Posts by Tullochgorum
In March Iceland would still be covered in snow and ice with daily highs of 3*c on the south coast and an average temperature of around 0*c. Most days it snows. Daily High and Low Temperature in M...
Ask the locals! Something missing from the current answers and the first port of call in my opinion, unless you are somewhere very remote. For any mountain with significant difficulties or dange...
If I'm understanding your question, you're asking if using trekking poles will result in poorer conditioning compared to walking without poles. There is good research evidence that using poles wil...
First, the answer depends on the purpose of your trip At one end of the spectrum trips involve a little walking and a lot of camping. At the other end you are walking from dawn to dusk and spend l...
Are the studies relevant? I don't think you're going to get a meaningful answer to your question from a survey of studies - there are simply too many confounders that they don't control for. Here ...
First - do everything to prevent getting a wet bag! A wet sleeping bag must be a nightmare - the best solution is to make sure this never happens to you again! Before I use a new shelter somewher...
CHOOSING BETWEEN CARBON AND ALUMINIUM WALKING POLES As with most decisions about lightweight equipment there are tradeoffs, and your best choice will depend on your budget, your height and weight,...
I don't think there is any pat answer to this - weather patterns can vary widely by region and by season. All I can suggest is some commonsense approaches: Check the weather forecast before your ...
[Edited after comments and additional research.] Aerobic training will not prepare you for altitude Some of the answers here are misleading. According to the Altitude Research Centre: Being ...
A bit late to the party, but there are some basics that need emphasising. This is all common-sense, but it's surprising how often these points are neglected. CHOOSE A SUITABLE ROUTE Most importan...
Before I answer your question about variable stuffing, I think you could do better for your basic sources on MYOG quilt design and construction. Some good info on quilt design The benefits of Kar...
I've been battling the little buggers for half a century. Here's what I've learned. Take them seriously! Most of the time they're only a minor irritant, but at their worst they're very nasty. I'v...
The importance of good insect protection This is an important subject. The dangers of mosquitoes in many parts of the world are well known, and recent research suggests that Lyme disease from tick...
That brings back memories - the Troll Whillans was the first modern harness on the UK market and I bought one when they came out around 1970. I think I still have it in the shed. Before that, we ...
Some time back I was on a very narrow mountain trail with a cliff rising to my right and a steep gorge dropping to my left. The trail was blocked by by the viper below (with the gorge just out of s...
For cooking at cold and altitude, the pressurised liquid fuel stove is your friend. They're expensive and need some skill and care in use (practise before you take them into challenging situations...
Why the A-Frame fell out of fashion Until around 25 years ago, A-Frames dominated the 1-2 person market, both for car camping and in the mountains. Then we saw the emergence of lightweight flexib...
According to the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, reversed polarity in compass needles is becoming a significant source of navigation error. The reason is the increasing range of magnetic fields...
The osprey does seem the most likely option. There are only a handful of breeding pairs in North Wales, but they are in your area so it's credible. The wingspan of a small common buzzard starts at...
I'm not a materials scientist, so can't give you a definitive answer. But I do know that if you make your own silnylon or silpoly by soaking the base fabric in a solution of silicone and mineral s...
No, it would not be offensive. A survey of 200 pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago found that motivations were as follows, in order of importance: Exercise Adventure Peace, solitude, relaxation S...
I go to my local pharmacy and ask for medicine-grade screw-top bottles. These have good seals and only cost pennies. To be doubly sure I place the bottle in a plastic bag and carry it in an outsi...
If you want to cross from west to east you could research the venerable TGO Challenge walk, where hundreds each May walk their own coast-to-coast route. If you Google "TGO Challenge" you'll find a ...
I've done a lot of UK upland walking in minimal shoes, plus long Alpine treks with packs up to 30 lbs or so. A lot depends on the ground you are going to cover. If it's stony, I find that your sol...
Hmm - more of a tirade than a question, but let's assume you sincerely want to learn. There's a good deal of ground to cover, so please bear with me here... First, technical trail shoes are not "c...
