We have been testing these Deuter Aircontact Pro rucksacks recently in the Sierra Nevada for our forthcoming expeditions to Bolivia’s Cordillera Real and the Patagonian Icefields. But how did they perform?
Jun 042010
Sometimes one discovers a brand of quality mountain clothing at sensible prices. I am sometimes loath to put my faith in the cheaper brands but we have tested Result Clothing’s softshell jacket here in the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarras and are suitably impressed.
If you are looking to hire mountaineering or rock climbing equipment or go ski touring or snowshoeing this coming winter in the Sierra Nevada, then try the well established rental facility run by Spanish Highs Mountain Guides. They have a fully stocked rental facility in Lanjaron in the heart of the Sierra Nevada. So, don’t be weight penalised by the airlines! Winter or summer they have the following available at reasonable hire rates (n.b their own guided activities include include the rental of equipment.)
Nov 042009
A review of the tents we currently use and recommend for year round mountain use in the Sierra Nevada, Alps and Patagonia. A recent clear out and repair of our tent stocks has made me re-evaluate which tents we use for which location and mountain activity. Basically we recommend high quality tents from well known makes such as Terra Nova, Bibler (Black Diamond) and Hilleberg. Yes, I know there are many other fine tent makers out there, but I can only comment on what has worked for us over the past 10 years as mountain guides.
Title: Winter Skills Essential Walking and Climbing Techniques Written by: Andy Cunningham and Allen fyffe Published by: Mountain Leader Training UK Review We have been running alpine introduction and winter skills courses since 1983 (in the days when the Bossons Glacier near Chamonix, nearly reached the road!). We have relied mainly on tried and tested [...]
It may be a sizzling 25 deg C down here in Lanjaron, in the Alpujarras but the ski touring and mountaineering will remain good up high in the Sierra Nevada until at least the end of May. Indeed, there has been so much snow this year that we are hoping to ski off Veleta back [...]
With the conditions in the Sierra Nevada tricky at the moment with much avalanche danger, it seems an appropriate time to detail the equipment required to make travelling in avalanche terrain safer. Ideally, avoiding avalanches in the first place is much easier than trying to survive one. Avalanche safety begins even before you begin your [...]
Jan 282009
If you are ever in need of mountain gear and equipment for that next visit into the Sierra Nevada, than the place to go and visit is Desportes Nomadas in Durcal. Guillermo, the owner has put much effort into bringing top brands into Spain. As well as the spanish Trangoworld and Inesca brands, he has [...]
The short answer I believe is ….. yes. There have been some major breakthroughs in mountain clothing for me. “Paramo” material broke the mold of the crinkly unbreatheable and expensive GoreTex. “Windstopper” fabic provided a material that could be worn in very diverse and differing circumstances. Now we have “Icebreaker“. According to the manufacturer: Icebreaker [...]
Why is Paramo so good? I have been a fan of Paramo gear for the last 15 years. I remember spending thousands of pounds clad in various Gore-Tex, Triplepoint and eVent jackets, that either leaked or made me as wet inside as well as outside. They were never as “breatheable” as they were advertised by [...]
