Snowdon run

Peaks: Yr Wyddfa, Moel Cynghorion
Area: Snowdon, Eryri
It's been a while since I ran the tourist path from Llanberis, and seven years since I last did the Snowdon race (I 'retired' after running 1.22 in 2011, which I felt was the quickest I would ever do it). After dropping Kate off at work I parked at the far end of Padarn and ran through the town. Even though the weather was claggy and the hour early, the usual crowds dotted the path in a virtually continuous line. A squally shower hit below Hebron, and then cold mist and strong wind marked the rest of the climb. I ran down the same way until finding the crowds unbearable above Llyn du'r Arddu. To avoid them, I ran across the lip of the cwm, great views of both buttresses (I was last here for Longland's Route four years ago), then across steep grass to the Ranger path to join the Pedol Peris route up Moel Cynghorion where the weather finally began to clear. Brilliant running down the ridge to the col at the top of Maesgwm, leaving the perfect long run back to Llanberis along the Maesgwm path.

Sawyer Mountain run

Peak: Sawyer Mountain (2618ft)
Area: Adirondacks, New York
After the morning run up Prospect Mountain, we drove to Indian Lake and had a wonderful few hours exploring the glorious environs in perfect weather. The upper sections of the Hudson river, near its source, give way to picturesque lakes, one of which (Bullhead Pond) we walked to via pristine woodland. After a picnic outside Indian Lake, we drove to Sawyer Mountain, which I ran up - more pristine woodland and a brilliant leg stretcher and Adirondack sampler. A short way beyond the summit, I got the view I wanted, north over the unspoiled wilderness to Snowy Mountain and Wakely Mountain: quintessentially North American. Then it was back to Warrensburg for Elk Sliders, chicken wings and Space IPA.

Prospect Mountain run

Peaks: Prospect Mountain (2030ft)
Area: Adirondacks, New York
This little hill essentially marks the start of the Adirondacks, a vast mountain wilderness in upstate New York. It is the first landmark after the endless Hudson plains stretching inland from New York through Albany, and as such has considerable significance, with a road to the top and the remnants of an old cableway. I didn't know any of this, however, and just used it as a brief early morning training run as the closest trail to our motel in Warrensburg (although Kate and I had walked up the even closer Hackensack Mountain the evening before). A strange start from the edge of the resort town of St George, using a covered pedestrian bridge over the freeway, then an intense uphill blast on a big trail through woodland. Very direct initially, until a few rocky twists and turns gain the top of the summit road (29 minutes of running). At the top, lots of picnic tables, car parks, chipmunks, and huge views over Lake George, New York state and the Adirondacks. Very obvious that this marks a transition zone between populated NY state and the near-wilderness of the Adirondacks. I pelted down, back to the car, and back to the hotel for breakfast at 8am and a trip north into the Adirondacks proper.

Mount Randolph run

Peaks: Mount Randolph (3081ft)
Area: White Mountains, New Hampshire
Storms across New Hampshire yesterday, so my planned assault on the northern Whites had to be curtailed at the tree line after I stretched my legs up the famous Air Line trail, which starts from the road near our motel. We did some excellent family walks in between torrential showers: the Lost Pond from Pinkham notch, and two short trails from Crawford Notch. Today, I left the motel at 6am and ran through atmospheric woodland along the trail to Lookout Ledge. This took far longer than I'd expected, but when I arrived the conditions were fabulous. The night's mist and cloud was burning away and the sun lit the granite ledge as I arrived. Thick cloud remained over the northern Presidentials, but huge views over unbroken forested hills to the east - the Carter Range and Mount Moriah - emerged from light mist. Wonderful ambience with the low morning sun lighting the trees. I then switched to the Crescent Ridge trail up to Mount Randolph, named after our 'home' village. This remains wooded, all rather alien to one accustomed to continual mountain views, but very atmospheric and very North American. As I got higher, I re-entered the mist and could see nothing from the wooded summit. The path wasn't particularly clear, especially when compared to the Air Line, although the markings were adequate and it was all very runnable. I rejoined the Lowe trail and thoroughly enjoyed pelting down it to the Durand road, where I extended the run by another three miles (boreal chickadee, american redstart and other interesting birds). Then it was back to check out of the motel, enjoy a stupendous breakfast at the Water Wheel in Jefferson, and drive to Vermont.

Mount Jefferson traverse

Peaks: Mount Jefferson (5712ft), Mount Clay (5532ft), Mount Washington (6288ft)

Area: White Mountains, New Hampshire

Rather shameful, the first time in three decades of mountain activity that I've used mechanical assistance! But, I did at least run up Washington from the north, and the day's particular circumstances at the start of our US road trip provide three excuses. Storms were forecast tomorrow, there was no way the children would walk up Washington, and we'd driven over from the Maine coast in the morning. The drive up Washington's Auto Road is enjoyable, not particularly stressful by Alpine standards, although in a $50,000 Chrysler the mind was still focused! The tree line is left, reminding me very much of Mont Ventoux, as the open hill is gained: dwarf shrubs and granite boulders. On top, wonderful blue skies although distant views were a tad hazy. Close at hand, however, the Presidential range was very clear, particularly to the north where the more shapely peaks are. We had a picnic away from the hordes on the top, but I had a strong desire to get further away from the crowds, so ran over to Mount Jefferson. This was wonderful, a brief taster of the range. The terrain is rather awkward underfoot, so progress is slower than might be expected: rocky almost throughout. The path contours the sub-peak of Mount Clay to gain low trees and a rocky section at the col below Jefferson. I wasn't even sure what mountain I was on, having made a snap decision based on the appearance of the ridge. I felt quite good though, having just run a gentle acclimatising 5k round Lake Quannapowitt yesterday, and got to the bouldery top of Jefferson in around 50 minutes from Washington. Good views north to Adams and Madison, and down to Randolph - where our motel (called 'Jefferson View') was located. I varied the return, over the deserted top of Mount Clay, just a subpeak of Washington but with good views down into the pronounced Jefferson ravine. Took an unwise direct route back up Washington, which allowed me to partially regain the moral high ground.

Druid fell race

Race: The Druid (8k/1200ft)
Time/Position: 39.33 (6th from 75)
After yesterday's long run, I started at the back of the field tonight, on a very familiar race that I have done many times. As such, I was surprised to feel reasonably good, particularly by the standards of this off-form year, and started to move through the field as the race climbs over Foel Fenlli. There wasn't much to lose with our holiday imminent, so I gave it a real blast on the descent. The race now finishes back at the pub so I didn't have the demoralising experience of comparing my time with previous years!

Carneddau run

Peaks: Drum, Foel Fras, Carnedd Gwenllian, Foel Grach, Carnedd Llewellyn, Yr Elen, Moel Faban
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
The cloudless, perfect conditions of recent weeks gave way to dull, misty and more familiar weather as I set off from Aber this morning. Up the Foel Fras race route initially, always a long climb, but every inch of it is familiar and I was glad of the cooler weather. The cloud base flirted with the top of Foel Fras but never quite covered the ridge as I continued along it, feeling better as the morning went on and starting to pick up the pace. I reached the top of Carnedd Llewellyn in 90 minutes, then pelted along to Yr Elen, always one of my favourite Eryri summits. From here, I continued down then cut across to finally get to a water source at the bottom of Cwm Llafur. From here, the terrain was less familiar. I crossed to the track on Gyrn Wigiau, then ploughed across the open moor just above Bethesda to the small col below Moel Faban. From here, perfect runnable tracks contour the Moel Wnion to eventually rejoin the end of the old Foel Fras race route back to Aber. Less than four hours, an excellent circuit.

Raven Crag climbing

Crag: Raven Crag, Langdale
Routes: Revelation (HS 4b:led p.1), Bilberry Buttress (VS 4c,4b:led p.2), Holly Tree Direct (HVS 4b,4c,4b:led p.1)
Just another perfect summer day: sunlit dew as we left the tents in Grasmere, the yellow grass shimmering in the morning sunshine. After a big breakfast, we drove back over to Langdale, and walked in to Raven Crag from the Old Dungeon Ghyll. If I've waited a long time to revisit Gimmer, it's been even longer since I last climbed at Raven Crag: in fact, it was perhaps the second or third venue I ever visited, doing Middlefell Buttress and Evening Wall with the university climbing club in 1990! The crag has more to offer, and we started on the far right hand side with the excellent Revelation, which is well named as it offers a continuous series of big holds. I led the first pitch up a scoop and delicate slab, before Vic led the second which starts up a strenuous slanting crack and continues up easy ground to another short, steep wall taken on big holds: great start. Bilberry Buttress is the classic VS of the crag, at the top end of the grade. The initial crack is off-width, polished and awkward. The second is steeper, demanding some crack technique until some superb finishing holds can be used: surprisingly strenuous for the grade. Vic linked the two together, and I led the top pitch which moves right to another crack, slightly dirty, up to a detached flake and final slab. Finally, we went for Holly Tree Direct, one of the crag's most obvious lines. I combined the first two pitches - initially up a slab which was supposedly 4c but felt easier, and then up a pillar leading to an obvious pinnacle (this bit might have been Original Route). Above, the obvious groove is undercut, so requires a subtle solution which took some figuring out. I had to retrieve Vic's gear from the top of the steep ramp, then downclimb to traverse a steep slab on small holds: with my finger injury, this was difficult. A long step gains the groove, which is easier but sustained VS. The finish traverses left to easier slabs. Jogged back to the car and got home in two hours, the roads deserted as England played in the World Cup quarter final.

Gimmer climbing

Crag: Gimmer Crag, Lake District
Routes: Bracket and Slab Direct Start (VS 4b:led), Bracket and Slab (S:led p,3), South East Gully (M:des), Asterisk (VS 4b:sec), D Route (S+:led)
Gimmer is not just one of the best crags in the Lakes, it is one of the best in the UK, with superbly varied climbs of all grades. Puzzling, therefore, that I've only visited once before, with Tim in the 1990s to do the famous crack and a few other routes. This morning, an early start from home saw Vic and I walking in from Stickle Barn before 10am on yet another glorious morning, the grass scorched yellow throughout Langdale as the heatwave continues. It's a long walk-in from here, but gentler than the other approaches, and it exposes the main south-east face brilliantly, with the upper reaches of Langdale below. The walk from this side leads neatly into the routes around Gimmer Chimney, so we started with Bracket and Slab, which features in Classic Rock but was, I think, new to me. I took the direct start, which takes a thin crack up a clean slab and gives a lovely pitch at a mild VS, with some delicate moves and precise footwork: a great start, merging with the second pitch. Vic then led the 'bracket', which traverses an awkward flake to gain a left-slanting groove. I suspect I went slightly off route on the next pitch, traversing right to a long, tricky step to gain a crack leading up to twin chimneys. Vic then led a long final pitch up the easy right hand chimney to gain delightful sun-drenched slabs which led to the top, before an absorbing descent down the South East Gully. This requires some thought and care, a series of rock steps, descending facing in, to an exposed traverse and more tricky downclimbing. After lunch, we moved round to the steeper west face, where Vic led Asterisk. This is a superb pitch: move after move of great climbing on jugs, absorbing and enjoyable throughout. After a recess, the route briefly joins the arete before ploughing directly up on great holds in a great position to a brief crux right at the top. From Ash Tree ledge, the next routes take a bit of working out, but I eventually opted for D Route, which was - to say the least - a good choice. It is delicate initially, with a tricky step left on undercut holds, but this gains the wonderful 'forked lightning crack', which - although rather hidden from below - is one of the lines of the crag. It is simple but brilliant throughout, with abundant protection, up flakes and little pinnacles, all the way to a belay just below the top of the crag: a fantastic three-star combination of routes. We abbed off a big chain to Ash Tree ledge, then traversed across to the top of Asterisk, where an awkward abseil led back to the starting point in the shallow gully. We descended straight down to Mickleden, steep but direct, and walked back along the scorched valley to Stickle Barn. That night, we camped outside the YHA in Grasmere.

Cagliari run

A post-GCSE mini-adventure with Morgan, and - not wishing to push him too far - I left for a pre-breakfast run on the morning of our second day. I'd hoped to run along the obvious headland to the south of our flat in eastern Cagliari, but that proved problematic, so instead I ran along the harbour edge then along excellent cycle paths past the huge football ground, a venue famously used in Italia 90 (now defunct, I think). A further path by a major road leads to the Montargius lagoons, where I could see distant flamingos and nearby gull-billed terns. Excellent running along canal paths. Back to wake my companion for breakfast at the cafe near our apartment, before enjoying a splendid day trip to Iglesias in the Sardinian interior.