Welcome to the OFC!
 The Online Fellwalking Club was founded on the 9th April 2001 at the height of the Foot and Mouth Epidemic to give fell and hillwalkers the chance to pacify their inaction during that sorry time. With the passing of the crisis the club continued to flourish. Although much of the action takes place on the Yahoo! Message Board this site will benefit strongly with input from the membership.
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 To coincide with 'launching' the new MunrOverground with the John Muir Trust in Fort William, Peter Burgess finally decided to set his sights on The Ben. Avoided for quite a few years, a decision was made to ascend to the summit of the UK's highest summit. Undoubtedly walking out of the tourist season added to the sense of isolation and the route chosen really took him into the wilderness realms of Ben Nevis. |
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 Driving along the A13 recently, I noticed familiar mountain names emblazened on the side of a car. On return home I was keen to discover the amazing project being advertised by the vehicle and the equally incredible expedition being undertaken by a group of scuba divers in order to raise funds for Help for Heroes. Find out more about this expedition from Shane Farnham and then why not consider their worthy cause in support of 'Help for Heroes'. |
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 Visiting my brother and family in Arbroath gave good opportunity at our mutual suggestion, to climb the most eastern Munro. Mount Keen is the last bastion, a final rise in a high plateau land finally diminishing in altitude as the land falls in altitude to narrow coastal plains north of Dundee. As part of the Angus Glens, Mount Keen is a popular summit and with ease of access from the beautiful Glen Esk, four of us set forth in the light of early dawn. |
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 Modern life takes it's toll on family relationships. Alan Nolan and his son, Ian, found themselves distanced from each other following Alan's divorce from his son's mother. For 20 years, they were apart. Ian lived in Italy and Alan in the UK. We were separated by a physical as well as an emotional distance, recalls Alan, who was determined to reignite the bond with his son. |
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 Continuing a recent sojourn in Cumbria, I again utilised the YHA and this time stayed at Buttermere. What a hostel! It was a real treat to stay within such a fine establishment and the view I awoke to was spectactular. With a vista across the lake to High Stile and Red Pike, evening dinner and breakfast wasn't bad either, with a fine bottle of Jennings before retiring to bed! Packing up the car, soon saw me at Rannerdale and the prospect of paddling across Crummock Water to attack Mellbreak direct. |
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 The continued good fortune of being in Cumbria along with good weather, continued again on this outing, as a few OFC again gathered in Coniston. My intentions were not to stay in Coniston, but with £100 to give to Coniston MRT it seemed logical to overnight in Coniston for two nights in order to make the best of my time. Robbie K had already contacted me to say he would join me and Lorraine also hinted at a walk out. However, as with all things, matters can change but I was mighty pleased when those who said they would walk did so. Along with myself, Robbie, Lorraine and even Steven P joined me on the long ascent of the Walna Scar Road from the village. It really was a magic morning! |
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 This year I planned to be in Coniston over the Remembrance weekend. Great Gable, for many years my object of ascent on this iconic Sunday seemed a distant peak and so for practical purposes I set my sights on the summit of Great Carrs where I had visited the Halifax memorial on occasions before. With hindsight it turned out I was glad to ascend the mountain this day with four fellow OFc members, for although Great Gable was again graced by a large throng for the FRCC service, the top of Great Carrs saw but 9 to remember 8 brave men of the Canadian Royal Air Force who died there in October 1944. |
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 As some of you are already aware, I set off for Lakeland a couple of weeks ago with 12 Wainwright fells left to climb. It really came as a bit of a surprise to me that I ever reached this stage! For many years I only managed to get a week's stay in Lakeland once a year & it doesn't seem long ago that I decided to have a go at completing. Read the news about Angela completing her 214! |
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 Inspired by the Hugh Walpole novels and the Herries Chronicles, Lindsey has written a family saga based in the Lake District. It follows the lives of the Keldas family who run a small farm in the fictionary village of Keld Head. Northern Spirit is the first of three novels in this series and covers David Keldas's story. It is available to buy on-line from most good book retailers and also an e-book version on Amozon Kindle. |
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| FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS |
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 I first walked the Whiteside to Hopegill Head ridge 40 years ago and hoped that I would get to do it in winter conditions one day. I never imagined that it would be as late as April 8th when I finally completed a winter traverse.
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 A magical mix of lowland woods and pastures at the walk’s beginning and end, with a great gather of fells in its midst, the rugged scarp of Buckbarrow approximately 427m/1,400ft, the barren whaleback of Seatallan 693m/2,274ft and the deceptively simple traverse of mid-height Middle Fell 585m/1,919ft.
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"It was great to see so many old friends again and to meet new people who have now become familiar names on the message board." Jill Rowland on the Honister 2007 weekend
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