in the Denali expedition office today.
Can't say much just yet, but it could be very good news and UK grown.
Can't say much just yet, but it could be very good news and UK grown.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Monday, 13 February 2012
Quick Post.....
Just a quick post on my own page about what Alex K and I got up to this weekend testing some gear for our big adventure. www.sasmojo-dontfalloff.blogspot.com
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Some New Gear...
With the Denali Exhibition being less than 4 months away the bank balance has been taking a little battering, I have had some help with sponsorship but equipment doesn't come cheap, Although I already own lots of equipment this is the first real exhibition Ive been on so new items such has High altitude boots, Ski boots, Mitts and a really warm sleeping bag are all essential. Anyway some of these items have started to arrive.
I popped on down to Peglers in Arundel to check out some gear and place an order, First up was the boots, Ive always been a big fan of La sportiva especially getting on really well with the Batura boot, So i tried on the Olympus Mons, these seemed to work pretty well and I found them very comfortable, I did try on a few other brands such has the Scarpa phantom but these didn't seem has comfortable as the La sportiva, next up I ordered my down salopettes, these are branded by Rab. I also ordered some new mitts from Mountain Hardwear and some warm booty's to where in the tent, these items are all essential due to the how cold this mountain can get. Next up was a new sleeping bag, I already have a good bag from Marmot thats done me well in the alps but with tempatures reaching has low has -50 I decided to look for a better option, In the end I decided on the new Tundra -40, this is a high altidude bag that should keep me warm in the coldest environment.
While on The peglers Ice fest trip last I managed to get hold a good deal on some new Black diamond Quadrant Ski boots, I'm planning on getting to the indoor snow dome to wear these in and get used to them. Just a few days ago I also ordered my Avalanche receiver rescue kit, This has also been supplied from Peglers at a really good price, Ive decided to go with the Ortovox model has this seems to be one of the best on the market at the moment.
A good team meeting last night has highlighted another few small objects that I need but apart from that I'm pretty close to having all my personal kit sorted now.
Remember to keep checking the blog for up to date info on the planning, training and progress of this exhibition.
I popped on down to Peglers in Arundel to check out some gear and place an order, First up was the boots, Ive always been a big fan of La sportiva especially getting on really well with the Batura boot, So i tried on the Olympus Mons, these seemed to work pretty well and I found them very comfortable, I did try on a few other brands such has the Scarpa phantom but these didn't seem has comfortable as the La sportiva, next up I ordered my down salopettes, these are branded by Rab. I also ordered some new mitts from Mountain Hardwear and some warm booty's to where in the tent, these items are all essential due to the how cold this mountain can get. Next up was a new sleeping bag, I already have a good bag from Marmot thats done me well in the alps but with tempatures reaching has low has -50 I decided to look for a better option, In the end I decided on the new Tundra -40, this is a high altidude bag that should keep me warm in the coldest environment.
While on The peglers Ice fest trip last I managed to get hold a good deal on some new Black diamond Quadrant Ski boots, I'm planning on getting to the indoor snow dome to wear these in and get used to them. Just a few days ago I also ordered my Avalanche receiver rescue kit, This has also been supplied from Peglers at a really good price, Ive decided to go with the Ortovox model has this seems to be one of the best on the market at the moment.
A good team meeting last night has highlighted another few small objects that I need but apart from that I'm pretty close to having all my personal kit sorted now.
Remember to keep checking the blog for up to date info on the planning, training and progress of this exhibition.
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| New Black Diamond Quadrants |
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| La Sportiva Olypus Mons |
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| Tundra -40 Sleeping Bag |
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| New High altitude mitts from Mountain Hardwear. |
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Ice Fest 2012
Will, Dan, Tommy and myself have headed out to Le Ecrins on Ice Fest 2012. So far the team is having a good and successful trip. Also, we are experiencing a few new things such as skining in to routes and today (Wednesday) I will be using my Denali's on an ice route to see how they are for technical climbing.
Dan and Will, have been getting to know each others climbing ability and on Tuesday, the 3 of us climb a couple of routes together and found ourselves to be very slick in the belay change overs.
Tommy, has been having a good trip, but did get a little beaten up yesterday when was hit by some ice and had to retreat. I hope he has a better day today.
Dan and Will, have been getting to know each others climbing ability and on Tuesday, the 3 of us climb a couple of routes together and found ourselves to be very slick in the belay change overs.
Tommy, has been having a good trip, but did get a little beaten up yesterday when was hit by some ice and had to retreat. I hope he has a better day today.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
No right Turn...
In an earlier post relating to this years McKinley trip I stated that "We have a strong team with climbers having different strengths". Come May when on the mountain we are planning to use skis on the lower slopes rather than Snow shoes, this should be allot quicker, easier and safer with the amount of snow bridges and hidden crevasses. The only problem with this is the fact that my strength isnt Skiing, Ive never even put skis on my feet before, This could be a problem but I am determined to put this right.
I browsed the Internet looking for all my local ski slopes and lessons available, then I remembered the Snowdome in Milton Keynes where they use a real ski slope with real snow, I looked through and managed to get myself booked onto a full days lesson where they informed me they could turn me into an intermediate skier within the 8hrs.
Anyway I arrived at the Snowdome a little anxious as to how I was going to perform, there seemed to be lots of these young snowboarder dudes walking around in there fancy clothing, woolly hats and multi coloured boards which i knew were going to be flying past me on the slopes. I booked myself in, collected my boots, skis and helmet and waited for my instructor for the day. he arrived and after a quick briefing we were on the slopes, i picked it up pretty quickly and wondered what all the fuss was about, and it wasn't long before i was going from the steeper top section. going down, fast and stopping seemed pretty easy, it was the turning that I was having difficulty with, I couldn't seem to turn properly, Run after run I would get a good one then think Ive nailed it then on the next one end up nearly taking someone else out. After 8hrs of solid skiing and tramping back up the slope i was a little tired.
Overall I think it was a good day and I feel confident that a little more practise when out on Ice fest next week should see me getting those turns right.
I was unable to get any pictures as they didn't allow cameras into the slopes but this has a similarity to how I would Have looked.
Tommy
I browsed the Internet looking for all my local ski slopes and lessons available, then I remembered the Snowdome in Milton Keynes where they use a real ski slope with real snow, I looked through and managed to get myself booked onto a full days lesson where they informed me they could turn me into an intermediate skier within the 8hrs.
Anyway I arrived at the Snowdome a little anxious as to how I was going to perform, there seemed to be lots of these young snowboarder dudes walking around in there fancy clothing, woolly hats and multi coloured boards which i knew were going to be flying past me on the slopes. I booked myself in, collected my boots, skis and helmet and waited for my instructor for the day. he arrived and after a quick briefing we were on the slopes, i picked it up pretty quickly and wondered what all the fuss was about, and it wasn't long before i was going from the steeper top section. going down, fast and stopping seemed pretty easy, it was the turning that I was having difficulty with, I couldn't seem to turn properly, Run after run I would get a good one then think Ive nailed it then on the next one end up nearly taking someone else out. After 8hrs of solid skiing and tramping back up the slope i was a little tired.
Overall I think it was a good day and I feel confident that a little more practise when out on Ice fest next week should see me getting those turns right.
I was unable to get any pictures as they didn't allow cameras into the slopes but this has a similarity to how I would Have looked.
Tommy
Friday, 13 January 2012
Ice fest is looming
So in a weeks time I will be packing to head off to the Ecrins with Scott, Nick, Dan, Tommy and Paul; hopefully the ice will be fat and we can all get a load of good route in, whatever happens I'm sure It'll be better than the lectures I'm meant to be in that week.
Training for this (well as close to training as I do) has been interesting involving two dingy quarries, White Goods and Never Never Land in Dinorwig, both are very different but both have got me super pumped which can only be a good thing!
Between now and then I'm off to the Peak for a few days and will hopefully be getting down to the chalk with Tommy the day before we leave for a bit of last minute training!.
More on my blog
Training for this (well as close to training as I do) has been interesting involving two dingy quarries, White Goods and Never Never Land in Dinorwig, both are very different but both have got me super pumped which can only be a good thing!
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| Ramon Marin on White Goods at White Goods |
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| Tom Livingstone on The Deerhunter in Never Never Land |
More on my blog
Oops!
Sorry need to correct one thing, Denali is native for "The High One", not "The Big One" as I have used before. :-S
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