Welcome to “On the hill with…” a short interview with (current vice president) Peter Edgerton!
How did you get into walking and climbing?
A teacher at school, as is so often the case, took us out in the sixth form onto the local hills around Bury during our sports afternoon and one year helped us to arrange a trip around the Lake District in winter conditions which was a memorable experience. I had a school friend who did climbing and caving but a few days with him seemed to be about cold and discomfort! It was sometime later after university that a student friend got me out to climb at Froggatt as well as taking me on a trip to the Cairngorms for Munro bagging in some superb weather one Easter. I was well and truly bitten by the bug by this stage and started to do more trips with him, subsequently being introduced to Ski Mountaineering.
Waiting for the Fuente De cable car with RC members Tony Cuddy, Gerry Goldsmith and Mary Edgerton
Who has had the most influence on your mountain experiences?
Lots of people stand out as being influential in my love of the hills and the outdoors; I have already mentioned two, especially my friend, David, from university who set me off on all these various activities then watched me take on harder and more demanding challenges. Equally influential in most areas I have enjoyed have been fellow RC members Neil Goldsmith and Tony Cuddy. Neil, and Gerry, got me involved in fell running as well as being part of the group from Kinder MRT who climbed regularly. Tony was very involved with rock and ice climbing and he and I have done a lot of big mountain days out on the crags both in summer and winter.
How did you come to join the RC?
I kept reading Meetstaff at Neil and Gerry Goldsmith’s house and then one day they said why not join the club as had many others from my village, Hayfield. It seemed to be a ‘no brainer’, and it has proved to be so, with lots of memorable days out on the hills with like-minded folk and many friendships made which have been long lasting.
What does a perfect ‘hill’ day consist of?
A glorious dawn with crisp, cool air and the mountains waiting. Some scrambling up an elegant line, or perhaps climbing, to reach a high summit with expansive views. A good lunch and then a journey across and through high mountain terrain before descending in late evening light to rest weary muscles, drink a couple of pints and a eat good supper.
Climbing at Carn Barra
Over many years in the ‘hills’, what have been the most memorable times?
There have been so many but here are a few highlights:
- Completing both the Bob Graham and Paddy Buckley rounds in under 24 hours.
- Climbing the Cassin route on the Badile in the Bregaglia.
- Days spent on the Munros and Corbetts.
- Doing 100 routes (of various grades..!) on Stanage in a single day.
- Doing the Cairngorm 4000’ mountains on ski.
- Expeditions to Bolivia, Pakistan, Morocco and India.
I am fortunate enough to be able to go on….
Belluno 029
Have you had any mishaps in the ‘hills’?
I have been fortunate not to have had any serious injuries or accidents on the hills, perhaps because I am quite reluctant to push the envelope too much, which is a good and a bad thing. I have had my fair share of epic retreats and navigational blunders but lived to tell the tale. I have had to deal with injuries to others, involving airlifts or slow and careful walking retreats. However, I do remember on one occasion making a turn at the top of a mountain in the Pyrenees in the mist and catching my pole under a ski resulting in a 250m slide down the snowfield to the bottom. Fortunately, it was a pretty uniform smooth slope with very few buried rocks and I escaped with just bruising, both to body and ego!
Ski mountaineering in the Paradiso
What is your dream ‘hill’ objective?
The next hill I intend to climb or the next adventurous undertaking I am planning. I continue to dream of doing a few more long journeys whilst I still can. I have gone over to doing more ski mountaineering in the last few years and those outings always give adventurous days in the mountains.
Climbing in Oman
What makes a great ‘hill’ partner? Has anyone come close?
Similar fitness, having a shared understanding of objectives and the strength of character to be positive when I might be faltering. Hopefully, I possess the same qualities for them and thus we gain confidence from each other.
How do you keep active in the hills?
I still run on the hills but a lot less than I used to. I cycle quite a bit, both on and off road, and I do a lot of walking, both for myself and as a voluntary leader for a holiday company. Big days in Scotland still come pretty much top of the list, alongside ski mountaineering on bigger mountains.
On skis in Norway
What future ‘hill’ plans do you have?
Too many to list here, but not all will make it beyond the drawing board!
In Glen Dessary
Do you have any regrets/missed opportunities?
Having done the BG and the Paddy Buckley, I was in good form for another long-distance challenge and I wish I had done the Ramsay Round at that time. Other than that, I feel that I have been lucky enough and able to do most of the things I have wanted to.
On Puig Tomir, Mallorca
What have been the benefits of RC membership?
Aside from the obvious of the three huts in lovely locations, meeting lots of friendly and like-minded people and having the chance to go on a diverse and often eclectic range of meets has been great. I always enjoy receiving the journal and seeing what others have been doing, and I am conscious of being a member of a very historic club which has played a substantial part in the development of mountain and hill activities in the UK and Europe over the last 120 years.
Winter on Kinder