• Camping / Equipment & Accessories,  Climbing,  Climbing / Caving,  Critical items you ‘Need’ to Survive an Adventure,  Essential Rope Knots,  How To's,  Mountaineering,  My Blog

    Locking Screwgate Carabiners for Maximum Safety and Security

    Locking Screwgate Carabiners / Karabiners serve as essential tools for climbers and mountaineers, facilitating the secure connection of various equipment pieces, thereby ensuring their safety during ascents. Typically crafted from durable metal, these versatile devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes, though commonly feature an oval design with a spring-loaded clip mechanism, ensuring firm closure unless intentionally opened. They have a wide range of uses across various activities and industries, including: Climbing and Mountaineering: Carabiners are crucial for connecting ropes to harnesses, securing climbers to anchors, creating belay systems, and linking different pieces of climbing equipment such as cams, nuts, and quickdraws. Rigging and Rope Work: They are…

  • Climbing,  Climbing / Caving,  Hiking / Trekking,  Hiking / Trekking,  Overlooked Survival Items

    Stay Hydrated on the Go : Best Water Bladder Systems

    A backpack/rucksack with a Hydration Bladder System is a fantastic choice for outdoor activities such as when hiking, camping, or even on long walks. The hydration bladder, usually positioned inside the backpack, allows you to sip water through a tube without having to stop and open a water bottle; convenient and efficient giving you constant access to enjoy a drink hands free. Ideal choice while you are trekking in the mountains, scrambling over dunes and for runners. Plus, it’s a lifesaver in hot weather—enabling you to enjoy a steady flow of refreshing sips, shielding your water from the sun, and outperforming traditional water bottles with its generous capacity. Stay hydrated…

  • Camping / Equipment & Accessories,  Climbing / Caving,  Critical items you ‘Need’ to Survive an Adventure,  Marine,  Mountaineering,  My Blog

    Strong and Versatile Cordage: Essential Ropes for Every Adventure

    Cordage has endless potential uses… It is  a must-have for every adventure, from a day’s hiking or the rigours of long expeditions into the wilderness with all the necessary quality requirements – “Strength, Flexibility, Durability and Lightweight”. There are so many versatile rope applications that will come in handy during family camping holiday, on a day’s hiking, sailing or out in the remote wilderness; on occasions it is the survivalist best pal…. Examples of Top Uses for Versatile Cordage Shelter Construction: Cordage is essential for building and securing shelters, whether it’s tying down a tarp, lashing together branches for a lean-to, or creating a ridge line for a tent. Camping and Hiking:…

  • Adventures,  Climbing / Caving,  Expeditions,  Mountaineering

    Mt.Everest Base Camp, Nepal 2014 : Conquer the Ultimate Trekking Adventure

    The Team : Roger, Lucas Bateman, Lesley Pender, Annie (Annabelle) Hancock ,Clive Hagley & his youngest son Max, Julie Jones, Jan Meek :  Our journey to Everest Base Camp Nepal, 17,598 feet (5,364m) above sea level. Trekking to Everest Base Camp on the lower slopes of world’s highest and arguably the most majestic mountain is as spiritual uplifting as it is physically challenging. What makes it tougher; is trekking at altitude; rising an additional 2680m, eventually to reach Everest Base Camp, sited at 5360m; where there is 50% less oxygen compared to sea level. Altitude sickness can hit you at any time, specially over 3000m We flew from from Kathmandu,…

  • Adventures,  Climbing / Caving,  Expeditions,  Hiking / Trekking,  Mountaineering

    “How I Climbed Kilimanjaro Twice, Once with a Metal Knee”

    Kilimanjaro demands respect, this mighty dormant volcano, soaring from the African plains, stands as the tallest freestanding mountain globally, reaching a staggering 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level. Undertaking the challenge of conquering Kilimanjaro is not merely a physical feat; it’s a journey of personal determination and endurance. Embarking on this adventure with friends, I faced the monumental task of ascending Africa’s highest peak. In 2010, we tackled the Machame Route, we ascended through heavy scree that tested our limits. Descending was not without difficulties – a dodgy knee and tired legs. In 2012, armed with a newly replaced knee joint, I returned to Kilimanjaro to test the effectiveness…

  • Adventures,  Climbing / Caving,  Hiking / Trekking,  Mountaineering,  Speaking

    Highest Rugby Match Ever Played at 20,771 ft on Mount Everest 2019

      In April 2019 we trekked in the footsteps of Mallory and Irvine, up the Magic Highway’ to Mt Everest’s Advance Base Camp (ABC3) 6,500m/ 21325ft ; which is just below the North Col to play two games of Rugby on a glacier. Myself and Lesley, trekked and played alongside, Rugby stars Lee Mears, Ollie Phillips, Shane Williams, Tamara Taylor plus 20 inspirational men and women to help raise more than £250,000 for children with disabilities and facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland. The Rugby Challenge took place across 24 days; our group battled acclimatisation and altitude to play the World Record for highest ever game  of mixed seven-a-side ‘Touch Rugby’ at…