- A logbook, a journal of sorts, where we find inspiration - these blogs are our own thoughts and none have been written by artificial intelligence (except where stated and for 'spellcheck' function)
Reflections
February 19th, 2025, the earths completed another lap, on we go.
These are my brief personal reflections during a winter trip as the 0° isotherm heads rapidly uphill here in the Cairngorms..
Environmental; still feels winters are rapidly retreating in spite of temperatures in the Alps dipping low enough to freeze 10 litres of water solid overnight and Ireland continues to be a global temperature anomaly.. winters and colder days do feel fleeting and change feels increasingly palpable. Is it silly to lement this as the planet doesn't understand sentiment? This crisis must be tackled with a million small changes in hope it tips the scale away from those big personalities determined to plough through resources we are supposed to be caretaking for generations down the line..On this front I've some interesting conservation work in the pipeline this year, very excited to see where it leads.
Professional; this felt like a (solar) year of consolidating soft skills.. which can feel like herding turtles at times. Many things must line up at once and the process always feels slow. All these things combined make for a single, rounded and more coherent skill set that can't be measured on any scale, but where it lacks can be glaringly obvious in a largely unregulated industry. - A year of observations ahead I hope, valuable time with those more experienced than myself learning the craft through their experience. Potentially some small business growth in Two Rock Outdoor (we are not in the business of consumption, it's a business of passion, for planet and I'm very aware of the paradoxes that exist here).
Personal mountain days; a contrast of sharing the mountains with friends and solo trips. I was humbled by the Alps on some solo days out, managing to achieve goals but doing so without the ease of when I lived out here. Lots more mountain running which saw me through the winter nicely ❄️ 🎽 🏔️, the challenge here is turning my walking legs into running legs - finding new gears, being more tuned into body mechanics and diet. I look forward to seeing where this takes me.. as always, thanks to anyone who I've had the pleasure of sharing a run, hike, climb, sea dip with this year, lots more of the same. Photo 1 📸 @mhairi_baird
Two Rock Outdoor
Herstory
An Irish Mountaineer
An Extraordinary Women, a Photographer and Mountaineer; Audrey “Lizzie” Hawkins-Whiteshed
An Extraordinary Women, Photographer and Mountaineer; Audrey “Lizzie” Hawkins-Whiteshed
Looking back allows us to see how far we’ve come. Getting safely up and down mountains is something we can take for granted. Tools, technology, the knowledge accumulated, it’s all part of the art that has been refined for centuries now. Here, we look back at characters that had influence in the mountaineering world.
Born in 1860; Elizabeth Hawkins-Whitshed (later known as Aubrey Le Blond) in Killincarrig,(a place close to where I grew up) Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Lizzie married her first husband Captain Fred Burnaby in 1879 (who later died in battle in Sudan in 1885), from 1881 Lizzie started travelling around the alps in Switzerland trying to find a cure for the lung issues she was experiencing. She found herself in Chamonix, now a world renown alpine and mountaineering capital in the Alps (an area I have lived in for a period).
Lizzie had a great taste for adventure and mountaineering, in 1881 she climbed two thirds of the way up Mont Blanc in ‘high heeled buttoned boots and shady hats’. The next summer she was more successful summiting Mont Blanc (~4806 m) not once but twice!
“It must have been something in this spirit that made me, in the days of my early youth, commence in a rather unconventional manner, my mountaineering career. Barely had i reached the tops of a few Chamonix peaks - I began ascending Mont Blanc from the french side, and a few days later going up and over from Italy - then I pined for something quite out of the usual routine’
-Elizabeth Le Blond from Mountaineering in the land of the Midnight Sun.
Over the next 20 years she spent much of her time in Switzerland, marrying for a second time in 1886 (her second husband died in 1892). Lizzie made many ascends in Summer & Winter including many first ascents.
In 1886 Lizzie wrote one of her books; High Life & Towers of Silence, quote:
“Madam” he continued feebly thumping his mattress with his fist; “madam” no women can go up Mont Blank“ in all this fresh snow, or no man either as far as that goes!” from a chapter titled ‘Tourists and others whom one meets’.
In 1900 she married for a third time to Audrey Le Blond, where she would then be more known; Mrs Aubrey Le Blond. She later moved further north and spent 6 summers exploring and expeditioning around Norway, Lapland & the Arctic, where she made many first ascents and explored unchartered territory.
In 1907 Lizzie helped to establish the first women's climbing association in the world; the Ladies Alpine Club and became its first president, this was a great achievement of courage and inspiration for females when the world of mountaineering would seem a very masculine world.
“There is no manlier sport in the world than mountaineering”
-Elizabeth Le Blond, True Tales of Mountain Adventures.
Lizzie wrote many books of her mountain tales and adventures and was a keen photographer always having a camera with her. Her best known books are; True Tales of Mountain adventures, Mountaineering in the land of the Midnight Sun and Adventures on the roof of the world.
She continued to travel widely, including parts of Asia and Europe, she maintained her involvement with the Ladies Alpine club until she sadly passed in London in 1834, just a year after being reelected as its president. On this day, we pay homage to a pioneer in mountaineering, exploration and photography. Someone who pushed the boundaries, defied convention and prompted the question; why do we explore?
At Two Rock Outdoor, we want to celebrate a County Wicklow local (close to our home and heart) who took on the challenge and achieved many great things in the Mountaineering world, she became a pioneer for Women in Mountaineering. Our own Kathryn, now living in Wicklow continues to inspire, working with Mountaineering Ireland’s Summit Sisters programme for girls who may have missed out on sports in school to engage in outdoor activities
Blog originally written by Darran K for #ChooseToChallenge, the chosen theme by https://www.internationalwomensday.com/ International Women’s day globally celebrates the achievements of womens; socially, economically, culturally and politically.
Two Rock Outdoor
Pearsons Magazine, 1899
Hear me out..
Why not choose a Mountain Leader?
Disclaimer; If you have found yourself reading this blog, please see it through to the end..
When venturing into the mountains early days a few common questions arise: “What to take with you?”, “What will the terrain be like?”, “Should I head into the mountains without a Mountain Leader?”
The answer to the latter is often - yes.
Since the late 2000s, we’ve been guiding groups and individuals through the mountains in some capacity, as well as exploring them solo. Before that, we took our own tentative steps into the hills, approaching them with caution and curiosity. We pushed the edges of our comfort zone, learning valuable lessons along the way.
So, what in our opinion are the best things to bring with you (along with your usual walking pack)? Put simply; sound judgment, good sense and an adventurous spirit. And these qualities can be very difficult to cultivate under constant guidance.
- Good sense; am I prepared? Have I got an accurate weather forecast? Am I being respectful to wildlife and fellow hikers?
- Judgement; have I chosen a suitable route? How’s the weather and does it match my forecast? Am I pushing myself too hard?
- An adventurous spirit; a key ingredient.. the anticipation of pushing boundaries the right amount, exploring your own unknowns, a balance of being bold but knowing mountains can be harsh, unpredictable and yet exciting places.
Looking closer at these characteristics we see a mix of hard and soft skills. Think of hard skills as your competencies, for example your ability to walk uphill whilst holding a conversation. Think of your soft skills as your personal attributes, say you are good at spotting when someone gets cold.
The caveats
KNOW YOUR LIMITS! Find your comfort level and build confidence gradually. Check the weather, engage with other walkers and don’t stress if their gear looks more advanced than yours, you will get there. Always have a plan and a clear 'cut-off' or 'turnaround' time; learning when to turn back is as crucial as knowing when to push on!
Start with easier, well-marked routes, like an out-and-back trail, before progressing to more complex terrain. As your skills grow, so will your ability to plan incredible days in the hills.
Be wary of joining groups with no proven credentials. We’ve heard many stories of disappointment, unpreparedness and mismatched expectations. Seek out well established, experienced clubs. Watch out for the halo effect - allowing someone to lead the party because (for eg) their age or more expensive equipment rather than their experience and training. Be aware, comfort levels may differ massively within your party. Don't be afraid to question decisions, trust the facts and your own feelings.
Set realistic expectations: you might not always reach the summit, and you may get slightly turned around, but these challenges are what make mountain adventures truly rewarding.
Avoid areas that might be difficult to navigate at first. As your skills develop, so will your confidence.
Be smart with the social media and protect wildlife and sensitive areas, become and advocate for these areas early on 
Look out for qualifications such as RCI (Rock Climbing Instructor), LL (Lowland Leader), ML (Mountain Leader) etc. You will be surprised by the variety of communities out there.
When the time feels right to seek professional guidance, you’ll know. Ireland is home to a growing number of skilled outdoor professionals from all walks of life (excuse the pun) all eager to help you experience your first epic day in the hills. If you’re unsure where to start, reach out to us at info@tworockoutdoor.com or on the socials. This is our full-time passion and we love what we do and sharing the knowledge we’ve gained from years of wandering the mountains.
IMPORTANT: Hiking and all other activities that involve venturing into the mountains contain very real risks. The characteristics that enrich the experience of hiking contribute to the risks involved; the risk of damage or loss to equipment, personal injury or in extreme circumstances major injury or death. It's very important to know your limitations, if in doubt join a guided hike or contact a qualified Mountain Leader for advice on getting started.
Photo - Contemplating setting up our mountain business 2020
"I have often wondered whether it is better for the early acquisition of mountain skills to be led by people or the mountains themselves, [inviting] the new climber to begin the long process of learning to observe, anticipate and improvise"
- Dave McLeod
Two Rock Outdoor
