That’s That
I had to stop at the usual spot and take a photie, just in case this ghost of winters past disappears when it realises it’s years too late and goes back to 1947.
Loch Ba was solid, the sky had a few holes of pale blue but the snow was coming back and filling them in as it sprinkled the land in a rather relaxed fashion.
Glen Coe was marvellous, me and the girls had lunch, a wander, we chatted to Australians, bought socks and returned home in good spirits with even the traffic failing to be bad enough to burst our bubble. It’s beautiful out there, just like the old days. This was a lovely day to finish the holidays on.
I never regard this place as an information centre, Press Releases just get read and filed, but the one that was waiting for me when I came back was different.
I’ve known for a long time that this was coming, but it’s still a rather melancholy moment to see it in print. Mike Parsons, who regular readers will have seen on here often, the inventor of milestones like the Karrimor Alpiniste packs and Alpiniste Fleece, and more recently brought us the brilliant range of OMM kit has parted company with OMM.
As a member of the OMM Lead User Group it’s been a joy and a privilege to be involved with Mike and the rest of the team over the past few years. To see gear go from an idea, to a discussion, to a drawing, to a sample, to a product in a shop was a fantastic experience. I’ve learned a lot, not just about process of design and production, but about the possibilities that lie within an apparently disparate bunch of folk given the right catalyst, or should that be the right ringmaster?!
I wish Mike all the best for the future, and for the OMM logo to continue to grace kit that’s at the front of the curve.
Mike’s blog post is here, as you’ll see he’s not putting his feet up.
I killed it with photoshop to get even.
Sad news about Mike Parsons and OMM. Is he going to set up shop elsewhere or has it had it with industry, cottage and otherwise and just wants to get on with enjoying his retirement? Looks like there’s still plenty of ideas left in him though…
To my mind, the OMM packs and the Karrimor before them are the most elegant, most functional packs ever devised.
As for packs and the like? Well, you never know what’ll happen there…
Today was a great day to be out and about :o)
I have no doubt that Mike Parson’s influence will be felt for many years to come in the outdoor world and wait eagerly to see what he comes up with. Let’s hope OMM still listen to their customers
We need the likes of Mike and Peter Hutchinson to keep some soul in the trade and pass on that quality to the new folk following them.
It’s interesting watch the nation fail in the snow, if we keep getting winters like this they’ll have to upgrade the infrastructure to deal with again.
Maybe The Day After Tomorrow was nearer reality that An Uncomfortable Truth :o)
I was pleased at how clear the roads were yesterday, the Ice Factor were saying they’ve had clear roads and no customers right through the holidays.
Time will tell Holdfast, the current range is the last with Mike’s input, and some of the pre-production stuff I’ve got might never see the light of day.
Fingers crossed for a happy future.