Brantfell is such an easily accessable place to boulder if you live or work in Windermere. It must be my most visited place as it fits just the bill for a quick bit of exercise if you are limited for time and the views from Brantfell are amazing. You're pretty much guarenteed a beautiful sunset if your nipping up there when the sun is going down & tonight I was blessed with moonrise as well. You can even combine with a run up Orrest Head, School Knott & the finish with Brantfell... boulder & then off home. Pretty handy really!!

Went to Trowbarrow last night after work, there's only just enough light now to do a route when you finish at 6pm. Met Glyn, at the foot of the Main Wall, the one famous for Al Evans & his monkey.. oh and the amazing fossils all over it. The right hand end still looks scarey as ever, but no new rockfall from last winters freeze, I wonder what this winter will bring. We climbed the ultra-classic Jean Jeanie. I was hoping Glyn would lead, as I have had a very active week & was a little fatigued, but I was given the sharp end. So I battled with the Jeanie, knowing it as an old adversary, that I have fought before. Sometimes it has had the better of me & occasionally I of it. You all know the feeling, mixed emotions as you set off, knowing the point of no return is only a few moves up & then your in a sea of Limestone, fighting your way up the route. And like the night before, with Nicola on Pavey Ark, the on-set of darkness wasn't far away. Suffice to say, I got to the top, pretty pumped, and in need of a big drink of water (beer comes later) due to a very dry, partched mouth.

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My new Marmot Variant jacket was perfect fo the job & kept me warm & happy whilst I belayed. Glyn climbed in his usual style & came panting over the top, making expletives about Jesus & apologising to the Lord as he does. We set off to the pub at Sandside with the moon bathing the walls of Trowbarrow in her beautiful silver light, feeling happy & content.

Its funny, but great to re-climb the same lines. Always different, but always the same. Until the next affair.... how long will that main wall remain in-tact?

Charlie

So I competed, or should I say took part in yesterdays Lake District Moutain Trail. It was held in Kentmere this year & as always, it was a tough day. This is the first time I have run in this event & I wish I had been a bit fitter. But hey, ho, I completed it & for my money my time was quite respectable considering I haven't been running much. The field of runners was the mix of usual hard core with the lower echelons of the fell running community battleing it out amongst themselves. It consited of Ian Barnes, Jon Deegan, Steve Birkenstall, Joe Mercer,  etc and some of the older generation of hard men where there too, like John Brocksap, Joe Faulkner, Mike Walford & even Joss Nailor was there for the shorter version.

The day was perfect for running & conditions under foot, although there had been alot of rain the night before, were excellent too. In one part this was great, as I needed all the help I could get, but I never got to wear my Montane Spektr top (on test for a few weeks), but there'll be plenty of wet weather to give it a go, plus the Rab MM is on the 25/26th Septmember... so it maybe needed then. I was given an early start time, an indication of not being up with the top runners, good runners are given a late start time, so they have to catch up. The route went from Kentmere Church, up onto the side of Shipman Knotts & over to the quarry at the head of Longsledale, then up over Harter Fell, descending down to Small Water. From here there were 2 choices, of which most people, including myself, went up towards Blea Tarn & up the ridge to top out north of  High Street.

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The other option was to run down & along the west shore of Haweswater, but this meant losing alot of height. From the top of the ridge we turned north to run to Low Raise, just N-E of High Raise, then back on ourselves to the Knott over-looking Hayeswater. Down from here to Hartsop & then staight back up onto Hartsop Dodd & up the ridge to Caudale Moor. Ian Barnes & several other passed my on the ascent, looking strong.  This almost killed me, it was a major slog to reach the top of Hartsop Dodd & I was on jelly legs for the next few miles. Over the top of Caudale Moor & down the other side to the valley between Troutbeck & Woundale, from here there was a couple of chioces again. The fittest (and I have only heard of a couple who did this - Jon Deegan & someone else) ran down into Troutbeck & straight up the side of Ill Bell to drop over the otherside. I opted for a hard traverse round to Threshthwaite Mouth holding my height through the crags at the head of the valley (I may have been the only one to take this option), others ran back up onto Stonecove Pike & down to Threshthwaite Mouth. From here we headed upto the Beacon, where Steve Birkenstall came marching past, and down the ridge of Froswick & Ill Bell, passing them on the west-side.

Here was my final straw. I hadn't realised the next check point was 500ft from the top of the ridge line. A cruel twist of fate. So dropping down the nicely position scree, which took the sting out of it, we then had to climb straight back up onto the side of Yoke. Its was straight forward from here, as we did the start of the Kentmere Horse shoe in reverse (the original way). From halfway round I was struggling with cramping calves, jelly legs, banging head & lack of fitness. But I managed it & true to form, got good adrenaline rushes in the last mile, which carried me falsely, but quickly over the line to a typical sprint finish. Amazing course, excellent day out, just wish I had been training more & as usual I have come out of it saying.... I will train harder... lets see if I do/can...

The results for the 2010 LDMT can be viewed here

Kit used:

• OMM Ultra Waist Pouch
• Montane Spektr Smock
• Inov-8 Mistlite Pants
• Inov-8 Mudclaw 270's
• Injinji Crew Socks
• Montane FeatherLite Windtop
• Extremities Power-Dry Beanie
• Extremities WindyLite Gloves
• Odlo Vest
• Sub4 running shorts
• Silva Ranger 3 Compass

Charlie

OMM Primaloft top verses the Montane Fireball. Ok, so lucky me, I have been supplied, a few months ago, with a Montane Fireball Primaloft Top and an OMM ­­­­­Rotor Primaloft Smock to test. I thought, cheeky as I am, that I would test them both & write an article which discusses both tops, their uses & then put them head to head against each other…. So, bets are on, the Fireball or the OMM, who’s going to win?? If it were Itchy Scratchy & Bruno Hochalugie (From Cheech & Chong – Still Smoking, not the Itchy & Scratchy show) or The Invisible Man, which would you go for then? Yep, you’ve got the idea, it’s the old super-hero versus super-hero fight routine!! Lets have a look at each independently, then throw them in the ring together.

The OMM Rotor Smock

So the weight of the primaloft is 40g per square meter in the body & in the arms. This makes for a pretty cosy top. There is a single zip that extends to lower chest, which on the model I have is water-resistant. The there are Velcro securing tapes at the end of the sleeves, to offer venting or a wind-tight fit. The arms are long, allowing good reach & around the waist hem there is a drawcord. To finish it off, although OMM haven’t furnished them with a Primaloft front, there is a stitch through hand/map pocket. Not the best for warm hands, as detailed before, but great to keep snacks, compass, map etc close at hand. Soft fabric around the neck adds a good warm closure for cold weather & events. The outer fabric is a super-light weight Quantum Pertex. All in all, the OMM Rotor Smock is a very nice, lightweight primaloft top, that is similar in design to the , now discontinued Haglof LIM Barrier Top. It’s a great piece for climbing – whilst hanging out on belays etc, running – as a stop top or when your finished, walking, backpacking, skiing and generally any outdoor pursuit you can think of, and in Black with Orange Trim, it is in classic OMM colours for a sleek, but catchy, finished look. You can check out the tech specs underneath:

The Montane Fireball

So, if you liked the OMM, you’re definitely going to like this one, but maybe, depending on your intended use & idea of whether you like frills of not, you’re going to love it!!

The Montane Fireball is the Ultra Lightweight Dream in Primaloft tops. It’s a no frills, take it as it comes superlight Primaloft top. It has 40 grams per square meter of Eco Primaloft throughout, the outer is a mix of Quantum Core for the main body & the contrast colour is Quantum Ripstop. They either come in Red or Blue with Graphite contrast on both. Both the waist hem & cuffs have been finished with a soft piping & are both self elasticated. This means no messing, when the top is on, your warmth is sealed in. Montane have added some reflective piping across the chest & back of the shoulder blades, so you can be seen, if running/biking at night in it. Next you have Montane’s signature semi-automatic 2 way deep chest zip, allowing easy access whilst the neck is still sealed, and finally you have a couple of reflective dots on the end of the arms. This is an out & out runners/lightweight enthusiast/users piece. No frills, no pockets, just Primaloft Eco, Quantum Pertex & a good close fit. Check out the Tech Specs:

Summary

So, which do I prefer, or who’s going to win?? Well, that’s really got nothing to do with it from your point of view, but if asked, I guess it would be both. I like them for different reasons & would find it hard to choose. If pushed, for me it’s the Montane, but that’s because I want it for running, layering in winter & sitting on belays whilst summer climbing. I don’t need the pockets, I don’t want to vent it, I just want a top I can pull over my head & that’s it, if i’m warm & happy. But, if I were looking for something a little more, but still wanted the Ultralight Ethos, then the OMM is a great top. It allows more air flow, so if used on the move, allows better flexability before I have to shed the top. Cold winter walking, competing in the OMM, ski touring in Scotland or the Lakes & I think the OMM Rotor Smock  takes precedence. So it really depends on your intended use & what you think you want out of it. Put them in ‘the ring’ together & watch them battle it out, who’s going to win?? My money is on the Fireball, but then that’s only my opinion & after all, you maybe thought that Itchy Scratchy & Bruno Hockalugie were a favorites in the film ‘Still Smoking’, but then who was to know that The Invisible Man would kick ass when his balls fly around the ring & knock both of them out!! It doesn’t matter really, all that matters for you (the reader), is they are both out in stores & on websites from September/October, the Montane Fireball is priced £100 & the OMM Rotor Smock is priced £110. Both good prices & I suggest you buy sooner rather than later, because it looks like we have more price hikes coming in 2011!!

About the companies

 OMM - Original Mountain Marathon: OMM have a heritage as long as your arm & further. Originally started by the Iconic Mike Parsons with his families brand Karrimor. First was the KIMM or Karrimor International Mountain Marathon, the real first in Adventure Racing. Next came the KIMM Lite products to compliment the event. When Karrimor crashed & the company was bought out by the Sports Direct Group, Mike rescued the event & the KIMM Lite label, soon changing the brand & event to the OMM or Original Mountain Marathon, since there are now 7 in the UK per year. OMM, as KIMMLite did, produce clothing & packs for MM usage & ultralight travel through the mountainous regions of the world. OMM are now concentrating on producing the best OMM event kit possible..... For my money, OMM produce the best & original packs for MM use, they are my prfered running packs whenever I compete.

Montane: Montane are a UK based company who pride themselves in producing innovative clothing systems for use ultimately in the harsher regions of the UK & northern hemisphere. Born from a passion for the mountains, Montane are now back in their poll position & producing some of the best bits of kit I have used, from the Propane Jacket (a primaloft insulated waterproof fabric all-round winter jacket), the Aero Quantum Smock, the excellent original Terra Stretch Shirt made from IBQ Pertex to the Spektr ultralite event running smock weighing in at a very light 210 grams (of which I have only had a look at, but know instinctively, theat this is where running waterproofs are at). They are not afraid to try a different concept, even if at the end of the day, it doesn’t turn out to be commercial. My type of company!!

Charlie