PINNACLES FAVOURITE OUTDOOR SHOP.

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Pinnacle Admin

Living in Leyburn allowed us to treat ourselves at The Walking Shop, its run by two brothers Olly and Alex and there product knowledge is excellent. They stock some great ranges such as Patagonia, Haglofs, Mountain Equipment to name but a few. Over the years we had bought our waterproofs and down jackets from there and on our recent visit to climb Pen y Ghent we could not resist a trip to Wensleydale to purchase some Keen approach shoes for Mike.

Aysgarth Falls.

When buying technical gear it’s really important to choose the right shop, many years ago I bought some boots locally before we went on our hiking holiday to the Dolomites and after several months of blisters and sore heels I wrote to the company who made them, after many emails they agreed to change them, I was so sorry I never made the journey to see the boys at the Walking Shop as Mike has always bought his boots from there trying Scarpa and Meindl, both excellent boots.
It’s good to support small shops and we highly recommend a trip to see the boys, it also gives you the opportunity to visit this beautiful part of Yorkshire.

PARTY ON.

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Pinnacle Admin

No serious Three Peaks training this weekend, it’s just party party party. Our friends who we met whilst running a ski chalet in La Tania in the French Alps have been together for 25 years and one of them is 50 so we are off to the Peak District for 25-50-25 party.

Mike in La Tania

They have taken over the Crewe and Harper pub in Longnor which is now let on a self-catered basis, so tonight is curry and beer night, tomorrow is a horserace meeting via a DVD, followed by the cup final. In the evening its formal dress and caterers are coming to wine and dine us. Come Sunday I feel Mikes organised EASY walk with be needed, but it doesn’t end there because it’s Pizza and Pop Quiz night. We are really looking forward to three fun nights and days.

Janet and Andrew joined Alpine Action in the same season as us, it was a pretty full on five months but from it came some great friendships and over many a beer or five we all agree we would not have missed it for the world, Janet is a great help to us with our website, what she does not know about optimisation is not worth knowing, Andrew is the ski daredevil and has his own website on recommended ski resorts” The Best Ski Resorts in the World” he would love to spend every winter just bashing down the pistes.

They are hopefully going to buy an apartment in Austria and spend most of the year there which should make there next party an even better trip.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Pinnacle Admin

Our photo of the month is very special to us, it was taken on our four day Peak District walking holiday last week and included some of the nicest guests we could ask for, it was like spending time with old friends.
Steve and Dianne Mansfield are coming on our Dolomite trekking break in September; they will be getting to Val Gardena on their Harley Davidson bikes which I have to say are pretty awesome, we got to see them when they stayed with us in Yorkshire.

Lovely group of guests.

Tom and Caroline and Graham and Barbara are coming on our French Alps walking tour, Tom is 78 and a real gentleman and his girlfriend yes I did say girlfriend Caroline is in her early sixties, they are really strong walkers. Graham and Barbara have been on several breaks; Graham retired late last year and joined the Ramblers Association so it’s pretty hard to slow him down.
This photo was taken just under the viaduct at Monsal Head, it’s lovely around that area and the walk was a great success, everyone enjoyed sharing their lunch with the ducks at Ashford in the Water, such a pretty village.
It was a fun four days and the weather was great.

RECIPE ON THE MONTH: SALMON TRAY BAKE.

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Pinnacle Admin

Salmon tray bake

As promised my recipe of the month is savoury, it’s also healthy and delicious.

When planning meals for our French Alps walking breaks I try to think what can be adapted for veggies and in this dish the Salmon can be replaced by slices of Halloumi.

INGREDIENTS

2 red onions cut into wedges.
2 red and yellow peppers, cut into strips.
1 courgette sliced thickly.
3 cloves of garlic.
1 box of cherry tomatoes.
4 salmon fillets (skinless & boneless).
1 pack of halloumi (veggie option).
Handful of basil leaves.
Olive oil & lemon juice.

Preheat oven to 200°C or gas 6 and tumble all the vegetables except the tomatoes on a shallow roasting tray, pour over 3 tablespoons of olive oil, season and gently toss to coat everything. Roast for 20 minutes. Add the tomatoes and salmon or halloumi and drizzle oil and lemon juice over the top, return to the oven for another 15 minutes checking everything is cooked through.

Scatter basil leaves over the top and serve with new potatoes.

Serves 4. A big favourite on our French Alps trekking break.

A GREAT SHORT WALKING BREAK

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Pinnacle Admin

Our four day walking break in the Peak District was a great success with plenty of warm sunshine on most walking days.
Sunday saw the arrival of six lovely guests who had stayed with us previously on other walking breaks, four of whom will be joining us on our French Alps and Dolomite trekking holidays this summer. Everyone was eager to find out what lay ahead so over a glass of Prosecco we studied maps and routes and of course what the weather would be doing.
That evening we enjoyed a delicious supper at the Charles Cotton in Hartington, we have used the hotel twice for our Peak District short breaks and the food and service is always good.

Thorpe Cloud summit

Day 1. Monsal Head , Sheldon, Ashford in the Water.
This is a great walk with some super scenery and not too difficult for the first day, it’s about 8 miles with some short ascents and Ashford in the Water always seems a village that people love to meander through. Tea and homemade biscuits at the Monsal Head Inn made for a perfect end to our walk.
Day 2. Dovedale,Thorpe Cloud,Bunster Hill.
A more difficult day with a fair amount of ascent, not everyone went up Thorpe Cloud as it’s pretty steep so Mike took the fitter people of the group and I took the others over the stepping stones and along the river. A cuppa at Mildale went down very well:

A rest in Parwich

Day 3. Alsop en le Dale, Parwich,Tissington.
The group had weary legs so this was a gentle option that passes through some very pretty villages, one being Tissington which is supposed to be the prettiest in the Peaks: Everyone seemed to agree that Hartington was prettier. It would not have been the same without an end of day tea stop so we drove to the Tea Junction which sits at the end of the Manifold Trail, Earl Grey and china cups went down a treat and everyone loved the little visitor centre which explains all about the old railway system that once passed through.
After a hearty group breakfast and lots of hugs and handshakes everyone departed for home.
A very lovely four day Pinnacle walking break.

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