Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

^^^ a friend of mine lives in a canal boat in Hebden Bridge, he's a nutter.

Good weekend in Loch Lomond. Got there a bit late as there was an accident north of Glasgey, but still had time to sprint up and down The Cobbler via the path from Arrochar. The summit was clagged but lifted on the descent, which was stunning. No pictures yet (film). It was quite busy but I guess that's to be expected, given it's only an hour from Glasgow.

I had booked a hotel in Kilcreggan which had views out across the Firth of Clyde. Best of all, Men in Black was showing on TV...

My friend also lives on a boat! I wish I had a boat :(

guyz, guyz, HALP PLS.

Is a full Gore-Tex Active/Pro or Polartec Neo Hardshell waterproof jacket OTT for summer? Walking all day in 20 degrees but still getting drenched is not my idea of fun but would it be easier to HTFU rather than sling a waterproof on?-

I'm cautious, others may disagree... Jacket sounds possibly OTT but htfu isn't a sensible approach IMO. Windchill on e.g. Kinder Plateau even on a hot day can be brutal. Wet & cold = deadly.

Good Merino l/s layer would keep warm when wet (sweat or rain) could combine with a lighter rainproof?

If it's warm I just wear stuff that is quick-drying. A very lightweight windproof if it's windy enough to chill.

I do run quite hot though.

You don't really want to be walking all day in a hardshell jacket, you'll be soaked through with sweat in 20 degree heat.

I wear a very thin merino longsleeve top and a water-resistant softshell over that (a Sierra Designs one, it's also very thin). Water seeps through the shoulders a bit in prolonged rain, but that's okay. For drizzle or those annoying rain-sun-rain-sun days it's perfect.

Polypropylene or capilene tops will keep you warm when wet, moreso than merino, plus they dry much faster - but they absolutely reek to high heaven if you sweat in them. So not good for extended trips or if you're planning on a pint in the pub afterwards. I only wear them as thermals at night.

The hardshell stays in my pack unless it's really hammering down.

Wicking base layer and paramo soft shell

Let me go into more detail.

I own layers for days, so those are sorted, my jacket selection is minimal, I've got a Gore windproof jacket but it's cycling specific so no hood, but very packable, and a full on snowboarding jacket which is no good for anything but snowboarding and driving my car with the roof down in winter.

My other half also has plenty of layers, a 10 year old Berghaus packable windproof that has seen much, much better days, and a ski puffa.

We do plenty of walks in the UK, mostly Chilterns, Epping, whenever we're out with her family it's in the midlands, and we've got friends up near Sheffield so have walked Jacob's Ladder/Pennine Way/Kinder a few times. However we always avoid walking in the wet because we don't like getting wet.

We're going to Japan to do some walking/hiking in the Alps and right now the forecast is showing it's going to be pretty thundery but also warm when we're there and we don't want to have to miss out just because it's raining hard, so in my classic #buyersgonnabuy mentality, I was thinking a hardshell would stop us getting soaked out there, and then would also be useful for walking in the UK (so we're not spending £300 between us just for 1 trip!)

However, based on people with more experience's opinions (ie, you people), I'm willing to do something different. We just both really don't like getting wet - I know, I know, it's part of being outdoors....

My fairly simple, and humble, opinion is to get Decathlon's £30 waterproof jackets (Alprenaz 300 or something if i remember correctly). Mine has served me well and kept me proper proper dry in proper proper rain when walking, cycling, festivalling, many times over the last 6 years, and still going strong. It's got a decent lining and whilst not as breathable as goretex it doesn't condense inside or get too hot.

If you find yourself in Decathlon its worth taking a look at the Simond waterproof jackets in the climbing section. They're £99- £130 but give some of my £300 jackets a run for their money in terms of quality and finish.

On the subject of Simond their Alipinism 700 trousers are 50% off at the moment. I wore a pair skiing, snowshoeing and climbing for three weeks in the Alps last winter and I'm a big fan. A bargain at full price let alone £40 if they have your size left.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/alpinism-700-pants-id_8100490.html

Edit: The only have XXL available online but I saw some other sizes available at same price in Surrey Quays at the weekend.

Any further advice appreciated...

My hardshell is a Marmot Precip which was (the equivalent of) about forty quid. It's a 2.5-layer jacket with a decent hood.

It's waterproof for a little while in heavy rain. It's waterproof all day in light rain. It packs down to the size of a small grapefruit and doesn't weigh much, maybe 400g. It's breathable enough to wear on my ride into work (massive armpit zips). It's cut short, which means it's lighter/more packable (which is good because it spends 90% of its time in my pack).

Given that I've tramped all around the west coast of NZ, one of the wettest places in the world, with the setup I described above, I'd be confident wearing it in Japan. I'd go with a heavier 3-layer hardshell jacket, with a longer cut, for Scottish winters - basically if I expect to be wearing it continuously I'd want something burlier, but for intermittent heavy rain it's absolutely perfect.

Waterproof jackets aren't actually waterproof, they just have varying degrees of water-resistance. Your jacket selection is a tradeoff between how many hours of rain it can withstand, versus how many hours you're going to be carrying the thing in your pack.

Anyway look here, they're on sale:
http://www.climbers-shop.com/10903795/products/marmot-precip-jacket.aspx?origin=pla&kwd=&currency=GBP&gclid=CP_H-57wuc4CFUITGwodTY0AMg

+1 for Marmot Precip.
Cheap and perfect for when you need more than just a windproof.
I own a super bombproof Karrimor waterproof but it's too much day to day, only worn for working during proper downpours.

Think I paid around £60 for mine but depending on size/colour they can be real cheap.

Go Outdoors has this reduced to £100

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/rab-mens-nexus-alpine-jacket-p361379

that's what I've been considering, only a shade more than the Marmot Precip

Looks good at that price. Heavier and probably less breathable than the Precip, but probably more water-resistant. It's a do-it-all hardshell from a decent brand so you won't really go wrong.

The only thing that would put me off is the limited colour choice. White's no good, it'll disappear in bad weather which is when you least want to lose sight of your partner. That leaves you both wearing green jackets, and having matching gear is totally confusing (if I can't buy non-matching gear I'll draw big fat stripes on one item with a permanent marker, but I guess you wouldn't want to do that to an expensive jacket).

Whatever you buy I'd still recommend a cheap water-resistant softshell, they are so much more comfortable and breathable (and quieter) and perfect for intermittent light rain.

Me and Liz both have horrifically garish precips should the unthinkable occur. White is nice for around town but not much else...

Red is the only colour for mountains.

Helps in signalling Mountain Rescue if it goes tits up.

Glorious day in the Oztal valley. Acclimatisation hike from the village (1800m) up to 3,200m over the course of 3km and back down again.

Up was easy, descent was really tiring. Hoping to be fresh for a long trip up to some glaciers tomorrow.

Glorious day in the Oztal valley. Acclimatisation hike from the village (1800m) up to 3,200m over the course of 3. 5km and back down again.

Up was easy, descent was really tiring. Hoping to be fresh for a long trip up to some glaciers tomorrow.

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Beautiful!

We're totally broken!

Made our way up to the Gaisbergferner glacier yesterday to introduce Mrs Hedge to a few glacier safety basics. Epic day. Weather couldn't have been better. Treated to some live geography with crevaces opening and a few rock falls.

Once again, up was fine and down was killer. We're both totally immobilised below the waist. Rest day exploring the timmelsjoch pass today.

Photos to follow when I have better internetz

Your trips always sound so much fun.

They are fun. Reckon we've fucked up though. This muscle soreness is unreal. Might only get one more day out before we leave on Sunday at this rate.

How can we prepare better to reduce the DOMS from descending? We only get to the mountains twice a year. It's hard to get away more than that with our jobs.