Adrian's Photoblog

June 2013 was my second visit to Crete, staying in the lovely New Kydonia appartments in the little village of Daratsos, near Chania.  From the appartments you get a wide view over the sea, and also an impressive view inland to the Lefka Ori, or White Mountains.


Last year we were tempted by these mountains and climbed Gingilos, a dramatic peak above the Omalos plateau.  This year I came back with a detailed mountain route map (not easy to find among the tourist shops), and overnight gear for longer trek. 

By 0730 I had driven the hour long drive to Xiloskalo and was heading up the Kalerghi Refuge, where the guardian kindly filled up my water bottles for my next 30 hours in the mountains. Being used to UK mountains, water is never much of an issue, but here I had to ensure I had enough to get me into the mountains, have an overnight stay, and then enough to get me back out....without being weighed down as I crossed the mountains.  I set off with 4 litres, and stashed 1 litre about half way through my day, in order to pick that up again on the way out.  There was also indication on the map of various cisterns and springs where the water may or may not exist!!

By late morning I was climbing the path up to Melindaou, and came across about 20 vultures feasting on a dead goat...an impressive, and slightly nerve wracking sight...I hoped my water would last.!!


Melindaou summit was wonderful with views to both coasts as well as the inticing view into the heart of the White Mountains where I was heading, with the red screes of the highest and remotest peaks encouraging me onwards.  By mid afternoon I had reached Katsiveli shepherds hut where I planned to stay.  I was feeling sunbaked, and was dismayed to find no running water into the cistern, and the water within looking very green and stagnant - only for desperate measures.  I focused on getting some rest to avoid overdrinking my precious reserves, and found the shepherds hut to be in good order, and pretty tidy.

Later I set off up to Modhaki which at 2225m is superbly placed in the midst of the highest summits, with Pachnes the highest rising to 2453m to the south.  It also involved scrambling up some of the red screes I had seen in photos of these mountains.  The feeling of isolation in the late evening sun on Modhaki and down at the hut was intense, the only people I had seen were on Melindaou, a few hours walk away.


After watching sunset on the mountains from my hut, the night passed well, but I peeked out in the middle of the night and saw the most amazing night sky...with the milky way incredibly clear.  At first light (6:15) I was off, and took a route over Papa Balomata (2121m) where I saw the first sun hitting the slopes all around me, and had a chilly breakfast watching this wonderful spectacle unfolding.




I passed a shepherd with his quite scary dog at Pirou Mitato, and then back overMelindaou...retracing my steps, and remembering to pick up my last litre of water. On balance the 4 litres I took with me from Kalerghi was just sufficient for my trip.   I then headed back as quickly as possible to avoid the midday heat as I descended, reaching Kalerghi for a refreshing drink and then descending to my car at Xiloskalo.

By 2:30 I was back in the refreshing pool at New Kydonia telling my family about the trip, and then down to Chania for an evening meal.  the next day on the balcony I could look contentedly up at those mountains, knowing at least something of what that world in those mountains is like....

Here's a slow-mo video set of me on my mountain bike at Swinley Forest on 30 April 2012.  I bought the mountain bike in Jan 2012, and it has been great fun.

I never really thought I'd do it... I never really even thought about whether I wanted to...it was just something my great cycling cousins did, but not me. Then Steve did it, then Mark said he'd been roped into it, and I was cycling offroad in the new forest in May and I suddenly started to imaging I was doing it...and it felt good...and a seed was sewn. Next time I was on the bike it was there again, so it was time for a conversation with Phil about what it was really about. And here I am, doing the 3 peaks, arriving at Cold Cotes after what I can only call a hysterical decent of Ingleborough, taking 3 tumbles on the squelchy ground only to find myself laughing at how soft the landing was, and how limited my offroad cycling skills were. And this after walking up the otherside, enjoying 20 minutes or so with Mark, wondering if the 12kg piece of awkwardly shaped metal was going to be any use to to me today, or just there for fun.

And so onto Whernside...and it's amazing how the group thins out when you're near the back, which kind of suited me really, but maybe it made it a bit easy to ease off on the ascent - rather than push myself. On the decent I realise that the 3 peaks is not about whether you have Landcruisers or tubulars, or whether to have energy powders or electrolytes, it's about being able to ride your bike....and I couldn't !! I tried all sorts of routes, but all options were steep and either rocky or steep mud/grass...so carrying seemed the safest option. i'm not laughing now, because if Pen-y-ghent is this hard, then I may still get round, but I'm know I'm out of my depth, and risk a nasty fall..

After encouragement and flapjack from our enormous support team, I'm on my way to the Ghent, and munching a Torq bar because I said I would. As I start ascending the track, riders are hurtling down which is quite nerve racking....I've still got to come down there....but not yet. Higher on the hill, I see Steve...then Phil....then Mark....and it's uplifting to see them and the warmth of their greeting. Before long I'm on my way down, and it's great cycling. A lovely 'ski traverse' contouring decent above the path, with my Landcruisers holding their edge superbly, and then as we get off the steep bit I start cycling, and keep cycling, for the longest period off-road of the day. It's hard on the arms, but the sun is shining in my face, and the puddles reflect the blue sky.. and I want to stop and take it all in, but not today... The last riders are still on the mountain behind me and so have the track to myself, apart from a few amazingly tolerant walkers.

I'm at the finish, swapping stories, comparing checkpoint times, feeling good. Someone says 'Will you do it again Adrian', and I'm not sure what to say...I never really thought I might do it again..! And in the car back home the next day I'm thinking about what I could have done differently to improve on my time....and another seed is sewn.

For my records, food/drink as follows banana at Helwith Bridge, 500ml energy drink and a Torq bar over Ingleborough. Torq bar on route to Chapel-le-dale. 500ml energy drink over Whernside, 500ml electrolyte and piece of flapjack at Ribblehead. torq bar on road to Horton, and some 'energy jelly beans' and 500ml energy drink over penyghent. This all seemed to work perfectly.

My times were as follows:
Ingleborough - 1.20 Cold Cotes - 1.47

Whernside - 3.00 Ribblehead - 3.42

Penyghent - 5.04 Finish - 5.40

So, back to the familiar for summer this year and a week for Soph and Izzy alone, with us joining them on the second week.
It was unusually cool this year, with daytime temps reaching only 24-25 C, and a fair bit of cloud and rain around.
Still, the more temperate weather was perfect for walking, and we did some good walks in the mountains behind the lake, including an ascent of Le Berceau, which I last climbed with Dee in 1989.
Click on the title for the full set

I said I'd take both girls on a 16th birthday 'treat' with me to the Alps and after a lovely trip with Sophie to the Aravis in June 2007, this year it was the nearby Anterne with Izzy.
As always nothing prepares me for the wonderful things I'm going to see, hear, and experience - and with perfect weather this was a great trip. We stayed 2 nights at the Alfred Wills Refuge, and on day 2 did a walk along the ridge above at 2500m.
The 'icing on the cake' when you walk in this area are the views of Mont Blanc, and as you enter the Anterne high pasture, it's suddenly there...and from thereon it's never far away.

Click on the title to see more pictures of the trek. This photo is one of the 2 waterfalls in the lower part of the valley on our way up after an early start that morning from Romsey..!!

Photos from my trip with Sophie in June 2007 can be found on the blog for that month.

After brushing with the mountains of the lake district over a number of years this year we stepped up to the big one...and ascent of Englands highest.
I first floated the idea in January as the girls were all stepping up their training and the gym and the idea became the main purpose of our trip. Dee has done it some 25 years ago with the College Outdoor Pursuits Club.

A great day out, what I had forgotten was what a fine days walk this is...up the corridor route via Styhead, and back over Broad Crag and Esk Hause. One of the great mountain walks in the lakes. And well done all

First munro - Stob Dearg on Buachaille Etive Mor on 23 Feb 1981 with Michael Simpson

50th Munro - Spidean Mialach in April 1987 with John Shepherd

80th Munro - Garbh Chioch Mor in May 1992 with Jim Rutter

100th Munro - Meall na Teanga in March 2011 with Simon Fox

You'll notice the decline in rate...and I did infact gain 6 new munros from upgrades in the late 1990s.

my 100th Munro a photo by Ade Holmes on Flickr.

This years trip took us back to Patterdale where it all started in 2000 when I got together a group of those who I'd climbed mountains with over the years. Those joining the trips has changed a bit over the years, it's great that we all make such an effort to get together.2001
This year gave us a stunning day on the Deepdale Horseshoe, in my view the best Fairfield horseshoe..with it's impressive views of Ullswater, Helvellyn, and the eastern corries of Fairfield. Some of the debate this year was trying to piece together the trips we've had over the years, so for the record, here it is.

2000 March 4/5 Patterdale. Day 1 Helvellyn, Day 2 Place Fell. Famed for it's rotton fish.

2001 Oct 6/7 Cockermouth. Day 1 Grasmoor Horseshoe, Day 2 Mellbreak. Famous for being a replacement for a cancelled trip in March due to Foot and Mouth.

2002 March 2/3 Borrowdale. Day 1 Great End, Day 2 Causey Pike. Famous for John and Simon going solo onto Scafell Pike, and Jim adjusting his crampons in Custs Gully

2003 March 1. 1 day trip up Blencathra. Famous for Rob's Alpenstock and Adrian's inflatable trousers

2004 March 13/14 Dolgam. Day 1 Y Garn, Day 2 Moel Siabod in the rain. Famous for a lot of things, not least being the start of the Mrs Davies years. Also for epic gullies on Y Garn, and following Dave's dogs blood trail

2005 March 12/13 Dolgam. Day 1 Tryfan, Day 2 Llewidd. Famous for....not sure, but it was good

2006 March 4/5 Dolgam. Day 1 Carneddau in deep snow, Day 2 Moel Siabod. Famous for the fact we had an epic getting there with snow on the access roads, and for being stunning winter conditions.

2007 March 3/4 Wasdale. Day 1 Scafells, Day 2 Yewbarrow. Famous for finding a pair of Jeans below Mickeldore

2008 March 1/2 Wasdale. Day 1 Pillar, Day 2 Whin Rigg. Famous for the best tall stories in the pub at Nether Wasdale, and losing electricity at Burnthwaite Farm

2009 Feb 28/March 1 Dogellau. Day 1 Cadair Idris, Day 2 Rhinog Fawr. Famous for the great booze up and the curry in Dolgellau

2010 Feb 6/7 Dolgellau. Day 1 Arans, Day 2 Cadair Idris. Famous for being bless-ed with cloud inversions on both days and singing 'Bread of Heaven' on the Arans.

2011 Jan 29/30 Patterdale. Day 1 Deepdale Horseshoe, Day 2 Place Fell. Famous for being the first time the group opted to use a ferry on day 2.

So there you have it. Good job someone is nerdy enough to keep a record of these things..!!