Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2016 i Trail

Oli Reed gets seriously lucky with a trip up Wales’ two most iconic mountains in fabulous winter conditions. He lets you in on the secret on p26 Twitter@olireedoutdoors Sarah Ryan and Hannah James get to grips with winter skills from two very different perspectives on p34 Twitter@sarah_outside @hannahkjames Ben Weeks draws the short straw and endures four days walking between some of the Lake District's finest inns. Somehow, he survived... p44 Twitter@gingerheadben Dan Aspel enjoys a wander along the Pennine Way's finest three-day stint, mixing a wild camp with a bothy, a canyon and the highest point in England outside the Lakes. p52 Tom Bailey goes public with a two-year photographic project to capture his own shadow amid some of the UK's most coveted mountain landscapes. p60 Cover image: On…

The Field Guide to Knots Bob Holtzman If, like me, you hardly know how to tie your own shoelaces, you’re going to need a book like this. Or, more precisely, this book. By focusing on 87 knots that are specifically useful in outdoor situations and breaking them down into easy-to-navigate sections complete with step-by-step photographic instructions of how to tie each one, it’s simple to use and detailed without drowning you in technical jargon. As well as advice on selecting, storing and caring for your BOOKSHELF CLASSIC Summit Fever Andrew Greig (1985) Armchair mountaineering is safe, right? You sit at home, snug, mug of tea in hand while in your imagination mountains tower, snow swirls and danger lingers. Summit Fever is about what happens when armchair mountaineering becomes a cold…

Re: using a poncho when hillwalking [In Box Dec15]. I was a user of ponchos back in Spain when I went hillwalking in Asturias. It was very useful in winter as it protected you from the wind and helped to keep the backpack and yourself dry. When I moved to Scotland two years ago I brought my gear, poncho included. I found it useless. After a couple of unpleasant experiences I decided to leave it at home, and started using a waterproof jacket and a backpack cover. I’m attaching a picture of my wife, Alicia [left]. This was while hillwalking in Asturias three years ago; it is an example of what you get when you add wind to a poncho. Pablo Lopez Alonso, Paisley Ed – Correspondence on the fiery…

When to go The mountains of north Wales aren’t as reliable as those in Scotland when it comes to snow cover, but you can generally expect winter conditions any time from January to April. Our ascents of Cadair Idris and Snowdon were in February 2015. What to take Winter walking requires extra kit in terms of clothing and technical equipment. Warm layers and items like gloves and hats are essential – as are an ice axe, crampons and the know-how to use them. Learn more about winter skills on page 34. Who to take An experienced partner or even a local guide may be a good idea, especially on your first winter walk. How to prepare If you’re new to winter walking it’s a good idea to stick to routes…

M THE FILES Facts, stats and anecdotal ammo about Britain's most fascinating mountains. World water speed record broken four times by Donald Campbell on nearby Coniston Water, maxing out at 260.35mph 800 Number of years since slate mining began on the Old Man, with some quarries still operating today It's one of seven Lake District men. The others are Skiddaw Little Man, Sergeant Man, Shipman Knotts, Lower Man, Birk Fell Man & Thirdgill Head Man 2,000FT the approximate depth of the copper mines on the hill, the largest in the UK, now abandoned 1 UFO photographed hovering near The Old Man in 1954 by teenage Stephen Darbishire. The snap was published in the Lancashire Evening Post and provoked a media frenzy. 1 unique slate platform on the summit, topped with…

INTENDED USE Ice grippers are not intended to be a replacement for full crampons, but in some conditions they offer more comfort when walking compared to crampons – and this is their advantage. These reviews are based on them being used on level paths and not on the more challenging terrain found on hills or mountains in winter, for which they are not designed and where full crampons are recommended by the manufacturers. NUMBER OF SPIKES The more spikes there are, the better the grip – and the more chance that at least some of them come into contact with the ice on uneven surfaces. LENGTH OF SPIKES Long spikes provide better grip in snow, but they can catch on rocks or even trousers, which is the drawback of full…

Rucksack My pack needs to be large enough to hold all my gear while still being supportive and comfortable for a long day. I've been using the Deuter Guide 40 litre, which suits my needs perfectly. Trekking poles I’m in love with these Black Diamond Distance Z poles. I originally bought them to help me negotiate descents a bit more easily, but the added bonus is that they make ascents so much easier too! Warm layers I carry my own warm layers, like this yellow Berghaus jacket, plus extra gear for anyone in my group who may have forgotten theirs. Unfortunately for me as a small female, the extra kit I have to carry needs to fit a large male! Beanie hat I never go anywhere without my favourite stripy…

Deborah Martin Our south-west expert. No-one has a better knowledge of Dartmoor. Ronald Turnbull Creator of a whopping 27 guidebooks and 18 unique coast-to-coasts. Steve Goodier Author of 7 walking guidebooks, Steve loves the UK hills. Margaux Doey Outdoors lover who’s ‘obsessed with hiking, dogs and nice kit’. Tom Hutton Our Wales guru – his knowledge of Cymru's peaks is unsurpassed. Dan Bailey Author of Scotland's Mountain Ridges, and a big fan of huge routes. Jeremy Ashcroft Trail's mountaineering editor, and a veteran of every classic UK route. Louise Parker Trail's art editor: runner, walker and let out of the office only if she’s good.…

ROUTE INFO Distance 10.2km (6¼ miles) Total ascent 930m Time 4½ hours Start/finish Seathwaite – verge parking at road end (NY235123) Terrain small paths and pathless fellside and ridge; steep broken ground onto Great End; good paths for descent from Esk Hause Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4 and OL6 (need both); OS Landranger (1:50,000) 89 or 90; Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Lake District West (or older Lakeland West) 1 NY235123 Head through the farm, onto a wide path via gates and along the valley floor to the left of the stream. After 1.3km turn right across Stockley Bridge. The path slants up across the end of Seathwaite Fell to arrive above Styhead Gill. In another 400m the path crosses a small stream coming down from due south. 2 NY227106 Head to…

ROUTE INFO Distance 7.3km (4½ miles) Total ascent 730m Time 4 hours Start/finish SH649603 Terrain rocky slope, craggy corrie, mountain lakes, narrow rocky ridge, high mountain ridge, rocky summit, scree, broad col and rocky head wall Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 115; OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL17; British Mountain Maps (1:40,000) Snowdonia North Guidebooks Britain’s Highest Mountain Walks by Jeremy Ashcroft, pb Collins; Great Mountain Days in Snowdonia by Terry Marsh, pb Cicerone 1 SH649603 From the road near Idwal Cottage take the Cwm Idwal Path south-east uphill to a junction; take the left fork and follow the path as it climbs steeply up the open hillside to join the side of a stream. The path follows beside the stream and leads up to the mouth of Llyn Bochlwyd. 2 SH655594The…

GERMANY, DESPITE BEING the largest country in Europe, is often missed off most walkers’ to-do lists. That leaves a large chunk of country there ripe for exploring on foot, free from the crowds! Beginning in the Bavarian capital of Munich, this eight-day route weaves its way southward before culminating in the castle-rich town of Füssen, near to the Austrian border, the Alpine skyline becoming larger the further south you venture. It is ideal for the less experienced walker looking to experience a part of Germany you are all too likely to miss when speeding past in a car. Starting out in Munich provides walkers the chance to experience the bustling urban heart of Bavaria, not to mention feed up on würst and beer at the bierkellers. The entire route seems…

Have you bought a pint in the Lake District? If you’ve ever been there, the answer’s almost definitely yes. Now, in the aftermath of Storm Desmond, we reckon it’s a good time to buy one for the Lakes. You’ll have seen the pictures: roads crumbling into rivers, bridges washed away, water cascading over flood defences. Cumbria has had its share of natural disasters in the past 20 years, but Storm Desmond broke all known records. Here’s Trail’s incredibly easy guide to helping out one of the UK’s most beautiful places, which has had the most terrible luck... 1) Go there! Keep an eye on road closures (check www.cumbria.gov.uk) and weather warnings of course; but barring either of those things, get yourself to the Lakes. No-one loses here. The hills are…

Who rattled his cage? “I can’t do with mountains at close quarters – they are always in the way, and they are so stupid, never moving and never doing anything but obtrude themselves.” DH Lawrence, in The Letters of DH Lawrence Novel use for a brolly “We might have made the summit before night, but for a delay caused by the loss of an umbrella. I was allowing the umbrella to remain lost, but the men murmured, and with reason, for in this exposed region we stood in peculiar need of protection against avalanches.” Mark Twain, in A Tramp Abroad Think positive! “I didn’t doubt the potential value of paying attention to subconscious cues... problem was, my inner voice resembled Chicken Little: it was screaming that I was…

Nope, not hills. Not views. Not even pints. We want to know your Top 10 mountain-related songs. From a big pile of your suggestions we've created a short-list of 40 tunes; now all you have to do is hop online, have a listen and pick the best. We should mention that many of these tracks are only tenuously associated with hills, but you lot picked ’em so don't blame us! www.lfto.com/topten NAME THAT PEAK After the pull up from Grisedale Tarn towards the Helvellyn plateau, you top out on which peak? Answer below.…

I enjoyed Graham Thompson’s ‘history of outdoor gear’ article [in the A short history of outdoor gear supplement in the Dec16 issue]. I started walking in the Fifties in nailed boots, old trousers, tartan shirt, a cotton anorak and a beret! My waterproof was my oilskin cycle cape – not ideal on Crib Goch. After the cape came the plastic Packamac and a nylon waterproof jacket and trousers, which transformed walking in wet weather. I was working in a coal mine when Vibram-soled boots came in. One old miner said, “They’ve got some rubber-soled boots in the stores. That’s daft; they won’t last two weeks on stony ground.” How wrong he was! In the Sixties and Seventies I wore corduroy breeches, which I thought were excellent. However, they went out…

Finding your way off the hill in a winter storm can be the most challenging task any mountaineer faces. Many winter incidents in the mountains involve navigational errors, so the planning phase is crucial in foreseeing potential issues in advance of your day out. Winter hazards Shorter daylight hours Reduced visibility Stormy weather Risk of avalanches Cornices (overhanging snow ledges) Ice-covered paths Fewer visible navigation features White-out conditions Planning Given the stormy nature of the weather in the UK and Ireland during the winter months, if we sat around waiting for a settled spell of good weather and conditions we might never leave the house. If we want our winter hit, we need to be prepared for a bit of a battering! Keep an eye on the weather forecast and…

QUESTION What should I do in a white-out? Jessica Heddle, Derby ANSWER Rob Johnson MIC A qualified International Mountain Leader, Rob’s led groups all over the world via his company www.expeditionguide.com Genuine white-out conditions will only be found in winter, when snow and cloud combine to make it very difficult for you to see anything at all. In a true white-out it can be difficult to make out the ground, and there’s a real danger of walking off a steep edge without even realising until it’s too late, especially if you are standing on a cornice (snow overhang). If you suddenly find yourself in a white-out, don’t panic; really take your time to nail down your location as precisely as possible. Good navigation is essential. You’ll need to break your…

When should I use these devices? All these devices are in general best restricted to use on level paths with a thin covering of snow and ideally not exposed water ice. This is because the spikes are quite short and in some cases not very sharp so they don’t bite easily into hard ice or through deep snow. On more uneven ground they tend to roll off the boot more easily than stiffer crampons on appropriate boots, which means they should also be restricted to level surfaces. Typically the best conditions for these items are in the valley or on well-made tracks, such as those in forested areas. There are some well-made level tracks on popular peaks where appropriate conditions for them do appear; however very often such paths will…

Fjällräven Kaipak 38 rucksack £150 Used by Tom Bailey, Trail photographer Used for 6 months This is quite simply the best rucksack I've used in 20 years of climbing mountains. Job done. The G-1000 material that Fjällräven likes to construct everything out of is, in this case, the perfect choice. It’s tough, no-nonsense and green (!); I can strap any amount of hardware to it without worrying about the sack splitting. The straps have enough padding for a comfortable carry, the lid floats (which allows the capacity to increase) and I've used it for many wild camps. Shall I go on? VERDICT  When they lay me to rest, I want this rucksack buried with me. I LOVE IT. www.fjallraven.co.uk Petzl Tikka£35 Used by Ben Weeks, news and features writer Used…

ROUTE INFO Distance 20.5km (12¾ miles) Total ascent 650m Time 7 hours Start/finish Rosthwaite north end (NY257148) Terrain good paths; above Seathwaite, the tough, scrambly path by Taylorgill Force could be bypassed by diverting east to Stockley Bridge Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4; OS Landranger (1:50,000) 89 or 90; Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Lake District West (or older Lakeland West) 1 NY257148 At the north edge of Rosthwaite, take the lane off the B5289 to cross a stone bridge over Stonethwaite Beck. At once turn right in a walled bridleway track. After 1.2km, at a junction with signpost, turn right to recross the river into Stonethwaite village. 2 NY262137Turn left through the village, at its edge forking right on the upper track. This passes the campsite then rejoins the river. Stay…

ROUTE INFO Distance 14km (8¾ miles) Total ascent 1225m Time 6 hours Start/finish SH649603 Terrain broad craggy corrie, mountain llyns (tarns), steep rocky ridge, rocky summits, high mountain ridge, exposed col, scree, broad col and rocky head wall Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 115; OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL17; British Mountain Maps (1:40,000) Snowdonia North Guidebooks Britain’s Highest Mountain Walks by Jeremy Ashcroft, pb Collins; Great Mountain Days in Snowdonia by Terry Marsh, pb Cicerone 1 SH649603From the road near Idwal Cottage take the Cwm Idwal Path south-east uphill to a junction; take the right fork and follow the path as it climbs steadily up the open hillside to the side of Llyn Idwal. Turn right and skirt around the northern end of the llyn to then follow a vague path…

WE SAY... Hall’s Fell is a great way to ascend Blencathra rather than tackling it – like many do – as an awkward descent after heading up Sharp Edge. Starting from the village of Threlkeld with a short hop across Gate Gill, Hall's Fell draws you up quickly along a zigzag path – then before you know it height is achieved, allowing a catch-your-breath moment as you look back and take in the views across The Dodds and Derwent Water. From here you’re offered a variety of choices, and you’ll be rubbing your hands in anticipation. At this point you can get them on the rock and lever yourself uphill on slabby terrain that feels designed for scramblers in ascent, but can be bum-bruisingly slippery in descent. If you choose…

...YOU’RE NOT GOING AWAY FOR CHRISTMAS... These are the months you’re most likely to fly the nest: ...YOU’RE AN ADVENTUROUS LOT! 40% have walked in 5 or more countries overseas (and 14% have experienced altitude sickness) ...but don’t feel bad if you haven’t: 12% have been to just one, and a quarter would only go with an organised walking holiday. ...YOU PROBABLY DON’T FANCY WALKING HERE These were the lowest-rated countries you wanted to visit YOU’RE PRETTY SOCIABLE… This is how you summed up your attitude to walking in a group 51% ‘I like being in a group for a while, but I also value time on my own afterwards’ 25% ‘I love the company and I am comfortable meeting new people with the 21% ‘I’d really rather walk and…

WATCH THIS... K2: Touching the Sky In the history of K2, 1986 is known as the ‘black summer’, a season in which 13 climbers perished. Nearly 20 years later, director Eliza Kubarska goes to the mountain with the now-grown children of those who died. Winner of the Kendal Mountain Festival Grand Prize, the resulting feature-length film is pensive, curious and beautifully shot. FOLLOW IT tinyurl.com/k2sky AND THIS... Tashi and the Monk High in the Himalayas, on a mountain ridge, is a school for orphaned and neglected children, set up by a Buddhist monk. Tashi is the latest arrival. She's five, wild, and brilliantly mischievous. This film following the first months of her time there is hopeful, inspiring and quite magic. Winner of the Best Culture & Environment Film…

Visit a new hill, take a pic of yourself on it and win great kit! Hopefully you read about Trail's 7 Summits challenge in our last issue, but if not here's the low-down: pick seven summits you've never climbed, write them down, make sure you do them in 2016. Sure, a day in the hills is its own reward but sometimes we all need a little extra encouragement. So here's the carrot: Montane has offered up a prize for the best pics, as chosen by us, every issue for the rest of the year, starting with a Montane Cobra 25 pack next issue. If that doesn't give you the extra shove out the door, we don't know what will. Create your custom mountain list, get walking and share your pics!…

Born Pete (right) 1950, Joe (left) 1948 Died Both 1982 Nationality British Beards Minimum one between them Legends because together they formed one of the great mountaineering partnerships of their day, and both were talented writers. Pete and Joe devoted their lives to climbing, starting in the UK, progressing to the Alps and then becoming captivated by high-altitude expeditions in the Himalayas. Individually they were talented, strong-willed climbers but together a competitiveness was set alight that would encourage both to increasingly great endeavours. Climbing alongside the likes of Chris Bonington and Doug Scott, they scaled peaks including Changabang, which Pete wrote about in The Shining Mountain, Kangchenjunga and Everest. In 1982 they attempted Everest’s north-east ridge but disappeared on the final summit push (Tasker’s bodyhas never been found). They’re probably…

There’s nowt better than a cuppa on top of a hill; but vacuum flasks often cool down after around six hours and if you’re camping you’ll probably need your pan for whatever freeze-dried delight is for dinner. If only there was a way to have food and hot tea at the same time, then life would surely be at its best. Thanks to Sea to Summit, the dream is now possible. Its new collapsible X-Pot Kettle weighs 244g, with cup, and holds 1.3 litres of your chosen brew. It’s a pretty handy thing, mainly silicon with a stainless steel base, for effective heat transfer and decent insulation. It’s got a wide rim too so can be used as a pasta pan if you really want to travel light and creates…

Michael Ellis Starting January 1st, a 'Wild Winter Walk Around Wales', being 1,047 miles in total over 65 days. Aim to be totally self-supported in that I will wild camp the whole route. Ben Franklin Welsh winter ridges in Feb. Day hikes in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington State in June. Might try and squeeze in a trip to Scotland too (don't tell the Missus)! Wayne Richardson Not to stop... simple! Col Wood Finish the English Trail 100s, Welsh 3000s and qualify as a Mountain Leader. Catherine Higgins Crib Goch, Tryfan and Ben Nevis. On my bucket list of things I wanna do to celebrate my 40th year on this planet. Nigel Laughton Ben Nevis in Feb, South Wales 3 Peaks & Glyders April, Carneddau June. Race to…

SEND IN A PHOTO – AND WIN! Sometimes, after a big adventure, an expression says it all. Send a picture of your haggard hill fizzog to trail@bauermedia.co.uk, and the best one wins four pairs of Darn Tough socks!…

“I’m lucky enough to visit a lot of beautiful places with my job, and photographing my shadow is a subtle way of placing myself into the landscape and cataloguing my experiences in the mountains. I don’t want to see myself in the pictures I take – I already know what I look like so the last thing I want is any cheesy selfies. I’ve taken most of these photographs outside of the summer months – when the days are short, the light is low and the shadows are long. It’s usually the case that the landscape looks its best when the sun’s shining, so I’ve tried to capture the best of the scenery I’m walking in while also creating a personal account of everywhere I’ve been. I hope you enjoy…

FIT Most gloves come in a range of four sizes – usually small, medium, large and extra large – but some come in only three sizes, while it is possible to find some models styled specifically for women. Even so it is still worth trying before buying as we have different finger lengths and hand widths so sizes are at best only an estimate of what will be the perfect fit for you. We gave the best ratings to the gloves with the widest size range and ideally a specific women’s design in addition to the unisex or men’s design. INSULATION To add insulation, gloves come with either sewn-in or removable linings. Sewn-in ones cost less to produce but removable linings allow a degree of control over warmth and can…

The towering Munros of Aonach Mor and Carn Mor Dearg are parted by a stunning glen, lined with some impressive crags. The west face of the former, in particular, is hallowed ground for the winter climber, with rock routes and gullies linking the glen floor with the summit ridge at a variety of grades. But the east face of Carn Mor Dearg has its highlights too: in particular the east spur of its sister top, Carn Dearg Meadhonach, which offers a usually avalanche-free, never-too-difficult, airy scramble/ climb almost to the summit. Like most winter routes in good conditions, it’s easy enough; and competent movers will have no problem without a rope. But if you’re unsure, it’s worth taking the precaution: there are plenty of spikes and boulders for protection if…

ROUTE INFO Distance 22km (13¾ miles) Total ascent 1350m Time 8½ hours Start/finish Rosthwaite: pay and display at village hall (NY257148) Terrain steep ascent weaving between crags to Eagle Crag; scramble (summer Grade 1) onto Esk Pike; small scramble descending Glaramara; rest is paths, tracks and high grassland Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4; OS Landranger (1:50,000) 89 or 90; Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Lake District West (or older Lakeland West) 1 NY257148 At the north edge of Rosthwaite, take the lane off the B5289 to cross a stone bridge over Stonethwaite Beck. At once turn right on a walled bridleway. It runs south along the valley floor to the left of the river, opposite Stonethwaite and its campsite, to where the valley divides under the looming presence of Eagle Crag. 2…

ROUTE INFO Distance 14.6km (9 miles) Total ascent 1110m Time 6 hours Start/finish SH668605 Terrain steep-sided valley, steep ridge, high mountain ridge, exposed summit, rocky crests and rough pasture Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 115; OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL17; British Mountain Maps (1:40,000) Snowdonia North Guidebooks Britain’s Highest Mountain Walks by Jeremy Ashcroft, pb Collins; Great Mountain Days in Snowdonia by Terry Marsh, pb Cicerone 1 SH668605 From the A5 past the eastern end of Llyn Ogwen take the path north past Glan Dena and follow it as it meanders steeply up the hillside alongside Afon Lloer into the mouth of Cwm Lloer. 2 SH664619 The east ridge of Pen yr Ole Wen rears up impressively, forming a high enclosing wall around the cwm. Climb onto the base of the…

1 WITNESSING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS The sort of thing that seems unfathomable without some kind of grand accompaniment – something by Wagner maybe – the spectacle of the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, no doubt earns its place here because it is impossible to imagine what it looks like in the ‘flesh’. Is it still? Does it dance? Does it drift? It is in fact the indefinable peculiarity of this colourful by-product of solar activity which can be seen between autumn and spring in northern latitudes. Canada, Sweden and Norway are classic destinations for aurora watching, but don’t discount the Faroes, Iceland and Orkneys, too. It has a southern counterpart, too – the aurora australis – which can be seen from New Zealand, Tierra Del Fuego and Antarctica. 2 VISITING…

1 AUSTRIA It’s your number one choice of Alpine escape – and no wonder. Think of the quintessential Alpine country and chances are the reality of your image is closer to Austria than, say, Switzerland. It’s a place of almost inexpressible mountainous beauty, while its good-at-everything climate makes it one of Europe’s most popular all-year-round destinations. Around 62% of this bulky country is mountainous. The best walking for those who like the high mountains is in the west, where the stamped-on tadpole shape of Austria narrows to a corridor of Alps that slides between Italy and Germany, with predictably vertical results. These are the regions of the Vorarlberg and the Austrian portion of the Tyrol, shared with northern Italy. Sitting just on the nib of the eastern Tyrol lies Austria’s…

MAJORCA IS POSSIBLY best-known as a package tour destination for Brits trying to get a bit of Balearic sunshine. For the walker, though, the stunning coastline and undiscovered Tramuntana mountains offer some stunning rewards for those willing to put a few miles in. Instead of sun-baked beaches, this walking tour offers sun-dappled olive groves, stunning coastline, mountain passes and tranquillity far from the holiday-making hordes. Taking in some of the best that Majorca has to offer the walker, this tour starts out at the port town of Port d’Alcudia hugging the coastline, offering views over the Mediterranean and smaller Balearic islands on the horizon. From there the route sticks to the Tramuntana mountains on the northern side of the island. Weaving along rocky paths, passing oaks and olive groves, the…