Thursday 29 September 2011

the di gilbert roadshow

Mmm, do you think I got the wrong dates?


RSGS Peebles, RSGS Ayr and St George's School in Edinburgh.


RSGS Helensburgh this evening and then I get to return to the mountains.

Oh, and speaking is far more terrifying than any mountain I have climbed :)

Monday 26 September 2011

RSGS Dumfries

A speakers worst nightmare?

Sunday 25 September 2011

getting lost

On Saturday, we tried desperately not to get lost.


On Sunday, we tried desperately to get lost.


Working for the Mountaineering Council of Scotland this weekend down in the spectacular Ochil hills on their Navigation and GPS courses.


Thankfully we never required rescuing from members of the Ochil MR Team.


And more interviews for the BBC Scotland Radio Programme Out of Doors from Heather.


Big Thank You to Ochils MRT for letting us use their very swish facilities and to Donald for helping out over the weekend.


Di is officially on the road tomorrow, for one week, as she takes part in the RSGS's Illustrated Talks Programme.  Somehow, this seems rather more frightening than climbing a big mountain ...

Monday 19 September 2011

more hike-a-bike

Everyone is in agreement for once ...


... we had summer in April.


I am slightly concerned that I can't remember the last time I climbed dry rock.


I am slightly concerned that I am actually starting to enjoy the mountain biking.


I am also slightly concerned that I don't have a sore bum after another mammoth ride yesterday.


Friday 16 September 2011

I love skye but ...


... I couldn't live there.

For lots of reasons, I found myself on the little island with no one to play with.

So, I went exploring ...


I never got lost.

I never dropped anything.

I never forgot anything.


I handed out 5 business cards.


Why can't every day be like this?

Sunday 11 September 2011

the newsletter

To sign up for the new newsletter, send Di an email with newsletter subscription in the subject box.


These newsletter will inform you about the adventures that we are planning over the coming months both in Scotland and abroad.  Adventures that you can take part in ...

Friday 9 September 2011

the calm before the storm

Graham & Di are still on standby for a traverse of the Cuillin Ridge, however, it isn't going to happen this week.



1 x broken gear cable


3 x rather large river crossings


1 x rather spectacular blow out


6 x large sausage rolls


1.5 x bags of jelly babies


1 x10 hours

Thats what it took Derek & Di to cycle around the Cairngorms yesterday - 92km, 1917m ascent.

It can rain as much as it likes today, because ... yes, you've guessed it ... today I will be mainly indoors.

Wednesday 7 September 2011

BBC Radio - Out of Doors


Never a dull day in the smiley world of Di Gilbert Mountaineering.

Can't believe I have just told a reporter about walking over a cornice!

Hopefully airing this Saturday, why not listen to Di talking about Scotland, the 7 summits and making a fool of herself in the Ski Mountaineering World Championships.

BBC Radio Scotland, Out of Door, Saturday 10 September @ 0630

Sunday 4 September 2011

20 minutes ...

... thats how long it took me to hitch a lift back to the car today.


Graham & Di are on standby for the Cuillin Ridge Traverse, so if someone can sort the weather out that would be great.

So instead of heading along the ridge and with a day's good forecast, I thought I would embark on another on Mr Wilson's Big Walks.  Lets be honest, nothing was going to be as bad as the last one, and with the going fast underfoot I was back in the car in about 4.5 hours.

I have often gone past Mad Meg's Cairn and wondered what the story was.  According to local legend the cairn marks the grave of an 18th Century suicide, who was denied burial in the local kirkyards.  Think about that next time you're in a snow hole.



More importantly, I have a new rucksack.

It is bright yellow.

It has go faster stripes.

It is only 10 litres.

As a result of this, all jelly babies were suitably squashed, before entering gob, having been squeezed into the side pocket.



Don't even ask what the malt loaf looked like.

Friday 2 September 2011

a very cool journey

You can tell it is autumn when the first snow's have fallen on the hills and the mountain bike is getting used more than often.

Another little adventure with Heather yesterday - a mere 72km with 1342m ascent, through some of the most spectualar scenery Scotland has to offer.


I forgot my camera but remembered the jelly babies so all was not lost.

Not impressed with Citylink who, on the phone, told me that the buses could take 2 bikes, but on arrival at the depot in Ullapool the driver told us that they could not take bikes unless bubblewrapped or in a box.

The only saving grace was the little bike bus - a dedicated bus service with a bike trailer that runs along the North West coast from Inverness during the summer months.  For information on times, contact D&E Coaches, Inverness.

For once, I don't have a very sore arse but will be spending the afternoon with a scrubbing brush and a can of oil.