MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS
MICK TAYLOR
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?
I am a freelance Mountaineering and Ski Instructor / Guide working worldwide including the Greater Ranges and the Himalayas.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I was employed on the Arran Mountain Festival last year and found it to be both enjoyable and interesting. Arran has a special place in my heart as I first visited the Island as a very inexperienced Mountaineer in my youth and was enthralled by its beauty and wild mountainous environment.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Many, many. Apart from reaching the summits of some of the world’s highest peaks and first ascents of some classic climbs completing all the Munros was a very special day albeit many years ago now.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
The A’Chir Ridge Traverse, Beinn Nuis to the summit of A’Chir. Although in places it is not a ‘walk’ but a scramble. Major difficulties however can be avoided but care is needed throughout.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A well fitting rucksack containing …………essentials!
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Usually a bowl of cereal.
Mick is leading the A'Chir ridge walks.
Showing posts with label walking festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walking festival. Show all posts
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS
JO TOTTY
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?
I’m a mum and wife, I also volunteer with the National Trust for Scotland at Brodick Castle 3 days a week and less frequently for Community of Arran Seabed Trust. I love to have bonfires, go on walks, swim in the sea, am learning Gaelic, and am the chair of this Festival!!
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I volunteer as I love the mountains and whilst I’m happy to head off with my map and compass and a full bag of exciting kit, I realise that not everyone has the same confidence and skills – I just want to share what I love with as many people as possible!
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro without a guide, and being the first woman that day to see the sunrise from the summit.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
The amazing views along the majestic sweeping ridge between Caisteal Abhail and Sail am Im.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
Aside from the essential map and compass, it’d have to be a malt loaf – no matter what you try to do to it and no matter what shape it’s become, it’s always edible!
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
A massive bowl of cereal, with extra seeds and raisins.
Jo is co-leading the North Sannox and Laggantuin walk and the Corbetts day 2.
JO TOTTY
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?
I’m a mum and wife, I also volunteer with the National Trust for Scotland at Brodick Castle 3 days a week and less frequently for Community of Arran Seabed Trust. I love to have bonfires, go on walks, swim in the sea, am learning Gaelic, and am the chair of this Festival!!
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I volunteer as I love the mountains and whilst I’m happy to head off with my map and compass and a full bag of exciting kit, I realise that not everyone has the same confidence and skills – I just want to share what I love with as many people as possible!
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro without a guide, and being the first woman that day to see the sunrise from the summit.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
The amazing views along the majestic sweeping ridge between Caisteal Abhail and Sail am Im.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
Aside from the essential map and compass, it’d have to be a malt loaf – no matter what you try to do to it and no matter what shape it’s become, it’s always edible!
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
A massive bowl of cereal, with extra seeds and raisins.
Jo is co-leading the North Sannox and Laggantuin walk and the Corbetts day 2.
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS
The next in our series of volunteer walk leaders profiles is Alistair Hume.
ALISTAIR HUME
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?
For relaxation, I play the bagpipes with the Isle of Arran pipe band, I am also a keen sea kayaker and try to play golf as often as I can.
I also work part time for World Challenge, a company that specialises in taking groups of teenagers to mainly third world countries for up to five weeks at a time to experience other cultures and assist in project work such as toilet block construction.
I have also been a member of the Arran Mountain Rescue Team since 1976 and a lot of my time is spent training with them and being on call 24/7.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I like to try and help others experience the wonderful mountains of Arran and pass on any local knowledge and history and ensure that they have a memorable time.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
There have been many favorite moments!!! But for feel good factor it must be a time in Northern Peru while descending from a high 4.500 meter pass and at -10 I came across a young local lad, his face full of snot and minus some fingers and toes from frostbite - he was wearing shorts and sandals.
I will never forget the way his face changed when I gave him my cosy warm mountain rescue buffalo jacket that I had cherished for some 20 years.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
Don't really have one, I love them all!!!
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A whistle.
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Anyone I can persuade my wife to make!!!
Ali is co-leading the A'Chir ridge traverse.
The next in our series of volunteer walk leaders profiles is Alistair Hume.
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| Ali (on the right) co-leading last year's Mountain Festival A'Chir walk |
ALISTAIR HUME
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?
For relaxation, I play the bagpipes with the Isle of Arran pipe band, I am also a keen sea kayaker and try to play golf as often as I can.
I also work part time for World Challenge, a company that specialises in taking groups of teenagers to mainly third world countries for up to five weeks at a time to experience other cultures and assist in project work such as toilet block construction.
I have also been a member of the Arran Mountain Rescue Team since 1976 and a lot of my time is spent training with them and being on call 24/7.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I like to try and help others experience the wonderful mountains of Arran and pass on any local knowledge and history and ensure that they have a memorable time.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
There have been many favorite moments!!! But for feel good factor it must be a time in Northern Peru while descending from a high 4.500 meter pass and at -10 I came across a young local lad, his face full of snot and minus some fingers and toes from frostbite - he was wearing shorts and sandals.
I will never forget the way his face changed when I gave him my cosy warm mountain rescue buffalo jacket that I had cherished for some 20 years.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
Don't really have one, I love them all!!!
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A whistle.
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Anyone I can persuade my wife to make!!!
Ali is co-leading the A'Chir ridge traverse.
Friday, 27 April 2012
2011 Arran Mountain Festival A'Chir Ridge Walk
I had never set foot on Arran before, which is shameful considering I live in Glasgow, but I have always heard it is good for walking and climbing. My friend, who has been on Arran several times, heard about the mountain festival and saw there was a guided walk along the A'Chir ridge which he had bypassed on previous walks and thought it would be a great chance to walk it.
We just made it to the outdoor centre in time to get a quick instruction on how to put our slings on, which is when I thought it was going to be more extreme than any scrambling I had done before.
The walk started in Glen Rosa and the weather was perfect, warm morning sun and blue skies. The group walked up Glen Rosa at an easy pace giving the group the chance to get to know one another and hear the guides point out places of interest and tell some stories about the area. We stopped for some lunch just below Cir Mhor where we were told that if we didn't fancy the ridge we could turn back.
A short climb took us to the the start of the rock climbing section where the guides set about putting a safety rope up. It was just as well they did, I was the second person to go along the section and had a wee slip but managed to get to the end of the section safely. There were plenty of other moments where the ropes were in use and I think the group was thankful for that especially at the bad step on the ridge. This was only a gap of half a metre which had to be jumped, but with vertical drops on each side the exposure was something else.
By the time we had reached the top I was a lot more tired out than what I would have expected, mostly from using muscles that aren't usually put to the test. But the wonderful views from the top made it worthwhile and I quickly forgot about my aches and pains. We could see Jura and even all the way over to the Antrim coast.
After the top it there was one more section which required the rope then it was a steady walk back down to Glen Rosa to catch our lift.
Having lacked any previous rock climbing experience i knew this was going to be an exhilarating, challenging and at times apprehensive walk. But with the guides always there to reassure you and advise you along the way everyone got passed the trickiest sections with no problems. I will certainly be back to Arran to walk the rest of the hills and ridges after this.
I must say a big thanks to the guides, Ali and Mick. They were full of knowledge and stories of the area and their times on the hills and you felt in very safe hands with them helping you along the hardest sections of the walk.
Gregor
We just made it to the outdoor centre in time to get a quick instruction on how to put our slings on, which is when I thought it was going to be more extreme than any scrambling I had done before.
The walk started in Glen Rosa and the weather was perfect, warm morning sun and blue skies. The group walked up Glen Rosa at an easy pace giving the group the chance to get to know one another and hear the guides point out places of interest and tell some stories about the area. We stopped for some lunch just below Cir Mhor where we were told that if we didn't fancy the ridge we could turn back.
A short climb took us to the the start of the rock climbing section where the guides set about putting a safety rope up. It was just as well they did, I was the second person to go along the section and had a wee slip but managed to get to the end of the section safely. There were plenty of other moments where the ropes were in use and I think the group was thankful for that especially at the bad step on the ridge. This was only a gap of half a metre which had to be jumped, but with vertical drops on each side the exposure was something else.
By the time we had reached the top I was a lot more tired out than what I would have expected, mostly from using muscles that aren't usually put to the test. But the wonderful views from the top made it worthwhile and I quickly forgot about my aches and pains. We could see Jura and even all the way over to the Antrim coast.
After the top it there was one more section which required the rope then it was a steady walk back down to Glen Rosa to catch our lift.
Having lacked any previous rock climbing experience i knew this was going to be an exhilarating, challenging and at times apprehensive walk. But with the guides always there to reassure you and advise you along the way everyone got passed the trickiest sections with no problems. I will certainly be back to Arran to walk the rest of the hills and ridges after this.
I must say a big thanks to the guides, Ali and Mick. They were full of knowledge and stories of the area and their times on the hills and you felt in very safe hands with them helping you along the hardest sections of the walk.
Gregor
Monday, 26 September 2011
2011 Arran Mountain Festival Coich na h'Oighe Walk
I'm sure I can speak for the group when I say that we were all chuffed to bits with what we achieved on this walk - some found it more challenging than others!!
Jacqui
Thursday, 22 September 2011
2011 Arran Mountain Festival Witch's Step Walk
This walk offered a bit of everything - scrambling, ridges, bogs, but most of all the fabulous views. Outstanding!!
Jacqui
Jacqui
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