Alps 2018

Posted on March 5, 2019 by yellowvanmountaineering

Finally getting around to updating the blog….

Over the summer, we headed to the Alps. Dave headed up some peaks, while Jo did some lower level walking, cable car riding and intensive resting in the campsite. It was the first time we’d taken the van to the Alps in summer since the rather soggy Saas trip of 2014, and we were relieved that this one didn’t follow suit (although our expectations have probably evolved somewhat in the intervening years).

We were based initially in Bormio, Italy, where summits reached included Monte Cevedale and Punta San Matteo. We also drove up and down the Stelvio Pass a silly number of times, explored the WW2 front line, and can highly recommend the pizza and gelato at the campsite.

We then transferred over the border to Morteratsch near Pontresina in the Engadine, Switzerland. The highlight from here was Piz Palu (just sub-4000m), and we also made friends with the marmots around Piz Languard, were introduced to Megacremeschnitte (Dave promised to recreate these at home, but for some reason hasn’t got round to it yet) and did some valley climbing.

A mainly (upward) traversing warm-up walk from Bormio 2000 lift station

Valle di Sobretta

Back in the high alps

Refugio

Monte Cevedale

Alpine start views

From Cevedale, looking back towards Gran Zebru

Approaching the summit

From Monte Cevedale, first look at the ridge to come

It was a straightforward (but rarely done) ridge across over Monte Rosole to Palon de la Mare

Looking back over Monte Rosole to Monte Cevedale

Palon de la mare summit

Views across the Ghiacciaio dei Forni

Descending the interesting glacier to finish our one way alpine day with minimal guidebook instruction – success!

Meanwhile, Jo went for a wander up the valley and round some alpine forests

Only got a bit lost with Italian maps and their lack of resemblance to reality

A mainly (downward) traversing walk taking in Monte Scorluzzo. Leaving the ski areas behind

Views from Monte Scorluzzo 1

Views from Monte Scorluzzo 2 (and the ridge ahead)

Views from Monte Scorluzzo 3

Down scrambling (don’t think this is in any list of approved pregnancy activities, oh well)

Filone del Mot, a most enjoyable ridge

Military village

The van got a flat tyre. There was a garage at the bottom of the campsite hill. The other residents were bemused

A one day attempt on a peak (Punta San Matteo)

First issue – river crossing. It’s not meant to rain later is it?

Summit reached, just as the snow starts

Descending the narrow ridge with care, before a snow/hail storm with lightening too close for comfort engulfs us. Some inspired navigation meant that only a few feet went into crevasses and we appeared at the bottom of the glacier wet but safe.

Starting to dry out, having had an ‘interesting’ river crossing

Sunshine meant I had dried out by the end of the walk, despite not having waterproofs….

A misty Piz Languard

Clearing up on the descent

Marmots!

Wandering around Alp Languard

Megacremeschnitte!

Evening view of Piz Palu and friends from the Diavolezza hut/hotel (the others having gone to bed while it was all still cloud-covered)

Piz Palu has one of the more crevasses and serac-y glaciers I’ve travelled across

Tricky finding the right path through the seracs, but great views

Exciting, but the glacier thoughtfully had easier points around every hour to allow for short breaks.

Zig zagging through the many massive crevasses that protect the col

Simon emerging from a successful Bergschund crossing

We had managed to stay near the front of all the groups on the mountain, giving us relative quiet.

The summit! Only stayed here for seconds as we needed to get down the narrow summit ridge before other parties came up – passing places didn’t exist

Just starting the narrowest section.

An attempt to give a sense of the narrowness and exposure – the right hand snow field dropped away steeply for many hundreds of metres

Picture of the summit of Piz Palu. Some Swiss mountaineers assumed we hadn’t done this as we didn’t have a guide…

Surveying the slighly less narrow, but still interesting section

Waiting at a passing place

Off down the glacier again

Soon after this photo, we took a ‘short cut’ and ended up lowering/downclimbing into/across crevasses. Fun was not had by all during this.

A look at Piz Palu, with the three summits. One of the best glacier/snow alpine days.

Piz Palu at breakfast time (there might be some specks on the summit…)

View from Sass Queder (waiting for the mountaineers to return)

On the way to some crags below the Morteratsch glacier

Valley climbing

Friendly dog wants porridge

Mainly (downward) traversing walk from the Julierpass to St Moritz

St Moritzersee

Van updates

Posted on July 13, 2018 by yellowvanmountaineering

So the great thing about having self converted is that we can continually add or change things as we go – it’s never really finished.
While the main test of this will be next year’s addition, for now I’ve got a few photos of the latest updates from this year.

Back when we hired cars, we used to have a ‘car bag’ of useful things that came with us. With the van, most things are permanent, but we’ve recently started using a ‘van box’ and it has been fantastic – keeping goodies tidy in the front, while easy to carry to and from the house. Simple idea, but brilliant.

Stocked with enough stores to get us to Italy

The ‘AA hole’, left by the previous owner has now been adapted to hold the bluetooth to FM converter, that connected phones to the van radio. A neat little sliding door hides it all.

We soon found that actually the device needs to have a near vertical cable to broadcast the FM signal, so it’s an empty box…

While the device is now neatly stored on the passenger side, with the cable running inside the pillar

Another wee addition – removable lip under the seat near the door. We’ve been storing the repair kit, brush and tarp/awning here for years, but after loosing 2 brushes out the door, this now keeps everything in place

Kept in place by a small tab behind the seat post and resting against the side, yet surprisingly secure.

A set of boxes behind the stove, tied together and to the van gives us more organisation space – yet to be beautified by someone with paint or carpet…

Lights almost all working after a bit of tinkering.

Sadly my poor soldering skills couldn’t save this one, but I found a blanking plug for the meantime

Particularly proud of the dual colours, and the fact it only took me an afternoon and used up some cord I had lying around.

Finally, after 6 months we bought a second van key, which required a key ring. I’ve made a few of these style over the years, but this is my best.

Far North

Posted on June 24, 2018 by yellowvanmountaineering

A week of fantastic weather in the far north of Scotland, tootling from Tongue to Ullapool via a few hills, a couple of cycle rides and a lot of beaches.

An afternoon jaunt up Ben Loyal – tough going in the heat

Though the river crossings were easy

Messing about on the summit tors

Kyle of Tongue from the actual summit

Campsite somewhere on the A836, shared with a few sheep (and Ben Loyal in the background)

Arty sunset photography

View north from Castle Varrich just west of Tongue

Beach and boats at Talmine (and Rabbit Islands)

Loch Eriboll

Traigh allt Chailgeag near Durness

Rock pinnacle

Next campsite, this time on the A838, possibly with Cranstackie behind

Rhiconich

Arkle

Foinaven from Arkle

Ridge to Arkle summit

Magical landscape

Back along the ridge

Sandwood Bay, where we went to see the sunset

Picturesque sea stack

Atlantic waves

Reflections

Tracks in the sand

Dave took photos with the good camera – he might post them sometime…

Crossing waves

More reflections and sea stack

Last of the sun

Kylesku

Quinag overlooking our cycling preparations (mainly suncream)

Somewhere on the B869

Lunch, with views of Assynt

Beach at Clashnessie

More beach

Beach and rocks

Canisp and Suilven

Altandhu

Stac Pollaidh

Slightly hazy, but still warm – and busy

Loch Lurgainn through the pinnacles

Badentarbat Bay at Achiltibuie

Clear water and pebbles

Cycling around the Coigach peninsula – views of the Summer Isles

More views of Assynt

Achnahaird beach

Van life

Beach again

Paddling / swimming

Sand patterns

Atmospheric evening on Cul Mor

Loch Broom at Ullapool

Proper Scottish Winter

Posted on March 27, 2018 by yellowvanmountaineering

In February, Jo took a couple of days of work and we zoomed up to the Glencoe area to see if winter was still around. It was.

Stayed in the van, but with the luxury of campsite showers and ‘shore power’ for the heater. Van living, combined with 4 consecutive quality winter mountain days out and a trip to the Clachaig made us feel a bit closer to being real Scottish mountaineers.

Victoria Bridge, setting off into a typical Scottish day

Slogging up to the ‘other’ Aonoch Eagach (on Stob Ghabhar) – we found snow!

Great ridge in a bit of sun

Looking NE out to Rannoch Moor

Approaching the interesting section

Stob Ghabhar looking rather fine

Aonach Eagach (a dog followed us along here, with owner)

Dave in mountains

It then got windy, cloud rolled in and we didn’t see anything as we summitted. After a bit of compass work, we were back on the ridge, descending this time.

Dave wondering if this slope is a) the correct way and b) safe

Dave lolloping down the deep snow

Once again, the weather turned as we climbed up Stob a’ Choire Odhair, so no photos. This is Dave again playing in the snow as we descended off Beinn Toaig towards the van

Another day, another slog up a hill to start.

Steep initial climb up above Ballachulish

Warm enough for base layers, and getting higher

Great views over Loch Leven.

Onto the NE ridge of Sgurr Dheag. Lots of parties attempting the East ridge, but few made it.

Loch Leven, the Pap and the Mamores

Good winter conditions

More fantastic views

Approaching the final ridge to Sgorr Dhearg.

Again, the cloud came in, and after some compass work we descended to the col, in high winds. We decided to give Sgorr Dhonuill a shot

Again, pretty windy and cloudy, which made the top exposed section interesting, but no photos until we were descending into the forest

Snow down to the sea today, so we ploughed our way into Coire nan Lochan. The path is in the photo on the right.

Dave deep in snow, thankful for not being the first person.

Having decided the snow was too deep for climbing, we took all of our gear on a jolly trip around the top of the coire, via Stob Coire nan Lochan

Dave being silly on the way down. He then had to try to be sensible to navigate down from the ridge to the path in low vis.

Our final day, on Buachaille Etive Beag. Dave got up early to allow him to break trail all the way.

On the ridge out towards Stob Dubh

After floundering in a cornice in high winds, we turned back around 200m from the summit.

By which point our footprints had filled in so we could break trail all the way back to the bealach

Finally, a summit (Stob Coire Raineach) with views – after good conditions all week, this was a blue sky and sunshine day to top it off.

Views of Stob Coire Sgreamhach

More of the same

Back down the ridge, wondering what the massive crowd is doing at the bealach

Decided to run off the side in the lovely powder, and also avoid the big group

Final few km back to the van. Amazing weather.

Swiss Christmas

Posted on January 23, 2018 by yellowvanmountaineering

Breaking with tradition, this year we took the van to the Alps over Christmas and New Year. This was somewhat experimental and I won’t pretend it wasn’t all rather stressful leading up to the trip, but once we actually left things greatly improved. The outcomes: 1) We didn’t freeze to death, get stuck in the snow or get fed up of each other during the long dark evenings. 2) Fairy lights might become a permanent feature in the van. 3) We did manage three days of sunny ski touring, two days of snowshoeing, one day faffing about on snow in high winds and flat light (not sure it could really be called “skiing”), a very cold morning on piste, and several days with expat friends in and around Zurich to see in 2018 – most of which was a lot of fun. 4) We did miss Scotland and might have to go there a lot this year to make up for it. 5) We might do it again sometime…

Campsite in Davos

First morning – SNOW!

Setting off on the first day

Skinning up the road

Slow zig zag towards the summit

On the final ridge

Nearly there on the Jorihorn

A friendly wolf on the top (the owner described it as his wolf. It really enjoys snow apparently)

First tracks of the year

Starting to remember how to ski

Another early morning skin

Stafelalp (came back for coffee later)

Christmas day skinning (ridiculously warm)

Along a ridge

Cutting the corner off the ridge

Summer path was obscured

Chorbschhorn for Christmas lunch

Action shot – almost perfect tracks in perfect snow (Jo’s are far right)

Back along the ridge towards coffee

Another clear day meant another skinning session

Bit more weather around today

Ill thought out route choice meant a horizontal tootle for a bit

Bouldering interlude

Decided to go for the bigger peak -heading leftwards

Top of the Sentischhorn

Great view of lummocky snow on the next valley over

Taking the shorter route down (Davos on the left)

And slogging back to the van

A windy, poor light day on the Pischagrat

More SNOW!

Playing with snowshoes

A horse just galloped past us.

Rare-ish slow snow slide on corrugated roof

Zurich wandering

Artistic Tree

Zurichsee

Snowshoeing on Rigi

Admiring the massive contorted lakes of Switzerland

Along the ridge

The ridge had lots of up and down, some on awkward snow

More massive lakes

Sunset on top of Rigi

Looking West (Jo’s PhD field area is just over the two rocky peaks in the middle)

Looking SW (ridge we walked along in the foreground)

Looking S to Eiger area

Eiger just picked out with sunlight in the centre

More snow, water and sunset – the last of 2017.

Autumn cycling

Posted on November 12, 2017 by yellowvanmountaineering

Although half term was mainly spent moving house, we managed to escape the chaos for a couple of days’ cycling in Scotland. We really like the autumn colours and empty roads up there, and a couple of 50-mile-ish loops among the woods and hills around Loch Tummel were tonic for the soul.

We camped at the Tomphubil limekiln car park near Schiehallion. A misty start, but it improved

Quick stop at Braes of Foss

Fantastic descent to Dunalastair Reservoir and Kinloch Rannoch as the mist began to lift

Cake stop on the quiet road on the south shore of Loch Rannoch, after which we continued to Rannoch Station

Heading east again, home via the north side of Loch Rannoch, Tummel Bridge and a punishing slog back up the the van

But we were glad to be camped at a high point next morning, which was glorious (if difficult to photograph)

Schiehallion

Back down towards Tummel Bridge, before turning off to Kirkton and the south shore of Loch Tummel

Loch Tummel

Another brilliant road (where I nearly ran over a red squirrel)

Loch Tummel again

Near Linn of Tummel. We continued to Pitlochry, Logierait, Strathtay, Weem, Dull, Fortingall and back to the van.

Merryton Low (and other adventures)

Posted on September 25, 2017 by yellowvanmountaineering

Too busy to go far afield for the late August bank holiday, we decided to do a little exploring on our (new) doorstep instead. After dropping into Nottingham to top up Dave’s collection of “smart casual” wear (essential for evening duties and the like), we headed for the most southerly crag in Eastern Grit, Black Rocks near Wirksworth. It sounded like a good bet: “a fine cliff” with a large number of routes in the low grades, including some stars and some long(ish) routes. But we should have paid more attention to the warning signs (“some routes are not climbed that often”; “tends to be green after poor weather”…)

In fact it looked like no-one had climbed there for years, which was unsurprising when we discovered how much broken glass there was around the belay spots, and we quickly abandoned the idea of doing any serious climbing. We did manage to salvage the visit by soloing two Mods, and having a nice potter around Cromford Moor. We’d only really gone there as it was on route to the Roaches, where we’d agreed to meet David for a walk the next day, so we didn’t mind too much, and continued happily on our way.

Displaying his usual impeccable Google Earth skills, Dave had found a fantastic van spot on the high road near Merryton Low, where there somehow seemed to be extensive vistas in every direction. We had a little wander around, spotting Parkhouse and Chrome Hills, Shutlingsloe, Shining Tor and even the Wrekin (mostly retrospectively when we asked David about them the next day). Then we found an inviting-looking pool and couldn’t resist an evening swim. It was relatively warm (or maybe we were just hardened by our Baltic dipping), so we enjoyed a few laps with views of the Roaches bathed in evening light.

Sunday was perfect bank holiday weather, sunny and warm. We reminded ourselves how nice the Roaches are, explored the Dane Valley, and after emerging onto the upper slopes of Gun from a flourishing jungle of stinging nettles, brambles and thistles, Jo remembered why shorts are not usually advisable in the Peak District. We then made our way back to van via New Zealand, Frith Bottom and Windygates, feeling rather more tired than we felt was deserved!

For some reason I only took pictures of the Merryton Low bit, but they are quite nice! This from the actual summit

Hen Cloud and the Roaches

Sunset

The view north

The view south

Blake Mere

Breakfast with a view

Aberdeen Angus (but no steak)

Posted on April 22, 2017 by yellowvanmountaineering

Over the Easter weekend we took the van to eastern Scotland, for a mixture of Munros and cycling (and quite a lot of “motor touring”, aka driving around).

We began with a coastal cycle from Arbroath (where we ended up when we discovered that our planned camping spot near Carnoustie was the wrong side of a <2m railway bridge). Heading northwards along Route One, we enjoyed views of sandy beaches, flowering gorse and a lot of polytunnels. So to Montrose for cake, after which we turned inland, negotiated an “interesting” farm track, struggled through the aptly named Hillside, then zoomed into Brechin for lunch at its (apparently famous?) cathedral. The afternoon was spent battling headwinds on long, straight, undulating roads, but we were finally rewarded with an easy descent back into Arbroath. We then drove up into Glen Clova and enjoyed an evening in the hotel bar, where the steak was more than twice the price of anything else on the menu, so we didn’t have it…

On Saturday we met David – who happened to be in the area – for some ticking of Driesh and Mayar, ascending from Glen Doll via the Kilbo path and returning by Jock’s Road. The weather was mostly sunny, which didn’t stop a biting wind delivering a battering of light snow for an hour or so. After the summits, we continued to Dun Hillocks and followed a little burn through some remote-feeling moorland to the plateau edge, where there were spectacular views down the glen. Unfortunately the burn then descended over a cliff and we couldn’t quite find a way down, so a short detour was required to return us to the path. Having left David to bag a bonus Corbett, the evening’s drive took us out to Stonehaven, then back inland through Banchory to Alford and a lovely camping spot on top of Suie Hill in deepest Aberdeenshire.

This delightful position was less appreciated the next morning when we had to put on all our jackets and gloves to roll down the hill on a chilly and grey (but dry) Easter morning. We soon warmed up on speedy roads through a variety of interesting villages towards Kemnay, and arrived at our intended afternoon tea stop at Castle Fraser around 11.30… Back on the road after coffee and scones, we cycled alongside the River Don back to Alford and up the biggest hill of the day to finish at the van. Our next overnight spot was Invermark at the top of Glen Esk. We spent most of the evening trying to work out why on earth a police car seemed interested enough in another car to wait two hours for the owner to return. It’s still a mystery.

We were now perfectly placed for a quick ascent of Mount Keen the following day, which was duly completed, with good views of the main Cairngorms. Heading south by around 2, concluding a successful trip exploring a new area and avoiding the worst of the weather!

Arbroath

Beach at Lunan

Montrose, looking south

Montrose, looking north

Brechin cathedral (apologies for the jaunty angle – it was the easiest way to get the flowers and the tower in…)

Back in Arbroath (we’re parked on the far side)

Useless but photogenic jetty

Rocks!

Burn of Kilbo

Ascending the Shank of Drumfollow

Glen Doll

Cold on Driesh

Mayar summit

And again

“I think we’ve Dun Hillocks now”

Lunch by the Burn of Fialzioch

A little traversing entertainment

Admiring the view

Waterfalls

Suie Hill van spot

Next morning

Castle Fraser

Trees on the way up Glen Mark

The way to Mount Keen

The Queen’s Well

Getting there, and looking back down the glen

Mount Keen summit, with snowy Lochnagar (left) and Ben Avon area (right) on the skyline

The long track back out

Spring catch-up

Posted on April 12, 2017 by yellowvanmountaineering

A selection of goings-on from the last few months, none of which seemed deserving of its own post! But I have photos and nowhere else to put them, so here they are.

First, our annual New Year trip to Scotland, this time to Mull. Staying right on the shore, we enjoyed spotting otters, sea eagles and the Northern Lights, plus a Corbett, some Grahams, a cave, some pottering and a great sunny/snowy mountaineering day out on Ben More. Unfortunately I’d forgotten to charge my camera battery and didn’t have a spare…

On the track at the start of the way up Dun da Ghaoithe

Beach at Lochbuie

Next, I joined an Eagle Ski Club off-piste skiing course taught by the highly recommended Alison Culshaw, based in Chamonix. It was the coldest week of the winter (-20), but sunny and very profitable from a learning-to-ski-properly point of view.

Tricky snow

Wearing everything

Regular hot drinks definitely required

Grand Montets

Guided day touring from Les Contamines with Jonny Baird and Dave Rudkin

Kick turns with springs…

Dave was feeling left out, so we planned a weekend in Scotland at the end of January to try some Scottish skiing. But we didn’t think there was enough snow, and reverted to Plan B (some efficient bagging of the Lawers Munros on foot). However, the van had other ideas when the alternator packed up on Friday night in Glenogle between Lochearnhead and Killin. Having spent the night there we visited the local garage, who couldn’t fix us and advised that we “enjoy our holiday” and get the AA to tow us home on Sunday. By now having wasted half the day and being stuck in Killin in steadily falling (slightly solid) rain, Lawers was out the question. Instead: brunch, then a walk back up Glenogle and a consolation Graham, Meall Buidhe. We spent all of Sunday getting home…

On the trail of some mad cyclists

At Meall Buidhe summit, following some excellent navigation practice

Not quite sure what we had to look so happy about

Slightly improving weather!

My birthday fell on a Saturday this year, so we invited the local duffers for a walk round the Langdale Pikes (really just an excuse for a get-together).

Stickle Ghyll

Harrison Stickle

We did more talking than walking…

David came to visit us for a weekend to tick off some of our local Marilyns. We’d been up Sharp Haw on the Skipton skyline before, but our route this time (from Flasby) was much nicer, and this time we visited neighbouring Rough Haw too. As that was a short morning’s work, we headed to Ilkley in the afternoon to explore its famous Moor (it was too cold for any baht ‘at nonsense, mind you). On Sunday we visited Brontë country for a slightly grim circuit of Boulsworth Hill, Top Withens and the Walshaw Dean Reservoirs. The mist didn’t lift all day, hence no pictures…

Sharp Haw

Exploring the Cow and Calf, with Ilkley beyond

At the start of March we visited Eleri in St Andrews. Rain and mist confined us a walk along the Fife coast path on Saturday, from which the sea was only visible when we were actually on the beach. On Sunday, we did a pleasant loop from Auchtermuchty around Pitmedden Forest. Highlights were the nice woodland, views of the Firth of Tay, a deer farm and the slightly incongruous hot tub business.

A proper forest…not too many trees

Firth of Tay

Back (and front) of Skiddaw

Posted on March 7, 2016 by yellowvanmountaineering

A weekend of walking in the Northern Fells of the Lake District.

On Saturday we planned a long walk, aiming to come back in the dark, but then found we walked too fast, it was too cold to hang around, and it gets dark later than anticipated. Despite started in the sunshine it soon became overcast, but with good views, especially north and west. After walking over Lowthwaite Fell, Brae Fell, Great Sca Fell, Knott, Great Calva and Meal Fell, we stopped for hot chocolate, then dropped over Great and Little Cockup back to the van. Determined to be out in the dark, we then headed up Binsey without a map. We got back to the van without using head torches, having ultimately failed to do any night navigation. Despite having dodged the main aim of the day, we retired into the van for some very welcome chilli.

Sunday had the best weather for a long time, and we headed up through the forest and up the ridge to Long Side and onto Skiddaw (where we found a cloud). The ascent of Skiddaw was steep on frozen scree and compacted snow making it a gruelling ascent, not helped by getting tangled in a group that were walking faster than us but stopping every ten paces. We avoided the crowds by taking an alternative route down, but still over Carl Side and Dodd, where we felt out of place with ice axes and no dog.

After a speedy shopping trip in Keswick we headed down the road, with a quick stop in Lancaster for some freshly baked scones.