Longer posts that include tutorials and such like and so forth…
This little puzzle has always perplexed me on the hill. Easy enough to cook an egg sunny side up in a large pan with oil, but that entails carrying a larger frying pan than needed up a hill and the problem of waste oil at the end. This method means you can use a 12cm […]
Perfect Camping Fried Egg… Read More »
If there’s one item that I own that’s elicited any curiosity in people over the last few years then it has to be these Kahtoola MICROspikes. From work colleagues, to neigbours, they’ve seen these in use over the recent harsh winters and politely enquired about them before quickly ordering their own pair. Even if you
Kahtoola MICROspikes Review Read More »
Another of those little things that can easily cause a bit of head scratching. Ideally, if you’ve never done this then you probably should ask someone to show you how to do this. If you’ve done it and need a reminder (my first winter trip every year sees me fixing my crampons incorrectly! I’m hoping
Winter Skills Putting On Crampons Read More »
If you’re looking to camp out this winter then firing up a backpacking gas lantern can add a more than welcome warm glow to your evening gatherings. It goes without saying that you’ll need to use caution at using these in any sort of confined space and that they can be dangerous if not properly
Five Things – Backpacking Gas Lanterns Read More »
To some of you, this may well be stating the obvious but if you’re ready for your first trip out in the snow with a group and you’ve packed your flask and sandwiches. Then you’ve a pack in one hand and an axe in the other and you realise you haven’t a clue how to
Winter Skills – Attaching your Axe to your Pack Read More »
Taking an ice axe on your winter trip is all well and good but you need to know how to use it for stability and, if you do slip, for self arrest techniques. Walking poles just don’t cut it. This is just a useful reminder video and it’s recommended that you get shown the ropes
Winter Skills Ice Axe Arrest Read More »
With Winter officially here and the clocks turned back to perpetual darkness for another five months, the only good thing we’ve got to look forward to is mountain biking on Snowdon and the possibility of loads of lovely snow. Before you get out there it might be worth watching the Snowdonia National Park’s video to brush
Diogelwch ar y Mynydd Amodau Gaeafaol- Mountain Safety – Winter Conditions Read More »
Setting out for a winter walk you’ll need to make sure you’re properly dressed, but if you’re not then you’re from as much risk from overheating as you are from the cold. You need to be comfortable.. This means that it’s no good whacking on that down jacket at the start of the walk, unless
Layering up for Winter Read More »
It’s not officially winter, but it’s definately start of the winter season as far as the mountains are concerned, so we’ve put together a small series of articles in order for you to make the most of any snow we may be lucky enough to fall. We’ll have a few articles on winter skills, videos
Get Ready For Winter Read More »
Cheap and cheerful running windproof. While it may have an RRP of £45, it’s available for a very reasonable £14 from the Sport Direct website. For that price, you can’t go far wrong. For the full price, you could easily get a better windproof from the likes of Montane. It’s durable, being used for a
Men’s Karrimor Hi Viz Run Jacket Read More »
When you buy any running baselayer for under a tenner (rrp is £27, but you can get it for under a tenner on Sports Direct), you’ve got to be ready for anything. This top looks good on the images, and it pleased on arrival as well. Sporting a useful quarter zip and a highly visible
Men’s Karrimor Quarter Zip Long Sleeve Top Read More »
If you want a bargain running sock, then look no further. These are a fiver for two pairs (though the RRP is double) and are nothing more than a decent, well priced running sock. We won’t just recommend you go out and buy them, we recommend you stock up and buy a few and banish
Karrimor Dri Socks Read More »
Cheap and cheerful running shorts that might suffice if you’re not used to more salubrious inner pants (to put it lightly). Probably ok if you’re starting out, but go for a size up! Again, we see the overpricing of the Karrimor items in order for them to be highly discounted – so we’ve reviewed them
Mens Karrimor Run Shorts Read More »
As the days get depressingly shorter and winter approaches, it’s time to think about getting some high viz gear out. Last night I set off with the sun on my back, only to return a few hours later in complete darkness. Needless to say I hadn’t bothered taking any measures to make myself more visible.
5 Things – Night Running and High-Viz Read More »
Apart from having to drag my lazy ass out of a toasty warm bed in the morning, I’m a lover of winter running. Once you’ve got yourself going, there’s nothing like the cold crisp air in your lungs and the crunch of winter frost underfoot. For one thing it is not as exhausting as running
Kitting Up For Winter Running Read More »
A steady trail run from near Conwy. You can easily extend the run to nearer 10km by heading to Cefn Amor, past the old quarries and return along the really good green track on the opposite side of the hill. This is a pleasant trail run along grassy paths that, other than the uphill bits,
Cefn Llechen Trail Run Read More »
Is it just me, or does running indoors just sound like it isn’t worth bothering with? I’ve run enough on a treadmill to know that I prefer being out in the elements, soaked to the skin than in a soulless gym on a slightly modified hamster wheel. In Germany, they’ve just opened an indoor TRAIL
Trail Running Indoors, surely that’s defeating the object? Read More »
I’ve just come across this file on my mapping software. Intriguingly, it’s all the spots at which I’ve wild camped in Snowdonia and it certainly shows that I need to get south a little more! The striking thing about this is that of all the times I’ve walked along Nantlle and Mynydd Mawr, I’ve never managed to camp
5 Things – Choosing Your Wild Camping Spot… Read More »
With the winter soon upon us and snow a distinct possibility from this weekend onward (though probably only in the Highlands), we take a quick look at the forecasting sites out there. MWIS – Provide a daily forecast for all the major hill areas. The printable version is ideal for downloading onto a mobile, or
5 Things – Mountain Weather Forecasts Read More »
The now politically incorrect catchphrase used to be “A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play”, when in reality it just helped fuel an obesity epidemic. So they’ve ditched the ‘a day’ part. That aside, there’s hardly anything better for hill fuel as it packs in a massive 260 calories of pure sugar
Super Hill Foods 5 – The Mars Bar Read More »
Walk the Carneddau in one go – if you’re up to the challenge! There’s nothing more satisfying than a decent traverse of an entire mountain range. This walk takes you loosely from Conwy over the Carneddau and down to Capel Curig and can be an ideal wild camping trip. Why not extend your trip by
Carneddau Traverse – Conwy to Capel Curig Read More »
It’s getting that time of year when you need to give those long abused leather boots a make over. 1 – Clean ’em – Water works, though you can get some proprietary boot cleaners that work out a little expensive in the long term. Use a brush to clean out all the dirt from the seams. You
How To – Waterproof Leather Boots Read More »
If like me, you’re a little nervous with merino wool, here’s a brief run down of how to make sure it gets washed properly. 1 – Read the label! If it say’s anything different to us, then take the label’s advice over ours! 2 – Fill the sink with hand warm water. Don’t put water
How To – Wash Merino Wool Read More »
If you want to take a walking holiday and really go lightweight, why not get someone else to carry your heavy bags for you? The Edge of Wales Walk offers just that along the spectacular Llyn coast… Many people choose to start the walk at Caernarfon, famous for its magnificent 13th century castle. The route
The Edge of Wales Walk Read More »
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