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Peter Burgess
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Thursday, 18 April 2013 |
 I was surprised that winder conditions held for so long this year. I often expect wintry hills in February, but travelling to Lakeland for a short Easter break saw the high fells with a good covering of snow. Arriving in The Lakes on Saturday 6th April, I immediately planned to walk on the Sunday in the hope I would catch the best conditions before any inevitable change in the weather. |
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Alpine Angle
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Saturday, 08 December 2012 |
 Over the years, the issue of waymarking has often been discussed, albeit briefly, on the OFC message board. Until recently, no formal debate has been had until a message I sent out to members provoked some familar responses. However, Helmut Hudler from Austria wanted to write an article for the club from his own point of view based on his own wanderings in and around the Alps. I know Helmut having met him and corresponded with him down the years. He is a keen walker and has visited the Lake District on a number of occasions. Not surprisingly, he believes some waymarking in Lakeland would help reduce the number of Mountain Rescue callouts as well as keep people to the path and reduce erosion. In some instances he goes as far as suggesting via ferrata style protection such as for the tricky section on Sharp Edge. His article discusses the issue and hopefully will move someone to a reply. |
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Peter Burgess
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Wednesday, 09 May 2012 |
 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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Peter Burgess
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Friday, 30 December 2011 |
 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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Peter Burgess
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Friday, 09 December 2011 |
 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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Articles
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Monday, 07 November 2011 |
 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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Peter Burgess
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Wednesday, 02 November 2011 |
 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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Articles
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Wednesday, 02 November 2011 |
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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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Peter Burgess
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Monday, 31 October 2011 |
 A recent trip to Scotland had me chomping at the bit for some hill and munro magic! With a few days on the shores of Loch Eil I had some canoeing in mind as well as one eye fixating on Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain and which looms over Corpach like a huge arching magnet. However, as I perused the map and read a few guidebooks, it was soon the nearby Mamores that had set their names into my planning for my first mountain day. With a great drive up Glen Nevis one sunny morn, my decision was affirmed by an aged, grey haired, Fort William man, "Aye laddie, you're better off going up here. These are fine mountains!". |
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Articles
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Friday, 25 March 2011 |
 I DID IT…… I Completed the Wainwrights!
It all started in March 1999. My then girlfriend and I had just got together and she wanted to go away for a week in the Lakes. I’d not been to the lakes since I was a kid, but the promise of homely pubs and great food convinced me! |
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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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 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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| HAVE YOU SEEN? |
 WHETHER it’s a hike across the high fells or a lakeside ramble you enjoy most, let Lakeland Walker – Britain’s oldest and best-selling Lake District walking magazine – guide you along the way. Follow this link to find out more about Lakeland Walker and to utilise a subscription offer just for the OFC..... |
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 As a child I remembered many famous mountaineering figures apart from the obvious character of AW more renowned for his walking exploits. However, other names featured in my perceptions of the high places. Some of them like Tom Weir featured on television, others like W. H. Murray, entertained me from the cover of a book, whilst to many the man in this article spoke to us all from the regular feature in The Manchester Guardian newspaper. A. Harry Griffin wrote an amazing Country Diary for nigh on fifty three years. In this time he took many on an amazing journey outside, what was for many, their urban homes. |
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"On Saturday we met up with Ann and Roger Hiley, John Paterson and Terry Gargrave for a walk up High Rigg and on Monday we met Paul Harrison on Pike O'Stickle. It was a real pleasure meeting everybody and we enjoyed every minute." Dave Leslie
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