levels have already dropped by at least one metre. We were able to walk along dry sections of road that had been waist deep only twelve hours before.

This photo was taken in Fitz Park just opposite the Youth Hostel. Yesterday afternoon and evening the river was almost twice its normal width at this point and was flowing across this area of grass. The newly tarmaced path has been ripped up and left strewn across the field.

More rain is forecast but we can only hope that the river levels will have dropped enough in the meantime for it not to flood again. The bridge at High Hill (opposite the Pencil Museum) is still closed to traffic because the Fire Service are not sure how much longer it is going to hold against the tremendous force of the river. With two major bridges down in Workington the water has shown what it can do.

There is a lot of water in Keswick at the moment: down at the boat landings on Derwent Water the jetties are well below the water line, the River Greta has broken its banks in Fitz Park, the Borrowdale road is shut to traffic and there is water running down virtually every street.

The River Greta is big, brown and ugly and probably the highest I have ever seen it (although I was lucky enough not to be around for the 2005 floods). Lots of houses already have their sandbags out, the schools have been shut and people are being evacuated from houses in the High Hill area.

This is much, much worse than the floods in October 2008 that washed out the OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) but so far I have not seen or heard any reports in the national media. Apparently a group of well prepared, fit people who are up for a challenge having their event cancelled because of stormy weather is bigger news than elderly people having to be evacuated and many people facing flooding in their own homes.

Borrowdale School's webcam gives you an idea of flood levels in the valley already.
http://www.borrowdale.cumbria.sch.uk/webcam.html

The emergency services are out in force trying to deal with the problem as best they can. Nick is out with Keswick Mountain Rescue team who are highly trained and have their own Landrovers and rescue boats so are well equipped to help the Fire Service with evacuations and rescues.

It is still pouring with rain here and the wind seems to be picking up. Sitting here in my first floor flat I probably do not have too much to worry about but for the sake of all of the other people in Cumbria watching the rivers getting closer and closer to their homes I really hope it stops raining soon.

This month's Trail magazine features a list of their "50 Greatest Hill Routes." In their words they have "asked an impressive roster of mountaineering experts to help (them) compile Britain's 50 Greatest Routes." Their mountain experts include George Band, Doug Scott, Kenton Cool, Sir Chris Bonington and More than Mountains! Our route up Scafell Pike made it in at number 16 accompanied by a very cheesy photo of us both.

Compiling a list of this sort is really an impossible task due to the extensive range of fantastic walks and scrambles in the UK. The list has already created some debate in our household but it is full of wonderful ways up some awe inspiring mountains. There are even a few we have not yet done.

If you get inspired and would like someone to show you the way then please get in touch.

Jill

This month's Climb magazine comes with a free winter mountaineering supplement. It is aimed at summer climbers who already have some winter walking experience and want to make the transition to winter routes. It assumes readers are already familiar with basic winter skills like crossing steep snow with ice axe and crampons, navigation in limited visibility and basic rock climbing techniques. If this sounds like you then it is a good introduction to the skills you will need to become a winter mountaineer. No book or magazine can ever be a substitute for instruction with a qualified instructor but, if you are planning to do a winter mountaineering course this year, this supplement is worth reading. It will give you an introduction to many of the techniques you will cover on a course. Armed with some prior knowledge you will be able to get more from any course you go on.

If you have not yet discovered the joys of winter and the Climb supplement is a bit too advanced for you then Trail magazine often have basic introductions to winter walking. I have not seen one yet this year but I am sure there will be one in the next couple of months.

If you buy Climb magazine be sure to check out our advert on page 21 of the supplement.

Jill

The nights are definitely drawing in and it is nearly time to switch the central heating on; winter is on its way. I think it will be a couple of months yet before the Lakes sees any snow but it's falling in Scotland already which has encouraged us to start thinking about our winter courses.

From 13th February to 21st March 2010 we will be based in the Cairngorms in Scotland running winter courses in the snow. February and March are usually the best months for snow in the Cairngorms and we have decided to move up north temporarily to make the most of it. So, if you do not want to stay inside for the next six months waiting for spring, come up and join us for a few days and find out just what winter has to offer. We can cater for any level: introductory winter walking courses if your boots have never touched snow, scrambling courses if you would like to try some classic ridges in winter conditions or winter climbing courses if you aspire to get up something a bit steeper.

We do not have any set dates for courses on our website because all of our winter courses will be tailored exactly to meet your needs. A winter day costs £180 and as usual this can be split between participants. If you want to come on a course but would like to share the costs then please get in touch because we might be able to match you up with some other like minded people.

Have a look at the winter page on our website and then get in touch by email (info@morethanmountains.co.uk) or telephone (07984410230) and let us know exactly what you would like to do.

Jill

I spent a lovely morning in Whinlatter Forest yesterday doing some navigation coaching. According to the Foresty Commission (who own Whinlatter) it is England's only true mountain forest. Their definition of a "true forest" is perhaps a little different to mine considering the fact that the vast majority of this forest was planted but it is still a great place to practice basic navigation skills.

There is a large network of trails in the forest most of which are marked accurately on the 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey maps. There have been some updates on the maps for this area in the last few years so it is useful to have the most recent version. It is worth nothing that the updates to the paths have NOT been made to the latest version of the 1:25,000 maps on the Memory Map CDs; the new access land boundaries have been added to older maps to create the new CD.

Once you have successfully navigated yourself around the forest and enjoyed the views towards Bassenthwaite Lake, Skiddaw and Grisedale Pike you can rest your feet in the wonderful Siskin's Tearoom in the visitor centre. Lovely homemade food and good service; very popular though so time your arrival carfeully.

If you need to burn off some calories after overdoing it in the cafe you can try out the Lake District's longest purpose built mountain bike trail - bring your own bikes or hire them onsite - or climb up high into the trees on the GoApe high ropes course.

With a big screen to watch the ospreys' nest on Bassenthwaite during the Spring and red squirrels all year round there are plenty of wild life spotting opportunities and there is an adventure playground for the kids too.

We went on a beautiful bike ride yesterday in the Eden Valley. With the Pennines to our east and the Lake District to our west we had some wonderful views of the fells whilst we rode through lush green countryside sprinkled with inviting sandstone villages. There are lots of interesting places to visit often without the crowds that can be found in parts of the national park.

We stopped off at the Village Bakery in Melmerby for lunch. The food was delicious and we filled our panniers with organic bread but I have to say I prefer the atmosphere at The Watermill in Little Salkeld. Equally good food with just a little bit more character. Both of them promote good, local, organic food so try them both and see what you think.

The Rowan trees are dripping with berries at the moment bringing some welcome colour to the increasingly autumnal views. A friend of ours says that if the Rowan trees have a plentiful crop of fruit it is going to be a good winter. He is not a farmer so his idea of a "good" winter is possibly not everyone's; he is a mountaineer so he likes his winters to be full of snow and ice. Apparently the trees are preparing for a cold winter and supplying lots of food for the birds. I'm not sure there is any science behind his theory but let's hope he is right!

Jill

At 978m Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and because of this is one of the most popular walks in the Lake District. The National Trust counted over one thousand people on the summit in just one twenty four hour period. On a clear day the views are fantastic and it is a wonderfully rocky mountain but I would never walk up it on a weekend in summer by choice. This is one to be saved for a clear, crisp, mid-week winter day when you can have the paths to yourself.

I also try not to hang around on the top for too long: as well as being the busiest part of the walk it is where everyone else stops for their picnics and still bears the evidence. There are crisp packets and drinks cans stuffed into every crevice and banana skins strewn about the rocks. If the wind is not blowing a strong smell of urine wafts about the place.

All of that said I would still recommend a climb to the top of Scafell Pike as a great day out with a wide variety of terrain and views all over the Lake District - just pick your day carefully and please do not leave anything at the top.

Jill

The Keswick Mountain Festival, which has been held in May for the last three years, has been getting bigger and better each year. Throughout its history the festival has been run by a very dedicated team of local volunteers and for the last two years they have employed a project manager. This arrangement had needed lots of people in Keswick to give up a lot of their own time to keep the festival running but it has also meant that as activity providers we have been able to have a say in many of the decisions that have been made and felt that we could help to shape the festival into something we really wanted to be a part of.
Keswick Tourism Association, who started the festival, have taken the decision to sell it to a project management company based in the South Lakes called Bluestone Events. We have not heard anything from them yet so do not know how this will affect the festival in the future.
We volunteered some time in the run up to the festival last year and enjoyed becoming more involved but I am not sure we will be so keen to do so if we think the profits are heading to a company outside of Keswick.