Making the most of our Satmap GPS

Earlier this year, the kind folks at Satmap offered an Active 10+ bundled with a couple of memory cards at cost price.  Jane has been using it over the summer months and we took it on our intermediate navigation course over Kinder Scout last saturday, where it really came into it's own.

The course navigates over the Kinder plateau, seeking out some of the well hidden aircraft wreckage in order to practice a range of navigation techniques.  The Satmap is perfect for checking out bearings and distances, which it does with ease and speed.

I can't claim that I have plumbed the depths of the Satmap, but I have grown to like it very much.  One of the reasons we opted for the Satmap were the extensive range of maps, however my only reall quibble is the need to change memory cards when moving around the country.  We still use Viewranger on our mobile phones, and it is extremely easy to add mapping on this device - almost too easy, if you have an iphone and itunes account!  With Satmap you have to buy the map on a  memory card, wait for it's delivery and swop them around.  However a small price to pay for a gadget which does it's job very well, is much more robust than the phone, and easy to use when outdoors on a cold winter's day.

There is more information and the chance to try out the Satmap, Viewranger enabled phones and a couple of Garmin GPS machines on our Making the most of your GPS course in the new year.

Night Navigation on BigMoor

The Mountain House team were joined be 3 intrepid adventures for an evening of navigation in the dark.

Fortunately for us all, the weather held out until only a few minutes before our return to the cars, and everyone declared it a great adventure - to be recommended.

Adventures in the Catalan Pyrenees

A new venue for our summer walking trips - Nuria, Refugi Coma de Vaca, Queralbs

It doesn’t matter how confident a person you are, when you are exploring a new area there are bound to be some confusions and uncertainties. Nuria on the first day of my Pyrenean adventure provided plenty. I had read the tourist book and the trekking guide and had the map folded at the right place.  There are five main paths shown leaving Nuria (with additional paths leading off from these). However, apart from the “safe” path, the GR 11 heading back to the valley, there was no signposting of the paths heading into the mountains.  Hardly surprising as Nuria attracts many daily visitors, and no one wants ill equipped people venturing into the mountains. My dilemma was which way to go to exit a complicated ski / railway / hotel / visitor complex?

A quick compass bearing gave me the direction and there was a convenient path following the ‘stations of the cross’ with some impressive sculptures interpreting this religious theme. Ten minutes later saw my pilgrimage complete at a signpost showing that I’d come the right way. Thank you God!

I was researching new walks to lead with clients. Therefore I was a little concerned that the path was signposted the “engineers” path. My mind was racing as to what had been engineered and what obstacles lay ahead, a path cut through precipitous drops, sections of ladders and ropes to climb, etc.  In the event I needn’t have worried for this turned out to be a great path, fine views and not really “exposed.”  A couple of small rock steps and a cable descending a shallow gully were all that needed care. It was on this section that I met the only people I saw all day, two shepherds tending their flocks on high alpine pastures.

I had been wondering where the hut was. You do not see the Refugi Como de Vaca from this direction until you are almost on top of it.  Being mid October it was closed, though a bright, clean and spotless winter room was open for people needing shelter.  It was time for lunch, but as the path back to Queralbs started on the other side of a sizeable river opposite the hut, I decided to make my crossing first. Putting all my M.L. / I.M.L. training into practice I hoped boulders up and down finally arriving at the signposts on the other side with only one wet boot.  Imagine my indignation when one of the signs pointed to a bridge! I was so glad there was no one around to witness my folly!!  Actually the bridge was not visable from the hut being below a rock buttress and not marked on the map either.

The long descent to Queralbs took three hours and was delightful passing through both alpine and sub alpine terrain with their associated flowers down the Gorges del Freser. A good well earned beer was enjoyed.



If you too like a refreshing beer after a good day out, read this!

Understanding the Upland Environment

Came across Mike Raine's book Nature of Snowdonia, whilst at Plas y Brenin recently.  A great introduction to the upland environment, for anyone working towards ML or IML awards, or just interested in knowing more about Snowdonia.  Has lots of interesting tit-bits about rocks, birds, insects, flowers, fungi, mosses & lichens and the impact of man in the mountains.  Easy to dip into, not too technical - to be recommended.

Getting to grips with your Gps

A flurry of enquiries about our Gps training course led us to confirm dates for the autumn. The first session will be held on Saturday 28th August - the start of Foolow well dressing, so a busy day!

Caballo at last - saving the best till last

To round off our month in Spain, we were joined by Colin and Andrea, who spent 8 days walking and relaxing at Finca Montana. The final walk was a real highlight - not only did they successfully summit mainland Spain's most westerly 3000m peak, but found that the snow had retreated enough to return via the rio Lanjaron, which was full of summer flowers - truly the best walk of the trip.

Limerick Mountaineers Walk High

22 members of the Limerick Mountaineering Club joined the Mountain House team for a week of walking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We enjoyed some lovely settled summer weather which enabled us to experience the mountains at their best.