A trip to Visit the Devil

August 6th, 2011 • Gorge Walking • No comments •

These should’ve gone up a while ago but I was overcome by lethargy and away for a while.    Here’s some from a Drumchapel Canoe Club tuesday evening trip to see Auld Nick at The Devil’s Pulpit.  Who would’ve thought the Devil lived so close to Glasgow?  [Don't answer that].

Return to the North West

August 1st, 2011 • Camping, Cycling, Mountainbiking, Rock Climbing • No comments •

It’s never enough to satisfy the craving but for a few days at least it’s all there, and you with it.

 

Achmelvich

August 1st, 2011 • Camping, Rock Climbing • 1 comment •


Ample Bimbling in Glen Ample…

June 16th, 2011 • Uncategorized • No comments •

Jen, Mish, Chad and I had a nice wee Sunday adventure around Glen Ample circumnavigating Loch Lubnaig. The chat was flowing ranging from how I think butcher in Aberfoyl does the best (cold) bacon pies? in Scoltand to Jen’s latest obsession, the beauty of trees. It was probably a record for the slowest Loch Lubnaig lap ever taking us 6 hrs, a sunning average of 4km/hr ! Misha’s long cuts via slug infested military roads combined with Chads bang on map skills made it a great wee jaunt…

 

Back to the Homelands

June 8th, 2011 • Cycling, Mountainbiking, Mountains • 3 comments •


Filmed in the hills above where i grew up in Kilmorack, Inverness Shire – a place where I’ve spent lots of time learning how to ride Mountain Bikes. When visiting family now, I still like to head out for a bike ride up in the backwoods of my old stomping ground. I thought it was about time a bit of it was captured behind a lens since it’s had such a big influence on my life. The trails are not particularly technical but very fast and flowing so great if you want to get some speed up… plus its a fantastic place to get a lung full of fresh air and a panoramic from the Moray firth to Glen Strathfarrar.

SPAD

Fort William – World Cup DH 2011

June 7th, 2011 • Mountainbiking • 1 comment •

Here’s a few from the World Cup DH. By all accounts the race was a close one and shook up the established names a bit, with two young riders – Danny Hart and Brook MacDonald making it into the top 3. Experience won out in the end with South African Greg Minaar sealing victory. With the next race in Austria next weekend it’ll be interesting to see who makes the podium, it seems certain that the new blood are finding their way to the top, should be an interesting season.

10 under the Ben 2011

May 22nd, 2011 • Mountainbiking • No comments •

Rain and Wind dominated, Lochaber stamped it’s authority over people and land. It seemed at points that everything might turn to liquid and get blown away. The course was brutal, long uphill fire roads with and against the wind, natural rooty wood sections that got dug deep with each passing lap eventually turning into a curious mud river, which was likened to lava.

With survival mode engaged The Crank Addicts, a team of 4 (Rushworth, Jen, Spad & Somhairle) rode well as did all associated teams. In all 12 medals amongst the lot of us. A monumental feat of heroism from SPAD got us on the podium and top ten in class.

Big thankyou to the BARR and all who chipped in on an amazing after party / recovery and No Fuss for running such an insane and enjoyable event.

‘

Beach heat

May 11th, 2011 • Uncategorized • 1 comment •

We caught the best of the recent heat wave on the beaches of wales.

Sgurr na Lapaich

May 9th, 2011 • Hill walking, Mountains • 1 comment •

Running Up That Hill

May 8th, 2011 • Mountainbiking • No comments •

For the last couple of seasons I have been working on an art based project at glencoe ski hill, researching its story and visually documenting the industry and surrounding landscape.

On Saturday 30 April 2011, No Fuss Events & Glencoe Ski Hill organised and hosted a race called Macavalanche, a downhill mountain bike race like no other that’s been held in the UK before. The event, a spin off of the popular alpine Mega Avalanche, started at the top of Meall a’ Bhuridh after more than 100 mountain bikers were dropped off near the summit of the 3,635ft “Munro” by helicopter.

Weather was superb, if not a little windy (almost gale force). The event was well planned and ran smoothly.

I wanted to capture the beginning of the race rather than the end and had a vision of 100 perfectly lined up bikes & competitors on crisp white snow. I didn’t get that shot but did manage to capture the first leg of the race – the run up the hill. For a brief moment it felt like I was taking part!

It was a great day, congratulations to the winners and all who took part. Thank you to No Fuss Events for the helicopter ride! and to Glencoe Ski Hill and Ski Patrol for another epic season.

A link to MTBcuts edit of the race can be found here.

http://www.jenniferwilcox.co.uk/

 

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About High-8

High-8 is a loose gathering of like minded adventurists who document first person, on the ground experiences with words, photos and film. The hope is to form a rough guide to outdoor adventure sports in Scotland and provide a warts and all, honest representation of what we find. No sport is excluded from mountaineering and mountain biking to gorge walking and kayak all are welcome and encouraged.

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Weather

We have compiled a list of usefull weather forecasts to help with planning trips. This list is designed to work on mobile phones, so it can be used when out in the wilds. Signal willing of course...

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.