Staying at home is a new experience for us in more ways than one. Although we’ve lived at The Cottage for over ten years now, we’ve never actually spent any time here during the holidays. We’ve always considered it a sort of Basecamp from where we can launch expeditions from. Every Easter holiday we’ve ever had, we have been away on some sort of trip, somewhere in the world. So this year, while we’ve had time to enjoy exploring the local neighbourhood in more detail than ever before, we’ve also had time to look back over the Easter trips that we’ve done (as far back as we can remember anyway!).
Here are a few random views and good memories from our Easter expeditions from over the years:
2008 – France, Vanoise National Park – Ski Touring
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| Exploring on skis |
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| Deep snow, buries the Escort Van |
2009 – Switzerland, Albula Alps – Ski Touring
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| Near the Piz Kesch |
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| ‘Booting’ over a tricky col |
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| ‘Burgfuhrur Krempton’ joins us at the Kesch Hutte |
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| New Skins! |
2010 – Mallorca – Rock Climbing
Who knows where the photos for this trip went? I can’t find them anywhere. This was a hilarious expedition, with a small group of students from St David’s College, led by Clare and I. Great climbing with great company.
2011 – Austria, Silvretta Alps – Ski Touring
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| Clare at the high point – ready for the reward of untracked slopes below |
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| Roped together for a glacier crossing |
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| On top – scoping out how best to get down! |
2012 – Switzerland, Andermatt – Ski Touring
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| Taking a break above the clouds |
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| Travel was all on public transport or skis |
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| There’s the hut we need to get to! |
2013 – France, Val Thorens – Luxury Skiing Honeymooners
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| Up high – experiencing the ‘ski-in ‘ski-out’ hotel luxury |
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| Just us and a nice view |
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| No need to rough it! Mid-morning coffee break on the slopes |
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| Getting the best views |
2014 – Portugal – Surfing & Rock Climbing
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| View from the apartment |
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| Peniche Beach – daily surf/relax combo |
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| Beach showers |
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| The discovery of ‘apartment based expeditions’ and AirBnB |
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| Sampling the Portuguese Rock |
2015 – United States of America, California – Climbing Road Trip
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| At the beach in Santa Fee |
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| Venice Beach |
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| Whale watching on the west coast |
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| San Fransisco Tourists with Anna & Jonathon |
2016 – France, Quyeras National Park – Ski Touring
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| Back in the valley after a few days up high |
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| Fresh snow and amazing views |
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| Putting in fresh tracks |
2017 – Iceland, Troll Peninsula – Ski Touring
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| Summit Ridge |
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| Incredible skiing from summit to sea |
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| Not busy in the mountains here |
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| Hot-Pot searching with Mat & Emma |
2018 – France, Beaufortain – Ski Touring
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| Best Hut in the Alps – Refuge des Marmotte |
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| Happy Ski Tourers |
2019 – Sweden, Lapland – Husky Sledding on the King’s Trail
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| Me and my guys! |
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| Total wilderness on the King’s Trail, N.Sweden |
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| Back to the UK in time for Andy & Jonelle’s Wedding |
2019 – Austria, Slovakia & Hungry – Cycle Touring down the Danube
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| Traffic on the road in Hungry |
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| Arriving at Gyor |
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| Looking at Hungry over the border river from Slovakia |
2020 North Wales, Snowdonia – Adventures from the Front Door
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| Empty Roads |
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| Empty Valleys |
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| Above The Cottage |
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| Finding new footpaths |
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| Appreciating the small stuff
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| Moonrise as the sun sets |
Mountain Lifestyle 
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