Mont Blanc for Downderry

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last week or so… I’ve just got back from a trip to Scotland. I was intending to do a bit of winter walking and ice climbing, but there was very little snow or ice around so had to console myself with some long distance (and very wet and windy) walking. It did however, give me the opportunity to figure out some of the gear and methods I want to use when we finally tackle the Tour of Mont Blanc in the summer. Especially as I was staying with a couple of army lads, and had the chance to see some of the ways they do things, that I don’t usually come across when spending time in walking/climbing circles. Here are some of the decisions I have made about gear choices…

Continue Reading »

No Comments »

Gaëlle is pictured here with some of the newspaper articles that have appeared in the local press about our attempt on the Tour of Mont Blanc. Already the hits to the website have increased - hopefully it will have a big impact on sponsorship!

On Saturday, we had a photo shoot for a local paper. Gaëlle was nervous to begin with, but I think she secretly enjoyed it once she got into the swing of it! The photos were taken at Cheesewring Quarry, so after it ended we carried on doing a bit of climbing, and Gaëlle finally managed to top out on a climb that has been her nemesis since the first time she came climbing with me.

No Comments »

Hello,

I’m Gaëlle and I have finally plucked up the courage to write my first blog…

I used to be scared of everything, seriously scared of everything… the dark, height, confined spaces, crowd, people… and above all scared of changes… so what did i do? I moved from one side of the country to another, left my friends behind, my job, my house and decided to move where i had always wanted to live, a lovely seaside village in beautiful Cornwall.

Now, for someone that even a trip to the local shop could trigger a panic attack that was a massive task! but sometimes you need to follow that inner little voice that tells you to go for it!

15 months down the line, things could not be more different than what they used to be…. somehow I managed to talk myself into doing something pretty amazing for someone like me… on the 27th of July I will be flying out to Geneva (already a challenge in itself as I hate flying! So Dave’s first problem won’t have anything to do with the trip… it will be to get me on that plane! drunk! without anyone noticing!!) and from then, with my little rucksack (big scary thing really!) my tired legs (hopefully real muscly by then!) and new really really really fit body (that is wishful thinking!!) I will walk the TOUR DU MONT BLANC!!!!!! how cool is that?! (…that is what my son, Etienne, says… to which I answer “real coooooooool!!” thinking all along… “why? why? why????”)

Continue Reading »

1 Comment »

We took a stroll on Dartmoor on Sunday for a bit more long distance walking practice. We also took the opportunity of being on a new part of the moor (Combeshead Tor area) to give a Gaëlle a bit of an introduction to navigation techniques. She took to it really quickly, and I think it helped give her a little boost of confidence in being in the outdoors.

The weather was a classic case of sunshine and showers… bright blue skies one minute and tipping down with rain the next. However, we stayed dry long enough to find some good bouldering, especially on Combeshead Tor - definitely worth a revisit on a nice, dry, summer’s day.

No Comments »

A new bit of gear I’ve purchased for when we hit the Alps in July (and for an upcoming mountaineering trip to Scotland), is a down gilet jacket. If you’re not familiar with the characteristics of down, it goes pretty much like this: Fantastic warmth to weight ratio, as long as it stays dry.

Continue Reading »

No Comments »

A lot of equipment is needed to tackle the Tour of Mont Blanc comfortably and safely - from the obvious, such as good walking boots and decent shelter for wild camping; to the not so obvious, such as lightweight, durable cutlery and silk underwear to tackle sweat!

As Gaëlle is new to the hiking game, she has far more gear to buy before we head out to the alps in July. It’s been an eye-opener to me, as somebody who has purchased a fair bit of walking / climbing / outdoor gear, how much harder it is to find decent kit for women. We thought we would share our experiences of finding the right gear in the hopes it might help anybody else out there experiencing similar problems as Gaëlle.

Hit “Continue Reading” to find out about some of the gear we have been researching and / or purchasing in the last week or two.

Continue Reading »

No Comments »

Training this weekend consisted of a great day on Dartmoor. We had a good stomp around the Bridestow / Sourton area of the moor, taking in some bouldering on the various tors. We also had some fun navigating as the infamous Dartmoor mist repeatedly came down on top of us! (Must have been a good test for all the parties of Ten Tors trainees we came across, who have started practicing for the big event later this year.)

1 Comment »

Well the rain hasn’t stopped us this weekend. We popped to Truro on Saturday, where Gaëlle finally managed to find a decent (and good looking) pair of women’s hiking trousers. Today, we took a stomp over to Bearah Tor via Sharp Tor on Bodmin moor where we managed some fun bouldering in our big hiking boots and on wet rock!

Gaëlle in particular seemed to cross a pyschological boundary today, her confidence has sky-rocketed and it really allowed her to push herself in tricky conditions.

No Comments »