How make high altitude mountaineering (or even just hiking in the backwoods) just a little more luxurious When I was last in Nepal my trip there was made a lot easier by having some creature comforts that were really small and light. They were also things that one doesn’t usually find in the high-priced gear […]
Mountaineering stove efficiency: MSR DragonFly and XGK vs Optimus Nova vs Primus Omnifuel
How efficient is your stove? Four of the best mountaineering and backpacking stoves are put to the test: MSR DragonFly, MSR XGK, Optimus Nova and Primus Omnifuel When you are humping your way up a hill, and every ounce in your pack feels like it is trying to hold you back, I often find my […]
Huge increase in mountain rescues in Britain
Mountain rescuers in distress | Ed Douglas | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk According to The Guardian newspaper there has been a huge increase in call-outs for mountain rescues in Britain this year. The volunteer team dealing with Snowdonia had already had twice as many responses by November than all of last year. Mostly it […]
MSR DragonFly Stove Review – A reliable workhorse that burns almost anything
After a long day on the hill or trail there is nothing that compares to the sound a stove buzzing away and the smell of supper cooking. It is probably for this reason that most mountaineers and hikers have a deep emotional relationship with their stove. It is not just another piece of gear but […]
The avalung vs the avalanche airbag system (ABS) – which will save your life?
The big fear many skiers have is being hit by an avalanche. If you are, your odds of surviving depend almost entirely on how quickly people can dig you out. Fortunately there are a number of new gadgets including the Avalung and Avalanche Airbag that speed up search and rescue, keep you alive longer and […]