OUTPOST A N A L P K I T M O U N TA I N J O U R N A L P U B L I C AT I O N // I S S U E 1 1
THE ‘ H AVE THE A L P S GOT BIGGER OR H AVE W E JUST BEEN AWAY TOO L ONG ? ’ IS SUE.
2 / Win Winter
alpkit.com
Frozen ground, cold breath and glowing cheeks in the pub. Fog, rain and surprise shafts of sunlight. Extra planning, more gear and shorter days. Winter is waiting – let’s make an early start.
0 6 W I N T E R C A M P I N G B I G S H O R T D AY S ( A N D N I G H T S) / 1 4 Z AC K AT TAC K A N E N D U R O L O V E S T O R Y / 2 2 L I G H T A F I R E B E F O R E B R E A K FA S T A L P K I T R E C I P E S / 2 6 K E N N Y ' S C O M M U T E R I D I N G O F F I N T O T H E S U N S E T / 3 0 C A S TAWAY G O I N G F E R A L I N T H E O U T E R H E B R I D E S / 3 4 B E F O R E ' N ' A F T E R O U R E D I N B U R G H S T O R E ' S J O U R N E Y T O N E T Z E R O A N D N E T W O W.
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There’s so, so much to share this season. The latest and greatest kit we’ve ever made! The best gear you’ve never seen and, of course, some favourites re-thought and re-imagined. There’s all the winter protection and comfort that you need, all made with creativity and compassion.
1. Rathlin Jumper £99.99
8/9. Cwtch Beanies £29.99
16. Rhythm Elite Bib Tight £64.99
2. Definition Jacket £249.99
10. Draught Excluder £9.99
17. Teleki Pant £39.99
3. Koulin Trail Tee £23.99
11. Swig Bottle £2.99
18. Trekkers Socks £14.99
4. Kepler Long Sleeve £54.99
12. Outdoor Swimming Cap £29.99
19. Gravitas Jacket £169.99
5. Picu Tee £24.99
13. Skytrail 14L £49.99
20. Outdoor Swimming Socks £34.99
6. Traverse 38L £99.99
14. Sierra Vest £79.99
21. Spectra Sunglasses £19.99
7. Manta Headtorch £39.99
15. Jeanius Jeans £69.99
22. Flux Sunglasses £16.99
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23. Sastrugi Fleece £69.99
30. Definition Jacket £249.99
37. Redpoint Jumper £39.99
24. Arro Vest £34.99
31. Laika Base Layer £39.99
38. Miyagi Ti Chopsticks £14.99
25. Heavy Weight Trekkers £19.99
32. Rhythm Thicky Jersey £59.99
39. Rydal Goggle £9.99
26. Haven Changing Robe £79.99
33. Morphosis Vest £69.99
40. Solvitur Socks £22.49
27. Specta Pullover Glove £24.99
34. Baffin Insulate Hat £24.99
41. Vora 6L £29.99
28. Bloc Trousers £49.99
35. Koulin Trail Tights £31.99
42. Colca Gaiters £34.99
29. Carbon Nanolite poles Twins £64.99, Single £34.99
36. Woodsmoke Shirt £69.99
43. Qark Headtorch £34.99
44. Outdoor Swimming Gloves £29.99 45. Vayper Long Sleeve £34.99 46. Dulsie Swimsuit £34.99 47. Griffon Fleece £49.99
‘Latest and Greatest’ at alpkit.com
6 / Winter Camping
alpkit.com
AND YOU SAID...
“IF WE’RE QUICK, WE MIGHT JUST MAKE LAST ORDERS.”
Going Solo? Sarah Leighton aka Fit For Adventure is an Alpkiteer. She pedals, paddles and hikes across great distances. And manages to keep a sense of humour in the midst of demanding daring deeds.
As a female, being out alone in winter, particularly in the mountains, definitely comes with its fair share of ‘looks’. Many times, people have stopped to question my competence. Which isn’t a bad thing I guess. It’s good to know that people are keeping an eye out for the safety of others, and it’s good to question and confirm with yourself that you’re prepared. Self-reliance is the most rewarding part of solo adventure, and in winter, it’s even
Autumn / Winter 2021
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If you count winter days in the mountains in hours, they come up short but they are the biggest days.
Frosty reception
If the work is multiplied, so are the rewards. Head torches bobbing along ridges in the moonlight, endless stars in the darkest skies and the unbeatable satisfaction of boldly going where not so many people have been before! There is something magical and intense about winter adventures that just stay with you.
Fantom Jacket £199.99 Kangri Tent £399.99 Soundbite £34.99
‘Win Winter’ at alpkit.com
Elp! Poon tuck to ip MytiPot 900 £34.99, Kraku Stove £28.49
more important to know that you can keep yourself safe. So here are a few tips to help you do that: • Practice winter skills with other people before going solo, or take a winter skills course. • Water things down a little – if you’re not as confident in a certain environment during winter, then don’t pressure yourself to achieve the same as you do in summer. Figure out what you need to learn and set yourself goals.
• Pack more than enough layers, warm drinks and food. I stand by my theory that you can get through pretty much anything if you’re fed and warm. • Plan, plan, and plan. In summer you can get away with more spur of the moment or unplanned adventures, but in winter you need to think more about how the conditions could affect you, and have backup plans. • Check multiple sources for weather forecasts right up until you head out
on your adventure (and during if you can). If you need to reschedule then do so. You cannot control the weather. • And most importantly… don’t be afraid to turn around. To realise that you’re out of your depth is not a failure, if anything it’s a success! It shows you were competent enough to assess the risks and make a safe decision. fitforadventure_ Fit for Adventure
LEAVE A TRACE Plant a tree Repair a wall Pick-up litter Say ‘ hi' to a stranger Drop a bee bomb Pass things on Repair old gear Use sustainable materials Make gear you'll love for longer Support good work with grants Put people and planet before profit Go Gently Of course we make gear. And for us to be sustainable we need you to buy some. The aim though is not just to make the best kit in the world, but also to make the best gear for the planet. Whether we like it or not, we will all make our mark on the earth – let’s leave a good one. To start changing everything we’ll need everyone. And then, all our small actions will have a great effect.
stephenpowersphoto
BE M RE
10 / Meet the family
alpkit.com
Talini Light, lofty and packable jacket using PrimaLoft® Silver ThermoPlume® synthetic down: worry-free warmth, even on wet, cold and windy Scottish hillsides. £89.99
Jura Mountain Smock Hardwearing all-in-one layer with a weatherproof outer and thick fleece insulation to keep you comfy and warm, even in filthy weather. £124.99
0Hiro Our warmest PrimaLoft® jacket, providing trash-proof protection and safe refuge from cold and damp British winters. £159.99
‘Insulation’ at alpkit.com
Fantom The quintessential down duvet for conquering the cold: chunky baffles chock-full of 650FP down warmth, encased in lightweight ripstop nylon, and packed with mountainready features. £199.99
Filoment Hoody Incredibly light micro-rib 630FP down jacket with 100% recycled fabric and fill, a cosy mid-layer or top layer for Alpine starts and chilly evenings. £149.99
Heiko Warm, lightweight and packable PrimaLoft® insulated jacket. Impressively warm for its weight, windproof and damp resistant. £109.99
Katabatic Hooded jacket with PrimaLoft® Gold Active Eco, designed to keep you comfy doing anything from fat-biking through Cairngorm blizzards, through to climbing Alpine icefalls or Peak District hillwalking. £159.99
Autumn / Winter 2021
Talk about falling far from the tree. This highly functional family couldn’ t be more varied. The Jura is tough and no-nonsense, loves tradition and hard work whereas the Heiko is a bright, fun loving lightweight. And there's everything in-between. A family that wraps up warm together stays together.
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Alpkit fo undation in a nutshell
Alpkit Foundation is the charity that helps people Go Nice Places Do Good Things. We make small awards to people, groups and schools that work to remove the barriers to getting outdoors and experiencing wild places. We support grass-roots direct action projects that tackle issues such as diversity and inclusion. We encourage participation, education, conservation and protection of our natural environment and the health and well-being this builds.
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. s e m a J r Fo e n o y r e v For e We’re firm believers that the outdoors is good for the soul. And that’s what Paul Connaughton thinks too. He’s the Founder and Chair of Trustees of JPC Community Farm. At their home in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, Paul and his wife Julie have converted a grade 2 listed, 23.5 acre farm into a haven for young adults with disabilities and their families. It brings together people of all ages to support groups of people who have faced considerable adversity, isolation, stress, and anxiety. This wonderful farm now has eleven supported living homes, six respite apartments, two day-care rooms, an independence hub, and a café. To help run the farm, Paul and Julie employ staff with special needs as well as providing a supported apprenticeship and internship program. Paul and Julie are remarkable.
I always loved outdoor life and as I was growing up, my weekends were spent under canvas. My dad was a Duke of Edinburgh instructor and I have really fond memories of camping with the family. I couldn’t wait to replicate these adventures with my own family in the future. ‘Alpkit Foundation’ at alpkit.com If you’re going to support Jeff Bezos's bid for world domination, please set Alpkit Foundation as your Amazon Smile charity!
For them, their motivation is truly personal. Paul had a whirlwind few years. He joined the police in 1984 then met Julie, the love of his life. They got married and soon had their daughter, Abbi, in 1993. His son, James, was born in 2000 with considerable breathing difficulties and suffered severe brain damage, subsequently being diagnosed with Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy. He and Julie knew the biggest challenge of their lives was ahead of them. They were determined not to let James’s disability stop them from having quality time as a family. Paul believes that the outdoors is a powerful environment to provide engaging activities. He and Julie wanted to leave a legacy behind. That’s why they created JPC Community Farm – for James, for others. Paul holds the service to a high standard – if it wouldn’t be good enough for James, it’s not good enough.
small steps make a big difference Paul has recently added a therapy garden and a small care farm where they look after animals. After it was completed, it was clear that they needed warm, functional clothing for the farm. Alpkit Foundation has provided weatherproof clothing for people to wear when they work outside, no matter the weather. Looking to introduce further outdoor experiences such as overnight camps, it’s having huge impacts on young adults lives, supporting them in making a positive transition to adulthood and to live as happily and independently as possible.
14 / Zack Attack
alpkit.com
The challenges for the new generation of elite athletes during COVID-19 are enormous. Races and tournaments cancelled. Meetings postponed. Supporters and trainers distanced. Truly remarkable young athletes have found a way to make things happen. Emma Raducanu, Shauna Coxsey, Tom Pidcock, Charlotte Worthington have all inspired us.
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Here’s the story of Zack Harrop, who made his journey to EWS100 Crans-Montana without mainstream sports funding. We’re delighted to have him working in Hathersage and Edinburgh Alpkit stores and privileged to call him a Sonder rider. For Zack, racing is everything. Zack is incredibly talented, determined and focused. It started when he was just 5. Sat in his booster seat in ‘Mum’s Nationwide Taxi Service’, he went all over the country for BMX races. When Zack talks about growing up, it’s striking how much of his memory is about being in the car. Not on the bike. When Zack got his mountain bike, this all changed. He rode routes from the door in a way that wasn’t possible on his BMX. Zack fell in love with what he calls ‘the gravity side of cycling’. He rode every local trail he could find. Discovered some truly horrible descents. He linked up endless fun routes from his home near Hayfield. The Peak District has been the stomping ground of some of the world’s best cyclists. Think Nick Craig, Steve Peat, Rob Hayles, Sarah Storey, the Gowaan Gals. And the Peak District is Zack’s playground.
Baggage handler proof. Phew!
Fast-forward to 2019 and Zack’s life was jam-packed. He trained to race and raced to train. From doing mostly regional events with a few national events, he switched to doing mostly national events with a few regional events. He got on the podium five times and stood on the top step twice. His hectic racing season couldn’t have been more different to 2020. Cue tumbleweed.
Zack Makes Sh%t Happen. Zack made his journey to Switzerland happen. A long journey to the EWS100 Crans-Montana where he made his international debut. After his mum dropped him off at the airport (Mum’s Nationwide Taxi Service is still going strong 13 years later – thanks mum), he was on his own. There was no entourage to tell him which way to go. Zack booked his own flights. He booked his own rail tickets. He was his own logistics manager. Yes, Zack has support from his family, his trainer, and Sonder! But it’s Zack that brings it all together and makes everything happen. It’s talent, determination and focus. And that begs the question: what did happen at Crans-Montana? It started smoothly. In fact, better than smoothly. Zack was in a top 10 position and racing well. He settled into the rhythm of international racing – a more consistent pace with fewer short attacks. Further up the course, another rider wasn’t having such a good time. He crashed, tore through the course tape and left an opening along with some
rather obvious tyre tracks. When you’re racing, you make quick decisions. And when you see a gap in some tape and some tyre tracks, you ride through it. Which is what Zack did. Zack doesn’t know for sure how far into the woods he went and how much time he lost. What’s incredible is his result. 13th place. What’s next for Zack? Well, racing. The locations of the Enduro World Series get him excited: Whistler, New Zealand, America, Australia. And closer to home, Europe’s racing scene is technical, challenging and a total change to UK riding. In 2022, Zack will be riding at Borders College in the Tweed Valley.
Why Tweed Valley Zack?
We asked.
“IT’S REALLY HARD, GNARLY STUFF AND SO MUCH TO RIDE! He said.
16 / Zack Attack
alpkit.com
Zack in Cham engaging ‘les inside nobbliées’
Zack’s Top 3 Tips For Enduro Racing: 1.
When you’re first starting, ease into the stages. Try to ride everything clean rather than super-fast to avoid crashing. If you can, do a practice lap to remember
2. where the major features are so you don’t get any surprises on race day.
Just enjoy it! You’ll ride way better and be
3. a lot faster.
zackharrop bit.ly/3ohCb9z
Every one has a story, what’s yours? Sonder Epic Rides 2021 out now. Request your free copy at...
sonderbikes.com
IS SPELDTS BACKWAR EVOL LOVE
NEW! Haiku. Glittering flakes: The wind is breaking Frozen moonlight Horiuchi Toshimi
Heiko. Light & warm: Mountain mid-layer Travel pillow frozen drool Alpkit
Heiko Jacket 140 words about the Heiko. None of them written by us... Trim without ever being tight, the sleeves are plenty long enough with great articulation – used winter rock climbing and it neither pulls out of the harness nor the sleeves fall down a long way, even when reaching for holds at full stretch. 60 grams per square metre of PrimaLoft® Silver insulation is held in place by aesthetically pleasing square quilting. The outer is DWR treated and seems completely un-bothered by
drizzle and also survived a number of brushes with gritstone unscathed. It is also windproof and in dry, windy conditions gives a surprising amount of warmth for such a light jacket. The jacket packs away into its own chest pocket which also has a karabiner loop on it, the reasonably compact package clips easily to the back of your harness. Old and new. Recycled fabric, updated design. Thank you UK Climbing. The NEW Heiko £109.99
Men’s and women's available in Forest and Outer Space. ‘Heiko’ at alpkit.com
18 / Continuum
alpkit.com
Running is the spark giving yo ung people a stronger start The Running Charity nurtures young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, helping them to overcome a variety of challenges and start to reach their full potential. This is achieved through running, together with personal development programmes and by creating a supportive community. In 2020 The Running Charity delivered 1,402 running sessions, and provided over 5,000 hours of youth work and support. They introduced over 100 vulnerable people to the positive power of running – this is where the magic really happens. Alpkit support The Running Charity by donating winter running gear through Continuum. This is your old gear that you loved but no longer use. It will become gear that will keep others running through the winter. George Bate from The Running Charity explains what gets him up in the morning to do what he does. Running has been such a force for good in my own life, sharing that with the young people who join our programmes and seeing them progress is truly inspirational.
There have been so many wonderful moments, from runners finishing races at 5K to marathon distance and even a few ultramarathons. But for me, nothing beats that moment when someone finds the courage to take their first steps and run with us. Watching their confidence build over weeks, months and even years is priceless. In October our young people are taking part in the Virtual London Marathon and the Manchester Marathon & Relay. Find out more about The Running Charity at therunningcharity.org
SO What’s CONTINUUM? When you’re done with your gear, it doesn’t mean that it’s done for. Through Alpkit’s network of Continuum partners, we find your old gear a new home. Sometimes it goes to someone who’s taking on their own outdoor challenge, other times it ends up warming a homeless person, sometimes we’ll turn it into
something else. It’s all about closing the circle – reduce, reuse, repair, recycle. This is a critical part of our effort to reduce consumption and waste. So far we've found a new home for over three tonnes of gear! It’s also a demonstration that connections at a local level can turn into action that makes a huge difference to people. When Adam, our manager at Alpkit Hathersage, got in touch with George Bate at The Running Charity it was clear that there was potential to help each other. Drop off your old running gear to an Alpkit Store or send it to us in the post.
‘Continuum’ at alpkit.com
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Join the circle.
SEND US YOUR OLD DOWN!
Send us your unwanted sleeping bags, jackets and duvets (yes the actual ones off your bed) this winter. We’ll always reuse products where possible. But when we can’t we will recycle them. And for that there’s Re:Down. We’re working with Re:Down to turn your old down products into something new. The down gets graded and reused in jackets, sleeping bags and duvets. It’s incredibly hard to recycle down duvets in the UK. So many people would love to recycle their old duvets but don’t know what to do with them. Hardly anyone accepts them – we didn't used to do duvets but now, yes we do do duvets. Find out more about Re:Down at re-down.com Drop your old down-filled gear into an Alpkit store or send it by post, free through the Alpkit Return Process.
alpkit.com/pages/returns
Mending is better than ending... All Alpkit stores have a repair station where we repair any brand. Clothing, sleeping bags, tents, packs, equipment – our repairs are famous across the industry and we’re on course to have carried out 15,000 repairs by next year. There’s something special about gear that’s been repaired. It’s like the memory of your adventures are a physical part of your favourite kit. Our emotional attachment becomes even stronger! If you’ve had a misadventure with your favourite – don’t let it go, drop it into one of our repair stations and let us do the business.
A SIMPLE FIX THAT CAN BE DONE AT HOME OR ON THE TRAIL: If your zip keeps coming apart once you've zipped it up, try grabbing a pair of pliers, a hammer or rock and giving the bottom of each side of the slider a slight squeeze or smack. Then try zipping the zip up again, and hopefully this time, it will stay zipped. As jackets get older, the sliders can come loose, so giving them a squeeze can increase their life by a bit longer!
For this repair You can use any of the tools below:
rock
Pliers
hammer
WARM AF Alpkit feathers
Fantom Jacket
Get toasty on an icy belay. Stuff it down to the bottom of your winter pack. For baltic days, autumn bivvies and winter bothies. And every other time in your life that you need a big, soft, feathery hug. Ethically sourced, PFC free, hydrophobic down. The warmest jacket we have ever made. £199.99
‘Fantom’ at alpkit.com
650 FP
HYDROPHOBIC DOWN
Men’s available in Tarmac, Monday and Outerspace. Women’s available in Nightshade and Tarmac.
Autumn / Winter 2021
Senja Frozen Wonderland
REAL STORIES OF JOURNEYS, EXPEDITIONS AND ADVENTURE.
Ramon Marin, Alpkiteer went to Senja by accident, being far from on top form, the idea of going somewhere new and adventurous sounded just right. After a bit of an epic journey there, arriving at 3am, we managed a few hours kip before the dreaded 6am alarm went off. Bleary eyed we set off into the dark for our first route, The Great Corner, a Wi5/+ VI by Rich Cross . Once the day dawned we could see that indeed it looked brilliant. I took the first pitch, an easy pure ice romp, but my god I felt rusty, my last lead on pure ice must had been five years ago. We got into the swing of things fast enough though, and soon Rich was at the mixed chimney which he stringed together with the tasty ice pillar above. We arrived at the belay with a few easy pitches to go but since we’d completed all the hard climbing, we bailed from there. The second route we planned for The Yellow line (the colour of the line in the topo) in Ersfjord. Again I took the first pitch which had a bit of a cool section of mixed, protected by cams and a bulldog. I got greedy and wanted to do the skinny runnel above too but ran out of rope, luckily Rich started simul climbing so I could build a belay. We ran four pitches at full 60 metres so we all got our fair share of pump. Getting to the top in the fading light with the endless view of Ersfjord was pretty special.
climbing by 7.30am. Rich got the first pitch, a really nice turfy mixed groove line, and I took the second pitch, which was a grade V ramp really but still fun. Adam took the money pitch at the top, again with some funky moves and great ice features. We topped out in the glorious sunshine and soaked up the views. Back at the ranch we packed for a route up on Kyle, a magnificent alpine face, called The Trolls, The Trolls. We simul-climbed the first few pitches with Rich leading the way. Then Adam and I lead some easy but hard to protect pitches before belaying underneath the main event, a mean looking chimney with a looming roof. Adam hadn’t had a crux lead under his belt this trip yet so he set off upwards. Three hours later he shouted “safe” and me and Rich got our frozen bodies into motion. Soon we saw what took so long, a pretty tasty rock pitch with some wild moves. I took the last pitch to the top which wasn’t a pushover either, but topped out on the summit with the night lights of Senjahoppen below us looking like an idyllic winter wonderland.
See more Daring Deeds online in the Alpkit Mountain Journal.
The highlight of the trip was perhaps climbing a new route onsight, on a face that had no routes, on a mountain called Ramnfløy in Ersfjord. With a relatively short approach, we were
Top: Adam on the second pitch of The Great Corner. Middle: Rich Kendrick getting his swing on the second pitch of The Yellow line. Bottom: Happy lads at the end of the of a successful first day.
Ersfjord, Norway
‘Daring Deeds' at alpkit.com
22 / Alpkit healthy cold breakfast recipe #1
alpkit.com
Alpkit healthy cold breakfast recipe #1 From the spartans of old to a growing army of outdoor swimmers, more of us everyday are learning to love the shock of the cold that lights a fire before breakfast and powers up our minds and bodies. Fans of ‘cold water immersion therapy’ say that it will cure everything from depression to arthritis. We know one thing for sure, occasionally, letting your body feel winter and know the brutal cold of nature is an amazing way to get every cell in your body to scream ‘let’s go!’ all at once. Forget the scientific evidence for cold water swimming, this is about experience not research. if you haven’t tried it, you really, really should. Your body will feel all over tingly. In seconds you will transform from gasping to uplifted. Get happy, get calm, get in!
Recipe #2
Tune out by dropping iN. instant rewilding available at a mountain lake near you.
F WIM HO OCK H S D L O C D METHO
If you don’t happen to have a handy mountain lake on your doorstep, don’t be deterred, start right now with the Wim Hof method in your very own bathroom. Five steps to a successful cold shower: 1. Have a shower as normal. 2. At the end of your shower gradually turn the temperature down to the point you start to feel uncomfortable. 3. Focus on calm and controlled breathing. 4. Stay in for a minute or two.
Plan your winter dip – our friends at The Outdoor Swimming Society have stacks of information on how to get started, and local Facebook groups can be a great a source of inspiration. outdoorswimmingsociety.com
5. Increase time and decrease temperature as required! Wim claims that a committed, consistent practice including the breathing technique and cold exposure will unlock a host of benefits, including; increased energy, better sleep, reduced stress levels, heightened focus and determination, increased willpower and a stronger immune system. Come on in th th the water’s lovely.
Ariane wears the Dulsie long sleeved swimsuit £34.99. Someone’s had their Ready Brek.
Autumn / Winter 2021
s fine Towel also work s £14.99 on sunny beache
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1. Outdoor Swimming Cap £29.99 2. Silvertip Thermal Wetsuit £199.99 3. Outdoor Swimming Gloves £29.99 4. Nori Tow Float £24.99 5. Outdoor Swimming Socks £34.99
the HEAVIEST THING We’ve ever made NEW!
remove before climbing Rathlin Sweater Recapture some Whillans and Brown trad vibes without having to rip your knuckles to bits on grit or tackle those classic Welsh horrors. Turns out that rock hard guys and gals wear nice soft woollies. This is simply the warmest jumper we could make. It's a lovely 100% Responsible Wool Standard woolly.
cool wool facts: Sustainable Snuggly warm Cuts down laundry Biodegradable Looks old school All good
A pullover with no technical palaver. £99.99
‘Rathlin’ at alpkit.com
Women’s available in Outer Space. Men’s available in Sterling.
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1. AlpineDream 800 £279.99 • 2. Definition £249.99 • 3. Qark 32.99 • 4. Cloud Base £44.99 • 5. Fantom £199.99 6. Shuga Glove £69.99 • 7. Ledge 35L £59.99 • 8. Cwtch Beanies £29.99 • 9. Hunka £49.99 • 10. Sierra Vest £79.99 11. 500ml Water Bottle £9.99 • 12. 1L Water Bottle £12.99 • 13. Brukit Coffee Press £12.99 • 14. Gourdon 25L £37.49 15. TiMigos £15.99 • 16. Flare £39.99 • 17. Swiglet £6.99 • 18. Baffin £24.99 • 19. Heavy Weight Trekker £19.99 20. Airlok Xtra 13L £17.99 • 21. Momentum £23.99 • 22. Morphosis Vest £69.99 • 23. Diffusion £19.99 • 24. TiClippers £8.99 25. Frazil Glove £44.99 • 26. Flask 800 £9.99 • 27. Flask 350 £7.99 • 28. Mytipot 900 £34.99 • 29. Kraku £28.49 21. Lampray £39.99 • 31. Soundbite £34.99 • 32. Cloud Base £44.99 • 33. Kangri £399.99 • 34. Keeshond Jacket £59.99 35. Cwtch Beanies £29.99 • 36. 0Hiro £159.99 • 37. Sastrugi Fleece £69.99 • 38. Tippla £24.99 • 39. Kepler Zip Top £64.99 40. Draught Excluder £9.99 • 41. Juice Tank £29.99
26 / Kenny’s Commute
alpkit.com
REAL STORIES OF JOURNEYS, EXPEDITIONS AND ADVENTURE.
AlpKenny squeezes the most out of his commute
After the year we’ve all had, riding off into the sunset felt like a naughty pleasure. Cycling the pennine bridleway end to end has been on my to-do list for a long time. Traversing the 300km spine of England felt like it would be an opportunity to rediscover parts of my country. I also wanted to tag on visits to the Alpkit stores in Keswick and Ambleside. My bike of choice was a Sonder Dial. It was light and bred to cross countries and looked great, even with my wobbly legs on it. As a rigid rider starting to reassess the benefits of that ‘connected to the road’ feeling I was looking forward to an absorbing ride and the lovely blue RockShox SID forks. I wanted just one upgrade – to set it up as a single speed. But what was THE ideal gear? This years HT550 winner Liam Glen rode a fully rigid single speed with a 34:20 ratio – that must be IT – I was ready to go. I always feel a little anxiety when setting off. First of all I have to detach from what’s ‘on my plate’ – this can take three or four hours. Then I have to work through all the
‘what ifs’, another three or four. Then it’s just me, the bike, the trail, and flow. The spine of England is bumpy and the hills demand attention. The down and up of Cheedale is a very rude awakening, and a reminder the 6700m of vertical ascent. A technique for breaking down a long day is to negotiate in advance with your tummy. I don’t know whether it is true that there is some brainy tissue down there but I do know that if you keep it happy, it keeps you happy.
Kenny Stocker Alpkit co-founder 34:20 was just too big for me to sustain with a loaded up bike.
After escaping the gravity well of the Hayfield valley, there’s a welcome drop into Glossop.
The route climbs its way around the many reservoirs that hydrate much of the north. A great section, sparsely populated, good tracks and ending in dramatic style passing under the M62. From here you pass briefly back into civilisation before the stout climb up to the end of the southern section.
I’m not sheepish about getting off and pushing on steep rubbly terrain, but this
Waterfoot was my next stop. It is well worth trying to get here before closing
The first stop was Hayfield, after almost 100km. I had worked through my 4am breakfast porridge and was due some nutrition.
Autumn / Winter 2021
time as the village has good amenities and there is some more remote terrain to come. Climbing out of Waterfoot I had just one thing on my mind, the northern section. I would be over half way. The Dales beckoned, I had 170km in the bag, (shy of the 200km I wanted) and I had to leave some time in the day to make some inroads towards Keswick. But now it was time to find a bivvy spot in the hills. Sunday started early. I felt good and had mentally reserved a table in Settle for breakfast. It was going to be a fully veggie breakfast with a steaming hot pot of tea all for myself. The northern section, although having some of the bigger hills, proved to be friendlier singlespeed terrain. But the gates kept coming. Don’t discount the time and effort required to get off and manhandle sticky gates. If you really want to train for a PB on the PBW, work on your gates. Reaching Settle was marvellous. I tucked into breakfast. It was going to be a stretch to get to Keswick that evening so I had to reframe the day’s objective. If I completed the PBW today I would be on the road and that wouldn’t really count.
The lady in brown sandals. Gate collaboration came in the form of a lady in brown sandals. She whizzed past me on the climbs and held the gates. I reciprocated on the descents. We made a great team. There is no doubt e-bikes are really opening up these spaces. North of Settle, the trail weaved its way between Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent with expansive views and some of the best singlespeed riding of the trip. The paths started to smooth out and Kirkby Stephen beckoned. I was ready to ride triumphantly into town. After 300 km I arrived in Kirkby Stephen. For the next three hours, I rode in solitude towards Keswick, finding a discreet bivvy spot just before the light faded, I snuggled-up in my bag. The following morning I passed through Pooley Bridge, wiggled up some more hills and out onto the old coach road (cycle route #71). At 8am I sat in the cafe opposite the Alpkit shop. I would still have to get to Ambleside, but my trip had all but come to an end. Cycling from my front door to the Alpkit Keswick and Ambleside stores via the Pennine Bridleway. Not a commute I plan to make every weekend, but a project ticked off.
Cycling the Pennine Bridleway £15.95
rt Time to satabo ut thinkingit a n Alpk ra nge! footwear
Looking at them now you can't imagine the day they've had. Wind-blown ridges, torrential downpours and someone forgot the soup.
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ALPINE WEATHER SYSTEM 1
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Full-on mountain protection from the ground up. A classic 3-layer system with enough flexibility to cover everything from sweaty ascents to torrential rain on the tops. 1. Frazil Glove Zoned insulation so you can maintain dexterity whilst technical climbing, sold as pair. £44.99 2. Nautilus 3-layer waterproof overtrousers for the wettest of days. £124.99 • 3. Definition Waterproof mountaineering jacket for the harshest of conditions. £249.99 • 4. Vayper Long Sleeve High performance base layer made from 100% recycled fabric. £34.99 5. Trekkers Mid-weight walking sock. £14.99 • 6. The other Frazil Glove • 7. Moya A recycled mid-layer. New product, old fabric, making one great all-rounder. £69.99 • 8. Ardent High performance mountaineering trousers. £94.99
30 / Castaway
alpkit.com
REAL STORIES OF JOURNEYS, EXPEDITIONS AND ADVENTURE.
Castaway Katie Tunn is an artist, adventurer and marine conservationist living on the Isle of Skye. Best known for her experience in Channel 4’s year-long off-grid experiment, Eden, as well as for her own castaway-style adventures. Here she describes her escape from the bustling Isle of Skye to the tiny Shiant Isles. The idea was to go solo and to forego any human contact during the trip. I’d be off-grid with just the wildlife and landscape for company. I love my life but things just seem to get busier and busier; becoming an overwhelming blur of screens, inboxes and the demanding pinging of messages. The Shiant Isles are famous for their wildlife, specifically for being the chosen nesting site for hundreds of thousands of seabirds each summer. Species such as puffins, razorbills and guillemots all gather along the angular columns that make up the dramatic sea cliffs that give the Shiants their distinctive shape. They’re joined by fulmars, gulls and ‘bonxies’ (great skuas) as well as the eagles and grey
seals which live there all year round, alongside a flock of particularly hardy sheep. I’d bivvy instead of taking a tent. I know what island weather is like in Spring (it can get pretty wild) so I took a tarp but I didn’t want a complete barrier between myself and my surroundings. I took most of my food with me, a combination of Firepot meals and the usual camping staples like pasta and rice. I’d supplement everything with foraged greens such as seaweeds and nettles. I arrived on the first day of April when the islands felt peaceful and empty. The weather was cool, breezy and bright. The birds had not yet begun to gather back after their winter migration.
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32 / Castaway
alpkit.com
What happened over the next few weeks was the gradual arrival of an orchestra of feathered creatures. Each day seemed to bring with it a new species and each one came with a new call. The seabirds were the most obvious, croaking and cawing as they assembled in huge floating rafts under the cliffs. But there were also bees, butterflies and songbirds too. A tiny wren would land on my sleeping bag and yell an alarm call at me each morning. This trip was anything but peaceful. Each day was accompanied by a cacophony of bird calls. Then there were the fishy, oily smells of the seabird and seal colonies. There was the constant sound of the sea and strange, voice-like gurgles of waves reaching into hollows and caves. Days were spent exploring every inch of the island, watching the birds, writing notes and poking around the ruins. It felt like a special honour to get to observe this diverse community of animals who carried on with their daily lives irrespective of my human presence. Perhaps it was a little foolhardy to bivvy as towards the end of my trip a storm blew in. The rain and gales lasted for two weeks. My little hand-built shelter gave me some protection, although I’d designed it to be open at the sides and island downpours don’t follow the usual rules of gravity – they prefer to blow up, down and sideways! And yet there was still something special about being there during the bad weather. Like the puffins in their burrows just along the way, we were all hunkered down in a weird kind-of unity. When the sun finally came out again it felt celebratory. Not just for me but also for all the animals. Were their calls really louder, slightly thankful, more joyful? To learn more about the Shiant Isles, to pledge a donation or to plan your own trip please visit shiantisles.net I’ll be carrying on my island explorations later this year as I restart my #82Islands project, a journey around all 82 of Great Britain’s largest islands. You can find out more by following me via my Instagram @katietunn, my Facebook ‘Katie Tunn’ or through my website katietunn.com
See more Daring Deeds online in the Alpkit Mountain Journal.
Walls, roof and a door. Shiant Isles luxury.
‘Daring Deeds' at alpkit.com
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Ronnie thinks she’s made your new favourite trousers. ‘Escapade’ at alpkit.com
Escapade Trousers These are full-on mountain trousers. Multiflex™ four-way stretch, fast wicking and quick drying. Wear them on all the harshest days for three seasons and pass those threadbare leggings and baggy shorts on to our Continuum project. These are tough, slim fitting and super comfortable trousers for climbing, hiking and everything in-between. Our design manager Ronnie believes your main problem will be finding a day in autumn or winter to wash them. £59.99
34 / Edinburgh store opening
Towards a Net Zero Workplace
In November last year, Mark Stacey, our Head of Retail, went to visit a potential new store in Edinburgh. On the way back, he took a call. ‘How was it?’
There’s no insulation in the roof – if we turn the heaters on, we’ll warm up half of Edinburgh. There’s ivy growing into the building and daylight through the walls. Oh, and the front of the building is peeling off. I think we can make it work. Before we get to the Edinburgh store, here’s a bit of context. We’re taking action to do our bit and limit global warming to 1.50C. We’ll be genuinely net zero by 2025. Our carbon reduction targets are rigorous and verified by the Science Based Target Initiative. They’ve assessed and approved our plan to halve our emissions; use lower impact materials; and make great products that are long-lasting, recycled, repairable and recyclable. 90% of the world’s buildings that we will have in 2050 are already built. To deliver net zero we need to retro-fit these buildings with technology for energy and thermal efficiency. Our aim for Edinburgh was to transform this hundred-year-old building into a warm, energy-efficient store. There’s a reason the building we’d chosen for our Edinburgh home was known as ‘The Shed’. It was old, unloved and filled with junk. In fact, it was filled to the brim. But ‘The Shed’ is beautiful. It’s big and airy. It’s got history and space for products (which is useful!). We could make places to just sit and plan and dream. We saw the potential. And we knew what to do. 4 steps to efficiency in Alpkit Edinburgh... 1. Insulation. We framed, insulated and cladded the walls. We panelled and insulated the roof. 2. Double-glazing. We fitted the windows with secondary glazing. Where we found drafts, we blocked them up. 3. Low-energy lighting. Alpkit Edinburgh is carefully lit with low-energy LED lighting. 4. Energy-efficient heating system. Fans in the ceiling blow the warm air back down to where people are.
The store setup team had their work cut out. For two weeks, they grafted for nearly 14 hours a day. We fully rewired, decorated and fitted out the building in true Alpkit style. We expanded the existing mezzanine to make a home for our Sonder bikes. From 7.30am to 9pm, they were cleaning, hoovering and painting. In setting up the store round the clock for a fortnight, Edinburgh Store Hero, Caitlin, went through a pair of trousers and two pairs of shoes! It’s now our Scottish Alpkit haven. Locals who knew the building before love seeing what we’ve turned it into. It’s warming, quirky and special. It’s home to our repair station, Continuum Project donation box and our workshop. And it’s with us on the path to our net zero future.
‘Edinburgh' at alpkit.com
BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
winter
webinars Here’s just a little taster of all the good wintry stuff coming. As always there are lots of ways to get involved in Alpkit family discussions and outings.
23rd NOVEMBER (COOL) 25th February (BALTIC)
Swim. We’re here to help you stare down the cold months and keep on doing something a little heroic.
11th JANUARY (COLDER)
Run. Helping you put one in front of the other when it gets tough. When Spring starts to pop up, you’ll be so grateful.
8 MARCH (TROPICAL) th
Long distance walking. A chance to start dreaming, planning and preparing. Let us turn your long distance plans into bite-sized chunks.
SERIES
less medal, more stamp. NICE STAMP.
Get some grav under your rubber this winter. Led by locals happy to share their secret rough bits. Nothing too gnarly – just a friendly Alpkit vibe and a group ride. Bring butties and a spare tube. Do the whole lot and collect every stamp on your brevet card!
7TH NOVEMBER 19TH DECEMBER Keswick Metrocentre ST 21 NOVEMBER 9th JANUARY Edinburgh Bristol 5TH DECEMBER 23rd JANUARY
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE O TRYING T WATCH A ! WEBINAR
EIGHT STORES!
GRAVEL
Ilkley
Hathersage
‘Gravel Series’ at alpkit.com MA
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New stores now open in Ilkley and Bristol! Come in and make yourself comfy, grab a cuppa, read a magazine, refill your water bottle, and take a look around the store. All our stores are cram packed full of Alpkit gear goodness! Think of us as your base camp, really well-equipped gear stores with the entire Alpkit product range inside. We’ve got wetsuits to try on, bikepacking luggage to fit for size and sleeping bags packed up to show their packsizes. You can hire a bouldering mat, demo a bike, or book your tired and weary kit in for repair. Or you can just come in and hang out when you’re soggy and tired after a full day running, climbing, biking or hiking!
HATHERSAGE • AMBLESIDE • METROCENTRE • EDINBURGH KESWICK • BETWS-Y-COED + ILKLEY & BRISTOL
COME AND JOIN US, LET'S
CIA
L
FREE
DELIVERY
FREE
14th DECEMBER (COLD)
Bike. Shorter days give even more time to make bigger plans. Expect to be inspired.
RETURNS
Al Humphreys – Microadventures. Al is the original pioneer of the micro adventure. Expect ideas and tips, and lots of infectious enthusiasm.
winter
And all backed by our
alpine bond
No need to rant and dribble. Our guarantee is defo no quibble. Prices correct as of October 2021.
‘Win Winter’ at alpkit.com
Reduce reuse repair recycle
Respect our environment
Treat animals humanely
Threads of hope A world’s first PFC-free mountaineering jacket that doesn't leak nasty chemicals into the earth. You don't need to compromise to consider the planet. 30K hydrostatic head offers exceptional waterproof protection and 20K breathability means you’ll keep dry inside even when you’re active. And because this jacket is for the high mountains and for climbing, it’s a slim active cut with a helmet compatible hood and pockets set high to clear your harness or hip belt. YKK Aquaguard® zips help to keep you dry, and reinforcing them is an internal storm flap and chin guard. Pockets are generous, with one big enough for an OS map. And of course it is built to last with abrasion resistant, super durable fabric.
The new Definition £249.99
(“...as good or better than some jackets costing twice as much...” Not our words, the words of Outdoors Magic).
Work with people we believe in
Build a better business
Give back
‘Definition’ at alpkit.com
