Trail Magazine - January 2012 taster

the one where you can w

in a day on the hill with Adele (but not that one)

R

Lake District 13 thrilling ridge walks

...bag them all! Striding Edge: you can be here! p38

977

0959

9031

89

>0

1

january 2012 £3.99

SKILLS

WINTER SPECIAL! Scared of snowy hills? Get skilled up: Part 1

www.livefortheoutdoors.com

Cairngorms Adventure at 4000ft

WIN £1400 of kit Get everything on p88

Britain’s best-selling hillwalking magazine

LIVE FO

r THE O

uTD

OO

rS ja

nu

ary

20

12

extra32-PaGeGuide!

exclusive!JOE

SIMPSONon death, drugs and

daring deeds:

p12

GeT your miTTs oN

ToP-sPec Gloves: p30

tested4-seasON

BOOtsice axes +Crampons

16 routes + mapsExpert guides to Britain’s best mountain walks

out thereBeen there, climbed that? Send us a picture!out there

4 Trail january 2012 january 2012 Trail 5

out there

january 2012 Trail 5

Send us your shots, share your adventures email your photos to us, along with a description of what was special

about your day, and we’ll publish the most inspiring examples! Put ‘out there’ in the subject box, and send them to [email protected]

Crib Goch Snowdonia

“The scramble was unlike anything I could ever describe – it was unreal. And the views

were breathtaking. But what’s a trip without drama?” So says Nichole, of her

idyllic day on Snowdon. As for the drama, not long after this photo was taken on the

Crib Goch ridge, Nichole and her husband witnessed a rescue attempt by an

RAF helicopter on Crib Goch.

You can check out their thrilling video at www.LFTO.com

Fact or fiction? 10Are these pointy peaks ancient pyramids?

Exclusive! Joe Simpson 12...remembers a fateful day in the Alps

Dream peak 16 Fairfield: portrait of a Lake District classic

contents Where this month’s issue will take you...

Winter’s coming! 44 All the skills you need for snowy hillwalking

Ask Trail 50 The Northern Lights, swollen hands, gas canisters and pronouncing Welsh place names

Trail Talk 18

Subscribe to Trail 30

Win! Gear worth £1,400 88 The Trail tall tale 162

Braeriach 22 Just when we thought we really knew this Scottish beast, we discovered we really didn’t

13 Lakeland ridges 32 Tackle the most exciting walks in the Lake District in a rundown of England’s edgiest routes

The Alps, by snowshoe 56Think Alpine peaks are out of reach in winter? So did we until we discoverd these babies...

a dv e n t u r es

y o u r t r a i l

s k i l l so u t t h e r e

Hopegill Head north ridge – just one of Lakeland’s superb edges.

STEWArT SmiTh

Wild Adventuresinstant escapes, fantastic new kit and ways to be greener and save money!

p32

p125


nei

l s

pric

e

Snowshoes: fantastic plastic! See page 56.

Distance 19.3km (12 miles)Total ascent 900mTime 7-8 hoursStart/� nish Keswick, NY263235Terrain high-level fell-walk over one main peak, with clear paths throughout and

long steady ascents and descents Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4; OS Landranger (1:50,000) 89; Harvey Walker (1:40,000) and Superwalker (1:25,000)

Lakeland NorthPublic transport railway station at Penrith with regular bus services to Keswick, from where bus services

extend along the A591 – tel. 0870 608 2608; www.cumbria.gov.ukGuidebooks The Northern Fells by A Wainwright, pb Frances Lincoln

19.3km/12 miles

TRAIL ROUTE LAKE DISTRICT

7ULTIMATE WEEKEND

Always take a map on the hill

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Trail Routes in association with Mapyx A digital revolution in digital mapping for the outdoors.

www.mapyx.com

Skiddaw

dd

Finish

4

Pen yr Ole Wen

to Millbeck, where a footpath on the right climbs steeply

alongside woods and up the southern slopes of Carl Side.

You can see the path winding steeply up the slopes and

it is clear from the start that this is a tough climb. But

throughout this section the view back over Keswick to

Derwentwater in Borrowdale and the surrounding peaks

provides plenty of reason to stop and drink in the view.

Manchester

MiddlesbroughKendal

Skipton

Sheffield

Peterborough

Birmingham

Derby

Betws-y-Coed

Pembroke

Brecon

Bristol

Plymouth

PooleBodmin

Minehead

Brighton

Southampton

Oxford

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Edinburgh

Glasgow

Aberdeen

Inverness

Fort William

Oban

MallaigInverie

Shiel Bridge

Ullapool

Braemar

Killarney

Tralee

Dingle

Kenmare CorkWaterford

Dublin

Belfast

LondonderryDonegal

Hay-on-Wye

Llangollen

IngletonBenthamLancaster

Stranraer

Ballantrae

Ayr

Dumfries

Portree

MULL

ISLE OF SKYE

ISLE OF LEWIS

Lairg

Thurso

Invergarry

Aviemore

Newton Stewart

Jedburgh

Leeds

York

Northallerton

Barmouth

RhylConway

Cardigan

Aberystwyth

SwanseaCardiff

Gloucester

Exeter

ISLE OF ARRAN

JURA

ISLAY

HARRIS

Bodelwyddan

Liverpool

Carlisle

Penrith

Windermere

Keswick

FACTS

GRADIENT PROFILE

2

METRESABOVE SEALEVEL

140012001000800600400200

MILESKILOMETRES

Start

Finish0

0

Skiddaw

Carl Side

Applethwaite

Skiddaw House1

2

3 45

6

2 2

4 46

68

810

1012

12

1416

18

Lakes’ 4th highestpeak

128 TRAIL SEPTEMBER 2011

SEPTEMBER 2011 TRAIL 129

1 NY263235 Leave Keswick by walking along the main road away

from the centre of town and cross the River Greta. At the

next road junction a footpath on the right can be traced

through Great Crosthwaite, past Keswick School and then

over the A66. The footpath continues through fi elds to

Applethwaite.

NY264255 Quiet lanes lead from Applethwaite

NY254281 The long climb ends gradually as the angle of the slopes

decreases and you take the fi nal few steps onto Carl Side.

Carlside Tarn nestles in the saddle ahead, while Skiddaw

dominates the scene. A clear

path climbs the western slopes of Skiddaw and this

brings fi ne views west across Southerndale to the long

arm of Longside Edge, one of Skiddaw’s most shapely

features and a great way to approach the mountain.

The path onto Skiddaw is another long haul; it’s loose underfoot thanks to the crumbly Skiddaw slate.

Finally you reach the summit ridge and a short walk north

leads to the summit.NY260290 At 931m/ 3,054ft Skiddaw is

the fourth highest peak in the Lake District. Return south for 500 metres and

then descend in an easterly direction down the slopes

to Sale How and onward downhill to Skiddaw House.

NY287291 Skiddaw House lies at 1,550ft above sea-level. A clear path

continues south around the lower contours of the

steep, crumbly slopes of Lonscale Fell and high above

Glenderaterra Beck, with spectacular views. The path

leads easily back to the car park at Latrigg.

NY281253 A path now descends around the slopes of Latrigg through

woods at fi rst before crossing the A66 and leading back

into Keswick.

3

6

Autumnal slopes of Skiddaw rise above the car park on Latrigg.

YoSkiddaw

Pic 1 Autumnal slopes of Skid-daw rise above the carpark on

Latrigg.

High SeatPic The vast moorland extend-

ing south from High Seat.Cat BellsPic The clear path to Cat Bells provides an easy start.

Tags:Ideas:

Skiddaw Lakes 4th highest peakBag a Lakeland 3000 footerHigh SeatMassive moorland among the

mountainsRough and wild moorland chal-

lengeBig views from mountain

moorlandClassic views from moorland traverseMore than just moorlandCat BellsQuintessential Lakeland Fells

The ultimate classic walkKeswick's classic walk

The greatest views of KeswickIncredible views from Lakeland

Classic

1

2

3

4

5

6

STRENUOUSNESSNAVIGATIONTECHNICALITYTRAIL 1OO

��1

7-9 lake district sep11 swhlps.indd 128

14/07/2011 15:46

Distance 19.3km (12 miles)Total ascent 900mTime 7-8 hoursStart/� nish Keswick, NY263235Terrain high-level fell-walk over one main peak, with clear paths throughout and

long steady ascents and descents Maps OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL4; OS Landranger (1:50,000) 89; Harvey Walker (1:40,000) and Superwalker (1:25,000)

Lakeland NorthPublic transport railway station at Penrith with regular bus services to Keswick, from where bus services

extend along the A591 – tel. 0870 608 2608; www.cumbria.gov.ukGuidebooks The Northern Fells by A Wainwright, pb Frances Lincoln

19.3km/12 miles

TRAIL ROUTE LAKE DISTRICT

7ULTIMATE WEEKEND


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Trail Routes in association with Mapyx A digital revolution in digital mapping for the outdoors.

www.mapyx.com

Skiddaw

dd

Finish

4

Pen yr Ole Wen

to Millbeck, where a footpath on the right climbs steeply

alongside woods and up the southern slopes of Carl Side.

You can see the path winding steeply up the slopes and

it is clear from the start that this is a tough climb. But

throughout this section the view back over Keswick to

Derwentwater in Borrowdale and the surrounding peaks

provides plenty of reason to stop and drink in the view.

Manchester

MiddlesbroughKendal

Skipton

Sheffield

Peterborough

Birmingham

Derby

Betws-y-Coed

Pembroke

Brecon

Bristol

Plymouth

PooleBodmin

Minehead

Brighton

Southampton

Oxford

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Edinburgh

Glasgow

Aberdeen

Inverness

Fort William

Oban

MallaigInverie

Shiel Bridge

Ullapool

Braemar

Killarney

Tralee

Dingle

Kenmare CorkWaterford

Dublin

Belfast

LondonderryDonegal

Hay-on-Wye

Llangollen

IngletonBenthamLancaster

Stranraer

Ballantrae

Ayr

Dumfries

Portree

MULL

ISLE OF SKYE

ISLE OF LEWIS

Lairg

Thurso

Invergarry

Aviemore

Newton Stewart

Jedburgh

Leeds

York

Northallerton

Barmouth

RhylConway

Cardigan

Aberystwyth

SwanseaCardiff

Gloucester

Exeter

ISLE OF ARRAN

JURA

ISLAY

HARRIS

Bodelwyddan

Liverpool

Carlisle

Penrith

Windermere

Keswick

FACTS

GRADIENT PROFILE

2

METRESABOVE SEALEVEL

140012001000800600400200

MILESKILOMETRES

Start

Finish0

0

Skiddaw

Carl Side

Applethwaite

Skiddaw House1

2

3 45

6

2 2

4 46

68

810

1012

12

1416

18

Lakes’ 4th highestpeak

128 TRAIL SEPTEMBER 2011

SEPTEMBER 2011 TRAIL 129

1 NY263235 Leave Keswick by walking along the main road away

from the centre of town and cross the River Greta. At the

next road junction a footpath on the right can be traced

through Great Crosthwaite, past Keswick School and then

over the A66. The footpath continues through fi elds to

Applethwaite.

NY264255 Quiet lanes lead from Applethwaite

NY254281 The long climb ends gradually as the angle of the slopes

decreases and you take the fi nal few steps onto Carl Side.

Carlside Tarn nestles in the saddle ahead, while Skiddaw

dominates the scene. A clear

path climbs the western slopes of Skiddaw and this

brings fi ne views west across Southerndale to the long

arm of Longside Edge, one of Skiddaw’s most shapely

features and a great way to approach the mountain.

The path onto Skiddaw is another long haul; it’s loose underfoot thanks to the crumbly Skiddaw slate.

Finally you reach the summit ridge and a short walk north

leads to the summit.NY260290 At 931m/ 3,054ft Skiddaw is

the fourth highest peak in the Lake District. Return south for 500 metres and

then descend in an easterly direction down the slopes

to Sale How and onward downhill to Skiddaw House.

NY287291 Skiddaw House lies at 1,550ft above sea-level. A clear path

continues south around the lower contours of the

steep, crumbly slopes of Lonscale Fell and high above

Glenderaterra Beck, with spectacular views. The path

leads easily back to the car park at Latrigg.

NY281253 A path now descends around the slopes of Latrigg through

woods at fi rst before crossing the A66 and leading back

into Keswick.

3

6

Autumnal slopes of Skiddaw rise above the car park on Latrigg.

YoSkiddaw

Pic 1 Autumnal slopes of Skid-daw rise above the carpark on

Latrigg.

High SeatPic The vast moorland extend-

ing south from High Seat.Cat BellsPic The clear path to Cat Bells provides an easy start.

Tags:Ideas:

Skiddaw Lakes 4th highest peakBag a Lakeland 3000 footerHigh SeatMassive moorland among the

mountainsRough and wild moorland chal-

lengeBig views from mountain

moorlandClassic views from moorland traverseMore than just moorlandCat BellsQuintessential Lakeland Fells

The ultimate classic walkKeswick's classic walk

The greatest views of KeswickIncredible views from Lakeland

Classic

1

2

3

4

5

6

STRENUOUSNESSNAVIGATIONTECHNICALITYTRAIL 1OO

��1

7-9 lake district sep11 swhlps.indd 128

14/07/2011 15:46

Distance 8.9km

(5½ miles)

Total ascent 960m

Time 5 hours

Start/� nish Glen Etive,

NN111454

Nearest town

Fort William

Terrain pathless rough

hill and wet, boggy paths

Maps OS Landranger

(1:50,000) 50

Accommodation

Kingshouse Hotel

(below), Glencoe Youth

Hostel (01855) 811219

Public transport none

Guidebooks The

Corbetts & other Hills by

Milne & Brown, pb SMC

Tourist info Fort William

0845 225 5121

Best pub Kingshouse

Hotel (01855) 851259

FACTS

8.9km/5½ miles

TRAIL ROUTE WEST HIGHLANDS

4

120 TRAIL OCTOBER 2011


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in association

with Mapyx

A digital revolution in digital

mapping for the outdoors.

www.mapyx.com

Manchester

Middlesbrough

Kendal

Skipton

Sheffield

Peterborough

Birmingham

DerbyBetws-y-Coed

Pembroke

Brecon

Bristol

Plymouth

Poole

Bodmin

Minehead BrightonSouthampton

Oxford

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Newcastle

-upon-Tyne

EdinburghGlasgow

Aberdeen

Inverness

Fort William

Oban

MallaigInverie

Shiel Bridge

Ullapool

Braemar

Killarney

TraleeDingle

KenmareCork

Waterford

Dublin

Belfast

Londonderry

Donegal

Hay-on-Wye

Llangollen

Ingleton

Bentham

Lancaster

Stranraer

Ballantrae

Ayr

Dumfries

Portree

MULL

ISLE OF SKYE

ISLE OF LEWISLairg

Thurso

Invergarry

Aviemore

Newton Stewart

Jedburgh

Leeds

York

Northallerton

Barmouth

RhylConway

Cardigan

Aberystwyth

SwanseaCardiff

Gloucester

Exeter

ISLE OF ARRAN

JURA

ISLAY

HARRIS

Bodelwyddan

Liverpool

Carlisle

Penrith

Windermere

Keswick

GRADIENT PROFILE

Meall nan Gobhar

METRESABOVE

SEALEVEL

140012001000800600400200

MILES

KILOMETRES

Start

Beinn Trilleachan

Meall nan Gobhar

Finish

00

1 23

1

12

23

3

4

4

5

5

67

8

Trilleachan

4

NN111454 Start from

the car park at the end

of the public road (a little

short of that represented on

the Landranger map). Go

along the start of the track

by the side of Loch Etive and

head immediately uphill

by the side of the forestry

plantation. This is currently

in the process of being felled,

and the timber shipped out

from a jetty a short distance

along the loch. The path up

beside the fence is often very

wet and boggy, and diffi cult

to follow in places. Continue

uphill until the terrain levels

off at about 200m above

sea-level.

NN104463 Now head

in a south-westerly

direction up a very rough

hillside with frequent

rocky outcrops and boggy

areas. There is no path so

you will need to pick your

way upwards though the

outcrops. As you gain

height the ridge becomes

better-defi ned and

the vegetation less

troublesome! Aim

towards the steep

south-easterly fl ank

of the mountain

and you will

pick up a faint

path leading

to the top (pt 767m). This

is a superb vantage point

with a dramatic

setting.

NN096447

The next section

is potentially tricky in

poor visibility. A series of

rocky ledges leads down to

a narrow col at the head of

a dramatic gully. There is no

path on this section and it

would be easy to miss

the col and end up

too far down

the slope. Once at

the col a path leads

uphill onto a much

broader grassy

section of ridge.

The path is diffi cult

to follow and in mist

it is possible to miss the

summit cairn, which is set in

the middle of a plateau.

NN086438 The only

feasible option for an

enjoyable return to the start

is to retrace the outward

route – although if it’s been

very dry you may want to

descend north-east from

The view from the col between the two principal tops (pt 767 and the main summit).

If the weather closes in

you can escape to the

north-east and lower

ground, but the going is

rough and pathless with

frequent rocky slabs and

small crags. You may

need the experience

of a competent route

fi nder to safely negotiate

a route back to lower

levels. This hill is a good

all-round introduction

as it offers some

challenging bogs, as

well as some superb

and readily accessible

panoramas. It contains

enough positives to

make up for the tough

slog early on in the day. It

is also not too long a day

and it is possible to bail

out at any stage given a

competent mate!

LEADER TIP

the narrow col, aiming for

Lochan na Saobhaidhe. In

all but the driest conditions

this would prove to be

a rather masochistic

extension. It is also a viable

bail-out route should severe

conditions force you off the

main ridge line.

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

4 west highlands oct11 swlpcmja.indd 120

12/08/2011 10:19

Where this month’s issue will take you...

South Highlands 93Route 1 Beinn Bheulamountain adventure on the Cowal Peninsula

Somerset 95Route 2 Quantock Hillsinspiring landscape with red deer if you’re lucky

County Sligo 97Route 3 Benwiskin An iconic peak with a ‘breaking wave’ profile

Snowdonia 99Route 4 Rhobell Fawr Easily overlooked, a hill with a stunning viewpoint

Southern Uplands 101Route 5 Galloway HillsLike the sound of four lochs & three hidden hills?

Snowdonia 103Route 6 Moel PenamnenThis is an ‘absolute beaut’ of a walk, says our man

Patterdale 107Route 7 St Sunday Crag & FairfieldRoute 8 Place Fell & High DoddRoute 9 The Knott & High StreetStay in one place and walk for three days! This month’s first Ultimate Weekend gives three routes from this charming Lakeland village

Bamford 113Route 10 Bleaklow HillRoute 11 Kinder EdgesRoute 12 The Derwent watershed Fancy a long weekend in the Peak District? See what Bleaklow and Derwent’s best base camp has to offer hillwalker, plus a trio of top routess

Snowdonia 119Route 13 Nantlle Ridge This issue’s Classic Route involves excellent walking along a fine rocky crest – with ‘a smidge of scambling’ thrown in for good measure

r o u t es

january 2012

Skills for walking in winter

Ice axes4-season boots

p44

g e a r


Classic Route

with 3D maps

tom

ba

iley

Crampons

p80p68

p84

Christmas gift guide 64 if you’ve been very, very good you might get some of this lovely stuff in your stocking!

Alpkit Kangri 66 �Our first look at a new 2-3 person geodesic tent 4-season boots 68 Eight pairs of winter footwear go head to head

Ice axes 80 Which of these essential winter tools best suits your activities in the snowy outdoors?

Crampons 84 �Get a grip on snowy or icy terrain with a pair of these portable spikes attached to your boots...

JOE SIMPSON


Words Dan Aspel

The pair spent 12 anxious hours clinging to the remnants of the unstable ledge, unsure how many moments they had left to live.

ian

wh

itta

ker

“If you look at my hand in the picture, it’s curled over,” says Joe. “I’ve been told it’s a childish, defensive posture. I just think it means you’re scared witless.”

he 23-year-old Joe Simpson stares upwards, his expression part awe, part terror. “If you look at my hand in the picture, it’s curled over,” says Joe.

“I’ve been told it’s a childish, defensive posture. I just think it means you’re scared witless.”

He is standing halfway up the Aiguille du Dru above Chamonix, and he is about to die. Around him lie thousands of feet of precipice. The mountain seems ready to join it: after centuries of inactivity, it is beginning to disintegrate.

“I didn’t know it was going to fall off. The damn thing had been there for 45 millennia,” says Joe. The Alpine ledge on which he had bivouacked had collapsed. Simpson and climbing partner Ian Whittaker found the ground torn from beneath them, trapping them on the sharp face of the Dru. Unable to ascend further or descend to safety, they could only await rescue. The pair spent 12 anxious hours clinging to the remnants of the unstable ledge, unsure how many moments they had left to live.

They couldn’t have moved if they’d wanted to. Not in their socks. Not without ropes. “As five tons of granite went past us it cut our lines to pieces,” Joe explains. “There wasn’t enough left to abseil 20 feet. It had taken our boots [removed for the night] and most of our gear too. We were left hanging on an anchor system that was about to fail.” The few remaining supports were intended for the evening’s bivouac, nothing more.

This photo was taken in 1983, two years before an expedition to Peru would spark the book Touching the Void and forever alter the trajectory of Joe’s life. As training, it was ideal. Though ambitious and capable, his climbing career has been streaked with similar flashes of tragedy and disaster, few more vivid than this moment captured on that July morning.

Joe has every reason to feel aggrieved. As he puts it, “It wasn’t a loose flake. It wasn’t some dodgy bit of granite. It was a bloody big pillar. Anybody would have slept on it.” In fact, many people had. Great people. Their ledge lay at the foot of the Bonatti Pillar. Named in honour of Italian mountaineering legend Walter Bonatti, the 2,000ft spike was the stuff of Alpine legend.

Bonatti’s 1955 solo ascent – which Joe describes as “one of the greatest exploits in the history of Alpinism, to rank alongside the first ascents of the north faces of the Eiger or Matterhorn” – took five days. He and Ian were trying to make the summit in one. Having reached the ‘great roofs’ of the pillar, they were hampered by nightfall and rested on what

would prove to be a dangerously fractured ledge. Their saviour – a member of the mountain rescue team, named Yves Sandoma – was the next morning lowered onto the pillar by helicopter. The picture – taken by Ian – shows Joe gazing up at the west face of the mountain, not far from rescue but still visibly shaken.

Ian never returned to the Alps, giving up climbing altogether. “That shows I’ve obviously got no bloody imagination”, says Joe. A fortnight later he saw rocks “the size of helicopters” fall from the Dru into the niche of the north face and bounce out. The rising dust completely obliterated two thirds of the west face.

“We wanted to thank Yves,” he continues. “We knew just how terrifying it must have been

escaping The void

In a rare and exclusive interview, Joe Simpson talks to Trail about surviving the Dru, his hero’s death and why Touching the Void

defined – and crushed – his mountaineering career.

T


�

Words dan aspel

Joe returns to the glaciers of Siula Grande (6344m) in 2002.

bri

an

ha

ll

cairngorms


We all have a peak where we’ve seen everything on offer– but have we? Trail sent our Scotland stalwart to Braeriach to find out…

old hill new tricks

Words dan bailey PhotograPhs Tom bailey

Where? Braeriach, ScotlandWhat? A fresh look at a familiar peak


Heading east from Braeriach's summit.

old hill new tricks

novelty; sometimes it seems the longer you’ve been walking the less there is of it. Have you already been everywhere, done everything and got the sweaty base layer to prove it? Just once in a while I catch myself thinking I’ve seen it all. World weariness is most likely to strike when I’m thinking about celebrity summits and their headline routes, crowd-pleasers that appear to be cloned in every guidebook, trails that always seem to attract the traffic. These are the walks we all tend to gravitate to, treading them again and again like needles on a scratched record. Perhaps they’re busy because they’re great, yet the fact remains that you probably already know them better than your own back yard.

But try not to let familiarity breed contempt, because the chances are that even on your most-visited hill there are hidden corners, whole ridges, entire corries even, whose existence you’ve hitherto overlooked in your well-worn groove to the top. Like the unfortunate flayed feline of proverb, there’s more than one way to skin any summit; so try sneaking up on a familiar fell from an unexpected angle and you might just nose out all sorts of surprises. Go on, have a sniff. What’s that smell? A vague whiff of adventure. �

ref NWAA

January 2012 Trail 31

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trekmates annapurna glove worth £55With Gore-Tex fabric, the Annapurna Glove is windproof, waterproof and breathable. It has Primaloft insulation and a soft, deep-pile lining to keep your hands warm and dry. It also has a rubberised-grip palm, and the one-touch drawcord wrist ensures it fits comfortably.

trekmates snow mitt worth £40Using Trekmates DRY technology, the Snow Mitt is waterproof, windproof and breathable. A nylon ripstop outer and Primaloft insulation will keep your hands warm in even the coldest of conditions. With individual finger chambers in the deep-pile lining, these gloves could become your best friends on a chilly walk.


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skillsTrail's Skills section is put together by outdoor experts to help you get the best out of yourself in the UK’s high places. Here you can find cutting-edge information, handy hints and tips – and expert advice tailored especially for you. Simply ask Trail!

guide to...Winter: crampon and ice axe skills 44

ask trailWhere to see the Northern Lights 50 How to avoid getting swollen hands 51 Remote gas canisters: the low-down 52 Pronouncing Welsh place names 52

Offend fewer locals! Page 52.

Who’d have thought practising a life-saving technique could be so much fun? Page 44.

These are spikes you’ll like! Page 46.

Learn avalanche avoidance skills – page 48.

jaNuaRy 20121 Trail 43

So you’ve got a problem that needs solving, but don’t want to lose face with your mountain mates? Don’t worry, Trail’s expert team is here to help…

Graham thompsonGT has been Trail’s technical editor for over 20 years, and he’s a fountain of knowledge on all aspects of walking kit.

simon inGram

jeremy ashcroft

peter macfarlane

Trail’s editor is a Mountain Leader trainee, and he’s been on more mountains than most of us could dream about.

Mountaineering editor Jeremy has a wealth of experience in the UK and overseas, and he’s here to solve your problems.

Peter’s our lightweight expert, and he can give you all the advice you need about saving weight on the hill.

ask us a question!If you’ve got a question about hill-walking, don’t suffer in silence. Get in touch and ask our team.

›› Post your queries to: Ask Trail, Trail, Bauer, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA.

Even better, email us: [email protected] and put ‘Ask Trail’ in the subject box.

(Sorry, but we can only answer the questions that appear in the magazine.)

your questions answered

50 Trail january 2012

Q

your problems solved by our hillwalking experTs

ask trail

I recently completed the Three Peaks Challenge, having carried out plenty of training beforehand. However, I

noticed that my hands swelled while walking. Can you give me any insight into why this happens?Sadie Clayton, via email

Swollen hands and fingers are usually related to vasodilation, a natural cooling process whereby your blood vessels

expand, allowing increased blood flow just below the skin. It’s perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Even if you do look like a tomato.

Another major factor is simply trapped fluids. During exercise your heart rate increases, pumping more material through your veins and arteries. While a hillwalker’s legs are working hard and moving blood and water around quickly, their arms are relatively stationary, which encourages fluids to ‘pool’ in the hands and fingers. Runners experience this phenomenon too.

One of the best solutions is to use walking poles. The regular movement will help keep your arms and hands loose, stretched and free from fluid. You could also try carrying a bouncy ball or stress reliever to lightly grip from time to time. Raising your arms above your head, stretching your fingers out for a few seconds and then making a fist works just as well. If you’re feeling festive you can even play an imaginary accordion for a minute or two.

Before you hit the hills, we’d also recommend you loosen or remove any tight rings, straps or bracelets too.

a

why do my hands swell?

if your hands are this swollen you’re beyond our help!

your questions answered

I recently bought a Primus Spider, but having never owned a remote canister stove before I was

wondering… when it’s running low on gas, what would happen if I inverted the canister? Is it safe? Will it improve burner performance?Chris Walker, via email

Inverting the canister won’t help, unfortunately. In reality you’ll just cause spluttering, or worse.

Traditional stoves rely on evaporated vapour inside the canister to keep the burner supplied with fuel. The less vapour left, the lower the pressure and the less impressive the output of the stove. Inverting the stove will place the heavier, liquid part of the fuel against the nozzle, making it harder for the gas to escape. It’s both unnecessary and potentially dangerous.

Some newer stoves however do rely on an inverted canister. Much like pump-activated canisters, they use gas pressure to force liquid fuel out of the container to the base of the burner, from where it evaporates and ignites. It’s tempting to believe what’s good for one stove is good for another, but it’s not true.

Rather boringly, decent wind protection is the best way to aid ouput on a traditional stove.

Can I invert a gas canister?

help me speak welsh!

Q

a

How do I pronounce the names of the Welsh mountains? Everyone seems to say them differently, and I’m

embarrassed to ask! Are there any simple rules I can remember to help me?Amelia Askey, via email

If you’re English, pronouncing Welsh can be a tricky task as it derives from the Gaelic family of languages, unlike our own Germanic Anglo-Saxon

tongue. They may share (mostly: Welsh has no k, q or z) the same letters, but they often come loaded with wildly different pronunciations that can vary from valley to valley! Luckily there are a few simple rules you can follow when walking in Cymru (or ‘Kum-ree’).

There are nine letters (or pairings) which catch out visiting anglophones: c, ch, dd, g,

ll, f, ff, w and y. The rules to mastering these frightening phonetics are nice and clear, so assume your best Rob Brydon impression and try these on for size...c is like the English ‘kick’ eg: Caernarfon (kyre-nar-von).ch is like the Scottish ‘loch’.dd –is like the English ‘breathe’ eg: Beddgelert (beth-gell-airt). g is like the English ‘get’ eg: Beddgelert (beth-gell-airt). ll is pronounced thl eg: Llanberis (thlan-ber-ris) f is like the English ‘of’ eg: Felindre (veh-lin-dray). ff is like the English ‘off’ eg: Ffestiniog (fest-in-yog). w is like the English ‘swoon’ eg: Llanrwst (thlan-roost). y is pronounced like a ‘u‘ at the start of the word, and an ‘i‘ at the end, eg: mynydd (‘mun-ith’).

a

Q

how to tell how much fuel is left in a canisterIf we’re honest, we’ve all got a stash of half-used gas canisters at home that we’re never going to take out on the hills for fear of running dry. To solve this, weigh a half-empty canister, time how long it takes to burn until empty, and then weigh it again. That way next time you measure another ‘not-full’ canister you’ll be able to work out exactly the weight of fuel left in it and how many minutes of cooking that equates to!

top Welsh peaks pronouncedWith those tips in mind, here’s Trail’s guide to pronouncing some popular Welsh peaks…

Listen to real Welsh: www.walkhighlands.

co.uk; www.munro magic.com

Tryfan – ‘truh-van’Pen y fan – ‘pen-uh-van’Cnicht – ‘kuh-nicht’Cadair Idris – ‘cadder-id-ris’Carnedd Llewelyn – ‘car-neth thl-oo-el-in’

Glyder Fawr – ‘glidder vow-err’ (to rhyme with ‘hour’)Elidir Fawr – ‘el-id-ir vow-err’Glyder Fach – ‘glidder vakh’Moel Siabod – ‘moil shabbod’Crib Goch – ‘crib goch’

Yr Wyddfa ‘urr oo-i-th-va’… or more simply - ‘Snowdon’

LAKE DISTRICT


It’s the ultimate thrill-seeker’s journey: your guide to 13 of the Lake District’s most charismatic ridges... from softie to scary.

e d g e s o f g r e a t n e s snderfoot, the ground turns from mossy pelt to a bare vertebrae of angled slabs. Soon, this arches into a spine, elegant and cold. Drops open either side, gently first, then quicker; your breath copies. There is no longer any doubt as to the forward direction – you’ve found the edge, and there it goes, your way ahead. This is The Thrill.

The places where these feelings bubble and spit are among the most famous, infamous areas of the UK’s mountains – the ridges and edges of the Lake District.

Covering every range of walking, from skyway hands-in-pockets struts to hands-on-rock expeditions, these routes offer the perfect places to see the mountains at their most dramatic and dynamic.

The pages that follow collect and issue a call to arms to Lakeland’s 13 best arêtes, skyline ridges and rock walkways. Treat these pages as a tick-list, and you’re guaranteed that the finest mountain walks in England will pass beneath your boots before you’re done. Treat them as a ladder of challenge and you’ll find yourself contemplating personal benchmarks of thrill and adventure. Perhaps you’ve got the skill and nerves to tackle them under snow – or perhaps you’d rather wait until spring, then knock them all off in a flurry of edgy action. Either way, pack your sense of adventure...

U

Before you go...Some of these routes are exposed or scrambly: tackling them in winter requires skills for dealing with snow, ice and difficult terrain in bad weather. Exercise caution.

© S

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Sleet How's broad ridge during a cloud inversion, with Skiddaw’s and Blencathra's summits on the skyline.

It’s the ultimate thrill-seeker’s journey: your guide to 13 of the Lake District’s most charismatic ridges... from softie to scary.

e d g e s o f g r e a t n e s s

Grisedale Pike is often considered one of the most arresting peaks in Lakeland, its pyramidal form a thorn on the Coledale horizon. Sleet How is a fine approach onto this fell, and a perfect step up from fell and valley paths to airier, altogether more electrifying ridge-walking. There’s little to fear: drops are unthreatening, and only the final pull onto the summit of Grisedale Pike requires you to give a little extra thought to your foot placements. But the area’s wild, scraped position in the North-Western Fells and Sleet How’s lofty skywalk and commanding views of the surrounding fells will grip you and make you hungry for more.

Words from the edge "A sublime slice of the Lakes, which offers the joy of being high without any of the dread of a spindly crest. Grisedale Pike is a worthy objective that never leaves your sight as you ascend. I did it in wind and, fittingly, sleet – and still loved it.”Simon Ingram, Trail editor

FACTFILELocation North-Western Fells, NY203226 Character broad, high-level moorland ridge which steepens to rock on the approach to Grisedale Pike In summer no significant difficultiesIn winter beware of high winds and cornices

1 3 s l e e t H o w , g r i s e d a l e P i k e

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5/09

gearOnly the best products receive Trail's Best in Test or Best Value awards. Keep your eyes peeled for them!

ABOUT OUR TESTSOur tests are carried out by experts so you know you're getting a proper verdict based on years of experience. To keep things consistent, prices are the manufacturers' suggested retail prices, and our five star ratings are as clear as it gets...

christmas gear guide! 64alpkit Kangri TenT 664-season boots grOup TesT 68buyer's guide ice axes 80buyer's guide crampOns 84

✱ Poor✱ ✱ Belowaverage✱ ✱ ✱ average✱ ✱ ✱ ✱ goodPerformance✱ ✱ ✱ ✱ ✱ TheBesTiniTsclass


best in testmagazine

best valuemagazine

Tom

Ba

iley

gear

64 Trail January 2012

gift gu deChristmas

Santa’s coming, and if you’ve been very, very good he may leave one of these must-have bits of swag in your stocking! Words Phoebe Smith PhotograPhs tom bailey

Sigg Heritage £17.50Be green and trendy with this classic water bottle.www.sigg.com

Light My Fire Spork Titanium £14Be the envy of your friends who only have the plastic version.www.lightmyfire.com

JetboilFry Pan £40, Utensil Kit £9, Coffee Press £12.50Pimp Trail’s last subscriber gift with some of this cooking bling.www.jetboil.com

Cébé ICE 8000 Glacier Sunglasses £90Ideal for mountain use, with great lenses and a sleek design that strikes a good balance between goggle and glasses.www.cebe.com

Nut iPhone Protector £20Protect your beloved iPhone so you can use its GPS on the hill whatever the weather (unless the batteries die...). These are designed and made in the UK.www.okoqu.com

Vibram Five FingersKSO Trek £150Designed for walking – with a robust leather upper and sock liner. Time to see if your feet are tough enough! ww.vibramfivefingers.com

Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket £150A well-made insulating layer for all your winter adventures which is lightweight and packs down tiny.www.cotswoldoutdoor.com

Brasher Boot Care Kit £10Help your loved ones make their leather boots last longer – and save having to fork out on a new pair of footwear for them – genius! www.brasher.co.uk

Memory-Map Adventure Kit £30Includes an app, maps and a stormproof case, all for your iPhone.www.memory-map.co.uk

Aladdin Bento Lunch Box £13.30Like a thermos for food, this nifty box keeps your grub hot or cold.www.aladdin- pmi.com

Primus C&H vacuum bottle £15

Slip a little something hot in your bag this winter – available in 6 fantastic colours.

www.primus.se

Lowe Alpine Illusion Pack £30A16 litre daypack that weighs just 280g and folds into its own pocket – magic!www.lowealpine.com

gift gu deGrower’s Cup

Coffeebrewer £2 For the on-the-hill coffee

connoisseurs, one bag makes three tasty cups.

www.growerscup.com

Brunton Pocket Scope £22.50Perfect for twitchers who want a compact option for hillwalking.www.brunton.com

Care Plus Bugsox Kids’ and Adult (2 pairs) £14Impregnated with the anti-tick product Durallin, these socks will keep the biting parasites safely at bay.www.travelhealthstore.co.uk

Smartwool Hats, scarfs, gloves, socks £10-40Combining the comfort of snuggly merino wool with some, let’s face it, very jazzy colours, Smartwool has your winter accessories sorted. www.smartwool.com

Goal Zero Rock Out Portable Speaker £40Good quality speakers great for camping as they’re weather resistant and rechargeable.www.goalzero.com

Yaktrax Pro £22Don’t let the icy paths put you off keeping fit for the hills – invest in a pair of these for slippery trail running this winter. www.yaktrax.co.uk

Embers MerinoLS Chase (women’s) £46 Zip Duotone (men’s) £52Naturally antibacterial and antipong, these funky base layers are great for year-round comfort.www.embersmerino.com

DK / Royal Geographical Society Mountaineers £25A beautifully produced book that’s crammed full of photographs certain to inspire and impress any mountain aficionado.www.dk.com

Magellan Explorist GC £140A GPS dedicated for the treasure-huntlike sport of geocaching with the world’s most popular geocaches pre-loaded.www.magellangps.com/uk

WengerTitanium Line Ueli Steck Special Edition £110Created by climber Ueli Steck for the extremes, this little gem is also perfect for everyday adventures. www.whitbyandco.co.uk

The North Face Nuptse Tent Mules Fur II £35Luxuriate in your camp in style in these incredibly comfortable slip-ons that are also water-resistant, durable and packed with 450 fill power down.www.thenorthface.com

MSR Alpine Deluxe Kitchen Kit £45For the camping chef who has everything.www.msrcorp.com

For more gift ideas see our

exclusive extra on www.lfto.com

boots While a pair of 4-season boots can be used with crampons on more challenging icy ground, they are also ideal for long mountain days in the snow, making them the perfect winter hill and mountain footwear...

TesT & sTudio phoTographs Graham ThompsonouTdoor phoTographs Tom Bailey

4-season

68 Trail January 2012 January 2012 Trail 69

group test

If you want a pair of boots that will perform on winter mountains, read on...

what we testedBerghaus Kibo £200asolo Sherpa GV £200Boreal TriGlaV £210MaMMut MonoliTh GTX £220aKu Spider liGhT GTX £235scarpa ManTa GTX £240ZaMBerlan VajoleT £240la sportiva TranGo alp GTX £240


4-season boots


buyer’s guide

CramponsGet a grip on snowy or icy terrain with a pair of these bad boys attached to your boots...

FitCrampons need to fit your boots; so always try crampons on your own boots before purchase and keep hold of the instructions in case you need to adjust them at a later date.

ClassificationTo help with choosing crampons to match your boots there is a classification system. You need to find out what classification your boots are and a good shop assistant will be able to help if you don’t know. Boots rated as B1 can be fitted only with C1 crampons. Boots rated as B2 can be fitted with C1 or C2 crampons. Boots rated as B3 can be fitted with C1, C2 or C3 rated crampons. C1 crampons are usually flexible, C2 crampons are articulated and C3 crampons are completely rigid.

Anti-balling platesThese attach to the base of the crampon and help to reduce the amount of snow that sticks to the crampon.

Sharpness of spikesSharp spikes are ideal for getting a grip on ice, but they also snag easily on gaiters and they will wear down more quickly than blunt spikes. So unless you are heading for hard, steep ice, then slightly blunted spikes are all you need.

Length of spikesLong spikes will give a better grip in snow, but they will also catch more easily on gaiters and protrusions while crossing uneven ground of rock, snow and ice. So choose long spikes for use on snow, but go for shorter spikes for mixed ground.

BindingSome binding systems attach the crampons to your boots more easily than others. C1 crampons are often fitted with straps, while C2 and C3 crampons are often fitted with quick-release heel clips, which are the easiest and fastest binding method.

Number of spikesThe more points you have, the more secure your grip will be on steep, slippery slopes. But fewer spikes save weight and money. So walker’s crampons often have 10 points, while climbers and mountaineers go for crampons with 12 spikes.

Words Jeremy Ashcroft PhotograPhs tom BAiley


crampons

A 10-point crampon that is exceptionally compact, and for its price fairly light, making it ideal for those who tend to carry their crampons in their rucksack and use them only occasionally on their boots. The crampon has two points that are turned through 90 degrees to help with stability on slopes. There is also some 3D stamping towards the front points to add some extra strength. The crampon is easy to adjust and fit with the straps combined with toe and heel mouldings. This year’s anti-balling plates are pre-fitted and very lightweight, shaving a few grams off the whole package. The spikes are of a longer and more traditional length, which is good for use in snowy conditions, but they can feel a tad clumsy over mixed ground of exposed rock combined with thin snow or ice. A functional crampon with generally good features for winter walking, but some others have the edge in dealing with technical terrain.www.trailwise.co.uk

An interesting crampon offering 10 points, of which two are normal curved front points and the remaining eight vertical ones are rotated at 45º. This set-up is designed to reduce snow balling. The flex is fairly relaxed and the spikes are not too long, a combination which makes walking easy. Fitting is via toe and heel cradles with a nylon strap, which makes a very accommodating set-up that will fit an extensive range of boots. The length is adjusted by a spring-loaded pin and again is easy to adjust, even with gloved hands. Walking in them does take a little bit of getting used to, particularly if have used more conventional spike designs in the past. However once you become accustomed to the nuances of the required action they give a very positive grip on all forms of winter terrain, and at all gradients. These crampons are perfect for the weight-conscious mountain walker, and will on odd occasions prove useful for steeper ground.www.camp.it

StubaiTrekking 10 PoinT Universal £82

CampMagix£85

at a glance

Materials niCroMo steelClassifiCation C1size one size (fits 34-51cm)Weight 906g (pair including anti-balling plates)

at a glance

Materials steelClassifiCation C1size one size (fits 36-48cm)Weight 855g (pair including anti-balling plates)

best for occasional

use

best for value

hillwalking

RoutesTrail Routes use OS mapping and gradient profiles, and are written by walking experts. This month we feature six hilly gems that only locals know about - virtually guaranteed crowd-free! Look out for the ‘Did You Know?’ panel for extra facts with which to impress your walking friends! Download these routes and GPS waypoints at lfto.com/routes

1 BeinnBheula 14.5km p93 2 Quantockhills 15.8km p95 3 Benwiskin 16km p97 4 RhoBellFawR 13.7km p99 5 Gallowayhills 18.7km p101 6 MoelPenaMnen 13.9km p103

ultimate weekend – Patterdale 7 stsundaycRaG 14.8km p108 8 PlaceFell 12.4km p109 9 theknott 17.4km p110

ultimate weekend – Bamford 10 Bleaklowhill 21km p114 11 kindeRedGes 24km p115 12 thedeRwentwateRshed 16km p116

classic route 13 nantlleRidGe 15.6km p119

P97

P119 P114

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Documents

Trail Magazine - January 2012 taster