W
elcome to Summit 74 Summer is here. Long days and short nights give you plenty of time for great days on the hills and crags. And you know you’ve had a good day out when, weary-legged, you come down from the mountain to fi nd the pub has shut.
Early summer is a great time to explore the western shores of our islands; it’s usually the driest season, and the midges aren’t out in full force. Ireland has wonderful, wild hill and mountain walking with 458 Arderins (summits over 500 metres), most of them without paths; a real contrast to the often busy hills of England and Wales. The mountainous spines of the near-deserted peninsulas of Cork and Kerry are also well worth exploration.
In the Alps, early starts mean that the bars should be open when you get down, but watch out for those lift closing times. The more sensible will stay in a mountain hut. Ranging from a 200-bed quasi hotel to a tin shed on a ledge, huts are an integral part of alpine mountaineering culture. A reciprocal rights card, available through the BMC, will reduce the costs of a stay dramatically. But remember your insurance – make sure it gives you the cover you need.
The birds are still busy on the cliffs, crags and moors. Give them the space they need to bring up their young, but check the BMC Regional Access Database to see if chicks have fl own the nest early, allowing you to enjoy even more fun in the sun.
Enjoy your summer.
Scott Titt BMC President
SUMMIT#74 | SUMMER 2014 | 9
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