A section of The Gospel according to St. MWIS of the Lakes:
The usual rules will be applied with rigour (the first one to fall over buys the beers).
Thursday 22nd January, 2009
Tuesday 20th January, 2009
Ringing the changes
It's almost that time of year when Saturn climbs to an observable height above the south-eastern skyline. In preparation for the ensuing observing and imaging sessions, I've been getting in some image-processing practice, using more-involved techniques on some of the .avi data acquired last year. I've taken the same data used to make the image posted on 4th April 2008 and pushed/pulled it through a different set of processing routines, ending up with this, which I reckon is a significant improvement:
In theory I should be able to capture higher-quality data this year, due to improvements to almost all of the various bits of kit used in the data-acquisition stage, so I expect to be able to produce even better pics... weather permitting.
Thursday 15th January, 2009
The game is afoot
After the mania of the Christmas and New Year period, and the family crises that have been brought under a semblance of control, things have calmed down to the point where we can begin to function normally again.
I've even managed to book a weekend away in Patterdale, so that I can introduce Ella to a few more Wainwrights. For what they're worth, advance forecasts are for a return to wintry conditions, so let's hope that the forecasters have got their predictions correct.
Furthermore, I've arranged to go for a crafty beer (or two) with a fellow blogger a few days afterwards.
My titanium cup runneth over 😀
Reports will follow in due course.
Monday 5th January, 2009
@ Martin
Martin Banfield asked the following questions in response to my opening post of the year:
"... Which Wainwrights, When, What Gear, and exactly how do you plan to ‘Push the Envelope’?"
Here's my attempt to satisfy his yearning for knowledge.
Which Wainwrights, When?
Well, my progress towards the slowest ever “compleation” of the 214 Wainwright Fells is going well - there are 41 still to be done: Eastern Fells (7), Far Eastern Fells (14), Central Fells (1), Southern Fells (6), Northern Fells (11), North Western Fells (1) and Western Fells (1). The Outlying Fells get picked-off whenever the opportunities arise, I've not got around to recording and mapping them online yet - that could be another project for this year.
When I take SWMBO on our annual spring wildie, we'll probably head for the Northern Fells and work our way from High Pike to Souther Fell, so that'll be another six or so to mark off on the map. Before that, I hope take Ella to Patterdale or Glenridding to nab a few short-walk fells while/if they're snowbound - Hart Side, maybe, or the Middle Dodd/Red Screes pairing. Summer in the LD is generally a no-no for me, as it's too busy to really appreciate the place, so I probably won't go again until the autumn, which is my favoured time of year for solo-wildcamping. I've got a hankering to spend a full weekend doing all of the Coniston Fells. Of course, any other opportunities that happen along will be considered and taken accordingly - hostelling with the family, outdoorbloggers meets, OM meets and stuff like that.
What Gear?
There are a few bits of kit that I'm hoping to acquire for testing, the main one is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mat. Others include a stove (identity to be disclosed later if the goods are forthcoming) and some footwear. I'll also be experimenting with using the kit that I have in different ways, to see which combinations work well and which fall short of expectations.
... and exactly how do you plan to "Push the Envelope"?
That'd be telling. If I let you know now, I'd have to shoot you.
Sunday 4th January, 2009
2009… more or less
So here it is. The first post of the new year. An opportunity to consider a few objectives for the next 12 months. Compared to 2008, which turned out to be an average sort of year, this lot should be doable:
1a. More actually getting out and doing "stuff"
1b. Less talking about getting out and doing "stuff"
2a. More "pushing the envelope"
2b. Less "comfort zone" dossing
3a. More meaningful blogging
3b. Less blogging of drivel
4a. More gear-testing
4b. Less gear-envy
5a. More improvement in use of the camera
5b. Less "missing the moment" while faffing with settings
6a. More time out with the scope
6b. Less time-wasting while faffing with settings
7a. More progress with astrophotography
7b. Less set-up time
8a. More Wainwrights
8b. Less use of traditional routes
9a. More local walking
9b. Less hiding behind the laptop
10a. And, thanks to George, more data-storage, and hence
10b. less dross on the internal HDD
That's it for now. More or less.
Monday 22nd December, 2008
Only a thin covering on the top
Jerome's been kind enough to send me copies of his pics taken during our walk around Cwm Idwal back in April this year, when we attended the OM Beddgelert Meet. Mountain-lovers will be impressed by the way he's captured the interplay between crag and cloud above the Idwal Slabs and Glyder Fawr, but my attention has been distracted by the degree of insulation-loss on the head of the beardy bloke in the foreground. No wonder it was a tad chilly on the top!
Thanks for the pics, Jerome!
