Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

Quit and move closer, that's what I'm trying to do.

How can we prepare better to reduce the DOMS from descending?

wearing a rucsac run up and down hills near where you live!

take spirulina / maca powder to aid recovery/reduce cramps

stay well hydrated

yeah, was gonna say just to drink.

Yeah, we're running a fair bit but not enough hill work. Let's see if we can be better for our next trip.

Rotmoosferner glacier today.

Yeah, running or walking on flat terrain uses different muscles to running uphill, or so I've been told.

Been reading various Scots hillwalking reports. Why do they all take their shoes off to cross rivers? It's better to have wet feet than to risk slipping. Besides, if you're wearing full leather boots, trousers and gaiters actually keep the water out, for a few minutes at least.

I don't cross rivers often at all but would prefer to go barefoot or wear vibrams to save my boots given the choice.
Don't go traipsing around in the winter tho so don't own gaiters so guess my experience is null compared to many others on here.

Besides, if you're wearing full leather boots, trousers and gaiters actually keep the water out, for a few seconds at least.

We're talking water at/above knee here, although i too prefer squelchy boots to slipping over

Insane up to my knees in mud on the way down from the glacier yesterday. Whilst my North Face boots are incredibly waterproof, that was a mishap too far.

Hangerer today. Tough hike/vv easy climb. Worth it for the views. Will be walking like a cowboy tomorrow.

What a day! The Austrian interpretation of difficult hike is a bit loose. The scrambling bit near the top was actually more like bouldering with a 300m drop underneath you. A couple of sections were close to what I would prefer to rope up on. Awesome fun but I don't mind admitting that the adrenaline was running a bit high.

We must be total pussies because there were mountain bike tracks pretty much from the summit to the ground. How on earth you could ride a bike down that I have no idea.

Has anyone climbed up the outside of the new bit of Tate Modern yet?
The brickwork is smooth until just above arm's length, but if you could get a bit higher, maybe standing on someone's shoulder, it's like a ladder.

Well, of course they have.
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/tate-modern-extension-building.t96218

You can drown in a mid-thigh river though, that's when you need the most secure foot placement, which is why I always keep footwear on. A friend of mine was knocked off her feet by a river only just past her knees, which was a tense moment.

Oh and er, hurry up with those photos.
Was it an expensive trip, if you don't mind me asking?

who's that directed at?

Stonehedge. Or anyone really.

Looking for some jacket recommendations. @Howard and I are off to the Canadian Rockies in a couple of weeks' time. We're planning on doing a lot of hiking, and there's a good chance of rain given the time of year. Long range weather forecast indicates anything from 12-22C during the day.

At the moment, I've got a Gore-tex hardshell jacket that fits about as well as a sack (it's actually a bit too big for me) and is about 10 years old, so I'm looking for a replacement. It's a Mountain Equipment Co-op own brand one, similar to this one: https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5042-229/Alpine-Ally-Jacket

I guess I'm looking for a shell that will keep me relatively dry, with good pockets (pit zips a plus as I tend to run hot). It doesn't have to pack down that small, but one that doesn't feel nearly as bulky as a ski jacket would be a plus for me. Recommendations welcome!

Where are you flying to? Will you have a chance to stop off in Calgary?

If so, you might be better buying a jacket in MEC.

I have only bought extreme cold weather gear from them before but I know they have a good range of gear more suitable for autumn in the rockies. Cheap as chips and really solid gear on the whole.

I'm really jealous. If I manage to pull off my work plans I'm hoping to have a week in Banff straight after our two week trip to Switzerland in January. Will be my fifth visit.

We are flying into Vancouver and out of Calgary. We'll have two days one night in Vancouver (after Whistler MTBing) before getting the sleeper train to Jasper, so time to visit MEC. Just a bit concerned about leaving getting a proper coat to effectively the last minute. I suppose I could always bring my old MEC jacket with me, and if I find a good replacement, donate the old one to goodwill.

You've been to the Rockies more times than I have, this will be my 3rd trip (first one I've planned), if you've got restaurant and hike recommendations, happy to have them! We're in Jasper for 3 nights, then our backcountry hike/camping trip, then 3 nights at Lake Moraine (we're renting a car).

Get yourself a pair of bins and watch people be insane on this!

http://www.summitpost.org/sea-of-vapors-wi6-7/707601

I don't really have any recommendations. We normally drive in from Calgary very early. We drive back in the evening most of the time but occasionally camp if it's not too cold.

Just shivering thinking about a night spent at minus twenty seven :D

Hopefully it won't be that cold at the end of September! I don't have any climbing experience, so we'll definitely just be sticking to hikes, rather than anything we need equipment for. I'm sure it won't be difficult to fill our days when we're out there. Previous trips have been with family and rather limited to short easy hikes, so looking forward to stretching the legs a bit.

P4 Continue up vertical ice until the top of the climb is reached.

SIMPLEZ!

'thin'

The sea of vapours is by far the craziest ice climb I have seen in person. Standing underneath it, it almost looks overhanging. Different level insanity.

I bought an Arc'teryx Fission SL today. I'm wishing my life away for the winter to come so we can head to the mountains. Why am I wasting my life in London?