Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2018 i Trail

As part of its ongoing devotion to producing top-quality outdoor gear that doesn’t harm the planet, eco brand Vaude has turned to some unusual sources for its fabrics. On display at the ISPO trade show in Munich back in February was a fleece made from wood (the cellulose is biodegradable, unlike synthetic fibres), insulation made from fruit (of the Kapok tree, no less) and felt made with milk. While some of this might sound like experimental science gone mad, in truth these technologies could well be the shape of things to come. Anything that preserves the planet and leaves it in a better state to be explored is fine with us. www.vaude.com…

WHEATEAR Known for centuries as the ‘White Arse’ until the Victorians cleaned up the name, wheatears don’t inhabit areas with wheat in them. They do, however, have a white band above the tail which makes them easy to identify. They are a summer migrant, arriving in March depending upon conditions along their migration route. The males are a wonderful sight – black, white and grey, with a buff breast. This is their breeding plumage at its most striking, making this the best time to seek them out. OTTER This fascinating mammal lives and hunts in, on and around water. This can be both fresh and sea water – the otters you see around the coast of Britain are the same species as the inland ones and not sea otters. Otters…

BE GENEROUSÉ GIFT YOUR GEAR Have you drooled over a flashy, new bit of kit in the Trail gear section but needed just a gentle nudge to splash the cash? Well, here’s that nudge. You can now donate that once-loved waterproof jacket or those forgotten pair of walking trousers through outdoor apparel company Rohan’s ‘Gift Your Gear’ campaign. Simply drop off your unwanted gear at a Rohan store and, so long as it’s in a reuseable state, you can feel happy that it will go to a hugely appreciative community organisation, outdoor youth group or charity. Plus, now you have a perfect reason to treat yourself to some brand new gear. You’re welcome. SEE HOW www.rohan.co.uk/giftyourgear LISTEN TO... PEATBOG FAERIES This six-piece, Isle of Skye-based contemporary folk band…

Climbing the height of Everest is an impressive goal. And not only is it one heck of an achievement, the benefits for mind and body are immeasurable. So what about giving something back to the mountains? Getting more people into the mountains is a great thing, but key spots are suffering from erosion and widening paths. This causes soil to wash away and damages mountain habitats. Scafell Pike, Cadair Idris, Whernside and Beinn a’ Ghlo are just four of 13 wild places around the UK that have been identified as needing your help through the BMC’s Mend Our Mountains campaign. The BMC first launched the campaign in 2016 to raise money to make repairs to mountain paths and help limit the damage to fragile mountain environments. This year the aim…

GETTING TO this remote part of the world is only really practical with an organised trek. This trip was with Black Feather Wilderness Adventure Company on the Auyuittuq Getaway Hike. Beginning at Pangnirtung, the trip is backpacking over 12 days with 10 nights camping and costs $4795 (£2674). This doesn’t include flights – but Baffin Island is one of the world’s most remote places, and is a trip of a lifetime. GETTING TO BAFFIN ISLAND A flight from the UK to Toronto with an overnight at Toronto airport and the next day a 1-hour flight to Ottawa. Another flight onwards 2.5 hours to Iqaluit, change flights and fly on again 1 hour to Pangnirtung. Air Canada operate flights from the UK to Toronto and then on to Ottawa. FLIGHTS Ottawa…

Q Routes are often referred to as ‘horseshoe’ walks – is this something to do with bridleways? Nathan Porter via Facebook Trail says: Horseshoe walks are a staple of hillwalking, and a particularly British one at that – blessed as we are to have many walks that conform to this particular term. And it has nothing to do with bridleways or horses. The broad definition is a term given for a walk that begins and ends in the same place but doesn’t retrace itself, which immediately suggests a kind of circular walk, commonly called a ‘round’. Apply it to hills and the typical lines of a glaciated landscape and the chances are the word takes on a more literal connotation as these walks are shaped like horseshoes, often with two…

Q I know how to find my way around a map, but I’m not very confident when it comes to taking bearings and so it limits the walks I feel able to navigate. Can you help? Trevor Slater, Warrington Paul says: Not only can we use compass bearings to find a way from A to B in poor visibility, but a compass is also a useful tool for locating our position. To do this you have to be confident with the basics, and it’s important to refresh your compass skills if you are not using one regularly. Compass basics Firstly, which compass should you use? We use the Suunto M3 Global at the Ultimate Navigation School, and Silva is also a good brand, but the answer is to get the…

Q What’s the best base for a walking holiday if I want to ditch the car? Steven Higgins, Hull Trail says: You’ve got four options to base your holiday around if you want to leave the car behind – compact areas, areas with good public transport, cycle-friendly areas, and backpacking routes. Compact areas are those that literally have everything within striding distance, including mountains and base facilities. Fort William and the Ogwen Valley are good examples. Public transport connections are also important to get to your base, and a good bus service for getting to and from the start of your walks will mean you don’t have to curtail your hill day because of restrictive timetables. Most Swiss and Austrian resorts do public transport well, while in the UK the…

“I was at a low point in my life when I saw the Coniston Mountain Rescue’s collection box in the local newsagent, and thought ‘maybe I could be of use to someone, even if it just means making the tea?’” That was 10 years ago, and Janice Hamilton, now aged 62, is Lead Casualty Carer and Assistant Team Leader for Coniston Mountain Rescue. “It was actually a TV series that first gave me the idea. It was called Rockface, and it was a drama about Scottish Mountain Rescue. It made me wonder whether perhaps I could look after people. I loved being out in the mountains with my dog, but I was just a walker and never dreamed I’d have the skills to be part of the rescue team.” Getting…

All Trail tests are completely unbiased and independent. As Trail‘s Technical Editor, GT has been testing our outdoor equipment for over 25 years, and is proud to be a bit of a geek when it comes to kit. GT's reviews have earned him recognition as one of the most influential people in the outdoor industry. He has collaborated with the Leeds University Performance Clothing Research Group, worked as an outdoor instructor and in outdoor retail, and has authored books on scrambles and a backpacking guide to the Lake District. GT’s love of hillwalking and backpacking has taken him all over the world, but the Lake District is his passion.…

UP TO £100 At this price you get the basic features needed to stay dry from rain and reasonably dry from condensation. However, the fabrics will not offer the levels of long-term durable waterproofness or breathability that can be achieved with higher-priced jackets. You will generally get two pockets, but these may not be ideally placed to allow easy access while wearing a rucksack with a hipbelt, and they may not be large enough for Ordnance Survey maps. The hood may be a little more basic, so it may not fit or move with the head as well as higher-priced designs. In some low-priced jackets you may have hood drawcords that are not retained so they blow in the wind. This price band of jacket is adequate for hillwalking, but…

LUMIX GX7 £300 (USED) USED BY Simon Ingram, photographically frustrated Trail editor USED FOR 6 months I’m no photographer, but I think I am. As a result I spend an awful lot of time trying to find that sweet spot between a system capable of taking decent pics and allowing creative control, and something that doesn’t weigh as much as a breezeblock. I had a dalliance with the Panasonic Lumix GX7 at the end of last year and almost immediately two decades of expensive marriage to another camera brand fell into the abyss – I love this camera! One of the new(ish) breed of Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, it gives the quality and hands-on useability of a DSLR camera in the tidy form of a compact. It has some…

As well as satisfying your cravings for more outdoor kit that you really, REALLY need (!), schedule in a pitstop at Nevisport before or after your Walk of a Lifetime and you’ll also find a super café and bar called Cobbs. Perfect to kick-start the day with a traditional Scottish breakfast, indulge in a post-walk hot chocolate (huge pile of cream included), or enjoy a pint by the fire from nearby Loch Ness Brewery. Find Cobbs on the High Street near the railway station. www.cobbs-at-nevisport.co.uk…

11.5 km/ 7¼ miles 4½ hours North Dartmoor is rough, rugged, incredibly vast and popular with hillwalkers who choose to get away from the crowds and explore what this ‘wild west’ corner of England has to offer away from the busier areas. High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor, overlooking Okehampton to the north, and towering over the rivers and rocky tors to the south. This route takes a circular walk via the West Okement River, and the ancient oak woodland, Black-a-Tor Copse. If it’s a taste of what Dartmoor has to offer that you’re after, then this is the place to start! Our route starts at the Meldon Reservoir car park, which is easily accessed from the A30 ( SX561917). Parking here is free and from it you…

7 km/ 4 miles 3 hours If you’ve ever travelled from Trawsfynydd to Bala, or from Ysbyty Ifan to Blaenau Ffestiniog, you’ll have skirted a vast tract of mire and morass the interior of which is enjoyed by few. Enigmatic and mysterious, empty and forbidding, the Migneint is a paradise for misanthropes, ecologists and those who like to lose themselves in a landscape where spaciousness, big skies and far-reaching views replace the rocky drama of the north. Secluded bodies of water, unseen by motorists, occupy shallow bowls within this boggy wilderness and from one such lake the mighty Afon Conwy starts its journey to the sea. Considering a foray into this desolate domain can be daunting. Where to start? If you only dip your toes into the Migneint then there…

Wild Boar Fell is a rare classic which is little visited. Perhaps folks are worried that there are still wild boar roaming the moorland? They shouldn’t be, because a local knight, Sir Richard Musgrave, apparently killed the last one in the 13th century, with boar tusks from his grave on display in Kirkby Stephen church. But you could do worse than explore these lesser-known Cumbrian hills, some of which form part of the recently expanded Yorkshire Dales National Park, if peace and quiet is your desire. ‘These’ are the Howgills – a series of shapely, rounded grassy hills with a few gritstone crags along the edges to liven things up. But watch out for the surprisingly steep ascents and descents, they may test your legs more than many Lake District…

10 km/ 6¼ miles 4 hours 1 SD698969 From Cross Keys Temperance Inn lay-by cross the River Rawthey on a footbridge into access land. Follow the path left by the stream. There’s great views of Cautley Crags ahead and you may spot some midge-eating plants beside the path (sundew). 2 SD693968 Bend right on the main path and up the Cautley Holme valley; don’t cross the Cautley Holme Beck. It’s worth a detour before the gradient steepens to see lower sections of the waterfall close up, as from higher it’s hard to see the whole falls in one view (Route 2 offers a better option for this). 3 SD683975 After 1km, the gradient changes sharply with a short, steep grassy ramp, which then settles down to a relentless climb on…

1 Beyond Ennerdale Water, beside Char Dub, cross the footbridge towards Woundell Beck. After 200m a path branches off left to cross Woundell Beck by another footbridge. On the other side take the bridleway up through the trees, then the path across the flanks of Lingmell. This brings you to Low Beck. Ford it and then climb the steepening ridge to gain the start of the North Ridge at Long Crag. 2 Although it looks steep, the North Ridge of Steeple is in fact rather benign. There are exposed drops on either side but the path up the crest is broad enough to not cause any concern. There is a rock-step just below the summit. This is tackled via a short gully that provides hand and foot holds. 3 Beyond…

Moel Tryfan is a small unassuming mountain. It is only 429m high and its only claim to fame is that it shares its name with the bigger 3000ft Tryfan found above Dyffryn Ogwen. But I have discovered that a mountain doesn’t have to be big or famous to change your life. In fact, just its very existence can be enough to change your entire outlook on the world. I confess that nothing spectacular happened the day I climbed Moel Tryfan. The weather was beautiful, I was well prepared and had wonderful company. The walk to the summit was a leisurely one, meandering slowly upwards until we reached the trig point. Then we simply sat for a while and watched the sun set into the sea. But although the walk was…

You would be amazed at how many tired experts have accidentally used the white south end needle of the compass as north, so when taking a bearing from a map always sense check what you expect the bearing to be approximately, and then check that against the bearing you took on the compass. Use this mental picture to visualise what you expect the bearing to be. In this example, our direction line lies in the 0-90° quadrant, and so roughly visually it should be around 45° from Wain Stones ( A ) to the cairn ( B ) and it was in fact 55°. If we had calculated 235° we would have had the compass pointing in the wrong direction when we took the bearing.…

> Enjoy being out in the fells, whatever the weather throws at you. > You needn’t be a climber or medical professional, as the relevant training is provided. However, a willingness to learn and assist as required is definitely a must. > Be relatively fit. > Show commitment to attending call-outs and training when necessary. Also helping out at fundraising events is really appreciated. > Be willing to carry equipment to a casualty, and then help carry the stretcher. An ordinary walker can meet this objective without having to be a superhero!…

LOOKING FOR LOWER PRICE? Highlander Stow & Go Packaway Jacket £30 / 308g (L) • Men’s XS-XXL • Women’s n/a This PU-coated nylon jacket has a mesh lining in the hood and shoulders for more comfort, and two pockets that are mesh-lined, but the hood peak is quite large and can obscure vision. LOOKING FOR WIDER SIZE RANGE? Regatta Birchdale £100 / 592g (L) • Men’s S-5XL • Women’s 8-26 Made from stretch Isotex 10,000, this jacket boasts a wide size range, and has one guidebook-sized chest pocket and two map-sized pockets. The hood fits and moves with the head exceptionally well. LOOKING FOR SEALED POCKETS? Didrikson Tuba £130 / 355g (M) • Men’s S-XXL • Women’s 8-20 This 2.5-layer fabric jacket has sealed rather than mesh pockets, so there…

In 1854 a ’treasure‘ hunt started at Dartmoor’s Cranmere Pool, where walkers to this lonely spot could leave their visiting cards for the next person. Today, an underworld of geocachers and ‘letterboxers’ combine navigation with treasure-hunting on the moors. Add a new element to your wild walk on these popular moors by joining the hunt for existing geocaches, or really getting involved by leaving your own. Access geocache locations in Dartmoor (and elsewhere in the UK and overseas) by signing up for free at www.geocaching.com…

14 km/ 8½ miles 5½ hours What does the phrase ‘The Langdales’ mean to you? For some it’s the Langdale Pikes themselves, those prominent peaks clustered above Dungeon and Stickle Ghylls. For others, it’s both of the valleys – Great and Little Langdale – and all the peaks that surround them, including Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Pike of Blisco and Wetherlam. And there’s more still – the unique character and aesthetics, generated not only by ancient volcanic and glacial forces, but also the centuries of industry and culture wrapped up in its folds. This journey through time wanders from a working slate quarry to the ethereal Cathedral Cave and its secret scrambles; from a Viking parliament to modern agriculture influenced by the same Norsemens’ Herdwick sheep; and from bygone axe factories…

Sir Hugh Munro was born in London in 1856. The Scotsman was a founding member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club when it formed in 1889 and he produced the list of Scottish mountains over 3000ft, now known as ‘Munros’. Munro never completed his own list. Englishman Oscar Eckenstein invented the modern 10-point crampons in 1908. Two years later, in 1910, Eckenstein’s crampons were made commercially available by Italian climber Henry Grivel. Litter pickers unearthed a musical mystery to the tune of a lost piano when they discovered the instrument near the 1345m summit of Ben Nevis in 2006. A Scottish woodcutter later claimed it was in fact a 100kg church organ that he’d hauled up the mountain on his back in 1971. Spanish climber Edurne Pasaban became the first woman…

As served at… the Gallt y Glyn in Llanberis, Snowdonia Legendary for being the best pizza in Wales, design your own post-walk pizza in this popular restaurant with the numerous toppings on offer. And not only are the pizzas something to dream of, you also get a free pint or glass of wine with it too! The perfect way to end a big day out in the hills in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere – and it’s right on the doorstep of Snowdon and the Glyders. What more do you need? Know of any top post-or pre-walk grub? Let us know at trail@bauermedia.co.uk…

Temperatures there can often drop below -40°C, it’s located in perhaps one of the most remote wildernesses in North America, if not the world, and its peak measures less than a fifth of the height of Everest’s. On paper, the appeal seems minimal, non-existent maybe. And yet, this mountain is named after the hammer-wielding, storm-provoking Norse god of thunder – the protector of all mankind on Earth. And for good reason. For Mount Thor boasts the longest vertical drop on the entire planet. In fact, it’s steeper than vertical. The outrageously vertiginous cliff measures 1250m and stands at an angle of 105°, creating a spectacular, massive, looming overhang. And I’m standing at the base of it. Rewind four days and, after no less than four airplane flights since leaving the…

Q I’ve seen boots and sleeping bags described as 2-, 3- or 4-season. What exactly does this mean? Tanya Green via Facebook Graham says: The seasons ratings are a broad means of categorising outdoor equipment into its primary use based on the British seasons – plus a mystery fifth season! It is often used for sleeping bags and boots, but sometimes it is used on other products too, such as tents and even waterproof jackets or fleeces. A 1-season product would generally be best for summer use, around June, July, and August in the UK, when it is quite warm and there is less rain and no chance of snow. A 2-season product would be designed for use from late spring through summer and into early autumn in the UK,…

Q I’m a walker who walks in the mountains – does that make me a mountaineer? Sian Thompson, Derbyshire Jeremy says: There are no hard and fast rules as to what differentiates a walker from a mountaineer, and the debate differs from one country to the next. However, the general consensus is that to be classed as mountaineering, an ascent will include either technical terrain, glaciation or significant altitude, and frequently a combination of all three. In the UK, our rather diminutive hills means we tend to set the bar low and call anything over 2000ft/600m a mountain, and so in a local context, you could reasonably regard yourself as a mountaineer. However, only a few of our peaks– The Cuillin, Pillar Rock, An Teallach for example – require scrambling,…

INSULATION The bags featured here all use down insulation. Down has the advantage over synthetic insulation of being more efficient at trapping air, and therefore it can be used to produce lighter and less bulky sleeping bags. It doesn’t maintain its performance when damp very well though, so some manufacturers treat the down (or shell) to help it resist water and dry quicker when damp. SHELL AND LINING To protect the insulation, the shell and lining benefit from some water-resistance, and in some cases this may be enhanced on the base, foot and hood areas. Nylon is often used for the shell and lining, but polyester could be used to reduce prices. SHOULDER BAFFLE A good shoulder baffle keeps the air down in the bag, which increases its insulating ability.…

Ben James Lover of expeditions and mountain challenges all over the UK. Ange Harker Nidderdale born and bred, and an experienced walking guide. Jamie Rooke This Snowdonia expert works at Pen y Pass and teaches mountain skills. Nick Livesey Acclaimed Snowdoniabased photographer and rarely off the hills. Richard Down If it's a knotty and wild bit of Cumbria you're after, just ask Rich. Keith Fergus Author of 15 guidebooks to Scotland’s isles and coastline walks. Chiz Dakin Award-winning writer, photographer and film-maker. Avid traveller. Matthew Pike Ex-Trail staffer and guidebook writer, Matt now lives in Wales. STRENUOUSNESS How tired will this route make me? The times quoted for Trail Routes are based on estimates of 4km per hour, plus 30 minutes for every 300m of ascent, with another hour for…

8 km/ 5 miles 6 hours Want to become a little more intimate with a mountain you thought you knew? You won’t even visit the top of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) this time and why bother? You’ve been up there countless times and you’ve already walked all the main routes, right? You’ll barely even touch one on this little gem, leaving them behind for wild mountain tracks and breathtaking views. It’s a relatively short route in terms of distance, so there’s no need to rush. Savour it. Stop and stare awhile because with it being one of the quieter areas of the mountain, it’s still quite unspoiled. And, if necessary, do your bit to keep it special by gathering up litter along the way. The route is mainly a walk. There’s…

8.5 km/ 5¼ miles 4 hours he Eildon Hills may not be the highest hills in the Scottish Borders but make no mistake, they are steep – very steep. There are several tough climbs throughout this walk although it is made slightly easier by an excellent path network that criss-crosses this wonderful little range of hills. Any exertion is richly rewarded, as the vista from each of Eildon’s three tops is truly exceptional. Local folklore suggests that the distinctive shape of the Eildons was created by the legendary Scottish wizard Michael Scott who split the one hill into three using his mysterious powers. The Eildon Hills were named Trimontium (literally translating as the three mountains) by the Romans when they arrived here in the 1st century. Due to the magnificent…

Mountain weather forecasts in North Wales aren’t always filled with optimism. But quite often even the dampest predictions include the line ‘sunny spells in the east’ and that’s when the Berwyns really come into their own. The broad, rounded summits are a dream for those who like to head off-piste and navigate their way across wild moorland. And summit baggers don’t despair – Cadair Berwyn, climbed on day one, is a thoroughly impressive mountain in its own right. At 830m it’s the highest in Wales outside a national park, and has a vast drop down its eastern flank and epic views of Snowdonia. Walk two features Pistyll Rhaeadr – probably the most photographed waterfall in Wales – and walk three explores mining relics and passes a sizeable cave en route…