Preparation essential for a peak success
old engine of mine.
Bill Westhead, of Glossop, is a very experienced Mountain Leader and Proprietor of ‘Glossop Navigation Skills’, and I cannot wait to join him, not least to hear tales of Nepal and the ‘big ones’; and they don’t come any bigger than Everest, seen here.
Bill has over thirty years experience in the hills and mountains of the UK and Ireland in summer and winter conditions, and he has overseas experience in the Central Massif of Los Picos de Europa in Spain, the Serre de Tramuntana Range in Mallorca, the Allgauer Alpen in Bavaria and Austria and the Himalaya of Eastern Nepal, where he summited Mera Peak (6,431 meters) in 2007 and completed the gruelling Makalu to Everest Mountaineering Route in 2011.
I put it to Bill that, for him, Bleaklow was easypeasy, ‘Not at all’, he said, ‘Bleaklow, in a matter if minutes, even seconds, can test the most experienced climber.’
In September 2017, William joined forces with Karl Duke, the owner of, Duke’s Coffee Shop, Glossop, to form ‘Walking with Dukes’, an inclusive weekday walking group, aimed at those feeling lonely or who lack the confidence to join a large community group, those recovering from minor illnesses, or those who simply want to get out of the house.
It provides an opportunity for all comers to participate in guided history walks around the local hills to assist in their physical and mental wellbeing.
Check out www.glossopnavigation.co.uk for further details.
May 2020 is National Walking Month, so let’s get our collective boots on in readiness, in the meantime, here’s Bill’s light-hearted look at not so light-hearted take on his passion, the hills. Humorous maybe, but oh so true.
My favourite example of walkers being ill-prepared came at Bleak
House, Crowden, as the sun was going down on a very rainy day.
A damp and disheartened father and son with two exhausted dogs asked, ‘How far is it to the Dovestones car park?’ Oh dear. There are many walking groups of all standards across our circulation area, for example walkingforhealth.org.uk, so don’t be shy, let us know where you get to and what you see.
CONDITIONS and their Likely Cause
●●Hills are white. Winter ●●Total white-out, no horizon. Blizzard ●●Hills are green, brown and purple. Not winter ●●Strangers follow you. They’re lost ●●Walking difficult. 30-40 mph wind ●●People airborne. Gusting 60mph
TECHNIQUES on avoiding problems
●●Learn to navigate with map and compass ●●Learn to interpret hill and mountain weather forecast ●●Learn to access sunrise and sunset information ●●Leave a route plan with a responsible adult
ABOVE all
●●Plan your route in advance ●●Leave a copy of your route with responsible adult ●●Be responsible for your own actions ●●Dress according to the season, the region and the forecast ●●Do not be totally reliable on GPS ●●Do not rely on mountain rescue teams to bail you out