outdoor gear – Page 34

Craigellachie Nature Reserve Again

27 January 2012 / Outdoor Gear, Photography, Travel, Walking / Aviemore, Craigellachie National Nature Reserve, iPhone photography, MSR titanium mug, outdoor gear, Photos 2012

Yet another bright frozen day, with a light dusting of overnight snow – a good day to go to the high ridge of the Craigellachie Nature Reserve.

Lunch on the top

When I first got up to the summit there was hardly any breeze and it was a great place for lunch overlooking the Cairngorm range. Whilst I was having my soup it started to snow, I watched it coming up the valley towards me.

This is the second day of wearing my new Explorer Trek boots. The tread gives a sure grip on both wet rocks and icy paths. They are very comfortable, warm, waterproof, and give good, high ankle support. They are large boots but they are still lightweight. It looks like they are a good buy and I am looking forward to wearing them for many miles.

Miles on the boots so far 14.

Craigellachie Nature Reserve Again Read More »

Speyside Way pt 1

26 January 2012 / Outdoor Gear, Photography, Travel, Walking / Aviemore, outdoor gear, Photos 2012, Scotland, Speyside Way

A bright frozen day today – the plan is to walk some of the Speyside Way.

The first part of the walk is straight out of Scandinavian Village and onto the Aviemore Village Orbital Path, so no road walking.

I am trying out the new boots today – Berghaus Trek Extreme GTX – below is a photo of them new and mud free.

Speyside Way pt 1 Read More »

Loch an Eilein

23 January 2012 / Outdoor Gear, Photography, Travel, Walking / iPhone photography, MSR titanium mug, outdoor gear, Photos 2012

lunch

Loch an Eilein Read More »

Carnforth pt 3

17 January 2012 / Outdoor Gear, Photography, Travel, Walking / iPhone photography, outdoor gear, Photos 2012, tea

I had planned to return by following the coast path, however when I got there the path was flooded and too soft to walk on, so I decided to follow the canal path back towards Pine Lakes. Here is bridge 129a, carrying the motorway.

Not as quaint as the other bridges.

Unfortunately the path I wanted to follow did not exist.

As the light was starting go I decided it would be better to take the road way back – there is a very good path along the main road from Carnforth to Pine Lakes. You need to be careful crossing the roads at the roundabout at the resort, and when getting around the tree which has recently fallen over blocking the path!

The walk today was on paths where it was not suitable to get my stove out to cook my lunch, so I took my flask for a hot drinks and had crackers and tinned mackrel. I had something new to drink today – Diana got me some Chai Latte sachets – just add hot water.

I like Indian tea and make it when possible with sweetened condensed milk. I keep at least one Indian tea bag in my hiking brew kit but use extra dried milk and brown sugar when I make it when walking. The sachets were very convenient and tasted excellent so I will be getting more of these for future trips.

Carnforth pt 3 Read More »

Coniston – Old Man pt 2

16 January 2012 / Outdoor Gear, Photography, Travel, Walking / Coniston Old Man, iPhone photography, Lake District, MSR titanium mug, outdoor gear, Photos 2012

More ice photos

The path climbs up through an old disused slate quarry.

Lunch stop

Coniston – Old Man pt 2 Read More »

Lancashire Coastal Way pt 2

15 January 2012 / Outdoor Gear, Photography, Travel, Walking / coffee, iPhone photography, Lancashire Coastal Way, MSR titanium mug, outdoor gear, Photos 2012

The Lancashire Coastal Way passes very close to Pine Lakes so as the day was sunny but cold – and to avoid the hill walkers in the Lakes – I chose to walk out to the coast.

There was a suitable path right outside the resort gates so I did not need to use the car.

Warton Crag

Lunch Stop

I found a great place for lunch – hot chicken noodles, maple syrup granola bar and fresh coffee – with a view.

I used my Source 1l roll up water bottle, that Jeremy got me for Christmas, for the first time today. It fitted well into one of the grab pockets on my pack, but it was a bit “squeezy” when I came pour water from it. The result was some spillage over the stove, my trousers etc – it will need a bit more care when in use compared to my Platypus roll up bottle.

Lancashire Coastal Way pt 2 Read More »

Hiking Food

30 December 2011 / Outdoor Gear, Walking / Aviemore, coffee, hiking food, outdoor gear, Scotland

Whilst Christmas shopping in Aldi, I picked up a few things for my walking trip to Aviemore in mid-January.

The microwave rice (just heat it in a pot with a couple of spoons of water – you do not need a microwave) looked more interesting than the last varieties I bought and the same for the flavours of the instant noodles.

The Racer bar is like a Snickers bar but with more peanuts and a better size for snacking on when walking.

I also bought some coffee creamer powder and made up a creamer/freeze-dried coffee mix in a small nalgene bottle (2 spoons of creamer to 1 spoon of coffee) as the only pre-mixed sachets I could find in the shop were the sweetened variety.

Hiking Food Read More »