Comments on: Blow, blow, thou summer wind http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:09:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: CJW http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-27141 CJW Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:52:47 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-27141 RedYeti - it's always a gamble, isn't it? The forecast had called for almost perfect weather, but we got there only to find the entire place dripping... Thank goodness for the FT, though, it would have been a worse trip without it. Man cannot live on wine alone. RedYeti – it’s always a gamble, isn’t it? The forecast had called for almost perfect weather, but we got there only to find the entire place dripping… Thank goodness for the FT, though, it would have been a worse trip without it. Man cannot live on wine alone.

]]> By: RedYetiDave http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-26945 RedYetiDave Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:27:57 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-26945 (Forgive the late reading/commenting - trying to catch up with so many things after the GR5...) <em>Brilliant!</em> I was laughing hard at "Tim punched me in the face" and harder as you burnt each section of the FT. I can relate to your not cancelling plans because of a bad weather forecast. For a start, they're often wrong, and secondly even if they're not, if you have the experience and the will to turn back if the conditions really deteriorate, bad weather can make for some really memorable trips. We wild-camped three days across some of the most popular parts of the Lakes one August Bank Holiday (taking in High Street for instance) and had the place to ourselves because the weather forecast predicted the end of the world. We had not one <em>single</em> drop for rain the entire weekend. (Forgive the late reading/commenting – trying to catch up with so many things after the GR5…)

Brilliant! I was laughing hard at “Tim punched me in the face” and harder as you burnt each section of the FT.

I can relate to your not cancelling plans because of a bad weather forecast. For a start, they’re often wrong, and secondly even if they’re not, if you have the experience and the will to turn back if the conditions really deteriorate, bad weather can make for some really memorable trips.

We wild-camped three days across some of the most popular parts of the Lakes one August Bank Holiday (taking in High Street for instance) and had the place to ourselves because the weather forecast predicted the end of the world.

We had not one single drop for rain the entire weekend.

]]> By: Hendrik M http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-25099 Hendrik M Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:55:39 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-25099 A wise decision to turn around - it seems the (weather) gods weren't on your side on this trip, despite the visit to the shrine (?). As others, I might have stayed at home instead of heading into the mountains with such weather, but then again, a plan is a plan and if there's a back-up plan then hopefully nothing can go wrong. A wise decision to turn around – it seems the (weather) gods weren’t on your side on this trip, despite the visit to the shrine (?). As others, I might have stayed at home instead of heading into the mountains with such weather, but then again, a plan is a plan and if there’s a back-up plan then hopefully nothing can go wrong.

]]> By: Clint http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-25062 Clint Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:37:16 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-25062 Great writing Chris. Your photos do a great job of conveying the absolute torment wrought onto your plans by mother nature. It HAD to be pretty nasty to turn you back I would guess after reading about all those nights bivouacked in a minuscule snow drift on the top of a mountain ridge in the middle of winter. Cannot wait to see and read about your next adventures in Japan. Great writing Chris. Your photos do a great job of conveying the absolute torment wrought onto your plans by mother nature. It HAD to be pretty nasty to turn you back I would guess after reading about all those nights bivouacked in a minuscule snow drift on the top of a mountain ridge in the middle of winter.

Cannot wait to see and read about your next adventures in Japan.

]]> By: CJW http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-24335 CJW Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:02:35 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-24335 Peter - weather is not climate, I like that one. But will this rain never end?? Project Hyakumeizan - indeed, in retrospect firelighters would have been a good choice. But such was my misplaced confidence in my firelighting abilities... I firmly believe the insulating properties of the FT have vastly improved over recent years, such is the volume of hot air that once venerable organ now produces :-) The photos are, on the whole, the product of about 30 seconds when the cloud lifted for a brief instant. A triumph of luck over judgement! MikesBlender - I can think of nothing better than when someone says they've been inspired to get out into the mountains of Japan by something they've seen on this blog. That's high praise. Very much looking forward to seeing that painting, too! Damian - it's been great to hear everyone's opinion on the matter. Hopefully some good can come of this tragedy. Definitely looking forward to getting into the backcountry with you this winter, and will send you an email this week. Peter – weather is not climate, I like that one. But will this rain never end??

Project Hyakumeizan – indeed, in retrospect firelighters would have been a good choice. But such was my misplaced confidence in my firelighting abilities… I firmly believe the insulating properties of the FT have vastly improved over recent years, such is the volume of hot air that once venerable organ now produces :-) The photos are, on the whole, the product of about 30 seconds when the cloud lifted for a brief instant. A triumph of luck over judgement!

MikesBlender – I can think of nothing better than when someone says they’ve been inspired to get out into the mountains of Japan by something they’ve seen on this blog. That’s high praise. Very much looking forward to seeing that painting, too!

Damian – it’s been great to hear everyone’s opinion on the matter. Hopefully some good can come of this tragedy. Definitely looking forward to getting into the backcountry with you this winter, and will send you an email this week.

]]> By: damian http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-24182 damian Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:52:29 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-24182 This is proving to be quite the discussion area! A meaningful number of people have meaningful things to say. It is good to share views and information - thanks Chris for the platform to do so. Looking forward to spending some backcountry time with you this coming season. This is proving to be quite the discussion area! A meaningful number of people have meaningful things to say. It is good to share views and information – thanks Chris for the platform to do so. Looking forward to spending some backcountry time with you this coming season.

]]> By: mikesblender http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-24174 mikesblender Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:01:15 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-24174 whoops, just realized I posted my comment on the wrong article (below post)... Meant to put it here. Anyway the same holds true for both articles so no problem. Your description of sleeping on the summit reminded me of an experience I had trying to sleep in a tent on a beach while a typhoon was coming in. The painting is coming along nicely btw whoops, just realized I posted my comment on the wrong article (below post)… Meant to put it here.
Anyway the same holds true for both articles so no problem.

Your description of sleeping on the summit reminded me of an experience I had trying to sleep in a tent on a beach while a typhoon was coming in.

The painting is coming along nicely btw

]]> By: Project Hyakumeizan http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-24159 Project Hyakumeizan Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:51:52 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-24159 Well, firelighters might have solved the damp wood problem - but then we would have missed your hilarious account of lighting the fire section by section of the FT. It's a good newspaper to have with you, by the way - it's also possible to use it as additional bivouac insulation, at least at low altitudes. Am vastly impressed too with your ability to conjure dramatic photography out of such unpromising weather.... Well, firelighters might have solved the damp wood problem – but then we would have missed your hilarious account of lighting the fire section by section of the FT. It’s a good newspaper to have with you, by the way – it’s also possible to use it as additional bivouac insulation, at least at low altitudes. Am vastly impressed too with your ability to conjure dramatic photography out of such unpromising weather….

]]> By: Peter Skov http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-24154 Peter Skov Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:31:34 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-24154 Yeah, I know those weekends where the weather report won't stand still. Thus I have ended up on the ridge in some poor weather a few times. I used to think I was cursed, an ameotoko. Now I have better luck. I saw on TV the other day some people were talking about if the strange weather recently wasn't a sign of climate change. They always do that in summer. If there's heavy snow or a cold snap in February they say it's winter. If there's stormy weather in summer they say it's climate change. One thing I once read that is a good to remember: weather is not climate. Storms happen. Yeah, I know those weekends where the weather report won’t stand still. Thus I have ended up on the ridge in some poor weather a few times. I used to think I was cursed, an ameotoko. Now I have better luck.

I saw on TV the other day some people were talking about if the strange weather recently wasn’t a sign of climate change. They always do that in summer. If there’s heavy snow or a cold snap in February they say it’s winter. If there’s stormy weather in summer they say it’s climate change. One thing I once read that is a good to remember: weather is not climate. Storms happen.

]]> By: CJW http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/07/24/blow-blow-thou-summer-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-24148 CJW Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:08:02 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=208#comment-24148 Hi Tom - a friend forwarded another great tutorial (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/mountain-climbing.shtml) which is worth it for the photos alone... In answer to your question, I usually stick the camera back in the pack if it's raining, the chances of a good shot are pretty low. Although i do have a Granite Gear silnylon sack that I sometimes wrap around it if I think something interesting might be coming up. Those DSLRs are hardy, though - a bit of water doesn't harm them too much. Mikael - it seems to me that the client who has been most vocal was the only one who understood the situation (he's been climbing for 35 years apparently). He was clearly kitted out properly, and as I understand it was the one who forced the guide to call for help eventually. As you say, hopefully something is learnt from all this. Re shops, in addition to Andy's comment (thanks Andy!), I'd recommend: ICI Sports Harajuku - right outside the station, next to Oshmans (which also has some gear). ICI Sports Tozan Honten in Jimbocho - it's not easy to find, best thing is to look for the fancy bagel shop on the ground floor (http://ici-sports.com/shop/tozanhonten.html) Haglofs (either in Harajuku or Ebisu - pricey, but awesome kit: http://www.haglofs.jp/dealer/index.html). Sale now on! Mammut off Omotesando (http://www.mammut.jp/). My wife's favorite... North Face (personally don't like TNF, but..) in Harajuku http://shop.m-tnf.jp/tyo/ Aigle in Harajuku: http://www.aigle.co.jp/ Montbell for basics, either in Ebisu or Shibuya: http://store.montbell.jp/search/shopinfo/?shop_no=618851 http://store.montbell.jp/search/shopinfo/?shop_no=679919 And of course L-Breath in Shinjuku (and I think there is an ICI there too, now). Make sure you get a point card in ICI and L-Breath if you haven't already - in ICI, it's an instant 5% discount, in L-Breath it's 5% worth of redeemable points (or 10% if you spend enough for the black card :-) Hi Tom – a friend forwarded another great tutorial (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/mountain-climbing.shtml) which is worth it for the photos alone… In answer to your question, I usually stick the camera back in the pack if it’s raining, the chances of a good shot are pretty low. Although i do have a Granite Gear silnylon sack that I sometimes wrap around it if I think something interesting might be coming up. Those DSLRs are hardy, though – a bit of water doesn’t harm them too much.

Mikael – it seems to me that the client who has been most vocal was the only one who understood the situation (he’s been climbing for 35 years apparently). He was clearly kitted out properly, and as I understand it was the one who forced the guide to call for help eventually. As you say, hopefully something is learnt from all this. Re shops, in addition to Andy’s comment (thanks Andy!), I’d recommend:

ICI Sports Harajuku – right outside the station, next to Oshmans (which also has some gear).

ICI Sports Tozan Honten in Jimbocho – it’s not easy to find, best thing is to look for the fancy bagel shop on the ground floor (http://ici-sports.com/shop/tozanhonten.html)

Haglofs (either in Harajuku or Ebisu – pricey, but awesome kit: http://www.haglofs.jp/dealer/index.html). Sale now on!

Mammut off Omotesando (http://www.mammut.jp/). My wife’s favorite…

North Face (personally don’t like TNF, but..) in Harajuku http://shop.m-tnf.jp/tyo/

Aigle in Harajuku: http://www.aigle.co.jp/

Montbell for basics, either in Ebisu or Shibuya: http://store.montbell.jp/search/shopinfo/?shop_no=618851
http://store.montbell.jp/search/shopinfo/?shop_no=679919

And of course L-Breath in Shinjuku (and I think there is an ICI there too, now). Make sure you get a point card in ICI and L-Breath if you haven’t already – in ICI, it’s an instant 5% discount, in L-Breath it’s 5% worth of redeemable points (or 10% if you spend enough for the black card :-)

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