Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

heh, sleeping in cars and getting up at 3am to reach the foot of the climb, all good stuff. would I do it again? fuck no... but what am I saying as eyeing up the matterhorn next year..

I'm jealous as fuck. The fitness requirement for the Matterhorn has always placed it in the pipe dream category for me. That and cowardice. The final 30m are severe. Casual jaunts up the Breithorn are more our scene.

I hiked up to about 100m above the hornli hut a few years ago. Really got the juices flowing. I'd like to think I'd get to the top one day. Lots of climbing to get under the belt first though.

Do you know the area at all? They say that you need to be able to run from Zermatt to Sunegga in 30 mins to be fit enough to climb the Matterhorn. That's obviously an arbitrary and meaningless benchmark but it's enough to make you think twice about your preparations.

Good article > http://roy.lachica.no/matterhorn/

My mountaineering experience is good, so now started on running with a rucksack on around the rolling countryside of banburyshire... hell

Just looking at some old Garmin files. Reckon the fastest I have hiked to Sunegga is about 90 minutes. Not that I was trying to go quickly.

Anyone here carry one of these (or other brand?) and actually used it?

https://www.lifesystems.co.uk/products/outdoor-survival/light-and-dry-bivi-bag

I need to carry one for mid Nov likely to get used so looking for real world feedback on how bad/v.bad the experience will be... no space to carry hunka and sleep bag, will carry thermarest neoair xlite mat.

Never used one but I am intrigued by what you might be doing...

I would say it would be constricting, sweaty, noisy - a solid 7 on the Shit Night's Sleep scale. Maybe an 8 if it rains or bugs eat your face.

Anyone here carry one of these (or other brand?) and actually used it?

I wouldn't use one for a night in November for sleeping in, if that is what you are planning.

They are for emergency use only.

He's racing, go light and supplement with a bus shelter if possible :)

I think the SOL version is lighter

Probably pricey

Thanks folks thinking 2 to 3 hrs kip or true emergency use.

Would be sheltered* if the kip option.

*Csb as a parent i've sussed that many newer park climbing/slide structures have reasonable looking shelter potential under various platforms, defo gotta arrive and leave out of hours though...

Anyone want my fingerboard?
Can't mount it anywhere in our new place so it's sat idle.
Holdz board and 4x Core mini jugs all mounted to a bit of board.
£25 collected from E17 sound fair?

1 Attachment

What was the situation with this? Did it get sold?

I unexpectedly have a week's leave remaining and the only time I can take it is the week before Christmas.

Can anyone recommend an overnight or 3-day wild camp hike in the Lakes or Wales? Ice axe okay, prefer to stay away from anything that might require crampons.

Obviously there is a lot to be had in Scotland but I am loathed to drive 6 hours up to the highlands only to drive 14 hours down to Bournemouth where we are spending Christmas this year.

Might as well start here before Ask Any Question...

Has anyone been to Yosemite in February? In my head I'd planned to drive from SF to Yosemite, I'd like to do some "light" hiking/gazing around in awe at the various peaks then drive east and down to Death Valley for some bonus tourist points, before heading back to LA and a flight to Auckland. This would all be late spring-early summer or something and conditions would be perfect, but that doesn't work when you're trying to catch the arse end of summer in NZ so we'll be there earlier than planned...

I've seen Tioga Pass is closed in winter as are the road through the parks/forests above/below so getting to Death Valley looks unlikely. We won't have full winter gear with us and it looks like the majority of trails will be closed, leaving impressive scenery and "light nature walks". Reckon it's worth heading there or should I just stick to the coast road from SF to LA, get to NZ a bit quicker and hope we're not to skint to visit on the way back...

I haven't been to Yosemite but I'll chew your ear off about NZ for hours. Why Auckland though? If you want the scenery an internal flight to Christchurch is the best stepping-stone.

Went up Moel Siabod in Snowdonia last weekend. Scrambly, peaky, boggy, then sheepy. No pictures because I'm a shit, sorry. Surprisingly it took less than three hours to get there, so I'm sure we'll be back.

We're not planning on hanging around in Aukland, just landing there and then heading down to stay with a friend in Wellington while we look for a camper or something. Will no doubt be in touch when we have a few more details sorted :)

If anybody wants to buy a really decent duffel bag Wiggle are doing a great offer on TNF ones

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/the-north-face-base-camp-duffel-m/

The Mountain Equipment copies are cheap(ish) in Cotswold atm
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/?fuseaction=products.list&query=subsite%3D%26fh_eds%3D%25c3%259f%26fh_view_size%3D30%26fh_refpath%3Dca098647-174d-4fe9-b996-5f3dfbd38754%26fh_refview%3Dlister%26devicetype%3Ddesktop%26fh_reffacet%3Dbrand%26store-region%3Duk%26fh_location%3D%252f%252fcatalog01%252fen_GB%252fcategories%253c%257bcatalog01_c5%257d%252fcategories%253c%257bcatalog01_c5_c47%257d%252fcategories%253c%257bcatalog01_c5_c47_c223%257d%252fcompany_in_web%253e101%252fvisible_cw%253d1%252fbrand%253e%257bmeq%257d

this seems like it might be the most fitting thread.. I have a RAB microlight alpine jacket and I've been pretty cold wearing it, so i'm looking at another, heavier down jacket but struggling to figure out what is warmer.

I was recommended this: http://eu.patagonia.com/enGB/product/mens-hi-loft-down-sweater-hoody?p=84902-0-SULY but it was 600 fill down vs my RABs 750, but i guess its maybe more about the amount? Im confused either way

Norwich TK Maxx has a few pairs of green Mammut Magic Gore-tex women's boots in 6.5 for £90 if anyone is looking for such things

Yeah you've got the right idea. There are two attributes to compare - the fill power (e.g. 600 or 750, with bigger numbers being more fluffy or 'warmer') and fill weight, which is the actual amount of down stuffed into the jacket, in grams.

There are other features that make a jacket warmer, like a storm tube/draught tube (insulated flap over the main zip), insulated collar, insulated cuffs, draw cord around the waist etc.

Probably the biggest difference is whether the construction is baffled (little boxes of down between the outer and the lining, creating an even thickness of insulation) or 'sewn-through' whereby the outer is sewn directly to the lining and the down is stuffed into little pockets - economical to manufacture, but you get cold spots at the stitch lines because there is no insulation there.

Sorry I can't open the links so can't comment directly.

I have a thin belay-style down jacket (Chinese, very cheap and very light) for summer and a big fully-featured Macpac jacket for winter adventures. I got the Macpac jacket a size larger than usual so I can wear it over the light one, for when it's just that cold.

I need a holiday. Thinking highlands for a long weekend.

I can't drive so is it ok just getting a sleeper train to Fort William, find a b&b and walk off in any direction for scenery?

Mallaig looks nice and is a short train ride away...

If you're feeling adventurous get off at Rannoch and walk to Fort William

FFS. Sleeper train return for two is from £330...

It looks far and I have no idea what I'm doing. Would do it with more experienced person(s) happily but 18k is probably pushing what I can get the missus to do, let alone 35 as the crow flies.