BLUEMOMENT

As they say to us old phartz - - "May the wind behind you never be your own..."

jim.r wrote: Currently climbing about E1sh or F6b sport, aiming for E5 and F7c by the time I'm 55 ... and F8a for my 60th!!

I hope that I haven't given the wrong impression, I'm not into the sport at all. The film festival is purely (enjoyable) work. I was very impressed when I met Karen Darke, but not so sure about Bear Grylls.

From the responses so far, there's at least 8 of you out there into both hills and sails. It seems to be an 'outdoors' thing.

Thanks for the replies.

Ash

For me hillwalking (and some kayaking) came first and sailing much later. No family history of boats at all. Hillwalking was accessible, even as a hard up student without a car. The Pentlands were a bus or bike ride away. Many happy weekends started with a Friday night train run: Arrocher, Ardlui, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy, Rannoch, Corrour, Tulloch, Roy Bridge, Ft Bill, Dalmally, Taynault, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie and Aviemore all gave access to big hills. Two nights wild camping (or occasionally an SYHA or Nancy's at Fersit) and the train back on Sunday night. The Mallaig and Kyle lines were used to go further on holidays: for eight successive years I took the train to Achnashellach to spend Christmas at Gerry's.

Eventually I got a car which allowed access to more remote hills. I also, however, started to get into sailing, crewing for a pal with a Caprice intially. This included a memorable circumnavigation of Mull which really gave me a taste for combining hills and sailing. I bought my own boat, a Vivacity 20, and eventually used it to reach my last Munro. This quite eventful tale was written up here: http://www.braesofife.org.uk/articles/ben_more.htm (bit long and a few typos).

Since then I've tended to do more sailing and less hillwalking, but the island bagging game still works as a way to combine both.

Cripes! It wisnae in ra prospectus that yon DaveS wis wan o' thae benighted 'MunroBaggers'.....

Ah'm aff tae check my jabs history, and ah jist hope it's no catchin'......

DaveS wrote: This quite eventful tale was written up here

Brilliant story.

We tend to think of blogging as a recent innovation, but I suppose articles have always been written. It's just that it's easier for Joe Bloggs to find/read them now.

Any more intersting links?

Ash

Really interesting to read this post, I've always thought that many mountaineers take to sailing, been a member of Preston mountaineering club for many tears and its surprising how many of my old climbing parters have moved on to sailing.

Not really surpriing when you can spend your time sailing to a wonderful spot in Scotland them off for a walk into the hill, what can be better.