|
|
|
Peter Burgess
|
|
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 |
 I wanted a short sharp, but interesting ascent for a recent visit to Lakeland. Parking up at the summit of Kirkstone Pass, I eye-balled the skyline of Red Screes and took note of the obvious gully that leads up from the screes towards the summit. With my bag packed and the car secured I made a beeline for this potentially exciting line of ascent. |
|
|
Community News
|
|
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 |
 The now annual descent of the OFC into Gaping Gill. This years walk up Trow Gill and the pothole was rather a wet affair but the good spirits of the assembled crowd kept us going. |
|
|
Community News
|
|
Monday, 07 June 2010 |
 On Saturday 5th June 30 individuals with 7 canine friends gathered at the summit of Orrest Head, 80 years on since Alfred Wainwright performed the same momentous act. AW's first ascent back on Saturday 7th June 1930 paved the way for his own intimate relationship with the fells, which would eventually blossom into the Pictorial Guides which made his name synonymous with the fells. The OFC ascent didn't occur on the date of AW's first ascent but rather on the nearest Saturday which was the day of the week he took the climb with his cousin. It seemed entirely appropriate for the OFC party to experience that 'Saturday feeling' for the event which also enabled working people and children to join in which was important. |
|
|
Community News
|
|
Monday, 19 April 2010 |
 Ten years ago Stephen Cowen, aka 'vikingprobe', began his own mission to complete the ascent of the famous Alfred Wainwright list of 214 fells. The final ascent was completed on Thursday 15th April, 2010 on the summit of Lingmell. Stephen, who heralds from Tyne and Wear, reported excellent weather for the culminating celebration. Apart from their own ascent, the celebrations had a strangely tandom twist which can be revealed by reading more... |
|
|
Community News
|
|
Sunday, 18 April 2010 |
 Some months ago I had a thought about an OFC meet in Wharfedale, a little planning and studying of the Ordnance Survey map enabled the thought to become a reality. The route I had in mind deserved decent weather to allow the magnificent scenery to be at its best so I had a spring meeting in mind, now all I had to do was post the idea, fix a date and keep my fingers crossed for a fine day! |
|
|
Peter Burgess
|
|
Thursday, 08 April 2010 |
 As a child the walls of my bedroom were decorated with various images, some of steam locomotives others of boats and aeroplanes and one picture in particular that was always a favourite—that of Major Henry Seagrave’s Golden Arrow. From these early times, as my father was also an aircraft engineer, I had more than a passing interest, like many boys, in aircraft and cars. Through my childhood it was three things that started my interest in Donald Campbell and his world famous jet boat– Bluebird. Read on to find out more..... |
|
|
Peter Burgess
|
|
Monday, 05 April 2010 |
 In 2005 I was fortunate enough to be part of the delegation at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore. On return to London, the area designated for development into the venue for the London 2012 Olympic is slowly changing in preparation for the summer olympiad in that year. Just 4 miles from home, my cycle to work in Hackney passes directly through the Olympic Park and the site of the slowly emerging stadium. Return to this 'diary' regularly to see the changes and to witness the birth of the UK's third Olympic dream... |
|
|
Peter Burgess
|
|
Saturday, 13 March 2010 |
 A seven day holiday in Coniston gave prospect for some great days out in the fells as well as the chance to show friends some of the delights of the area. Apart from day walks, we had a drive over Hardknott in snow and the rest of the group visited Keswick, Blackwell, Tarn Hows and it all ended with a glorious row across Coniston. Read on to find out more and see Peter's Youtube! presentations... |
|
|
Articles
|
|
Wednesday, 03 March 2010 |
|
 Our coach arrived on time, the bags were loaded and once again we were treated to a city centre tour as we picked up more passengers bound for Vancouver Island. As people boarded questions were asked of the driver regarding arrival times at various destinations, his answer was a shrug of the shoulders and a muttered "All in good time." His demeanour suggested a certain amount of early morning grumpiness… there were two of us on board!
|
|
|
Community News
|
|
Friday, 08 January 2010 |
 I was reading The Wainwright Memorial Walk a while since and it dawned on me that 2010 would be the 80th anniversary of AW's ascent of Orrest Head. Before 1967, the Whitsuntide (Pentecost) holiday was not static in the calendar as it is today and as I thought, finding the exact date Alfred climbed Orrest Head would be reasonably straight forward with all the available information online. Many of us take a holiday round the May half term, but Whitsuntide is still obviously regulated by the church. With a bit of 'Googling' it was apparent that AW ascended his first fell on 5th June 1930. As many of us know, this was somewhat of a revelation for Wainwright, his inspiration on the road to Damascus. In recognition of this landmark would you like to join us for a walk to recognise this momentous occasion?.... |
|
|
|
 You can't but notice that the World Cup started this week. For those of you who hate football, at least the BBC have some respite in the form of 'South Africa Walks'. Julia Bradbury sets out on four walks that explore South Africa's claim to be 'a world in one country', going far beyond the normal tourist destinations to a series of increasingly remote locations. Peter Burgess's 2004 walk in the Drakensberg is also included in this article with his ascent towards the Lesotho Wall of the Drakensberg across the valley from Cathedral Peak. This walk was the magnificent conclusion of his two weeks visiting and teaching in a Durban township school.
|
|
 England Cricket Old Boys, Warren Hegg and Mike Watkinson swapped their spikes for sturdy walking boots earlier in May 2010 to take part in the Thwaites Wainwright ‘Worth Walking for Competition’. |
|
| HAVE YOU SEEN? |
 With the advent of a recent poll examining people's favourite lakes proposed by David Dimmock, I thought it a good prompt to review an excellent book portraying charts of the English Lakes. Remarkably, despite the name, most books on our beloved district encompass the high fells and walking. However, John Wilson Parker has gone some way to correct the balance with this excellent atlas. It really is a worthy addition to the shelf... |
|
 Cicerone books have just published a new and inspirational book which, as Chris Bonnington states, 'is reflecting an exuberant affection for, and pleasure in, the exploration of the Cumbrian Fells.' The new book is Great Mountain Days in the Lake District and has been written by the Alfred Wainwright devotee Mark Richards. If you would like to receive 15% off the price of this book and free P&P then read on... |
|
|
Site Tips
Visitors to the site will be familiar with surfing the world wide web, but to get the most out of the new site you might want to know a few useful pieces of information. Please read on here to get some tips for getting the most out of the new OFC site...
Forthcoming Events
There are no upcoming events currently scheduled.
"A big thank-you too to Peter for piecing together the latest Lost Sheep, I feel honoured to find a place in this extra special issue and serve AW's dearest cause." Mark Richards
|
