Archive for January, 2010

Wild Through a Pinhole

January 27th, 2010 • Ski-ing / Boarding
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Having watched Jen carry about  cameras made out of matchboxes on recent trips to the backlands, you’d have to have thought she was slightly mad.  The results, however, speak for themselves.  Here’s a couple that she sent me and I’m hoping she’ll add some more later.  She’s been taking the pictures as part of a project focusing around the Glencoe Ski centre, which has recently been given a new lease of life under new management.    We were up there on Sunday for a slide, and I would certainly say that it’s retained a friendly charm that you might not get to the same extent at other ski centres – well worth a visit.

Glencoe

January 11th, 2010 • 2 comments Hill walking, Winter climbing
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Glencoe was in spectacular form, and somehow amazingly quiet.  The severe weather warnings for the roads must’ve put people off driving, but as it turned out the roads were fine and the weather was fantastic.  Tim and myself got a day in Stob Coire Nan Lochain on SC Gully, and then out along the Aonach Eagach the following day – something I’ve been meaning to do for a few years.  Jen joined us a the bunkhouse after having been up at the ski centre taking pictures on a pinhole camera – the few frames she showed us from her last trip looked spectacular (hopefully we can persuade her to post them up here).  Spad arrived looking very fresh and ready for action – in completely the opposite kind of form to us after several days out on the hill!  Dave came through for some thinking time, after recent events there was some solace to be found in the snowy Glencoe hills.   A walk up towards Beinn an Dothaidh cleared the heads before it was back to Glasgow.  All in all, another classic weekend.

Pictures from Tim:

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The Code

The Country Code, which most of us learned in school (and we probably haven't read since!), was updated in 2004 when it became the Countryside Code. Here's the updated version:
  • Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs
  • Leave gates and property as you find them
  • Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
  • Keep dogs under close control
  • Consider other people
In Scotland, where there is a more general right of access, there also exists the Scottish Outdoor Access Code:
  • Take responsibility for your own actions
  • Respect people’s privacy and peace of mind
  • Help farmers, landowners and others to work safely and effectively
  • Care for the environment
  • Keep your dog under proper control
  • Take extra care if you are organising a group, an event or running a business.
There's obviously a lot to to be learned from these - it's amazing how many people get out to enjoy the countryside but are still happy to leave it in a mess. Even with the recent updates, the Countryside Codes seem slightly outdated when considering the wider issues involved when lots of people get out into the countryside. Some places just can't handle high volumes of people, no matter how they behave and publicity, no matter how interesting or well-done , has the potential to attract lots of people to an area. Blogs including video, pictures or words, form part the the wider media which could easily contribute to tipping the balance, and so we as bloggers have to consider the implications of what we decide to post. Can the place we're writing about take more people, and if not, it might be wiser to leave maps, place names or grid references out of posts. In Scotland, the Mountain Bothies Association has been careful to protect the location of some Bothies due to mis-treatment and, in some cases, even malicious vandalism. That is not to say they would not advocate people using them - in fact, a well used, maintained and loved network of bothies exist, and the MBA as an organisation is there to encourage this. Some bothies are busier than others but generally it is the less remote places which are more susceptible to abuse - something which might be worth considering when deciding whether to post information. It must be said, in most cases it's obvious what should or shouldn't be publisiced, but it's worth taking these considerations to mind.

Please note: The Code is constantly being revised and added to. If you like to add something login in to the discussion on the forum.