merrell trail gloves

 

Merrell Trail Gloves

I was toying with the idea of trying a pair of these for backpacking last year but for whatever reason I never got around to buying a pair. Fortunately for me I got sent a pair of Trail Gloves for review.

Merrell Trail Gloves utilizes barefoot technology something that I’ve been intrigued about although from what I’ve read it is a matter of great debate in the runner world. I usually wear Innov8 Terroc 330’s for walking and general use so in order to make the transition I wore the Trail Gloves on the walk in to work and home not a great distance but enough to start to see how they work. It was still fairly cool (and let’s face it we haven't had much of a summer) but my feet stayed comfortable with the mesh top apart from in the keenest of breezes but I’m used to that with the Terrocs. Despite a reservation about how thin the sole of the shoe might be, they coped with walking over the nobbled dropped kerbs at road crossing. And I went out of my way to find as many different surfaces as I could.

 

Off track run

I then progressed to longer walks and short jogs. And it was the later that I found the most interesting my feet felt incredibly ‘free’ and I started getting a taste for running! This was something of a shock because I’d never really fancied the idea probably being put off by enforced cross-country runs whilst at school. I’m incredibly lucky living close to Richmond Park as that meant that I was able to make use of the park to run in but also pick a route that had climbs, descents, streams and logs to up in other words it was interesting and fun (and a bit like cross country but far removed from an urban north London ones I had earlier experienced).

I was about to progress to using them on a backpacking trip when I suffer an injury to my knee, the left one which I pranged on the Pennine Way a little over a year ago. Not by running, walking, biking or climbing but by trying to fix a light. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

Nice drop to stream and rise in distance

I’m working hard with the treatment so that I can get back out running, and of course filling my Golite Peak with a few bits and pieces for gentle backpacking trip as I don’t want to overdo it too soon. 

Merrell footwear is available from www.fitnessfootwear.com

pennine way calamity

It started here... 

...And ended here.

  

And this is what happened in between... On the first day as I was crossing Featherbed Moss my right foot found a hole in one of the causey stones, a hole! This brought me crashing down knees on the the stones. Luckily my right foot didn't get trapped in the hole so I was saved a possible fracture. Both my knees were bloodied and bruised, and I'd torn a hole in my brand new TNF Meridian Pants. The fall shook me up so I proceeded with caution, some of the slabs were cracked, sunken or had 'puddles' on them and I didn't want to get caught again.

My left wrist and shoulder had taken a jolt and were complaining too. It wasn't until I started descending Torside Clough that the trouble began, my left knee was struggling and was very painful, I was barely able to put it down without wincing. On the flat my knee cheered up and I was able to make Crowden but not without a spasm or two. And my shoulder was happy to be free of the pressure of the rucksack.

I didn't get a good nights sleep despite walking 16 miles, I couldn't sleep on my left side, the bruises on my knees didn't like contact with the ground, and neither did my left knee like being flexed over the end of my NeoAir (it's a 3/4 length).

In the morning I looked at the map and guide book and there wasn't a great deal of decent involved so I decided to continue. The day went well but I wasn't enjoying myself; it was very blustery but the sun was shining. I arrived at Standedge and found the pub that allowed camping, luckily I arrived there at the time the manager was unloading her car. Luckily because they aren't open Mondays. She allowed me to camp, gave me a glass of 'pop', a cup of milk and several litres of water. And I liberated a bottle of Merlot from the wine rack - I had to pay for this but all else was free. Trail magic is what American hikers would call that.

Needless to state but I was in better spirits and the Merlot did it's trick and a good nights sleep was had only interrupted by a few showers, of strange sounding rain on the fly. (I was later to find out that it was hail!)

Rested and feeling more confident, although with a fifteen mile day ahead of me, I set off and made good time. The morning started to unravel as I descended the slope to the footbridge over the M62, my left knee was up to it's old antics again. I'd been walking solidly for a couple of hours so thought a rest would help. Unfortunately not this time. Crossing Black Rocks a few miles south of the halfway point I was in a great deal of distress; wincing pain, spasms and inability to co-ordinate my feet. A repeat of the descent of Torside Clough, I thought I'd never get to the road. Time for a short break, and I snacked on a codeine/ibuprofen pain killer; no point in messing around with pissy other pain killers get the one that's as legally as close to cocaine as you can get.

At the White House PH I had a pint of orange and soda, and with the help of a young local lad I had formulated my escape plan. There was a bus due in fifteen minutes to Littleborough, where I caught the train to Manchester, from Manchester I had a uneventful coach journey home.

The doctor diagnosed a torn ligament, banned me from walking until I'm healed and has put me on a months worth of anti-inflammatory tablets.

pennine way preparation

With the news of a new job to start in June on TGO magazine I decided that now would be the ideal opportunity to put the spirit burner back under a long term but as yet unrealised project; the Pennine Way.

This last week I've been cooking, dehyrating, bagging  and vacuum packing three weeks worth of food; Borlotti Bean Chasseur, Soya Mince Chilli, and Cheesy Polenta are all on the menu amongst other stuff.

Along side this I've also been some gathering kit; a Power Chimp, a North Face Infiesto Fleece and a pair of Pacer Poles.

The Power Chimp runs on a pair of rechargeble AA batteries, and I've also bought an adapter to charge my Lumix camera battery. AA batteries are easy to come by so I'm hoping to keep my phone topped up to stay in touch. And my camera charged so I can continue to take snaps.

The North Face Infiesto Fleece is new to the TNF line and has been sent for review. The base fabric is Polartec Power Dry and seems thin compared to the TKA100 fleece that I usually use so I'll see how that works out.

Lastly are the Pacer Poles. I've been friends with Alan and Heather for a number of years now and when I caught up with them at the BPC AGM they'd heard the good news about the job and my plans about the Pennine Way, so offered to send me a pair of their carbon three piece poles to try. I've done my reading and my bag is packed.

normal service will be resumed

My blogging has taken the backseat over the last few weeks mostly due to stuff going on in my personal life; Some good things have happened and some not so good ones too.

The shenanigans around the house sale and purchase have finally finished and we have the date of 18th November for the move – hurray!

The ongoing issue around contact with my son is steadily improving and I spent four days with him last week. In the past, any time we had together was always put to good use, going to museums and the alike. So it was a joy just to spend time doing mundane every days things with him that I’ve not had the opportunity to do before. Although this time was nearly hijacked by the very people that are responsible for ensuring that he gets time with me. Go figure.

On the work front, El Bow the Iberian Archer, has paid a visit and I’ll be leaving at the end of this month. Not the best timing. I briefly toyed with the idea of doing the Pennine Way until Dave Mycroft pointed out that even with parts of it paved canoeing across some of the boggy bits (of which there’ll be many more of than say in September) will be required. Unless we get a stunning couple of weeks of deep freeze which is unlikely in this age of global warming.

Despite all this I still managed to fit in some backpacking and I’ve two trips to write up; The Vale of Pewsey BPC meet and the 1066 Country Walk weekend.

I’ve managed to pimp my audio arrangement thanks to some button pushing by Ben, I discovered that that the crossovers on the speakers was between the mid/tweeter units and the bass units. Why have the power amp driving the bass unit when I can harness it’s muscle to drive the mid range and tweeter instead? So I dropped Massive Attack’s Protection in the tray and had a listen to the first minute of the first track. I then powered down, swapped the leads, and replayed the track. The bass was leaner but the detail in the mid and treble was greater, and noticeably so. Sweet.

mobile blogging

I’ve been following the progress of various people on the Challenge and LEJOG. There are various options available to do this so it’s interesting to see how successful they’ve been up to date. Especially as I’m still in the market for a system myself wanting to blog whilst on the Pennine Way.

Brendan started well, blogging daily as he tackled the hard opener of the LEJOG by going along the South West Coast Path. He was using an iPhone with a wordpress app and disaster struck when the app started to delete the posts that he was working on. Not that impressive and deeply frustrating for him.

Over on the Challenge Weird Darren managed three days blogging before his iPhone carked with charging problems. Not helped by the fact that the Freeloader charger he’s carrying doesn’t work. But that could of course be down to the weather that they’ve been enjoying up in Scotland.

More successfully Geoff has been using the Pocket Mail system to chart his progress on his LEJOG. This system does have it’s shortcomings though; you cant embed photos and the one he uses requires a call box to upload the text. Whereas some where in the Highlands Mick and Gayle are posting regularly with their Pocket Mail which they are able to use with a mobile. Go figure on that one.

There is one system that’s standing out above all others (at the moment) and that’s the one that Martin and Sue are using; a Blackberry on the Orange network. Martin has been able to post to his blog several times a day including photos taken at lunch stops on the tops of the various Munro’s that they’ve been bagging.

Mobile signal can be a bit hit and miss particularly in mountainous areas so we’ll see how those dependent upon one fair. And I must ask Martin how he’s managed to keep his Blackberry charged. Has he been using hamster technology or stashing spare batteries in Sue’s bag without her knowledge? I think we should be told!

Pennine Way

Last year I started planning a backpack along the PW. That was until I was waylaid with a problem with my right knee. This seems to have resolved itself but other non outdoors related events took precedence and got in the way. Then there was the incident where someone booked tickets for two weeks in the Picos de Europa this July. Well, said individual mentioned the PW at the weekend whilst we were enjoying a trundle along the Monsal Trail... I should be thinking about and planning the trip in July but the lure of that life long ambition is strong.

mechanical failure

This was the phrase that ptc* used when referring to my knee problem. The good news is that my employer has BUPA cover, so I've an appointment booked with Doctor and an a cheque waiting for £100 to cover the excess required for the claim.

I've been taking cod liver oil for a couple of weeks but as I've not done any walking of any significance since the Elan Valley trip I cant tell if it's helping.

I've decided for now to move my attempt on the Pennine Way back to September to give me enough time to heal, recover and get fit for it.

I'm meeting up with Darren on Saturday morning to walk another bit of the North Downs Way, he promises to be bringing a stove or two along for testing. I'm wondering whether I'm going to get press ganged into holding a camera for one of his videos! Or if I'm really lucky he'll be backing one of the prizes from his blog's birthday draw (hopefully the Snow Peak pot).

I'm packing my favourite bit of kit - the Bush Buddy Ultra - for brewing up along the way. And I have been kicking around using it on the PW with a meths stove as a back up. I've done a quick weight comparison between the two and the BB/pepsi can stove combo works out lighter than the F1 stove and medium sized cartridge. Finding fuel for the BB on route may be an issue though, so more thought needs to be put into that.

This posting has re-ignited my interest in the Mariposa Plus. I've been having doubts as to whether I'd have enough pack space in the Villain for a weeks food, along with all my kit. And the only way of finding out is by bagging up a weeks worth and seeing if I can squeeze it all in. Might be worth the effort rather than shelling out another 100 quid for yet another rucksack.

kit niggles

Various bits of kit that I've gathered have now been tested; some tweaks are required and some issues need to be resolved.

The Helion2 is a comfortable shelter for two but for one the bulk of the tent compared with the Hut2 is causing me to have doubts about whether I want to use it on solo ventures, specifically on the Pennine Way.

The most irritating issue is that of my boots. Back in April I bought a pair of Meindl Softline Lites to replace the pair I had that I'd worn out. I'd not worn them as I'd been trying out non boot options throughout the Spring and Summer. The forecast for the Buxton trip was wet so these were the footwear of choice knowing what the some of the terrain was going to be like especially on the second day. Day one they were fine but about an hour into the second day I started feeling a dampness around the heels. I was wearing gaiters with over trousers over the top so I am sure that this wasn't due to seepage down my legs. Neither did I step in anything that was deep and wet enough to get a bootful. The feeling of which is more pronounced than the slow rising damp that I was experiencing.

The upshot of this is that I have return them to the shop and they'll go off to Germany for tests, and I'll be bootless for who knows how long. If they are defective there's a chance that they wont get replaced as they aren't making these any more. Having tried pretty much every boot available these are the only ones that fit my feet. 

Looks like I'm going back to using trainers and carrying a tarp. At least I know that the former are meant to leak and the later won't eat up all my pack space.

pennine way companion

As recommended, I ordered the above book from amazon and it turned up this morning. I've had a flip through and one passage has already caught my attention, "As an example; after the long crossing from Teesdale to Dufton, a hard day's walk in itself, the ultimate objective is further away at supper than it was at breakfast."

reflection

My suddenly dodgy knee has planted a seed of doubt about my fitness and ability to cope with the ups and downs of the Pennine Way. It took me a couple of years to get it back to coping with shortish day walks, and as mentioned, I've done many a mile over the last few years without worry.

Several people have stated that it's because I've started cycling to work and this has caused new stress on the joint. I kind of have to agree with them as I've been over doing it on the off road tracks through Richmond Park and along the Thames.

I bought a neoprene knee support in Keswick and managed a number of short walks in the Lakes around Tarn Hows, Castlerigg and Aira Force all without any hassle before returning home. So I'm hoping it's was just a warning to take it easier on the peddling until the joint has time to adjust and strenghten.

another eureka moment

Another eureka moment on my bike on the way into work this morning. If I time my arrival in Edale for midday on the first day I can start up the Pennine Way and camp at a little spot I know that's past the Kinder Downfall. This saves travelling up the evening before. And would also take the bite out the first leg between Edale and Crowden, which according to the Cicerone guide is something of a baptism of fire.

revelation

I took a peak at Alan Sloman’s LEJOG schedule first thing this morning as he’d mentioned incorporating the Pennine Way into his walk. Looking at his route overall it looked as if he’d planned his walk to maximise the number of bank holidays available in spring. It then struck me that perhaps September wouldn’t the best time for me to do this and that May, with its two bank holidays three weeks apart, would be a better option. I’d save some leave for a start and now, being only ten months off, seems more timely and achievable.

the cunning plan

Now that I’ve plotted various alternative stopping points along the way I’ll dig the map measurer out of my kit box and build rough itinerary – I have 19 days to get from start to finish which is ample. I’m going to carry six days food and pack two food parcels which will need posting out, but to where?

On previous trips I’ve posted parcels to the halfway point but these have been on paths that had more tightly defined itineraries. As I’m taking a more flexible approach this time I could find myself ahead (or even behind) schedule. The only problem comes if I’m struggling or the weather is that bad that I have to sit it out so I can’t get to the food pick up point before running out of food.

I must state at this time that the reason for going to all this trouble is due to the fact that I’m an insulin dependent diabetic who also suffers from coeliac disease. The upshot of this that I have to have regular meals that are also gluten free, living off food stuff found in village stores isn’t an option. If I do find something I can eat it’s a bonus.

I’m planning this as a solo venture and with the diabetes having a potentially dangerous impact I’m going to be checking in with ‘base camp’ on a regular basis. When I do I can ask my partner, Penny, to post a food parcel when I need one – that’s my cunning plan.

I’m planning to write about the trip so I’m off to do some research on mobile blogging.

finding the plot

Spent time on the train this morning plotting campsites on the southern section map that I'd found from various sources. This exercise has proved to be very reassuring as the guide book and maps gave the impression that there is a dearth of campsites along certain sections of the way and I was expecting to have to do some really long days, which I want to avoid.

The additional stopping points I've plotted allows a more flexible approach, rather than the 'day one get to here' type approach I'm used to using. I just have to make sure wherever I am on day six is where my food parcel is going to be. And this is where my cunning plan comes into play...

food for thought

It doesn't require much thought to work out that carrying three weeks food is plain and simply mad. I do have a Lowe Alpine 65l rucksack that would swallow my kit and two weeks food but why?

Last year I walked Hadrian's Wall Path and used a 45l rucksack, in which I fitted my kit and six days food, well the tarp tent and thermarest were strapped on the outside at the start. Unfortunately the rucksack wasn't up to carrying that kind of load - not it's fault it wasn't designed for that sort of thing. (Gear heads - it was a Berghaus GR45.)

This got me thinking about how much I'd be prepared to carry and with what. I bought a Gregory Z55 last summer because the hipbelt would cope with the load and I 'd have a couple more litres of space for longer or winter trips. However I never really got on with it; I just found it impossible to pack to my liking, bizarre as that might seem. So I started looking for a replacement for the Berghaus but with a hipbelt to cope with the weight of my kit and six days food, and some pockets to put munchies in.

Bob at BPL mentioned that the OMM Villain might suit as you can replace the back panel with a 3/4 thermarest and I was sold - there's one less thing strapped on the outside for a start, and a weight saving too. It has a host of other features that I could rave about but I'll post a review under 'Gear' at sometime.

So rucksack sorted and a decision on how much food to start off with made.

planning and preparation

The last couple of weeks I've been pulling bits and pieces together. Downloading PDF's from the Nat Trails website and reading the Cicerone guide to get an idea of how to tackle the route. I've also bought the set of Harvey's maps and am currently looking at camping spots along the way. The Backpackers Club publishes the farm pitch and LDP directories which I'm going to use to indentify alternatives to the camp sites already marked on the map. Once this is done I'll look at how to break the route down into stages.

I'm going to take three weeks off work; this will give me 21 days to walk the 268 miles with rest days, and I'll have to allow 2 days for travel to the start and back from the finish.

Once the stages are loosely thought out I'll turn my thought to food and supplies. More on this later.