Peak District Walking Festival

Once again, the Mountain House team were in action supporting the Peak District Walking Festival. We began the 10 day festival with an introduction to navigation course, then hosted a range of walks from Foolow, exploring the Kinder Plateau aircraft wrecks, and limestone dales. Our walks were in the main very well supported, and appreciated, as the following message from John and Clare suggests: "Just to say thank you to you both for a most enjoyable and informative walk yesterday".

Challenging Navigation - Easter Saturday 2010

Intermediate Navigation Course, a tour of the aircraft wrecks on Kinder Scout.

Today we enjoyed Kinder Scout at its wintery best with three clients on our intermediate navigation course.  We nearly failed at the start as a film crew were trying to tell us that the (public) road and parking at Barber Booth was closed so that they could film an episode of Jane Eyre.  However clients and ourselves did manage the rendez-vous and begin the course more or less on time.

From Upper Booth we ascended Crowden Brook to the “edge path”  where we began our navigation legs via two wreck sites before a perfect leg to Crowden Head.  Deep snow proved hilarious at times and more than a few times people disappeared into thigh deep drifts.

From Crowden Head we crossed to the River Kinder and on to Kinder Gates before finding another wreck site near Kinder Low. Noe Stool and a further two wreck sites involving cunning navigation and even “contouring” across some steep ground before descending The Cloughs to the bottom of the Jacob’s Ladder Path.

A grand day out and well done Andy, Steve and Phil!

A proper International Mountain Leader!

The Mountain House Team have spent the last 2 weeks in the French Alps, snowshoeing, practising winter micro navigation and generally getting a better understanding of the snow conditions.  All this has been in preparation for the final hurdle of Mike's International Mountain Leader Award.  All the hard work (and dieting!) has paid off, and Mike now proudly boasts that he is a 'proper' IML, as the current scheme has involved an extra 2 weeks of training and assessment.

Cutting a snow bollard belay.

We are now planning to add winter snowshoeing to our intineraries - watch the website for those of you who would like to join us for this great way of experiencing the mountains in winter.

Snowshoeing in the Sierra Nevada

After a 'washout' Christmas, we returned to the Sierra Nevada last week for some winter snow.  We were not disappointed, as the snow had been falling for the previous 2 weeks!  We managed 3 great days in the mountains, including one at the Ragua pass on the eastern side of the range, with Martin Riley.  Although we had mixed weather, this proved to be real 'back country' terrain, and we will definitely be back next year.

Christmas, snowshoeing and New Year Peak District Navigation Courses

Off to Spain on Sunday 20th; hopefully for some snowshoe and snow hole digging, in preparation for the last part of Mike's IML - and Christmas celebrations of course.

Next years Mountain and Moorland Navigation courses in the Derbyshire Peak District start early in the New Year, so book your place now!
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Preparation for Mike's IML in the Alps

Mike & Jane spent 2 weeks exploring the beautiful Val d'Annivierse in the Swiss Alps, prior to Mikes successful summer IML assessment at the end of August. We were fortunate to enjoy some lovely weather, and were able to really get to know the valley and it's flowers.

Mike navigating below the Becs de Bosson hut

High Walking in Spain's Sierra Nevada Mountains

A week spent exploring some lesser known valley's, together with Mulhacen, Caballo and Trevenque. There was still lots of snow in the mountains this year, but this also meant lots of water and some beautiful early summer flowers. Working with Martin Riley, who shared the delights of an alternative route to the Poqueira refuge, followed by an ascent of Pulpito.