Go Mountain Goats

By Finlay WildSports Wilderness

Go Mountain Goats episodes

October 11, 2023 Episode 31 - Solo on Lakes Classic Rock Round with Shane Ohly
Shane Ohly tells me about his incredible record on the Lake District Classic Rock Round, a 50 kilometre route linking 15 classic climbs from the 1978 book 'Classic Rock' by Ken Wilson.
In 2020, Will Birkett and Tom Randall battled as they each brought the record down. Shane watched from the sidelines nursing an injury but knowing that he possessed the unique skill set to bring this down even further.
Shane left school obsessed with climbing and went on to become a sponsored pro, establishing new routes up to E8 and onsight solos to E7. Living in Cornwall he often ended up climbing alone, and so became a prolific soloist, culminating in his '500 routes in a day' on the Grit with John Arran in 2003. Later, he moved into mountain marathons and endurance running, clocking consistent podium results in Elite length mountain marathons for over a decade. He held the Winter Ramsay's Round record between 2008 and 2012 and broke Martin Stone's record for a solo unsupported midwinter Bob Graham round in 2020.
Shane talks about his 3 year meticulous planning process for Classic Rock, which saw him spend over 30 days learning and memorising the rock climbs and running route. Using this approach he was able to keep the risk acceptable for him, and he talks through his logic and justifications.
Executing the round in ideal conditions in August 2022 he describes a near perfect day of flow state which saw him reduce Will Birkett's record of 10h 41m to an incredible 9h 22m.
Shane is the founder of Ourea Events who provide some of the most challenging mountain running events in the UK such as the Dragon's Back, Cape Wrath Ultra and Glencoe Skyline.
Please see Episode 14 for an interview with Josh Jardine (which is weirdly the exact same length as this episode) on the pairs record for the Lakes Classic Rock Round, and Episode 10 for Martin Stone's 1987 solo unsupported mid winter Bob Graham Round.

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠

1 hr 5 min
August 24, 2023 Episode 30 - Ring of Stirling with Natalie Hawkrigg
I talk to Natalie Hawkrigg about a number of Swim - Run challenges she has completed. Based in the North Lakes, Natalie is the female record holder for the Frog Graham Round, a 40 mile run with four lake swims around the Lake District. She was also the first female to complete the Frog Graham in winter, and went on to do the Welsh Puddle Buckley challenge as well.
In May 2023, Natalie became the second ever finisher of The Ring of Stirling, a 35 mile round starting and finishing in Shieldaig, Torridon, which includes 5 swims (one of which is tidal), 10 summits and traverses some remote and beautiful corners of Torridon. The round was conceived by Chris Waters as a tribute to his late friend Chris Stirling who loved the hills of Torridon and has won the Celtman triathlon previously.
For her Stirling Round, Natalie had one failed attempt which finished at the frigid waters of Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair (Beinn Eighe) but then returned the very next weekend to complete her round in 26 hours and 28 minutes. She talks through the process and gives her insights into this fascinating merger of hill running and open water swimming.
In the introduction I mention the "It's Up to Us" campaign, a joint venture from Mountaineering Scotland and the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland which launched earlier this year and aims to raise awareness of the need for investment in the repair and maintenance of Scottish upland paths. Go to ⁠www.savemountainpaths.scot⁠ for more info and to donate.
For details of the Ring of Stirling go to: ⁠https://ringofstirling.wordpress.com/⁠
And the Frog Graham info is at: ⁠https://www.froggrahamround.co.uk/
FrogMan (Full Bob Graham run plus swims): https://thefrogmanround.square.site/
Futher info/ corrections:
1. Lancaster bomber crash on Beinn Eighe 1951 - further info here: https://heavywhalley.wordpress.com/2021/03/13/38412/ (my grandfather John Hinde was not involved in this RAF mountain rescue search, I got the stories muddled)
2. Biodiversity precautions on the Frog Graham Round: In recent years, the threat posed by Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) has increased hugely and sadly, Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater have been compromised for some time, completely upsetting the lakes’ delicate ecology and causing significant problems for lake users. Crummock Water has also succumbed and is now infected with NZ pygmyweed. Only Buttermere remains untouched and the park authorities and WCRT are making strenuous efforts to ensure it remains that way. The Frog Graham Round Club is committed to supporting their initiatives. Please read the details on the biosecurity section of the Frog Graham website before attempting the round. https://www.froggrahamround.co.uk/biosecurity
3. Natalie realised she got a fact wrong at the end of the chat: "I said that Chris Waters had not completed the Ring Of Stirling - that is not true. He has completed it in time of 22hrs 42, it was the Puddle Buckley he has not completed - he devised the Puddle and recced it but never did the final version."
4. Finlay says Ring of Steall when he means Ring of Stirling, near the end

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠

1 hr 15 min
June 05, 2023 Episode 29 - Scottish Islands Peaks Race with Joe Symonds
I recorded this episode with Joe Symonds while racing on the boat Opportune in the 2023 Scottish Islands Peaks Race. Joe is a veteran of this race, having competed 12 times, and previously setting the records for the running legs on Mull and Arran. Joe is a Paediatric Neurologist living near Glasgow and has ranked highly in diverse running styles - from a 2:20 marathon to 4th in the World Mountain Running Champs; from British Champ to Yorkshire 3 peaks winner (twice).
The Scottish Islands Peaks Race started in 1983 and involves teams of 5 (2 runners and 3 sailors) sailing over 160 nautical miles between Oban, Mull, Jura, Arran and Troon. The runners race a combined total of 60 miles across 3 big runs, one on each island. There is also an allrounders category where all 5 are involved in portions of the sailing and running elements.
The event starts at noon on Friday and frequently takes 48hrs to complete. Wind, tide and sea conditions play a massive part as well as boat specifications and sailing tactics. The runners have 3 x 3+ hr rough hill runs to complete, frequently in suboptimal weather and often in the dark. Resting and refueling is obviously more difficult while aboard a racing yacht.
This year the wind was very light, which made the sailing slow and difficult for the sailors who often resorted to rowing methods to make progress. On the plus side, the runners generally experienced gentler seas and more rest than in a typical year, and we also watched a minke whale showing off while anchored against a strong tide which our boat couldn't row against.
We recorded the episode while sailing on Opportune with our sailors Gordon, Iain and Alan who looked after us amazingly on their lovely boat.

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠

1 hr 27 min
May 11, 2023 Episode 28 - Elite OMM Winners with Victoria Thompson and Janie Oates
In October 2022 Victoria Thompson and Janie Oates came First in the Female category of the Elite OMM, and were the only female team to finish in this category since 2016. The OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) is a 2 day test of navigation and mountain craft held in late October each year, typically in harsh weather conditions. It was first held in 1968 and occurs in a different geographic area each year, with competitors having to carry all food and equipment such as tent and stove, navigating through a series of checkpoints to a midway camp, then doing it all again on Day 2 after a suboptimal sleep. There are various distance courses (Elite, A, B), as well as Score courses (3 distances - these courses are about choosing checkpoints to collect in a given time).

We talk about what made them want to take on this challenge, the preparation and the wet event weekend itself, as well as getting into some of the potential barriers to women in this type of event, and hill running in general.

This chat was inspired by an interview of Janie and Victoria at Kendal Mountain Festival 2022 by Becky Vale.

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠
1 hr 12 min
April 21, 2023 Episode 27 - Cape Wrath Trail Record Unsupported with Pawel Cymbalista
Pawel Cymbalista tells the story of his recent epic run, which he also used to raise money for Lochaber Hope (a mental health support charity) in memory of his father. Setting out solo and unsupported from Fort William on 5th April he completed the fastest known Cape Wrath Trail in a little over 3.5 days - taking 8 hours off the previous (supported) record. Initial bad weather finally relented after 1.5 days but then he experienced a series of vivid hallucinations, many linked to the history of the remote abandoned settlements he passed through. In 86 hours he only slept a minuscule 90 minutes in total, cat napping on the trail. Body aching, exhausted and with his feet in agony, he goes on to recount the final few kilometres to the finish at Cape Wrath lighthouse. Pawel lives in Mallaig and has set FKTs on the Great Glen Way, West Highland Way, and the Ben Nevis 24hr Record (7 laps up and down in under 24hrs). Thank you Pawel for sharing your incredible story (along with background accompaniment of the sparrows in my garden!). Find all Pawel’s info at https://linktr.ee/mymountainlab and his website www.mymountainlab.uk

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠

1 hr 20 min
March 24, 2023 Episode 26 - Speedy Tours with Ben Bardsley and Jon Morgan
On Day 5 of the sixth year of our week-a-year ski traverse of the Grand Alpine Arc (Mediterranean to Vienna) we found ourselves stopping a bit earlier than planned, at the almost full Warnsdorfer hütte winter room. I took the opportunity to sit down with Ben Bardsley and Jon Morgan to discuss our ‘Speedy Tours’ project. Started in 2016 at Menton on the Med coast, the three of us plus fourth member Es Tresidder set out on our journey. The project has been incredibly engaging, taking us through varied terrain and weather conditions, with every type of snow. Long days in new places have made for very memorable trips which build with each year. We talk about the ethos, equipment and practicalities of the project. (Not the best audio I’m afraid on this episode as just done on a phone in the back of a busy hut)

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠
46 min
February 02, 2023 Episode 25 - Martin Moran Round with Robin Downie
In this episode I sit down with Robin Downie to talk about his inaugural completion of the Martin Moran Round in Torridon. Devised by Robin - himself a local of Lochcarron - he completed the 86km round in August 2022 and named it in memory of mountaineering legend Martin Moran, the local guide who sadly perished in the Indian Himalayas in 2019. Robin had been inspired since his youth by Martin's many achievements, which include the first continuous traverse of the Alpine 4000m peaks (Alps 4000, in 1994) and the first completion of the Munros in a single winter journey (1985), the Cuillin Ridge Traverse record, and many winter climbing first ascents in the North West and elsewhere.
Robin's love for his local hills shines throughout the conversation. He chose to include 9 Munros and 6 Corbetts of Torridon, giving a wild and rough route with almost 9000m of ascent. He set a time of 20h51m47s. Aside from this round he has also completed the Celtman Ironman three times, as well as the Glencoe Skyline and many cycling races.
Robin's Martin Moran Round raised funds for the Martin Moran Foundation, which was set up in Martin's memory to continue the work of passing on mountain skills to young people. They provide mountain skills courses for young people aged 16-18yrs who are passionate about the outdoors but don't otherwise have the support or resources to access mountain adventure. www.martinmoranfoundation.co.uk

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠

1 hr 3 min
November 29, 2022 Episode 24 - Winter Running Thoughts with Ben Gibson
With winter upon us myself and Ben Gibson, Mountain Safety Advisor for Mountaineering Scotland, sit down and have a good chin wag about the issues facing runners in Scotland's winter mountains. We get our teeth into some winter specifics including winter navigation, snow and ice, avalanche hazards, weather, equipment choice and group dynamics. In my opinion an incremental approach is essential when developing the skills required for moving safely in winter mountains - hence "walk before you run" - as winter mountain running is really a niche of winter mountaineering rather than of running itself, in many ways. Ben mentions an interesting video looking at how quickly you get cold when you stop on the hill: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nJD49k5AMA

Scottish Avalanche Information Service: www.sais.gov.ukMountaineering Scotland's ThinkWINTER page: www.mountaineering.scot/safety-and-skills/thinkwinter

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠

1 hr 24 min
October 28, 2022 Episode 23 - North West Climbing with Murdoch Jamieson
I caught up with Dingwall-based climber Murdoch Jamieson to hear about everything North West climbing. A true allrounder, Murdoch has made first ascents and repeats of hard routes on some of the most inspiring cliffs in the region. From Carnmore to Beinn Eighe, Beinn Bhan and An Teallach we hear about why these big, remote and imposing mountains have and continue to inspire him.

We delve into a bit more detail on some specific climbs such as:
'One Hundred Years of Solitude', Carnmore Crag - first ascent team, led directly after Iain Small - E8 6c (2014)
'Root of All Evil', Beinn Eighe - first winter ascent with John Orr - IX, 8 (2014)
'Godzilla', Beinn Bhan - second ascent with Iain Small and Andy Inglis - IX, 8 (2015)
Godzilla was first climbed by Guy Robertson, Pete Benson and Nick Bullock (2011) and is a direct start to The Godfather

Photo credit: Uisdean Hawthorn. Murdoch on 'Heavy Flak', Beinn Eighe - first winter ascent - VIII, 8 (2019)

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠

1 hr 13 min
October 09, 2022 Episode 22 - Pacific Crest Trail with Olly Stephenson
I talk to Olly Stephenson in Edinburgh about hiking the 2650 mile Pacific Crest Trail which he did in an incredible 88 days this summer. In Olly's words "the trail traces a line up the mountains of west coast USA, traversing five major regions: Desert, High Sierra, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington", linking Mexico to Canada. Olly is no stranger to long distance adventures, with the UK Big Three, the 220 mile John Muir Trail and the Petite Trotte a Lyon (300km) being a few previous adventures.

Well known by many as the Carnethy Five race director, a fit 50yr old Olly found himself suddenly breathless and unwell in late 2018. A succession of tests showed he had non-Hodgkin follicular lymphoma, a type of blood cancer affecting the body's lymphatic system. Olly had to endure six cycles of chemotherapy, with various complications, which he describes as his most difficult challenge yet. In remission since 2019, he talks about the shift in his priorities, motivations and outlook.

Olly is fundraising for Maggie's Cancer Care, a charity which he found incredibly supportive. If you wish to donate or find out more about the charity please go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/olly-stephenson

One slight edit as I had a coughing fit in the middle!

If you want to buy me a cuppa to help support the podcast, thank you and please do at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild⁠
1 hr 37 min