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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 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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 As a child I was lucky enough to inherit a great book from the then Bishop of Cumbria, Thomas Bernard Pearson who was also the Founder and Life President of the Achille Ratti Climbing Club. In the pre-Internet age, the photographs in the book really captured my imagination. Views such as that showing the huge overhanging cornices on Braeriach, the snow-covered castellations of Sail Mhor rising above Coire Mhic Fhearchair and a brooding view of Suilven from Elphin really stirred my imagination. Very soon, I was able to put the book to good use as a reference for a walk on the Five Sisters of Kintail when in the Sixth Form. I have used the book on a few occasions since, but I knew I had to take it with me to Aviemore this summer. Turning through the pages, I considered whether I was fit enough to undertake Ken Wilson's epic day walk taking in the Cairngorm four thousanders and with hindsight I am so glad I did. |
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 "I climbed Grasmoor as my last Wainwright fell with my husband and daughter. It was a spectacular day, which was good as the weather had been so windy for a few days, in fact I've never known it to be so windy and we've had some pretty challenging days over the last couple of years whilst completing the Wainwrights. Some of our long weekends have meant taking in 12-15 Wainwrights at a time regardless of weather as not being locals we can't just pick our days, we just have to go for it. Most of my trips to the Lakes have been by public transport over the years which has made it more of a challenge but just recently it's been good to have my husband accompany me with walking and navigating with the GPS which has taken away quite a lot of the pressure." CG
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| FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS |
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 Yesterday Jill Rowland persuaded Jo, myself, Roger and Ann to join her in reducing her Wainwrights from 23 to go to 21 to go. Because of the high winds we opted not to climb high and to stay away from ridges - instead we headed to Watendlath to test out the waterproofness of our boots on High Tove and Armboth Fell.
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 I must be mad. I chose an exposed walk today in winds which probably gusted close to 50 mph at times. I parked at Mungrisdale at 9am in grey windy conditions but with no rain. If I had known just how windy it was on the tops I might have driven home without getting out of the car. |
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"I'd just like to say what a great weekend it has been and thanks to everyone who made it such a great time." Liz Lemal on the Honister 2007 weekend
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