Managing Risk in the Mountains #3: Ten Principles for Taking & Reviewing Risk

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Managing Risk in the Mountains #3: Ten Principles for Taking & Reviewing Risk

According to Merriam-Webster, risk is “the possibility of loss or injury, or someone or something that creates or suggests a hazard.” As a society we are becoming increasingly risk-adverse, but any mountain adventure involves risk to some degree. It can be argued that taking risks can add to the enjoyment and sense of achievement. So how do we decide what is acceptable risk-taking? These ten principles have been adapted from the Authorised Professional Practice of the College of Policing.

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Who Needs A Mountain Mentor?

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Who Needs A Mountain Mentor?

I love being asked for help and advice from people who climb for pleasure, or who want to know how to work out the next step in their outdoor career. I benefited from such advice when I was starting out as a climber forty four years ago aged twelve, and as an outdoor instructor thirty nine years ago, and now that I have built up so much knowledge from my personal adventures and from working as an International Mountain Guide for twenty plus years, I’m super-keen to pass it all on. Most successful people, whatever their field of interest, will probably have had a mentor at some point on their journey. Mentoring is the answer to the problems of missed goals, lost momentum, inability to identify the next step, and failed plans. A mentor should be someone who has done the things you’re striving to achieve, who is truly passionate about the outdoors, who will encourage a growth mindset, and who will challenge you.

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5 Really Cool Things To Look Out For In The Mountains

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5 Really Cool Things To Look Out For In The Mountains

When Anne asked me to write this post my first thought was "Great. I'd love to do this." This was quickly followed self-doubt; I'm no expert naturalist or photographer. I'm an aspirant Mountain Leader, and in my trips into the hills I've had plenty of enjoyment learning about the plants and animals I've seen. Four out of five of these things were seen in one weekend, so there's a lot out there if you keep your eyes open. All the photos were taken in the Lake District, three of them on one of Chris's suggested quality mountain days, and two on other walks preparing for Mountain Leader assessment.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Learn To Navigate Using Contours

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5 Reasons Why You Should Learn To Navigate Using Contours

The difference between OK navigation and excellent navigation lies in the ability to read and make sense of contours. Contours are those wiggly lines drawn on the map connecting points of equal height above sea level. “Contour” comes from the Italian word “contorno” meaning "to draw a line". In the UK we have one of the most accurate mapping systems in the world, and our maps use contours to show the shape of the ground in incredible detail.

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