adventure - travel - vanlife
Just returned from a week in the Alps, courtesy of Icicle Mountaineering in Chamonix. Had a great week of walking, climbing, via ferrata, glacier travel and which culminated in us summitting Gran Paradiso (4,061m) in Italy. I’ll write up more details shortly but I’ve posted a selection of photos taken Read More …
Well, I’m busy sorting gear for next week in Chamonix courtesy of Icicle Mountaineering on their 4000m Summits & Skills course. I’d hoped to do the Alpine Autonomy course but the timings didn’t work for me though apparently there are only another two people on the course with me so the Read More …
Funnily enough I read Martin’s post over at SummitandValley on the very same day that I’d just tried on a Montane Featherlite smock for size. A wind-shirt had been on my hit-list for a while having dabbled with soft-shells and varying weights of fleece but realised that, more often than not, Read More …
I’ve had the PC version with a full set of Memory Map 1:25k maps on my PC for a couple of years. The novelty of using my Garmin GPS and downloading tracks to MM soon wore off and I ditched the GPS and reverted to map/compass. I still used Read More …
My new Sunnto Core watch arrived on Wed and my initial response upon turning it on was “mmm, it’s not that easy to read”. I’d chosen the All Black model with the reversed LCD display.(see pic below) but was already aware that owners tend to be polarised over the readability Read More …
I thought it was time to comment on recent kit purchases now they’ve seen a few outings and I am (or was) on a plane with a few hours to spare – though typing on the iPhone keyboard generally involves 3 keys forward and 2 back!! Thermarest NeoAir mattress: Read More …
A goal, an objective…it always helps focus the mind. I’ve had Mont Blanc on my mind since a ‘boys’ snowboarding weekend in Chamonix in Feb 2006, which is remembered for three reasons:- The might and presence of Mont Blanc itself, which left an indelible imprint on my mind My first Read More …
My hunt for a soft-shell is finally over after purchasing a Mountain Equipment Astron Hoody from Snow & Rock this weekend. The Powershield Lite fabric is highly wind resistant yet breathable and I liked the idea of an integral hood. I also tried on a Rab VR Trail Lite – Read More …
In readiness for our wildcamping weekend in Wales I needed a new pack (that’s the justification I used to the wife!). I’d toyed with the idea of the Osprey Exos 46 and Talon 44, but kept coming back to the OMM The Villain 45+10 MSC. OMM gear always gets good Read More …
The Red Nose Day Kilimanjaro celebrity climb shown on TV last week brought back some great memories of my own ascent in 1997. Here are a few (poorly scanned) pictures I managed to dig out.