markhallam
OfflineA Little About Me
I've had a love of mountains spanning over 50 years: walks & scrambles in the UK in 1970's, climbing expeditions to the European Alps & Himalayas in the 1980's, paragliding in Europe, NZ & Australia in 1990's. My very first mountain climb was Tryfan, North Wales, in 1969, aged 8...
I got back to climbing in 2000's: took my wife Leila up Mont Blanc on honeymoon. I went on to a few solo alpine ascents, including my 5th ascent of Mont Blanc in 2009, leading up to February 2011, when I realised a dream and made a solo ascent of Aconcagua from the Vacas/Relinquos side, also fundraising for the Hepatitis C Trust.
Since then I have had had 3 alpine trips with rgg a.k.a 'The Peak Monster' highlights of which were 7/8 Mont Rosa summits and a 6th ascent of Mont Blanc with bivvy on the summit (in a thunderstorm!) - see Alps International Expedition 2013 below.
I have also had some memorable trips in UK, including a night in a snow-cave on top of Helvellyn, with son Andy, a return to same mountain with all 3 of my children plus granddaughter (aged 1)- and a 3 day expedition in Scotland in foul weather with Jake the dog...
In September 2014 I returned to the Alps again, with son Keith - and we climbed 2 Wallis 4000ers with rgg before climbing another 2 from my wish list Castor & Pollux - see Alps International Expedition 2014 below.
2016: I returned to the Andes in February, with old climbing partner from 1980's Jon - to climb as many peaks as we could in the Cordon Del Plata group. We had a fantastic trip, reaching 9 summits between 3000 and 6000m. Highlights were climbing San Bernardo 4142m with Indio the dog, climbing Rincon 5364m and traversing both summits of Plata; Pico at 5827m and Cerro 5962m. The mountains were wonderful, but so too were the people (and dogs) we met. I have posted a movie on Vimeo and have linked this to the end of a trip report I have posted on SP "Cordon del Plata Expedition 2016" - see below.
2017: UK based - I made a four seasons exploration of Glen Affric range, in 4 trips - culminating in the writing of Areas & Ranges page on the area - and - introducing a new Golden Retriever puppy, Henry, to the place (near Glen Affric) where his kind were first bred in 1868.
2018: In February - a third trip to the Andes with Jon, highlight being ascents of Cerro El Plomo 5434m and Leonera 4954m via a circular route - in via Valle Nevado and out via Pintor to Leonera Ridge. In the UK I walked the Affric to Kintail Way with 2 sons, my 5 year old granddaughter and 2 year old Golden Retriever Henry.
2019-2020: UK based: celebrated 50th anniversary of first ascent of Tryfan with old friends May 2019, two memorable winter explorations of the Cairngorms - and ascent of around 50 Wainwrights with Henry the dog. Another memorable highlight was I guided a large group from work around Yorkshire Three Peaks, between lock-downs, in atrocious weather, raising money for a charity, in June 2020...
2021: I retired April 2021 and moved to Scotland where I moved from doctor into the employ of my wife, where we manage a small wood and run a modest holiday letting business - but I am also out on local hills every day with Henry, in all seasons exploring the beautiful countryside around where we live...
I got back to climbing in 2000's: took my wife Leila up Mont Blanc on honeymoon. I went on to a few solo alpine ascents, including my 5th ascent of Mont Blanc in 2009, leading up to February 2011, when I realised a dream and made a solo ascent of Aconcagua from the Vacas/Relinquos side, also fundraising for the Hepatitis C Trust.
Since then I have had had 3 alpine trips with rgg a.k.a 'The Peak Monster' highlights of which were 7/8 Mont Rosa summits and a 6th ascent of Mont Blanc with bivvy on the summit (in a thunderstorm!) - see Alps International Expedition 2013 below.
I have also had some memorable trips in UK, including a night in a snow-cave on top of Helvellyn, with son Andy, a return to same mountain with all 3 of my children plus granddaughter (aged 1)- and a 3 day expedition in Scotland in foul weather with Jake the dog...
In September 2014 I returned to the Alps again, with son Keith - and we climbed 2 Wallis 4000ers with rgg before climbing another 2 from my wish list Castor & Pollux - see Alps International Expedition 2014 below.
2016: I returned to the Andes in February, with old climbing partner from 1980's Jon - to climb as many peaks as we could in the Cordon Del Plata group. We had a fantastic trip, reaching 9 summits between 3000 and 6000m. Highlights were climbing San Bernardo 4142m with Indio the dog, climbing Rincon 5364m and traversing both summits of Plata; Pico at 5827m and Cerro 5962m. The mountains were wonderful, but so too were the people (and dogs) we met. I have posted a movie on Vimeo and have linked this to the end of a trip report I have posted on SP "Cordon del Plata Expedition 2016" - see below.
2017: UK based - I made a four seasons exploration of Glen Affric range, in 4 trips - culminating in the writing of Areas & Ranges page on the area - and - introducing a new Golden Retriever puppy, Henry, to the place (near Glen Affric) where his kind were first bred in 1868.
2018: In February - a third trip to the Andes with Jon, highlight being ascents of Cerro El Plomo 5434m and Leonera 4954m via a circular route - in via Valle Nevado and out via Pintor to Leonera Ridge. In the UK I walked the Affric to Kintail Way with 2 sons, my 5 year old granddaughter and 2 year old Golden Retriever Henry.
2019-2020: UK based: celebrated 50th anniversary of first ascent of Tryfan with old friends May 2019, two memorable winter explorations of the Cairngorms - and ascent of around 50 Wainwrights with Henry the dog. Another memorable highlight was I guided a large group from work around Yorkshire Three Peaks, between lock-downs, in atrocious weather, raising money for a charity, in June 2020...
2021: I retired April 2021 and moved to Scotland where I moved from doctor into the employ of my wife, where we manage a small wood and run a modest holiday letting business - but I am also out on local hills every day with Henry, in all seasons exploring the beautiful countryside around where we live...
My Images
My Areas & Ranges (2)
- Glen Affric Range
- Mamore Range Scotland
My Mountains & Rocks (6)
- Eiger Rotstock
- Lomas Blancas Cordon del Plata
- Menthosa
- Montagne de Robion
- Monte Sibilla
- Mulkila
My Routes (16)
- Aiguillette du Lauzet via ferrata Briançonnais
- Castor WNW Flank Castore/Castor
- Croix de Toulouse via ferrata Briançonnais
- Dufourspitze - Italian Normal Route Monte Rosa group
- Dufourspitze - Swiss Normal Route
- Eiger West Flank
- Helvellyn No 2 Gully
- Ill Crags South East Face
- Jack's Rake, Pavey Ark The Lake District (UK)
- Murren-Gimmelwald Via Ferrata Bernese Alps
- Pen by Thor's Buttress
- Plata Traverse Cerro Plata
- Slab and Notch, Pillar Rock The Lake District (UK)
- Strahlhorn normal route
- Tasch-Dom Traverse Dom
- Wistow Crags, Pillar The Lake District (UK)
My Trip Reports (15)
- Aconcagua 2011 - solo via the Polaco-Guanaco-Normalo route
- Alps 2009: Sunny Saas summits and single return to Mont Blanc
- Alps International Expedition 2012
- Alps International Expedition 2013
- Alps International Expedition 2014
- Arctic Finland 2015: of dogs, snowmobiles & Irishmen
- Cordon del Plata Expedition 2016
- Glen Affric: a winter's journey 2017
- Lakes 2013: Helvellyn by snow-cave
- Lakes 2014: Four and a bit to Helvellyn Striding Edge, Helvellyn
- Lakes 2017: The Langdales by triathlon The Lake District (UK)
- Mont Blanc - Brenva route 1984 Mont Blanc
- Of Vampires, Mountains & Men: Scottish Highlands 2010 Ben Nevis
- Scottish Highlands 2010 re-visited: a solo jaunt in the coldest December for 80 years. Scotland
- Scottish Highlands December 2013: A long walk with Jake Scotland
My Articles (1)
- Expedition Medicine Aconcagua
My Albums (8)
- Allalinhorn 4027m traverse 2014 Allalinhorn
- Castor & Pollux 2014 Castore/Castor
- Glen Affric in colour Glen Affric Range
- Grand Aletsch Expedition 2014 Alps International Expedition 2014
- Paragliding in early 1990's
- Punta Grober 2014 - solo attempt
- Strahlhorn 4190m ascent 2014 Strahlhorn
- Western Lake District The Lake District (UK)
My Custom Objects (6)
My Canyons (1)
- Hell Gill Pennines
Climber's Logs I've Signed (203)
Areas & Ranges (24)
- Glen Affric Range Scotland
- Las Montañas del Fuego Lanzarote
- Peak District
- Cordon del Plata
- The Lake District (UK)
- Brecon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog
- Arctic Scandinavia
- Snowdonia/Eryri National Parks in Northwest Europe
- Port Hills
- Southern Alps
- The Karakoram
- Aiguilles Rouges
- Pennine Alps Alps - Western Part
- Bernese Alps Alps - Western Part
- Carneddau Snowdonia/Eryri
- Mamore Range Scotland
- Mont Blanc GROUP Alps - Western Part
- Glyders/Glyderau Snowdonia/Eryri
- Glencoe Scotland
- Aconcagua Group
- Brenta Group Rhaetian Alps
- Blüemlisalp Group Bernese Alps
- Monte Rosa group Pennine Alps
- Breithorn range Monte Rosa group
Mountains & Rocks (114)
- Dom Pennine Alps
- Langdale Pikes The Lake District (UK)
- Aiguilles du Dru (or Les Drus) Mont Blanc GROUP
- Cat Bells The Lake District (UK)
- Lomas Blancas Cordon del Plata
- Cerro Plata Cordon del Plata
- Pico Plata Cordon del Plata
- Cerro Rincon Cordon del Plata
- San Bernardo Cordon del Plata
- Adolfo Calle Cordon del Plata
- Stepanek Cordon del Plata
- Pillar The Lake District (UK)
- Cribyn Brecon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog
- Corn Du Brecon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog
- Pen Y Fan Brecon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog
- Skiddaw The Lake District (UK)
- Flattop Mountain Rocky Mountain National Park
- Pollux / Polluce Monte Rosa group
- Castore/Castor Monte Rosa group
- Strahlhorn Pennine Alps
- Dôme du Goûter Mont Blanc GROUP
- Montagne de Robion Haute Provence
- Wyssi Frau Blüemlisalp Group
- Blüemlisalphorn Blüemlisalp Group
- Punta Grober Pennine Alps
- Eggishorn Bernese Alps
- Stockhorn (Zermatt) Monte Rosa group
- Monte Bianco di Courmayeur Mont Blanc GROUP
- Parrotspitze Monte Rosa group
- Ludwigshoehe Monte Rosa group
- Corno Nero Monte Rosa group
- Piramide Vincent Monte Rosa group
- Cima di Iazzi Monte Rosa group
- Aiguille du Tour Mont Blanc GROUP
- Gran Paradiso Gran Paradiso GROUP
- Aiguille du Belvedere Aiguilles Rouges
- Lagginhorn Pennine Alps
- Aiguillette du Lauzet Briançonnais
- Great End The Lake District (UK)
- Scafell The Lake District (UK)
- Fairfield The Lake District (UK)
- St Sunday Crag The Lake District (UK)
- Helvellyn The Lake District (UK)
- Yorkshire Three Peaks
- Zinalrothorn Pennine Alps
- Bidean nam Bian Glencoe
- Aiguille du Midi Mont Blanc GROUP
- Glyder Fawr Snowdonia/Eryri
- Carnedd Dafydd Carneddau
- Y Lliwedd Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
- Glyder Fach Snowdonia/Eryri
- Carnedd Llewelyn Carneddau
- Crib Goch Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
- Pen Yr Ole Wen Carneddau
- Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa Snowdonia/Eryri
- Eiger Rotstock Eiger
- Ben Macdui Scotland
- Beinn Laoigh/Ben Lui Scotland
- Stac Pollaidh Scotland
- An Teallach Scotland
- Liathach Scotland
- Stuchd an Lochain Grampian Mountains
- Sgurr a' Mhàim Scotland
- An Gearanach Grampian Mountains
- Stob Bàn Grampian Mountains
- Mount Vesuvius / Monte Vesuvio
- Kinder Scout Peak District
- Lochnagar Scotland
- Beinn Dorain Scotland
- Schiehallion Scotland
- Easains Scotland
- Stob Coire nan Lochan Glencoe
- Ben Lawers Range Scotland
- Blencathra The Lake District (UK)
- Great Gable The Lake District (UK)
- Scafell Pike The Lake District (UK)
- Monte Faito (Monti Lattari)
- Monte Sibilla Appennino Centrale
- Lancebranlette Graie Alps
- Mittaghorn Mischabel GROUP
- Mulkila
- Menthosa
- The Old Man of Coniston The Lake District (UK)
- Matterhorn - Monte Cervino Pennine Alps
- Weissmies Pennine Alps
- Aconcagua Aconcagua Group
- Etna (Mongibello) Sicilia / Sicily
- Stromboli Sicilia / Sicily
- Aonach Eagach Glencoe
- Buachaille Etive Mor Glencoe
- Ben Nevis Europe's Highpoints
- Tryfan Snowdonia/Eryri
- Cima Tosa Brenta Group
- Mount Fyffe
- Grande Casse Vanoise
- Mont Maudit Mont Blanc GROUP
- Mont Blanc du Tacul Mont Blanc GROUP
- Dent Blanche Pennine Alps
- Zumsteinspitze Monte Rosa group
- Signalkuppe / Punta Gnifetti Monte Rosa group
- Mont Blanc Mont Blanc GROUP
- Popocatépetl Mexican Volcanoes
- Schwarzhorn (Grindelwald) Bernese Alps
- Faulhorn Bernese Alps
- Eiger Bernese Alps
- Doldenhorn Bernese Alps
- Fründenhorn Blüemlisalp Group
- Mönch Bernese Alps
- Alphubel Pennine Alps
- Allalinhorn Pennine Alps
- Broad Peak The Karakoram
- Täschhorn Pennine Alps
- Dufourspitze/Punta Dufour Monte Rosa group
- Aiguille d'Argentière Mont Blanc GROUP
Routes (61)
- Jack's Rake, Pavey Ark The Lake District (UK)
- Y Gribin Glyder Fawr
- PYG Track Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
- Watkin Path Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
- The Curved ridge Buachaille Etive Mor
- Allalinhorn Normal Route Allalinhorn
- Plata Traverse Cerro Plata
- Heuberg above Oeschinensee Blüemlisalp Group
- Wistow Crags, Pillar The Lake District (UK)
- Slab and Notch, Pillar Rock The Lake District (UK)
- Pen by Thor's Buttress Scafell Pike
- Pollux South-West Ridge Pollux / Polluce
- Amphitheater Buttress Carnedd Llewelyn
- Central Gully Cairn Gorm
- Castor WNW Flank Castore/Castor
- Piramide Vincent Normal route - NW slope Piramide Vincent
- Strahlhorn normal route Strahlhorn
- Hohlaubgrat / East Ridge Allalinhorn
- Tacul-Maudit-Mount Blanc-Gôuter Integral Traverse Mont Blanc
- Ill Crags South East Face Scafell Pike
- West Ridge Normal Lagginhorn
- South Ridge, Wandfluegrat or Normal Dent Blanche
- Bristly Ridge Glyder Fach
- Bochlwyd Horseshoe Tryfan
- The North Ridge Tryfan
- Helvellyn No 2 Gully The Lake District (UK)
- Eiger West Flank Eiger
- Dufourspitze - Swiss Normal Route Monte Rosa group
- Dufourspitze - Italian Normal Route Monte Rosa group
- Italian Normal Route Mont Blanc
- Patterdale Round The Lake District (UK)
- Croix de Toulouse via ferrata Briançonnais
- Aiguillette du Lauzet via ferrata Briançonnais
- Striding Edge, Helvellyn The Lake District (UK)
- Pinnacle Ridge, St Sunday Crag The Lake District (UK)
- Sharp Edge The Lake District (UK)
- Weissmies SE-ridge Weissmies
- Sentiero Benini Brenta Group
- Murren-Gimmelwald Via Ferrata Bernese Alps
- Tasch-Dom Traverse Dom
- NW Ridge Via Ferrata Mittaghorn
- Sentiero S.O.S.A.T Brenta Group
- Grooved Arete Tryfan
- Troutdale Pinnacle The Lake District (UK)
- Dow Crag The Lake District (UK)
- Little Chamonix Shepherds Crag The Lake District (UK)
- Corvus, Raven Crag The Lake District (UK)
- Normal Route Dom
- Allmenalp Klettersteig (via ferrata) Bernese Alps
- Snowdon Horseshoe Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
- Stob Coire Nan Lochan, NC Gully Stob Coire nan Lochan
- Carn Mor Dearg Arête Ben Nevis
- Castle Ridge Ben Nevis
- Morgenhorn - Blüemlisalphorn Traverse Blüemlisalp Group
- Breithorn - Triftjigrat Breithorn Occidentale (Western Breithorn)
- SE-Ridge ( Normal Route) Zinalrothorn
- Hörnligrat Matterhorn - Monte Cervino
- The Brenva Spur Mont Blanc
- Mont Blanc - 3 Mounts Blanc Traverse Mont Blanc
- Festigrat Dom
- Dôme du Goûter (Bosses Ridge) Mont Blanc
Canyons (3)
- Hell Gill Pennines
- Infernaccio Sibillini
- Gorges du Verdon Provence ranges
Huts & Campgrounds (1)
- Bivacco Felice Giordano (Balmenhorn) Monte Rosa group
My Lists
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Messages I Posted/ Editable Objects
Reviews I Posted/Reviews Posted to my Gear
Objects Others Have Attached to My Objects
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Photos Others Have Attached to My Objects
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