Scottish climber Bob Kerr will present his research on cosmic radiation to a group of scientists next year after an expedition to Mount Everest saw him collect readings to measure increasing radiation dose rates at high altitude. It is known that doses of cosmic radiation increase at high altitudes due to the thinning of the atmosphere. Through the collection of …
Steck and Schäli make speed ascents in the Alps
Swiss speed climber Ueli Steck and alpinist Roger Schäli made impressively fast ascents of the Alps’ most challenging peaks last month, with Steck completing a traverse of Mont Blanc while Schali tackled the Jungfrau Marathon. Ueli began the Peuterey Integral traverse in mid-August shortly after arriving in the Chamonix Valley. Said to be the hardest route of its kind in …
SmartWool expand PhD outdoor collection
Outdoor retailers SmartWool have expanded their PhD collection with the release of several new and improved outdoor products, made using innovative new fabrics to give a more comfortable fit. Wind, rain and abrasion resistant, the new PhD HyFi midlayer range is said to withstand the elements without diminishing the properties of Merino wool. Designed for use with a baselayer, the …
Everest Uncovered lectures
Legendary Alpinist Kenton Cool and Senior Mountain Guide Lakpa Rita Sherpa are set to hold a series of lectures this autumn, giving both a western and Sherpa viewpoint of what it’s like to climb the world’s highest mountain. The evening lectures, entitled ‘Everest Uncovered’, will take place between October 22 and 25, with the Sherpa Adventure Gear athletes travelling first …
KEEN launch new winter walking boot
Outdoor footwear experts KEEN have launched the latest addition to their lightweight CNX collection, the Depart WP CNX winter walking boot. New for autumn 2013, the multi-sport, lightweight, leather mid has a PU mid-sole, internal mid-foot TPU shank, slick sole unit, and traditional KEEN features such as multi-directional flex grooves in the sole (designed to enhance natural motion), a toe …
Petition demands tax exemption for Mountain Rescue
An online petition has been created to encourage the UK Government to refund value added tax paid by mountain rescue teams when purchasing gear and equipment. Posted by Marc Goodwin, the e-petition states: “Currently Mountain Rescue Charities across England (and possibly Wales & Scotland) have to pay VAT on the expensive equipment which they need to save people’s lives. This …
Alone in Antarctica talk
British adventurer Felicity Aston is set to give a talk this autumn, detailing her 53-day journey to become the first woman in the world to ski across Antarctica alone. The presentation will take place on October 21 at Ellis Brigham’s Covent Garden store, with Aston expected to speak at 7.30pm. The Polar Explorer began her record-breaking expedition in November 2011, …
BAF 2013 line-up announced
The line-up for this year’s Buxton Adventure Festival has recently been announced, with 10 speakers from the world of mountaineering and adventure travel set to inspire crowds. Held in the heart of the Peak District, the weekend-long event will begin on November 2 and will feature live lectures, a big screen cinema, ‘Young Adventurers’ launch evening, an outdoors photography exhibition, …
New coaching award scheme from Mountain Training UK
Mountain Training UK have introduced a new Coaching Award Scheme, which will see training focus on coaching climbers rather than instructing them. Led by Martin Chester, Director of Training at Plas y Brenin, the new scheme will consist of three award levels, Foundation, Development and Performance coaching. Modules will include: What to Coach, Safe Supervision and How to coach more …
First ever Triple Seven Summits completed
Austrian climber Christian Stangl has become the first person to complete the Triple Seven Summits – a challenge requiring him to climb the three highest mountains on every continent. The 47-year-old began seriously bagging peaks in 2008, and with the exception of Ojos del Salado, which he tackled back in 1996, all 21 summits were reached in a period of …