Kick in the nuts

Actually not so much a kick in the nuts, more like a two footed, studs-up tackle delivered late and from behind by Big Dave in a Sunday league match. It was all going so well. The weather forecast was for sunshine, no wind and possibly some white stuff. My backpack was packed and ready to go and my Friday evening run after work was one of those rare dreamy occasions when it feels like you could run forever. A few hours later and I got blind-sided by a heavy stinking cold and the clearing sky un-cleared itself and it proceeded to rain for the rest of the weekend. Not that the weather had any effect on my bed-ridden weekend. Whine, bitch, moan.

Still, next weekend we go skiing :-)

Silver linings

There is one good thing about the entire week of rain we've just had here on the west coast of Norway, the waterfalls are full and spectacular, even the ones only a few feet high. The air in the forest was cool, damp and still and the sound of water resonated through the mossy trees in every direction. Out on the summit the wind raged and blew low clouds across the landscape like exhaled smoke. It was good to be out again but I could do with change of scenery. Plans are afoot. Trains tickets have been purchased. Accommodation booked. Rusty skiing skills will have to be remembered.

Montane Lite-Speed Jacket Review

For those of you who haven't got yourself a 'wind shirt' yet, do yourself a favour and get one. Nothing, and I mean nothing, in your wardrobe will give you more comfort and versatility. When you also consider that some of them weigh less than 100g and cost as little as £30 it's a no-brainer. Chris Townsend states in his book, The Advanced Backpacker, that his "favourite upper garment and the one I wear more than any other is a thin, single-layer nylon or polyester wind shirt". Wearing one you'll stay drier and more comfortable more of the time, relying on your waterproofs only when you really need them. Check out here for why you need one. Sermon over.

The Montane Lite-Speed Jacket was my choice over a year and a half ago and I've worn it almost every single day since. The Lite-Speed is advertised as 'The lightest weight, weather resistant, hooded jacket in the world'. I'm sure there are people who will argue this point but it's probably not far off. You can read the full specifications on the new, much improved Montane website. I'll just review a couple of the main points for you:

Don't sweat it - The Pertex Microlight fabric has proven to be amazing. Windproof and water resistant but breathable enough to wear all day. For most 3 season backpacking I'll slip it on over a merino or thin synthetic base-layer on exposed, windy summits or if there is a light drizzle that doesn't require the warmth or clamminess of my waterproof jacket. It's also great in camp for keeping the mozzies at bay. In winter I wear the Lite-Speed over a heavier base-layer made from a synthetic such as Power Stretch or Power Dry. When cross country skiing this is the perfect combination of breathability (open the zip, push up the sleeves and drop the hood when grinding uphill) and protection (batten-down-the-hatches when going downhill, in light snow or in the teeth of an arctic wind on a ridge). I also wear the Lite-Speed for running in the winter and it keeps clamminess to a minimum while keeping me warm enough to run in Bergen's freezing winter rain. The material also dries really quick if it does wet out. For such a light, soft, packable material it has also proven to be durable. 18 months of bushwhacking, falling over on skis, scraping past granite boulders and the daily commute have all been handled with very little sign of wear.

Making the cut - The Lite-Speed is cut slightly more generously than Montane's other wind shells but this actually makes it more versatile and better for long backpacking trips. I'd prefer a shorter, trimmer cut if I wanted something just for running but the extended tail and wider body offers more coverage and allows you to layer it over mid-layers and light insulation pieces in camp.

Hug a hoody - Some of the lighter wind shirts on the market don't have a hood and again, if I wanted one just for running then I'd go for this option but the few grams that a hood costs you is a very worthy investment. I am constantly surprised by the huge difference in comfort that can be gained on a windy, cold hill by simply pulling up the thin, almost weightless hood. It cuts the wind and creates a nice dry, warm 'bubble' over your noggin and neck. There is no peak or visor on the Lite-Speed but I usually wear a cap of some description so it's not needed for three season use.

It's the little things - Elasticated cuffs are light and allow you to push the arms up for venting. I'm not usually a fan of pockets but the single chest pocket has proven a useful place to stuff gloves when trying to do something that requires considerable dexterity. There are comfy fleecy 'beard guards' around your Gunga. Finally the wee Scotchlite dots stop you getting run over on winter evening runs down the lane.

Overall I love my Montane Lite-Speed. I really do. It's the perfect balance of features and lightweight comfort combined with versatility that is, in my opinion, without equal. There are lighter and trimmer running specific wind shirts and there are burlier and more feature-packed winter wind shirts but if you crave a simpler life then the Montane Lite-Speed has you perfectly covered 99% of the time. This is the single most important piece of clothing I own. Genius.

Peace and riot

It was one of those days.

When the sky seemed to be brushing the top of your head.

When the wind screamed like a jet engine and tore at your clothes.

One of those days when you wore two hoods and wondered about Paramo.

When you realise how difficult it is to carry out the simplest tasks when wearing gloves.

When the crowds stayed away from the hills.

And when, despite the cold, the wind and the mud, you feel alive.

Glove will tear us apart - Rab Power Stretch Grip Glove Review

 

My gloves for the past year and a half have been Rab Power Stretch Grips, pretty simple gloves in Polartec's Power Stretch material. Power Stretch has to be one of my favourite types of synthetic 'fleece'. It's warm, light and dries pretty quick, useful attributes in gloves, it's also an awesome material when it comes to cleaning up after snot rockets... The gloves feature a raised silicon palm and finger grip for clutching trekking/ski poles, water bottles or holding onto maps for dear life on some windswept summit. There is also a lycra bound cuff and embroidered logo but that is really about it.

They fit well, not too boxy, almost following the rest of Rab's clothing which is sometimes described as 'athletic'. Those with shovels for paws might want to look elsewhere. The Power Stretch is very soft and comfortable and does a great job of keeping my fingers warm without any hint of clamminess. I've carried them almost every day I've been outside in the past year and a half and they've put up with all kinds of abuse. Trekking poles, skiing, cycling, etc have all been 'handled' well and the gloves show little signs of wear. They weigh 43g (size medium) a pair so carrying a second set in winter isn't a chore either (take two pairs in winter, layer them up with a fleece mitt and/or a shell mitt and rotate the Rab's as required).

They get a big stretchy fleece covered Devil's Horns from me (that's better than a 'thumbs up' in case you're confused).

Crime & Punishment

The Crime: I wasted the weekend. I had the plans. I had packed the gear. I even had the weather on my side and although it wasn't perfectly crisp and clear like it had been during the week, it turned out mild, dry and perfect for a 24. So why didn't I go? I can't honestly say. I should have. I made excuses based on flimsy evidence that I regretted almost immediately. It's easy to do with the mountains on your doorstep and that is unforgivable.

The Punishment: My running program has been slowly gaining momentum and I thought I should try and push things a little bit. I made the decision to 'do Vidden', a crescent shaped route that starts on one hill above the city and ends on top of another, circling a couple of reservoirs. I'm not sure if there is an officially regarded start/finish point but as I live at the base of one of the hills I didn't think I'd be far off the course. There is a trail that leads straight up Ulriken almost outside my front door. I didn't go too balls out, I still took a small backpack and full waterproofs just in case. I even carried my camera. A quick warm up and some stretches and I was ready. Less than two minutes after leaving my house I was climbing the steep ramparts, directly under the cable cars that ferry the less energetic to the viewpoint and cafe. No cappuccino and pastry for me though, just sleeves pulled down and teeth gritted in the chilly wind that greeted everyone who made it to the top. I tried to ignore the delicious smells coming from the cafe and jogged past. With the worst of the climbing already completed at was a case of trying settling into a rhythm and enjoying the varied trail. Mud, ice, rock and grass keeps you on your toes as you slowly encircle the reservoirs fall below. The trail is a very popular day hike for many citizens and visitors and there were plenty of people out enjoying the fairly benign weather. I'll be honest, I didn't run every step. Steep, scrambly sections, bottlenecks and my attempt to pace myself made sure I sometimes slowed to a trot or fast walk. It also gave me a chance to drink and eat jelly babies. 3 hours later I arrived at the other side, Fløyen. Another 25 minutes and I was down the incredibly steep, tarmac path that burned my feet and back where I had started. I felt drained but slightly better about the weekend and less wasteful of the weather that will become a more and more precious commodity as the weeks roll on. I hope I get to have a night out in the hills next weekend. If I don't, and the weather is bad, I will only have myself to blame.

"And like that, he was gone!"

(psst! - this should have been posted two weeks ago!)

Probably thanks to Kate and her assumption that I should be waxing up the skis, not dreaming about crampons, the snow that last week carpeted the hills above Bergen has retreated to higher elevations. This was especially galling as I had told friends that winter's grip was starting to tighten on our environment and that they should come and see how pretty the snow looked in the sunshine.

We still had a fantastic day out, exploring new trails, mentally and visually connecting them with ones we already knew and appreciating new viewpoints. We even got a bit of scrambling in, finding a steep notch in the side of Vidden that would have been a bit of a pickle in the snow and ice. No snow forecast this week but there is the promise of blue skies, sunshine and sub-zero temperatures!

Hot for teacher

Some lessons we learn the first time, some we need to stay behind after class because we don't listen when we're supposed to. I'm in detention because I still need to learn patience. Good things, those who wait, blah, blah, blah. Instead of writing lines I'm pounding the trails near my home, running with the devil. Back to school tomorrow.