Trail Running photoshoot

Cumbrian light

Today I've been out on a photo shoot for an article I'm writing for Trail Running magazine. Clare, Ben and I took a trot over Walla Crag and back through the woods pursued by photographer Stuart Holmes. Lots of short sharp sprints for the camera and looks like we got some great images. Heading home a chance encounter with friends resulted in me signing up for the Latrigg Fell race, a short up and down blast from Fitz Park in Keswick. Having been focusing on endurance for events later in the year I was very please to get round in 25:22 and 34th place.

Imperial Trans Antarctic Centenary Expedition

Hauling pulks in Antarctica

Big plans for 2014. After a wet weekend dragging tyres on Dartmoor. I've been selected for a place on the Imperial Trans Antarctic Centenary Expedition 2014.  An ambitious expedition to attempt a crossing of Antarctica via Shackleton's proposed 1914 route.

From the expedition website;
When it comes to celebrating the human spirit, 2014 is going to be a special year. August 2014 will mark exactly 100 years since Sir Ernest Shackleton KCVO and his extraordinary team set out on one of the biggest and most ambitious polar journeys ever attempted.In 1914, as war clouds gathered over Europe, Shackleton was laying plans for an epic expedition; the first ever trek across the Antarctic continent, travelling 1800 miles from sea to sea. He intended to sail through the uncharted waters of the Weddell Sea to Vahsel Bay before trekking by foot towards the geographic South Pole. From there his team would proceed towards the Ross Sea, destined for a rendezvous with their ship and victory.Unfortunately disaster struck and Shackleton’s ship was crushed by sea ice, leaving his team stranded in the freezing wilderness.  By saving the lives of all 28 of his men, Shackleton’s leadership and survival skills have become the stuff of legend, but his intended course across the Antarctic continent remains uncompleted. Until now.

With the patronage of Shackleton’s granddaughter the Honourable Alexandra Shackleton behind us, in 2014 we plan to tread in the great explorer’s intended footsteps, realising his polar ambition and capturing his spirit of adventure for the 21st century. It will be the first time Shackleton’s route will have been attempted– honouring and celebrating just what it takes to push the limits of human possibility. 

 Lots of training, preperation and fundraising in store for the next couple of years. Please have a look at the expedition website www.south2014.com. and support us in any way you can.

Friday night film - Yukon Arctic Ultra

The North Face

I've just taken delivery of my first box of goodies from The North Face. Over the next few months I've been given the opportunity to put some of their current and future technical clothing through its paces and write some independent reviews as part of their ongoing development program. I'm afraid it's all already in the washing machine after todays mud and rain but initial impressions are very good. The next few months are looking busy; working on the Cuillin Ridge, Terrex Swift Adventure Race, mountain work in the Lake District, The Celtman Tri, climbing in the Alps, Lakeland 100 and an expedition to Greenland!  A perfect testing program!

Competition Schedule for 2012

 The start of day 3 on the 2011 Adidas Terrex C2C

Plenty of racing to be had this summer. I'm limiting myself to three events as I'm guessing I'm going to be needing some recovery time after these...

First we've got the Adidas Terrex Swift is at the beginning of June. 48 hours of non stop fell running, mountain biking and canoeing plus some ropework challenges. Carrie, Kieran, Andy and myself are racing as Team Custard with 'beanie' support from Custard Climbing Creations.

At the end of June I'm taking part in the inaugural Celtman, the Scottish version of the iconic Norseman. Based in Torridon this Ironman distance triathlon starts with a 3.8km swim in Loch Shieldaig, 200km on the road bike on some great Scottish roads and a marathon to finish taking in the two Munros on Beinn Eighe.

My final big race is the Montane Lakeland 100 at the end of July, a 100 mile trail race which passes through pretty much every corner of the Lake District A foot injury curtailed my attempt last year but the training's going well so fingers crossed.

Friday night film - Antarctic base jump

BMC Club Training Program

This weekend we're running an advanced navigation course in Snowdonia as part of the BMC's Club Training Program.

'An introduction to the skills of advanced navigation to enable you to get off the beaten track whatever the weather. Navigation is a fundamental skill for hill walking which will increase your enjoyment and safety in the British hills and further afield. This two day course will challenge your preconceptions of what is possible with just a map and a compass. We will get lost, we will be out after dark and we will walk around in circles but by the end of the training you should have a good personal strategy for navigating and have gained plenty of confidence in your new skills.'

There's a second course running in the Peak District on the 15th & 16th September so if you're a member of a BMC affiliated club and are interested in improving your navigation please have a look at the BMC site.

Friday night film - Liverpool Land, Greenland 2

Liverpool Land Traverse 2012 Pt 2 from Alan Halewood on Vimeo.

New email address...

With a new website being developed I now have a new email address. Please use info@mountainz.co.uk if you'd like to contact me. I'll still be checking 'info@mountain-zac.co.uk' but am hoping to move over to the new site in the next few weeks. Thank you.

Friday night film - Liverpool Land, Greenland 1

Liverpool Land Traverse 2012 Pt 1 from Alan Halewood on Vimeo.

Mountain movement skills

 

Jude on the traverse of Pluto (HVS 4c)

Today I've been running a work shop on movement skills in the mountains. The ability to move efficiently and safely across a variety of terrain is the key to challenges like a traverse of the Cuillin Ridge which Jude has set her heart on. We headed into a very quiet Langdale and up to Raven Crag. The focus of the day was on footwork, moving your center of mass efficiently and becoming comfortable with the environment  We climbed up (and down!) Middlefell Buttress (D) and Revelation (HS) a couple of times before picking a route up the main crag using a combination of Original Route (VS), Pluto (HVS) and Bilberry Buttress (VS). The rest of the day was spent on the scree and scrambling terrain around the crag. Bring on the Cuillin in May!

Coledale Horseshoe Fell Race

Ben Bardsley on the climb up Eel Crag

It was a stunning cold but clear day for the Coledale Horseshoe, a British & English Championship counter for 2012. There were a number of snow showers as the runners set off up Grisedale Pike and some very chilly looking runners came past me on the scramble up Eel Crag. I was out taking photos on the second half of the course from Eel Crag, over Sail & Barrow and the final run into Coledale. Plenty more images on my Flickr page. In the event the good running conditions meant that both the mens and womens records were broken. Full results are on the FRA website (mens & women race).

A couple of Ambleside fell runners reach the Eel Crag plateau

Friday night film - Autana

Skiing the Aig de Polset

 

Early morning light at the start of the skin up the Aig de Polset

 

Simple pleasures - sun, snow and a good skinning track!

Still on the way up with Mont Blanc in the background 

 

 Steep summit slopes and the arrival of the bad weather

 

 

Approaching the summit

 Final few meters and looking forward to a loooong descent back to Meribel

Crossing the Col d'Aussois

Great snow conditions after yesterdays storm

 Arriving at the Col d'Aussois

The second climb of the day to Les Planettes

The final climb to the hut in the sunshine

Arriving at the Refuge Peclet Polset

A long day over the Vanoise Ice Cap

 

Leaving the unmanned Refuge de l'Arpont

 A long days climb up the Glacier de la Mahure

 

Traversing below La Dent Parrachee

 

More skinning!

Approaching the Col de Labby

Crossing the Vanosie Ice Cap

 Climbing away from the Refuge du Col de la Vanoise

 The climb back up onto the Glaciers de la Vanoise

 

Our route to the west of Mont Pelve

 

 The climb up from the Glacier du Pelve

 

 Making tracks in perfect conditions

 Climbing towards the Dome de Chasseforet

 

 Mont Blanc above the clouds

 

Approaching the west ridge of the Dome de Chasseforet

Steve enjoying a hot day on the plateau

 

Skinning tracks across the Vanoise Ice Cap

Friday night film - Ueli Steck

Vanoise High Level Traverse

Skinning into the Refuge du Col de la Vanoise

Afternoon avalanches off the Aiguille de la Vanoise

Bourne Glacier Tour

A stunning day spent ascending and descending the Bourne Glacier