FAQ: Welcome to uk.rec.walking [monthly posting]

Archive-Name: uk/walking/intro
URL: http://www.blencathra.org.uk/ukrw/index.html
Posting Frequency: Monthly

Welcome to the uk.rec.walking newsgroup
=======================================

Last modified on 28th February 2003. Also available online at:

<http://www.blencathra.org.uk/ukrw/index.html>

This is a monthly introductory posting intended to aid newcomers to the _unmoderated_ newsgroup
uk.rec.walking - a Usenet forum for the discussion of topics related primarily to walking in the
UK and Ireland. The newsgroup was originally created in the summer of 1995 and this monthly
"Welcome" has been posted since 01-01-98 following discussion among the regulars at that time.

WHILST THIS IS GENERALLY AGREED BY THE POSTERS TO uk.rec.walking IT IS STRICTLY UNOFFICIAL AND
SHOULD BE USED FOR GUIDANCE ONLY. If you have any queries regarding this then I am quite prepared
to give my personal view by email
- but my view is worth no more than anyone else posting here.

The original charter for uk.rec.walking can be found at:

<http://www.usenet.org.uk/uk.rec.walking.html>

======================================================
Proposed changes to this or any other uk.* newsgroup are published in news:uk.net.news.announce,
a moderated, low traffic newsgroup, which you are recommended to subscribe to. Details of
elections to the UK Usenet Committee, which normally start in September of each year, are also
found there. Discussion on new groups and changes takes place in uk.net.news.config. Further
information can be found at:

<http://www.usenet.org.uk>
======================================================

It is probably a good idea to lurk [read the postings] for a couple of weeks so that you get a
feel for the ambience of the newsgroup before posting yourself. For general netiquette queries it
is worth subscribing to [and reading!] news.announce.newusers.

We have a small number of generally accepted guidelines:

1 Strictly speaking,

ALL ADVERTS ARE FORBIDDEN BY THE CHARTER

However, by custom we are tolerant of occasional Personal For Sale adverts. Any such
postings should be preceded with FS so those who wish to filter them may do so.

THE REPETITION OF ADVERTS IS NOT WELCOME

2 Please keep your line length to 70 characters [plain text] to assist readers whose terminals
cut longer lines so that a post becomes almost meaningless.

3 No binaries or MIME encoded messages.

4 Please post in Plain Text not with HTML. MS Outlook [Express] defaults to HTML. You can change
this by using the Menu choice Tools/Options/Send and selecting 'Plain Text for News and E-mail'.

5 A double dash and space separator is the standard signature separator - this can cause problems
when replying if a double dash is used for anything but a signature in the original. It is
appreciated if you snip unnecessary quotation when you reply to a posting.

6 Remember that some postings are cross-posted to/from other
newsgroups so your response may be read elsewhere.

Some subjects may cause heated debate but they are usually resolved amicably which is why this is
such a successful group.

The kind of topics covered here include: Problems with blisters/boots etc. Queries and debate
regarding the interpretation of footpath law. Requests for advice on a Long Distance Path.
Details of an enjoyable walk and trip reports [TR]. Information about walking related web sites.
Recommendations for accommodation/equipment/maps etc. Compasses and navigation. Maps - see <http://www.old-
maps.co.uk> for 19th century maps of most of the UK.

PLEASE NOTE: Requests by new subscribers for information regarding the National Three Peaks - Ben
Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon - are likely to receive a somewhat unexpected response. Before
posting any such request, please see: <http://www.blencathra.org.uk/ukrw/n3pc.html>

If your query is better answered in the online FAQ or elsewhere, someone will almost certainly
point you in the right direction.

If you are also interested in climbing you might like to try:

uk.rec.climbing

Other newsgroups of probable interest include:

uk.rec.natural-history uk.rec.birdwatching rec.backcountry uk.rec.caving uk.rec.camping

The expanded version of this posting is available on:

<http://www.blencathra.org.uk/ukrw/index.html>

This also contains a link to past postings available on Google [formerly Deja]

For posting photographs and other items of interest, Carol Haynes has provided a group site for
uk.rec.walking:

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukrw/>

Paul Saunders has compiled a photo gallery of the posters to uk.rec.walking which can be found
at:

<http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk/urw/index.html>

Adrian Marsh Tupper provides a monthly stats roundup of the newsgroup postings at:

<http://www.highscotland.co.uk>

The URL takes the form: <http://www.highscotland.co.uk/urwnov01.htm> using the first three
letters of the month and last two digits of the year.

He also has Munro Bagging on the Web at:

<http://www.highscotland.co.uk/mindex.htm>

A series of answers to FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions] is being compiled on:

<http://www.blencathra.org.uk/ukrw/faq.html>

At present it contains links to help you with queries regarding: Lists of walking related web
sites LDPs Gear A Friendly Welcome - food and drink British Isles flora and fauna
Walking/climbing screensavers

The Boots FAQ has been revised by Chris Gilbert and Graham Drabble. It is posted every 21 days
and is available at:

<http://users.ox.ac.uk/~sjoh1646/urw-boot.txt>

Of course, how this can be developed depends on the subscribers.

If you want to see general advice from walking-related organisations see:

The British Mountaineering Council <http://www.thebmc.co.uk> The Mountaineering Council of
Scotland <http://www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk> The Scottish Rights of Way and Access
Society <http://www.scotways.com> <mailto:info@scotways.com> The Ramblers Association
<http://www.ramblers.org.uk>

And finally - one response in a thread entitled "Why do you walk?":

"The views of distant summits, the smell of wilderness heather, the grasp of rock and
branch in the hand, the blowing of the wind, the shining of the sun, the solitude, the
emptiness, the peace, the quiet, the shine of sunlight on speckled ice, the crisp feel of
fresh snow under boot, the freshness of the mountain burn, the tenderness of the foot,
the dampness of the whole spinal area, the scratching of the midge bite, the inaccuracy
of the weather forecast, the thick cloud from two thousand feet, the rain, the cold, the
distant beep of GPS, the rattling click of walking poles, the smell of insect repellent,
the mud that's deeper than it looks, the leaking water bottle, the sting of untethered
drawcord, the tension of annoying walking partner, the coach party on top of Ben Lomond,
the getting back down, the comfortable car seat, the removal of the boots, the sigh, the
relaxation, the pint of cold beer, the "I was up there" feeling.

I guess it's just good fun."

Copyright Colin MacDonald, ukrw, 02/11/99

--
Philip Powell Looking north across the Derwent Valley and Northumberland to The Cheviot