The walking / hiking thread

[sbbefc]

Having a few days up in the hills of Georgia this week. (I say hills, some of the hikes are seriously high up)

Stunning place, and really quiet now summer is over.

Off the high hills tonight and into the woods tomorrow.

Went to Georgia a few years ago, didn't do any hill walking as it was the middle of the winter. Loved it there, one of my favourite countries. For a relatively small country it has so much history and culture and the mountains are amazing. Didn't have the chance to go to Svaneti, another reason to go back though!

 

[Nymzee]

Having a few days up in the hills of Georgia this week. (I say hills, some of the hikes are seriously high up)

Stunning place, and really quiet now summer is over.

Off the high hills tonight and into the woods tomorrow.

Assume this is Georgia the country not state?

 

[sbbefc]

Anyone ever done a winter skills course? Always fancied doing one as I've only ever been out in the mountains when there's been little snow. There's a few options up in Scotland that look alright.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Anyone ever done a winter skills course? Always fancied doing one as I've only ever been out in the mountains when there's been little snow. There's a few options up in Scotland that look alright.

yup done a few of them over the years. First one I did was up near Fort William.

Covered all the essential stuff like:

Tying-in, belaying, building snow anchors.
Abseiling / descending
Use of crampons and ice axe
Self arrest

I then went onto to do another course in Chamonix that covered Moving across glaciers, crevasse rescue, avalanche survival techniques, building emergency shelters and how to move/break trail through deep snowfields.

 

[sbbefc]

yup done a few of them over the years. First one I did was up near Fort William.

Covered all the essential stuff like:

Tying-in, belaying, building snow anchors.
Abseiling / descending
Use of crampons and ice axe
Self arrest

I then went onto to do another course in Chamonix that covered Moving across glaciers, crevasse rescue, avalanche survival techniques, building emergency shelters and how to move/break trail through deep snowfields.

Worth it then? How difficult was the one in Scotland? Looking to do it with my girlfriend who isn't the most confident walker in the mountains.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Having a few days up in the hills of Georgia this week. (I say hills, some of the hikes are seriously high up)

Stunning place, and really quiet now summer is over.

Off the high hills tonight and into the woods tomorrow.

Looks awesome.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

Worth it then? How difficult was the one in Scotland? Looking to do it with my girlfriend who isn't the most confident walker in the mountains.

Well worth it and both courses were really enjoyable.

The Scottish course was excellent and the instructors are highly skilled and experienced. Don’t worry about your girlfriends mountain experience as she will be fine.
You’ll both have a great time and learn an awful lot.

IIRC the course I did was a 5 dayer and I loved every minute of it.

 

[BNJ1878]

Went to Georgia a few years ago, didn't do any hill walking as it was the middle of the winter. Loved it there, one of my favourite countries. For a relatively small country it has so much history and culture and the mountains are amazing. Didn't have the chance to go to Svaneti, another reason to go back though!

It must have more forts/castles than any other country per sq/m.

So many that the majority are not even in Google maps.

Assume this is Georgia the country not state?

Yeah.

Looks awesome.

It really was. I'll definitely head back.

Great outdoors stuff (mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife), great simple food (salads, stews, breads etc) and really cheap locally made wine and beer.

Oh and the locals are very friendly.

 

[sbbefc]

It must have more forts/castles than any other country per sq/m.

So many that the majority are not even in Google maps.



Yeah.



It really was. I'll definitely head back.

Great outdoors stuff (mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife), great simple food (salads, stews, breads etc) and really cheap locally made wine and beer.

Oh and the locals are very friendly.

Can't beat khachapuri

 

[4737carlin]

yup done a few of them over the years. First one I did was up near Fort William.

Covered all the essential stuff like:

Tying-in, belaying, building snow anchors.
Abseiling / descending
Use of crampons and ice axe
Self arrest

I then went onto to do another course in Chamonix that covered Moving across glaciers, crevasse rescue, avalanche survival techniques, building emergency shelters and how to move/break trail through deep snowfields.

When you do these do you need to take your own equipment?
Been in mountains a few times with snow, but never on a gradient that need an axe

 

[Black Belt Jones]

When you do these do you need to take your own equipment?
Been in mountains a few times with snow, but never on a gradient that need an axe

You probably have - axe is for arresting in the event of a slip, first and foremost. Not necessarily mountaineering stuff like climbing or hacking out steps.

I thought it was a complete charade to go out walking with an axe in the winter, like what sort of Ted does that if they're just out for a hike? Traversed a snowy slope on one of the Glen Shiel munros and the penny dropped - if I slip here I'm likely dead.

Axe still won't help you if you don't know how to arrest and practice it once in a while, which most winter walkers prob don't do.

 

[4737carlin]

You probably have - axe is for arresting in the event of a slip, first and foremost. Not necessarily mountaineering stuff like climbing or hacking out steps.

I thought it was a complete charade to go out walking with an axe in the winter, like what sort of Ted does that if they're just out for a hike? Traversed a snowy slope on one of the Glen Shiel munros and the penny dropped - if I slip here I'm likely dead.

Axe still won't help you if you don't know how to arrest and practice it once in a while, which most winter walkers prob don't do.

Yeah, one of my mates who I went along the Glyders once in winter had one, he was telling me about how you need to know exactly how to use one to avoid stabbing yourself in case you slip...etc

See I can do all my rope work, but when I learnt I was told not to buy anything first incase I get the wrong stuff or bits I'm not comfortable with, the lad who taught me let me use and learn on stuff he had, and warned me not to buy second hand climbing gear

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

When you do these do you need to take your own equipment?
Been in mountains a few times with snow, but never on a gradient that need an axe

Did my Scottish course in January (many years ago).

Did the Chamonix course in Autumn of the same year.

You need your own gear (boots, crampons and ice axes) all other climbing gear is provided on the courses.

 

[For Sake]

I’ve done a few high profile mountains. Base banter is starkly different when you get to the summit. Kinda like jogging with your mate you start off telling jokes a few k in and all sense of humour is lost.

 

[sbbefc]

You probably have - axe is for arresting in the event of a slip, first and foremost. Not necessarily mountaineering stuff like climbing or hacking out steps.

I thought it was a complete charade to go out walking with an axe in the winter, like what sort of Ted does that if they're just out for a hike? Traversed a snowy slope on one of the Glen Shiel munros and the penny dropped - if I slip here I'm likely dead.

Axe still won't help you if you don't know how to arrest and practice it once in a while, which most winter walkers prob don't do.

Apparently the highest death toll on Snowdon is up the Llanberis path in winter. Looks innocuous enough and is probably the easiest route up, but if you slip there's areas where you won't stop.