Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2023 i Trail

WELCOME TO TRAIL One of the best things about the Lake District, they say, is that there's a good pub in every valley. And really, who doesn't love a good old-fashioned walkers’ pub? Whether it's the local ale that draws you there, or the scent of home cooked food wafting through the door, or the roaring fires, or the banter with fellow walkers… it really doesn't matter. What matters is that long hillwalks and traditional pubs are pretty much the perfect match, like fish and chips, or Federer and Nadal. Does anything beat the feeling of shoving open a creaky wooden door at the end of a mountain day, feeling the warm glow of a welcoming inn hit your cheeks, then kicking off your boots and telling tales about what…

LAKE DISTRICT The first week of the new year is a hell for me. While half the world is back at work and the other half is still finding Christmas tree needles in places where they shouldn't be, I NEED to be outside after the festive period. I hanker to feel alive again after too much indoor excess. Luckily, last January I'd made a plan; it would be just me and Yewbarrow, all night long… At 627m in height, Yewbarrow isn't much to shout about. But, if you've ever been into the Lake District's Wasdale valley, then you'll have been confronted with a rather impressive view. Wast Water stretches north-east towards the centre peak of Great Gable. To its right is Lingmell and to its left is Yewbarrow, standing there…

There are 15 mountains in Snowdonia that poke their heads above the 3000ft barrier, and conveniently they're just about close enough together that you can – if you're feeling suitably energetic and motivated – link them together in one massive single-day walk. Most people attempting the Welsh 3000s challenge tackle it from south to north – starting on Snowdon and finishing on Foel-fras in the Carneddau range but it can be done in either direction. If you don't fancy knocking off every peak in one day, it can also be divided into a hugely rewarding multi-day route. The walk splits itself into three obvious sections, starting on the Snowdon massif before dipping down into the Pass of Llanberis, then climbing steeply again to Elidir Fawr and hoovering up the rock…

SNOWDONIA It's a dangerous view, the one along the Ogwen valley. From the south – after miles of motorway, winding roads and small grey towns – come the mountains, massed and massive on either side of the road. Most are passed in a 60mph blur but one refuses to be overlooked: a giant, unfeasible crest, armoured in plates and spikes of rhyolite. Where the others are lofty and set back from the road, this one ploughs towards it, luring the eye from the turns of the road to the turrets of its heights. This is its first challenge, set while you're still driving. Just try to look away. Tryfan, at only 917m, is the lowest of the Glyderau, that toothy range just north of Snowdon, and the smallest of the…

1 Who's going? Take into account the levels of fitness and experience of everyone in the group. Do you know howto navigate in winter conditions and how to use an ice axe and crampons? 2 What kit do you have? You'll need winter clothing, an ice axe, crampons, goggles or sunnies, and possibly a helmet. 3 What level of challenge would be fitting? Full winter conditions can make even one simple hill as exhausting as three consecutive peaks in summer. Don't underestimate how knackering it can be to wade through thigh-deep snow for an hour. 4 Check the conditions in the days ahead of your walk, using specialist resources like the Mountain Weather Information Service, Met Office and The Scottish Avalanche Information Service. Look at the hills on your drive…

HEIGHT 917m ROUTE Heather terrace TIME TO ALLOW 6-7 hours PERFECT FOR YOU IF… You've climbed it in the summer and have previous experience on easier hills in winter conditions. You should be very comfortable using an ice axe and crampons, and be able to read avalanche conditions. KIT TO BRING Ice axe, crampons, goggles or sunglasses, and warm winter layers. SPECIFIC HAZARDS: The short but steep gully between the 910m and 917m summits. Jumping from pillar to pillar (aka Adam & Eve] in fair weather is one thing, but jumping from icy column to icy column is quite another… WORTH IT FOR The scramble from Bwlch Tryfan up and over the South Peak.…

Insider GEAR THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN OUTDOOR KIT Environmental sustainability and responsibility is no longer a ‘nice to have’ option for outdoor gear brands. These days, it's amexpectation. Look at any season's new releases from your favourite brand and you'll find the number of products that don't feature recycled materials of some kind are fewer and fewer each year, if indeed there are any. This is a good thing. Using recycled plastics and other fabrics not only saves waste from landfill, but simultaneously reduces the demand for virgin materials and the energy and chemicals required in their manufacture. But one important question remains: what happens to these products once they peach the end of their life? If they end up in landfill then the impact has only been delayed, rather than…

FIELD TEST YOUR TESTER Matt Jones Mostly found walking and camping in the mountains, Matt is an outdoors writer and editor who has been putting kit through its paces for nearly 10 years. Over the past few years, the summit of Snowdon has become so popular that you might think you'd need to go up in deepest, darkest December in order to get it all to yourself. At least, that's what I figured the first time I ever climbed Yr Wyddfa in winter. We got to Pen y Pass just after 6am – because, as everyone knows, the car park gets notoriously busy. Not when it's freezing cold, it turns out. It was deserted. That set the tone for things to come, as we hardly saw another soul all the…

Snowdonia UPLAND PEAK TRAVERSE DAY 1 1 SH562401 Leave the Market Square in Tremadog and turn right at the end of the road. Look for a footpath heading diagonally uphill opposite Tremadog Garden Centre. Continue uphill as the path joins a lane. Go through a handgate at a marker post and continue uphill. Bear right as the path turns at a large boulder. You may meet climbers on the path, as this is a popular cragging destination. Cross the stile over the fence. Follow the path over the stream and, as it splits, take the right-hand fork, climbing a series of stone steps. Pass through a metal handgate and bear left at the fork along a footpath, ignoring the sign for Clogwyn Cliffs. Follow the footpath as it threads its…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Lake District ULTIMATE WEEKEND ▲ 3 ROUTES Could the far north of the northern fells be the one place in Lakeland that doesn't have a classic pub? Well, no – it actually has three of them. And there's a way to save you too much thinking before the drinking. Trundle round to the Old Crown at the bottom of High Pike, and just read off the beer taps. The pub's own Hesket Newmarket brewery makes the Old Carrock: a gritty little number that's seriously intoxicating and comes with a heathery aftertaste –and the same-named beer's pretty good as well. As for their Cockup Ale – well the barman became tired of the same old vulgar comments so they changed the name of that one. But when it comes to…

SNOWDONIA PEN YR OLE WEN This Welsh beauty is one of those hills that impresses from almost any angle. Sure, it may not have the striking angularity of its Ogwen neighbour Tryfan, but there's no denying that Pen yr Ole Wen (‘Head of the White Slope’, if you were wondering) looks every bit the mountain it is, regardless of where you view it from. But, like most mountains [and many people), it has a ‘best side’, and Pen yr Ole Wen's most handsome profile is that seen from in or around Cwm Idwal. From here it is at its most mountainous. Arguably the real grandstand position for seeing Pen yr Ole Wen at its best is from the southern shore of Llyn Idwal. From here, the steep rock-strewn slopes seem…

St Sunday Lake District ” Here's a shot of my son, Ben, on St Sunday's Pinnacle Ridge – taken 20+ years since last scrambling together, on that occasion another Pinnacle Ridge of the Ogwen variety!” Stephen Pattyson THIS MONTH'S WINNER Slieve Donard Northern Ireland “Trail 100 completed on Slieve Donard, 15 September 2022. Actually the Trail 112! When the list was revised in 2020 I had already climbed all 12 of those deleted but, fortunately, also 11 of those added. So, at the time, it increased my ‘to do’ list from 10 to 11. Thanks for a great challenge!” Neil Midgley Cadair Idris Snowdonia “Just got back from Cadair Idris, and we had an amazing time! The weather was amazing all weekend, so we got up there in good time…

As the nights draw in and the days get shorter, you may feel a tinge of sadness at losing the summer sunlight and autumnal colours. However, for many this is a time of excitement. A time to dust off the B2 boots, sharpen those crampons and smash the January blues hard with your ice axe. If you can walk and climb in the winter months then you've opened up a whole new chapter in your adventure calendar. The high places of the UK transform into a winter wonderland from January to March. A hill summit or mountain edge in summer transforms into a conical alpine peak, or jagged, corniced, knife-edge ridge. What was a simple summer walk becomes a serious mountain challenge. The crunch of your crampons on the névé…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Lake District SECOND-CLASS SUMMITS When it came to wine, my dad had some very sound advice. “Go for the very best area, my boy,” he always told me. “But then, go for the second best vineyard.” It works for wine: you pay £35 instead of £350 and you can barely taste the difference. And it works for Great Langdale… On the north side of Great Langdale are the Langdale Pikes, some of the best and busiest summits in all of Lakeland. At the western end, Bow Fell and the Crinkles – possibly even better. And the south side of Langdale? People just pass it by. Lingmoor Fell and Pike of Blisco… Yes, they're slightly lower down, but this makes them even better viewpoints for Bow Fell and Harrison…

DAY 2 6 SH569529 Turn right from the Cwellyn Arms towards the railway station. Take the bridleway on the left that runs behind cottages and crosses the railway line. Follow the broad track as it meanders gradually uphill to a path junction at Pen ar Lôn. Here, the Rhyd Ddu path branches off to the left. The route is is not quite as exposed as Crib Goch, it still requires some care, particularly since you'll now be sharing the path with other walkers who have ascended via the mountain's South Ridge. The path winds among It's a fairly straightforward route down, and much of the path has been improved recently, though there's a rocky outcrops. Eventually the ridge broadens, and you arrive at the stone marker clearly marked with a…

Lake District PATHLESS LEG-STRETCHER 1 NY359316 There's parking at various points, including just south of Bowscale. Walk north along the road, through Bowscale and Mosedale settlements, and below the gabbro boulders of Carrock Fell's lower slope. After Stone Ends Farm, in 200m turn left on a grass track, and head straight uphill to join an old path at the foot of the steeper slope. 2 NY352337 The path slants up to the left, to join Further Gill stream. It heads up a little dry valley just to the right of the stream, to a sudden arrival at gentle heathery slopes above. The path turns right, north-west, up heather, peat and stones, then through a gateway gap in ancient fallen stonework to a cairn. The well built summit cairn of Carrock…

Lake District GRASSY WILDERNESS 1 NY249323 The Cumbria Way track towards Skiddaw House starts opposite Peter House Farm (a parking lay-by just to the south-west). The track wanders into the valley of Dash Beck. It climbs steeply above the Whitewater Dash waterfalls, then crosses the stream and passes through the wide gap between Calva (left) and Skiddaw. It levels off for 800m, and crosses Dead Beck. Here a rough path sets off up Great Calva but it's better to continue for 300m, gently downhill, to the point where a contouring path runs off on the left. 2 NY283298 At this same point, a small peaty path forks up sharp left through the heather, then up the stonier summit cone of Great Calva to a fence corner and cairn. The main…

It had been too long. Too many passes-by as I whisked along to different things in different places. Too many ‘some other time's. I've been to the Highlands more times than I can remember, and more often than not my journey has taken me beside the western shores of Loch Lomond, along the twisting A82 which, despite its narrow nature and weaving way, is a main artery to the remote reaches of Scotland. And each time, across on the other side of that impossibly long stretch of water, Ben Lomond has watched me pass by. It's not that it's an unappealing peak. From the south it rises, then rises, then rises some more to reach a rounded but impactful crescendo of a summit high above the loch that has taken…

Aiming off: This isa simple yet useful compass bearing technique for bad visibility. In the diagram right, if heading for the foot bridge on a direct bearing, any small mistake could result in arriving at the rive re it her east or west of the bridge. In poor visibility it might not be possible to see which. By deliberately ‘aiming off’ to the west of the bridge, once you hit the river you know you now need to follow it east to find the bridge. This technique can be used to hit a specific point on any linear feature, such as a gate in a wall or a descent path on a plateau edge.…

MASTERCLASS HILL HACKS 1 CHECK YOUR SETTINGS To preserve storage space in your phone's memory, the default setting for photos may not produce the highest quality images. Ensure you're making the most of your phone's sensor by selecting the highest resolution. Note that this may also mean changingthe ratio – the 16:9 wide setting may look good, but it's probably just a cropped version of your phone's full potential. 2 USE THE SCREEN GUIDES The beauty of a high-quality screen on a smart phone is that it gives you lots of information as you're taking the photo. Tools like an overlaid grid or a level indicatorcan really help you compose your shots and avoid wonky horizons. 3 CHECK THE FOCUS The other thing the screen allows you to do is be 100% sure that…

Hygge in a hoodie Summit Junkie's Global Explorers Thermal Jacket (£69) is beautifully made, beautifully detailed and beautifully warm. It's lined with 60gsm quilted insulation, has fully ribbed hems and cuffs for a snug fit, features zip pulls in the shape of a climber's figure of 8 belay device and an ‘Attitude for Altitude’ woven label on the rear neckline, and the printed interior displays some of the world's most prominent mountains with their height and grid ref. It's not technical kit, but as a winter warmer it's delightful. ■ Get 20% off the Global Explorer Jacket today! Go to summitjunkie.com and apply the code Trail20 at checkout. Toastie toes Whether in your base camp tent, by the fire in a bothy, or just at home, a pair of warm…

KEY FEATURES BAFFLES & BODY MAPPING Larger baffles (insulation-filled chambers) give more space for insulation to loft, while smaller baffles help to stop the fill from spreading out unevenly. But the new trend is ‘body mapping’, with different materials and insulation grades used across different parts of a jacket. This provides warmth and venting where it's needed most. DRAUGHT EXCLUSION Insulated jackets work by trapping warm air inside the jacket, next to your body. If air escapes at weak points – the hem, cuffs or zip – the warmth is lost. Elasticated or Velcro cuffs, hem drawcords and zip baffles help avoid this problem. POCKETS A variety of pockets will always prove useful out in the hills. Insulated handwarmer pockets keep your hands toasty, particularly if accessible when wearing a…

TRAIL MAGAZINE Snowdonia ULTIMATE WEEKEND ▲ 3-DAY ROUTE Setting out from the pretty village of Tremadog, the initial day of this 3-day adventure heads up and over Moel Hebog, Moel Yr Ogof and Moel Lefn before plunging into Beddgelert Forest to reach Rhyd Ddu. Day two climbs the western slopes of mighty Snowdon via the Rhyd Ddu path to reach the summit, before descending the South Ridge and joining the Watkin Path. Follow footpaths and bridleways alongside Llyn Dinas, passing the old copper mine at Sygun to reach the picturesque village of Beddgelert and its wealth of amenities, including four excellent inns. The third and final day of the route follows the Afon Glasyn south to Nantmor, picking up the Cambrian Way as it heads up and over Cnicht and Moelwyn…

Snowdonia EXTENDED MOUNTAIN WALK DAY 3 10 SH591480 Start from the metal footbridge in the centre of Beddgelert, at the confluence of the Rivers Glaslyn and Colwyn. Turn right along the riverside path at the corner of the village green. Follow the Afon Glaslyn all the way to the Aberglasyn Pass, rock-hopping across the boulders and crossing the wooden boardwalks on the riverside trail en route. Watch your footing in wet weather, as this section, though popular, can be slippery and treacherous. 11 SH594462 Follow the woodland path round to the left and walk through the NT car park at Aberglaslyn. Take the lane through Nantmor, called Brynffynnon. Pass the church and follow the lane to the minor road junction at Bwlchgwernog. This is a quiet road, but the gradient…

1 NY248322 From Peter House farm, a rough lay-by is just to the south-west (the direction towards Bassenthwaite Lake). Continue along the road away from Peter House, past a derelict farm. As the road bends down right, a farm track turns off left. Immediately take a gate on the left, onto a track directly uphill. After 400m the track turns left into a field but continue uphill to right of the fence, on an old green track, and then alongside a row of hawthorns from a former hedge, to a gate in the wall at the foot of open fell. 2 NY254313 A small grass path continues uphill towards the minor hump of Cockup. The path heads into the saddle behind the hump, so fork left on a fainter path…

LONG-DISTANCE TRAILS The John Muir Trail (JMT) is one of the world's greatest treks, and North America's best-known mid-distance trail. It runs for 216 miles through the high Sierra Nevada mountains of California, from Yosemite Valley in the north to the summit of Mount Whitney (4418m) above Lone Pine in the south, and takes about 3 weeks to complete. The route is largely a wilderness experience, and this intensifies as one progresses along the trail from the relative civilisation between Yosemite and Tuolumne, where there are many day-trippers and other walkers, to the huge wilderness areas further south, particularly after the Muir Trail Ranch. However, although the JMT passes through areas of genuine wilderness, the trail by its very nature coniines walkers to a narrow corridor through that wilderness. The…