Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
Climbing Snowden and possibly doing a zip wire
Ticking another one off the bucket list in a couple of weeks (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Sky_Blue_Daz
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Westendlad
Well-Known Member
FFFM....Ooops soz wrong site 
Otis
Well-Known Member
eastwoodsdustman
Well-Known Member
We went to do the zip wire last year but I was too heavy! the missus stepped into the breach with the kids but when they got to the top it was too windy so it all got cancelled.
Covstu
Well-Known Member
Quickest way down!
Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
Climbed it on Saturday conditions going up were awful couldn’t see what was in front of us, we took the easy route down along the train track it got brighter and drier. Very proud of my wife and daughter who climbed it too
I passed on doing the zip wire, I should of mentioned that my wife did the zip wire bless her .
I passed on doing the zip wire, I should of mentioned that my wife did the zip wire bless her .
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oscillatewildly
Well-Known Member
Did it in flip-flops in the mid 1970's. Family holiday, I was 8 or 9, Mum & Dad, younger brother and a basset hound.
As I recall, the idea was to take the train but when Dad discovered how much it was it became a choice of doing it but cutting the holiday short by two days or just walking a bit... and a bit further.....
They make programmes out of what we did that day - Guided by Sherpa Tenzing (as he became known in later life) we managed to go well of course of any recognised route and experienced terror which I've not since experienced in any amount of perilous lake district expedition since.
The best bit was hearing the dog barking through the semi darkness from the car park a good half hour before we reached it.
As I recall, the idea was to take the train but when Dad discovered how much it was it became a choice of doing it but cutting the holiday short by two days or just walking a bit... and a bit further.....
They make programmes out of what we did that day - Guided by Sherpa Tenzing (as he became known in later life) we managed to go well of course of any recognised route and experienced terror which I've not since experienced in any amount of perilous lake district expedition since.
The best bit was hearing the dog barking through the semi darkness from the car park a good half hour before we reached it.
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
:emoji_smiley:
Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
To be honest I was glad that the fog was as thick as it was, My daughter was a bit frightened at some parts
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
my wife wants to do it, we did a walk in the peaks a few weeks ago to get us started!
Probably try it next year.
eastwoodsdustman
Well-Known Member
We did it last year and a couple of years before that we did the Old Man of Coniston. Both started off as bright sunny days and ended up with Zero visibility when we got half way up.
Descending the Old Man was a bit edgy in thick fog to say the least as there wasn't a clearly defined path like Snowdon. My kids have never forgiven me for it.
Descending the Old Man was a bit edgy in thick fog to say the least as there wasn't a clearly defined path like Snowdon. My kids have never forgiven me for it.
Gazolba
Well-Known Member
I'm fascinated by volcanoes. I realize there aren't many in the UK, but I live in the US where there are lots.
I believe there are a few in the Canary Islands where a lot of British tourists go.
It's always been a desire of mine to climb a volcano and look down into the crater.
A couple hundred miles north of me in Arizona is an area called the San Francisco Peaks, where there are hundreds of extinct or dormant (who really knows) volcanoes.
I took a drive up there in a rental car intending to visit the SP Crater (2nd photo below) which is one of the more spectacular cinder cones.
The directions to get there were to drive up some road, turn off at a derelict trading post, go through a gate, travel several miles on a dirt road and then go left at a fork.
To cut a long story short, the 'road', which was really just a dirt track, deteriorated the longer we drove until it became like a washboard that almost shook the car to pieces. I did stop and pick up several pieces of lava for my rock garden at home. But we had to abandon the attempt about half way to the crater.
Another time, driving back home from California, I attempted to visit Amboy Crater (1st photo below), this was in the summer though and the temperature at the visitor center was around 45 degrees. It was about a 2 mile walk to the actual crater. I was going to risk it but then I saw a guy coming back off the trail. He looked in considerable distress and told us in no uncertain terms not to attempt it. So I took a few distant photos and we drove on.
I did climb one extinct volcano (Lenox Crater, 7243 feet) near Flagstaff but it was covered in grass and trees and there was no discernible crater viewable at the top, so that was a big disappointment.
The largest crater near Flagstaff, Sunset Crater, is now off limits to tourists as the volume of people climbing it has caused damage.
So climbing a volcano is still on my bucket list.
Anyone else interested in volcanoes?
I believe there are a few in the Canary Islands where a lot of British tourists go.
It's always been a desire of mine to climb a volcano and look down into the crater.
A couple hundred miles north of me in Arizona is an area called the San Francisco Peaks, where there are hundreds of extinct or dormant (who really knows) volcanoes.
I took a drive up there in a rental car intending to visit the SP Crater (2nd photo below) which is one of the more spectacular cinder cones.
The directions to get there were to drive up some road, turn off at a derelict trading post, go through a gate, travel several miles on a dirt road and then go left at a fork.
To cut a long story short, the 'road', which was really just a dirt track, deteriorated the longer we drove until it became like a washboard that almost shook the car to pieces. I did stop and pick up several pieces of lava for my rock garden at home. But we had to abandon the attempt about half way to the crater.
Another time, driving back home from California, I attempted to visit Amboy Crater (1st photo below), this was in the summer though and the temperature at the visitor center was around 45 degrees. It was about a 2 mile walk to the actual crater. I was going to risk it but then I saw a guy coming back off the trail. He looked in considerable distress and told us in no uncertain terms not to attempt it. So I took a few distant photos and we drove on.
I did climb one extinct volcano (Lenox Crater, 7243 feet) near Flagstaff but it was covered in grass and trees and there was no discernible crater viewable at the top, so that was a big disappointment.
The largest crater near Flagstaff, Sunset Crater, is now off limits to tourists as the volume of people climbing it has caused damage.
So climbing a volcano is still on my bucket list.
Anyone else interested in volcanoes?
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Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
Just put of interest has anyone climbed Ben Nevis ? If so is it harder or easier then Snowden?
I’m thinking of doing it next year but am trying to convince me daughter to do it as well
I’m thinking of doing it next year but am trying to convince me daughter to do it as well
Bout the same experience from my perspective but probably is a bit steeper.
richnrg
Well-Known Member
vulcanologists are, I believe.
Houchens Head
Fairly well known member from Malvern
I did the "Three Peaks Challenge" back in June 1992. There were 17 of us, raising money for charity. It was one of the proudest things I've achieved. Absolutely knackering but worth it! We climbed Snowdon, Scafell and Ben Nevis in 48 hours.
We left Stoke Aldermoor Community Centre at around midnight and got to Snowdon at around 3.30am. As you can see from the enclosed news-clipping, it was pretty rough going, sleeping in between climbs on the seats of the mini-buses. Sadly, the Telegraph reporter, Yossi Brain, who was a really nice guy, lost his life in 1999, caught in an avalanche while climbing in Bolivia. I still have the Telegraph cutting from the time.
(That's me at the back (arrowed))..……
We left Stoke Aldermoor Community Centre at around midnight and got to Snowdon at around 3.30am. As you can see from the enclosed news-clipping, it was pretty rough going, sleeping in between climbs on the seats of the mini-buses. Sadly, the Telegraph reporter, Yossi Brain, who was a really nice guy, lost his life in 1999, caught in an avalanche while climbing in Bolivia. I still have the Telegraph cutting from the time.
(That's me at the back (arrowed))..……
lifeskyblue
Well-Known Member
Literally Houchens Head.
But seriously...congratulations on completing the challenge.
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Houchens Head
Fairly well known member from Malvern
Ha ha! Never even dawned on me LSB! I have other actual photos of the week-end. This was just the final group shot on top of Ben Nevis, from the Telegraph. I'll find them out.
lifeskyblue
Well-Known Member
They would be great to see if you find them.
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lifeskyblue
Well-Known Member
Depends on routes and weather. If weather closes in I think Ben Nevis is harder. But if you and your daughter are reasonably fit you should have no problem. The issue I have (with both) is that the easiest routes can become a bit like a procession with the numbers.
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lifeskyblue
Well-Known Member
Some places certainly fairly inaccessible even in the modern world. I haven’t got peering into a volcano crater on my bucket list but I think I might just add it.
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D
Deleted member 5849
Guest
Went up Vesuvius a few years back. Apparently it's overdue an eruiption, and when it comes it'll be bigger than the one that destroyed Pompeii...
lifeskyblue
Well-Known Member
That is truly scary. Lots of destruction and potential loss of life.
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Houchens Head
Fairly well known member from Malvern
A huge volcano is supposed to be near eruption in Iceland. Reports say it could be 10 times bigger than the one that brought air travel almost to a complete standstill a few years back. The whole of Europe is under threat, apparently. Not scare-mongering or anyfing!
Houchens Head
Fairly well known member from Malvern
I actually found Scafell Pike the most difficult, even though it was the smallest of the three peaks. I think it was because of all the loose "scree" that made it difficult to get a grip when walking and climbing. The most tiring was Ben Nevis because by then I felt like giving up (but didn't!). Tended to romp up Snowdon, only because we were all feeling really good about what lay ahead. Little did we know!!
Gazolba
Well-Known Member
There a super volcano under Yelowstone Park in California. If it erupts, it could take most of California with it.
Some people have even speculated it could be violent enough that the ash will block out the sun for years and end all life on Earth.
Mcbean
Well-Known Member
The last time was a hoot for me - we were in Italy in a meeting and my boss says ( after reading emails all the time ) - the Norwegians are'nt coming - there's a Volcano stopping them - WHAT !!! so feverish internet searches and its clear the stuff is coming South - he makes an executive decision in a heartbeat - lets go home before we can't - onto out travel agent - no way to get a flight back to blighty but we can get to Paris - flight leaves in an hour - we abandon ship and make it - get to Paris - while we are travelling our travel office gets us tickets for the Ferry - but we need to get to Calais - Hire car people swamped with people wanting one way rentals - not allowed to take the car right through so we begged and ended up with the office runabout a 10 year old Renault Clio - made it to Calais and abandoned it along with 2-3 thousand other cars and posted the key along with 100 others in a box - walked onto the ship into the nobby restaurant and stayed for the duration - walked up Dover high street rented another car and drove home ! took an extra night but was fun ! others in my company were not so lucky - some took 3-5 days to return
The hills, a subject very close to my heart. I am a fell-racer. Race on unmarked courses across the mountains, basically having a start and finishing point, then a series of checkpoints to get to, usually the top of mountains, and it is up to the individual to find their own course between them. Obviously the fitter and most athletic guys win, but there is an element of tactics, and all other things being equal, the runner with the best mountain-sense and knowledge of the route will come out on top.
This weekend racing at Llanberis. For those who know the area, we start by the lake in town, head up through those quarries on the other side of the road to Snowdon. Up to the first top, Elidr FAWR, then along the ridge and over the Glyders, down to Llanberis pass, up Snowdon via Lliwedd and the Horseshoe route, then down the Snowdon Ranger path, over another top, then down to Llanberis. I'll be looking for around 4.5 hours which will be a very respectable time, but the winner will probably go round in 3.5.....
There are shorter races than that. I'd get up Snowdon via the railway path in about 50mins on a good day. The very best will do it in less than 45 though.
Talking of volcanoes, racing on Tenerife next June, starting in Los Cristianos on the South Coast, over the top of Mt Teide, then down to Puerto De La Cruz on the north coast, about 60 miles.
As for the 3 Peaks.... Scafell Pike, although the lowest, is probably the one that causes most problems, being the roughest and quite difficult to find the correct way off in bad weather unless you have been up there before or are a good navigator. Ben Nevis can have extreme weather even in mid-summer, and requires care in poor visibility... There are large vertical cliffs very close to the tourist path up. Snowdon in my opinion is the greatest mountain in the UK, despite the railway and crowds it's just beautiful, and so many ways up and down. If you know what you're doing there are a multitude of routes away from the hordes....
This weekend racing at Llanberis. For those who know the area, we start by the lake in town, head up through those quarries on the other side of the road to Snowdon. Up to the first top, Elidr FAWR, then along the ridge and over the Glyders, down to Llanberis pass, up Snowdon via Lliwedd and the Horseshoe route, then down the Snowdon Ranger path, over another top, then down to Llanberis. I'll be looking for around 4.5 hours which will be a very respectable time, but the winner will probably go round in 3.5.....
There are shorter races than that. I'd get up Snowdon via the railway path in about 50mins on a good day. The very best will do it in less than 45 though.
Talking of volcanoes, racing on Tenerife next June, starting in Los Cristianos on the South Coast, over the top of Mt Teide, then down to Puerto De La Cruz on the north coast, about 60 miles.
As for the 3 Peaks.... Scafell Pike, although the lowest, is probably the one that causes most problems, being the roughest and quite difficult to find the correct way off in bad weather unless you have been up there before or are a good navigator. Ben Nevis can have extreme weather even in mid-summer, and requires care in poor visibility... There are large vertical cliffs very close to the tourist path up. Snowdon in my opinion is the greatest mountain in the UK, despite the railway and crowds it's just beautiful, and so many ways up and down. If you know what you're doing there are a multitude of routes away from the hordes....
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
I would go as far I'm saying I'm fascinated but do find them interesting. I've been up Etna before in Sicily(as far as it's safe to), which is absolutely majestic. I also lived in Catania for a while and saw it erupt, which was briliant