GO! CARNEDDAU SOUTH WALES ISLE OF SKYE CONISTON
LIVE FOR THE OUTDOORS
FEBRUARY 2015
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LOVE THE COLD! Skills, hills and 17 ROUTES built for winter GEAR TESTS headtorches | gloves | sleeping bags
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This guy w full-time AND konrks off Himalayan p ocks e ak HOW!? p36 s:
CONTENTS p22
Northumberland NP: not just bare hillsides.
p56
Striding Edge in winter: somewhat different to summer.
BASECAMP
SKILLS
Dream peak
6
Landscapes we love
8
Pen y Fan, highest point in the south of the UK
A coffee-table book with views to drink in
Mountain Inquisition
12
Very-well-travelled Cumbrian lass Helen Skelton
High lights
Mountain Guide
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Winter walking: the five key things to consider; winter gear battle; a beginner’s guide to ice axe and crampons; backpack must-haves; layering for winter comfort; winterproofing gadgets; altitude and temperature; avoiding avalanches; food know-how PLUS tents for cold weather; GPS watches vs hand-held; hill skills courses
14
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ADVENTURES
In Box
16 18
Your top mountain moments, caught on camera
Subscribe to Trail
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Carneddau
28
Mick Fowler
36
Get out more
42
The Old Man of Storr
52
Northumberland
56
Behind the picture
62
Cabin fever cure
65
‘Britain’s most loved ridgeline’ – in winter
Snow comes to Wales; Trail is already there!
A most remarkable mountaineering everyman
Hill time hard to find? Check out these solutions
The world of hillwalking, according to you lot
Out There
Striding Edge
34
...and snaffle yourself a smart Sigg Thermo Bottle!
A short walk to some truly astonishing scenery
The National Park you really should know better
Time for the Cuillin’s mountain movie close-up
Take Trail’s antidote to hill-less holidays
WHERE THIS MONTH’S ISSUE WILL TAKE YOU The Storr: in Scotland, but out of this world.
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Shedding light on the best headtorches for your budget.
‘WHEN WE AWOKE THE WORLD WAS WHITE’
TRAIL’S PLAN COMES TOGETHER IN THE CARNEDDAU p28
GEAR GUIDE
ROUTES
Winter gloves
80
Headtorches
84
Winter sleeping bags
88
Five-fingered handwarmers for chilly conditions
Noggin-mounted lamps, presented by price tag
1 2 3 4
Carry on camping with the cosiest of cocoons
5
Kit for a first winter walk 90
6
Gear for initial forays onto frozen hilly terrain
First Test
TOM BAILEY
Well wrapped up on Carnedd Llewelyn.
7-9
92
A Scarpa boot suited to walking and scrambling?
What’s in your rucksack? 93
10-12 CLASSIC ROUTE
Coniston Fells St Sunday Crag Pen y Fan Glyder Fawr Beinn Narnain Schiehallion Whinlatter Fells Callander Cadair Idris
101 103 105 107 109 111 113 117 122
Team Trail appraises its most-worn gear
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7-9 1 2
4 CLASSIC ROUTE
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Trail’s tech ed Graham Thompson reveals his kit
Used & Abused
6 5 10-12
Choose your route and go hillwalking!
Go: the Lake District Do: Striding Edge
ALPINE
Take Britain's most loved ridgeline, plaster it in snow and ice, and what have
22 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
Trying (and failing) to impersonate a seasoned alpinist on Striding Edge, with Helvellyn’s summit poking into the clouds and Swirral Edge rippling above the frozen waters of Red Tarn.
ENGLAND you got? Probably the greatest winter walk south of the border, that’s what.
WORDS OLI REED PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 23
Go: north Wales Do: a snowy epic
WINTER ON THE
WELSH
28 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
A snowbound panorama from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn, with the Glyderau and Snowdon beyond.
P L AT E A U You don’t have to go to Scotland to experience epic mountain snows. Snowdonia’s sprawling Carneddau have everything you need. WORDS DAN ASPEL PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 29
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Terms & Conditions * If you pay by direct debit. Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. The minimum term is 13 issues. After your first 13 issues (1 year) your subscription will continue at this offer price every 13 issues thereafter unless you are notified otherwise. You will not receive a renewal reminder and the direct debit payments will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise. This offer closes on 28 January 2015. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery of your gift. We reserve the right to provide an alternative gift or a 3 issue extension if stocks are exhausted. Calls from a BT landline will cost no more than 4p a minute. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). UK orders only. Overseas? Phone +44 1858 438884. Gifts are not available for overseas. Overseas prices start at £60 for a print subscription. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes.
MICK FOWLER
“
WIFE 2 KIDS LABRADOR FULL-TIME OFFICE JOB
45...ANDFIRST ASCENTS ONE OBVIOUS QUESTION:
HOW THE HELL DOES MICK FOWLER DO IT? WORDS SIMON INGRAM PORTRAIT JAMES ABBOTT
I
t’s ‘Mike’ at work,” says Mick Fowler. “I’ve always been Mick in social circles and Mike in tax office circles. And the two have always been kept very, very separate.” For a moment, he looks a bit sad. “Though these days, they know about my other life. With the internet, all that stuff ’s just there.” Different names, a double life... you could be forgiven for thinking that what follows is the confession of a superhero; but no. In many ways, Mick Fowler is even more amazing. Outwardly, the soft-spoken Londoner is an ordinary bloke. He has a full-time office job in Nottingham, a wife, two kids and a Labrador. He’s 58, lean but solid, and radiates a kind of fidgety energy in the manner of someone who clearly likes being active. And whether you call him Mick, Mike or Michael (the latter is used by his wife when he’s “done something wrong”), he
“
36 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
gets a little shirty when you call his rather starchy day job by the wrong name. “I’m not a ‘tax inspector’. I’m grandly called the Assistant Director of Shares and Assets Evaluation for the HMRC – it’s the part of the tax office that values things. I’ve been with the tax office for 37 years.” He smiles, and nods, before adding: “And yes, I enjoy it.” This aside, and with all due respect to HM Revenue and Customs, it’s most probably his ‘other life’ that is of more interest. Once a year, for four weeks, Mike the Tax Man becomes Mick the Mountaineer – and when this happens, history is usually made. As well as dozens of first ascents on British sea stacks, cliffs and rock faces (he was notably one of the first climbers to achieve grade E6), Fowler’s Himalayan mountain CV is peerless. Twice winner of the Piolet d’Or – the closest mountaineering has to
an Oscar – with relentless commitment, Fowler has identified, explored and knocked off a stunning series of difficult and visually exciting mountain routes, many of them on mountains that have never been surveyed or explored, let alone climbed. Most remarkably, since 2010 Fowler has made a first ascent of a little-known Himalayan peak between 6000 and 7000m – in India, Nepal, Tibet, China – every year, and more or less every other year before that. He treks into valleys for which there are no maps, far beyond the head of the road. He meets people who “have never seen a white man”. He does things that, in short, most people don’t realise can still be done in the modern world. Then he quietly returns to his home in Derbyshire, has a shave, and goes back to work. And were it not for the internet, none of his co-workers would probably be any the ❯ wiser about what ‘Mike’ gets up to.
“FOR ME, ADVENTURE IS GOING SOMEWHERE NOBODY HAS BEEN BEFORE.”
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 37
Go: all your favourite places Do: spend more time there!
19 WAYS TO GET OUT MORE Want to boost your hill time? It’s easier than you might think. These tips will help you squeeze extra adventure into your life. WORDS DAN ASPEL
42 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
PHOTO BEN WINSTON
WORKS FLEXI-TIME QUALIFIED AS AN INSTRUCTOR CAUGHT THE EARLY TRAIN
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 43
MINI ADVENTURE
BBB
THE OLD MAN OF
STORR
It’s one of Skye’s most impressive natural landmarks... and one of its most accessible too. Two hours is all you need to explore this genuine mountain classic. WORDS BEN WEEKS PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY & BEN WEEKS
52 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
ISLE OF SKYE IN A NUTSHELL a magnificent monumental monolith DISTANCE 4km (2½ miles) TIME 1½ hours START/FINISH roadside parking at NG508529 NEAREST TOWN Portree
The Old Man catches the last of the sunlight as shadows fall over The Sanctuary.
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 53
Go: north-east England Do: the best of a National Park
Heading north from Barrowburn and winding through the curvy green foothills of the Cheviots.
56 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
BRITAIN’S MOUNTAIN PARKS
BBB
NORTHUMBERLAND
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 57
TOM BAILEY
Contrasting between thickly forested and high, bare hillside, this outpost of north-eastern England is the National Park many forget to put on their life list. All the more for the rest of us, we say...
MOUNTAIN GUIDE
WINTERPROOF YOUR GADGETS The number of electronic gadgets we take onto the hill has grown significantly over recent years. Many are now regarded as rucksack essentials so it’s vital to know how to protect them.
Enemy: wet Moisture is an electronics killer, so keep your gadgets waterproofed at all times. Dedicated, specifically sized cases that still enable touchscreen functions are available for mobile phones. For other items that are only used occasionally, a small dry-bag or even a zip-lock sandwich bag will offer suitable protection. If water does get to the inner workings of your electronics, sit the gadget in a bag of rice in a warm environment and it might be saveable.
Enemy: cold While unlikely to be as fatal as moisture, exposure to cold will have a negative effect. Battery life shortens in low temperatures, causing your gizmos to run out of power prematurely, while LCD screens can become sluggish or blank. Stow essential electronics on your person and your body heat will keep them functioning close to their best. Some headtorches have long leads that allow their battery packs to be tucked into an inside pocket for this very purpose.
Enemy: impact With ice on the ground, the chances of a slip or fall increase. Even a minor tumble from which you come away completely unscathed could do some damage to your fragile gadgets – particularly if they’ve been tucked in an inside pocket to keep warm. Tough cases are available for phones and cameras, but wrapping your electronics up in a woolly hat or your spare warm layers also provides excellent protection and insulation, particularly if the whole bundle is then housed inside a dry-bag.
TOM BAILEY
Anyone setting foot in the snowcovered hills would do well to check an avalanche forecast before leaving home. Websites often use an avalanche rosette to indicate the potential risks on different slopes. Avalanche rosettes look like Trivial Pursuit ‘cheeses’, with eight slices representing the major compass points. The cheese is also divided into concentric circles, with each indicating a different height on the mountain. The resulting segments of the rosette are coloured to show the level of avalanche danger at that height and slope aspect, and occasionally small spots will be included within the segments to indicate an increased localised risk. If that sounds confusing, perhaps it’ll make more sense with an example. In this diagram you can see that north-, north-east- and east-facing slopes above 1000m have a high risk of avalanche. North-west-,
74 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
south- and south-east-facing slopes are at considerable risk of avalanche, although on south-eastfacing slopes there’s a high risk in some areas. There’s a moderate risk of avalanche on west- and southwest-facing slopes, although again there are higher localised risks. Below 1000m the risks are lower, although north-, northeast-, east- and south-east-facing slopes still have a considerable chance of avalanching. North-west and southern faces are safer with just a moderate risk, while westand south-west-facing slope are unlikely to avalanche. What this avalanche rosette tells us, then, is that walkers heading to these hills are safest sticking to the lower western slopes. With regular use, deciphering such charts will become quicker and more intuitive, allowing you to make betterinformed decisions in the winter hills.
Estimating mountain temperatures
N
How to read an avalanche rosette
600m NW
NE 1000m
1300m
W
E
SE
SW S Localised avalanche hazard
Hazard level
Avalanche probability
Very high
Widespread natural and humantriggered avalanches will occur.
High
Natural and human-triggered avalanches will occur.
Natural avalanches possible. Considerable Human-triggered avalanches are likely.
Moderate
Natural avalanches unlikely. Human-triggered avalanches possible.
Low
Natural avalanches very unlikely. Human-triggered avalanches not likely.
The effect of height As you may well have experienced, it’s a fact that temperatures on the summit of a mountain tend to be much cooler than those at the base. You don’t necessarily need to know the science behind it, but being able to predict the temperature difference is a useful tool. As a rough guide, the following rules apply. s On a clear day, the temperature will drop 1 deg C for every 100m gain in altitude. s In cloud, rain or snow, the temperature will drop by 0.6 deg C for every 100m gain in altitude. The two nearest tables on the opposite page offer a quick way to check:
Jeremy says: When taking bearings be careful not to hold your compass close to any electronic gadgets. They can sometimes have an impact on the compass needle, which creates small direction errors.
“
“
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The human body uses energy to maintain an internal temperature of between 36.1 and 37.2 deg C. The colder the ambient temperature, the more energy is required. In fact, when at rest, your body could need as much as 30 per cent more calories to keep the internal boiler at the necessary thermostat setting. During winter you should consider taking more food onto the hill than you would in summer. While walking, your body will warm up naturally, but as soon as you stop to rest and begin to cool down, your body will start demanding extra fuel to keep warm. If you were to injure yourself and be immobile for an extended length of time, the extra calories required to fend off hypothermia could be significant. In winter it’s always worth packing extra ‘in case of emergency’ food. Choose something that’s high in energy but not particularly tasty, so you’re less likely to snack on it until you really need it. Energy gels are good for this: they provide a big calorific hit, can be easily stored in a rucksack pocket, and are rarely a particularly enjoyable dining experience.
300
600
900
1200
1500
20
17
14
11
8
5
15
12
9
6
3
0
10
7
4
1
-2
-5
5
2
-1
-4
-7
-10
0
-3
-6
-9
-12
-15
-5
-8
-11
-14
-17
-20
-10
-13
-16
-19
-22
-25
Temperature at sea-level in deg C
Temp at altitude on a cloudy day (deg C)
height above sea-level (m) 300
600
900
1200
1500
20
18.2
16.4
14.6
12.8
11
15
13.2
11.4
9.6
7.8
6
10
8.2
6.4
4.6
2.8
1
5
3.2
1.4
-0.4
-2.2
-4
Temperature at sea-level in deg C
0
-1.8
-3.6
-5.4
-7.2
-9
-5
-6.8
-8.6
-10.4
-12.2
-14
-10
-11.8
-13.6
-15.4
-17.2
-19
temperature (wind chill) in deg C Perceived Ambient air temperature in deg C
Temp at altitude on a clear day (deg C) height above sea-level (m)
10
20
30
40
50
Wind speed (mph) 60
70
80
90
100
10
7.8
6.4
5.6
4.9
4.4
4.0
3.6
3.2
2.9
2.7
5
1.6
-0.1
-1.2
-2.0
-2.7
-3.3
-3.7
-4.2
-4.6
-4.9
0
-4.6
-6.7
-8.0
-9.0
-9.8
-10.5
-11.1
-11.6
-12.1
-12.5
-5
-10.8
-13.2
-14.8
-16.0
-16.9
-17.7
-18.4
-19.0
-19.6
-20.1
-10
-17.0
-19.8
-21.6
-22.9
-24.0
-24.9
-25.7
-26.4
-27.1
-27.6
-15
-23.2
-26.4
-28.4
-29.9
-31.1
-32.1
-33.0
-33.8
-34.6
-35.2
-20
-29.4
-32.9
-35.2
-36.9
-38.2
-39.4
-40.4
-41.3
-42.1
-42.8
The effect of wind Wind can dramatically reduce the perceived temperature of the air. This means that even on a relatively mild day, a strong wind can present a risk in terms of potential frostbite or hypothermia. The table above shows the significance of the effect, depending on the speed of the wind and the ambient air temperature.
Calculating summit temperatures Using the charts on the left, it’s possible to make a rough calculation of the likely temperature at the summit of a mountain, providing you know the conditions. Example: The ambient air temperature in Glen Nevis (a little above sea-level) is a relatively mild 12 deg C. Therefore the ambient air temperature at the summit of Ben Nevis (at 1344m) will be around a chilly -1 deg C. However, given a wind speed of 20mph, the wind chill will drop the temperature to a positively uncomfortable -9.8 deg C. This just goes to show how different conditions on the top of a mountain can be from those at the base, and why it’s always worth carrying a couple of extra warm layers.
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 75
TEST OF THE BEST Where top hill kit goes head to head
When hillwalking in winter you need protection against the cold and the wet, while still being able to operate things like zips. Here’s our pick of the best insulated waterproof gloves.
WINTER GLOVES
WRIST LEASH In high winds gloves can blow away easily, so a security cord that can be adjusted to fit around the wrist is a worthwhile feature.
WRIST ADJUSTMENT Most gloves are elasticated at the wrist, but some have a webbing buckle to fine-tune the fit. This also helps to prevent warm air from escaping while keeping snow and rain out.
NOSE WIPE You’ll appreciate that soft patch of fabric on the thumb when your snout is dripping!
INSULATION
GEAR
To add insulation gloves come with either sewn-in or removable linings. Sewn-in linings cost less to produce whereas removable linings allow a degree of control over the warmth of the glove, they can also be removed for faster drying, and can be worn on their own for greater dexterity.
TEST OF THE BEST
DURABILITY Look for some reinforcement on the palms, particularly if you plan on using your gloves for scrambling or mountaineering. Leather is commonly used for this but tough nylon with minimal seams is another option.
CUFF DESIGN
ROLLED TIP The seams on some gloves are moved from the tip of the finger to the top of the fingernail area, which is called a 'rolled tip' design. This makes the gloves more durable, as the seams will receive less abrasion from rocks. It also allows you to grab zips or press buttons on digital devices more easily, as there’s no bulky seam on the fingertip.
FIT Most gloves come in a range of four sizes – usually small, medium, large and extra large, but some come in only three sizes. It’s also possible to find some models styled specifically for women.
DEXTERITY While wearing the gloves, try to operate your jacket’s zip. If you can’t then you’ll have to take your gloves off to do this, which means you’ll get cold hands! Some gloves have separate liner gloves that can be worn without the shell for easier operation of zips, maps and compasses.
MAGAZINE
BEST VALUE £45/165g (size L)
m
£50/191g (size L)
n m
Berghaus Mountain AQ Mtn. Equipment Guide BRANDS WERE ASKED TO SEND THEIR BEST GLOVES FOR WINTER HILLWALKERS IN THE UK. WE RECEIVED GLOVES FROM 11 BRANDS AND THE BEST ARE FEATURED HERE.
Can you fit the glove’s cuff inside the cuff of your waterproof? This will depend a little on the design of the jacket, but a narrow cuff is easier to fit inside a sleeve than a wider cuff. Shorter cuffs that don’t offer so much protection potentially expose areas of the wrist to the elements. Long, wide cuffs are ideal for wearing outside a cuff and if well-designed they can fit inside a sleeve too for the ultimate protection.
www.berghaus.com
www.mountain-equipment.co.uk
+ cuff adjustment + cuff adjustment wrist adjustment; cuff slightly smaller as warm as pricier gloves; palm not as – no – not than some; not the warmest glove here durable as leather; wrist leash elasticated FEATURES
FIT
COMFORT
IN USE
VALUE
VERDICT
great price; roll-tip fingers for durability;
pile lining; leather palm; wrist leash;
The palm is polyurethane, which isn’t quite as durable as nylon or leather – but there are no seams for better durability, and you get roll-tip fingers, again great for durability. Inside you get synthetic insulation, although not as much as others, and a waterproof AQ liner. Cuff adjustment, a nose wipe and a wrist leash complete a good feature list. 4/5
A well-established glove that benefits from a good set of features for the hillwalker including DriLite waterproof lining, a leather palm and a pile lining for insulation. There is stretch material on the back of the hand for a closer fit, plus a nose wipe on the thumb. The cuffs get a drawcord adjuster and there is a wrist leash, but there’s only elastication at the wrist. 4/5
This glove comes in a unisex XS-XL size range. The size L fitted me well with a particularly well-fitting thumb and fingers. The wrist area is elasticated with no additional adjustment provided, but you do get adjustment at the cuff with a drawcord. The cuff is a good size to fit either inside or over a jacket sleeve. 5/5
The Guide comes in sizes S-XXL for men and XS-L for women. The fit was nice and close on me, with no material bunching up or any seams feeling uncomfortable. The cuff is shorter than some, and while it does fit inside a jacket sleeve easily it isn’t so great for wearing outside of a sleeve. The cuff drawcord does seal the glove well though. 5/5
This feels great on, with no bunching of material; but it has much less insulation inside than the higher-priced gloves so it isn’t the warmest option here by a big margin. However, as the synthetic palm material is thin and there isn’t so much insulation, dexterity and comfort in mild weather are good. 3/5
The Guide feels great on. The pile lining is comfortable and the stretch material on the back of the hand adds to the comfort. The glove is precurved so it feels quite natural and allows a slightly easier movement when gripping items, without any stiffness. It isn’t quite the warmest option though. 4/5
The fit and dexterity are great, making the Mountain AQ ideal for use with trekking poles or ice axes. The wrist leashes are elasticated so gloves hanging from them tend to catapult around a bit. But the main drawback is that lack of insulation; this glove isn’t as warm as other models here. 3/5
The precurved shape allows easier use when gripping trekking poles, while the cuff adjustment improves protection around the join between jacket and glove, though a slightly bigger cuff would be useful for wearing over a jacket sleeve. The wrist leash is very elastic so tethered gloves tend to catapult around. 4/5
This is a good price for a practical, well-fitting glove with good features for milder winter conditions.
This is a good price for a practical glove with a good set of features for most hillwalkers. 4/5
4/5
Not the warmest or the most durable, but great for general walking if it isn’t too cold.
3.8/5
Small details could be better, but the price is very impressive for the performance.
4.2/5
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 81
BEST BUDGET FOR YOUR
BURN TIME LEDs and other lights tend to dim over time as the batteries run down. The burn times provided by manufacturers are not always based on the same criteria, so they cannot always be trusted. A battery power level indicator is therefore a useful feature, and all torches featured here have one.
Outdoor kit to suit everyone’s wallet... tested! OPERATION Small press buttons are generally used to operate the headtorch but rotating bezels are another common option. The most important points to consider are: can the torch be operated with cold, wet and gloved hands in the dark; and will it turn on by itself in a rucksack pocket, leading to flattened batteries?
LIGHT OUTPUT The maximum power that a headtorch can provide is measured in lumens. An output of around 80 to 100 lumens is suitable for camping and general walking, while 200 lumens is ideal for navigating across open hillsides. Higher powers are useful for search and rescue as well as fast-paced activities such a mountain biking, running or skiing.
COLOUR OF LIGHT
TEST AND STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHS GRAHAM THOMPSON OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPH TOM BAILEY
Most headtorches come with standard white LEDs and in general these are adequate for most purposes. However, red LEDs are useful when you want to preserve your night vision while walking, and green LEDs are useful when map-reading.
TILTING HEAD
HEADBAND The headband needs to be adjustable to ensure a secure yet comfortable fit. Heavier models may have a top-of-head strap. Some headtorches can also be attached to climbing helmets.
So that you can direct the beam of light to the ground just ahead of you or to the guyline you’re adjusting, it is important to be able to tilt the head of the torch down a little. This needs to be adjustable but not so loose and floppy that it doesn’t stay in place once set. Ratchets or friction devices are often used to prevent slippage.
BATTERIES Most headtorches run on AA or AAA batteries, but some require a rechargeable battery. Consider how easy it will be to change the batteries, bearing in mind that you may have to do this in the dark with cold or wet hands and away from a convenient recharging point.
HEADTORCHES
There’s no need to be left in the dark if you choose the appropriate headtorch for your needs and budget. Here are the best models costing from £14 to £260.
GEAR
BEST FOR YOUR BUDGET
HEADTORCHES UNDER £50
MAGAZINE
APPROVED
£14/98g
£25/189g
£30/109g
Alpkit Viper
Lifesystems Intensity
Coleman CHT 15
+ lightweight; good head tilt – less power than higher-priced models
+ 85m beam; 180 hour max burn time heavy; head tilt ratchet is not – relatively long enough
+ 27 hours maximum burn time button is a little indistinct; more – power power is available at higher prices
The low price is a big feature, but here you are also getting 100 lumens of light output, which is ideal for general hillwalking, and this lasts for 40 hours – great for most campers and walkers. The three AAA batteries fit easily into the main housing and there is a big button for operation on the top as well as a good ratchet on the head tilt mechanism. 4/5
Unusually for this price you get a separate battery pack at the rear of the headband, as well as the main headlamp. There are three AA batteries supplied to create the 220 lumens of power that provides an 85 metre beam for 11 hours, which is really impressive at this price. A sliding diffuser adds wide beam, while a single button provides six lighting modes. 5/5
A great set of features for the price: 150 lumens maximum power that lasts for 6 hours, which is great for most activities. The 55 metre beam length is acceptable but it’s shorter than some higher-powered units. There are seven power settings here and when set to the lowest at 35 lumens you get 27 hours of light, which is great for camping. 4/5
The battery housing is plastic, which keeps the weight down, and it opens easily with the fingers to change the batteries. The tilt ratchet is particularly well-designed (many in this price range don’t stay in place very well). The operation button has a textured surface so it is easy to identify by feel, yet it is not easy to accidentally switch it on. 5/5
The battery housing is easily opened with the hands and closes securely. The head has a ratchet to control the tilt, but this ratchet ends too soon, so if you dip the lamp too far it flops around. This is annoying and unnecessary, but it is easy to move it back onto the ratchet. The main button is positive and the sliding diffuser is easy to move to change the beam width. 4/5
The CHT 15 runs on three AAA batteries that fit into a battery housing on the end of the torch. It is opened with a key built into the strap buckle so it cannot be lost, and this also makes opening the housing easy with wet hands in the dark. The head tilt ratchet is nice and precise. The operation button is smaller and less distinct than it could be: a niggle if wearing gloves. 4/5
Some headtorches with batteries in the main lamp housing can be uncomfortable, but not this one. It isn’t so heavy that it wobbles around, and the moulding sits comfortably against the head. The headband is nice and wide too, so it sits very comfortably. Its small size and low weight also make it ideal for carrying in a rucksack or pocket all day. 5/5
This is slightly heavy at 189g, but at least the batteries are at the back of the head to balance the weight better. The straps are wide and overall this is quite comfortable. A top strap, which is an option on some similar higher-priced designs, cannot be fitted – and some people may feel the need for one. However I don’t find it necessary here. 4/5
This is very slightly heavier than some other torches, and the main lamp does feel a little bulkier and wobblier on the head than some other designs that are slightly more compact. But this is a tiny detail; and while not perfect, this torch is only very slightly less comfortable overall than others. The straps themselves are actually nice and comfy. 4/5
The output of 100 lumens is acceptable for most walking and camping, and the 40 hours you get is great for a weekend; but there is no ‘boost’ feature for extra light if you need it when navigating. The operation button, head tilt and headband adjustment work well, and it’s a breeze to replace the batteries. However, higher-priced options have more power. 4/5
The 220 lumens is really useful as it creates an 85m beam, which is more than most can offer at this price and is great for night navigation. The burn time of 180 hours on 20 lumens is great for camping too. The tilt mechanism drops below the ratchet too easily, but this is workable so it isn’t a disaster; however this torch could be better with a redesign. 4/5
The 150 lumens is really useful for general hillwalking, but having it for only 6 hours is a drawback for a tough couple of days in winter when night descents are more common. Also a 55m maximum beam length is acceptable but not great for night navigation. The rest of the features work well, although a slightly more precise feel to the button would be good. 3/5
The performance, features and quality are outstanding for the price, and extra power will cost you a great deal more. 5/5
At this price the power is remarkable and for most campers who also want a good torch for night navigation this is outstanding value. 5/5
Spending this sort of cash on a headtorch there is always a compromise; but the price is good for what you get. 4/5
Ideal for camping and general walking, but for regular night navigation a more powerful torch has advantages.
The power and burn time are ideal for camping and hillwalking; and while not perfectly designed, at this price it is more than acceptable.
For camping and easier hillwalking this torch works really well, but for lots of night navigation on trickier terrain longer burn times and a power boost would be good.
www.alpkit.com
www.lifesystems.co.uk
low price; 100 lumens for 40 hours;
FEATURES
DESIGN
COMFORT
IN USE
VALUE
VERDICT
4.6/5
low price; 220 lumens for 11 hours;
4.4/5
www.coleman.eu
150 lumens for 6 hours; 55m beam;
3.8/5
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 85
LAKE DISTRICT
ROUTE
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12.9km/8 miles
STRENUOUSNESS NAVIGATION TECHNICALITY WAINWRIGHT COUNT TRAIL 100 COUNT
Coniston Round
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Looking back to Coniston Old Man from the ridge to Brim Fell.
The finest way to The Old Man, a roller coaster ridge ride and a band called Prison – all in a single walk recommended by Sean McMahon…
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elieve it or not, there is The strangely a quiet way to reach named Prison Band. the summit of The Old Man of Coniston; and not only that, it is simply the finest way to climb it - as it avoids the trudge through the crowds on the more usual tourist path. The Coniston Fells are a relatively compact group, and once height is gained the various summits can be linked together quite easily. Walking them in a clockwise direction ensures that the fine views to the north are maintained to all the major Southern Fells that feature in southern face to reach a platform with the round. fabulous views across The Cove to Dow This walk utilises a little-used route to Crag before ascending Old Man Breast to climb to the top of The Old Man, crossing its the summit. The continuation is a fine ridge
roller coaster, firstly to Brim Fell followed by a grand traverse across to the real outlier of the Coniston Fells, Grey Friar. Grey Friar stands remote from the main bulk of fells but is certainly worth a visit. The final climb visits Great Carrs and then Swirl How, both cairns sitting on the edge of a great rim of crags overlooking Greenburn. The descent is via the strangely named Prison Band, a fine stony ridge that requires three points of contact in one or two places before dropping down to Levers Water. There is a neat way to return to the starting point by passing through the lost world of Boulder Valley, a place where a day could happily be spent exploring. FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 101
SEAN MCMAHON
r A quiete h c a o appr
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Inverness
ROUTE
Shiel Bridge
Aviemore
nverie
Invergarry
Aberdeen
Braemar
LAKE DISTRICT 12.9km/8 miles
rt William
ALWAYS TAKE A MAP OUT WITH YOU ON THE HILL
Oban
Glasgow
Edinburgh Berwick-upon-Tweed
SD289970 From the fell gate head southwest along the wide ntrae bridleway called the Dumfries Newcastle Walna Scar Road. Newton Stewart -upon-Tyne Carlisle Stranraer Immediately Penrith Keswick after the quarry Middlesbrough track that climbs 6 Northallerton to the right, Windermere Kendal follow a path Ingleton Bentham steeply to the left York Lancaster Skipton of a small stream (a Leeds slate monolith bears the Liverpool Manchester legend ‘Footpath to The Distance 12.9km Rhyl Conway Old Man’). Below and (8 miles) Sheffield Bodelwyddan on the opposite side of Total ascent 977m the track is the reedy (and Betws-y-Coed Time 5Llangollen hours sometimes invisible) but Derby intriguingly named Boo Start/finish parking Barmouth Tarn. Always keep left and Peterborough fell gate Aberystwyth area beyond the Birmingham high; sometimes the path at the start of the Walna disappears but can soon digan ScarHay-on-Wye Road (NY289970) be picked up again. This is Brecon town Gloucester Nearest a wonderful traverse across Ambleside Oxford Pembroke Little Arrow Moor.
ISLE ARRAN
FACTS
Ayr
Jedburgh
Terrain typical Lake Swansea Bristol DistrictCardiff terrain with
ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPPING © CROWN COPYRIGHT. CREATED WITH MEMORY-MAP. LICENCE MEDIA089/12
Bodmin
grassy and rocky Minehead sections. Some of the route is pathless and Exeter Poole is not recommended in poor weather
Plymouth
Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) 96; OS Explorer (1:25,000) OL6 Accommodation Black Bull Inn & Hotel, Coniston (015394) 41335 www. conistonbrewery.com; The Sun, Coniston (015394) 41248 www. thesunconiston.com; Coniston Hall Campsite (015394) 41223 conistonhallcampsite. wordpress.com Public transport 505 bus service (Coniston Rambler) Kendal Windermere - Ambleside & Hawkshead: www. stagecoachbus.com Guidebooks A Pictorial Guide to The Southern Fells by A Wainwright, pb Frances Lincoln Tourist info www.conistontic.org Best pub The Black Bull, Coniston
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To get this route and maps on your phone now, go to www.viewranger.com/trail Route code TRL0640
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NY272005 Swirl How has another fine cairn pinpointing the top, similar in style to the others on the Coniston Fells and marking the centre of the Coniston group. Descend Prison Band to the east, a stony ridge that features a series of long steps to reach Swirl Hawse below. At the hawse, follow the path to the south-east, which keeps a high line above the boggy ground. The path fades in places, but in general keep left to avoid the worst of the boggy areas before descending to Levers Water.
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SD273970 The path climbs to a small platform, which has a Southampton Brighton fantastic view across The Cove to the western arm of the Coniston Fells, namely Brown Pike, Buck Pike and the impressive eastern face of Dow Crag. The path then climbs to the north-east and is initially clear but becomes faint climbing to the top of The Old Man across Old Man Breast.
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2 Descend to Levers Hawse before beginning to climb once more.
SD272978 The summit of The Old Man is marked with an impressive cairn (‘man’ is a stone cairn in local parlance, hence the name of the fell) and a trig column. The views from here are far-reaching and especially impressive looking north-west to the Scafells. Continue heading to the north on a main path, hugging the edge of the ridge. A gentle descent and ascent lead to Brim Fell.
SD271995 There is a fork in the path at the cairn a short distance from Levers Hawse. Follow the thinner path, contouring to the left below Swirl Band with Seathwaite Tarn below to reach the Fairfield col. From here, it is an easy walk to reach the stony summit plateau of Grey Friar.
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NY260003 Grey Friar stands apart from the main Coniston Fells and is therefore often quieter. The summit is marked by two cairns; the one to the southeast is the accepted summit while the one to the north-
SD270985 Brim Fell is marked with another fine pyramidal cairn with convex sides, smaller but similar in appearance to the one on The Old Man.
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Start
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102 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
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SD280995 Skirt the eastern shore of 1 Levers Water reservoir, boulderhopping for much of it. Cross the outlet to walk along the dam wall and climb to a fenced area with a spoil heap (Simon’s Nick). Descend then follow the fence up to the left before continuing south to drop into Boulder Valley. Descend to a wooden bridge crossing Low Water Beck and pass the large rock known as the Pudding Stone immediately after it. Follow the easy terraced path above modern industrial workings. This path joins the main path from The Old Man; turn left along it for a short way before heading south once more to return directly to the car parking area.
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GRADIENT PROFILE
In association with
outcrop on the very edge of the precipice overlooking Greenburn. To the east is a great curving rim of crags rising to another prominent cairn. Follow the clear path to climb steeply to Swirl How.
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The Old Man of Coniston
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Levers Hawse
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west has a better view over to the Scafells. Head back along the path to the Fairfield col, passing a prominent rock on the way known as the Matterhorn Rock. Descend before climbing the central path, which ascends directly to a memorial that marks the spot where a Royal Canadian Air Force bomber crashed in 1944. A short climb leads to the edge of the crags overlooking Greenburn with the summit of Great Carrs 100m to the north. NY270009 Great Carrs summit is marked by a large cairn sitting on top of a small
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Grey Friar
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Swirl How
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Finish
Levers Water
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© ROBERT HARDING WORLD IMAGERY / ALAMY
CLASSIC ROUTE
A frozen Llyn y Gadair, below the 811m summit of Cyfrwy.
122 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2015
SNOWDONIA
Cadair Idris
Here’s a bold walking adventure that gets you up close to the dark north face of Cadair Idris, from Jeremy Ashcroft.
C
adair Idris is something of an island peak, thanks to the way it’s set apart from its neighbours by the landscape. To its north the Afon Mawddach estuary with its silver sands and fast-flowing waters mark the boundary, while south lies the great trench carved by the Afon Dysynni. Isolated between deep valleys, and with an ever-changing backdrop of the sea and the sky, Cadair never fails to impress. From its seemingly impossible ring of crags to the deep-cut cwms that embrace its flanks, this is a mountain of superlatives. Far and away the most impressive feature, however, is the six-milelong line of cliffs that form a huge escarpment across its north face. Seen from Barmouth or Dolgellau it fills the skyline as a long black shadow with little or
no detail apparent. This can be off-putting, but if you have a passion for mountain architecture its secretive nature demands closer inspection. The whole north face is a long series of corries split by sweeping arêtes. Crystalclear tarns occupy three corries, and the head walls of all are a complex series of rock formations. For climbers they form a magnificent playground with endless opportunities from lower- to mid-grade routes. For walkers the pickings are slim, and while a fascinating day can be had around the base of the cliffs and exploring each corrie in turn there are only two routes that make it to the summit. The bolder of these is the Fox’s Path, which follows a fairly direct route via a scree slope in Cwm Gadair. The other is an ancient packhorse route that crosses the main ridge at Rhiw Gwredydd. These two routes combined form a short but fairly tough circuit that reveals some of Snowdonia’s most sublime crags in full HD. ❯
FEBRUARY 2015 TRAIL 123