Robin Kevan: A Hero Of Our Times

From today's Guardian and its Great Outdoors: National Parks supplement: What I do is clean up mountains. I'm three hours away from Snowdonia, but I go up there as often as I can. I can clean up the whole of Snowdon in two days. The reason I'm doing it is because litter in high places like that is absurd and shouldn't be there. Snowdonia is stunning, so impressive. I know I'm very small there, but I have a big influence. The Pyg Track, the Miner's Path, the Llanberis Path, those are what I clean. I love Llanberis, a little village at the bottom of Snowdon that has a lot of slate mines. One of my favourite places is Cadair Idris. It's really glacial. Glaslyn is a little lake that is just lovely. I saw a helicopter coming out of there once - it was actually in the mountain, as it were, which was incredible. We like to feel that we're the first one that's ever been there, and when you see litter it blows that illusion. Being in Snowdonia makes me feel that that's what I've been put on this earth for. There are times in life when you suddenly feel real, and it makes me feel real being up there with the wind and rain on my face, a feeling of oneness. I feel alive. Most of the time we are alive, but don't feel it. Written by Robin Kevan, a voluntary litter-picker. What a fantastic bloke. Mmm... "Most of the time we are alive, but don't feel it..."

Clouds And Maps

Myself, I'm greedy. I want both clouds and maps. Give me the freedom to wander lonely as a cloud unencumbered by maps and heavy packs and high expectations. Sometimes it's nice and liberating just to take off without knowing exactly where one's going, relying on primitive instinct. (I wouldn't advise this for everyone - it can obviously land you in serious trouble.) However, Byronic Romanticism aside, I do love maps. In fact, I'm crazy about them. I'd rather settle down with a good map than a good book any day. (That's some admission from a bookaholic!) Don't you just love those densely-packed contour lines, those little black squiggles signifying crags and rocky outcrops, those blue wigwam symbols..? They set the heart racing. But just a thought to end with. Some time ago I was on top of Snowdon after climbing up by the Pyg track. It was a clear sunny day with a rare and lovely 360 degree view all around. Which hardly any of the summiteers seemed to notice as they were all busy with their mobile phones and GPS devices... and their maps...