Ultralight - Go Lighter & Go Further

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GO LIGHTER & GO FURTHER THIS SEASON

CONQUERING CUILLIN RIDGE PAU CAPELL TRAIL TALK CORSICA’S GR20

THE KIT YOU NEED

A GUIDE TO THE LIGHTEST OUTDOOR GEAR

BACKPACKING ADVENTURES, EPIC TRAVERSES AND WILDERNESS WALKS IN THE UK Cover v20.indd 1

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BEYOND ALL LIMITATIONS THE MYTHIC ULTRA REDEFINES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ‘ULTRALIGHT’. USING A WORLD-FIRST, HEAT-REFLECTIVE FABRIC TREATMENT CALLED THERMO IONIC LINING TECHNOLOGY, THIS IS PREMIUM PROTECTION FOR THOSE COUNTING EVERY LAST GRAM.

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WELCOME TO ULTRALIGHT Welcome to our ultralight magazine. After a year on hold, we are celebrating the small things, quite literally.

Counting the grams so you don’t have to, this season is dedicated to going lighter and further.

More than cutting the handle off your cutlery, ultralight is a state of mind. Whether it is your first foray into minimalism, or you are a long-time fan, we are here to inspire and support you. From summit raids against the clock to backpacking off the beaten track, our lightweight clothing, footwear, and equipment will make your exploits easier. If you are looking for new routes to add to your bucket list, we’ve got some epic UK traverses that will get your heart racing, and if you need further inspiration, we’ve got TNF athlete Pau Capell sharing his training tips.

For more ideas on where to head and in-depth guides on what to pack, head over to ellis-brigham.com/discover.

Our blogs and buying guides are chock full of excellent advice. Once you have perfected your ultralight set up, we want to see it. Tag us at #livebreatheoutdoors so we can share in your adventures.

HIKE LIGHT

Mark Brigham

ellis-brigham.com

MOUNTAIN LIGHT 04. ON A KNIFE EDGE

The Cuillin Ridge is the UK’s most iconic traverse. Photographer Adrian Trendall explains why.

09. AWESOME ARÊTES

Five epic UK scrambles - from Scotland to Snowdonia - to add to your tick list.

10. THE ULTIMATE ALPINE KITBAG

Your essential clothing and kit list for UK scrambles.

RUN LIGHT

CAMP LIGHT

38. GREAT BRITISH WILDERNESS WALKS

Who says all the wild spaces have disappeared from these islands?

14. PAU CAPELL INTERVIEW

The TNF athlete and UTMB record holder on how he keeps pushing himself.

26. TACKLING ‘EUROPE’S HARDEST TREK’

The GR20 trail has a fearsome reputation. How hard is it really?

44. THE ULTIMATE HIKE LIGHT OUTFITS If it’s light or ultralight you’re after, we’ve got you covered.

20. THE ULTIMATE TRAIL RUNNING KITBAG

32. THE MOST EPIC MULTI-DAY 48. WALKING FOOTWEAR HIKES IN EUROPE Putting this season’s lightestSix more multi-day treks from across the old continent.

weight hiking footwear in -the spotlight.

22. CLASSIC BRITISH TRAIL RUNNING CHALLENGES

36. THE ULTIMATE CAMPING KITBAG

50. COMMENT: ADVENTURE IS THE NEW NORMAL

From the revolutionary new TNF vest to the lightest poles.

Trail running wasn’t always a buzzword. Just ask Bob Graham.

The lightest tent, stove & sleeping bag plus those essential ‘extras.’

The pandemic has pushed people outdoors. That’s not a bad thing.

24. TRAIL RUNNERS

Our pick of this season’s lightest, most innovative shoes, from the best brands in the business.

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M O U N TA I N L I G H T

ON A KNIFE

Photographer and mountain guide Adrian Trendall has spent years traversing Skye’s Cuillin Ridge. He reflects on what keeps him coming back.

A few years ago, I bumped into two young lads high on Skye’s Cuillin Ridge. Their clothes were ripped to shreds, their boots were falling apart, and they had that thousand-yard stare which speaks of exposure to danger. Mentally and physically drained, they’d been on the ridge for three days. They were exhausted, but they had a steely determination and, with a bit of guidance from me, made it to the end, where the three of us sat on the final summit sipping Talisker from a hip flask, toasting their success.

Statistically, you’re more likely to make it to the top of Everest on your first attempt than you are to complete the Cuillin Ridge. Local guides estimate that perhaps fewer than 10 percent of the people trying the traverse for the first time succeed. On the world’s highest mountain, your chances of success these days

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are more like 60 percent. Everest versus the Cuillin Ridge - it’s not an often-cited comparison. It may not even be a valid comparison. But it does beg the question: “what’s so tough about the ridge?”

The main challenge is the sheer length of it. It’s a seven kilometre walk-in with 900m of ascent. The ridge itself involves 12km and 3,000m of ascent and descent. Then it’s a six kilometre walk out, with 900m of descent. Throw in the variable nature of the maritime climate, poor visibility and rain, together with complex navigation and miles of scrambling and the statistics begin to make sense.

The Cuillin has been a major destination for climbers since Victorian times, but completing the ridge in a single trip was long thought impossible. In fact, it wasn’t until 1911 that Leslie Shadbolt, a Welshman, and Alistair McLaren, a Scot, succeeded. The pair had been climbing in Skye since 1906, but still much of the route remained unknown to them. Their time, 12 hours and 18 minutes from the first summit to the last, is one that many modern mountaineers would be proud of, and testament Cuillin on a good day and the appeal is instantly obvious. to their consummate skill as climbers.

Its jagged peaks, rising vertically out of a turquoise sea, probe the sky. It’s a Tolkienesque landscape, one so fantastical it’s hard to believe it’s not CGI. The call of the Cuillin was enough to make me and my wife sell all our worldly goods at a car boot sale a THE CALL OF THE CUILLIN few years ago, and move to Skye to set up our guiding Fast forward to the present day, and Finlay Wild, who and photography business. Over time, it’s cemented recently broke the record for the Charlie Ramsay itself in my affections. Like an old friend, I’ve seen it in Round, holds the record for the summer traverse, with all sorts of conditions. At its most ethereally beautiful, a blisteringly fast time of 2 hours, 59 minutes and 22 shrouded in wisps of mist at dawn, and at its absolute seconds. Uisdean Hawthorn has traversed in winter worst, lashed by the brutal storms that can strike this conditions in 4 hours 57 minutes. Yet arguably more part of Scotland at short notice. famous than either of those incredible feats are the exploits of Skye native Danny MacAskill. The mountain bike trials rider scaled sections of it with his bike in one of his smash-hit viral videos, and recently rode down the steep Dubh Slabs in another.

THE CHALLENGE OF THE CLIMB His riding is incredible, but there’s no doubt about the The ridge traverse isn’t all hugely technical. Much of real star of these million-view masterpieces. Catch the it is on the cusp between climbing and walking, which makes for a fast, exhilarating experience. But there is an edge to it. There are some seriously tricky pitches, and long sections where a slip could be fatal.

Completing the Cuillin traverse involves technical rock climbing pitches to ‘severe’ grade, miles of scrambling and a few abseils, so it runs the full gamut of mountaineering skills. Don’t underestimate the climbing - the grades may look easy on paper, but you’ll be carrying bivi gear for two long days.

The rock is mainly gabbro, which has the abrasive qualities of an angle grinder. It’s not uncommon to find climbers with shredded clothes, and even leather gloves and boots are often ripped to pieces. It’s a harsh environment.

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“Statistically, you’re more likely to climb Everest on your first attempt than you are to complete the Cuillin Ridge”

IN NUMBERS 3,900m

Total vertical ascent and descent of the ridge.

25km

Total distance, including the 7km walk-in, 12km on the ridge and 6km walk out.

2h59m

Current record for the ridge traverse, set by trail runner Finlay Wild.

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ESSENTIAL GEAR (FOR A SUMMER TRAVERSE) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Weather is key. On a wet day progress can slow to a halt, and navigation becomes a nightmare. But on a good day it can feel like you are travelling with the gods - high above clouds, the thin, rocky ridge pointing the way ahead. You feel the warmth of the sun on your face, and look across at mountain peaks emerging from a sea of cloud. A breeze picks up and the vista expands so you can see the mountains of the mainland, the Outer Hebrides, and fishing trawlers darting about on the sea far below.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Educating yourself about the obstacles ahead is essential. Don’t be like the two Germans I met. Their rope was too short for one of the abseils, and they’d been waiting hours for someone to come along with a longer rope. Thankfully the story had a happy ending using my rope, we all finished the route, and a couple of weeks later, a parcel arrived full of German beer and chocolate, as a thank you. Had I not turned up at the right time, however, things could quite easily have gone another way.

The ridge in winter is even more of a challenge, but the rewards are correspondingly higher. It’s worth

waiting for perfect conditions but when you get it with perfect snow, it’s arguably the best mountaineering experience anywhere in the UK. Back in 2018, after having sworn never to even attempt it in winter due to its reputation as a sufferfest, I somehow found myself doing it twice in two weeks. My second traverse was in a day, but a very long one, being awake for 21 hours.

Whichever time of year you attempt it, my advice would always be to stack the odds in your favour. Get fit, do lots of scrambling, and hone your climbing skills.

Research the ridge, and try and allow time so you can recce a couple of the more complex sections.

Is the ridge harder than Everest? The weather certainly makes it tricky, especially in winter.

Catch the Cuillin on a bad day, and you’ll see why climbers in Nepal joke that “the Himalayas are good training for Scotland”. Of course, the altitude, logistical problems and costs don’t compare to the world’s highest mountain, but the Cuillin is still a huge challenge, and in terms of accessibility and affordability, it wins hands down.

Best of all, it’s got a pub at the bottom, where a celebratory dram or two to toast your success is almost obligatory. Say what you like about Everest, it will never beat the atmosphere of the historic Sligachan Hotel, and Seumas’ Bar.

Helmet Harness Climbing rope Approach Shoes Lightweight waterproofs Bivi kit Stove Light Insulated Jacket Backpack Head Torch Cuillin Ridge Traverse Guide Book by Cicerone Press

TRIP NOTES Getting there You can get a bus to Skye, but we’d recommend travelling by car, for added flexibility. Drive over the bridge to Kyleakin or jump on one of the car ferry routes over to the island.

Guiding A guide is highly recommended. Contact Adrian Trendall at allthingscuillin.co.uk Accommodation Stay at the Sligachan Hotel, a historic mountaineer’s lodge built in the 1830s. sligachan.co.uk

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AW E S O M E A R Ê T E S

FIVE MORE EPIC U K T R AV E R S E S The Cuillin might be the all-time classic, but it’s far from the only alpine-style traverse worth tackling in the UK. Here are five other ridgeline routes from across the British Isles, from popular - but still potentially deadly - to extremely remote. These arêtes represent a range in terms of technical difficulty, but all of them involve some serious scrambling - get ready to get your hands dirty.

AONACH EAGACH GLENCOE SCOTLAND - GRADE 2

Even from a distance, it’s easy to see where Aonach Eagach, which means ‘the notched ridge’, gets its name. This jagged row of rocky outcrops running along one side of Glencoe, looks like a crenellated castle wall - except a castle wall would probably be easier to climb. Rated a Grade 2 scramble, the ridge includes two Munro peaks and some serious exposure, particularly on the downclimb just after the summit of Am Bodach. Once you’re on it, there’s no way off - you either finish or go back to where you started.

PINNACLE RIDGE LAKE DISTRICT ENGLAND - GRADE 2

It might not be as famous as nearby Striding Edge, but traversing the Pinnacle Ridge on St. Sunday Crag is arguably a greater achievement.

On paper this is rated a Grade 2 scramble, but if you stick to the top of the ridgeline the whole way, it’s definitely more like a Grade 3. You’ll want to pack a 20m rope, slings, cams and nuts, especially if you’re planning on abseiling down from the final pinnacle. But unlike Aonach Eagach there’s pretty much always an easier alternative to the trickiest sections.

AN TEALLACH TRAVERSE - NORTHERN HIGHLANDS SCOTLAND - GRADE 3

With climbing grade ascents, 400m vertical drops off its steep northeast face, and knife-edge sections of scrambling, An Teallach, or “The Forge” has everything you want from a ridgeline traverse. It lies southwest of Dundonnell, a remote village in the northern Highlands, and includes two Munro peaks, the 1,062m Bidein a’ Ghlas Thuill, and Sgùrr Fiona at 1,060m. These can be reached without traversing the ridge, but that would mean missing out on all the fun.

CRIB GOCH SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK WALES - GRADE 1

It might be a stone cold classic, but Crib Goch’s popularity doesn’t change the fact that this is a challenging and dangerous scramble. The local Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team are called out to two fatal falls a year on average - as well as multiple incidents of people becoming ‘cragfast’, or too scared to continue. At its scariest point, the arête is barely more than a foot wide, with sizeable drops off either side. Grade 1 it may be, but Crib Goch is not for the fainthearted.

CYFRWY ARETE SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK WALES - GRADE 3

Straddling the gap between Grade 3 scrambling and rock climbing, the Cyfrwy Arete on the northern flank of Cadair Idris is one of the longest routes of its type in the park, and rarely - if ever - attracts the kind of crowds you can find on Crib Goch.

Involving an awkward down climb, corners and even a short chimney, this is a great test of climbing skills. You’ll want to use twin ropes, and pack nuts, hexes, slings, and screwgates, as well as a couple of cams.

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GEAR

THE ULTIMATE ALPINE KITBAG PETZL ACTIK CORE HEADTORCH PRICE: £58 WEIGHT: 75g

Perfect for alpine starts, the Petzl Actik Core offers 450 lumens of brightness on full beam, but also has a red light mode to preserve night vision, and/or stop you annoying fellow climbers when fumbling around in a refuge. It’s light, and can be used with either the USBrechargeable battery supplied, or 3 x AAAs.

LOWE ALPINE UPRISE 30:40 BACKPACK PRICE: £130 WEIGHT: 1085g

Few backpack brands can boast the climbing pedigree of Lowe Alpine, but as this flagship alpine pack shows, the 54-year-old company isn’t resting on its laurels.

Its harness, which uses their innovative Flexion Technology, fits to the individual contours to your body, while the roll-top lid makes it easily expandable from 30 - 40 litres, hence the name. Lightweight, comfortable and brilliantly versatile.

PETZL FLY CLIMBING HARNESS PRICE: £97 WEIGHT: 120g

An ultralight harness that’s perfect for technical mountaineering, the Petzl Fly has a modular design that allows you to strip out the foam, and reduce the weight to just 95g, should you wish. Elsewhere, the French brand has eliminated all the metal components you’d normally find, further reducing the overall weight, and allowing the harness to pack down to roughly the size of a 440ml beer can. Impressive stuff.

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PETZL SIROCCO HELMET

ARC’TERYX NUCLEI FL MEN’S JACKET

PRICE: £105 WEIGHT: 170g

PRICE: £250 WEIGHT: 325g

The Sirocco boasts a patented hybrid construction. The back and sides are made from lightweight EPP foam, to keep weight down and allow for maximum ventilation, while the top of the helmet uses a compact EPS foam and is reinforced with a polycarbonate crown for added protection. Ludicrously light, this is the perfect kit for lengthy alpine-style traverses like the Cuillin.

Packing down ridiculously small, this super lightweight, insulated jacket makes the perfect midlayer for early-morning alpine starts, or extra outer layer for those static moments during fast and light mountain missions (taking skins off skis, for example, or belaying your partner up a pitch). With a windproof, DWR treated outer, it will withstand most weather conditions, and keep you warm even when wet.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 2.44kg

MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT SALTORO GORE-TEX PACLITE PANTS PRICE: £150 WEIGHT: 310g

Waterproof, lightweight and easily packable, these general use pants use a 40 denier version of GORE-TEX called Paclite for the main body, with 75 denier reinforcements on key areas where ripping and abrasion are more likely.

Perfect for scrambling in changeable conditions, these are breathable enough to keep you dry whatever the weather.

ARC’TERYX BETA FL GORE-TEX PRO MEN’S JACKET PRICE: £450 WEIGHT: 360g

Vancouver-based brand Arc’teryx never releases anything that’s not been thought through in meticulous detail. This shell jacket, precision-engineered for alpine ascents in extreme conditions, is no exception. Made of two different weights of GORE-TEX Pro, the company’s toughest material, it’s durable, and will keep you dry even during high-energy winter pursuits like ice climbing or winter mountaineering. Features like the helmet compatible hood and high hand-pockets make it perfect for tackling challenging ascents.

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RUN LIGHT

PAU

AND

PEOPLE

Interview Tristan Kennedy Photos Mathis Dumas

Ultra-trail running is often thought of as a solitary sport. But there’s nothing lonely about life at the top for Pau Capell.

Among the long list of friends, family, and fans Pau Capell spoke to after winning the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) in 2019, one name stood out.

The Catalan athlete had just taken the biggest title in trail running by a country mile, leaving his nearest competitor, Xavier Thévenard, for dust at kilometre number three of 171, and finishing a full 45 minutes ahead of the three-time winner. In the circumstances, he might have been forgiven for forgetting to put in a call to his old family doctor. But eight years previously, Capell had made Dr Godall a promise.

“He said ‘wow, Pau, you did it’”, says Capell, laughing at the memory of their conversation. “You said ‘I want to win this race,’ and finally you’ve done it.” It had been Dr Godall who’d originally set Capell on the rocky path to trail running glory, albeit unintentionally. When he was 20, Capell, a promising young five-a-side footballer who’d been selected for the Catalonian team, came to Godall with a knee injury that needed surgery. “He recommended me to run in the mountains to improve this problem after the operation,” the athlete explains, over Zoom from his family home in Sant Boi de Llobregat, a suburb of Barcelona.

Dr Godall couldn’t have known then, of course, that Capell would go on to become one of the best trail runners of his - or indeed any - generation. But if he was surprised to get a call from his old patient nearly a decade later, he shouldn’t have been.

Firstly, Capell is nothing if not determined. If he sets a goal like winning the UTMB he’s prepared to work for at least eight years to achieve it. Second, and perhaps more importantly, he has always been a people person.

Distance running has a reputation that dates back at least as far as The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, written by Alan Sillitoe in the 1950s, as a solitary sport. Ultra-running, and ultra-trail running in particular, tend to appeal to introverts - people who enjoy the meditative nature of pounding out long hours alone in the mountains. Set against these stereotypes Pau, now 29, is a breath of fresh air.

Talk to him about his motivations for running, and the first thing he brings up is people. “For me, the most important thing of all is to have family and friends close to me,” he says. “In all of my races, my family come, my friends come. For me this is really important - when you are without strength, these are the people who say ‘come on, you can do it’ and because you love them, you think ‘yes, I can.’”

It’s not just the people cheering him on who Pau relies on either, it’s his fellow competitors. “I am a really competitive guy and I need to compete to be performing.

When I don’t compete, then my performance suffers, because I don’t have this test.” It’s perhaps no surprise that before he accidentally stumbled on trail running, Pau’s passion was for more sociable sports - not just football, but tennis too, which he played to a high amateur level. But after that fateful five-a-side injury, he realised that running just “felt amazing”.

“I have always played sports, but the feeling when I ran in the mountains, it was totally different,” he says.

“I was like, ‘I can’t stop now’.” So he didn’t. In 2013, just one year after his knee injury, Pau raced and won his first trail event. His rise from there was nothing short of meteoric. In 2014, he won the 103km Ultra

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Sierra Nevada and the 112km Ultra Trail Mallorca; in 2016, he claimed first place in the TDS (120km), and the Ultra-Trail Australia (100km); in 2017, he won the first of what would be four titles in a row at the 120km Transgrancanaria; in 2018 he was crowned Ultra Trail World Champion for the first time, and in 2019 he repeated the feat, topping it all off with that recordbreaking run at the UTMB. But what does a runner who lives for camaraderie and competition do when the world stops, when all races are cancelled, and when he’s forbidden from seeing many of those closest to him? “I’ll be totally honest, it was very difficult to find the motivation,” he says. “I think that sport is like life - when you wake up, you need to know why you wake up, you need to have some plans to organise your day. When you’re in a lockdown and the races are cancelled, you think ‘pffff, OK, now, I’m an athlete. What I can do?’”

He whiled away some of the long hours organising #YoCorroEnCasa, a virtual running challenge with friend and fellow Catalan trail running star Kilian Jornet. “We earned over 80,000 euros for one association [to help] Coronavirus in Spain,” he says.

But it wasn’t until he and his sponsors at The North Face came up with Breaking 20 that he really felt like he really had something he could sink his teeth into. If the UTMB wasn’t going to be organised as a race, he decided, then he’d just have to run it by himself.

Inspired by Eliud Kipchoge’s Breaking2 attempt, Capell aimed to complete the same 171km course on which he’d won in 2019 in under 20 hours. Making it would involve shaving a full 20-minutes off his time from the previous year, already a course record.

It would have been a monumental achievement even in a normal year, but after the enforced training interruptions of lockdown, and without any competitors to spur him on, it proved too much.

Not making it was “very hard,” he says. “I was in the time, but at kilometre 130, more or less, I started to feel ‘it will be difficult’.” If Pau needed further proof that running alone was not his strongest suit, then this was it.

Exhausted, emotionally drained, and knowing he’d missed his target, he nevertheless completed the course, and once again, he credits his people with getting him through it. “You get to Trient and there are maybe 70 people encouraging you. These people are family, friends, friends that came from Barcelona, from different cities, and they came to help me. Then I thought, ‘OK, the time is really important, but I think that this project is not only about the time. It’s more than this. In a difficult year, we have created something to inspire people.”

If the attempt helped him reach out to his fans at a troubled time, it created other connections too. “Just before Breaking 20 Eliud [Kipchoge] sent me a video.

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PAU’S KIT BAG

TNF FLIGHT VECTIV

“The carbon plate in these shoes, and the position of your body and your foot when you’re wearing them powers you forward. Put them on and you just feel ‘I’m going to run.’”

TNF FLIGHT BALL CAP “I switched to a North Face cap recently, and this is my favourite.” The FlashDry fabric and mesh side panels help wick moisture from your head, keeping you cool.

THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT RACE DAY VEST 8

“When you run, you want to feel free. You don’t want anything to disturb you. This vest doesn’t - it’s really light and you can put all the things that you need out on the trails.”

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AREST R DUST HREE OF A FULL 45 O F H I M .”

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“ THE MOST IMP ORTANT THING OF ALL IS TO H AV E FA M I LY A N D FRIENDS CLOSE TO ME” I watched it 10 minutes before I started running. He was telling me ‘Pau, come on, you can do it, humans have no limits’. I was impressed, because we hadn’t spoken before.”

The contact led to an invitation to go and train with Kipchoge out in Kenya earlier this year, where the older athlete (who of course failed in Breaking2, only to succeed on his second attempt to break the two hour marathon barrier) offered some wise words. “He’s different,” says Pau, “he has a special aura, a special atmosphere that you can feel when you meet him.”

“Different” is a description he also reserves for his friend Kilian Jornet. When he won the UTMB, the Dauphiné Libéré, France’s mountain newspaper, ran the frontpage headline “Capell, l’autre Espagnol de l’UTMB” (“Capell, the other Spaniard of the UTMB”).

But when I ask about the frequent comparisons between the two,

he demurs. “I trained every day for eight years to win the UTMB. Kilian has different capacities. I can compare with normal athletes, because I’m normal, but with him, it’s like if soccer players want to compare [themselves] with Messi. I’m sorry, Messi is not normal, Messi is different, so you can’t compare.”

Yet in his own determined way, Capell is leaving a mark that may prove every bit as indelible as Jornet’s - not just on their sport, but on the wider outdoor culture. In November 2019, he topped off his annus mirabilis with a project called Run for the Arctic. “Two years before, I saw a documentary about polar bears in the Arctic which said they needed to move 250km further than normal to find food.” He decided to run the same distance across Northern Norway, to show how far it is, and raise awareness of climate change. “Humans are destroying the world,” he says. “I wanted to show what’s happening in this

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distance, what is the suffering that the bears [must endure]. So I’m going to suffer, running in the zone of the bears.”

As a way to leverage his own, considerable online influence, and raise awareness of an issue that doesn’t often intersect with the world of running, it was hugely effective. It’s something that Capell will continue to campaign on in the future too. “This situation of climate change needs to start [being solved] from the top,” he says. If there’s one positive he takes from a pretty abysmal 2020, it’s that perhaps people’s eyes might have been opened to the need for change.

“Everything has stopped, but we needed it to stop,” says Pau. “The world was moving too fast - industries, the economy, and

the people were moving too fast, working all day, everyday. Now the world has stopped, and it’s time to think about all the sh*t we were doing. Now maybe we can change a little bit.”

Hearing a professional runner suggest that everyone needs to slow down might sound strange. But when it comes to the health of the planet and the wellbeing of its population, he’s undoubtedly got a point. Pau Capell might be on course to become one of the greatest ultra-trail runners of all time, but as Dr Godall would tell you, he will always put people first.

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GEAR

THE ULTIMATE TRAIL KITBAG TNF FLIGHT SERIES RACE DAY VEST

TNF MEN’S FLIGHT LIGHTRAISER FUTURELIGHT JACKET

This is the ultra-lightweight race vest used by Pau Capell and the rest of the trail runners on The North Face team. Designed to provide just enough space for the things you really need, and no more, it can fit water, gels, a lightweight shell and safety gear, with no extraneous material, or excess weight.

The North Face’s new FUTURELIGHT fabric, made using a nano-spinning process, offers levels of waterproofing and breathability that can rival GORE-TEX, at a fraction of the weight. As such, it’s ideal for trail running jackets, like the brand new Flight Lightraiser. This packs down into its own, internal mesh pocket, making stowage easy when it’s not needed.

PRICE: £135 CAPACITY 8L WEIGHT: 200g

PRICE: £270 WEIGHT: 200g

PETZL SWIFT RL HEADTORCH PRICE: £97 WEIGHT: 100g 00g

Designed with trail running in mind, this weighs next to nothing, but is capable of producing an impressive 900 lumens of light - more than enough to illuminate a dark trail during an early morning climb, or a night-time descent. It boasts Petzl’s ‘Reactive Lighting’ technology which automatically adjusts the brightness and beam pattern to your requirements.

ICEBREAKER MERINO QUANTUM GLOVE PRICE: £35 WEIGHT: 44g

Made of a mixed material that’s mostly merino, but contains elements of Lycra, these Icebreaker gloves wick sweat quickly, and dry even quicker.

Silicone pads on the palm help you grip your poles, and touchscreen tech in the fingers lets you check your route without removing them. Stretchy, and slimline, they’re the perfect running gloves.

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INOV-8 MEN’S RACE ULTRA PANT PRICE: £90 WEIGHT: 86g

Designed for days when the weather is against you, or for longer races when waterproof pants are a mandatory part of the kit list, these pack down small, and weigh next to nothing. The fabric’s 10k hydrostatic head and breathability ratings mean it’s more than capable of keeping you dry, but it’s translucent, so your race number can still be seen on your shorts underneath. The pants also feature reflective detailing, in case you’re out after dark.

INOV-8 RACE ELITE PEAK 2.0 CAP PRICE: £20 WEIGHT: 32g

With a UPF +30 rating, a band of quick-drying wicking fabric on the brow, and a breathable mesh panel on the top of the head to aid ventilation, the Inov-8 Elite Peak offers everything you’d want from a trail running cap. The peak folds too, so it packs down small if you want to take it off and stash it in your vest.

BLACK DIAMOND DISTANCE CARBON FLZ POLES PRICE: £150 WEIGHT: 360g

The debate, as far as we’re concerned, is no longer about whether to carry poles when running an ultra, it’s about which poles to carry. This lightweight, carbon fibre pair from Black Diamond (the company that started life in the 60s as Chouinard Equipment) are a great bet. The threesection foldable shaft with FlickLock adjustment makes them easy to stow when they’re not needed.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 1.02kg 21

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FIVE CLASSIC BRITISH

02

TRAIL RUNNING CHALLENGES

01 Trail Running as we know it today is a relatively young discipline.

The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc was only run for the first time in 2003, and the International Trail Running Association wasn’t established until 2013. But before the era of formal races and official governing bodies - and long before it became a buzzword on the West Coast of the US - British fell runners were tackling what are, essentially, trail running challenges. Many of the routes these early pioneers established remain classics to this day. Here are five that should be on every serious British runner’s bucket list.

03 04

01 BOB GRAHAM ROUND

First run in 1932 by the eponymous Keswick guesthouse owner, the Bob Graham Round still stands as one of the greatest tests of trail or fell-running ability anywhere in the world. Just ask Kilian Jornet, who made the pilgrimage to the Lake District in 2018 to put down his own marker on its hallowed leaderboard. His frankly insane time of 12h52m, the current record, might be beyond the reach of mere mortals, but the challenge of running 42 fells within 24 hours, around a route of 106km, with 8,200m of climbing, is certainly doable. Just about. As of 2020, just 2,468 people had completed the Bob Graham Round in the allotted 24 hours - fewer than have stood on the summit of Mount Everest. Even Jornet himself, who famously climbed the world’s highest mountain twice in the space of a week, only ran the Bob Graham once.

Ramsay’s Round Alternate route

Start

AONACH MÒR Fort William BEN NEVIS

CHNO DEARG

STOB COIRE AN LAOIGH

BEINN EIBHINN

STOB COIRE EASAIN LOCH TREIG LUIBEILT

STOB BAN

Penrith

SKIDDAW A66

M6

Keswick DERENT WATER DALE HEAD

GREAT DODD ULLSWATER THIRLMERE

PILLAR

FAIRFIELD GREAT GABLE

SCAFELL

M6

A591

A6

BOWFELL

02 RAMSAY’S ROUND A82

A830

05

SGÙRR EILDE MÒR NA GRUAGAICHEAN

Corrour Station

LOCH OSSIAN CARN DEARG

On the 9th July 1978, a young member of the Lochaber Athletic Club came rocketing down Ben Nevis, with wild desperation in his eyes, and almost nothing left in his legs. Crossing the finish line Charlie Ramsay collapsed. But the grin on his face (“a mixture of exhaustion and elation,” as he puts it) told his friends and support team everything they needed to know. He’d completed his gruelling route, taking in 24 peaks in 24 hours, with two minutes to spare, and with that, the Ramsay Round was born. Scotland’s answer to the Bob Graham might be shorter, at just 90km, but with 8,686m of climbing, it’s widely regarded as the tougher challenge. The current record, set by Fort William local Finlay Wild, who ran it unsupported last year, stands at 14h42 minutes.

But you know what they say about records…

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CARNEDD LLEWELYN CARNEDD DAFYDD Llanberis

PEN LLILHRIG Y WRACH TRYFAN

Y GARN

Capel Currig

MOEL EILIO Pen-y-Gwryd

FOEL GOCH

MYNDD MAWR

SNOWDON

MYNYDD DRWS Y COED

CLOGWYN BWLCH Y MAEN CERRIG COCHION

MYNDD Y DDWY ELOR MOEL LEFN MOEL HEBOG BRYN BANOG

MYNYDD LLYNAU YR CWN

Beddgelert

CNICHT Bwichgwernog

04 THE SOUTH WALES TRAVERSE

A 115km route with 5,180m of climbing, running West to East through the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the South Wales Traverse takes in 31 tops, including Fan Brycheiniog, Pen y Fan, and Waun Fach.

Originally run by Derek Fisher and Andrew Lewsley in 1983, the route was based on scaling all of the peaks in the park over 2,000 feet listed in a 1973 book The Mountains of England and Wales. According to Fisher’s account, the pair braved a storm which included “a vortex of wind, flashes of lightning, and hail stones which seemed to be the size of oranges beating down upon our heads,” but they completed the challenge in 21 hours and 43 minutes. The current records, held by Helen Brown and Damian Hall, stand at 18h48m for women, and 14h13m for men, but 24 hours is still considered the benchmark time.

Glossop

A61

A57 Loxley A57

Sheffield

A6 PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK

Whaley Bridge

A625

A621

A6

A623

Buxton A537

A515

A6

A619

A61

03 FLEETWOOD’S WELSH ROUND

The ‘classic’ Welsh round might be the Paddy Buckley but we prefer this modern variation, first run by John Fleetwood in 2004. Taking in 38 summits in the Snowdonia National Park, it covers much of the same ground as the more famous Buckley version, but follows a slightly more logical route. The Moelwyns and Moel yr Hydd are omitted, allowing you to take a direct line from Cnicht to Moel Siabod, and the classic north ridges of Tryfan and Crib Goch are both included. With 8,138m of climbing, this is roughly equivalent to a Bob Graham in terms of difficulty, and is similarly designed to be completed in 24 hours. Fleetwood himself clocked up a time of 23h20m when he first ran it.

A470

Crynghordy

A40

Brecon

BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK A40 A470 A465 Glynneath

A465

Abergavenny

Merthyr tydfil A4042

05 DARK PEAK 15 TRIGS

There are lots of different routes based around combining the original Ordnance Survey Trig Pillars in the Peak District - from a 24-hour NorthSouth Traverse, taking in 17 Trigs and 13 Tops, to a frankly insane 26-27 Trig loop first completed by Pete Simpson in 1991, which has only ever been repeated once, 15 years later. This, however, is the classic route the Dark Peak 15 Trigs, first run by three members of the Dark Peak Fell Runners Club in 1985. Runners usually start and finish at The Sportsman in Lodge Moor, the Sheffield suburb where the club is based. Fifteen hours - or an hour per Trig point - was originally reckoned to be a par time. But the current record, set by Tom Saville, another Dark Peak member, in 2019 stands at a shade under nine hours. Not bad for 88km, with 2,600m of ascent.

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GEAR

TRAIL RUNNERS INOV-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX

PRICE: £170 WEIGHT: 300G

Inov-8 have used graphene in their shoes before, but not like this. Working with scientists from the University of Manchester, the British brand has come up with a way to incorporate the wonder material into their midsole for the first time. Called ‘G-Fly’, the new foam boasts a long lasting energy return unlike anything else on the market. A decoupled midsole helps the forefoot adapt to tricky terrain while keeping the heel stable.

These innovations make it wellsuited to ultras, or long days on the trail.

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THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT VECTIV

PRICE: £180 WEIGHT: 288G Anyone who’s followed Kipchoge’s road running records will know that it was probably only a matter of time before carbon fibre plates started appearing in trail shoes. That TNF got there first is also no

LA SPORTIVA BUSHIDO II

PRICE: £130 WEIGHT: 305G

Given that the original Bushido was a best-seller, it’s perhaps no surprise that La Sportiva made only minor tweaks to its successor - chiefly a remodelled tongue and toecap. It’s extremely durable for a shoe of this weight, and offers incredible grip, with lugs that reach around to touch the midsole to help handle awkward inclines. These are built for aggressive trail runners, tackling the kind of rough terrain you find around La Sportiva’s HQ in the Dolomites.

surprise. The 3D Vectiv carbon fibre plate, which sits between these shoes’ rocker midsole and reinforced breathable knit upper, is about as cutting edge as tech gets, offering added stability and forward propulsion.

INOV-8 X-TALON G-235

HOKA ONE ONE CHALLENGER ATR 6

Based in the Lake District, a part of the world not exactly renowned for its dry or dusty trails, Inov-8 built its reputation by making shoes that could grip on almost any surface, no matter how steep or muddy.

The aptly-named X-Talons are a case in point. With outsoles enhanced by graphene (the wonder material that’s simultaneously stronger than steel, but stretches like elastic) and chunky, 8mm-deep lugs, these can cleave through the deepest of mud.

Updated towards the end of 2020, the new All-Terrain Runner 6 (ATR 6) from French brand Hoka One One are designed to handle a wide range of trail types and running surfaces. With a widened heel platform, they’re more stable than previous models, but maintain the maximal approach to cushioning. The CMEVA foam underfoot soaks up shocks, while the medium tread makes them versatile, suited to urban tracks as well as outdoor trails.

PRICE: £140 WEIGHT: 235G

PRICE: £115 WEIGHT: 279G

SALOMON SENSE RIDE 4

PRICE: £110 WEIGHT: 290G Designed as something of an all-rounder, this newest addition to Salomon’s Sense range would make an excellent introductory pair of trail shoes, or suit anyone looking for ‘front door to alpine trail’ performance. ‘Optivibe’

foam in the midsole offers softness without being too spongey, and mid-sized lugs and ‘Contagrip’ sole aid the grip on difficult surfaces.

An affordable, tough and versatile platform for training and racing.

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CAMP LIGHT

TACKLING EUROPE’S HARDEST TREK The GR20 in Corsica has a fearsome reputation. But as Matt Westby finds out, the difficulty of the trail is matched by the splendour of the landscapes.

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IN NUMBERS 180

The length of the GR20 in kilometres

2,706

The height in metres of Corsica’s highest peak, Monte Cinto

31

Hours and 6 minutes – the record time for the GR20, set by ultra-runner François D’Haene in 2016

“I text my Dad. ‘Ridiculously tough.

Terrain is brutal. I’m already broken.’”

Throwing my pack down, I sink gratefully to the ground outside the refuge, soaking up the last of the afternoon sun. All of the seats are taken by fellow hikers, but a bare patch of wall to rest against is plenty comfortable enough for my beleaguered body.

I pull my phone from my pocket and send a text message to my Dad. “Ridiculously tough trek.

Terrain is brutal. Two days in and I’m already broken.”

In fairness, I had been warned this would be the case by the various guidebooks, websites and blogs I read over the past few weeks. Corsica has a reputation as being a rough, uncompromising place, full of rough, uncompromising people.

(The island’s most famous son is, of course, Napoleon Bonaparte.)

It’s perhaps not surprising then that the island is home to the toughest of France’s Grandes Randonées, or ‘GR’ Routes, the GR20. But while I’d read a couple of things suggesting that this was ‘the hardest trek in Europe,’ I’d dismissed it. Surely it couldn’t be that bad.

Today I was proved wrong. Emphatically. Almost immediately after setting off at 7am, we were clambering over 40-degree slabs of granite, scrambling up boulder fields masquerading as paths, traversing exposed ridges and descending scree slopes that may as well have been made out of marbles. Twice we took on enormous climbs up to wind-battered passes and twice we had to stumble all the way back down to the next valley along, our thighs, calves, knees and pretty much every other part of our anatomies already screaming in submission.

The views were magnificent – cathedrals of rock towering over deep pine valleys – but the trail to get to them was quite simply the worst I’ve ever set foot on. Now, sipping the dregs from my water bottle outside the Asco Stagnu refuge after more than 10 hours of toil, I’m beginning to wonder if this beast of a hike would have been best left alone. The only consolation is I’m not the first to feel this way, and definitely won’t be the last.

Thousands of walkers take on the GR20 each summer, navigating all or part of the 180km between Calenzana, in the north-west of Corsica, and Conca, in the south-east. Those with any sense can do just the northern or southern half over a week and call it quits at a village in the middle of the island called Vizzavona, where a train is waiting to take them back down to the coast. But for those, like me, deluded enough to try the whole thing, an average of 14 or 15 days walking, with 12,500 vertical metres of climbing awaits. There are refuges at

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The lightest insulated sleeping mat ever built.

Learn more about the 250-gram NeoAir® UberLite™ at ellis-brigham.com.

©2021 Cascade Designs, Ltd. Photo by Judson Pryanovich

regular intervals along the way, offering cramped beds for the night and unnecessarily expensive meals, but places get booked up months in advance and many instead opt to pack a tent and camp outside the refuges - the only flat ground anywhere on the route. For many, this means lugging a stove and countless kilograms of pasta, carrying up to 90 litres on their backs.

Pressed for time, my friend and I are attempting to complete it in a far more ambitious 10 days, with an 11th added on to climb Corsica’s highest mountain, Monte Cinto. The only way to make this feasible is to travel light, packing only the absolute essentials, and eating in the refuges. The smell generated by just two T-shirts, a fleece, a rain jacket, a down jacket, one pair of shorts, one pair of trousers and three pairs of walking socks will no doubt endanger public health when I stride into Conca, but on account of how many struggling people we have overtaken so far, it appears camping light has been a shrewd decision. Yet rushing also has its cons. The GR20 is made up of 16 ‘stages’ varying from two and a half hours to seven, and while almost everyone ‘doubles up’ on one or two, we’re doubling up on no fewer than six stages - four of which our guidebook predicts will be 10-hour-plus slogs.

A PEAK TOO FAR?

Today has been the first of those epic walking days and even though the dust is still settling on both my boots and my thoughts, I’m already regarding this as one of my hardest days of walking ever. We stump up for dinner in the refuge and with my wallet significantly lightened, I’m asleep as soon my head hits the pillow. But we’re up again early the following morning for our attempt on the 2,706m Monte Cinto. It’s not on the route of the trek but my semi-masochistic friend thought it would be a good idea and, in the name of naivety and bagging a peak, I didn’t argue.

I’m soon regretting it. The boulder-covered trail to the

top is somehow even more broken than the GR20 and our progress is consequently so slow that after four hours of lungbusting, quad-crunching slog, we’re still only at a small plateau well below the summit. We stop for a drink, snacks and photos of the chaotic, yet idyllic, valley up which we’ve just climbed.

But as we do so, the wind whips up and dark clouds suddenly muster over the mountain’s craggy pinnacle.

The temptation to press on regardless is hard to resist, but recent events have made us all too aware of how dangerous these peaks can be in bad weather. Just a few days earlier, seven hikers had been tackling the most difficult section of the whole GR20, the notorious rock walls of the Cirque de la Solitude – not too far from where we are now – when heavy rain caused a landslide and washed them away to their deaths. Several others were hospitalised, but survived.

With the tragedy fresh in mind, the weather worsening and time getting away from us, we decide to wave a white flag at Monte Cinto and turn back, taking solace in the fact we don’t have to rush the descent and can at least enjoy the humbling

“I dismissed talk of this being ‘Europe’s hardest trek’. I was wrong.”

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beauty of this part of the range. We are due to tackle the Cirque the next morning – our third day on the GR20 proper – but it’s still closed and so instead we head to a road adjacent to the refuge to catch a bus around it, rejoining the route in the next valley along. Within a couple of hours of picking back up the red-and-white daubs of paint that mark all 180km of the GR20, it resumes its quest to snap our bodies and sap our morale by hitting us with the nightmarishly steep scramble up to the 1,962m Bocca Foggiale. The ascent is so vertical in places that you use your hands as much as your feet. By the time I finally stumble my way to the top 90 minutes or so later, my fingertips are raw and my shoulders feel like I’ve rowed the Atlantic.

Thankfully, the end of the stage is waiting not too far away at the Refuge de Ciottulu di i Mori. It sits at the throat of an expansive grassy valley, overlooking neighbouring peaks and, in the far distance, the Mediterranean.

While refuges in the Alps are wonderfully atmospheric places that can be as much a highlight of the holiday as the walking itself, here on Corsica they are more basic. From the outside Mori’s stone facade gives it a quaint appearance, but on the inside it’s bare and basic; not an ice axe hanging from the wall or a black-and-white photo of triumphant 1930s mountaineers to be seen.

And space is at just as much a premium as nostalgia. During the busy summer months it’s a scrap to claim a seat in the dining room, and the food isn’t much better. Three-course meals are available for 20 euros, but the guardians who prepare them aren’t exactly Michelin-starred chefs. Put it this way; you’re not likely to be asking for the recipe afterwards.

But then there’s a certain rugged charm about the whole experience too, and anyway, you’re usually so tired and hungry by the time you reach a refuge that even a rollmat on the hard stone ground outside and a bowl of salty lentil soup feels five star.

Over the next few days, the GR20 pushes us into what becomes a rhythm. Wake before dawn; eat a badly crushed cereal bar I brought from home for breakfast; start walking at first light; climb up an enormous hill; take photos of fabulous vistas at the top; try not to break an ankle on the descent; then repeat, usually several times, before staggering gratefully into the next campsite, alongside the next refuge.

TRIP NOTES Getting there Several airlines fly direct from the UK to Corsica, including British Airways and Ryanair. Alternatively, if you want to keep your carbon footprint low, you can get from London to Nice by train with a single change in Paris, and catch a ferry to Corsica.

Where to stay You can only camp at the refuges along the route and early booking is essential.

Guiding The GR20 is well signposted, but a guidebook like the Cicerone Press guide is recommended.

RACE TO THE FINISH

The seventh day is supposed to be only four hours long, but with my friend’s penchant for punishment not satisfied, he decides we should go off-piste once more to tackle the 2,622m Monte Rotondo. Yet again I don’t protest, only this time I’m glad, because while the trail is hard to follow, the climb is a joy.

The highlight comes 200 vertical metres from the top, when a picture-perfect lake known as Lavu Bellebone appears, with the summit ridge just behind like a castle wall. We had no idea it was there, and so it feels as if we’ve stumbled upon an undiscovered wonder of the world.

The 360-degree views from the top prove just as spellbinding 30

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Moriani

MONTE CINTO Corte Guagnu

MONTE D’ORO

CORSICA Ajaccio

Quenza

MONTE INCUDINE Conca

S E A

Zicavo

Isolaccio

N I A N R R H E T Y

Callenzana

and, given that no one else has chosen to make the ascent today, they’re ours to enjoy alone. For the remainder of the day and all of the next, we make our way back down to the GR20 and then along to the halfway point of the trek. Arriving in Vizzavona, we gorge ourselves on pizza, beers and soft drinks. We need the calories, because our relentless schedule means we must knock off the remaining six stages and 92km in just three days - each lasting at least 11 hours.

We take hope from the fact the GR20 supposedly flattens out slightly in the less mountainous southern half of Corsica.

But we quickly find that although we’re no longer crawling up and down colossal peaks, it’s still far from a Sunday stroll.

The going remains tough. Our penultimate day lifts us steeply back up onto a long, serrated ridge and our pace drops again, but unbroken views of the southern part of the island and the distant Mediterranean are ample compensation.

By the final day my feet are in turmoil – desperate for a pair of flip-flops and the sanctuary of a sandy beach – but the spectacular scenery helps take my mind off the pain. First we see the snaggle-tooth peaks of the Bavella Needles and then begin to spot the red rock of the island’s southern range, which finishes off the GR20 with a flourish.

When we finally limp into Conca, punch-drunk and stinking like farm animals, it’s perhaps fitting that there is no finish line, and no obvious point to take a ‘victory’ photo. You don’t conquer the GR20. Rather you experience its many challenges and treasures and hope to get to the end.

Hardest trek in Europe? It gets my vote.

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CAMP LIGHT

6 CLASSIC MULTI-DAY TREKS FROM ACROSS EUROPE The GR20 might be Europe’s hardest multi-day camping trip, but it’s far from the only one worthy of your attention. As in the UK, wild camping is forbidden in much of the Alps. But there are plenty of other treks on the continent which you can tackle with a tent.

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HARDANGERVIDDA TRAVERSE, NORWAY 97km / 12 DAYS

Roughly equidistant between Oslo and Bergen, the vast, rugged expanse of the Hardangervidda plateau is one of Europe’s largest wildernesses. At 10,000 square kilometres, the wild area is larger than Yellowstone in the US, and while only a third of it is technically protected, it’s so empty that it’s hard to know where the National Park begins and ends.

There are plenty of popular day hikes, and well signposted hut-to-hut itineraries, but if you really want to experience the best of this bleak, sub-Arctic landscape, we recommend taking advantage of Norway’s permissive wild camping laws, and traversing across the entire plateau - beginning and ending at Rallarvegen. While water is plentiful, trees are non-existent at this altitude / latitude, so sheltered camping spots can be tricky to find. The feeling of being completely alone, however, is almost impossible to beat.

PEMBROKESHIRE COASTAL PATH, WALES 299km / 10-15 DAYS

Snaking around the southwest coast of Wales, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is a bona-fide British classic. For much of its 300km route, the path cleaves to the top of precipitous cliffs, just a few metres from the edge. But it also takes in more gentle coastal landscapes, from rolling sandstone bays, to volcanic headlands, pristine beaches, and u-shaped glacial valleys. Many people tackle it in sections, but there’s something special about doing the whole thing at once - not least the fact that it involves around 10,000m of climbing, more than Mount Everest.

Of course, with some notable exceptions (ie. Dartmoor), wild camping is banned in the UK south of the Scottish border.

But there are plenty of campsites along this route, and while you could opt to stay in hostels or hotels, taking a tent would definitely be our preferred option. The route is long, but none of the terrain is particularly hard going, so completing it in 10 days is definitely doable if you’re fit. However, if you can afford to take longer, and linger over certain sections, we’d recommend it. If you catch sight of dolphins, whales or porpoises out in the Irish Sea (a relatively common occurrence) the last thing you’ll want to do is rush off.

FAGARAS MOUNTAINS TRAVERSE, ROMANIA 80km / 6-7 DAYS

A week might seem a long time to complete an 80km trail, but the Fagaras Mountains Traverse involves some 7,500m of ascent, some of which involves a certain amount of scrambling. Located in the Carpathians of central Romania, this sub-range includes several peaks over 2,500m, including Romania’s highest, Moldoveanu.

It’s one of the most dramatic areas of the country in terms of scenery, full of steep-sided crags, and precipitous north faces, and also one of the wildest - you can find brown bears and wolves in these hills. The normal route runs East to West, starting from the Bârsa river about an hour west of Braşov, and finishes at the Turnu Roșu monastery. There is a network of well-maintained mountain huts in these hills, which can be booked along the route. But for the full wilderness experience, we’d recommend wild camping, which is completely legal in Romania. Just watch out for those bears.

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PEAKS OF THE BALKANS TRAIL, ALBANIA, MONTENEGRO & KOSOVO 192km / 10-12 DAYS

CAPE WRATH TRAIL, SCOTLAND 250km / 2-3 WEEKS

An epic transnational trail that takes in some of Eastern Europe’s most dramatic mountains, the Peaks of the Balkans was first established as a way to bring some much needed tourism income into a region still suffering from the after-effects of a brutal war.

Given its troubled history, it might seem appropriate that the range which straddles this border region is known as the Accursed Mountains, but once you get into them and start hiking, you’ll find they are anything but. Craggy cliffs, plunging gorges, and stunning mountain lakes abound, and there’s an abundance of wildlife too - golden eagles, lynx, chamois and even wolves and bears. You can start the circular route from any of the three countries in Theth or Valbonë, (Albania), Pejë (Kosovo), or Plav (Montenegro), or attempt it in sections.

Arguably the toughest long distance hike in the UK, this is also (according to those few who’ve completed it) one of the most rewarding. Starting in Fort William, the walk takes you all the way up the West Coast of mainland Scotland to the most north-westerly point, Cape Wrath.

There’s no official route or marked trail, so excellent navigational skills are a must. There are guide books, however, notably from Cicerone. This recommends breaking the trail down into 14 segments which require anything from 5 to 11 hours hiking per day - a daunting challenge.

The route takes you through some of the most stunning but least-populated - areas in the whole of the UK. Cape Wrath itself is reachable only by walking through the bogs north of Kinlochbervie (the last leg of the trail) or by sea. When you get there, you have to hope that John, the lighthouse keeper, is running his twice-daily boat trips across the Kyle of Durness to the nearest bus-connected village. If the waves are too big, or he’s had one dram too many, it’s a long walk back out.

KERRY WAY, IRELAND 200km / 8-10 DAYS

Ireland is one of those wonderful countries where wild camping is generally permitted, and the stunning scenery of the West Coast makes it a brilliant place for multi-day treks. County Kerry is home to some of the Emerald Isle’s most dramatic landscapes, as well as its highest mountains. Designed to be relatively accessible, despite its length, the Kerry Way mostly steers clear of the tops, but it’s easy enough to divert from the officially marked route and make the day trip up Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain, should you wish.

Starting in Killarney, the looped trail runs along the shores of Lough Leane, straight into the Killarney National Park, and some of the most remote areas of the country. You can take in the romantic ruins of Ballycarbery Castle and the Glenbeigh Towers Castle as you head around the coast, before turning back inland.

Along the way, you’ll find some of Ireland’s cosiest pubs.

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ULTIMATE LIGHTWEIGHT TENTS

BIG AGNES FLY CREEK HV UL2 • £375 • 879g

Founded by self-professed gear nerds from Colorado, Big Agnes take their name from “a truck drivin’ mountain mama that we know and love”. This is their lightest, 3-season, doublewalled, 2-person tent. It packs down to 50x15cm.

MSR HUBBA HUBBA NX • £455 • 1540g

An ultralight, two-person tent, this packs down to just 46x15cm. It features a 20 denier nylon ripstop flysheet with a 1.2k hydrostatic head more than enough for 3 season camping. Its unique pole arrangement maximises headroom.

VANGO F10 HYDROGEN AIR • £600 • 580g

A twinskin, single-person tent, this pushes the boundaries of superlight design. The single pole is replaced by an ‘AirBeam’, which you inflate with a bike pump. It packs down tiny (20x10cm) and the fabric boasts a 2k hydrostatic head.

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GEAR

CAMP LIGHT THE ULTIMATE CAMPING KIT BAG RAB MYTHIC 400 SLEEPING BAG

PRICE: £460 WEIGHT: 660g

Whether or not you believe in nominative determinism, there’s no denying the Rab’s Mythic sleeping bags have acquired a legendary reputation. The 400, which sits in the middle of the range, has 900-fill hydrophobic down, and will keep you comfortable down to -6 degrees C, but weighs just 660g, a phenomenal warmth to weight ratio.

MSR POCKETROCKET 2 STOVE PRICE: £35 WEIGHT: 73g

One of the most popular backpacking stoves of all time has been upgraded and improved. The PocketRocket 2 is lighter and smaller than its predecessor, can handle a wider range of pots, and boils a litre of water in three and a half minutes.

Perhaps most importantly, it packs down tiny, and can squeeze into the MSR Titan Kettle.

HELINOX CHAIR ZERO PRICE: £110 WEIGHT: 510g

Just because you’re camping light, doesn’t mean you have to slum it.

This ultra lightweight chair packs down to a 35cm x 10cm cylinder, and weighs just 510g. Sure, you could save yourself half a kilo and leave it at home, but when it’s that small and light, surely you’re better off not sitting on the ground?

MSR TITAN KETTLE PRICE: £60 WEIGHT: 118g

No question of pots calling kettles anything here, because the MSR Titan is both. It’s also a mug, a bowl or whatever else you need it to be. Large enough to hold 0.85 litres, this versatile vessel is a great complement to the PocketRocket 2. For an additional £40 you can add the Titan Mug to your pack, which fits neatly inside the kettle and takes the combined weight to just 172g.

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SEA TO SUMMIT ALTO 2 PERSON TENT PRICE: £430 WEIGHT: 1156g

If it’s hard to believe that a two-person, three-season tent could weigh this little, just wait until you set the Alto 2 up - it’s even harder to believe that it’s this spacious inside. The Australian brand’s patent-pending ‘Tension Ridge Architecture’ allows for a high ceiling, two large doors and vestibules for storing gear. With fully taped seams and a 1.2k hydrostatic head fly, this will handle most weather, and take up almost no space in your pack.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 3.76kg

THERM-A-REST NEOAIR UBERLITE REGULAR CAMPING MAT PRICE: £190 WEIGHT: 250g

This is the lightest insulated sleeping mat Therm-a-Rest has ever produced. 183cm x 51cm wide, it provides 6.4cm of cushioning, but packs down to just 15 x 9cm and only weighs 250g. The brand’s WingLock valve system makes inflation and deflation rapid and straightforward.

OSPREY LEVITY 45 BACKPACK PRICE: £180 WEIGHT: 830g

THERM-A-REST AIR HEAD PILLOW PRICE: £39 WEIGHT: 160g

Who says you can’t treat yourself to little luxuries when you’re camping light? This Therm-a-Rest pillow weighs just 160 grams, and packs down tiny when deflated. You’ll barely notice it’s there - until it’s time to sleep, when this makes all the difference.

With a 45 litre carry capacity, this is the perfect pack for multi-day hikes where you want to move fast. The price reflects the fact that Osprey have pulled out all the stops to keep this as light as possible, while not sacrificing any essential features.

The AirSpeed suspended mesh back panel keeps the pack off your back, improving ventilation, while the ExoForm harness sits comfortably on the shoulders and hips.

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HIKE LIGHT

SIX GREAT BRITISH People often lament that there’s not much genuine wilderness left in 21st Century Britain. But if you look hard enough - and you’re prepared to hike for it - you can still find wild places throughout these islands. From the West Coast of Scotland, to the Peaks East of Manchester, here are six of the best wilderness walks in the UK.

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BUACHAILLE ETIVE MÒR 14KM GLEN ETIVE, SCOTLAND 8-10 HOURS The peak of Buachaille Etive Mòr rises to a nearperfect triangular point at the head of Glen Etive. Much photographed by tourists driving through Glencoe, it’s also one of Western Scotland’s classic day hikes, but not without its dangers. Famously (or infamously), the Coire na Tulaich, the steep-sided, 700m long access gulley, has been the site of numerous avalanche deaths down the years.

Despite being ‘the UK’s deadliest walk’, the Buachaille Etive Mor is well worth tackling when the weather’s right. Reach the top of the Coire na Tulaich, and you’ll have a fairly straight run at four significant peaks - Stob Dearg, Stob na Doire, Stob Coire Altruim and Stob na Broige - as well as incredible views over the Glen, which served as the setting for the final showdown of the Bond film Skyfall.

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YORKSHIRE THREE PEAKS 38.6KM CHALLENGE, YORKSHIRE 12 HOURS DALES N. PARK, ENGLAND

“The idea is to complete it in 12 hours, but you can do it significantly faster”

The Yorkshire Three Peaks might be a well-trodden path, but it’s earned a place on this list as one of the toughest popular routes in England - and one that every British hiker should aim to tick off at some point. With more than 1500m of ascent in total, the route takes in Pen-y-Ghent (694m), Whernside (736m), and Ingleborough (723m).

There’s an organised race every May, but outside of that - and especially in winter - you’ll often find yourself alone on the path. Starting from Chapel le Dale, Horton-in-Ribbledale, or Ribblehead, the idea is to complete the loop in 12 hours.

But depending on how fast and light you can travel across the terrain you can complete the Three Peaks Challenge significantly faster. The winners of the race regularly finish in under three hours, while the record, set in 1974, is just 2h29m.

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SUILVEN, SUTHERLAND, 22KM SCOTLAND 7-8 HOURS This steep, craggy outcrop is Scotland’s answer to Sugarloaf mountain - but while its Brazilian cousin has a major metropolis at its feet, this is one of the most remote peaks in the country. You can climb this in a few hours if you start from the west, but for the true wilderness experience, we’d recommend hiking in the two hours from the Eastern side of the mountain, across some of the wildest landscapes anywhere in the UK. Formerly part of the privately-held Glencanisp estate, the land around Suilven was bought in 2005 by the local community with help from the John Muir Trust, as part of the ongoing effort to keep Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes open to the public. The climb is a stiff one - while the summit itself is broad and grassy, it’s almost entirely surrounded by rocky cliffs, so some scrambling is required.

ARENIG FAWR AND MOEL 17KM LLYFNANT, SNOWDONIA 6-7 HOURS NATIONAL PARK, WALES Despite being almost slap bang in the middle of Snowdonia, the standalone peaks of Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant are actually some of the least visited in the park. It might be the lack of easily-Instagramable ridgelines; it might be the remoteness; or it might be the simple fact that other routes are better-publicised, but we’re not complaining - it means this circular walking route, which takes in both mountains, is often empty.

The route starts just outside the hamlet of Arenig, winds its way past a tiny bothy, over a “bridge” that’s normally just a ladder, and up to the peak of Arenig Fawr, 836m above sea level.

Here, a memorial commemorates the lives of eight US airmen, whose B-17 Flying Fortress crashed in 1943. The spectacular views across the surrounding moorland add a majesty to the simple plaque. The climb down, and then back up the steep sides of Moel Llyfnant, is challenging. But the scenery you can take in from the 751m peak makes it more than worthwhile.

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MARSDEN TO EDALE, 35.8KM PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL 14 HOURS PARK, ENGLAND Like the Yorkshire Three Peaks, the Marsden to Edale trail is popular enough to be run as an annual trail race. But for walkers, this represents one of the most challenging routes England has to offer. Taking in the wild, bleak moorland of Black Hill, Bleaklow, and Kinder Scout, with only three road crossings, it’s also one of the wildest walks you can do East of the Severn

MOURNE WALL WALK, MOURNE MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN IRELAND

River, or South of the Scottish border.

Head south from Marsden train station and the next settlement of any significant size you’ll come across is your destination, more than 35km away. In between, you’ve got more than 1,600m of ascent, including most of the National Park’s highest peaks, and about 14 hours of tough walking.

35.4KM 12 HOURS

On a good day, the views from the peaks of the Mourne Mountains in County Down are spectacular. Look west and you can see across the province into County Armagh. Look east across the Irish sea, and you can often make out the Isle of Man, and to the south, you can sometimes see as far as Dublin, and the Wicklow Mountains beyond.

Catch them on a bad day however, these mountains can present some of the most challenging conditions anywhere in the UK. As with all coastal ranges, you may well find you experience both the best and the worst of the weather within the roughly 12 hours it will take you to complete this classic walk. Carrying the right kit for every eventuality is essential.

The hike follows the Mourne Wall, a 31.4km dry stone construction built in the early 20th Century, and takes in seven of the 10 highest mountains in the range, including the 850m Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak. None of the terrain is particularly tough, but with more than 3,000m of ascent in total, this is no walk in the park.

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HIKE LIGHT

KIT LIST: SET ONE OSPREY TALON PRO 20 BACKPACK PRICE: £150 WEIGHT: 910g

PATAGONIA MEN’S RAINSHADOW PRICE: £200 WEIGHT: 397g

A classic waterproof shell designed principally with hikers in mind, the Rainshadow uses Patagonia’s proprietary H2No fabric, which combines a high level of waterproofing and breathability, with a low impact on the planet. It’s bluesign approved and Fair Trade Certified sewn.

The Talon Pro 20 is built tough, designed for day hikes where the weather throws everything at you. It features Osprey’s adjustable Airscape back panel, which helps wick sweat away from your body, keeping you dry during strenuous activity. Perhaps best of all, it’s bluesign approved, certifying its low impact.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 2.51kg

PATAGONIA MEN’S POINT PEAK TRAIL PANTS

RAB MEN’S CIRRUS FLEX 2.0 HOODY

PRICE: £130 WEIGHT: 442g

PRICE: £130 WEIGHT: 422g

An insulator with an eco-conscience, Rab’s Cirrus Flex 2.0 uses PrimaLoft Silver Deluxe, a synthetic down substitute made from 100 percent recycled material. The windproof outer and lining also use recycled fabrics, and the DWR coating is entirely PFC free. A slim fit means this can sit under your shell or be slipped over the top for static moments during energetic hikes.

HYDRO FLASK TRAIL LIGHTWEIGHT WIDE MOUTH WATER BOTTLE PRICE: £50 WEIGHT: 355g

The latest wide mouth water bottle from US brand Hydro Flask is 25 percent lighter than their standard 32oz (ie. 946ml) models. It still offers the same performance, though, keeping hot drinks warm for 12 hours, or cold ones cool for 24.

Like all of Patagonia’s products, these abrasion-resistant pants are designed to have as little impact on the planet as possible. Made from a recycled nylon / elastane blend that’s bluesign approved, they’re coated in a PFC-free DWR and sewn by garment workers who are paid Fair Trade Certified wages. All-round performers, they work well for hiking, scrambling or climbing.

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HIKE LIGHT

KIT LIST: SET TWO

THE NORTH FACE SPEEDLIGHT MEN’S PANTS PRICE: £90 WEIGHT: 337g

ULTIMATE DIRECTION MOUNTAIN VEST 5.0 PRICE: £140 WEIGHT: 230g

Ultimate Direction (not to be confused with Harry Styles and co.) are a US-based brand that specialises in gear for ultra distances. This latest iteration of their capacious mountain vest boasts a seriously impressive 13.4 litre carrying capacity, while weighing just 230g.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 1.23kg

These technical softshell hiking pants are windproof and waterresistant, making them perfect for hiking in mixed conditions or the ‘changeable’ British weather. They’re also tough enough to withstand the rigours of scrambling or even alpine climbing, should you decide to start tackling trickier trails.

ARC’TERYX ATOM SL HOODY KATADYN BEFREE WATER FILTER PRICE: £40 WEIGHT: 59g

Arguably the lightest way to hydrate while you’re out in the hills, the Katadyn BeFree Filter is integrated into the lid of a collapsible soft flask with a 0.6 litre capacity. If you want to keep the amount of water you carry to a minimum, and are happy to refill on the go, this is the perfect accessory.

PRICE: £180 WEIGHT: 270g

RAB ZENITH GORE-TEX PACLITE PLUS PRICE: £250 WEIGHT: 330g

An ultra lightweight shell built for scrambling and climbing on the kind of wet, windy days that are all too common around Rab’s Derbyshire HQ, this uses GORE-TEX’s PacLite material, allowing it to pack down small when it’s not needed. The face fabric is 13 denier, but reinforced with 20 denier sections where abrasions - from rocks, or backpack straps are most common.

Arc’teryx have engineered one of the lightest insulator layers going here, using Coreloft Compact 40 synthetic insulation in the main body, with stretch fleece side panels. The sleeves are uninsulated, which helps keep the weight down further, but they still provide enough warmth for the milder conditions the Atom SL is designed for. If weight and pack size are your top priorities this is the jacket for you.

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HIKE LIGHT

KIT LIST: SET THREE

RAB WOMEN’S CIRRUS FLEX 2.0 JACKET PRICE: £140 WEIGHT: 317g

LEKI MCT 12 VARIO CARBON POLES PRICE: £185 WEIGHT: 380g

These poles are perfect for hiking fast through rough terrain. The built in, breathable, straps aid power transmission, while the Speed Lock 2 system is smaller and lighter than on older Leki models, and they pack down to just 42cm. in length, easily stashing in your pack

ARC’TERYX WOMEN’S GAMMA LT PANT PRICE: £150 WEIGHT: 310 310g

These lightweight versatile hiking / scrambling / trekking pants from Vancouver-based brand Arc’teryx are made of their Fortius 2.0 DW material, a stretchy soft shell fabric that’s waterproof and weatherproof.

Designed to make movement easy, they feature articulated patterning, and several handy zipped pockets.

TOTAL WEIGHT: 2.18kg

This offers warmth, mobility and an impressive level of breathability for an insulator, making it perfect for hiking. Use it either as a mid-layer in cold conditions or an outer when the weather heats up. The insulation is 100 percent recycled material, and the face fabric is also recycled, giving this a small environmental footprint.

OSPREY TEMPEST 9 BACKPACK THE NORTH FACE DRYZZLE FUTURELIGHT WOMEN’S JACKET PRICE: £200 WEIGHT: 300g

The North Face has upgraded a firm favourite, the Dryzzle jacket, with their patented FUTURELIGHT fabric, shaving around 50g off the weight without sacrificing waterproofing or breathability. Made using Nano-spinning, FUTURELIGHT was launched with great fanfare a couple of seasons back, and has revolutionised the lightweight products in The North Face line.

PRICE: £100 WEIGHT: 870g

Weighing in at just a fraction under one kilo, the brand new, 2021 iteration of Osprey’s classic Tempest series pack features an upgraded back panel (the company’s adjustable AirSpace model) and more eco-friendly materials. The outer is now 100 percent recycled nylon, and the DWR coating is PFC free. The nine-litre carry capacity is great for day hikes, or cycling.

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HIKE LIGHT

KIT LIST: SET FOUR PETZL IKO CORE HEAD TORCH PRICE: £77 WEIGHT: 79g

TOTAL WEIGHT: 1.46kg

PATAGONIA R1 AIR FULL ZIP WOMEN’S HOODY PRICE: £130 WEIGHT: 309g

Designed for high intensity activity in low temperature environments, the R1 Air hoody is something of a classic.

Brilliantly breathable, yet impressively warm, the R1 is referred to internally as a “regulator,” rather than an insulator. It uses a technical jacquard fleece to wick moisture away from the body. The R1 is available as a halfzip or a crew-neck too, but the hood helps add extra warmth.

SALOMON TRAILBLAZER 20 PACK PRICE: £60 WEIGHT: 414g

Impressively light for a 20 litre pack, the Trailblazer has a range of features that will make day hikes easier - from the hydration bladder slot to the trekking pole holder. The 3D light harness and hipbelt mean you’ll be comfortable no matter how full you stuff this, or how long your hike.

RAB WOMEN’S KINETIC ALPINE 2.0 JACKET PRICE: £220 WEIGHT: 370g

Combining the stretch and comfort of a soft shell jacket with the protection of a hard shell, the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is designed for hiking, scrambling or climbing in mixed conditions.

Like all products in Rab’s Kinetic range, this makes use of their new Proflex fabric, which can withstand a 10k hydrostatic head, while boasting an impressive 35k moisture transfer rate. Fully featured, with a helmet compatible hood, this is a versatile all-rounder.

French climbing brand Petzl has a long history of making groundbreaking head torches, and this - one of their lightest models to date - is no exception. Weighing a frankly ludicrous 79 grams it nonetheless manages to deliver 500 lumens of light, and comes with a neat storage pouch that converts it into a lantern.

MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT SONICA WOMEN’S TIGHTS PRICE: £65 WEIGHT: 290g

Made of Mountain Equipment’s own Exolite soft shell fabric, these tights are warm, stretchy and comfortable, but also wick away moisture impressively quickly. There are two pockets - a mesh pocket and a concealed hip pocket - to keep a phone or a bank card in, but otherwise there’s very little in the way of extraneous features, keeping the weight down.

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GEAR

WALKING FOOTWEAR

SALOMON X ULTRA 4 MID GTX PRICE: £155 WEIGHT: 425g

Built to handle rugged and rain-soaked terrain, these mid-top boots combine the durability of a traditional hiking boot with the lightweight agility of a trail shoe. Fully waterproof thanks to their GORE-TEX upper, they feature a supportive, lightweight chasis. Salomon’s ‘EnergyCell’ EVA foam midsole improves cushioning, while chunky lugs on the ‘Contagrip’ sole mean you can tackle the muddiest trails. A brilliant all-rounder.

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INOV-8 ROCLITE G 345 GTX

PRICE: £155 WEIGHT: 345g Inov-8’s Roclite trail running shoes have developed a legendary reputation, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the Lake Districtbased brand also opted to produce hiking boots that use

a lot of the same tech.

These feature Inov-8’s signature rubber outsole enhanced with graphene - the wonder material that’s both incredibly thin and stronger than steel - which improves durability and grip.

THE NORTH FACE VECTIV EXPLORIS FL PRICE: £140 WEIGHT: 373g

Bringing two of TNF’s groundbreaking proprietary technologies together into one lightweight shoe-shaped package, this new model is guaranteed to make a splash. They have a Vectiv fibre plate in the midsole, a tech feature taken from TNF’s trail running range which improves stability and helps convert energy into forward propulsion. The upper features a membrane made of the brand’s highly waterproof and breathable FUTURELIGHT material.

ON CLOUDROCK WP

PRICE: £180 WEIGHT: 445g

MERRELL MOAB SPEED GTX

Zurich-based brand On has only been in business for just over a decade, but they’ve already made a huge splash in the world of running, and are now turning their hand to walking boots. These carry over some of the best tech from their trail running range, including the Zero-Gravity CloudTec foam of the midsole, and the ‘Speedboard’ plate, which transforms energy into forward motion. Solid without being too heavy, they’re perfect for fast-paced day hikes.

PRICE: £125 WEIGHT: 320g

Weighing in at an impressive 320g a shoe, Merrell’s newest speed hiking model combines a waterproof GORE-TEX upper with a midsole made of the brand’s proprietary ‘FloatPro’ foam. Underneath that, there’s a Vibram outsole featuring the new, unusually- shaped ‘Traction Lugs,’ which Vibram reckon improve grip by up to 25 percent. With a 30 percent recycled sole, plus 100 percent recycled laces, these are light on the planet, as well as light on your

ADIDAS TERREX SWIFT R3 GTX PRICE: £130 WEIGHT: 320g In updating their already popular lightweight hiker, the R2, Adidas have decided to use ‘Litestrike’ EVA, a cushioning foam more commonly found in the brand’s recordsetting running shoes. The result is lightweight, with

excellent cushioning and the kind of energy return you might normally expect to get from a trail shoe.

The waterproof, GORETEX upper completes the package, giving you a great shoe for hiking at speed through varied terrain.

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COMMENT

ADVENTURE IS THE NEW NORMAL

Yvonn Chouinard, the 82-year-old founder of Patagonia and all-round outdoor sage, once said that real adventure is something that only happens “when everything goes wrong”. He was, of course, referring to that feeling you get from overcoming adversity with your mates, but in a year when things have gone catastrophically wrong on a global scale, it feels like his words have taken on a whole new meaning. Studies suggest that over the course of the past 12 months, people have been taking up outdoor pursuits in record numbers. Apparently, adventure isn’t just something we experience when everything goes wrong, it’s something we actively seek out.

In June, a survey conducted by Active Traveller magazine found that 30 percent of respondents had taken up a new outdoor activity during the first lockdown, and 48 percent had invested in new gear.

At Ellis Brigham sales of hiking boots continued to rise this winter, as more and more people headed outdoors for their government-sanctioned daily exercise. Trail running shoes have also been flying off the shelves, confirming the truth behind all those stories of lockdown Strava converts. According to the Open Water Swimming Society, participation was up three-fold in 2020 vs. 2019, and for much of past year, you couldn’t buy a bike anywhere in the UK for love or money.

A large part of the reason outdoor sports have become so popular recently is practical, of course. Gyms have only been open sporadically at best, football has

been banned for much of the last 12 months, and no-one wants to be getting stuck into something like rugby when there’s a highly contagious virus about.

But anecdotal evidence suggests it’s not just Covid precautions that have persuaded record numbers of people into the outdoors. Getting outside, as countless studies have attested down the years, is good for the mind as well as the body. Exploring wild places, and taking the time to truly appreciate the natural world, has always been a great way to de-stress: a fact that’s only become more obvious in a year when we’ve spent so much time cooped up.

For those of us who’ve been evangelising about the benefits of the outdoors for years, the surge in popularity and the influx of new participants can only be a good thing. The development of the lightweight gear that fills the pages of this guide is ultimately funded by sales of more mass-market kit. Newcomers might not be challenging for individual FKTs anytime soon, but their presence will undoubtedly drive the industry as a whole forward.

We might be trying too hard to see the silver lining on this enormous, Covid-shaped cluster of cumulonimbus, but if the pandemic has encouraged more people than ever to embark on new adventures, then that’s a positive. Not a net positive. Not even close. But it’s something. And as we begin to look beyond this year, the idea that the adventurous outdoor sports we love are now “the new normal” for many is something we should take, and run with.

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C IRRUS

F L E X S U S T A I N A B L E

P E R F O R M A N C E

Featuring fully recycled PrimaLoft® Silver Insulation Luxe™ and stretch fleece side panels, the Cirrus Flex is a lightweight, low-maintenance insulating layer that will always earn its place in your pack.

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