Comments on: Karst Adrift

By: McFadzean

McFadzean — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 12:18:10 +0000

Hi Dave. Your experiences sound so familiar. I could add to that times (one in particular in the mist on An Teallach) where I was so sure my inner compass was correct that when I did finally consult the map I promptly ignored it and carried on my original course, descending on completely the wrong side of the mountain.
These days I have reached the point where I consult Bing Maps and Google Earth before I set out anywhere. Makes you wonder how Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo managed. Perhaps there were hundreds more budding explorers who set out with huge expectations but just never came back because they got lost.
Cheers, Alen

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By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 23:19:40 +0000

Hi, Alen. I think it’s saddening to see so many of the old ways falling into disuse: carrying a map but failing to consult it being one example. This was a technique which I employed myself on occasions; although not latterly, as I have become timid and soft with age.

Times were when I would regularly become slightly ‘misplaced’ by virtue of neglecting to refer to the map. This would then be followed by a period of denial, during which it was still considered unnecessary to refer to the map, on the basis that it was only a matter of time before I recognised some prominent landmark. Phase three involved accepting that I didn???t have a clue where I currently was, but my own inner compass would somehow prevail over the unfamiliar terrain.

There was one final part to the process: it involved a pathetic figure, nervously unfolding a OS Explorer or Landranger, praying to the god of the hills that he hadn???t actually walked off the edge of its coverage.

I don’t think it ever found its way into any of the mainstream hill skills manuals.

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By: McFadzean

McFadzean — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 09:44:59 +0000

Hi Chrissie. Sometimes maps can make a situation worse. I managed to lose myself once above the southern shores of Loch Garry because a huge area of new forest wasn’t shown on my (admittedly out of date) map. A similar thing happened in Glen Carron when I walked the Cape Wrath Trail. But I suppose if I’d bought new maps, these incidents could have been avoided.
I like the idea of wandering mapless. It’s one way to get to know the area. But it does have its problems.
Cheeers, Alen

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By: chrissiedixie

chrissiedixie — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 09:28:18 +0000

I like to always know exactly where I’m going these days, but when I was much younger I used to wander around mapless in the local countryside, seeing what I came across and where I ended up – albeit in a much tamer area than where you are! Made me remember how much fun I used to have.
Wonderful photos of the scenery in your new land, too.

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By: McFadzean

McFadzean — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 18:03:00 +0000

I’ve been up the old inclines at Honister back in the 1980s before the via ferrata was built. Started at the bottom and emerged on the top of the crag. It was spectacular enough before the via ferrata, so what it’s like now, God knows.

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By: The Opening Sentence

The Opening Sentence — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 17:57:26 +0000

Amazing.

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By: The Opening Sentence

The Opening Sentence — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 17:56:47 +0000

No one will ever get me onto a via ferrata either. The one at Honister looks terrifying.

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By: McFadzean

McFadzean — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:10:54 +0000

Right. I have received an email from a lady called Alison who reckons the knobbly fruit is a custard apple, also known as a cherimoya. I’ll go along with that because I’ve heard that custard apples are grown in these parts but I’ve never seen one. According to Mark Twain, they are the most delicious fruit known to man. So there you go.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherimoya

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By: McFadzean

McFadzean — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:03:23 +0000

I was thinking of drawing my own maps for the blog. Might have a go for the next walk.

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By: Hanna

Hanna — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 11:28:13 +0000

It worked when I tried. The card number is 1042.

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By: mountaincoward

mountaincoward — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 11:15:44 +0000

With all the exploring you do, you could offer to map some of the out of the way areas for them ???? I used to do pretty accurate maps of our local wood

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By: Hanna

Hanna — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 11:14:50 +0000

If you add a picture of Zorro in your next chapter exploring gorges and caves then we will know it’s you ????
It’s interesting to get an insight into the Spanish salutations, Don Alen McFadzean.

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