Trail magazine August 2013

L I V E F O R T H E O U T D O O R S

AUGUST 2013 £3.99

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SNOWDONIA’S 7 BEST RIDGES

Unlock Wales’ most thrilling terrain

the one that thinks fl at caps have been absent from the hills for far too long

GET OUT AND GET ACTIVE!

’ECK!TACKLING THE

YORKSHIRE 3 PEAKS

S U M M E R H I G H S

BRECON BEACONS

Secret spots the locals love

13 ROUTESWALK HERE NOW!

CNICHTLANGDALE

SKYETORRIDON

L I V E F O R T H E O U T D O O R S

AUGUST 2013 £3.99 AUGUST 2013 £3.99

I N S I D E R ’ S G U I D E

SNOWDONIA’S 7 BEST RIDGES

Unlock Wales’ most thrilling terrain

GET OUT AND GET ACTIVE!

’ECK!TACKLING THE

YORKSHIRE 3 PEAKS

GET OUT AND GET ACTIVE! S U M M E R H I G H S

BRECON BEACONS

Secret spots the locals love

13 ROUTESWALK HERE NOW!WALK HERE NOW!WALK HERE NOW!WALK HERE NOW!

CNICHTCNICHTCNICHTCNICHTCNICHTLANGDALELANGDALELANGDALELANGDALELANGDALE

SKYESKYESKYESKYESKYETORRIDONTORRIDONTORRIDONTORRIDONTORRIDON

Walk from the beach to the top of SLIOCH... in 2 days! TESTED DAYSACKS, TARPS + SLEEPING BAGSG E A R

SEA TO SUMMITWalk from the beach to the top of SLIOCH... in 2 days!

the one that thinks fl at caps have been absent from the hills for far too long

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L A K E S

GREAT GABLESleeping on the summit of an icon

Dream peak 10Lovely Beinn Alligin, ‘Mountain of Beauty’

Good, bad, or ugly? 12Staying safe in the hills, cartoon-style

The Mountain Inquisition 15Leanna Shuttleworth, Everest summiteer Download the app! 16How to get Trail Routes on your iPhone

High Lights: August 17Your month of mountains, sorted

Trail Skills 51The most versatile bit of outdoors kit ever PLUS how to cope if you’re cragfast; the truth about Adam and Eve; knives and the law; is beer better than water (seriously!)?

Out There 4Your best mountain moments, on camera

In Box 20 The world of hillwalking, according to you lot

Subscribe to Trail 40Sign up and get three issues for a fi ver!

Behind the picture 18Sprint champ aims to summit Mont Blanc Spine tinglers 22To Snowdonia, for a spot of scrambling...

A night on Great Gable 36Trail picks its moment for a mountain bivvy

The real 3 Peaks 42A northerner, a southerner and a photographer walk into a café...

From sea to summit 60Tackling Slioch in one epic backpacking trip

A DV E N T U R ESS K I L L SB A S E C A M P

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AUGUST 2013 TRAIL 9

Supper is served! Trail tries bivvying on Great Gable.

MATTHEW ROBERTS

SUBSCRIBE AND GET 3 ISSUES FOR JUST £5!

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WHERE THIS MONTH’S ISSUE WILL TAKE YOUCONTENTS

Paracord: page 52.

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G E A RIncoming! 76The must-have hill kit that’s available soon

First tests 78Mountain Equipment jacket + Nordisk tent

20-30 litre rucksacks 80Lightweight kit-carriers for summer action

Sleeping bags 90Sub-kilo schlafsäcke to suit most budgets

Tarps 100Minimalist shelters for hardy backpackers

North Yorkshire 109Route 1 Roseberry Topping Lake District 111Route 2 Martindale

Lake District 113Route 3 Place Fell

Snowdonia 115Route 4 Cnicht

West Highlands 117Route 5 Sgurr Dhomhnuill

Isle of Skye 119Route 6 Bla Bheinn

Torridon 123Route 7 Beinn Alligin traverseRoute 8 Ruadh-stac Mor Route 9 Meall a’Ghiubhais

Rhinogs 129Route 10 Y LlethrRoute 11 Rhinog Fawr Route 12 Moel Ysgyfarnogod

Lake District 135Route 13 Langdale

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AUGUST 2013 TRAIL 9

‘WE HAD THE FIRST FEELINGS OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD DEFINE THE TREK… WE WERE ON A JOURNEY’

SLIOCH, FROM SEA TO SUMMIT

WHERE THIS MONTH’S ISSUE WILL TAKE YOU

Isle of Skye 119Route 6 Bla Bheinn p90

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The distinctive summit cone of Langdale’s

Pike of Stickle – see Route 13.

6 TRAIL AUGUST 2013 AUGUST 2013 TRAIL 7

Everest

Baruntse

MakaluLhotse

Mera Peak HimalayasAndy, at 6476m. He says “We had a brilliant 3 weeks over there in April, with [travel company] KE, and it now ranks as my ‘trip of a lifetime’. Trail readers will love it, and all you really need is physical � tness because all the technical needs are covered during the trek in.”

Glyder Fach SnowdoniaEmma, Jill, Alison, Eric, Menno and Allan – a group of friends on a super sunny and super cold day on the Cantilever Stone, saying “Oh yes we can-can!”

OUT THERE

AUGUST 2013 TRAIL 7

Cadair IdrisSnowdoniaEthan (4), on his � rst high-level walk. Proud dad Robert says, “He made it all on his own. Here he is enjoying some well-earned hotpot at the lake halfway up.”

Beinn EigheTorridonGill, well pleased with herself, just having negotiated the ‘ugly step’ on her way to the top of Triple Buttress above Coire Mhic Fhearchair on a truly fabulous summer day.

Tryfan SnowdoniaSophia (9) and Joey (6) with dad Shane during “six days of highly enjoyable mountaineering in some really challenging conditions”. Shane says, “It was the � rst time we have climbed across all of the Glyders and up Bristly Ridge. The conditions turned this into an epic day’s climbing in winter conditions.”

Fleetwith Pike Lake District

Jez recalls, “I met some truly inspirational people on the way down from Haystacks, who take blind and partially

sighted people for days out walking in the Lakes. I actually had trouble keeping up with them on the way down.”

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]

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Your month of adventure starts here...base camp

AUGUST 2013 TRAIL 11

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BEINN ALLIGINTORRIDONAny peak with a Gaelic name that translates as ‘Mountain of Beauty’ is unlikely to be short of admirers – especially when its spiky eastern � ank is dominated by the triple pinnacles of the Horns of Alligin. But while there’s no escaping its aesthetic charm, there’s also no mistaking the fact that Beinn Alligin is 986m of pure Torridonian muscle. Rising in castellated tiers of red sandstone and white quartzite, this sprawling beast snakes across the horizon in a seductive tangle of narrow spurs and dark � ssures. Although widely regarded as the easiest of the region’s three classic ridge traverses – the other two being Liathach and Beinn Eighe – the mountain certainly isn’t without its challenges. If knee-trembling scrambles are your thing, check out the vicious scar of Eagh Dubh that runs directly down the southern face; they don’t call it ‘the ri� of the screeching’ for nothing.

DO IT THIS MONTH! ›› TURN TO PAGE 124

D R E A M P E A KBASE CAMP

22 Trail August 2013

Go: SnowdoniaDo: Scrambling

spine tinglersSummits? Bah! Who needs 'em? When it comes to the thrill of a Snowdonian scramble, it's all about the journey... Words ben weeks PhotogrAPhs bob atkins

August 2013 Trail 23

High on the hill was a flat-capped man-leg, lay odelay ode lay hee hoo...

alph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, poet, and leader of the Transcendentalist movement in the early 19th century. What’s that got to do with mountains? Perhaps nothing; but among his essays, poems and transcendental philosophy is an idea that

appeals: “Life is a journey, not a destination.” It’s all too easy to obsess about the destination (for most

hillwalkers a summit of some kind). But more often than not it’s getting there that’s the adventure – it’s the journey that’s important. Mountains offer a veritable smörgåsbord of routes to the top, and generally we pick the one that looks the most interesting. And for many a seasoned hillwalker, that route will include a scramble.

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4 more

thrillersSnowdoniaSnowdonia

Crib Goch, Bristly Ridge and Crib Lem got your juices pumping? Then plan a return visit to Snowdonia to tick off these adrenaline-packed routes…

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North ridge, Yr eleN Short, spiky and steep, the north ridge of Yr Elen is a fantastic prospect for a number of reasons. Firstly, you have to earn it. Approaching from Gerlan, you walk past ancient settlements and slate works before rounding into a deep, cupped-hand cwm with a shadowed lake at its heart. Secondly, aesthetically it’s a hoot. Like the bristled back of a dinosaur, it climbs to a little-trodden satellite of Wales’ second highest peak in a manner that’s never dull. Thirdly, you’re almost guaranteed not to meet anybody else up here. It’s remote, squirrelled away, invisible from any of the peaks to the south and removed from the usual approaches. A wild camp would practically make it a wilderness experience…

South-weSt ridge, CNiCht Cnicht is terrific as it’s small and sharp, and the best route on the mountain leads directly to its summit with plenty of hands-on action. It may not be super-tall (689m) but it certainly feels it when you look over the yawning drop to the valley floor of Cwm Croesor from the compact summit. The ridge itself is as hard as you want to make it; you can find your way up on fairly unthreatening terrain or you can scare yourself silly, but the scrambling is brief so make the most of it!

South ridge, SNowdoN Splendidly long and pitched perfectly for those who want an airy, quiet way up a big mountain but prefer a wider walkway than Crib Goch or Y Lliwedd, the south ridge of Snowdon arguably is, scenically, the best way up. Tapering to an apex the shape of a pitched roof (though thankfully a lot wider), the ridge ascends gloriously via rocky steps above some of the horseshoe’s most hidden views. If you haven’t climbed to the peak this way, make it your next walk.

trail’s routeScrambling grade 1Scare rating ▲▲▲▲▲

Terrain Cnicht is a lot easier than it looks from afar; but in poor visibility do keep an eye on where your route is taking you, and stick to obvious lines of passage as it’s quite easy to climb yourself into trouble if you go off-route.

trail’s routeScrambling grade 1Scare rating ▲▲▲▲▲

Terrain Satisfying and full of holds and spikes to grab onto, this short ridge feels quite enclosed in places, and the rock is solid and grippy.

To find more details about Cnichtgo to Route 4 on page 115.[


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NANTLLE RIDGEThere are many moments on this long, linear roller

coaster of summits that are genuinely thrilling – but two stand out as being particularly so.

The fi rst is the north ridge of Mynydd-Drws-y-coed above Clogwyn Marchnad (bizarrely, ‘the cliffs of the market’), where the ridge

lurches upwards and tilts scarily over some of the biggest drops in Snowdonia. The second

is the climb onto Craig Cwm Silyn via its raggedy-backed north-east ridge.

‘THE SOUTH RIDGE OF SNOWDON IS ARGUABLY, SCENICALLY, THE BEST WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN.’

TRAIL’S ROUTEScrambling grade 0.5Scare rating ��

Terrain Broad and mostly easy, the south ridge has big drops either side but is rarely narrow enough to cause serious concern – though as with all of these routes it’s best avoided in high wind.

TRAIL’S ROUTEScrambling grade 1Scare rating ��

Terrain Threatening in places, with little in the way of escape as the drops on both sides are steep. The moves are straightforward but a stern head for heights is required.

august 2013 Trail 37

GO: Lake DistrictDO: Sleep on a summit

36 Trail august 2013

WORDS GRAHAM THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHS MATTHEW ROBERTS

n orange sun sat above Kirk Fell and Pillar. Its last rays of light played out patterns on the nutty craglets of Scafell’s clustered earth and rock. Below us nestled the dusky shades of

Wasdale Head. � e silver arm of Wast Water stretched toward the hazy coastline of Cumbria, and later that night a display of stars would watch over us as we peered out from our bivvy bags. In short, it was a night to remember.

It was also a night that nearly never happened. Great Gable isn't an easy mountain to pin down, especially when you plan to sleep on its summit. Attempt number one was scuppered by 70mph winds. Attempt number two was washed away by biblical rainfall. Attempt number three… looked promising. I had checked the weather forecast with an unnatural degree of obsession. I had looked out of the window countless times. � e time had come.


A ROOM WITH A VIEW

Its shattered summit o� ers the � nest views in Lakeland – so could the tip of Great Gable house Britain’s best wild camp?

It took Team Trail three attempts to � nd out…

Late evening light illuminates England's highest peak (Scafell Pike, centre left) and deepest lake.

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Go: YorkshireDo: one big day

Words oli reed PhotograPhs tom bailey

n case you didn’t already know, Yorkshire’s the best place in the world. Just ask any fiercely proud native, like myself: we don’t call it ‘God’s own county’ for nowt.

Everything up here is real: we’ve got real ale, real men, real gravy and extremely real weather – and we still know the value

of real football tackles. This is a place where flat caps are part of the school uniform, where women smell of (white) roses, where we stick ferrets down our trousers for sport and where pudding is more commonly served with roast beef than coupled with custard. We adorn our walls with Sean Bean watercolours, regularly overdose on Yorkshire Tea and celebrate Yorkshire Day every 1 August with a gusto not reserved for Christmas or New Year.

The Three Peaks ChallengeForget Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike. If you’re looking for a proper hillwalking workout, get yourself to Yorkshire.

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The Three Peaks ChallengeForget Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike. If you’re looking for a proper hillwalking workout, get yourself to Yorkshire.


Dropping from Whernside towards Ingleborough, in a

classic Yorkshire cocktail of rain, sunshine and wind.

TRAIL SKILLS


Why buying 12 metres of special string may be the cleverest thing you do all week…

The most versatile piece of kit ever?There are few things more comforting

out on the hill than having your back covered by a piece of kit you know is

there but don’t even notice. Quite o� en that takes the form of something fairly bulky like a survival bag, a personal locator beacon, spare batteries or a down jacket. But one of the most versatile items you can carry weighs practically nothing and has literally dozens of uses. You can even carry it around your wrist.

“Unlike strings, twines, general cable and nylon cords, Type III 550 paracord is a very technical rope with unique physical properties that allow it to be adapted to everything from dental � oss to suture fabric in the � eld,” says search and rescue specialist Lyle Brotherton, author of � e Ultimate Navigation Manual.

“Type III 550 paracord has a tensile strength of 250kg. It’s a dynamic rope that stretches by 30 per cent before breaking, won’t rot or mildew, and is UV-resistant. Twelve metres weighs just over 80g.”

Buy the right kind, though, says Lyle. Lots of items are sold as paracord, but the only genuine Type III is made in the States to a strict speci� cation. Ensure it’s US-manufactured 550 Type III; and if you need

to cut it, use a sharp pair of scissors then seal with a � ame.

Here are some handy uses for hillwalkers:

LANYARD Essential for securing kit to your person or rucksack, such as your compass, hand-held satnav (GPS receiver) or mobile phone. Lose one of these and you could be in deep trouble.

HALYARD

Paracord, despite a diameter of just over 3mm, has a minimum tensile strength of 250kg and is perfect for li� ing or lowering kit – from ice axes to rucksacks – over drops. Just remember to anchor the other end to ensure you don’t drop it...

WASHING LINEIf you need to dry your kit at camp a� er a rainy day, attach a length between two objects.

GUY ROPESExtra support for your tent in high winds can be gained from tensioning paracord against a rock or other solid object then attaching the other end to your

tent. And if you use glow-in-the-dark paracord you won’t trip over it at night!

SPARE BOOTLACES

Spare laces are the item we all forget but we’re stu� ed without. Never be without

them again!

Zip pullsCreating a pacing counter using togglesSecuring a splint to a broken limb

Dog leadSecuring items to a roof rackHanging food in a bear-safe tree (you never know)Key fob

Lashing items to your packA � re-starting bow stringEmergency beltSecuring rucksacks to a car roof rack

AND LOADS MORE USES...

52 TRAIL AUGUST 2013

THE LONG WALK

When counting paces, you can

keep track using toggles on a piece

of paracord.


US-manufactured Type III 550 paracord: a walker’s best friend?

Get hold of some genuine paracord from www.shavenraspberry.com

Why buying 12 metres of special string may be the cleverest thing you do all week…

The most versatile piece of kit ever?

You can also separate the threads inside the cord and use them as:Dental � oss, � shing lineSewing/suture fabricClothing or equipment repairTinder for � relighting

Get hold of some genuine paracord from www.shavenraspberry.com

You can also separate the threads inside the cord and use them as:

Clothing or equipment repair

AND LOADS MORE USES...

THE THING ABOUT STRING

WHY NOT WEAR IT?!A ni� y way to carry paracord in a way that allows you to always have it on you is to make a bracelet – or a belt – from various lengths of cord. Visit tinyurl.com/llgpskt for a tutorial on how to make one.

Lyle: never, ever seen without trusty paracord.

All you need is a few simple

tools...

...and a bit of creativity...

...and you’ve got your very own

accessory range!


GO: Slioch, Wester RossDO: A true journey

WALK FROM SEA TO SUMMIT


WALK FROM SEA TO SUMMIT Seeking Scotland’s most spectacular summit, Peter Macfarlane

wanted more… and got it. Join him for a once-in-a-lifetime backpacking epic on the shores of Wester Ross. WORDS PETER MACFARLANE PHOTOGRAPHS ANDY MCCANDLISH


A dark and moody Slioch beckons, but it will just have to wait

until the next day.

GEAR


Brunton Ember solar charger £75Solar chargers are great if there’s sun. Otherwise they’re just big, pointless lumps in your rucksack. But the Brunton Ember is (much) smaller and lighter than a pack of cards. Fully charged it has enough power to re-juice a smartphone up to three times via a funky 3-in-1 cable that fi ts mini and micro-USB ports and Apple connectors. Using this cable, it can be recharged from a computer or mains in just 3-4 hours. Also, 7-8 hours of strong sun will fully restore its power, though in the UK, this roughly equates to the entire month of August.�� www.bruntonoutdoor.com

INCOMING!A quick round-up of the new kit Trail has been playing with on and off the hill this month...

We want one!

Rohan Trailblazers Convertible £90While midges can be an extreme annoyance, other biting insects such as ticks are potentially far more dangerous. The Biteguard treatment to the Trailblazer pants not only repels biting insects, but in conjunction with their Dynamic Moisture Control it also helps reduce bacteria and microbial growth, which is great if you’re a sticky walker. And if you do run hot, why not zip off the lower leg section altogether and turn them into just-above-the knee shorts? �� www.rohan.co.uk

To keep going on long hill days, you need the right fuel. Pure Energy Pantry (PEP) uses natural ingredients to produce energy-rich snacks and cereals that not only give you the boost you need for hard mountain treks, but also taste rather good too. The current range includes Date & Walnut Muffi n Mix, Apricot & Almond Granola, Bircher Muesli Mix and

(our particular favourite) handy pocket-sized Energy Cookies.�� www.pureenergypantry.co.uk

PEP natural energy foods from £4.95

To be in with a chance of winning one of these fab prizes go to: www.greatcompetitions.co.uk/trail


PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Win 1 x Rab Siltarpreviewed on page 91

Win 1 x Mountain Hardwear Ultra Lamina Sleeping Bagreviewed on page 93

There are occasions when you’ll want to make sure that what you’re drinking won’t make you ill, or worse. The CamelBak All Clear system is simple and effective. Fill up your bottle, screw on the UV purifi er lid and turn on the lamp. Gently agitate the bottle while the LCD counter ticks down, and in just a minute you’ll have drinkable water, free from microbial nasties. The water must be clear for the UV to work, so if you need to remove larger contaminants you should attach the pre-fi lter while collecting your water. The pre-fi lter is sold separately, but if you’re unlikely to collect water from murky sources the purifi er kit may be all you need. �� www.camelbak.com

CamelBak All Clear UV Microbiological Purifier £100CamelBak All Clear Pre-Filter £15

Win 1 x Rab Siltarpreviewed on page 91

Win 1 x Mountain Hardwear

Win 1 x Vango adventure tarpreviewed on page 101

For those wild walks to the pub

WIN PRIZES WORTH £430!

Merrell Proterra Mid Sport £100It is: A super-light hiking shoeGood for: Casual wear and low-level walks in warm, dry climatesNot so good for: harsh/boggy terrainLooks great with: jeans or shortsLooks daft with: a 3-piece suit�� www.merrell.com

Win 1x CamelBak All Clear UV Microbiological Puri� er reviewed above

Win 1 x Deuter Speedlite 30reviewed on page 87

Mammut Blask Jacket £150With summer here, the rain may be a little less torrential and the wind slightly less aggressive than usual. It’s soft shell season, then, and the Mammut Blask is a no-nonsense jacket that does exactly what it needs to with minimum fuss. It’s light, comfortable, offers Velcro cuffs, a drawcord hem and two zipped waist pockets; and because it’s made from Mammut’s SOFtech soft shell fabric it’ll shrug off all but the most persistent summer drizzle.�� www.mammut.ch

PEP natural energy foods from £4.95

HIGH STREET HILL GEAR

Drizzle? Thizzle cope.

What to look for in a RUCKSACK

VENTILATED BACK SYSTEMSo that you don’t get too sweaty, many rucksacks have mesh panels that hold the sack away from the body to increase air� ow and thereby reduce clamminess. The greater the air� ow across the back, the less clammy you will feel.

WAND POCKETSThese pockets on the side of a sack, often made of stretchy mesh fabrics, are ideal for stashing walking poles or smaller items including water bottles or snacks.

OPENINGThe main compartment entry is often covered by a lid, but sometimes a ziparound opening may be provided to save weight.

SHOULDER STRAPSThe shoulder straps take some of the weight, but they need to be carefully contoured and padded to make them comfortable. As we are all di� erent shapes it is important to try rucksacks for size, � t and comfort before parting with cash.

POCKETSAt least one external zipped pocket is useful for guidebooks, maps and GPS receivers; but some people like more options. Stretch pockets without zips are commonly placed on the front of the rucksack, and these are ideal for stowing waterproof jackets between showers.

COMPRESSION STRAPSThese are on the sides of some rucksacks and they allow you to compress the body of the sack to help stabilise the load. They are also useful for attaching items to the side of the rucksack, such as trekking poles and waterproof jackets.


Manufacturers were asked to submit rucksacks with a capacity of 20 to 30 litres and priced

between £60 and £100 that would be suitable for hillwalkers as well as those wanting to

move fast when running or biking in the hills. We received 22, which were used in the Lake District, and the best eight are featured here.

How Trail did the test

GROUP TEST


HYDRATION POCKETIf you like to use a hydration bladder with a feeder pipe to drink from rather than a water bottle, then look for a rucksack with a pocket for the hydration bladder inside the pack. All the sacks in this test can accommodate a hydration system.

WAND POCKETSThese pockets on the side of a sack,

compartment entry is often covered by a lid, but sometimes a ziparound opening may be provided to

to try rucksacks for size, � t and comfort before parting with cash.

At least one external zipped pocket is useful for guidebooks, maps and GPS receivers; but some people like

HYDRATION

If you like to use a hydration bladder with a feeder pipe to drink from rather than a water bottle, then look for a rucksack with a pocket for the hydration bladder inside the pack. All the sacks in this test can accommodate a hydration system.

HIPBELTThis is designed to carry most of the load if a rucksack is heavy, but when carrying lighter loads it may only be used to ensure stability of the pack. Either way, it should � t snugly around your hips while being comfy and easy to adjust.

Designed for activities such as hiking, biking, climbing and running, the main fabric here is TriShield, which has a silicone treatment to increase abrasion resistance and tear strength, so it should be more durable than most packs. The back panel is stiff enough to prevent items from digging into you, while Airfl ow mesh helps to reduce that horrid ‘sweaty back’ feeling. The shoulder

straps do not get any top tensioning straps and when combined with the Adaptivefi t helpbelt I did not fi nd this pack was quite as back-huggingly

stable as some others. I thus had to use the chest strap

to create as much stability as I could when scrambling for example. I really

liked the body of this sack, though, as it has one main compartment and a good lid plus three stretch pockets around the outside and compression straps to allow me to easily stash items outside the pack if needed. The lid zipped pocket is ideal for maps and guidebooks too. Overall a great offering for general hillwalking, particularly at this price, although there are other packs that offer benefi ts of less weight, or more stability or even more airfl ow.

TRAIL VERDICTA well-priced pack that o� ers great general performance for the hillwalker.

LOWE ALPINE Yocton 25 £60


20-30 LITRE RUCKSACKS

Following the success of Montane’s recent addition of rucksacks to its range of clothing comes the Ultra Tour 22, a pack that was designed to meet the needs of Montane’s 100 mile Ultra Tour of the Lake District, which is usually completed in around 24 hours. The pack features an unusual rolltop closure for better protection in the rain; you’ll still need a waterproof rucksack liner, though, as the main compartment seams are not sealed, so I am not really sure of the benefi t of this design. The back system is interesting in that it

has a moulded back panel to provide some comfort in contact areas, but it has very little stiffening, so extra care is needed to pack it without anything sticking into your back. The hipbelt and

shoulder straps are quite wide and mesh-lined, which makes them very comfortable and so if carefully packed this is comfy on the back. The only external pockets are on the hipbelt, which may not be ideal if you like to have a map or guidebook in an easy-to-access pocket on your rucksack. But you do get three useful stretch mesh pockets and compression straps. The real attraction of this pack is the weight of just 561g.

TRAIL VERDICTIts unusual design won’t be to everyone’s taste so it is very much a considered purchase for the hillwalker wanting a lightweight pack.

MONTANE Ultra Tour 22 £65

RATINGS

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BEST VALUEMAGAZINE

BEST VALUEMAGAZINE

BEST VALUEMAGAZINE

BUYER’S GUIDE

Using a simple tarp and a bivvy bag is a great way to see more of the outdoors and feel part of your environment.

TEST GRAHAM THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY

TarpsA tarp is essentially a rectangle of fabric

that’s extremely lightweight and can be pitched in a variety of confi gurations to

provide protection from wind and rain. When a tarp is combined with a waterproof bivvy bag, it takes lightweight camping into another dimension, where you’re able to get that little bit closer to nature than with a standard tent.

While tarps have been popular with the military and the bushcraft community for decades, they also have a following among walkers and backpackers due to their weight-saving potential. A modern tarp may weigh as little as 237g and when combined with a waterproof sleeping bag cover or bivvy bag that weighs around 420g, plus a pair of trekking poles (to help pitch the tarp) that you may be carrying anyway, it’s clear this is a very lightweight option compared to a traditional

tent that may weigh in excess of a kilo.With prices for a good tarp coming in at

around £50, it’s also clear this is a great option for anyone who’s on a tight budget and wants to enjoy the outdoors without ruining their bank balance. However, it’s important to realise that tarps do not always come with poles, pegs or even guy lines, and are often just a simple rectangle of waterproof fabric with some attachment points.

Most tarps can be pitched in a variety of ways and each one featured here has been pitched slightly differently so that some of the standard confi gurations can be seen. The standard confi gurations are the A-frame, lean-to and fl ying V, but it’s good to experiment and fi nd new ways to rig a tarp, which also adds a whole new craft to your outdoor adventure.



TARPS

Rab Siltarp £50At 230g the Siltarp is a very lightweight option, but is smaller than other tarps, so really it’s best used as a solo shelter. It’s very much a minimalist design but is more in keeping with traditional tarps, being a basic rectangle of material that isn’t

supplied with pegs, guy lines or poles, so you’ll have to add these yourself. There are plenty of points to peg or guy the tarp around its edges, but only one additional rigging point in the centre, although this still allows a good variety of pitching options. As this is a smaller option than others, it can be pitched in smaller areas,

which makes it useful for one person trying to fi nd shelter among rocks or in dense woodland. It packs down so small that you could put it in your pocket, and if you normally walk with a pair of trekking poles the Siltarp is a great additional piece of kit that can be easily transformed into a lightweight solo shelter.

BEST FOR SOLO WEIGHTSAVING

AT A GLANCE

FABRIC 30D silicone-coated ripstop CorduraSLEEPS 1SIZE 150x240cmPACKED SIZE 15x9cmWEIGHT 230g (without guy lines, pegs or poles)WEBSITE www.rab.uk.com

Vango Adventure Tarp £30This product is designed to be used as an additional porch for a Vango tent or as a standalone tarp-style shelter. It comes with guy lines, pegs and a very robust pole as well as an elasticated edge to provide a closer fi t to a curved tent. When used as a more traditional tarp it can’t be set up in such a wide range of confi gurations as others, as it doesn’t have the range of rigging points that other tarps are fi tted with. But you can still create the classic A-frame and fl ying V confi gurations easily, and you can of course use additional trekking poles to enhance the shape of your shelter. At £30 for pegs, guy lines and pole, this is the best-value tarp option here. It’s less versatile than other more dedicated tarp designs, though it’s ideal for adding to a Vango tent and occasional tarping.

AT A GLANCE

FABRIC 70d polyesterSLEEPS 1-2SIZE 300x200cmPACKED SIZE 58x9cmWEIGHT 1346g (includes guy lines, pegs and pole)WEBSITE www.vango.co.uk

BEST FOR BUDGET

TARPING

GRADIENT PROFILE

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METRESABOVE

SEALEVEL

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MILESKILOMETRES

Start Sgurr Mor Beinn Alligin Finish

1 2 3 4 5

11

22

33

44

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Far left: Sgurr Mhor (left) and the Horns of Alligin from Liathach.

Beinn Alligin traverse1

124 TRAIL AUGUST 2013 AUGUST 2013 TRAIL 125

Distance 10km (6¼ miles)

Total ascent 1180m

Time 6½ hours

Start/� nish car park near Torridon House (NG868576)

Terrain clear paths throughout but rough and rocky in places, with some steep inclines and occasional sections of exposed Grade 1 scrambling in both ascent and descent

Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 24; OS Explorer (1:25,000) 433; Harvey British Mountain Map (1:40,000) Torridon & Fisher� eld

Guidebook Scotland’s Mountain Ridges by Dan Bailey, pb Cicerone

Manchester

Middlesbrough

Kendal

Skipton

Sheffield

PeterboroughBirmingham

Derby

Betws-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

IngletonBentham

Lancaster

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

10km/6¼ milesNORTH HIGHLANDS7 ROUTE

ALWAYS TAKE A MAP OUT WITH YOU ON THE HILL

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In association with

To get this route and maps on your phone now, go to

www.viewranger.com/trailRoute code TRL0424

FACTS

3

Classic scrambly ridge

begins to curve south, pinching into a narrow, rocky arête as it climbs towards Tom na Gruagaich, the mountain’s second Munro. Here there’s a little more very easy scrambling before the broad summit plateau is reached.

NG859601 From the summit trig go

south-west and then south into the narrow trough of Coire nan Laogh. Here a well-used trail gives a steep descent before following the stream out of the corrie. Now stay with the path to pass over a knobbly shoulder before making the fi nal gentler descent to the road close to the car park.

1

2

34NG868576 Head

for the trail along the east bank of the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil, passing through a small stand of Scots pine and then across open ground. After roughly 2km cross the burn on a footbridge. Soon after is a trail junction; go left here, following the Allt a’ Bhealaich uphill. Cross this on a second footbridge. Shortly beyond here a cairn marks another path junction.

NG882601 Go left here to head straight

for the rocky buttress of Na Rathanan. An engineered path zigzags steeply up the heathery crags, and there’s the odd step of easy scrambling on lovely rough sandstone. Pass over a pronounced shoulder to make the fi nal climb towards the lowest but most impressive of the three Horns of Alligin. Just below this rocky peak it’s possible to pick up a well-worn traverse path that runs

STRENUOUSNESSNAVIGATION

TECHNICALITYMUNRO COUNT

TRAIL 100S

��

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21

across the steep south-west fl ank below the Horns to miss out on the scrambling of the crest above. But if you like hands-on fun then continue to the summit of the fi rst Horn instead.

NG876610 From the airy summit carefully

descend a series of ledges and little scrambling rock steps to reach a narrow col below the second Horn. This is climbed via a rough ascent, and some more fun-but-basic scrambling. There’s more of the same on the following descent into the gap on the far side of the second Horn. From here another short, scrambly climb up broken rocky tiers leads onto the ridge that forms the summit of the third Horn. After this, descend to a low col before making the long plod up the rough slope that leads onto Sgurr Mhor, Beinn Alligin’s high point.

NG865613 From the summit cairn go

very briefl y south, joining a descent path that cuts back right to pass around the top of the dramatic cleft of Eag Dhubh. Now follow easy ground along the wide ridge crest to loop around the head of the Alligin’s huge central corrie. Passing over a minor summit, the ridge

5En route to the � rst of three

pinnacles known as the Horns of Alligin.

5

SCRAMBLE

Ruadh-stac Mor via Coire Dubh & Coire Mhic Fhearchair

NG957568 From the car park head east to

pick up the path signposted for Coire Dubh Mor, the deep trench between Liathach and Beinn Eighe. The path climbs steadily, and with its made-up surface of stone flags it gives a good dry footing. As you progress into the glen the craggy north side of Liathach becomes increasingly impressive, while Beinn Dearg rises into view ahead. But to your right Beinn Eighe’s unrelenting screes offer no feasible line of weakness; to climb this hill you’ve first got to get round its far side. Ford the Allt a’ Choire Dhuibh Mhoir via stepping stones (may be difficult in flood) and continue to a trail junction (cairn) in the complex knolls and hollows below Sail Mhor.

NG934594 Take the right fork to make a

long, rising traverse across


always take a map out with you on the hill 21km/13 miles

route 8north highlands

Distance 21km (13 miles)

Total ascent 1014m

Time 9 hours

Start car park by the A896 (NG957568); finish car park near Torridon House (NG868576)

Terrain well-trodden paths all the way, but hard going in places with more wiggly ups and downs than apparent on a map. The Munro is a big peak in wild country, while the isolation of the glen north of Liathach shouldn’t be underestimated in poor weather

Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 19 & 25; OS Explorer (1:25,000) 433; Harvey British Mountain Map (1:40,000) Torridon & Fisherfield

Guidebook Scotland by Chris Townsend, pb Cicerone

facts

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GRADIENT PROFILE

00

METRESABOVE

SEALEVEL

140012001000800600400200

MILESKILOMETRES

Start Ruadh-stac Mor Finish

1 2 3 4 5

22

44

66

88

1010

1212

14 16 18 20

In association with

To get this route and maps on your phone now, go to

www.viewranger.com/trailRoute code TRL0425

2

Lonely peak & wild through

route

1

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stRenuousnessnaViGation

teChniCalitymunRo Count

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1

5The Flowerdale hills, Sail Mhor

and Loch Choire Mhic Fhearchair.

the western foot of Sail Mhor, where the engineered path still offers fairly easy going despite the roughness of the ground it crosses. The trail soon begins to curve right, climbing quite steeply beside a series of waterfalls to reach the lip of Coire Mhic Fhearchair. With the magnificent Triple Buttress overlooking lovely Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair, this is one of the most impressive places in Scotland.

NG939610 Follow a rough path around the

east shore of the loch, and once beyond the loch bear east-south-east and climb a scree gully to gain the col south of Ruadh-stac Mor. Turn left for the easy 1km walk north to Beinn Eighe’s high point, which stands out on a limb from the main mass of the mountain.

NG951611 Retrace your steps to the col,

then down into Coire Mhic

at Lochan a’ Choire Dhuibh. Continue west along this path to pass Loch Grobaig.

NG922599 The path now descends

roughly west beside the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil, and there’s some pretty rough going among the many heathery moraines. But despite the effort this is among the best low-level walks in the country, with a stunningly isolated setting and unequalled views of Liathach’s spectacular northern crags and corries. Eventually the ground begins to ease as you descend past Beinn Alligin to reach the car park at the mouth of Coire Mhic Nobuil.

5

4

Fhearchair and back along the access path towards Coire Dubh Mor. A few hundred metres before reaching the trail junction described in stage 1 cut due west across rough, bouldery ground to join another path

Trail magazine August 2013

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Transcript of Trail magazine August 2013