road, but I dont go round feeling nervous, not even pushing it a bit on a scramble, although as with driving etc. I have had my doubts afterwards! Yes, I've sometimes looked back and thought Did I really do that? Sometimes I scare myself in hindsight, but I had no doubts at the time.  I think there's a lot to be said for confidence (but not over-confidence).   Aren't scared people more likely to fall off? Don't know if more scared people fall off but getting a bit of fear does (a) get the adrenaline coursing and (b) makes me a bit wobbly. I get through it by exhaling very hard during what I perceive to be difficult bits and/or swearing (hopefully out of earshot of all but those with me). lack of concentration might be a bigger killer. Being scared might help you avoid those moments of mind drift! Striding Edge on an almost windless day in sunshine was just on the right side of excitement for me, with only 2/3 points when my brain kicked-in saying Get down from here . Fortunately I didn't get down to the path and got through it. I've just been up Tryfan, and except for the times when I noticed my wallet pocket was wide open and I discovered that the bit I was going up was running out of foot and hand holds fast, I didn't have many get away feelings. Of course I chickened out of Adam & Eve.

He's welcome to that one! It's the getting down bit that gets me worried. Salisbury Cathedral would be my climbing nightmare..........Helicopter pleeeeeeese! Man made structures never seem to be down-climbed in my, limited, experience. On climbing walls there's always someone waiting - if only your be_layer_ - so you tend to get lowered the moment you reach the top. In examples like above the protection was pre-placed, so they'll either lower him or he'll us the lift. Of course that doesn't apply to those loonies who free climb prominent buildings, but they get arrested as soon as they get to the top anyway.

I would not wish to travel in a country where society is so narrow minded as to not allow individuals to behave as they like in ways that do nor effect others. These are BTW often the very same countries that have poor civil rights records and appalling attitudes to women. This is a classic example, with respect, of 'liberal imperialism'.  But unlike the imperialists of old, there is no questioning at all, just certainty that that western secular liberalism is a universal solution to all human problems.  But it hasn't worked in the West - look at the effects of community and family breakdown, especially on the poorest people.  And despite (or because of) decades of feminsim, there are more women living below the poverty line and more bringing up children on their own.  In the Berber villages, which I mentioned, I expected there to be a strong patriarchal sociaty, but in fact women have a great deal of power, both at community level and within the family.  Old people, men and women, are revered, too.  And so the balance between the sexes, which has evolved organically, is better than in the West. You mention 'civil rights' records..  I am very sceptical about codified rights - responsibilities are much more important. But I think the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a reasonably good document, because it is compatible with a wide range of cultures and legal/political systems.  I don't take the same view of the European Convention, which we do not need in UK law (but then I'm against European unification anyway - I was too young to vote in 1975!). One last point, re. traditional societies.  I suspect your preconceptions about the Berber villages arose from the fact that they are Muslim.  That implies that you are judging Islam by Islamic fundamentalism, which is like judging Christianity by Ian Paisley or Pat Robertson! Best Wishes. Aidan

This is a classic example, with respect, of 'liberal imperialism'.  But unlike the imperialists of old, there is no questioning at all, just certainty that that western secular liberalism is a universal solution to all human problems. I think you're rather blowing the wish to wear a bright jacket not so much out of all proportion, but several orders of magnitude further than that. I still haven't seen any compelling argument that it's Perfectly All Right for a chap in tweeds and a Barbour to put a damn bright chunk of bright yellow over several acres of countryside growing oil seed, but the height of bad manners for me to walk in the same area wearing a coat the same colour.  Or if we get beyond the farmed areas, a coat the same colour as substantail areas of flowering gorse or heather. Pete.

Man made structures never seem to be down-climbed in my, limited, experience. On climbing walls there's always someone waiting - if only your be_layer_ - so you tend to get lowered the moment you reach the top. In examples like above the protection was pre-placed, so they'll either lower him or he'll us the lift. Did you see it? Vertigo city! 400ft up, not much to cling to and the whole lot's built on water!