Explore more places using Ordnance Survey
Product/Skill: GPS/Navigation/Maps Interest: Walking
If you're looking for somewhere new to go for a walk at the weekend - why not have a look at http://explore.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/. Not only is the explore portal on the Ordnance Survey website an ideal tool for planning and sharing routes, it is also totally free to use. See where other people have suggested where to gho walking or cycling or upload your own favourite routes - you'll never be short for an idea of where to explore next.
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27-Jul-2010
Product/Skill: Camp Craft/Bushcraft Interest: Camping
Get yourself some Kinexium Shave Oil (by King of Shaves) from Superdrug.
Tiny pump action bottle, much smaller than even the travel-sized gels. Needs to be used with only a little warm water for a smooth, razor-burn free shave, and doesn't need to be rinsed or dried off afterwards.
Great product if you want to keep clean-shaven whilst bivvying. Also likely to appeal to soldiers/cadets.
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14-Jul-2010
Product/Skill: General Outdoor Skills Interest: Mountaineering
From personal post on MLTA site...
This isn’t a post about keeping warm while you’re moving its about not getting cold when you’re standing still. When am i most often in this situation? Belaying or Marshalling Mountain Events.
Belaying has it’s upside in that after a while you’ll hopefully get moving again. With Marshalling, when it comes to a cold wet night/day on the hills, most of us have our own personal preferences for keeping dry and warm. Some would argue it’s a lost cause, give themselves up to the elements and settle for a drenching. However, with the abundance of modern kit and forecasting, i think i have eventually improved my lot, balancing comfort and practicality while marshalling, and finally arresting the drowned rat look.
In some cases you’re in position for up to 12 hours and sometimes longer. If you’re lucky you’ll be on a magnificent summit on a glorious summers day, not to hot and not to cold. All the competitors are chatty and happy, and you have a continuous brew on the go. The reality is that it will be wet & windy with 10m visibility, the competitors are on their last legs still cordial but struggling to raise a smile. Ahh happy days...
Unfortunately as per usual, you get there and the forecast isn't good, looks like rain!! I’m not so worried about getting a soaking from the torrential down pour that has a predilection for getting to the ground by the quickest possible means. I’m bugged by that pathetic mist/rain that can’t make its mind up where it wants to go or want it want to be, it just seems to invade every nook and crevice, defying the best available Gortex, Event an Nikwax etc on the market. Let’s assume the weather isn’t going to get any better, so what can help..........
Keeping it light and staying warm
Ok i hold my hands up here, the keeping it light bit, yes i did take a portable telly to up of Snowdon one year, but it was for a World Cup match.
That put aside, you don’t want to carry anymore than you need for an event. I take everything i might need and pack it in the car. The final decision on what to carry i leave until the last hour, and decide on what to pack on the most up to date weather satellite pics and forecasts, from this info you can predict the next 12hrs.
Extreme weather will determine if the event will be cancelled delayed or re routed. Over the years i have been on events where we have ‘lowered the Summit’ due to extreme conditions with winds at 70mph plus. Air born sheep moving horizontally across your field of sight gives you an inkling that the winds picked up a bit.
If you’re looking at a 1hr walk in or more to your marshalling point with a heavy sack then the sweat is going to soak your first layers. I find it a good idea to take a dry set of base layers and give yourself a quick once over with the wet wipes, this will help keep you warm.
When cold and damp and immobile your core temperature will slowly drop, it’s surprises some just how cold it can get midsummer above 3000ft, hot drinks and food will help, and regular movement will keep the circulation going. It may look a bit daft but you can also try a few star jumps or sit ups.
Setting up at your marshalling point
Once in position establish comm’s with your base and other marshals, and advise on your status. Next work out the timing for your first expected competitors. Depending on conditions, do you have enough time to get some shelter organised? If so then get set up and get a brew on. You may need to identify you position clearly in poor conditions, a trail of light sticks usually helps in the dark. You will probably have to record and report the timings and status of the competitors or parties. This might sound obvious but don’t forget a pen and paper, keep them in something reasonably waterproof like a small Exped or Outdoor Design bags, it only takes a few seconds when raining for the paper to get damp and fall apart. Also get yourself a routine for recording the info. When you are tired and 3 am in the morning it can get quite confusing, so I recommend that you do it ‘as it happens’ rather than wait for a few groups to come and go. Don’t be put off from making groups wait until you have all the info you need. It may be the event policy the that teams must stick together, If individuals within groups are split up, do not let them leave your point until you are satisfied that they are all ok and safe to carry on. The usual thing to check on are; Do they have enough fluids? Is anybody injured or struggling? Look out for signs of Hyper or Hypothermia. You may need to pass this info onto the next marshal.
You will also probable be requested to take pics and the like.
What about shelter?
A Small Tent?
Terrain permitting i try and get a small tent up, I’ve used a few over the years. If the long range forecast is not looking to bad then i’ve used a half tent or (beach tent style) shelter. They are light around 1kg a really quick to set up. This will keep your stuff out of site and dry from the odd shower. With a few rocks inside they will take a reasonable breeze. They are also quite cheap under £20 so if it gets a battering you not to out of pocket. I would recommend you get one with a zip at the front otherwise they catch the wind like a spinnaker.
The lightweight tents i have used are Macpac Microlight at 1.6kg with a small footprint it will pitch almost anywhere, and allows you to manage proceedings whilst inside the tent. Mountain Equipment Dragonfly 2, just over 2kg, built around a free-standing 3 pole semi-geodesic design that does not rely on pegging for stability. Also has room for your pack. If you can pitch so that the event traffic goes past the fly opening and is 180 degrees to the prevailing wind, you’re in luck. On rocky ground where pegs are useless pin the guylines with available large rocks, when desperate i have even used a few nuts and a cams.
KISU or Bothy Bag?
I’ve used these over the years, there good for weight at approx 500g or less and usually under £20, at this price you can live with either losing it in a gale or trashing it. Try the JDS bothy bag
http://www.outdoorstore.co.uk/products/bothy%20bags.asp
Bivibag
Good if the weathers not to bad and you can get have to have a couple of hours kip in between events if required, downside is that they are restrictive if you have to keep getting up and out to redirect stragglers
Cape
Dam well underrated. They will keep of the bulk of the rain and allow a reasonable amount of circulation to reduce condensation, downside is they flap about like a demented seagull in the wind, and turn you into human kite. Not very helpful if you’re marshalling near a potential hazard spot like Clogwyn Station
Toilet tent?
Well i would say no, but i have seen one in use, the good thing is you can stand up in it or even sit on a chair, down side is someone will take a pee in it when you not looking and also they tend to be a bit heavy on the 3kg plus side
Umberella
Read Andy Kirkpatrick Psycovertical http://www.psychovertical.com/?thetruth ... aterproofs
Nothing, Just stand there
Depends on how long you have to do this for, if it’s only a couple of hours it usually not much of a problem even in the worst weather. A good set waterproofs will keep off most of the rain. With a synthetic insulated jacket underneath you also can keep out the cold. Continually moving about keeps the circulation ticking over unless is so bad that you need to duck behind a rock. The problem then is that they can’t see you. I have used an old Neoprene Henri Lloyd before this works quite well as by standing around you’re not generating much sweat to build up on the inside. Paramo Nikwax systems are popular, unfortunately i run quite hot and find them a bit too warm for most occasions. So to the Pile/Pertex solutions.
So what’s my current kit,?
Iceberg Merino base layer
Patagonia Regulator fleece
Arcteryx Atom synthetic insulated jacket, or if dry but cold Rab Nutrino Down Jacket
Mountain Equipment Kongur MRT Jacket
Lowe Alpine Mountain cap or Arcteryx hat
Mammut Base Jump pants (merino leggings optional)
PHD Alpamayo salopettes (might be overkill but they are the best i’ve used so far, well made and the bib part keeps the vulnerable zip area dry)
Sportiva Crest B2 rated boots (Decent amount of thick leather with these babies)
Berghaus Goretex gaiters (the yeti gaiters are tops but almost impossible to fit, but if your determined to wear them try this website ‘http://shappyhopper.co.uk/mountains/yetis.cgi’)
North Face Goretex Gloves (pair of thin inner gloves)
.........as you can see no single brand loyalty i’m afraid
Thermarest Orange Prolite 4 with chair fitting, this is a really useful piece of gear, by slackening the side straps off you can almost lie back enough to get a comfortable quick kip.
The ‘bucket seat’ posture also keeps your back warm.
Small First Aid kit, or roll of cling film, Compeed blister patches are probably the most useful item in your kit
Headtorch and spare batteries
MSR Pocket Rocket Stove, compact and light
Insulated mug (that’s me)
Small FM radio, optional (not too loud and Radio 4 of course, although the wafting Archers theme tune can be a bit disconcerting at 3000ft ) on a quiet night the radio can be useful company for also when misty it will also help competitors locate you.
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28-Jun-2010
Product/Skill: Tents/Sleeping bags/Mats Interest: Trekking
Just found a useful way of using the silk liner.
I use a Thermarest Prolite mat and 4 season bag & silk liner for high level trekking. I need the 4 season bag when higher but find it’s too dam hot during the walk in. Previously when warm i slept in the liner with the open bag draped over the top. Problem was i found the liner a bit restrictive, so instead i slip the liner over the Prolite like a jacket, this keeps your mat clean and gives you freedom to pop the odd leg out from your bag to cool down. Don’t know why i didn’t think of it before.
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28-Jun-2010
Product/Skill: Tents/Sleeping bags/Mats Interest: Camping
If a guy line attachment breaks whilst out on the hill, a good way to make an emergency attachment is to use a coin (2p or 10p is best), push the coin into the fly from the inside surface and grasp the coin from the outside surface. In effect you now have the coin wrapped in flysheet, and can then re-tie on the guyline behind the coin which acts as an anchor. You can use all sorts of other items too, balled up sock, screwed up paper, etc etc. can also come in handy as ektra guy points in v windy conditions.
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24-Jun-2010
Product/Skill: Travel Equipment Interest: Walking
Keep a lightweight karabiner clipped to the belt of your walking trousers then anything with a belt loop attachment can be clipped on or off quickly and easily without the need to undo and remove your belt. No need to take the krab off when not in use as it will lay flat on your side naturaly if its leaned on.
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22-Jun-2010
Product/Skill: Climbing Accessories Interest: Climbing
Such a small little thing can save you many hours in total trying to get gear out and loosing gear. However attach it to a bit of cord and don't use the little clip some have. This has two plus point, if you drop it the cord can keep it on you, if you fall on it, it is less likly to get impaled in you.
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23-May-2010
Product/Skill: Other Outdoor Equipment Interest: General Outdoor
If u are stuck for a pillow just get some air into your drybag seal the top and throw a fleece over the top it makes a brilliant pillow
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17-May-2010
Get waterproof trousers on with ease
Product/Skill: Waterproof Clothing Interest: Walking
Keep a plastic carrier bag with you, they weigh nothing and pack down small.
If you get caught out in the rain, put the bag over your foot and your waterproof trousers will slide on effortlessly!
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10-May-2010
Product/Skill: Other Outdoor Equipment Interest: Mountaineering
Wrap a few meters of Gaffa tape around your pee bottle.
This gives you a few meters of gaffa tape for running kit repairs, its also a lot easier to identify which is your pee bottle and which is your water bottle in the dark!
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01-Apr-2010
Product/Skill: Gadgets/Tools/Lights Interest: Mountaineering
When using a Steri Pen to purify your water in cold conditions, make sure you keep it warm overnight or else when you come to use it in the morning it won't work.
I suggest placing the whole pen in your sleeping bag with you that way you are ready roll first thing. I found that in the himalayas keeping the batteries alone in your sleeping bag was not enough. Also its a lot less hasle by not having to remove the batteries.
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01-Apr-2010
Product/Skill: Travel Equipment Interest: Trekking
Thinking of trekking near Everest ?
Went to the Nepal Khumbu region back in 2008 so a few of the details below may have changed since then but i thought a few notes might be useful.
This is only intended as quick personal overview but may provide some useful tips and observations.
Getting there
The usual airlines are Qatar, Emirates and the new one Ethiad. Most of these fly from Heathrow to either Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Delhi and then onto Kathmandu. Be warned book early, we wanted to go in late March, we bought tickets in the previous November for approx £550, if we had delayed until December the price went up to over £800.
Flights from Kathmandu to Lukla and return, Get to the Kathmandu airport early, I mean 6.30am, flights go early as soon as there is enough daylight. There can be a scramble for the first flight out, as flights out may get backed up for days due to poor weather conditions.
The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is an experience in itself.
Leaving Kathmandu don’t forget your departure tax its NR 1700 at the moment.
Money
Current approx rate April 08 122 to 123 NR to £1
Use the non commission agency’s to change your travellers cheques, sterling was ok better than the dollar at the moment, it’s a good idea to get some low denomination cheques for later on in your stay i.e. £20’s as you don’t want to be stuck with too many high denomination Nepali Rupee’s. Money goes quite a long way in Nepal. The higher you go the more expensive the goods as everything has to be brought up by Yak or Porter.
Water in Kathmandu 22 NR, water in Labouche high up in the Khumbu valley 250 NR.
As a guide we took £200 each for a 3 week trip but our accommodation and food were prepaid. £100 each would have been sufficient without buying to many presents.
The relatively prosperous Khumbu valley gives a false impression of the general standards of living in Nepal. Outside the honey pot regions there is real poverty. It’s worth investigating what help you can provide to local communities if you are visiting the more remote areas. A simple example would be that good quality cheap sunglasses are available in the UK, take a few pairs out and pass them onto the kids in the villages where you pass. Every little helps.
Equipment
Most trekkers have know doubt already got most of the kit they probably need for trekking in this region, Down Jacket, Wind block fleece waterproofs etc. If you are short a few items or couldn't bring kit because of weight restrictions, get stuff in the capital Kathmandu the quality is a lot better than it used to be, down gear especially. Gone are the days when the Chinese thought that putting multiple brand labels on the same jacket made it more valuable!
The most popular brands are predictably North Face, Patagonia, Mountain Hardware and Mammut. Berghaus, Rab and Mountain Equipment don’t seem to have been copied yet so you can tell who the brits are. The sun on the snow is very very bright, make sure you pack a pair of good quality full wrap glacier specs
Gear cost Examples
Double skin NF style gloves 800 NR £7 UK approx
Goretex NF trousers 2500 -3000 NR £25 UK approx
Weather
The weather conditions for this April 08 have been unpredictable to say the least. March and April would in previous years have been good bets for clear skies but a recent lack of seasonal snow this year locals believe and possibly global warming has lead to some unpredictable conditions. Dress and expect 4 seasons in 1 day. The mornings tend to be the best for clear skies and good visibility (most of the treks for Base Camp etc start well before dawn to get the best conditions) with the cloud and cold winds building in the afternoon. At above 4500m when the sun is out, it is reasonably warm enough to hike with one layer plus it burns easily so factor 50 and lipsalv. As soon as the cloud comes the temperature drops rapidly and the wind is bitterly cold. A Buff or similar neck warmer is extremely useful along with a simple cotton scarf to keep out the dust churned up by the Yak traffic, This dust is a major culprit of the Khumbu Cough as it’s called.
Tip for keeping warm at night….Boil up any remaining hot water and put it in your sig bottle, stick a sock over the bottle and pop it in your sleeping bag, keeps warm for 5hrs if your lucky.
Accommodation and conditions
Most trekkers camp or stay in traditional Sherpa Tea houses or lodges on route, the higher you go the more basic, Namche at 4300m is luxury compared Labouche & Gorak Shep around 5000m.
As the tree line disappears so the wood for the stoves is replaced by Yak poo, very effective for heat but it can be quite nauseous when the wind blows the fumes back down the flu into the rooms. This plus the lack of Oxygen can make for restless nights above 5000m.
The Yaks and Porters have the right of way on the trail. Keep to the inside when they are passing, and beware the Yaks sway wildly with the heavy loads.
Food
Breakfast – Porridge with hot milk Honey & Jam’s pretty good
Lunch – Ra Ra Noodles (sort of Supernoodle without the bits of veg), Tomato or Garlic Soup
Dinner - Dhal Bhat (Rice & Veg), Yak Steaks, Pizza Tom & Tuna, Boiled or Fried Momo (dumplings)
Drink – Black Tea or Chiya is best (the milk can be a bit dodgy) NO ALCAHOL
Canned pops, chocolate bars, trail mix and biscuits available in most villages just check the sell buy dates.
On your return to the smog of Kathmandu it’s tempting to have a few blow out sessions with your last rupees, be warned, the effects on your digestive system of your first beers for weeks and a local curry can be explosive.
Power supply
Most of Kathmandu’s electricity comes from hydro power, as there has been little snow this year, power cuts in the capital are common. Power usually comes on about 9am, goes of at Noon and back on a 5pm for awhile and then goes off again. In the Khumbu Valley its better, as the villages work from local hydro systems. You can charge you camera batteries as most overnight stops approx 350NR per hour. I took a small solar charger for AA batteries and I pods as a back up, worked fine.
Staying Healthy
You probably find that you are continually monitoring your health and that of others during a trek. The most common concern is with stomach upsets. If you follow a few simple rules you should be ok.
Don’t drink the tap water unless it’s been boiled or treated
Do trust the bottled water, check that the cap seal is unbroken
Iodine treated water can also upset you if you have too much
Don’t clean your teeth with tap water or get tap water in your mouth from showers
Don’t have the local milk with cereals or muesli unless you know it is safe
Don’t drink alcohol until you get back
Keep your food intake simple, the Dhal Bhat is good and filling, A Yak steak can sound like a nice change but can be very rich on a stomach that has been used to plain food.
Altitude related illness and Acclimatisation
This is the biggie for most people, and unless you are familiar with trekking at around 5000m it’s hard to know how your body is going to react until you are actually there. Check out the info available on the numerous medical websites.
Most with a general good level of fitness will be ok as long as they are sensible and take it easy.
Not being a doctor it would be wrong for me to give specific info, though here are a few tips that I feel we found useful. Accommodation is always available to fit in with a good acclimatisation program Don’t rush the first few days.
Day 1 -Lukla 2804m to Phakding 2623m (you loose height that day but you feel good)
Day 2 -Phakding 2623m to Monjo (Easy day back up to about Lukla elevation)
Day 3 -Monjo to Namche 3500m, (For most this is the first hard day, after a trek along the valley floor, and the infamous high level bridge, you climb the steady but relentless switchbacks up to the village of Namche Bazaar.
Trekkers get there first experience of the effects altitude at Namche, it can feel like you are wearing a tightly fitted hat often accompanied by occasional sharp pains. It can be difficult to attribute these symptoms solely to the altitude, as some will also be experiencing symptoms also that can be associated with dehydration.
If your plan is to use Diamox for higher up then some start a course here at Namche , Aspirin also helps. (Take medical advice)
Day 4 -Most take a rest day at Namche but take advantage of an acclimatisation walk higher up to the Namche airfield at Syangboche and Everest viewpoint, sleep lower back at Namche.
Day 5 -Namche to Tengboche 3867m (A long day with a decent back to the valley floor then more switchbacks back up to the monastery village of Tengboche, check out the Monastery and classic views of Ama Dablam)
Day 6 –Tengboche to Pangboche 4200m (A shorter day but you cross the 4000m barrier, take advantage of some short walks in the afternoon higher up around Pangboche
Day 7 – Pangboche to Dingboche 4350m (A longer days walk to one of the main crossroad villages)
Day 8 – Dingboche and further… Some trekkers use a rest day at Dingboche to climb Nagartsang Peak 5083m above the village, it gives you an idea of you abilities above 5000m plus a cracking view of Ama Dablam and the further valleys ahead.
Anything beyond here is up to you as the valleys and trails break North to Everest Base Camp and East to Island Peak, monitor you ascent rates carefully and keep an eye on other members of your group.
If you have access to a blood Oxygen monitor and know how to use it this is also a useful tool. Take out adequate insurance before you leave, we used the BMC trek insurance. See your GP before you go tell them what you propose to do and get the required vaccinations. The Malaria vac is not usually required for the Everest region unless you are planning to go to Southern Nepal later on.
The End bit
Above all remember your supposed to be having fun and experiencing the trip of a lifetime. Nepal rarely disappoints, and the people are fantastic.
The elections were on whilst we were in Kathmandu, the Maoists were elected as the majority party of government. Difficult to say how it will affect the country at the moment, but the first few days post election appeared stable. Worth checking the news websites pre departure. Most Nepali’s we spoke to were not overly interested in the turmoil’s of their political system, more concerned about getting on with business of making a living.
Nameste, as they say
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23-Mar-2010
Product/Skill: Expedition/Route planning Interest: Trekking
Did Kilimanjaro last year, we chose to ascended via the Shira route, much better chance for acclimatisation and consequently summiting. Plus it was as full moon final push to the top.
Most information on the trek is available from plenty of web sites, but here's few tips that weren't mentioned.
A duvet jacket with a hood is an essential, some of the trekking companies have it down as a luxury. When the sun goes down It's dam cold even at 4,700m, especially at the Lava Tower camp
Definitely pack 2 toilet rolls each! and wet wipes
Thermarest trek pillows, worthwhile investment
We took our own 4 season down bags, others who hired synthetic and fleece liners got cold.
The volcanic dust on Kili is as bad as the Khumbu, it gets everywhere. Use a 'Buff' or scarf to reduce the amount of dust getting into your lungs. The dust can trigger off a cough that could ruin your trek.
The Moir Camp was the flattest pitch for a good nights sleep. most other sites can be rough and angled, If you want a good nights sleep, be the first in your party to get to the campsite and bag the best pitch. Sounds selfish but if your suffering after a hard days trek, then good nights sleep makes all the difference. I should say here, if any member of the group looks as though they would benefit more than you from a good kip then offer them the best pitch.
We set off about midnight for the sunrise at Stella Point, we weren't going slow and i recon 11pm is a better start time.
Water! When the water that the porters bought with them from there base runs out, they use the available water from the mountain, this i was advised, is safe to drink. The mountain water can taste quite sulphury, you can get flavour tablets that help mask the taste.
Turning your sig bottles upside down and keeping them in a sock in your bag, means they don't freeze up so easily at 5,000metres. Even the insulted Platypus hoses freeze up fret a while.
Diamox! the big question, do i need to take it? All in our group were relatively fit and well prepared for the trek, only 2 out of the 10 in our group (as far as i know) did not take or need Diamox for any part of the trip. At about 4,500m I started taking 1 tablet 250mg a day, half in the morning and half in the evening. Having taken it previously in Nepal i was used to the mild side effects of tingling fingers and wanting to pee, others strangely had tingling in some more unusual places!!! Dimaox is one of the key drugs used for combating the serious effects of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), one argument is that if you start using Diamox before you actually really need it then that's one drug they cant use again. Some of the mild headaches trekkers get early on, can be put down to dehydration. Even on an easy day we were drinking at least 4-6 litres of water. Everyone reacts differently to altitude, so don't be surprised when the big fit guy starts feeling rough while the 20 a day smoker is feeling fine. The head guides on our trek kept a very close eye on everyone's health whilst on the mountain.
Trekkers taking the Shira route have a better option to 'Climb high and sleep low' so reducing the chances of developing AMS. The only drawback of the Shira is that you can get direct access to the Shira Plateau via 4WD this starts the trek off at around 3000m. In my opinion this is gaining height to quickly and invites the chances of starting off AMS, you would be better off starting the trek lower down on the Lemosho Trail around 2700m and picking up the Shira route later on the Plateau.
Try and co ordinate the picture session at the top so you don't get there the same time as another big group, it can get a bit fractious! Everyone's a bit tired and emotional, a punch up on the summit could put downer on the big moment. Believe me it happens.
Take as many pictures as you can, at and on the way to the summit, you will be very tired, the thought of stopping and snapping away seems to be the last thing on your mind.
They are building new ranger huts at Shira 2 and Barafu, though this does seem to be an awfully long work in progress.
Not lot to spend you money on, we just took US dollars, T Shirts 8-10 dollars, Kili beer 3 dollars, Kili airport has some good stuff. Take a bag of sweets for the kids
I would advise that the porter tipping ceremony at the end of the trek needs to be planned in advance when everyone's not quite so tired.
Barafu camp (last stop before the summit) sells Mars Bars & Snickers plus Coke at $4 bottle, this is a very pleasant surprise for most trekkers
Pole pole
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22-Mar-2010
Getting the best out of an old Garmin GPS
Product/Skill: GPS/Navigation/Maps Interest: Mountaineering
I have a Garmin Etrex Vista with a Black & White display, it’s getting on for about 4 years old but not a bad bit of kit, does the job very adequately when required. Data wise I think I have got the best out of it I can, considering it’s now limited 24mb memory.
I have loaded it with 3 levels of info.
Level 1 – Waypoints, spot heights & tracks of various well trodden routes, adding particular turns or retreats that I may need to locate quickly in bad weather.
Level 2 – A General base map of roads and place names
Level 3 – Contour maps of selected areas, i.e. Wales & Lakes area
By selecting certain downloads available free from the internet you can build up quite an impressive database that uses only 23mb of memory.
You need a reasonably up to date PC, but Pentium 3 will do it, and a USB or Serial to Garmin cable. try Maplins.
Level 1 – This info is basically up to you to input or download waypoints via mapsource software, or manually onto the unit on location.
Level 2 - By going to some of the free internet sites you can download a reasonably good but basic osm (open street map), try http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com./ Note these are not like your in car GPS maps. A lot of them are created by enthusiasts and there can be some errors. But for the Etrex Vista I have found them very useful. I have found quite a good osm map of the UK about 39mb in total, to big for my Etrex Vista in one block, However, when you upload it to the GPS it can be broken down to the areas mentioned You can cover most of western and central England using only 10mb of memory. Unfortunately I have since lost the web link for this osm map, but I could mail it to anyone if interested.
Level 3 – Contour Maps are available from the Scottish Mountaineering Club website
http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.htm. This site is very informative.
For most of Mid Wales I selected 6.95mb
V2N52 14203052.img Shropshire
V2N52 14204052.img Llandrindod Wells
V2N52 14205052.img Cardigan Bay
The final bit of North Wales 1.81mb
V2N53 14204053.img Rhyl
V2N53 14205053.img Anglesey
For the Lakes I selected 4.42mb
V2N54 14203054.img East Lake District
V2N54 14204054.img West Lake District
In total, the above areas use about 14mb of memory space, add the 10mb of memory required by the osm maps and this takes you to the 24mb limit of the Vista.
Info on the website states the contour maps were very cleverly augmented from NASA mapping data. Version 13 of the contour maps was a bit clunky and the contour’ had sharp edges but was still very useful. The version 14 on the website is much smoother.
I used the ‘sendmap20’ software to transfer info from the PC to the GPS, do a Google search and you should find plenty of sites where it is available as a free download. Check that you have your GPS set up to receive the standard mapping .img data files. I found it easier to get a connection between your PC and GPS If you try to test the com port connections manually rather than setting it on auto.
In all this additional info makes my old Vista a very effective tool for navigation, giving me the basic info I need, the contour maps especially give topographic dynamics to what was previously a boring graphic display. Thanks SMC
I found it reasonably easy upload the data to the Etrex Vista, but it does a bit of trial and error. Please don’t blame me if it screws up your Garmin.
Dave Storey who created the contour maps for the SMC site says ‘I have no problem if people want to use the contour data, although acknowledgement of the source would be nice’.
Thanks Dave
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22-Mar-2010
Jetboil storage/ carrying tips
Product/Skill: Camping Equipment Interest: Camping
Don't leave a gas can in the bottom of your jetboil too long (I.e between trips) as it can react with any water in there & go rusty.
Need something for washing up on the hill?
Grab a kitchen sponge (the type with a scouring side) and cut it in half. This will sit
quite neatly in the top of your jetboil & reduce
movement of the contents when you're on the
go. Again, make sure you take it out when you get back to allow everything to dry.
You can either protect the piezo ignition by putting the gas can in on top so the dome shaped bottom goes over it, or use your sponge (make sure you check the top of your stove for little bits of sponge before use!)
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19-Mar-2010
Product/Skill: Survival/Safety Interest: General Outdoor
Dont eat yellow snow.. unless of course its lemon sorbet
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17-Feb-2010
Product/Skill: General Outdoor Skills Interest: General Outdoor
Be it DofE - Ten Tors - Base Camp Everest - or just an awesome weekend in South Wales 'wild camping' ...
Talk to one another – what is the use in a group of 5 individuals all bringing their own tubes of toothpaste? Anything you can do to reduce weight can only be a good thing.
Instead of 5 small 1st Aid Kits carry x2 larger kits (covering you for more eventualities should anything go wrong).
I'm not about to suggest sharing trek towels ...
But so long as your clearly communicating as a group you'll not only be well prepared, but possibly a few hundred grams lighter.
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05-Feb-2010
Product/Skill: Hill Walking boots Interest: Walking
To give us the best possible chance to get that 'perfect fit' try and follow as many of the following:
• Come in with your favourite pair of walking socks- Better still consider a new pair (Treat your feet!) as we have all been guilty of wearing socks far beyond their used by date
• Try to come in having spent time on your feet - ideally if you can go for a walk before coming into store your feet will be prime for fitting.
• Allow plenty of time, there are no prizes for finishing quickly. Instead take time to make the right informed decision.
• Check your nails don't need trimming, it is likely you will only get a little on the embarrassed side and they tend to get in the way ... all be it just a little.
• Be sure not to come in with fresh or healing blisters - a foot in pain is never a good starting point for a boot fit.
Most importantly - have confidence in our abilities. All staff are given full footwear fitting inductions that have come out of our years of experience as a leading Outdoor specialist, all training is also followed up on a regular basis. Not only is training provided but staff are selected based on their experience as outdoor enthusiasts, meaning your not speaking to somebody who ‘talks the talk’ but has … walked the walk!
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05-Feb-2010
Product/Skill: Hill Walking boots Interest: Walking
When walking through areas with brambles/gorse/forest debris, tie your laces with a reef knot rather than a traditional bow. The latter tends to escape from the neck of the boot and the loops of the bow can become caught.
If you find yourself lacking a pair of ankle gaiters (or if your trousers are a little long and collect in a fold on top of your boot), run your laces in opposite directions around the outside of the boot neck before tying off. Tuck the remaining lace inbetween the tongue fold and the outer neck. You can then tuck the base of your trouser up under the loop of lace at the sides and back, which will give you a few extra inches of clearance to keep your trouser leg tidy and dry in short, wet grass and through shallow streams (anything taller/deeper and you really need a gaiter). The same can be improvised with an elastic band or a military-style 'trouser twist'.
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10-Jan-2010
Product/Skill: General Outdoor Skills Interest: General Outdoor
At the end of a long stint of walking, when you're sheltered in your tent, give your feet a good check (tempting though it may be to just fall asleep).
First wipe your feet clean of sweat and grime. Wet wipes are fantastic for this as they make the foot feel really fresh, no matter how horrible it may look/feel/smell. Now lightly wipe your feet with a dry cloth/towel.
Then, powder your feet. Put some talcum powder into a small plastic bag, place your foot inside, and grip the top of the bag around your ankle to create a seal (thus preventing the classic problem of getting powder everywhere). Now give your foot a good shake. Afterwards, remove your foot gently from the bag, shaking off any excess.
Address any hotspots that have developed since your last stop. Simply covering these will help to prevent the blistering process, but a specific blister plaster (such as Compeed) will be even better. Wipe the affected area clean of powder to allow adhesive plasters to fix properly.
Finally, place your feet inside a pair of thick, dry socks (often referred to as tent socks). Isn't that better?
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09-Jan-2010
Product/Skill: First Aid Interest: General Outdoor
When travelling in a group, even on shorter trips when you are not straying too far from civilization, standardise where you will be keeping important items.
By keeping personal first aid kits in a similar location (i.e. rucksack top pocket) alongside personal medication, anyone in your group should be able to access your personal kit for you should the need arise.
Some items such as asthma inhalers or GTN tablets/spray may need to be carried on your person rather than among your equipment. Make their location clearly known to your companions (i.e. top-left front pocket of your walking jacket).
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08-Jan-2010
Product/Skill: Rucksacks/Luggage Interest: General Outdoor
Rucksack straps caught on brambles/gorse or flicking you in high winds? Fold the end over and repeat all the way up the excess strap, and secure with a stretch of black electrical tape - instantly tidier.
Remember to leave a little excess for adjustment on all straps that affect the back system as this will allow you to tinker with the fit after adding/taking away layers of clothing.
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08-Jan-2010
Product/Skill: Other Outdoor Equipment Interest: Winter Sports
Don't give up on the old-classic wooden toboggan - just give it a good treatment with some ski wax and it will go as fast as any of those modern contraptions!
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23-Dec-2009
Product/Skill: Navigation/Map reading Interest: General Outdoor
Replace the string on your compass with a longer length, I use orange paracord: add a whistle and if you pace count tie 3 knots into the string and have four cord locks between the middle and bottom knot and nine cord locks between the middle and top not. Place your head and arm through the string so that the compass hangs down by your side. Make sure the knots and cord locks are positioned to the front of your body for continence and ease of use. You now have your compass, pace counter and whistle in an easy to locate and use position with little danger of ever loosing them. You may also choose to add a very small watch such as the Hog Wild Snap Watch for time and distance navigation but don’t add to much kit otherwise it just gets heavy, cumbersome and irritating to use.
Secondly, if you add small clips to smaller items of your kit, when you need to use them you can clip them into the string so you don’t lose them. I often clip my spoon on whilst I am cooking and eating because I have such a habit of loosing nice titanium spoons. When I am using over mittens I clip them in to the string when I remove them so I don’t lose them.
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18-Dec-2009
Product/Skill: Travel Equipment Interest: Travelling
Get them at your local GP surgery as they are MUCH cheaper than the travel shops!
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18-Dec-2009