Since I found out that I'd got a place on the TGO Challenge crossing back in November, to be honest for some reason I've been a bit half assed in planning my route. I don't know why; I'd already been planning it well before I knew I was in. So a kick up the bum was metaphorically self administered and last week I started planning in earnest. Now I have something like a route that I'm reasonably happy with, but which I'll need to tart up a bit yet before I send it off to be vetted. But my choice of route may not ingratiate some people...
I don't know if it's just me, but I seem to find a preponderance for people to be 'Peak bagging' that is more and more turning me off the scene. There seems to be some sort of kudos for doing this as a reason in itself, but which just doesn't do anything for me. What about the spirit of place?
Maybe as a backlash I'm finding myself drawn more to woodlands and glens and going my own way. I enjoy being on hills, if they have meaning to me. I am not so bothered about hauling my backside up a hill for the sake of saying I've 'done it' whatever 'done it' means. Most of my writing is about how I experience being outdoors and I suppose I'm having a rant at people who just seem to go in for ticklists (yeah I know it's up to them but this is my blog!). I just don't get the point though there are plenty of them out there who seem to live for this approach. Maybe because in my working life I am pretty damn well organised, precise, analytical that I like to leave all that behind and just 'be'. Sometimes I may just want to 'be' in one place for a time. And in thinking about my route I am wondering how I am going to accommodate that, if at all. People sometimes have 'rest days' as if it's a second best experience to being out in the hills, whereas I enjoy being relatively stationary sometimes.
I made a comment on Nick Gallop's blog post, Nature's Attitude Adjuster earlier, a fantastic article that I much appreciated. I loved the phrase "tap into the rhythms of what’s going on around you". Taking time to become more appreciative of the environment, of which we are part, albeit with our oil based kit in ninja black and shades (this dichotomy is becoming harder to swallow for me).
Some of my favourite times are just when I wander. I remember just walking from my house one September morning, wandering footpaths, fields and towpaths, picking blackberries along the way and making jam with them the next day. It was unplanned and inspiring and more than 10 years later that memory is still vivid for me. Yes, I bet there are hills like that for many people, their memories of summiting and standing to stare at the views. I've done it myself and enjoyed it. But not usually with a view of 'right, onto the next'. When I have done that I've tended to forget the hill and experience and it just becomes meaningless. Wandering from my house with my overnight kit is something I've mentioned to a couple of people; something I shall do soon.
Maybe all this is reflected in how I seem to be drawn to woods and moorland; I keep thinking I must re-read BB's Brendon Chase, and Muir, and yet more Thoreau, and am finding myself steered towards more bushcraft type of blogs and nature writing, rather than just UL backpacking. Steering away from so many gear blogs and towards experience blogs. So I am so pleased that Miguel is blogging again! I'm thinking about being more in harmony with the environment, resisting oil based kit. After not long ago opening my eyes to silnylon, cuben fibre et al, I'm now starting to feel the need to shut them again. It's a mental wrangle I'm not sure if I'm going to win. Is a few grams worth that much? (I feel like an heretic!)
So yes, in planning my TGO route I am mindful of wanting to experience the sense of place of those I pass through, the stories of the land, not just a tick list "yes, I've bagged x mountain, now to the next". I want to savour it and enjoy it all, not just the A to B + Xn.
I'm with you bask in the glory of the place for the place itself not because its got another summit to tick off on a list to say you've done it? What will you remember in years to come? I'm going to stop before I start to rant! ;)
ReplyDeleteI couldnt agree more Helen,if i was on the TGO it would be Glens/woodland & Passes for my route as this would be magical,especially on a first crossing.Im looking forward to your account of your first crossing.
ReplyDeleteJust being outside can be an end in itself, especially if we spend too long indoors in the course of our work. I like the air, the fresh breath and the chance to marvel at my surroundings - peak bagging is for some but the hills are open to all to experience in their own way - go with what each of us desires.
ReplyDeleteI'm using a 365 day challenge at the moment through posterous to log a geographical liked pic each day - it keeps me out there experiencing - and a great motivator.
Awesome post my friend. I love ther idea of walking within the environment and not just 'through' it.
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to seeing where you plan to go. One of my delights of the Challenge is to find the old hill paths that are no longer known or shown on the maps.
ReplyDeleteStand in the valley and think to yourself "If I was to go over there, which way would I choose?" Aiming at breaks of slope, huge boulders and the flat spot all help you re-find the old paths between the glens if the weather had been dreich they would have needed handy recognisable reference points. I have found countless old paths this way.
Forming a relationship with the environment you're in, letting it inspire you, just being with it.. We DO go into the outdoors to leave our accomplishment based societal lives don't we? I guess everyone harvests their pleasures in different ways... <3
ReplyDeleteHelen, great blog, and I love to read what you're up to and appreciate that you share your feelings, and not just the facts of the day.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'd like to question something. Remember I know very little of the walking world, so go easy on me. I can't quite understand what this TGO thing is all about... I mean you do plenty of hiking anyway, often with distance and multi-day hikes - so what does the TGO give you on top of that? I guess I'm thinking this is your version of Monroe bagging - but that wouldn't make sense? I'd love to hear your motivation for the TGO.
I can understand how you feel, I very rarely go 'peak bagging' anymore, I can't even remember the last 'big' peak I did.
ReplyDeleteTo me its about being out in the countryside enjoying the environs.
I think this is why I struggled with my enjoyment of the TGO, although the countryside was great and I loved being there, there was always in the back of my mind that I needed to hit a certain place at a certain time and this seemed to affect how often I stopped and for how long.
This had never been a problem on other walks, so was a strange experience
As someone who is trying to do all of the Birketts I feel there is a case to be answered for summit bagging. If I'd never have started doing the Birketts I'm positive there are many parts of the Lakes I would never have discovered. That said I don't just go somewhere because I've not been there before, several Lake summits have been re-visited and not the obvious big ones, simply for the pleasure of walking them again. Mind as I have yet to find a hill that I haven't enjoyed standing on the top of and struggled to drag myself away from I'm not sure I'd fit neatly into the category of being a doing it to complete the list sort of person. I can't look at a hill without wandering what the view from it is like, no matter where it is.
ReplyDeleteThat said it isn't always the hills that hold the fondest places in my heart. I still have to find anywhere that brings me as much joy as the view from Bleaklow Stones I have always loved the desolation and wilderness on the Peaks plateaus, which most people simply don't understand.
Thanks for your comment Angela. I just don't *get* the idea of ticking off hills for the sake of it. Just doesn't appeal to me. I don't believe this is what you are doing either, but whatever the case that is up to you!
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Generally this post seems to have provoked a lot of reaction via direct email, Twitter and texts, but I am just stating what I prefer.
Interesting points. I starting doing all this walking because of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks and then the Wainwrights. Saying that I enjoy the routes up as much as the summit but the challenge of getting to the top sometimes drives me on where otherwise I might quit. It's certainly got me to places I wouldn't have dreamed of going to otherwise and some of the views both on the way and from the summits have been amazing.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent point Helen and I agree with you. There are a few Wainwright's I've been to that I probably won't visit again purely because they weren't that interesting and the views were nothing special. Can have just as much enjoyment and get excellent views on a flat walk. At some point I hope to do Wainwright's Coast to Coast as that looks stunning :-)
ReplyDeleteHelen, a further comment if you don't mind. I have read the comments and in general go sone way along with most. BUT you should hike your own hike, for whatever reason, and for whatever fulfilment. Be true to yourself and let others either accept that or go their own way. It matters not, the only thing that truly matters is YOUR happines if what YOU are doing. Others opinions are theirs. Your feelings are yours. End of story.
ReplyDeleteHelen, you appear to want to justify and defend your own approach to the hills by attacking those (having a 'rant' as you put it) who choose differently. i.e 'list-tickers'. Worse still you presume to know their motives! However by choosing, what is clearly in your view, a pejorative term to label those who climb listed hills, the argument is lost I fear.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I have completed the Munros and almost the Corbetts, but we are not 'list-tickers' (if we were we'd have finished the latter more than 10 years ago!) We rock climb, winter climb, ski-tour, enjoy glens, woodlands and all wild places; we are interested in the landscape, wildlife and the history of the place - both mountaineering history and otherwise. And we are far from unusual. However, if 'list-ticking' is how someone enjoys the hills why not?
If I were to share your outlook (which I don't) I might conclude that you are crossing Scotland on the TGOC to get the T-shirt! For the kudos. Why do it if not? You can cross Scotland independently anytime.
Enjoy the TGOC and do the route you want to do. I'll be very surprised if any Challenger thinks your route is inferior just because it's a low level one. And if there are, their views don't matter do they?
I'm not offended in the least and it would be a pity if you stopped blogging Helen. When I was 'doing' the Munros I avoided telling my climbing friends - The Tables needed a brown paper cover! It simply wasn't 'respectable'. Again it was the assumption that you couldn't really appreciate hills and wildness if you were involved in such a subversive endeavour as climbing Munros!
ReplyDeleteI would agree that there is some 'Munro-mugging', as Hamish Brown put it, these days. Heads down, grim-faced they don't seem to be enjoying the exerience, and certainly won't stop for a brief chat - one of the best of hill-going traditions. But so be it, is my view.
I understand what you say about spirit of place. All I'm asking is that you don't assume that 'list-tickers', to use your term, can't appreciate that as well.
Not much into peak bagging myself either, I have zero interest in feeling obliged to climb a hill in the fog or rain after a three hour drive. Give me an overnighter and some time to get a feeling for the place, spend time under the stars and wake to a silent hillside any day...
ReplyDeleteLovely piece, Helen! Just how I feel too.
ReplyDeleteHey Helen,
ReplyDeleteIsn't "joy" what it's all about, Helen?
When you go outside you don't do it for someone else. You're doing it just for you! So it's just you who could "measure" this experience. The most important part is that you enjoy your time!
And the feeling to be in harmony with the environment and nature itself is something I can understand very well. But the secret is not to think in outdoor-categories! I've done a lot of different outdoor approaches: I spend nearly 15 years with the boyscouts, been in the army for 12 years, spend several years with my wife going outdoors. I've made trips with "normal"/ultraheavy gear. I've spend time on training my bushcraft skills. Got enthusiastic about UL-equipment. Think I've done it all... ;-)
What I've learned out of it? Don't think in categories (like UL, bushcraft, etc.)
After all IT'S JUST GEAR! (I'm sure they will kick me for saying that!)
Your equipment is just the tool you use to stay outdoors. But it's nothing without yourself! Chose the one that works best for you and hinders you the less. And then go out and stop thinking about it.
Go outdoors and just have fun!
Good Luck for the TGO, Helen. The beauty of it is that you can go your own way, from what I understand, and its not a race. A bit like life really ;p
ReplyDeleteand if you see stan, say hallo from me
Thank you Fraser and Robert :-) It's intriguing how people can and do experience the same thing in so many ways, and that others are like minded sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBasti! You sum it up so well; don't categorise and the 'equipment is just the tool' and 'nothing without yourself' (no matter which way you're inclined!). I thanked you on Twitter when you posted the comment but meant to do it here too: Thank you!
David, Thank you for your comment here and on my post today, and for directing me to look at your trees :o) Sadly Stan passed away in October last year but I of course, he wont be forgotten.
Thank you Fraser and Robert :-) It's intriguing how people can and do experience the same thing in so many ways, and that others are like minded sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBasti! You sum it up so well; don't categorise and the 'equipment is just the tool' and 'nothing without yourself' (no matter which way you're inclined!). I thanked you on Twitter when you posted the comment but meant to do it here too: Thank you!
David, Thank you for your comment here and on my post today, and for directing me to look at your trees :o) Sadly Stan passed away in October last year but I of course, he wont be forgotten.
Not much into peak bagging myself either, I have zero interest in feeling obliged to climb a hill in the fog or rain after a three hour drive. Give me an overnighter and some time to get a feeling for the place, spend time under the stars and wake to a silent hillside any day...
ReplyDeleteHelen, great blog, and I love to read what you're up to and appreciate that you share your feelings, and not just the facts of the day.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'd like to question something. Remember I know very little of the walking world, so go easy on me. I can't quite understand what this TGO thing is all about... I mean you do plenty of hiking anyway, often with distance and multi-day hikes - so what does the TGO give you on top of that? I guess I'm thinking this is your version of Monroe bagging - but that wouldn't make sense? I'd love to hear your motivation for the TGO.
I am really looking forward to seeing where you plan to go. One of my delights of the Challenge is to find the old hill paths that are no longer known or shown on the maps.
ReplyDeleteStand in the valley and think to yourself "If I was to go over there, which way would I choose?" Aiming at breaks of slope, huge boulders and the flat spot all help you re-find the old paths between the glens if the weather had been dreich they would have needed handy recognisable reference points. I have found countless old paths this way.
I couldnt agree more Helen,if i was on the TGO it would be Glens/woodland & Passes for my route as this would be magical,especially on a first crossing.Im looking forward to your account of your first crossing.
ReplyDelete