Profpointy
Legendary Member
I should perhaps qualify that going for a moderate winter hill walk in Scotland usually requires an ice axe walking stick stylee, so not claiming any Hilary / Tenzing heroics
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- Thread starter Time Waster
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I should perhaps qualify that going for a moderate winter hill walk in Scotland usually requires an ice axe walking stick stylee, so not claiming any Hilary / Tenzing heroics
rockyroller
Guru
- Location
- 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA
it's a fun, flying dragon
not to hijack the thread but these are fun for me
on a good wind day it's a cinch to get it up
straps to the bike quite nicely
works with my Jeeps & Subaru
North Truro
Cape Poge, Martha's Vineyard
Race Point Light, Provincetown
it is a loyal companion
rockyroller
Guru
- Location
- 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA
& if it's not intolerable, a cpl more I really really like
flying it thru my sunroof as I drove the Jeep real slowly
then walking the beach I did not know why all the seals were hauled up on the sandbar until I got home & saw what I'm pretty sure, is a white shark (center frame) that was only 20-40 meters away from me. see my shadow at bottom left corner
& I think that's the kite shadow next to the shark. maybe the kite was at similar angle as the sun so the sharks's shadow is out of view? not 100% sure but it was August & could very well have been
flying it thru my sunroof as I drove the Jeep real slowly
then walking the beach I did not know why all the seals were hauled up on the sandbar until I got home & saw what I'm pretty sure, is a white shark (center frame) that was only 20-40 meters away from me. see my shadow at bottom left corner
& I think that's the kite shadow next to the shark. maybe the kite was at similar angle as the sun so the sharks's shadow is out of view? not 100% sure but it was August & could very well have been
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Jameshow
Veteran
What's the camera?
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
RC boats. going down to the lake with other like minded people. putting together a 1/4 scale F1 hull at the moment.
rockyroller
Guru
- Location
- 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA
rockyroller
Guru
- Location
- 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA
omg that's enormous!
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
52 inches..30cc two stroke motor,
Mad Doug Biker
Just a damaged guy.
- Location
- Craggy Island
An Ice axe? What a poo... Wimp... The last time I went hill walking in the winter, all I had were my fingernails and an old Argos catalogue, goddammit!
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As the actress said to the bishop
Time Waster
Veteran
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A qualified mountain leader had us had up a valley intending to do a high level route in exceptional winds. We persuaded her to change plans so she sent us over a side ridge col to get to the other valley back. Against my personal view on the matter I went with her and on reaching the top got a couple of minutes of very high winds such that we were flat as possible hiding behind and little rock we could gripping the ground firmly with our legs practically flapping off the ground with the wind! I knew it was a bad idea and when someone's dog refused to even go up to the top I think it really spelt out the situation to me. I only went over because I didn't want to leave her with the others, my friends.
She was working her way up the qualifications but tbh her judgement was dire. I would never hire her to lead a group. She was an accountant and should have stuck with that! Still, it was amazing just how fierce Cumbrian winds can get!
A qualified mountain leader had us had up a valley intending to do a high level route in exceptional winds. We persuaded her to change plans so she sent us over a side ridge col to get to the other valley back. Against my personal view on the matter I went with her and on reaching the top got a couple of minutes of very high winds such that we were flat as possible hiding behind and little rock we could gripping the ground firmly with our legs practically flapping off the ground with the wind! I knew it was a bad idea and when someone's dog refused to even go up to the top I think it really spelt out the situation to me. I only went over because I didn't want to leave her with the others, my friends.
She was working her way up the qualifications but tbh her judgement was dire. I would never hire her to lead a group. She was an accountant and should have stuck with that! Still, it was amazing just how fierce Cumbrian winds can get!
Profpointy
Legendary Member
There can be extra risk with deferring to the "expert" as people then put aside their own perhaps
better judgement, though of course, you can learn a lot from a good instructor, so there is a balancd
Activities like (holiday) scuba diving are particularly prone to this with people doing a "follow my leader" dive and being excessively dependant on the guide rather than checking their own air and what not, quite apart from carrying on when the guide's own judgement is off.
In your example above, without the guide, you and the others would no doubt have binned it off far earlier.
Another scenario I've seen is where there's a mismatch in ability and the more able people, can over estimate the beginners' abilites. I've seen this particularly in student caving where the 2nd years lead a trip not realising some beginners aren't someone like themselves with less experience, but maybe include people who really aren't ever going to be cavers. Of course, a professional instructor should be better place to spot this
Gwylan
Veteran
- Location
- All at sea⛵
Overloaded, I went twice as far with just the cover of the catalogue
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Winter hill walking is a serious business in Scotland (and many other mountainous areas).
In the late 90s I was climbing (proper climbing with ropes in this context) Buachaille Etive Mòr in winter, with a friend. We were ascending the summit snow slopes (having finished the climb) to the descent route, when a foot hold collapsed underneath me, and I found myself on my back hurtling head first to the face we had just climbed. It’s about the worst scenario for an ice axe arrest, unless you are tumbling out of control. Fortunately I practice ice axe arrests every time I’m back out in the winter snows each year. I was able to bring myself under control and arrest my fall.
The last thing we need in the mountains is a macho attitude to risk. Sadly there are fatalities every year.
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Gwylan
Veteran
- Location
- All at sea⛵
50 odd years ago we used to come up from S Wales for New Year and ice climbing. We'd camp somewhere. Remember the problem of having to take your boots off to get in the pub. Finding them at the end of the evening was a challenge. Totally bonkers.
