Longer posts that include tutorials and such like and so forth…
While we all know not to leave our litter on the hill (hopefully!) what else do we need to be aware of? Here are a few points to consider if you want to leave no trace when you’re in the wilds. It’s by no means comprehensive and we recommend the links at the end of […]
We told you how we keep our camera kit safe on the hill, but what do we class as an essential bit of kit for our camera bag when we’re out on the mountains? Not your bag of course, as it depends on your own style of photography, pet lenses and budget. Here’s what we’ve
What’s in Our Hill Walking Camera Bag? Read More »
You may well have seen the lambasting that Landrover have received in the press this weekend for driving a 4×4 up one of Snowdonia’s most popular peaks in a brazen publicity stunt (rhyming slang in the same mode as the Berkshire Hunt? Don’t Google if you’re offended, but it’s the origin of Berk!) As we’re
A Moel Eilio Mauling? More 4×4’s on Mountains.. Read More »
If you’re an all season wild camper, then you’ll know of the frustration of trying to use a gas canister in the winter months. Winter in Snowdonia is usually cold and damp, and most of the time you can get away with using gas. But on those rare occasions that it does drop below freezing,
Winter Gas is Here for Petrol Refuseniks Read More »
How’s about this for confidence in your product? Luis Brown, an Envornmental Consultant at Nikwax demonstrated this by floating across a lake in East Sussex with a Nixwax Hydrophobic Down™ filled sleeping bag. They demonstrated that it’s a high performing hydrophobic solutiuon as well as also being an environmentally friendly one. Nikwax do however stress that this isn’t
Sleeping Bag Floating on Water of the Week.. Read More »
We recently posted some ideas on Alternatives to Tripods and wondered how effective some of the ideas would be for some more serious long exposure photography. So we set off with a newly acquired Trailpix, Gorillapod SLR and a top notch Canon EOS 6D camera to see if we’d get anything worthwhile with these at
Alternative Tripods and Night Photography? A Step Too Far? Read More »
We all suffer a sport/activity injury every once in a while, be it a bump, bruise or sprain, and when it happens we often resort to compression as a solution. And why not? It offers reduced pain, reduced swelling and reduced recovery time. Add to this a period of cold therapy; say the application of
The clocks are going back on Saturday night, and the evenings are going to be longer. Yet it’s not all doom and gloom as we at Mud and Routes believe you can embrace the dark winter nights and make them your own! You can keep on night running, walking those night walks or even mountain biking in
Embrace the Winter Evenings Read More »
It’s getting dark again in the evenings, but don’t let that stop you making the most if it! You can still pop onto the hills in the right conditions, and here are some ideas 1 – Stargaze – With a pair of binoculars, or just making the most of the darker skies you usually find
5 Things to do at night on the hill Read More »
Sometimes you just do something because you must. So finding myself with a key and not a single pocket, I had to work out how to take a door key on a run without resorting to a jangling chain or carrying a waist-pack just for that purpose. You’ll be glad to know that it does
Beast’s Tip of The Week – Carrying your Key Without a Pocket Read More »
So you can now read your map, you’ve got your route all planned out and you can identify a compass from 50 metres. You’ll be glad to know, you’re ready to try some skills out in the field. How to handle and hold the map Is it in a case? Don’t go with it hanging
Navigation Skills 8 Orienting, Setting or Thumbing the Map Read More »
What Compass? You’ll now need to buy a compass. We recommend that you get yourself kitted out this week ready for the next sections.You’ll also need 5 toggles, a map case and if you can’t store it in the map case then get a compass case. The compass does remain in place better on a
Navigation Skills 7 The Anatomy of the Compass Read More »
What counts as a decent brand of compass? We’ve used Silva, Suunto and Recta which tend to be quality compasses. I’ve a Suunto that’s now over 25 years old, it’s getting a bit dodgy, with something growing in the fluid, but still serves as an emergency compass. We’ll compare a standard Silva Explorer compass, which
Navigational Skills Cheap vs Expensive Compasses Read More »
What makes a good or unwise route? Bob wanted to plan a walk up onto Carnedd Llewelyn and then onto Carnedd Dafydd, starting from Bethesda. He was going to be dropped off at Gerlan, and picked up on the main road, so he planned a walk up Cwm Llafar, up to Llewelyn before following the
Navigational Skills 6 Planning a Route Read More »
I managed to get out to Cwm Idwal tonight – considering that Mud and Routes has acquired a spanking new Canon EOS 6d full frame camera. It was a lot of playing about, learning the ropes, but managed to be seriously impressed with this bit of kit! The image below was taken in the gloaming,
Cwm Idwal Astrophotography with Canon EOS 6D Read More »
Naismith’s rule, named after William W. Naismith, was devised in 1892 to estimate the time taken to cover distances in the mountains. He estimated that you: allow 1 hour per 5km walked and 1 hour for every 600m ascended. If you ever do a Mountain Leader or Navigation course, then you’ll have this drummed into
Navigational Skills 5 All you wanted to know about Naismith’s Rule and Route Timing Read More »
Even when you know an area really well, and a mountain even better, it’s satisfying to know that you’ve not quite wrung them completely dry of any novelty. The route up Mynydd Mawr from Y Fron, diverting to take in the pinnacles of Craig y Bera,feels contrived on paper, but works on the ground as
Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera Read More »
As walkers, especially hill walkers, our heads are easily turned when we hear any large and dramatic mountains being mentioned. The Aonach Eagachs and Tryfans, the Scafells and the Snowdons, Ben Nevises and the Buchaille Etive Mors– all the glamorous big names of the hills. We rarely think of those shorter hills, those foothills of
Walk Along The Far End of the Carneddau Read More »
What is a contour line? Contour lines denote the height of the land at any point along that line. So if you followed a 100m contour line around the hill, your altitude at every point would remain at 100m. That’s why traversing a hillside without loss or gain of height is known as contouring. Depending
Navigational Skills 4 All about Contours Read More »
If you read our review on the Nathan Lock Laces, you’ll have realised that we weren’t overly impressed by the price for what was essentially a bit of cord and a toggle. So we decided to see how easy it would be to create out own pair from spare bits we had around the Mud
Beast’s Tip of the Week – Bargain Elasticated Laces Read More »
Personally, I like to take some cash with me on a run. Often, I may be running a linear route with an arranged pickup at the end, or I may just need a bail out option for those longer runs when you just don’t feel 100% before setting off. I’ve stashed cash into my mobile
TrueUtility CoinStash and CashStash Review Read More »
The first thing you’ll need to get and become familiar with it the map. Forget the compass for now, that’s to come in a few weeks, so here’s the first few steps. We’ve mixed the article up with some videos from the Ordnance Survey site as well as a live map. You’ll need before you
Navigation Skills 2 Map to Basics Read More »
It’s essential to be able to navigate on the mountains, so we’ve put together an Introduction to Navigation series of articles that we’ll be publishing over the next few weeks that’ll give you the basic grounding. However, we suggest you invest in a good book, attend a course or join a more experienced hill goer. Or better
Navigation Skills 1 Why Learn to Navigate? Read More »
If you’re keen on landscape photography, but loathe to carry a tripod, here’s a few suggestions that might let you get away with it when that essential shot rears it’s head and you just have to have a stable platform for your camera. Some work better than others! 1 – Use what’s available. Varying from
Alternatives to Tripods in the Wilds Read More »
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