What the kit’s doing, random stuff, thoughts on this , that and the next thing. I kitted out four and a half folk with gear on the recent National Park trip, everyone brought their own kit as well, but it was interesting to see how the guys got on with the unfamiliar, as good a [...]
Posted on May 24th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 9 Comments »
I’ve had a bunch of Haglöfs technical gear on test over the past few years, but here’s something a little different. I saw these at the range preview a year ago and liked the look, I’m not overly keen on wearing outdoor gear unless I’m on the hill, but for easy days on trails or days-out up [...]
Posted on May 23rd, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary | 7 Comments »
Just in from Hi-Tec are the Viper Trail Ultra WPi. They’re a beefy trail shoe, in that understated style that sees Hi-Tec outdoor footwear on as many casual feet as it does outdoor feet. The upper is a mix of nubuck leather and mesh, the mesh being multi-layered, so no draughts or dirt will get though. The nubuck has some raised [...]
Posted on May 21st, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 6 Comments »
prologue A few months back, when the consultation on a proposed camping ban from Drymen to Rowardennan was launched I was asked along as a contributor to some media stuff, being both local, available and having seen the inside of a tent or two within the National Park in my time. I answered the questions, but time didn’t allow the [...]
Posted on May 20th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures, Items Various | 25 Comments »
Never have I talked so much shite and have it recorded to be used in evidence against me. But, we never lost anyone, mechanicals were very few and the weather was as fine as we could have wished for. I’ve brought back as many new thoughts as I took out old ones to air when [...]
Posted on May 18th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures, Items Various | 6 Comments »
Another figure from my childhood has gone, Ronnie James Dio died today. When I was young I think I felt that my heroes were bulletproof and beyond reproach. As I grew, I lost interest, finding new outlets for my energy and enthusiasm, but in later life I’ve rediscovered a lot of the music (TV and movies too) that I loved [...]
Posted on May 16th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 24 Comments »
We left early for Pitlochry, but even as we arrived mid-morning after the wonders of a drive through woodland Perthshire, the place was already jumping. It’s the Etape Caledonia cycling event this weekend and the pavements, carparks, cafes and shops are just full of folk, half of them in padded lycra as well. The sun was [...]
Posted on May 15th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 5 Comments »
Holly’s in the kitchen and she’s just sung this, word for word: ”I am Iron Man!, dum dum dumdumdum, da da da da da da da da dumdum” There’s a tear in my eye right now. Work was a dead loss today. Jimmy was bringing the boat back up the Clyde from Dumbarton after it being [...]
Posted on May 14th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 6 Comments »
I’m wild camping in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park in that photie above. That’s something that is very dear to me indeed, the freedom of the hills. But although access legislation gives us a legal right to be there, how we conduct ourselves and how we treat the ground on which we walk [...]
Posted on May 13th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 7 Comments »
Posted on May 12th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 12 Comments »
Montane have produced a Limited Edition range of clothing with the proceeds going Mountain Rescue in England and Wales. I’ve got the Dynamic Stretch Pants in for test to see what the score is. The big story is the fabric, a new version of Polartec’s Powershield softshell. It feels good, inside and out, and has [...]
Posted on May 11th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 17 Comments »
I’ve had a Cirrus sample on the go for months now, and it’s high time I had an update. You really can’t argue with the weight, 76g is weightless for all intents and purposes. I carry the Cirrus in the hip-fin pocket on most packs which gives you just how small this thing packs down. [...]
Posted on May 11th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 21 Comments »
My mobile phone is like a Caramac that’s been at the bottom of my schoolbag all week. It’ll still fulfil its basic purpose, but it’s not quite the right shape anymore and no one would thank you if you gave them it for nothing. It switched itself off while I was talking to a customer today [...]
Posted on May 11th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 15 Comments »
