Walkhighlands

Jaywizz wrote:Love the video, Sgurr. Takes me back - Dachstein mitts? (I still have mine, unreasonably sentimental about old items of kit.)

You can still BUY Dachstein mitts.
https://www.climbers-shop.com/1377025/products/dachstein-mitts.aspx


Was contemplating getting some when I found a pair of Extremities lined mittens on sale in the summer in Fort Bill.

rodderss wrote:Did a Corbett a few weeks back and my mate though he would join me , he's never walked in hills before and turned up dressed like he was going out for a nice evening meal.

Told him he would have to walk 50 metres behind me so nobody thought he was with me.haha

We are doing a coastal walk for charity, doing a small section (apprx 8 miles) each month and having supporters walk with us for £10 a section, its raised a few bob so far, but one section across the cliffs around the south of the island is a bit exposed in parts, and very muddy in others and one lovely chap turned up in a tweed jacket and brogues, he really looked the part, except the soles of his brogues were just leather, and he was slip sliding all over the place. I basically had to carry him across most of the first part of the walk to a cafe, and he decided to bail out there (thank god). As I said, a lovely bloke and we were laughing most of the way, but he did feel sorry for him - and his brogues.

Although I wouldn't be seen dead in skinny jeans (my thighs are a bit chunky) it sounds to me like this daft young woman made a basic error - founded on inexperience and absence of planning.

Is there anyone on here - anyone at all - who can honestly say they haven't been guilty of similar faux pas in the past? ...at the start of their hill walking careers perhaps?

Case in point: when I was 18yrs old I climbed Liathach in jeans, DMs, and a Barbour jacket. Even now, over 30 years later I shudder to think of my crass stupidity back then.

Years ago I drove buses in Fort William, on a run down Glen Nevis I picked up a young American lady in what could only be called a raa raa skirt with a parasol and a pink waterproof jacket, ruscksac on her back, the end of October??
Do you go to the youth hostel she enquired,
yes,
that's where the path up Ben Nevis starts
!!!!! Well yes
She got off the bus and crossed the road onto the bridge.
On my return I could see the parasol and pink jacket across the glen ascending the ben.

Late in the afternoon as it was getting dark I approached the YH on my way back to town and there was the young lady in the same outfit as when I dropped her off.
Did you go up the Ben?
Of course but it was misty.
Dressed like that?
She laughed and said no I got changed over the bridge.
On the way back she told me that she had climbed mountains in America and Europe.
Looks can be really deceiving.

Case in point: when I was 18yrs old I climbed Liathach in jeans, DMs, and a Barbour jacket. Even now, over 30 years later I shudder to think of my crass stupidity back then.

My first mountain was Beinn Eighe at the age of 13 while the rest of the family was lazying around the camp site outside Kinlochewe, around 50 years ago, awestruck when I got to the top is an understatement. Thunder struck when told off by my father, who then said "did you enjoy yourself", dressed in shorts a shirt and jumper I was hooked on Scottish mountains for life.
People do all sorts of things when they are young and fit, looking back you could say I was daft but at the time I was a mountaineer like Hilary or Tenzing I'd been to the top of my world.
For a Londoner not bad aye!

am I right in thinking some of the Victorian/Edwardian age mountaineers went up in Harris tweed suits with silk vests.....?

What do you think they should have worn?

nigheandonn wrote:What do you think they should have worn?

kilts?

Also fairly warm and weather resistant

My first Munro was Mayar in trainers, shorts and a t-shirt one Easter with a rugby top in my bag in case it got cold.

It was snowing at the top.

Fortunately, a fair share of the Highlands is quite forgiving at the most of times. They allow to gradually build up experience. And often, looking stupid is more looks than stupid.

I did my first munro without a compass (and no GPS. It was during the Nokia days). Of course it was misty and taught us a lesson or two. I was sporting trail shoes. Now I am a mountain leader in the Alps.

I climbed in my youth wearing a set of overalls which I had cut off a casualty and then sewn the leg up again. He didn't want them (they were a bit blood-stained) so I recycled them for winter climbing. Topped with a military surplus greatcoat. On a more ridiculous front a bloke turned up at a Cairngorm bothy which will remain nameless,in winter, dressed in a suit and winklepickers. He was just out of jail...

Lucien23 wrote:The corollary is that I've occasionally found myself on top of a hill in spring or autumn and feeling positively over-dressed in boots, Berghaus and backpack.

Indeed, I was out in the Cairngorms near Corrour one blistering hot sunny summer's day. My young lady and I wore shorts and T shirts and basked in the sunshine. A party of trekkers ticked past, all wearing matching Goretex suits from top to toe, with double poles, gaiters and even Goretex hats with earflaps. Maybe they were vampires avoiding the sun...

Lightfoot2017 wrote:Although I wouldn't be seen dead in skinny jeans (my thighs are a bit chunky) it sounds to me like this daft young woman made a basic error - founded on inexperience and absence of planning.

Is there anyone on here - anyone at all - who can honestly say they haven't been guilty of similar faux pas in the past? ...at the start of their hill walking careers perhaps?

Case in point: when I was 18yrs old I climbed Liathach in jeans, DMs, and a Barbour jacket. Even now, over 30 years later I shudder to think of my crass stupidity back then.

I don't think climbing in jeans 30 yrs ago was all that stupid. My only walking gear when I started out 30 odd years ago was cheap boots, jeans, cotton shirt, woolen jumper and a very unbreathable cagoule. It was pretty much all I had and couldn't afford to buy clothing just for walking. Also, back then there wasn't much hi-tech gear around at all. As I started to earn more I gradually bought better gear over the years. These days we have lots of choices, but what if the lady we are writing about couldn't afford expensive clothing for maybe her only walk in the winter? If she was with a group, then the rest of the group should have looked after her. Last October I was with a small family group out in the Cairngorms and it was very windy with occasional sleet. I noticed that a younger member of our group was a bit short of warm gear. I didn't say anything, but I just slipped a couple of pairs of extra gloves, an extra light fleece and a light waterproof top into my own rucksack. She did need the gloves and fleece as it got colder and as we got back to the car she commented on buying these things before her next walk. Lesson learned and experience gained. I always carry a few extra items of kit with me and in the past have helped people out with first aid, bike repairs and clothing. We even walked for miles on the WHW with a young student who had badly sprained his leg and was exhausted, his so-called mates had left him to struggle on by himself. Looking out for others is something that we all should consider when we set out.

Well we all wore jeans in those days, and a surprising number of us have survived. I can't remember outdoor shops as part of my youth at all. I suppose there must have been some.
My brother still does wear jeans most of the time. Every year he admires my flash walking trousers and says he must get some one day.