DOA Week 15: The Old Man of Coniston, The Lake District

I have gained so much and lost so much. I stand atop The Old Man of Coniston and think about the people who once worked on the hill. Disused mines, stockpiled slate, abandoned machinery and deeply cut quarries - men and women, families, lives lived long ago all gone now. Confined to the past. Forever. As the years go by; surviving doesn't get any easier. The December conditions are cold and sharp.

'Oh man is a giddy thing' I listen to a song and start wandering down across the ridgeline. 'Love will not betray, dismay or enslave you, it will set you free. Be more like them, than you were made to be.' I smile as the sun breaks through the grey cloud and is followed by blue sky. At last I can see where I am going. I put my compass and map away and begin to enjoy the hill.

I am leading a small group of walkers back down to Coniston. This week is a bit of a 'do it yourself week'. Well, what do you expect with X-mas coming up - we all need some time off.

We were staying a Wrostlers Barn on the shore of Coniston water. Thank god it had a wood-burning oven to warm us. The snow started falling on Wednesday. What made it worst was having to get in to a Canoe and paddle the River Lune. Trying to surf the wave at Devil's bridge when it's snowing in your eyes is pretty damn difficult!

Friday was a little nicer - half a day canoeing on Coniston Water. The beautiful lake where the famous kids book ‘Swallows and Amazons’ is set. We even got to walk on Peel Island - Whoop! The snowfall on Helvellyn looked fantastic in the background. I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to go back and face Christmas alone.

Until next year. Merry x-mas!

Peace,

Dan

DOA Week 14: Kick Ass - Paddling in North Wales

This week has been my most enjoyable yet. Number 1 we were paddling in kayaks, 2 we were in North Wales, 3 I was actually glad it was raining and 4 we weren't sleeping in tents - oh yeah! That's right. Holed up in Bala Bunkhouse, sofa, table to eat off, chessboard and hot showers! Luxury.

On Tuesday we paddled the Dovey, a great river with plenty of wave trains, rapids and drops. The most fun was a grade 3+ drop and gorge section. We were hit with a few swims but that was all right as I got to chase some boats and rescue the little fishes!! By Wednesday everybody, em, bar me, were competing for the swim trophy! We were on the Dulace, which was pretty low but quite technical. The shallow water proved a challenge with the less experienced members but everyone did very well.

Thursday took us to the Llugwy where we put in at Plas Y Brenin and had a play in the surf shoot. It was the first time I'd seen the National Mountain centre from the other side. It looked exceptional especially the ski slope. (Note) Must try and get job here (Note). The LLguwy was an excellent ride, probably why PYB use it so much. The first bit of fun was Brown's Fall, a tricky little slot that caused a few problems but everybody got it together for the mighty Cobden's Fall.

We deemed the drop a little too much for most of the group. They ran the chicken shoot on the left. I ran safety, dropping into the middle, which was a little tricky - the water was slightly lower than the week before.

We didn't let the excitment of Cobden's got to our head and got out before the suicidal Pont Cyfyng. This looks terrifying. The sort of stuff that looks good on your CV but not on your gravestone!

On Friday we ran the Upper Tryweryn from the Ski Jump. It was pumping 17 cumecs! The highest I'd seen it. The novices in the group got in below the wooden bridge at the start of the lower. The water was knarly and the sheer volume running through was washing out any of the features. It was a mess and the swimmers that came out of their boat swam, literally swam with terrified looks on their faces. After I found out that I got a pint for rescuing a boat and a half for getting a paddle I went into overdrive!

The lower was great and Bala Mill falls was grade 4 at least. It didn't help when I went over the lip upside down. I thought I could taste blood in my mouth but was relived when I was given the all clear from the bank and the pain went away! Yipee!

All in all an awesome week and everybody survived. Bonus!

Peace,

Dan