14/12/2025
op Tip No. 14 - Why do we climb mountain?
I might be going a bit rouge with these top tips but if we don't climb mountains what's the point of all this anyway?
Firstly I think it's worth acknowledging that although this might seem like a simple question, to most, it is not simple answer. I reckon a few wrong answers include: for fun, for the views or because they're there. It's not always fun, there is not always a view and they're not always there. Actually, wait no, they are always there but that answer is a bit of a cop out...
I can't speak on behalf of the entire world but I can give my answer. For me mountains are a way to escape the reality of the modern world. A place where the problems of day to day life can't reach me. A place where I can experience true freedom. Just me against the mountains.
Now I've given my answer, what I really want to know is yours. Why do YOU climb mountains?
01/12/2025
Top Top No. 14 - Sometimes the best days don't go to plan
What do I mean by this? When I look back at some of my best days in the mountains they have one thing in common. They did NOT go to plan. For one reason or another something unexpected happened and I had to adapt and overcome. The mountains are always unpredictable but the ability to adapt and overcome is often what separates the good days from the bad ones. Resilience is the word that comes to mind.
The mountains are not your friend. They always find a way of testing you. Be resilient however and they'll reward you in the most incredible ways and provide you with everlasting memories.
The point of this post is not to say that planning is pointless but to say expect the unexpected and be willing to change the plan as you go.
01/12/2025
Top Tip No. 13 - Night Nav
So why do we do night nav? I generally don't go out in the mountains when it's dark (believe it or not I actually do it for fun and do enjoy a view!). Although I may sometimes get caught out in the dark and it's useful to still be able to navigate, it's not the primary reason I do night nav.
So why? To simulate poor visibility conditions. Despite what I might like to think, I'm not actually god and have no control over the weather. This means I can get caught out in poor visibility conditions when I don't want to but also when I want to practice navigating in these conditions then I might just get blessed with blue sky and sunshine! 🌞
So its common practice to just go out in the dark and practice navigating with poor visibility because you never know when you'll get stuck in these conditions for real. (Quite often in North wales!)
