Talisman Newsletter |
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Newsletter Edition Number 3 5th May 2005 |
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Talisman Activities UpdateIt doesn't seem that long ago since we were sitting down to prepare the last newsletter but when we think back over the past six months, there have been many trips and courses and more about these below. Winter almost ended just before Easter but the snow returned briefly and still remains in the gullies on the highest hills so perhaps still a chance to get out for a wintry, mountaineering day before searching out the summer kit. Thoughts of sunny hills, warm rock to climb on, camping trips, Skye, the far north of Scotland, the Alps...
Winter 2004 / 2005
In anticipation (and preparation for!) the cold, winter months we flew off to Spain to top up the sun tans and enjoy the rock climbing in the countryside around Benidorm. Barney and Satish enjoyed a week's instruction which took them from climbing indoors to top-roping outdoors and then on to leading some pretty tricky routes. Sella and La Toix area were popular venues for us and we will be running another "Hot Rock" course in late October / early November 2005. Winter kicked off with Shan's arrival from London for a preparatory trek before his trip to Nepal. We walked over to Faindouran Lodge Bothy then out to Tomintoul the following day. Shan was pleased to tell us that when he got back to work on Monday, he discovered that Saturday had been the coldest night of the year (-11C at least)! Shan travelled north again in December for a weekend of winter skills and it was great to receive a postcard from Nepal shortly after saying that his experiences in Scotland had been great training adding to the success of his trip to Annapurna. Shan will be travelling back to Scotland for more training in preparation for his forthcoming trek in the area around K2. Nick then joined us for some navigation training and Robin for winter skills, more training, this time for a trip to Aconcagua. Alastair did a three day climbing course which culminated in a tricky ascent of Invernookie. Scotland is a great place to prepare and train for trips further afield and courses can be arranged to meet your training needs. James Ravine took part in a rock climbing course in 1996 and returned twice for winter mountaineering courses. This summer James and his friends will be joining us in the Alps to climb Mont Blanc.
The regular courses began between Christmas an New Year and both the Winter Skills Weekends and Winter Mountaineering Courses have been popular. Two student groups also joined us this year. Cambridge University Hillwalking Club battled against winds gusting at least seventy miles per hour to reach Coire Cas for skills practice. Durham University Mountaineering Club came along for a skills day and a climbing day for which we were joined by BMG Guides, Jonathon Preston and Smiler Cuthbertson. Kevin travelled back up north to join us for some winter climbing. Kevin initially came along on a winter mountaineering course then came back last year to develop his climbing skills further and this year he put it all to the test with a couple of days mountaineering and a successful climb of Jacob's Ladder which was in difficult conditions at the time with mixed climbing necessary at the top.
So many folk have participated in the courses and from all over the world too with Mikel, from Spain, probably travelling the furthest as he flew in from Paris for the course. The courses even made the newspapers when journalist, Rachel joined one of the winter mountaineering course. Her article and photos were published across the north of England in the Leeds Weekly News, Pudsey Times and Wharfe Valley Times! See http://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/press.htm
If you were on one of the courses and sent in a cd for photos, it will be on its way to you shortly. If you were on one of the courses and haven't sent in a cd and want copies of the photos, stick a cd rom with a prepaid envelope in the post along with a note of the dates of your course and we'll post the photos on to you. You can view some of our winter 2005 group photos at www.talisman-activities.co.uk/winter/winter_2005_clients_album.htm
Ron’s bit…
It's been a busy season with about a hundred clients attending our winter courses. This has meant that we've had to expand our team of guides and invest in extra equipment for our clients to use. Fi has been a great help on and off the hill, not only teaching but assisting with admin and finances! The plans for the future are for Fi to become more involved in the business and develop some of the other more specialised courses for woman as well as organising our overseas trips. She'll also be instructing on most of the basic winter skills courses next year leaving me to concentrate on more technical climbing and private guiding. We've just taken delivery of our 'Talisman Base Camp' motor-home which gives us a lot more flexibility especially for trips to the far north west of Scotland and for the Alps. So despite the somewhat uncertain weather this winter has been a good one for Talisman and we are looking forward to the summer courses both here and in the Alps.
Summer 2005 Activities…
Where to begin? Generally through April, May, September and October we run hillwalking and camping / bivying expeditions, navigation days, introductory, improver and performance rock climbing sessions, scrambling and classic routes to meet your requirements in addition to the course dates on the website. We have a trip to Skye on 14th May 2005 and again at the end of September when we will be scrambling along the Cuillin Ridge collecting the peaks as we go and exploring some of the classic climbs - Arrow Route, Integrity, the Cioch and so many more...
Skye Dates: 14th May to 21st May 2005 26th September to 30th September 2005 Price: £120-160 per day for one or two clients
Late May / early June is ideal for the the Far North of Scotland and a great time to explore the sea cliffs and sea stack climbing. These trips can be arranged to meet your requirements and are ideal for groups of two or more folk. Contact us to discuss your ideas.
Then in June, Talisman moves to the Alps where we will be running a range of trips mainly around the Chamonix area. The trips are led by fully qualified International Mountain Leaders with IFMGA Guides assisting with any climbing and high altitude days. We have two levels of Alpine holidays based in Chamonix this year - the first is for those who want to climb Mont Blanc! It runs over two weeks offering a week of introduction to the Alps with the emphasis on building up fitness, acclimatising and a chance to get kit sorted out before week two when our Guides will introduce climbing skills before proceeding to attempt Mont Blanc itself. The second course is one week long with its emphasis on Alpine hillwalking using the many routes around the Chamonix valley and sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc. One or two hut nights may be included in this week and there will be opportunities for some sight-seeing too with visits to such places as the Aiguille du Midi from which there are spectacular views over the Mont Blanc Massif.
Mont Blanc Trip Dates & Prices 23rd July to 6th August 2005 *now fully booked* 6th to 20th August 2005 £1,495 including accommodation £995 excluding accommodation Full details can be found at www.talisman-activities.co.uk/summer/mont_blanc_climb.htm
Chamonix Experience Dates & Prices 23rd to 30th July 2005 6th to 13th August 2005 Price: £650 Full details can be found at www.talisman-activities.co.uk/summer/tour_du_mont_blanc_experience.htm
We will also be running walking trips around the two most famous peaks of the Alps. The Tour du Mont Blanc will take us through Switzerland, Italy and France as we make our way through the beautiful Alpine scenery, long walking days and fairly strenuous walking but very rewarding to complete this classic walking route. The Tour of the Matterhorn explores the scenery around Switzerland's most famous mountain taking in walks over high passes into picturesque valleys. On both trips we will make use of Alpine Huts and comfortable, village accommodation.
Tour du Mont Blanc Dates: July/August 2005 Price: £850 Full details can be found at www.talisman-activities.co.uk/summer/tour_du_mont_blanc.htm
Tour of the Matterhorn Dates: July 2005 Price: £950 Contact us for details.
Huge savings…
And more…
Ice Climbing in La Grave Over the past few years, we have spent two weeks in early January ice climbing and skiing around La Grave. La Grave is near Grenoble and fairly accessible by plane to either Geneva or Grenoble then by car to the village itself. For 2006 we are planning a Talisman Trip to La Grave so if you are interested in joining, please contact Fi by clicking here The trip is aimed at people with experience of winter climbing who wish to do their own "thing" in a new area but who would like the advantages of being with other climbers who are familiar with the routes. Instruction by a Guide could be arranged on request.
Nepal / Aconcagua Long-term we still plan to return to Nepal and would like to hear from you if you are interested in a participating in a trip to the Khumbu area with possible ascents of Mera and Island Peak. We have also decided to look to other areas to visit with Aconcagua being one of the possibilities. If you are interested in participating in an expedition to Aconcagua or Nepal, please contact Fi by clicking here
WinterNet WinterNet continued to provide photos and reports on Cairngorm conditions throughout the winter season. Stunning photos of ice routes across the far north of Scotland were also regularly posted by Macmountaineering, Inverness and our thanks to them and congratulations on getting so many good routes climbed. See www.winternet-scotland.co.uk and www.winternet-scotland.co.uk/reports/macmountaineering/latest.htm
Photos and Videos Many photographs and video clips are taken throughout the courses by Talisman and the course participants. As more and more people are using digital cameras, we have been able to bring together all the photos and video clips taken during each course to produce CD and DVD’s. This means that everyone joining the courses can have a visual record of their experience to take away.
Accommodation in Aviemore We can arrange bed and breakfast accommodation in the Aviemore area at comfortable, local guest houses from £20 per person per night.
Cairngorm Mountain Sport
Alison, Mike and all at Cairngorm Mountain Sport deserve a big "thank you" for all the help they have given us this winter in ensuring that all our clients who have hired equipment have been kitted out with the correct boots, crampons and all. See www.braemarmountainsports.com !
Cairngorm Mountain, Niwax Paramo and Grivel Mont Blanc We'd also like to say thanks to Cairngorm Mountain for letting us use the Aonoch Room to Paramo for keeping us dry and comfortable and to Grivel for supplying their excellent ice axes and crampons through the Mountain Boot Company. See www.cairngormmountain.com, www.paramo.co.uk & www.mountainboot.co.uk
We've been field testing the latest lightweight kit for our summer alpine trip. Paramo's new Wind Smock, Grivel's Airtech crampons and the Evolution ice axes. The kit proved ideal on Ben Nevis recently when we had the perfect alpine climbing day. Late April often provides blue skies, sun, dry rock AND good ice on the higher mountains such as the Ben. We have some stunning photos of our adventure. See www.winternet-scotland.co.uk And finally…
The ideas for new courses, trips and adventures come from hearing what trips and course you want to undertake. We are not a big organisation that needs you to fit in with what we can provide which means we can fit in with what you want (to a certain extent!) Just give us a call or e-mail to chat these over. We look forward to hearing your exciting ideas! We are Ron Walker, Talisman’s owner, creator and web master, qualified Mountain Instructor and International Mountain Leader and Fi Chappell, newsletter editor, qualified Summer and Winter Mountain Leader. Both are outdoor enthusiasts who find it very hard to stay indoors!
From the rambler to the scrambler let Talisman be your guiding light for safe adventure activities! Future newsletters will follow but if you don’t want to receive these, e-mail us and type REMOVE in the subject header. Newsletter Edition 2 can be found here |
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