The rules!

By anonymous - September 2005

These rules have been devised for members of the climbing community who take it into their heads to try walking for a change. No one who regularly walked should be caught out like this. I have therefore asked Guy to change my name in the newsletter to avoid embarrassment!

5 basic rules of navigation

1. Clouds are not marked on a map because they move - assuming that you will come out of the cloud somewhere early on the descent is foolhardy, especially in Wales or other mountainous regions.
2. Walls are marked on a map because they don't move. If you are cowering behind a nice wall for shelter - take the opportunity to locate the wall on your map - many a false summit can be identified this way!
3. The slope of a hill is a very useful clue. It can tell you if you are coming off into the wrong valley - here for example you think the hill should be up to your right but the ground tells you is to your left. This is especially useful if you have been caught out by rule 1 in Wales, and can't actually see where the car is. This rule is however equally useful if you have been caught out by rule 2, and weren't where you thought you were when you set off from the apparent top of Lingmell.
4. Little blue lines on a map are misleading and can refer to raging white water on the ground - you might need little black lines over them if you are to be able to cross!
5. Cheat - take someone who knows the area well along!

5 basic rules of route planning

1. Aim to tackle each hill only once in any day. The second time up, a hill loses it appeal, as your legs lose their strength!
2. Aim to tackle just one major hill group a day. Just because you can see Bowfell from Scafell, it doesn't mean you have to go for it. For frequent visitors to the Lake District, this unusual event - known as 'visibility' did occur on at least 3 days during August alone this year.
3. Walk or climb - not both - be decisive - and do one activity only! Trying to do both is foolish. Climbing with a big pack limits movement, you can't stretch up far, and you get clouted on the back of your head every time you try to look up. Reaching the top of your climb, you then need to walk, carrying a huge weight of ropes and gear on your back - fine if you are in serious training for Himalayan climbing, but exhausting for mere bimbling lakes tourists!
4. A rest day should involve no activity other than walking around the shops. Racing to beat store closing time only counts as a rest day if you have just had breakfast, not because you took in a few routes en-route!
5. Having said all that, descending a Lakeland peak after taking the adventurous line up, heading westwards at sunset on a summer evening should be tried at least once in a lifetime - after all, you might only get a glorious Lakeland evening once in a lifetime. So, if you end up breaking all other rules, you must obey this - keep food and beer in your tent for your late return!

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