FORGE YOUR ADVENTURE MINDSET

WORDS AND PICTURES BY SAM FLANAGAN

THE PROGRESSION FROM WEEKEND TRAIL CENTRE RIDER TO BIG MOUNTAIN ADVENTURER IS AS ACHIEVABLE AS IT IS SIMPLE, BUT IT TAKES TIME, COMMITMENT, AND PREPARATION. SAM FLANAGAN REFLECTS ON HIS GISBURN SUNDAYS WHILE TAKING ON BLACK SAIL PASS IN THE LAKES.

Adventure, by definition, is an unusual and exciting or daring experience; the level of excitement, dare or unusualness comes down to the eye of the beholder. To some, popping to the corner shop or driving a car home well within the legal speed limit, is more than enough daring for the week – others have to hunt far and wide to push the correct buttons to get the excitement flowing, and for those chosen few they are usually only content if the danger level is rising with each adventure. Pushing the bar inspires and encourages progression, but everyone has to start somewhere and the Lakes is the perfect playground for honing those adventure skills and raising the invisible bar.

Tweaking it up in the mountains, Flanagan style.

Nestled in the north-west corner of England, the Lake District boasts some of the best riding and highest peaks that England has on offer. Driving up and into Borrowdale before abandoning the van near the bottom of the formidable Honnister Pass you certainly feel dwarfed by the steep-sided valleys and rocky peaks towering above. With bags bulging with enough snacks, spares and clothing to keep us going through an unpredictable day in genuine mountains the excitement among the group was palpable.

The planned route had consequence – once we had dropped over the daunting Warnscale Pass we were thrown straight into the first of the four deep valleys the ride was offering up. Each valley presented fewer options for escape or turning back and with the slightest change in the weather, the high passes involved would become progressively more intimidating.

Planning routes in the mountains… almost as important as hair maintenance.