Summer's here, and the light nights are coming!

 

A late decision today after doing all the usual housebound routines to head off to another memory lane. Looking back at Shuttlingsloe from Shining Tor yesterday reminded me of the walk up through Macclesfield Forest to the "Matterhorn of the Peak". Flash was up for it, so 15 minutes preparation saw us heading off. The ascent through the forest is another of those fitness testers, with an unrelenting climb to the forest edge. Not so long ago it was punctuated by rest stops, but today was non stop to the open moors. As if to celebrate the newly rediscovered joy of being alone in old shared haunts the weather was perfect, and for the first time Shuttlingsloe had neither snow nor cloud.

 

The ascent up the final stretch was the usual killer, especially with a pulling dog, but seemed to pass much quicker and soon we were on the top. First requirement was to look back to yesterdays route, across the moors between Wildboarclough and the Cat and Fiddle to Shining Tor in the distance. A quick drink and a few photos and it was back through the trees to to the car below.

 

I'm starting to appreciate more and more Paddy Dillon's love of solitude in the hills, and revel in what seems l;ike a freedom I denied myself when walking with that woman. As well as ticking off new routes I can see me revisiting many more familiar haunts this year - not just to dispell memories but to make new ones of that feeling of freedom when you have no one else to think about. There's no worrying about progress rates, of when and where to stop or even when to return. You're not so much alone in the hills as comfortable in nature.

Going back to old haunts is always strange, and today was a day of revisiting.

 

Shining Tor's not a paticularly attactive hill, it's only fleeting claim to fame being that it's the highest point in Cheshire - a county famous for its plain rather than any heights. It marks the boundary bewtween Cheshire and Derbyshire on the road from macclesfield to Buxton, and though the countryside has undoubted beauty it's not the sort of place most peope would stop to admire anything. For me though, it's always going to be a place of memeories. When the first snows of the winter fell it'd be the number one place for Heather and I to get out - and it reached the point where the only time we ever went there it snowed on us. It was also a measure of fitness in the darkest times of illness brought on by getting fibreglass in my lungs from stripping dirty loft insulation through my recovery. So today's decision to revisit was always going to stir memories.

 

I must have taken that walk up from the Cat and Fiddle road over a hundred times, and never once done it on my own before. Back in the 70's and 80's it was leading groups of kids as an outdoor instructor in Buxton, then it was always with Heather, so today was totally different. For a start it was different for me to be the one driving - before heather I didn't drive and when we were together she was always driving. Just through habit I made a note of the time on leaving the car as Flash and I headed off. It's odd how everything looks different without snow, even on a route you know well. In a strange way everything looks smaller - signposts look shorter and distances don't seem half as far. The walk to the top was full of memories, but also a strange satisfaction to be doing it alone and I was amazed on arriving at the trig point to discover a bench I'd never seen before. There's no doubt it as there before, but always buried in snow! Less than 20 minutes had passed since setting off and the changes from their usual winter coat made me look at specific spots with memories. A quick coffee at the summit, where no less than a dozen late teens were taking a temporary break with their leaders, was followed by another revelation. Instead of the old track taking straight lines up and down through small groughs there's now a stone pathway winding it's way along the edge to Pym Chair. How much easier this is than sinking knee deep in snow and peat - but somehow it looks so out of place. No doubt in time it'll fade into the environment, and I felt a little guilty that it's people like me who take this walk because it's accessible that make such "conservation" necessary.

 

A couple of table side patches of snow sheltered on the northern side of walls, but the signs of spring were all around as I headed up to Cats Tor where the stone causeway ended. Despite the 15 minute break at Shining Tor I was still well within my time predictions so sat down in our familiar resting spot to share a pasty with Flash. The return was unenventful and somehow the memories had also been dispelled and once again I was feeling that delight in solitude that I'd thought would never return. Shining Tor came and went, with another coffee more to prolong the time on the hill than through any need for rest or sustenance. Back at the car I was 20 minutes ahead of a schedule without breaks and hit by a puzzling question. Did walking together slow progress through additional enjoyment of the surroundings and company, or do I just walk quicker when alone? Whatever the answer it's another blast from the past well and truly dismissed and as each of these mental hurdles fall I not only get stronger inside but also rediscover the joys of being alone on the hills.

It's been a busy week here at Knotlow Towers (thought it was time to give the place a name), with work streaming in and out.

 

The main task of the week has been gear testing, with reviews due in for PDA Essentials and the technology column for TGO. The big news in the industry as far as gadgets go is "Crossover". A new breed of all in one navigation devices are just starting to hit the shops, with combined on and off road functions in a single unit. Memory Map and Road Angel have teamed up to produce the Adventurer 7000 which uses the well known Road Angel camera detectors and sat nav for in-car navigation then just swap the SD card over and you have full Memory map compatibility. I was really looking forwards to this, but to be frank was a little disappointed when I finally got my hands on one. In reality it's just a 6000 with rubber covers over the input sockets and the OS opened up a bit to allow Memory Map to work on it.

 

The beginning of the week brought some good news with a request direct from magellan's PR people. Would I be interested in working with them on a new style document to accompany their crossover series of devices. These are similar to the MM Adventurer 7000, but running full Magellan mapping software for on and off road. What they want is a document for Sales people to use to persuade stores to stock it, and in their words "without all the usual PR Bullshit". The decision took seconds, but deciding how much to quote tok a little longe. That old quandry of not to accept too small a fee for the sake of getting the work, but not overpricing myself. A couple of quick chats with Dominic and Jon D soon set my mind on a fair price - considering that they WANT ME, not the other way round. So 12 hours later I had an agreement for £750 plus keep one of the devices in return for 2 days work.

 

Quo is now back up and running, with all the 1:25k maps for the TGO challenge, but tyhere's still no sign of the elusive PHD Minim 300 sleeping bag. If it doesn't arrve in the next 6 days I may well be asking for a refund along with interest considering they've had my money for 2 weeks now.

 

News from the USA has been interesting with the first use of GPS tranceivers in trainers, or sneakers as they like to call them. How long before they find their way into approach shoes and linked up for live web based tracking?

 

On the personal front it seems like that womans case is collapsing by the day, as I now have her statement and can rip it to shreds as being less believable than claiming Winnie the Pooh was real and the love child of a fairy and Paddington Bear. It's also been time to launch the application for a financial settlement having got the documents I need. My solicitor has looked at it and it seems that I have a claim against her house as the money was used for her deposit - and am I bothered if she loses her pride and joy? Well to be honest I couldn't give a toss either way, she's irrelevant and consigned to where she belongs, it's purely practicality and the principle that matters. £17,000 is better off in my bank than her bricks and mortar.

 

 

Thank God that's over for another year - The Outdoor Show may be on for another two days, but for me it's been and gone now. I made the obligatory visit, and am gladly back home having spent the stunning sum of £3 - and that was on a pasty!

 

First the good points - Friday's so much better than Saturday as there's space to move and breathe. The Press Office is better organised this year and even has free beer! Met a few old friends and a few not so old ones.

 

Now the bad bits - I met up with the people from Memory Map and SatMap as arranged, but surprise surprise no kit ready for me till next week. They were the sole reason for going as I could have got the press information by post!

 

Also bumped into the poeople from Big Agnes, who weren't that displeased about my comments on prices compared to Hike Lite's prices. They also confirmed that once Hike Lite's stock's gone that's it. The new lot are the exclusive importers - so buty it while you can and save £45 on the SL1.

 

I had a chat with Catherine at Paramo and am gettng a 3rd Element jacket and a pair of gaters for "test and review" for the TGO Challenge. Amazingly the 3rd Element is in acceptable colours too!! Also on the test kit list now is a nice pair of AKU boots. To cmpensae I somehow managed to lose my favourite merino jumper from insde my bag (

 

Highlight of the day was actually at the beginning, before the show was even open. Part of the opening ceremony was a display of abseiling by the Marines, who true to form abseiled of the roof of the exhibition centre and put a foot straigh through a nice big smoked glass window   guess they thought it was the Iranian Embassy ;-)

 

It was good to bump into fellow journalists and bloggers, including Cameron, John Manning, Matt Swaine (Trail) and of course Weird Darren prior to the opening. The bloggers convention was well attended, with free beer supplied courtesy of the press room. BG, Andy, WD, John, Chris and Cameron were joined by the non blogging Paddy Dillon at the bar.

 

Another nice moment was bumping into old friend Nigel Atkins, who was giving a display in speed prussiking for the BBC on the British Caving Association stand. Nigel was DJ and musician at my wedding to that woman who lives in Warrington, and a long term caving friend.

 

Leo waffled on amusingly in that inimitable style about a lost valley in the Andes, Graham Thompson tried to demystify GoreTEex boots and Paddy mae me wish I  was back in Ireand again - other than that there wasn't really much of interest in the way of talks. There were a efw bargains to be had i you looked arund, but reallistcally nohng worth buying unless you're shot of a particular item anyway. The closest I came was the Montane Terra trousers at an appealing £45, but they only had short leg medium i all black - and I've got enough all black kit.

 

The Press "Godie Bag" was a laugh at least, with a Shewee, some chocolates a Nosquito a and a load of advertising bumf. I've no use for a Shewee and no one to donate it to, don't eat chocolates and if I want somethng on my head Ive got plenty of Buffs that do the job better!

 

So it's over for another year and now I can get back to what really matters about the outdoors - being out there!

News that England's first via ferrata is due to open in May came as a nice surprise, and an opportunity. The route up Honister Crag in Buttermere looks like a great afternoon out, with 1000ft of ascent. The Press Trip, however looks even more interesting with the promise of a helicoipter trip over the mountain for photos. In good freelance style I immediately set about seeing who else may be interested and may now be covering it for either or both of Trail and TGO.

 

I couldn't resist the opporyunity of a wind up either - mentioning ficticious plans for the same company to follow up with a via ferrat up Clogwyn Y person Arete once the new Snowdon cafe's finished. Of course that would mean putting chains along Crib Y Ddysgl too and the obvious impact on people doing the Snowdon Horseshoe - just waiting to see who falls for the wind up now hehe.

Why is it we put up with things in this country that we don't like, don't agree with but still seem to accept?

 

In the last 48 hours I've had two seperate instances of totally unacceptable practise that just seems to be becoming the "norm" over here and no-one seems to question. First the well known PHD ordering service. Now don't get me wrong PHD make some stunning kit and their annual Winter Sales is something worth saving up for. This year I've gone for a Minim 300 - possibly the best lightweight down sleeping bag on the market and a "special" for this year's sale. I could have a moan about the delay in actually receiving the product once ordered - why should something that's supposedly in stock at the time of the order take up to 21 days to deliver? If it's in stock and they're having a sale then presumably it's to make room for new stock! In which case why take 3 weeks to send it out? However, I accepted the 21 day specification when I placed the order, so realistically I can't complain -Yet!. What is totally out of order though is the the way they debit your plastic before despatching the goods!!!! Why sghould they have my money in their bank for days (or weeks) earning them interest while I'm sat here without the money or the product I've paid for? The vast majority of UK retailers don't follow this procedure - they only debit the card on despatch. It's time this was changed from just being normal practise to law.

 

The other instance is the welcome arrival of Big Agnes in the UK. Yep, a welcome arrival has pissed me off! last year I tested the impressive Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 tent in dire conditions in Ireland and was amazed. Now I'm delighted to see the company have seen the opening for their kit in the UK as the lightweight market really starts to take off - but I don't like the way they seem to be ripping us off! I was tempted to get a Seedhouse SL1 as an alternative to the Akto for the TGO Challenge, with a saving of half a kilo but little loss in the way of reliability based on its big brother's performance. Then I took a look at their prices!  A tent that retails in the USA at $249 is marked up at £210 over here when buying direct from them. I put the $249 through a currency convertor and apparently it works out as a little over £128 - so where's the extra £80 come from. Yes I know there's import costs, storage costs and setting up a new business costs money, but £80! - that's over 50% extra. What makes it even more unbelievable is that Hike Lite are selling the same product over here at £165! How can a 3rd party sell cheaper than the makers?  Then you take a look at the actual "extra" costs of Big Agnes moving into this market -: Website - well it's a straight forward copy of the USA site so there's no development costs there, just the purchase of a .co.uk domain name. Storage - well surely they have to store the products over there too, and that's covered by their $249? It seems like they've seen lightweight taking off over here and just decided to cash in at the highest price they think the market will stand and make as much out of us as they possibly can. It doesn't cost £80 per unit in import duty so how can they justify this massive increase? How can they charge more than a 3rd party company - surely they can buy cheaper from their USA based parent, or at least at the same price? There's no other way of looking at it than they're taking advantage of "Rip Off Britain". I may still buy one, but you can be damned sure if I do it'll be from Hike Lite and not from Big Agnes!

 

On the positive side, I've been impressed with the people at Quo again. OK I'm still having problems with the software after a corrupt update but their tech boys were working and communicating until gone 11pm on Saturday night trying to sort things out. They've agreed to supply Darren and myself with the 1:25,000 maps for the whole of our TGO route - and rather than send us download links they're supplying everything on DVD - and sending the DVD by Courier not snail mail! Now that's what I call service. The new 3D engine's also finally out for their software, and having taken on board some OM originated suggestions their new version of GPS Manager is something to look forward to with new levels of customisation.

Not the best start this morning! On checking last night's vacuum sealing, an essential part of the TGO planning, it was immediately evident that something's not right. OK when the bags were sealed last night most of the air had been removed - but not quite all. I wasn't expecting full professional quality from something bought for £10, and most of the excess air had been removed. Looking at them again this morning it was instantly obvious that there's more air in them now than there was last night - so the seal isn't working. The only exception to this is the one experiment where I used Lakeland's Boil in the bag bags. these are a thicker plastic, and to be honest a lot more useful for the challenge when it comes down to it as it removes the need for extra bags if they can be used for reydrating and cooking. The thionner bags, cut from the roll all seem to have allowed air in, however.

 

On the digital mapping front there's been serious problems with Quo. The latest core engine update last week was corrupt, and has caused all sorts of problems. First I couldn't Repair it, or remove it. Then I couldn't overwrite it. Now I've been able to remove it and install a newer version but although it installs as soon as I try to run it the application comes up with an unrecoverable error. Uros was working till 11pm last night trying to sort the problem, but so far there's been no luck.

With the main planning for the TGO Challenge out of the way it's time to catch up on other plans for 2007. There's still training to do, and a lot of details to work out for covering the challenge with live blogs, GPS location, video and photographs - but it's slowly getting dealt with and other priorities are coming to the front.

 

At the start of the year I decided it was time to bag the lot in a year, and the quest is off to a reasonable start.  With Sergeant Man, High Raise, Thunacar Knott, Pavey Ark, Great Gable, Harrisson Stickle, Pike O' Stickle, Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End Scafell Pike, Esk Pike, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Cold Pike, Pike O' Blisco, Brandreth, Green Gable, Grey Knotts, Pillar, Red Pike (Wasdale) Scoat Fell, Steeple and Yewbarrow done there's just 184 to go. With this weekend taken up with birthdays - Chris is 17 tomorrow and his great Grandad 80 the day after, there's no chance but the following weekend should see the Coniston fells and a few loose ends around Eskdale cleared up. The weekend after it's the Kentmere Horseshoe and the length of High Street on a TGO training weekend - carrying everything I plan to take to Scotland.

 

Friday sees the annual pilgrimage to the inappropriately named Outdoors Show - held indoors at the NEC. I was really hoping to escape it this year but with equipment to collect and peple to see there's no chance of that - thank God for the Press Room though as I couldn't stand it as an ordinary punter. Of course having managed to get Weird Darren on our Press Pass list I'm sure to have company in escaping the masses, along with encouragement to join the "names" of the UK outdoor blogging scene. The next technology column for TGO is well under way with field testing of the Memory Map and Satmap 10 PND devices, along with a new Magellan GPS and a GPS integrated Blackberry 8800. The OS of Ireland mapping software is due for a good testing at Easter with a return to County Kerry and the main MacGillycuddys Reeks.

The big step, workwise, is the forthcoming (yes still forthcoming!) major update to the Outdoors Magic routes section. Following hot on the heels of the new monthly multi day route I should soon be starting to populate the all new singing and dancing database. This promises real OS maps of the routes instead of the painstaking to draw ones. OM members will be able to submit their routes, and all routes will be available free for download to members, complete with detailed route cards and GPS data in every conceivable format. It's a lot of work, but someone has to earn the money ;-).

 

Smewhere over the summer I've still got to fit in the Wicklow Way, kayaking off the Western Isles and of course the follow up to the trip last year with Jake Meyer. Hopefully if things are still going to plan I'll be joining him on part of his quest to summit the highest point in every country in Europe in a record time. Add in Morrocco - a must do this year, and work in New Zealand for 3 weeks and the year's taking shape well already.

20 miles a day walking is nothing much, but when you think of it as 2o miles a day, then 20 miles the next day and the next and the next it starts to take onb a different meaning. Throw in carrying everything you need to survive in the Scottish wilderness and it starts to take the form of a challenge. The lighter the amount you lug around on your back the better, but somewhere there has to be a compromise between the Ray mears minimalist living off the land and making shelters as you go approach and the carry everything you're ever going to need and be totally comfortable approach. So kit selection has been a major issue for the TGO Challenge. After much sole searching and even more internet searching a few decisions had to be made on what would be an acceptable weight to carry for 12 days whilst still being able to enjpy the experience. The final decisions were:

 

Now this may come as a surprise to many, and it's by far the biggest compromise in favour of comfort. Darren's pack weighs in at under 1Kg yet this giant scales a massive 2.7Kg! At the end of the day though you have to be comfortable with whatever you're carrying and when it comes to load bearing in comfort I've yet to come across something as good as this. It handled the trip to the MacGillycuddys Reeks last year without even noticing I was wearing it, so it stays despite the weight - savings can be made elsewhere.

 

Again it's not the lightest peice of kit, but it deserves its place. It's unbeatable when it comes to knowing you're going to get a good night's sleep no matter what the weather throws at it. From a hurricane in Ireland to winter in the Cairngorms this tent has never let me down. Equally important I'm familiar with it putting it up in seconds in any conditions.

 

A last minute change here. I was going to go with my trusty Snugpak Softie Chysalis, another tried and tested stalwart but when PHD decided to make this ultralightweight bag for their winter sale I just couldn't resist. Tipping the scales at a tiny 570 grammes it's half the weight of the Chrysalis and suitable to 5 degrees lower.

 

I'm sick and tired of Thermarests and punctures, so when it comes to reliability there was little option but to go for the Z rest. Not only is it more reliable, but it's lighter and actually a better insulater due to its egg shell construction. A few grams are saved by cutting off the excess length to drop it to 326 grams.

 

The jetboil really comes into its own when you're doing a trip over several days. Being an all in one unit with stove and cooking pot it's not as light as the titanium options, but the fuel efficiency outweighs those savings in terms of gas carried. Taking the MSR Titan kettle adds flexibility and the option to have a brew at the same time as cooking a meal. Throw in a Titanium spork (both spork and kettle sourced through the famous Podcast Bob at Backpackinglight) and you've got a versatile lightweight system ready for anything.

 

 

 

 

 

Total weight, adding in a Kilo for water in the platty and 5 days food is 13Kg.

The planning started many months ago, when a casual conversation with Darren  about the TGO Challenge turned into a more concrete desire to actually take part. The hardest part of course was just getting onto the list. The challenge is always oversubscribed, and to cut a long story short we scraped in as first reserves.

 

The early part of this year was taken up with the actual route planning. You start on the west coast at any one of a number of sign in points, and finish somewhere on the east coast between Peterhead and Montrose - the rest is down to personal choice. Some people take a low level route and some take a high level, crossing as many Munros as they can in the time allowed. The important thing to remember is that it's not a race and the TGO Challenge is about the journey and the people you meet. We eventually looked at our experience, as first timers, and plumped for a medium difficulty route starting at Mallaig and finishing in Montrose itself.

 

It wasn't long before friends who've done the challenge before changed our minds! Why finish with a walk into Montrose when our plan allowed us time to finish in Stonehaven - a popular end point for "challengers". This is a much more aesthetic ending and allows a final day more in keeping with the overall route instead of a walk through town. A finish on the beach also has a certain appeal, and a final night sharing a camp site with ten or twenty other challengers was the final deciding factor. We can then just catch a bus down to the sign out point in Montrose in time to take our place at the end of challenge dinner.

 

So Mallaig to Stonehaven it is! Now what to do in between? The first thought was: Ben Nevis, Mamores, Ben Alder, Cairngorms, Lochnagar........then sanity dropped in for a visit. Taking in all the highest points inbetween is a bit to much to take on this year - maybe another year. But with all those Munros waiting to be climbed we have to leave something in, after all we don't want a totally low level walk that we could replicate pretty much anywhere in the UK. We need to make the days relatively equal in terms of distance and height gain, and not have seriously hard days following each other. Given the nature of Scotland, with big mountains on the west and east and a lower central section there's bound to be some inequality - but that's part of the beauty of the place and something to take advantage of.

 

After much deliberation, and not a little in the way of strong suggestions from our route moderators we finally got a route aproved:

A reasonable start as the first 3 days will be the hardest, before the fitness kicks in and the aches and pains are something you become accustomed to. If we're going well and feel up to it we can always add a few extra Km on and camp a little further along the ridge - making successive days slightly easier

 

Another day where we can add on a few extra Km if we feel up to it, with day 3 being one of the hardest, but we need to be careful not to overdo it too soon before fitness and routines really kick in.

 

Now this could be the killer day, it's probably the hardest on the whole route with our first real mountain day. Anything we've been able to add to the previous days will be of benefit here.

 

 

A bit of a respite after the previous day, and hopefully the fitness will be kicking in now. With it being a short day we may just push on an extra 8Km at the end of the day to Loch Treig.

 

Another easy day, and one where we may catch up, or make up time on other legs. Possibly the easiest day on the route and the option of dropping in for something to eat from the cafe at Corrour, along with collecting a postal drop from Loch Ossian SYHA.

 

The big highlight of the day, and one of the highlights of the whole route, will undoubtedly be the ascent of Ben Alder. Anything we've added on previous days will be of benefit here, although we should have strong legs by this point.

 

Creeping back up towards the 30Km a day mark and hoping that kind of distance is now becoming easier with hard days ahead. This is really wild camping, but we'll have had a chance to remember civilisation as we pass through Dalwhinnie on the way. By pure coincidence Dalwhinnie just happens to be one of my favourite single malts and the distillery just happens to be on our route.

 

For me this will probably be one of the highlights of the trip. Carn Toul and Bod am Deamhaim (The Devil's Point) lie between the start and end of the day - with one of the finest vistas in the Cairngorms. Corrour Bothy is also one of those iconic locations  with a long and venerated history in the annals of Scottish mountaineering.

 

This is one of those days that could get cut short, or make use of some of our spare days. Braemar lies in our path and Braemar is well known for it's gathering of challengers for an evening off in company. After miles where Darren and I will only have each other for company it's a chance to catch up with others, as well as collect our postal drop.

 

Another contender for the hardest day, but by now we should be well attuned to a routine and fit for what should be a special day. Lochnagar awaits us on this day, and with good weather and good fortune we'll be treated to one of the finest views in Scotland as we start to leave the high ground behind us and head on the final stages for the coast.

 

Not far to go now and we leave the mountains behind as we drop down towards civilisation.

 

The final day, and I wonder whaether it will be relief or sadness as we walk the last few Km into Stonehaven. With a relatively short day and very little ascent we should be in plenty of time to find a place to camp on the traditional site where challengers gather - but not until we've dipped a toe in the water of the North Sea. Tomorrow we sign out at Montrose and the challenge is complete.

 

 

I guess I'd better start with a statement that the past is gone, and there's no point looking back. I've totally restarted this space, removing the painful year as I no longer need the reminders. It's time to look forward to a great year ahead, and many challenges.

 

The first big challenge is the TGO Challenge. A walk across Scotland from Mallaig to Stonehaven, unsupported and wild camping along the way. This annual challenge, sponsored by TGO magazine, has become a major event in the UK's outdoor calendar and is always oversubscribed. With just 300 spaces and an application list from around the world it's a highlight in anyone's outdoor life to get on. This is my first year of the challenge, and hopefully the first of many. The last few months have been a long process of planning the route down to the smallest detail with Darren (aka Weird Darren) a friend and Outdoors Magic member. From planning the route we moved on to the essentials of making the route possible in practical terms; pack weight, postal drops, transport to the start and back from the finish, maps, equipment and communications all have to be dealt with. Now it's early March there's just two months to go before the challenge begins, and the planning stage is effectively over. It's now down to getting in some serious fitness training and hill mil;es under my feet. Over the next 2 months I've got 4 weekends out there planned, with full gear testing and carrying the same equipment we'll be lugging across Scotland.