Juggling Work and Play - tips for an outdoor life
In between a job that works out around six working days a week and being in my bed there isn't much time to enjoy life. Much of that time is taken answering messages from John at my climbing club asking me to do something for County Climber, our club magazine, but a decent amount of it is spent having fun. I've found over the past few years that it's that little bit of time off where my quality of life comes from. It's really not much and I cherish making the most of it. I finally gave in and wrote something for the club magazine. Adit's just been published, I thought I'd upload it here too.
Make the most of every day
I freely admit to being the least organised person in the world. To combat this I have a wall planner and have all the days I am / not working are marked on it. The point is: I know when I’m off and can plan to use that time.
The Lakes
I'm lucky enough to have grown up in the Lakes. My parents live in the fells just outside Shap. Much of my childhood read like Swallows and Amazons: with dog in tow I'd disappear for hours at a time, ranging miles into neighbouring valleys, hunting unsuspecting insects, upsetting farmers and waving at jet fighters (they wave back). Nowadays if I only have the one day off I go home. It's just about an hour to Penrith and if you know the roads you can be on the fells, crags and tops in less time than most Londoners' commutes. That's top notch climbing and walking a stones throw away so what's the excuse not to go? The same goes for the North Pennines and The Cheviots.
Vary your playground
Not all of us have a home in the Lakes. Even then going further afield or staying away for a couple of nights is tougher. It's easy to get stuck in a rut and go to the same old places, but that doesn't help you get out of bed. I actively look for new places to visit and stay: the spirit of adventure is a brilliant motivator. Glen Coe is only four hours away, but if you're walking you could be in the Crianlarich or Loch Tay hills far sooner. I get easily bored of Glen Coe after a day now so when I'm in the area I try to take a trip down Glen Etive or to Kinlochleven instead.
Don't limit your thinking to the UK. When I was a student I used to spend a lot of time booking cheap flights and travelling for very little... Keep an eye on Ryanair, Easjet etc. I had eight trips to Italy one year and spent less than twenty quid on almost all my flights. Once you're there do as you would in the UK, just with better weather.
Don't be afraid to drive
Okay so this isn't so great for the planet, but if you're going to get any distance then get used to being behind the wheel. You can't rely on lifts or force yourself on others all the time so even hiring a car, joining a car club, getting the bus or train is worth thinking about. If you're aiming to get somewhere like Skye then break things up. Rather than wasting 8-9 hours in the car stop on the way to use the day and do a route or two in Glen Coe. Two four hour drives are much easier and you can have some fun. Take the road less trodden to avoid the traffic if you have the time and enjoy it. The Borders and Trossacs have great roads if you like driving... Try a new route to make the most of your time on the tarmac.
Think outside the box
I like staying in hostels and have a few favourites. Two are in the middle of nowhere. Glen Afric or the hostel at Loch Ossian are in truly wild locations. I try to do through walks rather than circuits to kill the boredom. Occasionally dropping in a scramble or two on that boring walk makes the day worth it. Rarely I've set up a base camp and done day hikes from the tent. Some hills and routes are miles from the road so biking in makes them more viable for the day. An area you could try all of these ideas are the hills around Ben Alder.
Mix it up
Climbing is great fun, but if it's just you then bouldering can get a bit old pretty fast. Walking is the other side of the mountaineering coin so I do a lot of it. There's no point climbing a route if you can't navigate off the back of it or aren't fit for the walk in. I can't say scrambling solo is a great idea, but I feel safe weighing up the risks and taking on routes of varying technicality. Ski! There's five decent sized resorts in Scotland and you can ski in pretty much any weather other than a whiteout, so rather than hiding in the hut get out! Walk to camp rather than camping to walk: the rise of the micro adventure may seem a fad, but it gets you out of the house and is actually fun. As I mentioned earlier, getting on your bike also opens up new areas.
Accommodation
Okay so we all know the basic options of tent, B&B and hostel, but you can change up all of these. If you're on a budget or looking for adventure look for wild camping spots. There are plenty of threads online about where to try. There's also plenty of spots you can straight from your car! Airbnb has been a game changer and makes it really easy to find cool places to stay. It's well worth a look next time you're struggling for somewhere to. Staying in a hostel can be an adventure in itself. Getting to Loch Ossian SYHA is not that easy: you either need to get the train into the middle of no where, walk or bike in. Another point on hostels is that I always have a copy of the Independent Hostel Guide in my car as it gives me the ability to change up my plans without internet. Don't forget the humble bothy. I love bothies: they provide shelter and space in a way a tent never will. They often force you to meet new people and learn to share the outdoors. Most of all though they offer refuge in some awesome spots. One last little thing to consider is the humble hire van: done it and can vouch for it as brill.
Know the world you play in
"Planning" seemed to dull a heading and didn't quite get there. Preparedness is the essence of what I'm going for here. I have a massive collection of guidebooks and maps that I use. The basic aim is that I can know exactly what I'm doing before I even leave the house. Just as importantly I keep a close eye on the weather forecast (inc MWIS) and the SAIS forecast. That way I'm ready to go when I have the window of time and weather.
Be flexible
It seems obvious, but don't put all your eggs in one basket. The weather in the UK is fickle and can really get in the way. Be ready to move on to another area and know what you'll do. Likewise have a backup plan for a different activity in the same area. Most of all be ready to call it quits if you need to. The mountains will always be there another day.
For the most part a lot of how I get out a lot is just down to pigheadedness. I'm prepared to drive to Scotland for a day. I'm prepared to set off from the car in awful weather. I'm happy in a tent. I'm happy soloing easy mountain routes. Why? Because I love it. That's how I really do it.