Alpkit Outpost - Issue 07

Castleton 12 From to Kyrgyzstan

promise to 18 “We strip and dip.”

IT’S SAFE TO COME OUT NOW. TIME TO POKE YOUR HEAD OUT AND SNIFF THE SPRING AIR. LET’S GO…

The De-hibernation Issue.

ISSUE 07: OUTPOST BY ALPKIT. SPRING 2018.

Spring is suddenly upon us.

Buds are burgeoning on branches.

Hibernating hedgehogs are rolling over with a yawned curse and hitting ‘snooze’ on their smartphones.

In the woods the bluebells are in bloom but the Scottish midges are not even a tilt in their father’s kilt.

This is the moment to catch them – and all of nature’s glory – with its pants down.

If you followed our advice to #WinWinter, seize spring before it’s even fully sprung.

Don’t hang around until summer arrives, because so will a coach party from Sheffield.

Now is the time for an #oddventure.

Get ahead of the curve. Go lighter, faster and further. And catch nature off guard.

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Did you know, hedgehogs are one of only three British mammals that actually hibernate? The others are dormice and bats.

Some bees and butterflies also hibernate. Nature, eh?

OUTPOST 3

Ready, Steady, Go Box.

“Noodles, never forget the noodles.”

What is a Go Box? Well, it’s a box, any box will do, that you keep packed with everything you need for whatever adventures you like to go on. No excuses that you can’t find your headtorch, forgot to replace the gas or took your Ti mug to work.

You’ve got 15 minutes to grab your Go Box and leave the house or the chance will be gone forever. When the opportunity to get out there presents itself, be ready.

“Compass, whistle & Harmonica...”

Brewing up at a remote camp spot in Fisherfield, Scottish Highlands.

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Wild camped somewhere on the Faroe Islands.

“Spare tent pegs”

“An always topped up hipflask.”

“...Loo roLl !”

Setting up camp in Edale, Derbyshire.

OUTPOST 5

Fancy winning a Go Box bundle worth £242?

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To enter, post a photo of your current Go Box, tag @alpkit and use the hashtag #whatsinyourgobox

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1. Splitta Lightweight travel table £19 2. TiMigos Titanium cutlery set £15 3. Snapwire Knife/ Fork/Spoon Titanium cutlery £7 each

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4. Clip Stainless steel 350ml flask £12.50

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5. Gamma III 180 lumen head torch for running £19 6. Viper II 280 lumen head torch £19 7. Glowe Compact camping lantern £14

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8. Kelvin Insulated titanium mug £39 9. Koro Mountaineering stove £45 10. AliPots 4 piece aluminium pan set £25 11. Concertina Aluminium windshield £11

BUNDLE

Over the next couple of months we'll be sharing the Go Box secrets of the Alpkit team and our Alpkiteers.

To help you get started with your What's in their overnight box? What own Go Box missions, we’ve put together a two person camping bundle. piece of kit do they never leave home without? Keep an eye on our Facebook, Get your mitts on £242 worth of Instagram and Twitter channels or sign gear for just £205. up for our newsletter for more info. alpkit.com/bundles

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In the meantime, if you want more information on how to build your Go Box call in to our stores or visit the link below.

READ MORE alpkit.com/spotlight/ build-a-go-box

DAN’s suggeste overnighter go bod x.

A whisk? this guy knows how to breakfast.

DARING DEEDS REAL STORIES, EXPEDITIONS, ROAD TRIPS AND ADVENTURE. alpkit.com/deeds

SURF AND TURF PADDLING AND PEDALLING AROUND FISHERFIELD FOREST, ONE OF SCOTLAND’S LAST GREAT WILDERNESSES. The Fisherfield Forest is also known as the Great Wilderness and is home to Scotland’s remotest Munros.

Riders are Joe Flanagan and Ali Parkin. Photos by Sam Flanagan.

In this day and age when you are presented with the opportunity to escape society and live the simple life off grid, with no worry of phones, emails or the after work traffic jam it should be grabbed with both hands. Fisherfield Forest is one of Scotland’s last great wildernesses – remote Munros and lochs totally uninterrupted by even an inch of tarmac. A main arterial path snakes up to the north and smaller veins of deer tracks dart off into the bases of towering peaks. They stand silent, patiently guarding over climbers, cyclists and weary travellers alike.

Following a swift afternoon paddle our camp was established and the exploration began in earnest.

Push, carry or ride up the steepest, quickest route and descend the rock slabbed flow became the standard plan. With the views on offer, keeping eyes on the trail became rather difficult. Several days rolled by and only the hardiest one or two were spotted in the area. Fellow Alpkiteer Barry Godin threading his way through the territory on yet another of his incredible solo missions. With several Munros completed and two bothies scoped for future assaults

the dreams of our stay being more permanent were curtailed as the food supplies ran low. With our home for four days deconstructed and loaded back into the packrafts we waved a sad goodbye to our prime causeway location and began the paddle home.

In our minds we were already plotting our return to the breathtaking serenity that is Fisherfield.

READ MORE alpkit.com/deeds/ surf_and_turf OUTPOST 7

Font Just over 60km south of Paris, the forest of Fontainbleau is home to some of the world’s best bouldering. Favourable weather and a cheap Eurostar ticket make it a perfect spring get away.

It’s been a royal hunting ground, a magnet for artists, the birthplace for impressionism and the world’s first nature reserve. Never mind all that malarky, there’s a lifetime of bouldering to be had. Alpkit’s resident wordsmith Hati lived in Font for a while. We can think of few better places to unwind, think about things and even do a bit of writing. Here’s a few things she learnt whilst out there: Where was your favourite spot?

For a bit of quiet, I often ventured out of Fontainebleau to the Rocher du Duc area of the Grands Avaux forest (parking at Beauvais Nainville). A super short walk-in delivers a huge variety of circuits, including a children’s circuit.

My personal favourites are the black and white circuit of classic traverses in the 6s and 7s, the 100-boulder orange circuit that snakes across the whole massif, and one really huge boulder with some terrifyingly delicate slabs.

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Family climbing?

Rocher du Duc has a kids’ circuit of low boulders alongside the main circuits. The Trois Pignons forest has sandy, flat landings throughout – ideal for a family climb and the picnic afterwards! Roche aux Sabots has some great classic climbs, easier circuits, and a kids’ circuit.

Rocher Canon has flat, sandy landings, varied climbing, and loads of trees to play – ideal for larger groups and families.

Which ones dry out the quickest?

95.2 is known as the quickest drying area in Bleau, but can get pretty busy after wet weather!

Cul de Chien, Elephant, the higher areas of 91.1, and certain areas of Bas Cuvier are worth checking out if you want to avoid the crowds after a spell of rain.

Something off the beaten track?

Apremont, near Barbizon, always feels a bit wild, even though it’s all pretty close to the beaten track.

Zofia uses a combination of Phud, Project and Mujo bouldering mats for protection.

I got my first taste of those iconic sandstone boulders on the way back from Verdon Gorge in ‘87. it has been an easter tradition ever since.

It’s a very motivational start for the (climbing) year to come. The weather is generally a little warmer and milder, though it’s not guaranteed; one year we had 2 inches of snow on top of all the boulders!

Alpkit’s very own bouldering legend and factory packing chief Degs was way ahead of the curve – he’s been going out to Font every Easter for the past 27 years! We don’t just employ anyone you know...

Degs’ daughter Izzy, front and centre, now works at Alpkit too!

You’ll usually find a moment of calm at Apremont Butte aux Dames, and Apremont Bizons is a favourite among Bleausard for enchaînement (the challenge is to not let your feet touch the ground for the entire circuit).

What shouldn’t be missed?

Isatis: fun and varied. The rock is really interesting, with great little crimpy edges, a mix of grades, and some questionable descents.

The forest landscape just gets more and more beautiful the further you get from the carpark.

An important side note from Hati about the damage that can be caused by climbing on wet rock. Wait’ til it’s dry! #protecttherock

READ MORE alpkit.com/spotlight/font-at-easter

Photography by andyday.com Phud Lightweight and portable bouldering mat £99 Project Bouldering mat with ultimate fall protection £199 Mujo Durable and innovative bouldering mat £175

An archive shot of Degs in action.

OUTPOST 9

NEW

LET’S MAKE THE FLEECE GREAT AGAIN. ff Ja a Ne m

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We’ve taken the idea of an ordinary fleece jacket and added some Alpkit extra to it.

An excellent outer layer when it’s mild, or mid-layer when it’s freezing, toasty and wind resistant midweight fleece designed to keep the warmth in and the wind out, without sacrificing freedom of movement.

Vizsler’s dense-knit outer resists the wear and tear of adventure, whilst the soft-touch inner has great wicking capabilities making it ideal for active use.

It also feels wonderfully soft and comfy.

Vizsler Jacket Dense-knit, durable comfy fleece £69

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The elasticated, close-fitting hood will stay on your head when it’s blowing a hoolie and fits comfortably under a helmet. Zipped hand and chest pockets keep your valuables safe.

THE BIG SHAKEOUT IS OUR ANNUAL END OF SUMMER PARTY. WE WILL ALL BE THERE, MUCKING IN, SERVING HOT DOGS, POURING BEER AND OUR HEARTS AND SOULS INTO IT. IT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO MEET YOU.

A not for profit festival: all proceeds go to the Alpkit Foundation

From Castleton to Kyrgyzstan.

Remember Pete from Adventure Pedlars?

Yeah we like Pete, he’s completely bonkers. He’s just entered the inaugural edition of The Silk Road Mountain Race in the world’s most difficult to spell country, Kyrgyzstan. Starting and finishing in the country’s capital Bishkek it’s a monstrous 1700km, unsupported, single-stage race over gravel, single track, long forgotten Soviet era roads and very little tarmac.

The organisers are keen to point out the 26,000m of climbing and great distances between resupply points.

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Pete is umming and ahhing about kit choice and which bike to take – Camino Ti or new 29er prototype. We sent him out in the drizzle to test our updated range of UK made frame bags and told him not to come back until he’d memorized all the Central Asian countries...

K_________

How’s U_ _ _

wl n t r i e s k n o e d ge ?

____

KYRGYZSTAN

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C____

T_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

__ __ P_

_

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__

__

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I_

A

__ ___

And made just down the road.

Super, hyper, mega. Crikey. We’ve redesigned the key pieces in our UK made luggage range to make best use of our all new Tarmac UL fabric. The new bags are unlined, simplified and stripped back. Designed specifically for the minimalist racer or high speed traveller doing multi-day unsupported trips over mixed terrain.

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NEW GEAR ALERT |

KAZAKH

S TA N |

UZBEKIS

TA N | T

AJIKIST

AN | AF

GHANIS

TA N | C

HINA |

PA K I S TA

N | IND

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NEW FABRIC, UPD ATED DESIGN, SAM E UK HANDMADE

QUALITY BACKED

BY THE ALPINE BO ND |

NEW GEAR ALER T

SUPER LIGHT. HYPER MINIMAL. MEGA DURABLE.

1. Fuel Pod Medium Lightweight top tube-mounted accessory bag £31

BUNDLE alpkit.com/bundles

Tarmac UL fabric weighs 120g/m2 which is diddly squat.

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2. Enduro Pod Top tube tank bag £29

3. Glider Frame bag available in 3 sizes: 46/48/50 (top length in cms) £70/£75/£80

4. Hunka Rig 3.5 Lightweight personal tarp £48

Get the full works with a Tarmac UL luggage bundle at alpkit.com/bundles. £236 worth of gear for just £200.

5. Koala Bikepacking seat bag £75

OUTPOST 13

1. PipeDream 200 Lightweight sleeping bag £159 2. Tau Lightweight LED bike lights £14 3. SnapWire Foon Titanium folding spork £7

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4. Hunka Rig 3.5 Lightweight personal tarp £48

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5. BruKit All-in-one cooking system £45 6. Candy Canes Aluminium tent pegs £7.50

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7. Koala Bikepacking seat bag £75

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8. Fuel Pod Medium Top tube accessory bag £31

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9. Enduro Pod Top tube tank bag £29 10. Stem Cell Stem accessory bag £28

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11. Viper II 280 lumen head torch £19 12. Glider Frame bag available in 3 sizes: 46/48/50 (top length in cms) £70/£75/£80 13. Sonder Camino Ti Force 1 Titanium adventure bike £2299

YOU SPOKE, WE LISTENED. NEW EXO-RAIL DROPPER POST (WE’RE NICE COMPATIBLE SEAT PACK MOUNT LIKE THAT) “We need a seat pack for proper MTB terrain”, you seat pack mount made in the UK to our BLE A L I A V A

NOW

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cried. “One that works with dropper seat posts.”

We set about developing a harness to make our seat packs more stable and suitable for dropper seat posts. We think we’ve come up with something rather special and unique which will add stability to all our packs.

It’s a new anti-sway slide-on/slide-off

registered design. Ditch the sweaty backpack and fit our new Exorail system to your seatpost/ saddle cluster and leave it there for quick and easy slide on, slide off installation. Less faffing, more riding. The new Koala seatpacks are made from highly durable Cordura fabric with the Exorail mount

“CLIMBS LIKE A 29ER, DESCENDS LIKE A TOTAL BADASS...”

Watch what happened when Rob, Freddie and Neil took the EVOL to the mountains but ended up riding closer to home. Read more at alpkit.com/screen-room

A MID TRAVEL, FULL SUSS, BIG GRINS, STOKED, LET’S DO THAT AGAIN SORT OF BIKE. Active and plush suspension for a ‘bottomless’ feel and ‘poppy’ ride, climbs well and descends flat out. Super fast, super stiff, all the time, everywhere.

SPECS

Frame and shock £999 NX1 Recon £1599 NX1 Revelation £1849 GX Eagle Revelation £2399 GX Eagle Pike £2599 XX1 Eagle Pike £3299

WHERE

Local trails, playing in the woods, bikeparks, trail centre black runs and skills parks, hike-a-bike in the UK mountains and occasional enduro duty.

Evol keeps coming back for more.

EVERY ONE HAS A STORY. WHAT’S YOURS?

BUILD

Designed and tested in the UK. Custom butted 6061 aluminium tubing.

Tried and tested 140mm Horst link suspension with custom tune Rockshox Deluxe RT shock. Internal cable and stealth dropper routing. 1x specific and clearance for 650b x 2.6 tyres.

Adjusted for 150mm forks.

The stuff you don’t need.

Simplification is a mission for us. Not as in ‘mission statement’ (aaaargh). But keeping it simple is deeply ingrained in what we do. We slice away the faff to create better outdoor products, supported by knowledgeable enthusiasts, so you can buy in confidence.

What... you want examples so this isn’t just waffle?

Fair enough. Like other brands, we search the world for new technologies and fabrics. But unlike other brands you don’t have to wait a year for new tech to filter through.

If we have it, you have it.

Don’t be put off by the friendly price tag. Gear from many other brands has been marked up by as much as 400% by the time it gets to you. Four hundred! We chop out the middleman. You get world class gear, direct from our designers, at better prices.

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We’ve hacked at the traditional design process too.

Our designers love working directly with you, from the first idea through to the care you receive having bought something from us. Genuine feedback quickly influences design, that results in more considered, better products.

So thank you for supporting us, we promise to keep the axe sharp for you (a metaphorical axe obviously, that isn’t a subtle threat of physical harm).

OUTPOST 17

“We promise to strip and dip wherever we can.”

Alpkit are proud to support the Outdoor Swimming Society in their mission to share the joy and adventure of swimming outdoors, and put the fun back into swimming.

OSS founder Kate Rew doing what she loves.

Finding little patches of blue on the OS map, hiking to them and hopping in is a great way to sprinkle some Alpkit onto 18 alpkit.com

your weekly adventures.

Our wetsuit range is developed by neoprene guru Dean Jackson alongside the Outdoor Swimming Society.

The OSS have a great crowdsourced wild swimming map to give you some pointers.

Check it out at wildswim.com

Silvertip Thermal Swimming Wetsuit Fleece-lined interior and thicker neoprene panels £195

Terrapin Natural Swimming Wetsuit The thinnest, most flexible suit in our range £99

everydayadventure.co.uk

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“I moved to Cumbria on a whim over ten years ago and never looked back. I went From having never swam outdoors to spending most of my free time in a swimsuit...”

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Five reasons to swim wild.

1. Swim now, glow later.

Tingle all day long after an early morning dip.

2. It’s a bit naughty.

Grown-ups always said don’t swim in open water – now you get to decide for yourself.

3. A new view.

Seeing your favourite patches of wild land from the water lets you look at them anew.

4. Enjoy a quickie.

It doesn’t take long to feel alive with a quick dip – no long slogs necessary.

thewildswimmingbrothers.com

5. Incredible exercise.

If you do swim for longer you’ll get fit quicker.

6. Getting dry.

Warm and dry afterwards with a flask of hot chocolate could be the best thing ever.

Suzanna is going to be running wild swimming introduction classes from our Ambleside store.

Contact the Ambleside store to get involved.

Airlok 35L 35 litre Cordura ripstop dry bag £17

Lotic Swimming Wetsuit Our best all round suit for open water swimming £145

Apogee Jacket Packable and lightweight Primaloft Gold jacket £160

DryDock 50 Tough and hardwearing 50 litre duffle bag £56

GNPDGT Beach Towel 100% cotton beach towel £15

BUNDLE alpkit.com/bundles

Looking for that extra incentive to take the plunge?

Our wild swimming bundle is just for you. £242 worth of gear for just £205.

OUTPOST 19

Gear you’ll love for longer.

Every piece of kit we design is measured against this simple statement.

We make gear that lasts – all we humbly ask of you is for an occasional bit of care and the odd bit of ‘post epic’ maintenance.

Here are three quick ways to help kit last longer.

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2.

What you can do.

T.I.Y. (try it yourself).

The Alpkit Continuum Project.

What you can do for others.

If it comes to it and you simply can’t keep hold of your gear any longer, maybe its got too big, or too small, maybe it just doesn’t fit with what you’re up to now.

We can help there too, before you see it go to eBay for a tiny amount that just covers postage why not think about passing it on? Our Continuum Project carefully selects charity partners

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Visit one of our top notch repair centres.

If the worst does happen and your kit is damaged, just get in touch. We have our own factory next door to HQ and there we can fix most things. If you’re in the Lakes or the Peak then pop into one of our stores where the in-house repair stations can often fix minor things whilst you wait. They usually have good coffee, plentiful cake and decent music too.

Look after your kit. The more you look after your kit the more it looks after you.

Wash it, reproof it, repair little nicks and tears when you see them. We can help with that: alpkit.com/support

3.

What we can do.

and we carefully sort and share your donations. Plus from April to July this year we will also be working with the amazing Gift your Gear campaign which means we can send more gear to worthy causes.

READ MORE alpkit.com/continuum

A L P K I T F OUND AT ION

Insider knowledge.

We had a quick chat with Debbie Read, our Alpkit Customer Trustee, to get the inside scoop on how to put together a successful funding application.

Who are you?

I’m Debbie Read – I relocated from London to Derbyshire almost 20 years ago. I love being outside, usually on my mountain bike, looking for remote locations and memorable adventures.

Why did you decide to become a trustee for the AKF? Having fallen in love with the outdoors while on a youth hostelling school trip in my very early teens, I’ve never looked back. Through the AKF we are able to offer people that opportunity to experience an outdoor activity that maybe they wouldn’t have done otherwise.

Who does the AKF support?

We don’t just fund large projects. Many of our grants are less than £100 for something like a train fare, a missing piece of kit, or hostel accommodation for a weekend away.

We are always looking for opportunities where the applicant is looking to minimise costs while maximising the benefit of the experience to as many people as possible. For example, a request for support in taking a group of inner city kids to explore an area of British countryside may be looked on more favourably than an individual requesting money for an airfare for overseas travel.

How can the AKF offer support?

We are particularly well positioned to help schools and youth groups with equipment such as sleeping bags, waterproof clothing or head torches which will be used as part of a managed

‘kit pool’ to be used for multiple individuals/trips.

The Foundation has also supported numerous individuals who have successfully applied for mountain leader or first aid training support either through assessment funding, travel or accommodation support.

We can also help promote activities and groups to increase uptake and inspire others.

Which have been your favourite projects so far?

There have been a few which stick in my mind and reassure me that the donations are getting to places which allow people to go nice places and do good things...

Nature Memories Café for dementia sufferers which puts on guided walks, wildlife spotting and nature crafts in the setting of a nature reserve. With the support of the AKF, all sessions were free to attend.

We provided head torches to help an accessible memorial Night Walk to raise awareness for mental illness and depression and were able to part-fund a new defibrillator for the mountain rescue.

As a trustee, rewards come from knowing that we have provided something that removes that barrier and makes the difference to allow a project to go ahead.

To make an application for support or to find out more, go to alpkit.com/foundation

OUTPOST 21

GEORGIA AND LUCY TRY TO PACK FOR A MOUNTAIN MARATHON USING ONLY ALPKIT GEAR.

“Why is this bench so squashed?”

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SAUNDERS LAKELAND MOUNTAIN MARATHON A TWO-DAY MOUNTAIN NAVIGATION COMPETITION (OR RACE) NOW SUPPORTED BY ALPKIT. The Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon is a classic event, in this, its 40th year Alpkit are proud to be supporting the great team behind it. Organised and run exclusively by volunteers the Lakeland Mountain Marathon has established its place in the fell running calendar as THE summer MM. Run from a different location around the Lake District each year the event comprises of 8 courses across a number of categories for both solo and pairs competitors. So whether you are an elite runner or trying your first event there is a category for you. This year Alpkit are pleased to be supporting subsidised entries for the under 25 age group to encourage young people to try a Mountain Marathon.

The event comprises of a centralised start point where all classes must adhere to strict kit checks and pick up their timing chips before heading out at their chosen start time. They then navigate their chosen course and finish at a designated overnight campsite where they pitch their lightweight shelter and enjoy much needed rest, (and maybe sample a couple of pre-ordered beers under the Alpkit Marquee).

It’s then an early start for day 2 and another day of quality Lakeland mountain running back to the centralised finish area.

Runners can expect to be out for anything from 6 to 16 hours over the 2 days, depending on the course, category and conditions (oh and fitness levels). The SLMM is the perfect event for a first

timer: it’s run in warmer, summer conditions, there’s more daylight, there’s a wide selection of classes to suit all needs and it tends to have a pretty friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Georgia and Lucy wear: Gravitas Jacket £140

Mountain Marathons are a great way to spend a weekend in the hills, visit lesser known areas, camp in amazing surroundings and meet lots of like minded folk.

Koulin Trail Tight £25

If you’re in the Lakes and looking for advice – pop into Alpkit Ambleside were Georgia, Chris, Aleks, Jack and the rest of the team will be happy to advise on kit choices, clothing systems and where to run all year round.

Kantju Stretch Runner Gaiter £20

We hope to see you there!

Gourdon 20 Pack £32

Entries are open until 24 June or until the event sells out. Enter now at slmm.org.uk

OUTPOST 23

MINIMUM INDIVIDUAL KIT: (As stipulated by SLMM – anything less and you ain’t racing!)

Fell running/Trail shoes with a minimum tread depth of 4mm.

Actually, we do don’t make shoes.

Yet. Bad start.

Rucksack.

Gourdon 20L £32.

Now we’re talking! Waterproof roll-top rucksack with bungee straps and mesh pockets, only 470g.

Sleeping bag, or integrated sleep system of insulated quilt and compatible insulated mat.

Pipedream 200 £159.

Cloud Cover £99.

Lightweight and warm, perfect.

Survival Bag – a Bag NOT a Space Blanket.

Sorry, we can't help with this one but a lightweight survival bag and small first aid kit are important.

Waterproof jacket with hood and waterproof over trousers.

Gravitas Jacket £140.

Parallax Pant £60.

Gravitas is a super light at 180g, breathable and waterproof. Parallax pants are stretch fit so you can run in them.

Long trousers/thermal leggings.

Koulin Tight £25.

Technical trail leggings with stash pockets.

MINIMUM TEAM KIT: Tent with sewn in groundsheet, poles and pegs.

Ordos 2 £239.

Separated into pegs, poles, inner and outer (in separate dry bags) Stove and fuel and lighter/matches.

Kraku £24.

MytiMug 650 £29/400 £20.

Georgia and Lucy carried a Kraku and a Mytimug 650 and 400 along with a 120ml canister and a lighter.

Food for 2 days and emergency rations.

Firepot Meal Pouch £6.50.

Extreme Food Pudding £5.

Georgia and Lucy opted to carry a Firepot main meal each and an Extreme food pudding and breakfast along with some hill snacks and emergency rations.

Gourdon 20 Waterproof 20 litre roll-top drybag £32

Thermal vest or similar.

Koulin Trail Long Sleeve Zip £25.

Lightweight, long-sleeved, zip neck base layer.

PipeDream 200 Hydrophobic lightweight sleeping bag £159

Warm thicker top with sleeves.

Griffon £39.

Georgia added a Heiko too for extra cosiness. Layers are good!

Hat & gloves.

Kepler Merino Beanie £19.

Kepler gloves coming soon too.

Torch (suitable for emergency night navigation).

Georgia and Lucy chose a Gamma and a Viper – either are suitable and have multiple lights settings.

Cloud Base Lightweight sleeping bag £45

Kraku Ultra-compact titanium micro camping stove £24

Compass & whistle.

We don't do those, unfortunately.

Waterproof pen/pencil and paper.

We’d use Staedtler Lumocolour pens or chinagraph pencils.

Map provided by SLMM. The area for the event is secret for now.

MytiMug 650 Titanium cooking mug £29

Socks (and spares).

Akcelerate Socks £12.50.

Trekkers Socks £12.

Akcelerate to run in (trekkers for warm and toasty feet around camp)

BUNDLE

Little tip here – always take a couple of carrier bags with you, pop these in your shoes at the overnight camp and you can wear your warm and dry socks whilst keeping them dry

If you fancy a go at a mountain marathon, we have a Saunders Lakeland bundle to get you started. Get your mitts on £289 worth of gear for just £245.

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alpkit.com/bundles

The girls spent the night in the Ordos 2.

Apricot, sultana, cranberry and walnut cereal bars. No baking required.

It’s not that hard, it’s normally cheaper than shop bought, they deffo taste better and, admit it, you love licking the big mixing spoon.

INGREDIENTS

120g chopped dried apricots, sultanas and cranberries 120g porridge oats 60g puffed rice 95g dessicated coconut 60g chopped walnuts 60g mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin and sesame are good) 120g muscovado sugar 150ml golden syrup 120g butter

METHOD

Chuck the oats, rice, coconut and fruit in a large bowl. That was easy, wasn’t it?

Lightly toast the nuts and seeds in a dry pan.

Once cooled, lob ‘em in with the rest of the dry mix.

Put sugar, syrup and butter in a pan and heat gently until they’ve all melted together. Simmer gently until the mixture begins to thicken.

Take off the heat stir into the dry mix until there are no dry patches.

Whilst it’s still warm, tip into a 20cm (ish) tin and press down with a spoon to even out the surface.

LICK BOWL, SPOON, ETC. Leave to cool for 2 hours, then they’ll be ready for chopping into perfect little bars.

Wrap in greaseproof paper or foil in 1’s or 2’s and stash ‘em in your jersey pocket, backpack, framebag, jacket pocket, go box, etc.

From this mix, 14 bars would contain roughly 200kcals per bar, pretty good going.

Not enough time to make your own?

Try these ready made ones instead, all available at alpkit.com

MuleBar 40g – 3 pack Pack of 340g bars, all natural fuel.

Vegetarian approved. £5.40

Chimpanzee Energy Bars –4 Pack Honest and natural energy bars made with real foods. £8.00

MuleBar Kicks Energy Gel – 3 Pack Tasty and easy to digest, with natural ingredients and no nasties. £5.40 OUTPOST 25

DARING DEEDS REAL STORIES, EXPEDITIONS, ROAD TRIPS AND ADVENTURE. alpkit.com/deeds

ICELAND BIKEPACKING. GULP! THE WARMEST OF HUMAN WELCOMES SITS ALONGSIDE A BRUTAL CLIMATE AND FROZEN GROUND. Mark Hines is a professional adventurer and endurance athlete, an exercise physiologist and biomechanist, and a writer. He has competed in many of the toughest ultra-endurance races in the world.

He has raced in rainforests, across deserts, over mountains, and in the sub-Arctic and Arctic.

26 alpkit.com

Iceland is a country where, if you do not like the weather at a particular moment, you need only wait ten minutes. Then the weather will be worse and you can reflect upon that gay, pleasingly less awful weather of ten minutes before with a wistful nostalgia. Still, it seemed to me that the weather existed mostly in 24-hour cycles, so you could endure one day in the comfort that nothing lasts forever, and quite possibly the next day would be a kinder, more forgiving one. Cycling here, particularly in winter, is a characterbuilding experience. The winds are

powerful and constant, sometimes not abating for days on end. Rainfall, sleet, snow and hail are daily events, at least for most of the two weeks I was there. The roads are in bad shape, the tourist drivers even worse.

The inland, highland roads were not maintained at all and studded tyres were a must even on the main roads.

Away from the main roads the fat bike was essential for progress across deep snow. The sights in Iceland are spectacular and unparalleled anywhere in the world.

Here there are vast expanses of lava fields, where the ground rises

in mounds like those bread loaves with crusty tops that have opened up during baking. Small side roads fork off into the volcanic valleys, to bubbling pools of mud and hot springs. Elsewhere crisp spring water flows, warmed by the hot earth, past the black shoreline and out into the sea. Being a solo cyclist here in the winter is a privilege, but with so much to see I leave hungry for more.

READ MORE alpkit.com/deeds/ cycling-iceland

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Come and see us as we tour the country through 2018.

Here’s a list of some of the bigger events we’ll be showing our goodies at. We shall also be running and attending smaller events through the year. So keep a watch out on alpkit.com/events or sign up to our newsletter for regular updates.

MTB MARATHON RND 2 – WANTAGE 26-27 May 2018 RND 3 – MINEHEAD 30 June-1 July 2018 RND 4 – HOPE 1-2 September 2018 MAY DAY MADNESS, ALPKIT AMBLESIDE & HATHERSAGE 5-7 May 2018 MTB MEETUP, LLANDEGLA 1-3 June 2018 SAUNDERS LAKELAND MOUNTAIN MARATHON 30 June-1 July 2018 OSS – BANTHAM SWOOSH 14 July 2018 ARD ROCK ENDURO, SWALEDALE 3-5 August 2018

“Our stores are cram packed full of Alpkit Goodies and ideally placed for your visit to either the Peak District or the Lake District. Get your hands on the entire Alpkit product range, from the teeniest Kraku stove to a six berth Heksa expedition tent. With friendly store heroes on-hand you’ll get the same great service as you do online.”

MARK, ALPKIT RETAIL MANAGER

ALPKIT MUG AND HOT DRINK IN-STORE! Present this voucher (must be cut out perfectly) at any Alpkit store.

High chance of biscuits.

ALPKIT HATHERSAGE Main Road Hathersage S32 1BB

ALPKIT AMBLESIDE 100 Lake Road Ambleside LA22 0DB

01433 730930

015394 54954

hathersage@alpkit.com

ambleside@alpkit.com

IT’S NOT JUST SHOPPING...

SONDER DEMO FLEET AND HIRE Our majestic demo fleet of Sonder bikes are raring to be taken for a ride. Got a twowheeled excursion planned and in need of a noble steed?

Give us a call and hire a Sonder bike for £39 per day.

SONDER WORKSHOP Treat your bike to an appointment with a superstar bicycle mechanic.

We can carry out a full range of services from Hathersage – it doesn’t even have to be a Sonder!

EXMOOR EXPLORER 5 August 2018 OSS – DART 10K, DITTISHAM 15-16 September 2018 OSS – HURLY BURLY, BARMOUTH 29 September 2018 BSO18, THORNBRIDGE OUTDOORS 28-30 September 2018

FREE

SO MUCH MORE THAN ANOTHER OUTDOOR STORE

Ambleside store artwork

by Andy Smith

REPAIR STATION Gear needing a little pick-meup? Drop it off at the store to be patched up by our repair team. There may be a small charge for the repair, check out the price list for more information. If your gear’s really in a pickle, we may send it to our experienced factory team to take a look at.

CYCLE TO WORK AND FINANCE All Sonder bikes are available through the Cycle to Work scheme. Finance and all low rate finance options available over 6-24 month terms.

CONTINUUM DONATIONS

SCHOOL OF ADVENTURE/EVENTS

Give your retired gear a second life by donating it to our Continuum project to be adopted by someone who really needs it.

As well as attending events up and down the country we run our own events in our stores. Keep an eye on alpkit.com for details of our School of Adventure activity courses and special weekend events throughout the year.

GIFT CARDS

PET FRIENDLY + FREE WIFI!

Can’t choose what to buy the Alpkit Fan who has everything? Get them a voucher, available instore and online.

YARDY

TENT DISPLAY

Everyone loves a bargain; dive into our perpetual Yard Sale for special offers, end of lines, clearance, seconds, ex-demo, slightly scuffed, pre-loved almost too good to be true kit!

In Hathersage we have space to have them all on display, in Ambleside you may have to ask Chris to grab one out of the cupboard.

Not technically a service, but we are seriously pooch friendly.

Bring us your dogs, donkeys or Nandi bears! Wifi means you could get away with ‘working’ in store, checking Strava and googling far off lands.

IN “FASTIDIOUS AND LIGHT” Shall we split the tent?

I don’t need this down, forecast is good.

What are you doing?

No tent, we’ll bivvy.

I’m reducing packed weight

That’s my toothbrush!

Shackleton’s fur looks too heavy.

Bingo, I’ve made base weight. Let’s go!

Be like a camel...

2 mins - I’m off to make base weight too.

... Get all your liquids in now.

Ready!

Hang on a sec, I forgot something...

SIGH

We have everything you need to go fast and light and still pack your drone, without getting ridiculous.

HOW TO GET SOME GEAR We used to be pretty much on-line only. Now we’re pretty fancy. You can see the whole range, try things on, chat to us in person, go for rides with us, get us to mend your gear, get free brews and all sorts of other nice stuff at our global HQ in Nottinghamshire, or one of our shiny new stores in Ambleside or Hathersage. Here’s the addresses and stuff: ONLINE:

alpkit.com

EASY RETURNS:

Free 123 Day Returns

ON PHONE:

+44 (0)1773 417007

FREE POSTAGE:

Free UK Postage

IN STORE:

ALPKIT HQ:

Hathersage S32 1BB

Ambleside LA22 0DB

Midlands NG16 3QU

Drop by our first ever shop, it’s in Hathersage.

Our second store is in the lovely Lake District.

Five minutes from J26/J27 M1.

All prices featured are correct at time of going to press but are subject to change. Multi currency options for $ USD and € EUR now available.

joepublicltd.com

IN STORE: