The best trek in Nepal?

 The Nar Phu Gorge

 Man made paths carved in the cliff face

A unique feature of the Nar Phu trek

Ancient Tibetan villages 

 Exposed and stunning trekking

 Stunning colours above the tree line

The infamous Gates of Phu

Threading the gorge below the Gates of Phu

Looking back through the cleft of the Gates of Phu

 Approaching the remote village of Phu

The colours and scenery of Himlung Himal base camp

 
 Himlung Himal Base Camp

Open Adventure Coast to Coast Adventure Race

 The initial sea kayak stage from Whitehaven

In an unusually sensible decision for me I decided not to race the Open Adventure Coast to Coast race a few days before the CCC. I completed this four day adventure race in 2011 and was keen to compete again but thought I'd save the legs for the main event. However it did mean I was able to enjoy the atmosphere and buzz of the race as a supporter shuttling equipment, feeding my competitor, filming and generally drinking coffee in the sun.

The race began in a millpond like Whitehaven harbour with a sea kayak stage around to St Bees. As the flotilla swept around the headland they were met by choppy seas and things became a bit more exciting. A couple of competitors had to be rescued and ferried to the beach while the leading team capsized within sight of the finish and had an eventful swim and clamber through the rocks with their kayak to reach transition.

Day one is the most demanding for competitors and support crews alike. As the racers headed off on their bikes the boats were transported to Crummock Water. The next stage was a paddle in to a headwind along the length of the lake, an interesting and energy sapping unsupported portage and back into the boats to paddle to the far end of Buttermere. Finally the race took to the hills for a run over Robinson, Maiden Moor and Catbells. With the finish in Keswick in sight there's a final sting in the tail with a 600m swim across Derwent Water. After the days efforts the cold water triggered leg cramps in even the hardiest of competitors and the rescue kayaks were kept busy providing a floating stretching service. As the racers hobbled from the water they faced a short run in to the centre of Keswick and the finish outside the iconic Moot Hall.

Day 2 began in the half light of a misty morning with a short but sharp climb on the bikes up out of Keswick to Thirlmere Dam. The midges were out and hastened competitors through transition and into their kayaks for the paddle up Thirlmere. A muddy portage, change the shoes and away up the side of Helvellyn heading for the summit in the cloud. Navigation was certainly an issue for some of the competitors this year and there were a few variations on the normal descent via Swirral Edge and Hole in the Wall. The final paddling stage was from Patterdale to Pooley Bridge along the length of Ullswater.Conditions were improving fast but all the racers made it safely past the ice creams and on to the bikes for a mainly on road blast to Kirkby Stephen. Within a few miles of the finish an unsecured map restricted a competitors view at high speed and she found herself sliding along the road minus her bike. Missing several layers of skin but made of tough stuff she was able to finish the day and with a bit of good work by the medical team was able to complete the four days.
Low cloud gave a challenging start to day 3 with a boggy run over Nine Standards with even some of the most experienced competitors struggling with the navigation. Meanwhile the local farmer was doing a roaring trade in teas and coffees at transition as the support crews relaxed after an early start! The rest of the day would be spent on the bikes initially offroad on some great mountain biking over the moors to Castle Bolton and then following minor roads to Northallerton. Unfortunately another highspeed bike crash caused one of the leading teams to retire from the competition although the two remaining members did complete the course - in a particularly fast time.
The final day was spectacular as the early morning cloud inversion burned off to give a hot and dry day. The first racers were on their way at 4.30am making their way through the gloom on a short road bike to Swainton. The early start was worth it though as they climbed out of the cloud for a stunning sunrise as they ran over Carlton Bank on the Cleveland Way. A long biking stage then followed. Less technical than yesterday but mainly off road as far as Gainsley and then back on to the minor roads as far as Whitby. In a major route change from 2011 the final leg to the finish at Robin Hoods Bay was a run along the cliff top path dodging the bank holiday tourists. The staggered start times meant that the majority of the competitors finished within a short space of time of each other and there was a real party atmosphere on the terrace above the sea where the finish gantry was located. A top event with some very close racing. There were clear winners in each category but further down the field sometimes only seconds separated the racers after four days of racing. Race reports can be found at here and results here.

The field heads for St Bees and some rough conditions!

 Stunning early morning on the Cleveland Way

Fast mountain biking on the fourth and final day of racing

Carstensz Pyramid

Carstensz Pyramid

Easy jungle trekking

 Rebuilding a bridge over a Gr VI river

Recent land slide activity and several tons of balance tree trunks

 Challenging scrambling to cross a land slide

 A work of art but still not sure H&S would pass it!

  The more usual two trunk affair!

 The inside of a Dani Tribe hut

 Climbing on to the kaarst plateau

 Weird and wonderful vegetation

 Carstensz Pyramid - the route take the right hand skyline

 Base camp located between the two lakes

 

Glacial approach on a solo ascent of Puncak Jaya

 Puncak Jaya - formerly the 2nd highest peak in Australasia but now the 4th due to glacial retreat

 Carstensz Pyramid after a snow storm

 The huge Freeport Gold mine at the end of the valley

Fixed lines to reach the summit ridge

 Sunrise on summit day

The team on the ridge

Cloud building as we complete the infamous Tyrolean traverse

Team Millet on the summit of Carstensz Pyramid

The highest point in Australasia and my 5th Seven Summit

 The final descent to base camp

 Trekking out through the jungle

Photo Review of 2012

January - Winter climbing in Scotland. 

Best route of the season was Melting Pot (IV 6) under a blue sky. A very snowy start to the season followed by high pressure gave some good conditions for a few day. ran plenty of winter climbing and mountaineering courses in the Cairngorms and on the West Coast

February - Skiing off the summit of Blencathra in the Lake District. 

Good conditions in Scotland were replaced by an early thaw and challenging working conditions.

March - Fog bow on Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis.  

Limited ice but stunning alpine conditions with plenty of cloud inversions. Winter was over by the middle of March (and summer by the end!)

 

April - Ski touring on the Vanoise Icecap. 

Despite varied weather we completed a full traverse of the Vanoise Icecap getting a couple of days in the powder as well.

May - Two Cuillin Ridge Traverses in a week. 

Perfect weather on Skye for some great scrambling and climbing. Selected for ITACE 2014, An expedition to cross Antartcica via Shackletons' proposed & uncompleted route. Started working with The North Face as a blogger and kit reviewer.

June - Filming with BBC Natural History in Greenland. 

Provided safety and rigging (plus some filming!) for a Barnacle Goose & Arctic Fox shoot on a loose basalt escarpment. Finished 10th in the Terrex Swift, a 48 hour Adventure Race.

July - Running the Tour du Mont Blanc,  

110 miles and 10,000m of ascent of some great trail running. Second attempt at the Lakeland 100 mile ultra. Retired after 75miles saving my legs for Greenland

August - Leading a Greenland expedition for Eton College.

A 3 week exploratory expedition in Liverpool land which succeeded on an unclimbed peak and the second highest summit in the range. Blogged live from the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc for the North Face following their athletes Jez Bragg & Lizzie Hawker

September - RIP Dawa Sherpa who was killed in the Manaslu avalanche, 

one of the strongest and friendliest Sherpas from our 2011 Everest expedition.

October - Leading an expedition to Island Peak, Nepal

Despite the coldest October in 20 years a very successful expedition putting 11 people on the summit

 November - a solo ascent of Ama Dablam, 

One of the world's most beautiful mountains. Open bivi at Camp 2 before a quick climb to the summit and back to Base Camp. Stayed on in Nepal to lead a successful Annapurna Sanctuary & Tent Peak expedition.

 December - Winter fell running & climbing in the Lake District

Great early season conditions coincided with a spell of high pressure.