Below is the rough schedule that my dad made, I will be altering these as we go and will try to wildcamp wherever possible. I’m getting tight in my old age and don’t want to pay every night for a field, when we could be up a hill for free. He tells me he wants a shower, at least every couple of days, I say HTFU (Warning swearing).

I don’t expect us to stick to the above, but I’m hoping to take it easy and explore things as we pass, not just the pubs. I think those mileages may be a bit off too.

I made the mistake as usual of packing the bag too early and have ended up putting in far to much. I have had spare clothes in and out about 3 times. I’ve left them in only because we may be frequenting a few eating places and probably best I don’t stink the places out. Here’s a PDF, I created a day or so ago with what I’d packed. This doesn’t include food, which was a kilo until I added 320g of Sausage rolls and some sandwiches for the train. The aim is to buy food as we pass through places.

I also ended up taking some spare clothes which I probably wouldn’t of done if I was on my own and not eating out. The last slightly annoying bit is carrying so much fuel. I have not been organised enough and haven’t posted anything on, so I am carrying all my fuel for the trip. I decided to carry both Meths & Esbit although and test each against the other, far too much of each if we eat in pubs and may send some esbit home.

The whole things is far heavier than I need to take, but its not like we are in a rush or have massive mileage or ascent.

I haven’t decided whether I am going to just tweet and post on here as I go (probably will). You can see the tweets on the right hand side if I don’t. See you on the other side…

I travelled up to Scotland on the Sunday and arrived at Rowardennan at about 5 to find the place crawling with people. The car park was full, with tents and people everywhere, nightmare.

My route was to take me to the summit of Ben Lomond via the Ptarmigan route and then find somewhere to camp for the night.

I never normally set off late in the day and found myself a little anxious about getting to the top and camping before it got too late. I had something to eat at the car, then headed up hopefully away from the hoards of people. Setting off at a quick pace I soon started to meet a steady stream of people descending. Quickly gaining height I found myself stopping to look back at the view, or was it to pause for a breather.

Before I knew it, I was at the Ptarmigan and met the final group of people of the day who asked in broken English “How far long”. Guessing they were asking how long to the bottom.

I could see I didn’t have far to the top and had loads of time before it would be dark, I slowed the pace and let myself take in the scenery, which was simply stunning.

Even though I slowed down the pace, I suddenly found myself on the top after expecting false summits. What a magnificent view and I had it all to myself.

I spent a good 30 minutes at the top, taking pictures, admiring the view and wondering why there were 2 padlocks attached to the trig point.

After almost pitching the Trailstar at the trig point I thought better of it, imagining waking up to a crowd of people as I slept in. Descending down a few hundred feet I found lots of flattish ground with long grass looking over towards the Arrochar Alps. Soon after pitching I was greeted with a beautiful sunset and as the sun dipped lower and lower, I lay gazing at the ever changing picture at my feet.

Sleep soon washed over me and next thing I knew I was being greeted by a new day and a gorgeous sunrise with an inversion. Again this was all just for me, oh and the sheep.

The cloud in the glens rose as did I and after attempting to beat the cloud to the summit of Ben Lomond (re-ascent) I gave up a few feet short when the cloud overtook me and obscured the view. I beat a hasty restreat back down through the cloud to the car which was now only surrounded by small number of others.

Not to be out done by the Turners of this world I thought I’d add one of these Picasa Slideshow jobbies:

The biggest problem is the lack of funds at the moment and I’d already promised myself that I was walking the Ring of Steall at the end of that week. So a plan has unfolded to take a train from Durham station via China to Penrith, surprisingly an open return ticket only cost £23.70 including booking fee. I can use the return ticket anytime within a month, just in case I decide I don’t want to go home. The initial plan was to walk as many Wainwrights as I could fit in, between the Saturday and the following Friday. I’ve been thinking a lot recently (always dangerous) about my reasons for walking. I have tended to rush from hill to hill, fitting in as many as I could, this is ridiculous. When rushing between hills, there are so many things you dash by and don’t see, this is the same in life in general.

Alert Alert – going off on a tangent: Ever since the TGO Challenge I have gradually been trying to slow down and appreciate my surroundings more, stopping to look at things that I have walked past hundreds if not thousands of times and just never noticed. An example of this when walking home from the local shop over the fields I wondered why there were some metal railings in the middle of nowhere. I had sat on these as a kid and passed so many times, never stopping to think why they were there. When I thought about them, it became clear they were the remains of a kissing gate and there was another set 50 yards away. Knowing a railway ran between them and a check of an old map from the 1950′s I realised this was where the path used to run and to cross over the railway line (long gone) you had to pass between the kissing gates. While this may sound boring and I guess is, it can be surprising what remnants of the past remain that we just don’t notice. I could mention 5 minutes later I wondered why there was a large out of place solid wooden fence, which turned out to be the divider between the road and an old tramway that ran the other side, but that would just put anyone making it this far to sleep.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it” – Greg Anderson

The point of the tangent is that I want to walk a bit slower and probably cover a few less hills during the “Attack of the Wainwrights” and spend time appreciating where I am, not just stopping for a quick photo but exploring something marked on the map or pondering something I pass. This to me is also more in the spirit of Wainwright himself, who explored each hill as much as possible. Maybe the walk should no longer be called “Attack of the Wainwrights” but a “Bimble Over the Wainwrights”.

I am hoping the walk will be very different to anything I’ve done before, with the planning being done as I go, rather than routes I have pre-planned.

On the Friday, once home, I will have a quick turnaround before driving up to Glen Nevis. I will probably sleep in the car or if its not too late when I get there I will wander along the start of the Ring of Steall and hopefully find somewhere to camp before climbing any mountains. Once the Ring of Steall is completed I will be heading down to Bridge of Orchy to hopefully meet up with Helen Fisher on Sunday, who is walking the WHW. We may then clamber up Beinn Dorain if both of us feel up to it, another of those hills that is on my “must do” list.

My previous post mentioned about my dreams for the next year, these walks are some of the tests I am setting myself before making the ultimate decision. A week walking over possibly 40+ Wainwrights, the Ring of Steall, Beinn Dorain & Beinn an Dothaidh while exploring along the way sounds like a suitable mouth watering test

My previous post “The Journey and the Passion” explained how I had got to the point of identifying what I love to do and why. For years I was a miserable bugger and through the outdoors I’ve changed so much over the last few years and especially this year. Looking back at stuff from 4 years ago I wanted to leave everything behind, but wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, where to go or anything else.

My mind is now full of ideas, things I would like to see, do and acheive. For what feels like an eternity now I have struggled to concentrate on anything but these ideas, they are all consuming. The internet can be a bad thing and can make Wanderlust almost unbearable. For a few years I’ve bored certain people with my idea to walk every 2000 foot mountain in the UK as a continuous walk, this is an immense task and even defining what exactly you class as a 2000 foot mountain is a hard enough job. I hadn’t realised quite how long I’d been thinking about this, until someone at work pointed out I’d been going on about it for as long as I’ve known them and haven’t done anything about it. Is this just another of my pipe dreams that I never do, like so many others. This has persisted more than any before and just wont go away, not that I want it to.

This year many elements are gradually coming together, probably the most important is my mind set. My outlook on everything has changed, I can do anything I want to..

“If you want something in life, reach out and grab it” – Christopher McCandless

There is no real adventure or risk in most peoples lives these days, life is watered down and fed to us through a straw. Is there any wonder why extreme sports are so appealing to many, they are trying to add the risk, danger and adventure that has vanished from most of our daily lives. I’m not saying I want to jump out of planes (done that) or climb up Everest (yet). I just want to explore some of this amazing place we call home.

I’m not stupid enough to run away to the middle of nowhere tomorrow (am I?), the intention is to start small. I have a test or 2 before I would set off on the 2000′s, which is itself is a test for something much larger. My current life gets in the way at the moment, mortgage, debt, etc..The hardest step in the whole adventure is the first step of leaving the safe normality of my current existence.

If I embark (which I fully intend to) on this adventure, is this where my life finally starts?

I just hope I actually manage to achieve my dreams, rather than being talked out of perusing them, it’d be nice to have help to acheive them. This could be a post I look back on and think if only I’d followed them…

Don’t worry, normal service will resume with trip reports and planning for “Attack of the Wainwrights”, the Ring of Steall & Wainwrights C2C (all in the next 5 weeks).

Instead of me writing a long boring route description, you can read Helens thoughts on the weekend and her thoughts on the future here. Below is a video I threw together (due to lack of time), apologies for the lack of editing and me waffling on about nothing for ages.

I have a couple of other posts in the pipe line, but have been a bit unsure how to follow up my last one.

Langdale from Crinkle Crags

This post was an idea after one of many long discussions on Facebook with Helen Fisher. We appear to have the same routes and ideas on places to walk like the PCT (Helen calls it the PTC), Wainwrights Coast to Coast and dozens of others, the conversation turned to walking with my dad and how cool she thought it was.

I thought about this and realised that my parents are the reason I started walking and camping in the first place (explained shortly). I have read several books about finding your passion or “Element” and one of them mentioned about looking back over your life, remembering what moments stick in your mind and when you were happiest, this would help find your passion.

Jay & me during camping holiday

From my childhood I can remember our camping trips to Scarborough I loved every minute of them and can remember laughing so much with my best friend, Jay. Although when I kicked the football through the tent we were sleeping in and made a hole, we weren’t so happy. We sat in the tent discussing what to tell my parents, who were in the tent next to us listening to our conversion (doh!). I also didn’t find it quite so funny when Jay started buying studded leather gloves and whips from the joke shop, I got worried (we were 10). On another trip I went with my dad to Scarborough (actually it was nearer Filey) at Easter, I remember waking up and seeing my dad stood above me holding onto the poles of the tent to stop the tent blowing away, he’d let me sleep rather than wake me. He told me he’d been holding the tent up for hours but I don’t know, I was asleep. I think it had snowed lightly when we packed up (but maybe that was my imagination). Those are just 2 of the memorable camping trips, we went to Spain or the Spanish islands a few times but nothing sticks in my mind quite as much as camping, except for being hit on the head by the table football handles by my uncle while I put the money in.

Above Amulree

For several years in the early 90′s we used to stay in a large house in a small village called Amulree in Perthshire, its a fabuous place with a hotel, tiny school and  church. There used to be a shop/petrol station but it was closed when I returned a few years ago. My time here was amazing, there was fishing on the front door step, and hills at the back door. On various holiday I spent time there with 9 different members of my family. Again one of the most memorable parts of the holiday was climbing up the hill behind the house with my mam and uncle (see picture above)

Peakfield where my Mam grew up

Another trip that sticks in my mind is walking in Weardale, where my mam grew up on a farm. I remember dragging a huge branch for miles behind me, or it felt huge and felt like miles. My parents will probably tell me it was half a mile and it was a twig. I used to love being outside as a kid, getting up early and going down to the local farm often hours before the farmer (my god father, not religious but I was christened) arrived. The farm is no more and watching it being pulled down from my window a couple of years ago was very sad. All my memories from being a kid was in the outdoors.

Probably the biggest “defining” moment though, was a trip up Helvellyn with my dad which working it out must of been 2001 due to Foot and Mouth. We left the car park near Wythburn and before we’d even left the trees I was shattered and wanted to give up. My dad encouraged me to carry on and eventually we stopped for a cuppa and food near Comb Craggs (I think) after something to eat I was fine and had no problems after that. As we walked higher we looked down at Thirlmere and watched the RAF planes flying down the valley below us (I could see the pilot lower than me). A bit higher and a woman ran past us with her dog, I’d been struggling walking after a few hundred yards up hill. Upon reaching the top the view was nothing short of breath taking, from Helvellyn you can see so much of the lake district and watching what looked like ants clambering along a knife edge (people on striding edge) which must of blew my mind. I didn’t say a lot of this at the time but that feeling of achievement and the stunning views has never left me.

End of the West Highland Way

There are so many other amazing walking and camping memories that define who I am today. Walking parts of the Pennine way, also with my dad over Cross Fell in almost zero visibility while we stared at the GPS, we were totally disorientated. The following year it was the complete opposite, 36c. Getting to the top of Ben Nevis, completing the WHW, not giving up on TGO Challenge, once I’d finished I could hardly stand my feet hurt so much. Several times this year when things have been hard or the weather horrible I’ve found myself smiling and really feeling a live.

A previous relationship was probably only held together because she loved walking in the lakes with me, she told me recently how much she misses it.

My spare time was previously spent messing about with computers, often until well after 3am, then would get up at 7 and go to work. A few people in the local pub would call me smiler, not because I smiled, but because like the character in Last of the summer wine I usually looked miserable.

Phil in the Lakes on our first trip

This year especially, walking and wild camping has become who I am. I entered the 2010 TGO Challenge last year after originally thinking about it in 2006 but relationships prevented me from actually filling out the form back then. After getting in, I started to find other challengers and chatted on Twitter with some. I had plans to go to the Cairngorms in the new year and Phil Turner who I met through Twitter said he would meet me there. My efforts to get there were thwarted when I got stuck in the snow at Alnwick. Eventually I returned home and changed the trip to the Lake District, I was amazed that Phil said he’d join me there, we had never met. Anyone who has looked at this site over the last few months will of noticed that myself and Phil have been all over the place since then and can regularly be found taking the piss out of each other either in person or on Twitter.

Hendrik, Me & Phil in Finland

There are several other people who have either played a part in my journey to this point and/or have become good friends, many may not realise the part they played. Obviously my parents who have taken me on loads of walks over the years, but there are others Andy Howell & Bob Cartwright got me interested in the TGO through their Podcasts. Mike Knipe also after his stories of the challenge while he took me on my local ranger training, we’ve never actually seen each other since to speak to even though we live a mile from each other (his blog keeps me entertained though). Hendrik was an amazing host and guide when he invited myself and Phil over to Finland, hope we can meet up again soon, hopefully on a trip to Scotland. I could keep going on, but some others that I am pleased to call friends who I met mainly through the internet or on the Challenge:
John Garner – Shed Dweller Moments
Helen Fisher – Helen’s Wondering Wanderings
George – Londonbackpacker
Darren Christie – Whitespider1066
Joe Newton – Thunder in the Night

I could go on and on, but while I like lists (or so it would appear, I have hundreds of uncompleted lists of stuff to walk) I don’t want to completely put anyone who’s made it this far through the post to sleep.

The most recent book I read was Ken Robinsons – The Element which is good, but you are far better watching one of his online talks. He talks about finding your Element. For years I thought my element or passion was computers, which I am good at and they satisfied my desire for new subjects to learn, things move so fast that it suited me. When I got bored with one subject, there was always something new to learn. I realised I became bored because I wasn’t interested enough. After years of searching I know my “Element” or passion is being out walking, exploring, camping, basically having an adventure. When in that environment I am surrounded by people I connect and feel “at home” with.

My dad last weekend

Who knows what the next stage in my life will bring, I hope that the memories and people that I’ve mentioned and so many more will guide me in the right direction…

Me on Suilven

Distance: 19ish miles (over 2 days but easily done in 1)
GPX File

This trip was planned as a test to try two people in the Trailstar. My dad and I set off from Garrigill at lunch time on Saturday to walk the planned 19 miles. The aim was to camp somewhere before Great Dunn Fell, but no firm plans were made and would just see where we found.

The weather was sunny on the Saturday but with a breeze. I had only had a quick look at the route and clearly neither of us had studied the map when a road extended all the way to the Tees, making the walking a lot easier than expected. Once the river Tees was reached the path was as expected, over grassy moorland. About a mile from Great Dunn Fell, we found a suitable camp spot and setup the Trailstar. My dad has only recently restarted wild camping (probably Scouts in the 60s) and was expecting the night to drag with the Trailstar pitched just after 4pm. The night flew by, my conversation is obviously so great (or put him to sleep).

There was no problem with the Trailstar and we had plenty of room for us and our gear, it was breezy on Saturday but on Sunday when I eventually woke up it was a lot windier (see video). I strangely enjoyed the wind and rain, it makes you know you really are alive. The low visibility wasn’t quite so good, this was the third time we’d walked over Cross Fell together, the first time visibility was even worse (4 feet), the last time was in 32C+ sun.

We made quite rapid progress over Great Dunn, Little Dunn & Cross Fell before descending down to Greg’s Hut and the wamth of the bothy where someone had just lit the fire. We sat in there for maybe an hour, having something to eat & drink along with ringing and organising our lift (my mam) for 2 hours later.

I enjoyed the trip and everything worked as planned, my dad I think wanted to see how it would be walking with me. The Wainwright Coast to Coast walk is rapidly approaching in September which we are walking together, I can’t wait

Skydive from Steven Horner on Vimeo.

I was going through some of my video and found this, its the video from the tandem parachute jump I did at the end of 2006 (I think). I look quite miserable (and fatter), maybe I was nervous, but I can remember being strangely calm. I tried uploading this years ago to YouTube, but it was over their 10 minute limit.

If you really want to keep track of me, you could click view details and from there follow my progress if any at all. Oh and you could check out how my heart rate is, if I’d left it tracking you would of seen it spike to 238bpm a few minutes after the run finished.

To make it more interesting count how many times I say “fantastic” and thought about adding Vic Reeves- Dizzy at one point but decided against it.

The boat was named Doris by John at Shed Dweller Moments, because I said I would need to mug some old grannies to afford it. He said it should be named Doris in memory of all the grannies who fell for me to buy her (I didn’t mug anyone).

Photos here.