IN THE BAG Lindsay Cannon, International Mountain Leader F
ormer BBC TV presenter Lindsay Cannon was once asked to complete a climb for the camera. Frankly, she told them where to put their wide-angle lens, as she preferred her feet
fi rmly on the ground. But curiosity got the better of her and eventually she agreed. A passion for climbing was born, and she discovered the French Alps. Eventually Lindsay jumped off the BBC career path and onto the mountain trails, working as an alpine hiking guide.
Why did you become an alpine trekking guide?
I was asked by an inspirational 70 year-old friend, ‘Mave the Rave’, to join her on the Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route. She’d never done any hill-walking and my role was to advise, guide, and encourage. Mave needed some blunt explanations: don’t carry the kitchen sink, don’t expect a café to appear in the middle of nowhere and never lurk near metal objects in a lightning storm. The experience of helping someone achieve their mountain goal encouraged me to embark on the International Mountain Leader scheme.
What’s the toughest long- distance route you guide? One of the toughest is the Tour de Monte Rosa, which starts in Saas Grund in Switzerland, then passes into Italy, the remote valleys of Macugnaga and Alanga, before heading across the Theodule Pass into Zermatt. It has ten long days with ascents and descents of up to 1,300m each day. The passes are stunning but committing. I love it.
What’s your dream trek? I have a rather bland answer, as I love them all! If the sun is shining, the ibex are playing, the fl owers are blooming, and the views are stunning then each day is the best. I can walk the popular Tour du Mont Blanc four times a season and still revel in the mountain scenery. The Haute Route, the Tour de Monte
Rosa, the Traverse of the Verdon Gorge; they all offer something different and I never tire of the thrill of arriving at a col and seeing what’s on the other side.
What’s the best way to start alpine trekking?
Get some walking experience in the UK and do a navigation skills course to gain general mountain sense, and then think about exploring further afi eld. I guide many people who do a lot of walking, but don’t want the hassle of organising a long-distance hike in the Alps. If you have a guide, it’s a real holiday.
What are the best locations for trekking?
The Alps are top of my list: nothing beats the scenery for variety and sheer jaw-dropping beauty. I’ve guided in the Himalayas and Nepal, and have travelled around the world, but the Alps just keep bringing me back.
What gear do you take? I try and hike light, but as we say “light is right, until it’s wrong”. In other words, go as lightweight, compact and effi cient as you can, but don’t cut corners on safety. There’s no point lugging around a rucksack as big as yourself if you don’t need to, unless you want to wreck your ankles, knees and hips well before pensionable age! But always take the basic minimum of waterproofs, warm layers, gloves, hat, water, fi rst-aid kit, head torch, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
LEAVE YOUR CARES BEHIND AND EMBRACE ADVENTURE AND NATURE IN ALL HER GLORY”
Find more about Lindsay Cannon on
www.tracks-and-trails.com. She offers hiking, trail running, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
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PHOTO: LINDSAY CANNON COLLECTION.
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