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14
What I love about the Lakes –
Alan Hinkes
The 2012 Wainwright Memorial Lecture is
to be held on Friday 9 November at 7.00pm
The guest speaker will be Alan Hinkes OBE,
who is the first Briton and one of only 12
people alive to have climbed the world’s
highest mountains – the fourteen 8000m
peaks. He became interested in climbing
and mountaineering while at school in North
Yorkshire, progressing to the Alps including
the notorious North Face of the Eiger, and
eventually graduating to the Himalaya.
Alan is an Honorary Citizen of his home town,
Northallerton, and is involved in charitable work
for Water Aid, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Duke
of Edinburgh’s Award and Mountain Rescue; he
works closely with the British Mountaineering
Council. He was awarded the OBE in the 2006
New Year Honours list.
When was your first visit to the Lakes?
Early 1970s when I was in my early teens.
What was the first fell or crag in the Lakes
that you climbed?
Place Fell from Side Farm Campsite.
What do you consider to be your favourite
Wainwright fell or walk?
Helvellyn – especially via Striding or Swirral Edges.
Which is your favourite pub or restaurant in
the Lakes and why?
Golden Rule – no food – good beer and
memories of good days out. The Old Dungeon
Ghyll Hotel – lots character and good beer.
What was your funniest moment in the Lakes?
Wasn’t funny – but I once escaped an avalanche
on Great End.
What, if anything, spoils the Lakes for you?
Litter.
What is your best memory from the Lake
District?
The summery smell in the air. Lambs/sheep
bleating in spring. Enjoying a post-walk/climb
beer in summer sun – when it’s not raining!
Some great winter snow and ice climbs recently.
Which Lake District person do you most
admire?
Wainwright himself – got to admire his
dedication. More and more I appreciate his
work and books. But of a person born in the
Lakes – Joss Naylor.
In your career as a climber and journalist, you
have visited many places in the world. If you
can’t be in the Lake District, what would your
favourite place be?
Yorkshire – the North York Moors and the
Dales. Nepal is lovely, too, with a lot of very big
mountains!
Do you happen to know how many of
Wainwright’s 214 fells you have climbed?
Don’t know off-hand – I do mean to have
climbed them all one day.
Have you done or considered doing the Coast
to Coast walk?
Yes, I’ve intended to do C to C for a long time –
so I’d better get my finger out and do it.
Do you have a favourite item of walking gear
or clothing?
Lakes OS Maps and BMC Lakes 1:40000 for
an overview, plus my camera to make sure I
capture the scenes.
Have you ever camped out wild/stayed in an
unusual place in the Lake District?
I have wild-camped a few times. I remember
once going up to Red Tarn and forgetting tent
pegs – had to hold on to the tent in the night
when the wind sprung up. The Priest Hole on
Dove Crag. Borrowdale – Bowderstone quarry/
cave. Ambleside Park waterfront shelter – a
great bivouac!
Why are the Lakes so special for you?
Very intimate place with lots of variety. It is
possible to have a great mountain day out – as
good as in any mountain area – especially in
winter. Also possible to have just a pleasant
ramble as well.
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