Trail magazine February 2016 by Trail magazine

COLD COMFORT Mountain gloves + warm jackets TESTED

LIVE FOR THE OUTDOORS

FEBRUARY 2016

13 WALKS FOR COLD DAYS! Carn Mor Dearg Scafell Pike Blencathra + more

THE UK’S BEST-SELLING HILLWALKING MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2016 £4.45

SNOWDON IN WINTER

The ultimate time to bag the summit of Wales PLUS Learn the skills to be here – fast!

Wild Pennine Way The best 3-day stretch of this legendary route

ADVENTUR

TRAVEL L SPECIA

... S PACKED WITH 24 EXTRA PAGE inations for 2016 ▲ Your top 10 dest et list experiences ck bu ve ha tus M ▲

The World’s Best Walk The Tour du Mont Blanc could really be it – and here’s how you can do it!

the one that likes it cold, crispy and aromatic

Pap of Glencoe Pointy, petite and perfect for winter

Pub-to-pub in the Lakes 3 nights and 35 miles of hill, valley and ﬁreside heaven

Contents

WHERE TRAIL WILL TAKE YOU BASE CAMP

SKILLS

Climb it

Grasmoor, that ‘quiet giant of the NW Lakes’

Experience it

The perfect end to a perfect hill day: a pub

Trail Young Mountaineer

Help us find the next outdoors superstar!

The Mountain Inquisition 12 Tim McCartney-Snape, first Aussie up Everest

Expert advice

Three issues of ly Trail for a meas t no s at’ Wh er. fiv . to like? Page 50

Planning for safety in snowy hills; what you need to know about avalanches in the UK; The Old Man of Coniston – the facts; how to cope in a white-out; ‘fill ratings’ explained; best food for winter walking and bothying

In box

Tackling Snowdon and Cadair Idris, in winter

Winter skills

Learning the basics on a tutor-led course

A wee nip of Scotland, chilled and distilled

The world of hillwalking: your thoughts

Pub-to-pub in the Lakes

A staggeringly good four-day hostelry hop

Your top mountain moments + Face of fatigue

Subscribe to Trail

Snowdonia

Pap of Glencoe

YOUR TRAIL Out there

HECK!

ADVENTURES

Pennine Way

Our pick of this ‘brutal and beautiful’ route

Shadow lands

A very personal record of the UK mountains

Tour du Mont Blanc

An epic walk amid truly stunning landscapes

Blindingly bright sunshine and an unforgettable, blissful, all-consuming quiet The Snowdonia only the well-wrapped-up witness – page 26.

Trail photographer Tom’s personal perspective – page 60.

Hillwalking’s terribly thirsty work, you know – page 44.

GEAR GUIDE 76

Box-fresh stuff that’s caught Trail’s eye

Ice grippers

Get traction without resorting to crampons

Winter gloves

Stop fingers freezing, whatever your budget

Insulated jackets

Down, synthetic and the best of both worlds

Kit me out for overseas

The equipment you’ll need to take trekking

First test

Vaude’s ultralight ventilated 24 litre backpack

Used & abused

Where Team Trail appraises its paraphernalia

1 Cox & Staple Tors 2 Grasmoor 3 Y Garn 4 Fan Fawr 5 Carn Mor Dearg 6 Glas Maol 7-9 Langstrath 10-12 Ogwen Valley

101 103 105 107 109 111 113 117

Carn Mor Dearg

Ridge guide Hall’s Fell Ridge

Y Garn

10 11 12

Fan Fawr

8 9

Langstrath

Ogwen 3

122 127 129

Grasmoor Walks of a lifetime Scafell Pike

Map of the month Cross Fell

PLUS Walks of a lifetime Ridge guide Map of the month

Glas Maol

Cox Tor & Staple Tor

● CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE AND GO HILLWALKING!

Relaxing in Greg’s Hut on the Pennine Way – page 52.

Learning life-saving winter skills – page 34.

TOM BAILEY

Hot new kit

ROUTES

G MOUNTAINEER YOUN OF T H E Y E A R

YOUNG MOUNTAINEER OF THE YEAR Help Trail celebrate the next generation of outdoor superstars by nominating your Young Mountaineer of the Year.

rail receives hundreds of photographs and emails every month from proud parents and group leaders who share their experiences in the hills with aspiring young mountaineers. From babies in backpacks to toddlers on trig points, and from school groups sleeping on summits to teenagers tackling Alpine peaks, we’re inspired by each and every one of their adventures. As a result, this month we’re launching the search for Trail’s very first Young Mountaineer of the Year. Whether 2015 was the year they summited their first mountain, crossed their first ridgeline, slept in their first bothy, bagged their 50th Munro or climbed their first Alpine peak – we want to hear about it.

There are three age categories for this award: 7 years old and under; 8-12 years old; and 13-16 years old*. If you know a young person who ﬁts in one of these age brackets and has achieved a signiﬁcant milestone in the mountains during 2015, then let us know why you think they deserve to win this award. The entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges that includes British mountaineering superstar Leo Houlding and Bonita Norris, the youngest person to summit Everest and reach the North Pole. We’ll then pick an overall winner from each category, with the winners each receiving a personalised trophy, a bundle of brand new outdoor kit and – most importantly – that coveted title. Good luck to everyone!

THE JUDGING PANEL

TOM BAILEY

NOMINATE!

Simon Ingram

Leo Houlding

Bonita Norris

Trail editor and former 6-year-old ’hill-explorer’

Leading British rockclimber and adventurer

Record-breaking mountaineer

To nominate your Young Mountaineer of the Year, simply visit www.lfto.com/youngmountaineer, or email trailcompetitions@lfto.com Submit up to three photographs and in no more than 250 words explain why you think they deserve to win the award. The closing date is 31 January 2016. *Entrants must enter whichever age category they were in on 31 December 2015.

Base Camp

● NOMINATE TODAY BY EMAILING TRAILCOMPETITIONS@LFTO.COM

Go north Wales Do Cadair Idris & Snowdon

GIAN WELSH WINTER

Two stunning days, two iconic Snowdonian mountains and almost too many great memories

e’re approaching the top of Wales’ highest mountain, the busiest and most summited peak on the planet, and we’re surrounded by silence. There are no screaming schoolchildren or shrieking seagulls today – just piles and piles of snow, blindingly bright sunshine and an unforgettable, blissful, allconsuming quiet. This is the Snowdon not many people see. The one that gets gobbled up by the deepest, darkest months of winter and is hidden from the tourists until the snow and ice retreat. There’s a reason for that, of course, because the high mountains of Wales are dangerous places to be at this time of year. Even on a calm, beautiful day like this, there are warning signs everywhere. The ridge we’re crossing is kneedeep in snow, its right-hand edges windswept into brittle cornices. The mountain’s steep flanks, so welcoming beneath spring and summer sunshine, have transformed into lethal death slides. The futuristic summit café that serves hot drinks and savouries from spring to October has closed for the season and morphed into an oversized ice cube. We huddle in its doorway, shovel down flapjacks and sip steaming Vimto from flasks, staring out into a landscape that suddenly feels more Himalayan than Snowdonian. It’s the stuff dreams are made of, the kind of unforgettable mountain experience that comes along just a few times in your life. Here’s how we did it… 

26 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

HIgh on Snowdon’s south ridge, with sunlight illuminating spindrift on the lower summit of Yr Aran to the left and the west coast of Wales stretching into the distance.

NTS to handle. Winter walking doesn’t get much better than this.

WORDS OLI REED PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 27

Go Glen Coe in winter Do get skilled up

WINTER BEFORE

HANNAH

“Keen but cautious” Winter experience: has never used crampons or ice axe before. Has happily and longingly gazed upon snowy peaks from afar but that’s the sum total of her winter mountain experience. Starting thoughts: "A little bit terrified but extremely excited. This is going to unlock skills for opening the mountains up all year around. Watch out hills, here I come."

HUW GILBERT (MIC) Winter experience: considerable. Including a west-to-east crossing of the Arctic island of Spitzbergen, setting new routes in remote areas of Greenland and extensive winter climbing in Scotland and Wales. He's a bit good. Starting thoughts: “Should be a nice, easy weekend ahead here.”

34 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

Instructor Huw holds the Golden Ice Axe, to be presented to whoever claws their way over frozen Ben Nevis first. Only joking. It's an intro to the basics on the Pap of Glencoe.

UNLOCKED One of these women has never been on a snowy mountain; the other has, once, sort of. Here's how they nailed winter for good on a weekend skills course...

WORDS SARAH RYAN & HANNAH JAMES PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY

BEFORE

SARAH

“Lunatic optimist” Winter experience: one easy Munro in borrowed crampons and ideal winter conditions. No ridges, cornices or anything sketchy. Descent by snowy bum-slide. Has set high, somewhat unrealistic expectations. Starting thoughts: “Excited. It’ll be incredible up there! Maybe a tiny bit nervous but mainly I can’t wait to get out and experience winter in the Scottish mountains again.”

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 35

Go central Highlands Do a wee winter peak

Chilled & distilled WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPH BEN WEEKS

The Pap might not be Glen Coeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most imposing peak, but if you want a taste of Scottish winter in a shorter, sharper shot, it offers all the flavour with a little less volume.

40 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

The Pap of Glencoe under heavy snow, with Loch Leven in the foreground.

Post-pork-pie plod, en route to the Clachaig Inn.

ÂŠ PETER SUMNER / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 41

Go the Lake District Do walk from pub to pub

INN FROM INN

44 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

A warm,welcoming glow spills out from the sanctuary of the New Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale.

THE COLD OLD With the Lakes still reeling from December’s floods, what better way to support the recovery and inject money into the communities than a pub-to-pub walking tour?

WORDS BEN WEEKS PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY

rystal blue skies. Low warm light. Crisp frozen ground. Winter in the mountains is magic. But, for the most part, it’s also nothing like this. Such days are rarer than gold rocking-horse dust. But there are more reliable highlights of winter months in the hills: log ﬁres, hot food, a warm bath, steaming mugs of tea, and room-temperature ales. And at the end of a day that’s been more of a slog than an experience to be treasured, any combination of the above can rescue the occasion from one consigned to the bin of history to one that will forever be fondly remembered in the annals of your hillwalking. Whether they go by the name of inn, pub, hotel, bar, hostelry or tavern, the Lake District has a particularly healthy crop, which makes planning a multiday route linking them together a doddle. 

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 45

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and unlimited printable OS mapping for a year*! Search and download over 1,000 Trail Routes, print personalised Ordnance Survey maps and directions, plan your adventures and share online. The digital mapping subscription covers the whole UK, so create a lifetime of walking adventures and save them to your GPS or phone. * A TrailZilla subscription is only available with a digital subscription if you purchase it through Great Magazines.

CLICK WWW.GREATMAGAZINES.CO.UK/TRAIL Terms & Conditions Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. After your first three issues your subscription will be continue at this offer price, every 6 months 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 2016. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Cost from landlines for 01 numbers per minute are (approximately) 2p to 10p. Cost from mobiles per minute (approximately) 10p to 40p. Costs vary depending on the geographical location in the UK. You may get free calls to some numbers as part of your call package – please check with your phone provider. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). UK orders only. Overseas? Please phone +44 1858 438828 for further details. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes.

Go Pennine Way Do it in winter

Rime ice on the Pennine Way's highest point: the summit of Cross Fell (893m).

PENNINE WAY’S

Brutal and beautiful. Wild and windswept. Forget what you’ve heard about the Pennines. The great canyon of High Cup Nick in the last light of day.

52 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

HIGHEST MOUNTAIN GREATEST VALLEY MOST SPECTACULAR FALLS BEST CAMP SPOT WILDEST BOTHY Kirk Yetholm t

Kirkland

▲ Cross Fell

Bowlees

Dufton

Edale da

GREATEST HITS This might just be the weekend your winter’s waiting for.

WORDS DAN ASPEL PHOTOGRAPHS TOM BAILEY

ear the word ‘extreme’ and it’s unlikely to spark thoughts of the Cumbrian countryside. The Cairngorm plateau or the gullies of Ben Nevis perhaps, but not the sodden green and brown landscape that encircles the Lake District. And that’s a shame, because cutting across the eastern edge of Cumbria is a route that deserves the title as much as anything else in Britain. It’s the ﬁnest part of our oldest and gnarliest long distance path: the Pennine Way. Or is that nonsense? Because what you’re probably thinking right now, the unspoken thing most people think when anyone mentions the words ‘Pennine Way’, is that, well… isn’t it all just a bit… boring? At ﬁrst glance the entire spine of England comes across as being more moorland than mountain; and even the areas that could be called mountainous are by reputation more bleak than beautiful. Surely anyone that bothers with it is just a rain-lashed local doing it out of loyalty to the land? Or boredom? Or perhaps they just don’t own a car? Well, to banish those thoughts,  let’s look at the facts… FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 53

SHADOW LANDS

For the past two years Trail photographer Tom Bailey has documented his adventures in the British hills by taking a picture of his shadow wherever he walks. Over the next six pages are Tomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal favourites from a stunning collection.

60 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

”On 586m Craig Goch in southern Snowdonia in November 2015, looking across Tal-y-llyn Lake to Cadair Idris. Taken in low winter light – the perfect conditions for shadow photos.”

“I’m lucky enough to visit a lot of beautiful places with my job, and photographing my shadow is a subtle way of placing myself into the landscape and cataloguing my experiences in the mountains. I don’t want to see myself in the pictures I take – I already know what I look like so the last thing I want is any cheesy selfies. I’ve taken most of these photographs outside of the summer months – when the days are short, the light is low and the shadows are long. It’s usually the case that the landscape looks its best when the sun’s shining, so I’ve tried to capture the best of the scenery I’m walking in while also creating a personal account of everywhere I’ve been. I hope you enjoy them.” �

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 61

Go mainland Europe Do a truly epic walk

THE GRANDEST TOUR

66 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

Sunrise over the northern flank of the Mont Blanc massif, reflected in the still waters of Lac Blanc. The roof of the refuge is on the extreme left.

Want something mountainous, spectacular and foreign – but don’t fancy crampons, heights or headaches? The Tour du Mont Blanc might just be what you’re after. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ANDREW GILCHRIST

t’s 5am and I’m sitting on top of a huge mountain directly opposite Mont Blanc, shivering and speechless as I struggle to take in the most extraordinary view of my life. Dawn has just broken and the first slivers of daylight are spilling over the magnificent northern flank of the massif, lighting up the soaring tips of its spiking needles one by one, like a match going from candle to candle. Mercifully, the chill slowly eases and, wrapped in three fleeces, I begin to warm up, letting my eyes follow the outline of this 25km long parade of peaks to its lofty climax: the snow-capped summit of Mont Blanc, the monarch of the Alps, nosing up through a sea of � cloud and already gleaming impossibly white against the morning sky.

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 67

TEST OF THE BEST TOP HILL KIT GOES HEAD TO HEAD

ICE GRIPPERS Winter makes walking on low-level paths tricky, but full crampons can be cumbersome. That is where other traction devices become an option... TEST AND PHOTOGRAPHS GRAHAM THOMPSON

INTENDED USE Ice grippers are not intended to be a replacement for full crampons, but in some conditions they offer more comfort when walking compared to crampons – and this is their advantage. These reviews are based on them being used on level paths and not on the more challenging terrain found on hills or mountains in winter, for which they are not designed and where full crampons are recommended by the manufacturers.

NUMBER OF SPIKES The more spikes there are, the better the grip – and the more chance that at least some of them come into contact with the ice on uneven surfaces.

SHARPNESS OF SPIKES

LENGTH OF SPIKES Long spikes provide better grip in snow, but they can catch on rocks or even trousers, which is the drawback of full crampons when the conditions don’t require such long spikes. However, very short spikes are unable to

cut through even the thinnest layer of snow and may also struggle to grip on broken ice. On pavements a few millimetres will provide a grip when there is ice on the surface, but a 1cm long spike is better if there is snow.

Sharp spikes will cut into ice more easily to give a more secure grip, but sharp spikes also wear down easily. On rock and pavements spikes wear down very rapidly, so on these surfaces a metal coil or blunted spike is adequate. On harder ice, however, and even on pavements and rock paths, a sharper spike may be necessary to obtain a grip. Sharp spikes are also more likely to gain a grip when there is a layer of snow to cut through.

Test of the best

BINDING Most of these traction devices rely on a rubber cradle that clings to the shoe or boot. This isn’t as secure as a full crampon so in some cases an additional strap is provided. However, all these devices tend to roll off the boot relatively easily when traversing slopes so they’re all best only used on level ground or stepped paths.

MAGAZINE

BEST VALUE

£20 / 169g (pair, size XL)

£30 /161g (pair, size L)

Yaktrax Pro

Grivel Spider

four sizes; easy to put on; top security + price; strap; good for pavements, valley paths etc

10 spikes that are 10mm deep; easy to + price; put on; very durable; good for soft ground

–

www.grivelgb.co.uk

www.yaktrax.co.uk

the steel coils provide less grip than spikes; less durable than metal options

FEATURES Grip comes from a metal coil that is wrapped around a rubber frame that stretches around the boot. The metal coil is made of 1mm diameter wire and this sits about 3mm above the frame, so in effect you have lots of little 3mm deep grips. You don’t get the deep spikes of higher-priced options though. A webbing strap across the top holds them in place. 3/5

They are one size, but should fit most boots due to their design. But on softer shoes those straps could be uncomfortable, while any footwear without a deep heel breast will allow them to move around a little. So they will fit best on proper boots with a heel breast and good lugs at the toe and heel to maintain fit. 4/5

You hardly know you have these on your shoes as they are very light at 169g (size XL), they are very flexible and they don’t have deep spikes that can be wobbly and cause tripping. That top strap could perhaps be a little uncomfortable on some shoes, but that is the only issue in terms of comfort. 5/5

Those straps will be less comfortable than other designs on some footwear. I also find that they are a little uncomfortable to walk in due to their location under the centre of the foot, which means your feet rock around unless the ground is soft enough to allow full penetration of the spikes and frame. You need to adopt a stamping foot action rather than a normal gait too. 3/5

These are great on pavements, level paths and forest tracks, but the metal coil is held on a rubber frame rather than a metal cable and this is the weak link here. So you really do need to be careful where you use these and how you use them as otherwise that rubber frame will break. I’ve used these daily for three winters and love them for valley walks. 3/5

In the right conditions these are really good, as they have excellent grip due to those nail-like 10mm spikes. So if grass and loose fine scree have a layer of ice and snow they are great. But on icy paths with no snow cover, I found them cumbersome as in these conditions you have to be very careful not to use the toe and heel of the boot, which are unspiked. 3/5

VALUE

The very low price makes them instantly appealing but they’re less durable and offer less grip than items double their price. 5/5

The price is very good as they’re highly durable but the range of conditions they can operate in means you may need alternatives. 4/5

VERDICT

Used appropriately they’re an excellent low-priced option for level paths, but taking them on the hills may be too much of a challenge for them.

Instep crampons are perfect in some conditions, and well-priced, but their window of performance is quite narrow compared to other options.

COMFORT

IN USE

These traction devices come in a range of sizes and it is important to ensure you have the right size for your footwear. Sometimes the recommended size for your footwear may not be appropriate, if for example you are fitting them to a boot with a rubber rand rather than a simple shoe. So it’s worth trying them on for size before parting with cash.

This is an ‘instep crampon’ so it leaves the toe and heel areas exposed. The polyamide frame has 10 metal spikes that are 5mm long and these sit on small moulded sections that give an extra 5mm of depth, to give total penetration of 10mm. Webbing straps hold the gripper to the sole of the boot and that is it. Simple and functional, but lacking the spread of spikes offered elsewhere. 4/5

These come in four sizes from S to XL to cover boot sizes 38 to 46+ and they fit very easily onto footwear as they are very elastic throughout. That top strap makes them more secure but as they’re so stretchy they can move around the footwear more easily than others with metal frames. 4/5

FIT

wobbly on hard surfaces; require more of a stamping action than a walking action

4.0/5

3.6/5

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 79

BEST BUDGET FOR YOUR

WINTER GLOVES A good pair of waterproof insulated gloves can make all the difference on wild winter days. TEST AND PHOTOGRAPHS GRAHAM THOMPSON

DEXTERITY While wearing the gloves, try to open your jacket’s zips. If you can’t then you’ll have to take off your gloves to do this, risking cold hands! Some models have liner gloves that can be worn without the shell for easier operation of compasses etc.

CUFF DESIGN 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 obviously don’t offer so much protection and often expose areas of the wrist to the elements. Wide, long cuffs are ideal for wearing over your jacket, and if well-designed can fit inside a jacket sleeve too for ultimate protection.

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 for anyone heading onto exposed mountains.

WRIST ADJUSTMENT Most gloves are elasticated at the wrist but some have a buckle to fine-tune the fit, which also helps to prevent warm air from escaping while keeping snow and rain out.

DURABILITY Look for reinforcement on the palms, particularly if you plan on using the gloves for scrambling or mountaineering. Leather is commonly used but tough nylon with minimal seams is another option.

FIT Most gloves come in a range of four sizes – usually small, medium, large and extra large – but some come in only three sizes, while it is possible to find some models styled specifically for women. Even so it is still worth trying before buying as we have different finger lengths and hand widths so sizes are at best only an estimate of what will be the perfect fit for you. We gave the best ratings to the gloves with the widest size range and ideally a specific women’s design in addition to the unisex or men’s design.

INSULATION

NOSE WIPE

To add insulation, gloves come with either sewn-in or removable linings. Sewn-in ones cost less to produce but removable linings allow a degree of control over warmth and can also be removed for faster drying or be worn on their own for greater dexterity. Some lower-priced gloves only have insulation on the back of the hand, so they may not be as warm as those with insulation on the front and back.

You’ll appreciate that soft patch of fabric on the thumb when your nose is running!

82 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

FINGER SEAMS ‘Roll tip’ construction ensures there are no seams at the finger tips, which improves fit, dexterity and durability.

£30 & UNDER

£20 / 135g (pair, size L/XL)

MAGAZINE

APPROVED

£30 / 149g (pair, size L)

m n

£30 / 251g (pair, size L)

Regatta Transition Waterproof Glove

Trekmates Chamonix Glove

Simond 2 in1 Mountaineering Gloves

www.regatta.com

www.trekmates.co.uk

www.decathlon.com

price; roll tip fingers for durability; + great cuff adjustment

price; cuff adjustment; reinforced + great rubberised palm; good size range

price; cuff adjustment; tough palm; + great good size range; liner; nose wipe; leash

–

not the warmest; not the most durable; only elasticated; no wrist leash, nose wipe

FEATURES The glove is made from Hydrafort (Regatta’s own waterproof and breathable material) and there is Thermo Guard insulation inside for warmth. The polyester materials won’t be as durable as nylon or leather, but you do get roll tip fingers and reinforced areas. You get a drawcord cuff but only an elasticated wrist and there is no wrist leash or nose wipe. So it’s got the basics, but little else. 3/5

not the warmest; not the most durable; only elasticated; no wrist leash; no nose wipe

when taking them off, inner glove tends to stay on; some loss of dexterity

Made with a Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable lining with a nylon outer and a rubberised palm, the Chamonix offers slightly better materials than many gloves in the lower price ranges. There is synthetic insulation inside for a little more warmth. The wrist is elasticated without additional adjustment, but the cuff is a good length and has a drawcord adjustment. There is no wrist leash or nose wipe though.4/5

This is designed for mountaineering and has all the features you normally see on gloves double its price. So you get a liner glove that has synthetic insulation, and you could wear this on its own. But you also get an outer glove with a waterproof Novadry membrane, which you could also wear on its own. Leather palms, a nose wipe, a wrist leash and more make these gloves fully featured. 5/5

FIT

These gloves are available in unisex sizes S/M and L/XL (others come in a wider range of sizes). The L/XL did fit me fine, but not as closely as the higher-priced gloves. The wrist area is elasticated with no additional adjustment, although you do get adjustment at the cuff via a drawcord. The cuff fits inside a jacket but not over a sleeve. 3/5

Available for men in sizes S, M, L and XL and for women in sizes XS, S, M and L, the Chamonix has a wider range of sizes than many gloves. The fit of the men’s L on me was nice and close, with good dexterity. The cuff is sized to fit either inside or outside a jacket sleeve cuff. This generally fits very well and would only improve with a wrist adjuster. 4/5

Available in seven unisex sizes from XS to XXL. The inner glove and outer glove when worn together provide a close, neat fit – although there is a small gap between the outer of the inner glove and the inside of the outer glove, so the fit isn’t as close as gloves without removable liners. Wrist adjustment helps the fit in terms of staying in place on the hand.4/5

COMFORT

They feel great in terms of comfort as they are quite soft with no bunching of material, which can be a problem in lower-priced gloves. They are quite warm for their price too. But I did find they soaked up water a bit more than others, and one finger leaked after some use. As you cannot easily wear them over a cuff, water can get in when scrambling too. 3/5

This is a comfortable glove with no bunching or snagging of the lining on the fingers. The seams aren’t overly intrusive either. The level of insulation is average, making this a good all-round option, while the length and fit of the cuff provide decent protection for the wrist in many situations, unlike those gloves that are more liable to expose skin at the wrist. 5/5

They’re very warm, thanks to the extra synthetic insulation the liner gloves provide, combined with the small air gap between liner and main glove. Also you can remove the liner glove to dry it more efficiently. The outer glove has stretch material on the back of the hand to allow more freedom of movement, which helps comfort further. 5/5

IN USE

The fit and dexterity aren’t as good as higher-priced options, and this makes these gloves a little more challenging to use for delicate things like setting a compass or operating zips. Mine did develop a leak in one finger, and as they’re generally not as durable as some higher-priced options they are probably best kept for walks rather than scrambles or tough winter use. 2/5

They’re great to use for general walking and also more challenging conditions, due to the cuff and the rubberised palm. But you don’t get a nose wipe and you don’t get a wrist leash; and such factors mean while they’re good, others are nicer to use in some situations. A leather palm would make them even more durable for hard users too. But still a good option for most walkers. 4/5

You sometimes only remove the outer glove when you want the inner off too, which can be a hassle. Dexterity isn’t quite as good as with a single glove. The wrist leash is only on the liner glove, so you need to be more careful with the outer glove when taking it off, but you could add a wrist leash easily with some cord. The cuff has a drawcord and can fit on the inside or outside of a jacket sleeve, which is great. 4/5

VALUE

A good price for a basic pair of waterproof and insulated gloves. 5/5

For the price these are excellent gloves, and only those in need of more impressive features need spend more. 5/5

This would be a great glove at twice the price, so it’s impossible not to be satisfied in terms of value. 5/5

If you are on a tight budget and need a good, basic glove for walking these are fine; but they have their limitations.

A great pair of gloves for most walkers who don’t want to spend more than £30 to get good general performance.

An ideal mountaineering glove at a great price; but walkers may find it a bit more technical than they need , and cumbersome.

VERDICT

3.2/5

4.4/5

4.6/5

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 83

WALKS OF A LIFETIME

122 TRAIL FEBRUARY 2016

Lake District 15.5km/9½ miles 7 hours The intimate view of Scafell Pike's wild north-east face, as seen from Ill Crag. © NIGEL WILKINS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Scafell Pike

via the Corridor Route

A revealing walk around the roof of England, with Jeremy Ashcroft as your guide.

FEBRUARY 2016 TRAIL 123

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Where you want to go, and what you’ll do there...

What you’ll pay and where you’ll stay!

WALK THE WORLD 2016 Where to head and what to do – powered by YOUR answers to our biggest adventure travel survey ever!

THE MOST-WANTED outdoor experiences outdoor es in the world DISLIKE! Where you don’t want to walk!

PLUS W

ho you most lik ’d e to go on h oliday with...

YOUR TOP 10 DESTINATIONS

REVEALED!

2016’s MOST

Everest’s Nepal Base Camp: more town than site, but 100% awesome.

WANTED The top 10 overseas walking experiences you told us you dream most of acquiring this year...

The sort of thing that seems unfathomable without some kind of grand accompaniment – something by Wagner maybe – the spectacle of the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, no doubt earns its place here because it is impossible to imagine what it looks like in the ‘flesh’. Is it still? Does it dance? Does it drift? It is in fact the indefinable peculiarity of this colourful by-product of solar activity which can be seen between autumn and spring in northern latitudes. Canada, Sweden and Norway are classic destinations for aurora watching, but don’t discount the Faroes, Iceland and Orkneys, too. It has a southern counterpart, too – the aurora australis – which can be seen from New Zealand, Tierra Del Fuego and Antarctica.

The aurora over Canada: common there, coveted here.

WITNESSING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

The unforgettable first vision of Machu Picchu.

VISITING MACHU PICCHU The end of Peru’s Inca Trail (or at least the Inca Trail everyone knows about), this is the quintessential ‘lost city’ – built in the 15th century, abandoned, then rediscovered in 1911 – and today it draws upwards of half a million people each year. Visiting the site is one thing; you can do that by bus. But to commit

6 WALK THE WORLD 2016

to the Inca Trail itself (the typical route is from Cusco and takes five days) is a much more selective undertaking. It’s becoming even more selective, too – only 200 trekkers are allowed on the trail per day to limit the impact on the delicate trail, so places on Inca Trail holidays are becoming prized.

It’s difficult to justify not climbing Mont Blanc, given its place in the history books and its prominence over the heartland of mountaineering that is the French and Italian Alps. This 4809m ‘white peak’ blends just the right amount of technicality with a whiff of danger and a suite of daunting but survivable experiences: crossing a glacier, navigating a rock-infested couloir and experiencing the pinch of altitude sickness, not to mention summiting the highest mountain in non-Russian Europe. The fact that the appropriation of a guide puts it within the grasp of ambitious walkers means it’s no wonder it’s so popular.

Dawn on the summit of western Europe.

TREKKING EVEREST BASE CAMP

WALK THE WORLD 2016

CLIMBING KILIMANJARO

Grand Canyon: deep, man.

The unmistakable vision of Kili.

WALKING THE GRAND CANYON

The star of many charity challenges, it’s easy to underestimate (1) how special Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro is and (2) how hard it is to climb. This old volcano towers nearly 6000m above the rift valley in the very place human life stirred, if anthropologists are to be believed. Regarding difficulty, only about half of the people who attempt the week-long climb make it to the top, so it’s no pushover. But those who do are greeted by the sight of ice at the highest point in Africa, and the sun rising on a landscape of such glorious vastness it’s enough to make you weep.

Usually when you’re on your way to see a legendarily huge natural feature you expect to get at least get a whiff of it as you approach. But not with America’s Grand Canyon. You’re in the flatlands of Arizona, then suddenly there’s a mile-deep cliff at your feet. An extraordinary cross-section of Earth history (the rocks on the surface are 230 million years old, the rocks at the bottom 2 billion), the canyon was cut entirely by the Colorado river, in an awesome testament to the power of natural forces. In terms of walks, local advice is to make your first forays into the interior of the canyon on what are known as the ‘Corridor Trails’: the Bright Angel Trail, the South Kaibab Trail or the North Kaibab Trail.

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The closest most people get to Earth’s highest mountain is still a hell of a lot closer than most people get. It’s a tough, two-week walk through some of the most stunning landscapes in the world that ends higher than the summit of Mont Blanc at the foot of the Everest amid a swarm of glaciers, rock spurs and colourful tents. A seductive blend of Nepalese temple, jungle, sky-high white summits and tattered prayer flags – and some of the most spiritual people in the world – this is the pilgrimage all mountain people will covet.

The view of Everest from Kala Patthar, above Everest Base Camp.