Autumn in the Peaks

Autumn is my favourite time of year. Wildlife preparing for the long winter ahead, leaves turning, the air becoming cooler and crisper and the autum colours seeping across the landscape like spilt paint. Add to that the anticipation of my annual escape of the worst of the British winter to the southern hemisphere (Antarctica from November for the sixth year on the trot!) and you can see why.

I'm back in the peaks for a few weeks and try to get out and about and make the most before my departure. Wandering along the Eastern Gritstone Edges, climbing, mountain biking and walking about taking it all in. I even had a little visit from a hedgehog today fattening up ready for its own way of escaping the winter...

The neighbours cat felt a little inquisitive and didn't manage to follow the "look don't touch" philosophy and had a nasty shock in the process.

Lastly, as he was wandering around he got quite excited for a moment as he though he'd met a gorgeous hedgehog to cuddle up to this winter. He looked very disappointed as he wandered off!

Skyline London to Paris Charity Bike

Don't you just love it when people put themselves out to raise money for charity! On the 10-14th September 200 people on two different routes cycled from London to the Eiffel Tower raising thousands of pounds for loads of charities. I was crew and photographer and am also raising money for the Parkinsons Disease Society through sales of images from the event.

The Leigh Wedding...

On Saturday the 6th September, I was photographer for the wedding of Karen Hornsby to Roland Leigh at Highworth Church near Swindon. The reception was held at the lovely Lydiard House in Swindon and the weather almost held off! A little rain and a burgundy and cream theme to the day... The last wedding of the season (probably...!)

Mont Blanc or Bust...

And time comes for a Holiday....

Not on a beach, reading a good book and drinking cocktails like everyone else of course! A 10 day trip to Chamonix in the French Alps....

The ultimate aim of the trip was to climb Mont Blanc (above) and descend by paraglider from the summit. I have no interest in walking down a mountain like that so last time I skied down and this time we wanted to fly down.

After some flying in the valley, Susie and I spent some time up high acclimatising and climbing near the Aiguille du Midi (3842 m)

Susie enjoying the sunset at the mountain hut.

A bit of Alpine climbing to pass the time.

Then a trip to test out the lightweight fly kit and slog up a mountain for a few hours. Mont buet was the mountain, and it was a beautiful day, with fantastic views of Mont Blanc, teasing us in the distance. (even made a very little video of the day below!)

After 4hrs 17 mins and 1800m of ascent, we arrive at the summit of Mont Buet.

But, as time progressed and we were ready, the weather changed, snow fell up top and the high level winds picked up too much. And then it began to rain!

The view through my legs a few hundred metres above Vallorcine.

Oh well, as it says in the video, the mountain isn't going to go anywhere so here's to next year....

Greenland Shut Down

After 3 more weeks work at the camp, the time has come to head back to pastures green. Temperatures are dropping into the low -20's, the sun gets closer and closer to the horizon each day and the atmosphere about camp is one of finishing up and moving on. Everything needs some work or other to prepare it to be left for 7 months over the winter.

The change in light and drop in temperature mean that the skies are more beautiful than ever, and also that we get some interesting atmospheric conditions - sun halos, icebows (like a rainbow but through ice crystals) and beautiful pinks in the evening skies. Looking forward to getting back to some greenery and time for a holiday!

The Kansas Radar team with their trusty Steed...

The moon rises over camp as the sun dips low to the horizon with its pinks and purples.

Sverrier blasts some snow in the piste machine.

Louise enjoys -28 degrees C and the sun halo

An Icebow over the camp.

The guys are ready for the off back to pastures green.

Lizzie and Cheung continue with the relentless digging of snow!


And finally the Hercules arrives to whisk us away.

Work Hard, Play Hard

Back in Greenland again. Work hard, play hard.

The small river in Kangerlussuaq has turned into a raging torrent, swollen with the summer melt of the Russell glacier.

Flying back in to NEEM our in flight entertainment was to witness a 96% solar eclipse from the window of our LC-130.

The long winter creeps closer each day and we are all working long hours to finish building the camp and prepare it for the harsh Greenland winter where storms rage and temperatures drop to below – 60 degrees C.

The evening light improves as the sun gets lower by the day, and the skies are as big and beautiful as ever. An evening ski or run on the groomed runway is an excellent way to relax and escape the hum of the generator.

We are due to leave on the 18th August so hopefully we're ready and the weather plays ball to let us escape!