Trek & Mountain

Do the Fan Dance with Gore-Tex

Chris Kempster — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:04:15 +0000

This year’s Gore-Tex Experience Tour is a challenge of physical and mental agility. A team chosen from the most suitable applicants will attempt the infamous trek through South Wales known as the Fan Dance, a 23.5km route used as a fitness and navigation skills test by the British Military and which must be completed in just four hours.

The Fan Dance is a test of mind and body. Set in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, the gruelling route takes you across ridges to a maximum elevation of 886m at Pen y Fan. There is nowhere to hide when you attempt the Fan Dance and the Gore-Tex Experience Tour team will be aiming to complete it – just like British Special Forces recruits – in just four hours.

So what do you gain from all this pain then? Well, the chosen team-members will spend the weekend learning the skills required to complete the challenge from two British Military Fitness Mountain Leaders. These will include: day and night time navigation, survival skills, pacing techniques and how best to pack your kit when you need to move fast and light.

You’ll also be kitted out from head to toe in the latest Gore-Tex garments and footwear from Berghaus. The weather in the Welsh hills can change very quickly, but wearing their Gore-Tex Active Shell products the team should have no problem carrying on, whatever the weather. Preparation is also vital so, once the team has been selected, they will receive a British Military Fitness six-week training plan.

So if you fancy following in Andy McNabb’s footsteps and think you’re up to the challenge, why not give it a go? You can either enter through the Facebook site or dedicated microsite below. The online application process runs until June 15^th and once the voting has been completed a panel will choose the most suitable ten people from the top applicants to make up our team. Entrants must be over 18, prepared to follow a 6 week fitness regime and be able to travel to Wales from September 1^st – 4^th 2012.

Chamonix Adventure Festival

Chris Kempster — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:57:47 +0000

Due to be held on 20-26th August, the Chamonix Adventure Festival aims to bring together adventurers, explorers, athletes and enthusiasts from near and far, to share tales and showcase their talents through film, photography and art. ‘Getting involved’ is a big theme of the festival, with a series of film and photography courses taught by a team of experts, offering attendees the chance to gain valuable skills and experience in the world of adventure image making.

The film programme will showcase the latest in adventure and environmental films from across the world. Three nights of inspiring tales will be screened at the Cinema Vox, Chamonix, with filmmakers, explorers and athletes on hand to share their exploits and inspirations. Films entered in the festival competition will be judged by an international jury, and the Chamonix Adventure Festival awards will be presented during the last night of screenings. Film submissions for the 2012 festival are now open so submit your entry now! Deadline for entries is May 30th 2012. Submissions and guidelines can be found at festival website below.

RELATED LINKS
www.chamonixadventurefestival.com

Friday Freebies: Win OS Getamap subscriptions!

Chris Kempster — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:39:51 +0000

This week we have 2 annual subscriptions to the Ordnance Survey’s brilliant new online mapping facility, OS Getamap – worth £19.99 each – to give away. OS Getamap allows you to view maps, plot routes and much more on your Mac or PC, and while most of the tools and options are free to use when you register, a subscription gives you more benefits that are ideal for ‘power users’, which as a trekandmountain.com visitor you surely are!

According to OS, the top 5 benefits of becoming a subscriber to Getamap are as follows:

1. Printing
As a subscriber you can print your own customised sections of the digital OS Explorer 1:25 000 maps and OS Landranger 1:50 000 maps at various zoom levels and select print to fit, portrait or landscape style. You can print to your heart’s content – unlimited means as much as your printer and ink cartridge can handle.

2. Full screen mode
You can make the map view fill your entire browser window, by clicking the ‘View this map in full screen’ icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. You can switch between standard and full screen mode at any time.

3. Using route planning tools
When you’ve made a route you can click on it and a range of route tools and settings will display underneath your map including:

Route summary – distance, elevation range and estimated times to walk, run or cycle the route based on Naismith’s Rule.
Route settings – name your map, provide a description, select a category, choose whether your route is private or shared, and control the appearance of waypoints (useful to hide for GPS routes).
Elevation profile – see the lay of the land over your route on a height and distance graph.
Route card – gives the OS grid reference, latitude and longitude, elevation and distance for all the waypoints on your route.

4. Importing and exporting GPS routes
You can import and export your routes to and from getamap and most GPS devices. If you have a Garmin GPS device you can also ‘sync’ the routes on your device with your map folder in getamap, keeping them both up to date.

5. Manage and organise your maps
You can make your maps and routes easier to find by filing them into categories like walking, cycling or running, or make up your own custom categories, for example by holidays or geographic areas. getamap provides a default set of categories but you can add, edit or delete as many categories as you like. You can also share a map or route you’ve made by emailing the link to someone else, which can be handy if you’re planning a trip with a group.

Sounds pretty good eh? Well all this mapping power could be yours by entering our competition – all you need to do to enter is answer the easy question below and we’ll pick two winners out of the correct entries on the 30^th June.

QUESTION
Which of the following functions does an OS Getamap subscription NOT include?

A. Print customised sections of OS Landranger and Explorer map
B. Give you elevation profile of your route
C. Allow you to import and export routes to your GPS device
D. Clean your boots after a long day on the hill

Hinkes at the RGS

Chris Kempster — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:41:42 +0000

The fourth annual Sir Edmund Hillary Memorial Lecture, in aid of the Himalayan Trust UK, features a talk by Alan Hinkes OBE, entitled ‘Kangchenjunga Finale and the 8000m Peaks’. Hinkes was the first Briton to complete ascents of all 14 of the world’s 8000m peaks, the last of which was Kangchenjunga in 2005, almost 50 years to the day that it was first summited by George Band and Joe Brown.

The late George Band OBE was the much-loved former Chairman of the Himalayan Trust, and the evening will also include a tribute to the great man, as well as an introduction by Rebecca Stephens MBE, herself the first British woman to summit Everest.

This promises to be a fascinating evening, and all in a good cause too, so get your tickets now from the World Expeditions website below, by ordering on 02380 293767 or by emailing astil.tomy@gmail.com

Tested: Petzl Nao

Chris Kempster — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:17:12 +0000

Ross Worthington roadtests Petzl’s much-anticipated headtorch featuring their innovative ‘reactive lighting’ concept…

Over the years headtorches have come on in leaps and bounds but when we first saw a demo of Petzl’s Nao at the ISPO trade show earlier in the year it was clear that this was another big leap forward. The key feature of the Nao is its ‘reactive lighting’. Basically what this means is that, once switched on, the torch automatically adjusts the strength of the beam it gives out dependent on the surroundings and where you are looking. This has two obvious advantages; firstly, that you no longer have to fiddle around with a gloved hand to adjust the lighting when looking around for a feature or glancing down to look at your map. Secondly it will also conserve the battery life, since a stronger beam is only used when necessary.

Features
The Nao’s design is clean and modern, and Petzl have stuck to a simple approach with its functionality as well. It has one large, square, twist switch on the right hand side of the lamp (sorry to those of you who are left-handed), with a clever locking function to prevent it getting accidentally switched on while in your pack. The lamps are two high-intensity LED bulbs, one with a clear spotlight lens and the other with a diffuser for wider and softer lighting. It scales up the intensity of the beam using a combination of both of these. The battery pack is attached to the headband, like many of the other Petzl models, and is detachable. This contains a rechargeable, Lithium Ion battery, which should be up to the task in all weathers. The battery is charged via a cleverly- integrated USB plug. If you are worried about this for more remote, multi-day trips, don’t be, as those smart folks at Petzl have also designed this battery to be removed and replaced with AA batteries.

On the outside of the case is a useful charge level indicator, and even the plug connecting the battery to the lamps has been idiot-proofed so that even with clumpy mitts on it can’t be forced on the wrong way and is held with a clip lock system. The whole thing has double or triple seals to ensure it is weather tight.

In Use
I have been using the Nao for a while on some big mountain jaunts and night scrambling and it has performed brilliantly across the board. I chose to introduce myself to it without reading the instructions and this proved to be a pretty straight- forward voyage of discovery as pretty much all I needed to know was in fact written on the torch itself in one form or another. The fit was snug and didn’t give me any concern with pressure points, although the battery pack weight did feel odd initially. With it attached to a climbing helmet I found that the sensor did occasionally get obstructed by the peak of the hood which would affect the light. I’m not sure how this would perform with snowfall at night clogging the sensor. The light intensity and focus is fantastic, though, and the change from one to the other is nearly instantaneous.

Verdict
Overall I was very impressed with the Nao and will be adding it to my kit as my ‘go to’ headtorch. The price may push it out of some people’s range and unless you are spending a lot of time operating in the hours of darkness I am sure that a normal LED headtorch will do the trick for you. But, for me, this is the new yardstick for other headtorches to be judged by.

Friday Freebies: 5 copies of Moonflower DVD to be won

Chris Kempster — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:22:51 +0000

This Friday we have 5 copies of the ‘Moonflower’ DVD from Al Lee’s Posing Productons to give away, in which top British alpinists Jon Bracey and Matt Helliker forge an awesome new route up the Moonflower Buttress on Mt Hunter, Alaska.

Climbing the steepest and coldest section of the buttress, Jon and Matt battle increasingly freezing conditions as they attempt the new line that was envisaged by their late friend Jules Cartwright. With handcam footage shot by the pair themselves, the film shows the raw emotion and determination of the climbers as they endure an epic last push to the top.

You can read our full interview with Matt Helliker in the latest issue of Trek & Mountain, and there’s a taster of the film over at the Posing Productions website.

But on with the competition! All you need to do is answer the question below, and we’ll pick 5 winners at random from all the correct entries we receive. The winners will be announced on 30th May on this page, so come back then to see if your name is listed and to claim your prize. So here’s the question:

Which US state is Mt Hunter located in?

A. Colorado
B. Alaska
C. Washington

May issue of Trek & Mountain on sale now

Chris Kempster — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:10:29 +0000

The action-packed May 2012 edition of Trek & Mountain is on sale now, featuring mountain adventures from around the world – from the Alps to the Himalayas.

The trekking peak Stok Kangri (6153m) takes centre-stage in our cover feature on trekking in the Ladakh region in the Indian Himalaya. This challenging, but achievable, peak is a great objective for trekkers and hillwalkers, while closer to home we choose 10 alpine 4000m peaks that can be tackled with just some basic mountaineering skills (and a guide). We hear from a reader who recently completed Bhutan’s tough Lunana Snowman trek, and we interview the super-talented climber Matt Helliker on his epic climb last year on Alaska’s Mt Hunter.

This issue’s massive kit section has a focus on footwear, with Group Tests of 2-3 season boots – perfect for summer walking in the UK and trekking in warmer climes overseas – and approach shoes that’ll take you on rock as well as the trail, plus a round-up of some the best socks currently on the market. Elsewhere in the issue, we attend an avalanche training course in Chamonix, we look at the high-altitude conditions HAPE and HACE, and we find out what it takes to become a high mountain guide.

Sounds like a great issue, right?! To get your hands on a copy you can either buy it in WHSmith and other quality newsagents - CLICK HERE to find your nearest stockist – or you can buy a copy online at the Trek & Mountain Shop and enjoy free delivery – CLICK HERE to grab your copy. Happy reading!

Arc’teryx announce Alpine training weekend

Chris Kempster — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:30:18 +0000

Arc’teryx have announced details of their Alpine ARC’ademy, based in Chamonix and running the weekend of June 8-10. The Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix is the base chosen to host an educational weekend for those interested in becoming more familiar with mountain sports, as well as those interested in honing their existing skills.

Attendees can test and learn more about the latest in alpine equipment, improve their alpine skills, learn about the challenges of the human body in the altitude as well as how climate change affects our glaciers and mountain regions. There will also be time to share stories and experiences at the spectacular Alpine Movie Night. Experienced mountain guides as well as Arc’teryx athletes including Ines Papert, Nina Caprez, Luka Lindic and many more will be on stand-by to provide participants with advice and assistance, the aim being to raise awareness about personal responsibility and self-sufficiency in the mountains.

We think the clinics offer terrific value for money at just 35 Euros for most clinics (apart from Alpine Climbing Grade II to III and Grade III to IV which cost €80). So whether it’s glacier travel and crevasse rescue you want to learn about, or learning what you need to climb independently, or just soak in the atmosphere of the home of alpinism, then this looks a great weekend to make it to.

RELATED LINKS
www.alpinearcademy.com

Friday Freebies: Win Nikwax Tent & Gear Solarproof

Chris Kempster — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:58:46 +0000

Friday mornings mean only one thing – the chance to win cool outdoor goodies courtesy of Trek & Mountain and our friends and partners at the leading brands in the outdoor world.

This week, Nikwax are offering you the chance to win some of their fab new Tent & Gear Solarproof spray, which promises to protect and extend the life of your tents, rucksacks and other kit. Not only will this special formula top up the waterproofness of your flysheet or rucksack to help keep the rain out, it will also provide protection from harfmul UV rays which can seriously decrease the useful life of your gear.

To win a sample of Tent & Gear Solarproof, all you need do is head over to Nikwax’s website and play their online game – there’s no limit to the winners, so get yourself over there and start protecting your kit!

CLICK HERE to get started – good luck!

Tested: Berghaus Velum Pants

Chris Kempster — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:49:53 +0000

With braces included as standard, the Velum pants look like they mean business, and more importantly won’t sag when your pack is doing its best to push them down. Double zippers that run the length of the legs mean you can get the pants on and off quickly without removing boots – a big bonus in fast-changing weather – and the zips can also be used for venting if you feel yourself overheating. There’s no stormflaps behind the zips, but since they use water-resistant zips that shouldn’t be a problem in all but the most persistent rain. Articulated knees allow ease of movement and the reinforced areas at the instep will protect the pants from errant crampon spikes or scuffing from boots or rocks. We enjoyed using the Velum pants as they seem to strike almost the perfect balance between weight, protection and performance.

Verdict: Great balance of features, protection and weight 9/10

SPECS/INFO
Weight: 354g
Fabric: 3L Gore-Tex Active Shell
Water-resistant zips: Yes
Price: £180

RELATED LINKS
www.berghaus.co.uk

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