FitnessBanter.com - Walking in the UK

Re: Exercise for walking

Peter Clinch — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:26:51 GMT

coas****ch wrote:
> Ok, I know someone is going to say " the best exercise for walking is
> to go walking", but I cant get out in the country every day.

Plenty of walking to be done in less rural environments.

> I cant do jogging because I have problems with my knee joints

Good IME to build up the supporting muscles. Cycling (at least at
relatively high cadences) is good for that. And you can use it to
do your shopping or generally get around town (perhaps to a nice
park for a walk) so actually do something utilitarian as well as
get some exercise and IME not nearly as dull as the gym.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Re: Exercise for walking

Chris Gilbert[_4_] — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:55:02 GMT

> Any ideas or suggestions welcome.

I've always found a stepper machine by far the best
non-walking exercise most suited to improving fitness
for walking.

Chris

Snowdonia - Car parking charges.

Michael Chare — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:01:41 GMT

I see the Welsh now want �4.00 for a day's parking in the Nant Peris Car
Park, LLanberis. IIRC parking there was free in the past.

The car park was almost full the day I found this out. It was also difficult
to find a roadside parking place this August. Maybe I was trying to late in
the day.

--
Michael Chare

TR: Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill

Mark in Sutherland — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:26:19 GMT

Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill is an interesting but remote
hill in the far north-west. It's not easy to get to, and not even easy
to find out about, because it's spread over three OS maps (9, 15 and 16)
with no overlap, so it's hard to see the shape of it; in the end I gave
up and got an OS Select map centred on the hill.

Weather up here has been decidedly mixed, and it feels very much as
if autumn's on the way. (Snow is supposed to dust the highest tops on
Sunday.) However yesterday was a magnificent day, with sunshine, a
light breeze, blue skies and white clouds. A day in a hundred.

I set off rather late and was parked by Loch Stack at about 1100.
The breeze was fortunately keeping the midge down so the walk to Lone
was comfortable. Following a suggestion in Richard Gilbert's excellent
book, I took the right-hand path and headed just south of east (staying
on the main track would have taken me towards Arkle and Foinaven). The
very good path climbs up into Srath Luib na Seilich, a lovely glen which
reminded me rather of Upper Eskdale in the Lakes.

It was a long way to the bealach, and I thought about stopping for
a dip and found a very nice pool. Sadly, in August, the choice is
between finding a windy pool and freezing to death you get out of the
water, or finding a calm pool and getting eaten alive by The Midge when
you get out of the water. So I tried to have lunch there instead; it
was one of those lunches that was eaten whilst walking round trying to
keep The Midge off.

Then headed up easy grassy slopes towards Meall Garbh; this got
stonier as I headed up, but there was a very fine view from the top, and
a breeze, so I could finish the rest of my lunch in peace.

The way down to the col was more of a slab field than a boulder
field, and was not too difficult, especially as it was possible to pick
a route which was vegetated. Then a steepish bouldery ascent to the
un-named top at 761m. This is a nice triangular peak, well seen from
the road.

Unfortunately the nice triangular peak also had a steep boulder
field to descend on the other side, with no real let-out. Then on to
Tatha nam Beann, for the last view of the day; the landscape looked
stunning with the blue sea and sky and white clouds.

Headed along the ridge towards Sail Rac; I'd wondered if it would
be possible to come down here, but it was far too steep. So I headed
north to the path I'd originally taken, turning right where necessary to
avoid steep ground. (I could probably have worked left on descent to
pick up the ridge below the steepness, but it wouldn't have saved any
time.) Grey cloud was building, but the route back on the good track
was easy.

I felt pleased when I got to the car that there was no midge around
as I changed. Needless to say, the horrors had been waiting by the
driver's door, and I ended up giving rather too many of The Midge a
lift. Having your feet and legs bitten when you're driving is rather a
distracting experience!

All in all a superb day for weather, and a good long and (for the
area) easy walk.

Mark

Boot FAQ (v.1.5)

Chris Gilbert — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:05:35 GMT

Archive-Name: uk/walking/boots
Posting Frequency: 28 days
URL: http://www.drabble.me.uk/usenet/urw-boot.shtml

UK.REC.WALKING Frequently Asked Questions (Boots)

Version 1.5 Last Updated Monday 30th December 2002

This FAQ contains material pertaining the acquisition of boots
designed for and appropriate for country and hill walking.

THINGS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT BOOTS

We often get questions along the lines of 'Which boot should I
buy ?'. There's no really hard and fast rules other than you get
what you pay for. Good boots do cost a lot of money but you
can avoid paying over the odds for your chosen pair by
shopping around for the best price. Without going into an
enormous amount of detail, here are some things that you
might consider.

Fit
The fit of the boot is the most important factor in considering
a purchase. Boots made outside the UK (especially Italy) are
often a narrower fit than boots made in the UK. Apparantly British
people have wide feet so if you try on a non-British boot and it's
a bit of a squeeze try and find a boot made in the UK. Regardless,
try on as many boots as you can in the price range you can afford
as no two boots will be the same anyway.

Size
Most people will require a boot that is larger than their normal
shoesize. A good rule of thumb is, while wearing a pair of socks
that you intend wearing with your boots, put your intended
purchase on your foot *without* lacing it up. Now push your foot
forward so that your toes touch the toe of the boot. If you can
comfortably fit a finger or thumb into the gap between your heel
and the heel of the boot then the boot is probably the right size.
The toe gap allows you to descend a slope while taking your body
weight on the instep of your foot rather than your toes. Move your
heel well into the heel cup of the boot and lace it up, making
sure that you're not lacing too tight. Walk around the shop to see
if the heel of your foot 'rises' within the boot despite being
laced up. A significantly rising heel will probably blister on even
the smallest walk and the boots are unlikely to ever be comfortable.
The rising is caused through a combination of the stiffening of the
sole of the boot and too large an instep gap in the boot cavity.
The foot flexes away from the stiffened sole into the instep gap
causing the heel to rise. If you have already bought a boot that
permits too much movement consider fitting it with a padded footbed
to reduce the amount of space in the boot. Extra socks may also help
but the footbeds will reduce the amount of vertical space in the
boot without affecting the other dimensions. If a footbed
uncomfortably restricts the space available in the toe of the boot
then consider using heel pads. Some insoles double as a shock
absorbing medium. Specific brands include Sorbothane, Eagle Rock
and Superfeet. The author's own preference is for Sorbothane which
has been found to be both extremely comfortable and very long
lasting.

Midsoles
A midsole is piece of stiffened material, usually nylon, that is
incorprated in the sole of the boot. If you intend doing a lot of
hill walking then a boot with stiffened midsole will help
considerably in stopping your feet from getting tired too quickly.
Some boots have significantly stiffened midsoles and these will also
permit the use of walking crampons if you are going to go winter
walking. If all you are going to do is low level walking then a
moderately stiffened midsole will probably prove sufficient when
something quite stiff will probably prove uncomfortable.

Material
Leather or Fabric ? Fabric was trendy for a while but *most* people
have found it to be less hard wearing and reliable than leather.
It's still pretty good for summer walking though. If buying leather
then boots made from a single piece are less prone to leaks but are
correspondingly more expensive. Multi-piece boots, usually
manufactured from the off-cuts of single piece boots, need a bit
more care but are cheaper.

Seasons
A 4 season boot is one that is designed for all-year-round use but,
in that it is suitable for winter walking, it is likely to be too
heavy and warm for comfortable summer walking. A good 3 season boot
will cope with non-extreme winter walking and, if stiff enough, will
take a walking crampon while still being light enough to be
comfortable in all but the hottest weather.

Breathable linings
Many manufacturers these days offer at least one model of boot in
thier range which incorporates a breathable lining. The most common
lining is Goretex but there are others. Theoretically the lining
permits the foot to breathe while minimising the liklihood of wet
feet. In reality breathable linings offer minimal improvement on the
basic design of boots and make the care of the boot more complex.
All boot linings are prone to abrasion by the foot and breathable
linings are no different. The lining is thus unlikely to remain
intact physically for more than a fraction of the potential lifetime
of the boot structure. In fabric boots the lining can become clogged
with the fine dust that penetrates the nylon shell or even by spray-
based boot care products. Also, breathable fabrics work through
vapour pressure differential. A waterlogged outer shell is likely to
have a much higher vapour pressure than the inside of the boot
causing water to migrate *into* the boot eventually. Linings in leather
boots are likely to be more effective while they last but a well built
and looked after leather boot can offer all of the characteristics
offered by breathable liners while at the same time being infinitely
more robust. Many feel that it's a gimic aimed at parting the unwary
purchaser from thier readies but if the boot is only intended only for
occaisional, light use and is unlikely to be used so heavily so as to
threaten the physical integrity of the liner then it may be worth the
added expense.

Service
A good shop will let you try the boots on in the shop and will
invariably provide you with some walking socks to use while doing
so. They will let you pay for the boots and take them home so that
you can wear them around the house for a couple of days. If they
turn out to be really uncomfortable then, as long as they have not
been taken outside the house or damaged in any way the shop
should either allow you to exchange them or give you your money
or a credit note back. Don't take our word for it though, check with
the shop before you buy.

Boot Care
There is a wide range of footwear care products that are designed
to be used in conjunction with the usual cleaning described below.
Look for the following;

Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather (the original Nikwax)
Nikwax Aqueous Wax for Leather
Nikwax Nubuck and Suede Waterproofing
Nikwax Fabric and Leather Waterproofing
Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel
Nikwax Conditioner for Leather (restores suppleness)

Grangers NT Footwear Protector (for all materials)
Grangers NT Footwear Conditioner (for leather)
Grangers NT Footwear Cleaner
Grangers Footwear Proofer (Spray -for leather, nubuck, suede and fabric)
Grangers Footwear Conditioner (Spray for nubuck and suede)
Grangers Footwear Cleaner (Spray)
Grangers G-Wax Beeswax Proofing for all smooth leathers (Spray or Wax)
Grangers Leather Conditioner
Grangers G-Sport Waterproofer (Spray - for all materials)

Caring for leather boots: Some manufacturers these days coat their
boots with a hydrophobic substance which is an effective repellent
for water but which will eventually wear off. The boot should be
periodically cleaned in warm, clean water and allowed to dry
naturally ( as opposed to dry by placing next to a heat source).
Leather boots should *never* be force-dried as it will encourage the
leather to crack) before applying one of a number of different
waterproofing/conditioning substances all of which have their merits
and demerits; Natural Wax (Dubbin) is readily absorbed but may
cause the leather to become overly pliable with prolonged use.
Synthetic Wax (eg. Nikwax) is best applied with the fingers as the
warmth makes it easier to apply. Liquid Repellents ( eg. Liquid
Nikwax ) are applied with a brush and do not have to be 'forced'
into the stitching of the boot. Prolonged application of liquid
reppellent may also cause the leather to become overly pliable. If
your boots get really wet then you should stuff them with newspaper
to draw any water out of the liner while the leather is drying. The
newspaper should be replaced periodically.

Caring for nubuck leather: Dried in a similar fashion to ordinary
leather boots but to clean, wash in warm, soapy ( non-detergent )
water with a soft brush. While still damp ( as opposed to wet or dry )
apply a liquid repellent like Liquid Nikwax.

Caring for fabric boots: Care of fabric boots is pretty much the same
as for leather. If they are not waterproofed you can use a water
repellant such as Grainger's G-Sport, which you simply spray on
when the boots are clean and dry. You need to apply a couple of
coats and allow a few hours for the boots to fully absorb it. The
coating should be re-applied as necessary, e.g., after you have
washed and dried the boots. To keep the boots clean, simply brush
off any excess mud, and then wash them in clean warm water. The
best way to dry them (as with leather boots) is to stuff them with
paper and leave them in a warm place. You can get away with
putting fabric boots next to a heat source to dry but beware any
leather or suede reinforcing patches. If the boots are a fabric/suede
mix, you can use a special brush to revitalise the nap of the suede
bits. You should do this before applying any water repellant.

Socks
It's logical to chuck in a short discussion about socks when talking
about buying boots. Unfortunately there's loads of different ones
and you can't really try them on and take them back in the same
way you can boots. It's unlikely that you'll find your preferred sock
the first time you buy. It may take years which is a pain when these
days walking socks cost a pretty penny. As a general rule, modern,
cushioned walking socks are designed to be worn as a single pair but
if a single pair does not afford your feet either the protection or
the comfort that you require then consider wearing a pair of thin
inners underneath them. You can buy sepcial inners, they'll be on
the same shelf as the outers, but these are expensive and you may
just require a thin pair of cotton sports socks. The theory is that
the inner and the outer will move relative to each other as you walk.
This significantly reduces the risk of abrasive blistering. Beware,
however. In hot weather this combination is likely to cause excessive
sweating which in itself can lead to blistering. Reputable names in the
sock manufacturing arena include both Thorlo and Bridgedale. They are
not cheap. You get what you pay for.

And a final word
Is it really a boot that you need ? There is a presumption that
if you are going out into the hills then you should have a 'stout
pair of walking boots' but the experience of many people is
that while there are many circumstances in which boots are a
must there are just as many where they clearly are not the best
thing that you could have on your feet. Lugging around an
extra Kilogram or more on each foot on a dry, warm day is
perhaps not the best strategy when a pair of well-made,
lightweight cross-trainers or even walking sandals might well
make the whole experience even more enjoyable than it
would be in boots.

Re: Cool Backpack for my daughter

David Skinner[_2_] — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:42:57 GMT

In article <6edc17e4-9cb9-41e1-a4cf-241597a7caf4
@l20g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>, says...
> HI I'm looking for a decent backpack (surprise present) for my
> daughter after she did so weel in her exams. I've looked on > href="http://www.go4awalk.com">go4awalk.com, Outdoors Magic and lots of other sites but
> frankly am a bit bewildered for choice. Does anyone have any
> recommendations? Needs to be about 35l and cool enough so she will
> actually use it. Thanks

I assume you mean "cool" as in "groovy", rather than "cool" as in
"doesn't make your back sweat under it".

I don't know really - The North Face gear seems popular as cool casual
wear as well as for hillwalking use. Likewise with Helly Hansen.

Re: Cool Backpack for my daughter

Peter Clinch — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:41:17 GMT

Kendonaggysarky wrote:
> HI I'm looking for a decent backpack (surprise present) for my
> daughter after she did so weel in her exams. I've looked on > href="http://www.go4awalk.com">go4awalk.com, Outdoors Magic and lots of other sites but
> frankly am a bit bewildered for choice. Does anyone have any
> recommendations? Needs to be about 35l and cool enough so she will
> actually use it.

How old is she, and what's the planned usage? Taking books around
college and scrambling in the mountains require different things...

That aside, one of the main points in a good pack is the comfort,
and that depends on the match between her body and the pack. And
the best way to check that is trying on with a representative
weight inside.

After you've decided on the sort of thing you want according to
envisaged function I'd be inclined to take her to a shop with a
"voucher" for a pack. She can decide what's comfy, and also what's
cool.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Trekking in Nepal. Advice wanted regardiing gear.

Tim Downie[_5_] — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:37:17 GMT

My wife and I are going on a trek to the Anapurna sanctuary at the beginning
of October.

Can anyone offer any useful advice on the best clothing & other gear for
such a trip. The trek is about 2 weeks long. Any other tips for visiting
Nepal gratefully received. This will be our first time travelling in a
country (and at altitude) like this.

Tim

Any chance of this happening ....

sandy saunders — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:21:48 GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-11056399

--
Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
'Mountains or Mole Hills, summiting
still brings the same excitement!'

Rila Mountains, Bulgaria

John Dawson[_3_] — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:11:26 GMT

I've recently returned from a trip to Bulgaria which included some hiking
in the Rila Mountains. Highlights were the seven Rila Lakes (day 2) and
the ascent of Mount Musala (day 4), at 2925 metres the highest mountain in
the Balkans. Photos at:

http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/rila/

John D.
--
John Dawson at home in Kendal, Cumbria.
Lake District Walks Web Pages http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/
Peru trip at http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/peru/
Ethiopia trip at http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/ethiopia/

Tent Sale Followup

David Skinner[_2_] — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:59:08 GMT

As a followup to my post last week about the tent sale at F&T, and after
I bought mine, they've lopped another twenty quid off the TN Laser Comp
- it's �140 now.

http://www.fieldandtrek.com/terra-no...n-tent-783101?
utm_campaign=1105831283&utm_content=1005099772762
&utm_medium=email&utm_source=FT100818Terra%20Nova% 20Tent

http://bit.ly/cEE2n3

Good sale prices on footwear, sleeping bags, etc, too.

(I don't work for them, etc, etc).

Suggestions for Walking Base in UK

Phil Richards — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 07:26:30 GMT

Hello

Looking for suggestions for a base for about a week to do day walks.
Back in April we self catered in Settle and were spoilt for choice for
day walks either from the town or a short bus/train ride. Not massively
long walks, for example we did each of the Three Peaks on separate days.

Ideally as we don't drive needs to have transport access to as well as
the ability to travel out & bit each day. Also amenities as we will self
cater such as shops to get groceries in. The odd pub or restaurant for
an evening out wouldn't go amiss!

Many thanks!

--
Phil Richards, London, UK

Re: Snow on distant mountains - are all summits in a range usually covered

Phil Cook[_2_] — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:29:10 GMT

Matt79 wrote:

>I have read on the Viewfinder Panoramas website that Merrick can only
>be seen from Snowdon (at 144 miles away) if there is snow on the
>mountain and not on Lamachan Hill a few miles south (as explained on
>the website, Merrick would not often be distinguished due to the
>distance and how only a small part appears behind Lamachan Hill).
>When looking at a range of mountains from any distance, how likely is
>it that some are covered in snow and others aren't. Correct me if I'm
>wrong, but if snow has fallen, then wouldn't all of the mountains
>usually be covered?

Rain and snow don't fall uniformly. It can pish it down one place
whilst another nearby is bone dry. But given the proximity of Merrick
and Lamachan Hill another factor comes into play Freezing Level.
Merrick is 843m and Lamachan 716m so it can be quite possible to have
snow on Merrick and rain on Lamachan.

Aside: I was looking at streetmap to determine the proximity of these
hills and zoomed out to get this view where the Republic of Ireland
seems to have sunk!
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X...5080&A=Y&Z=150

--
Phil Cook, last hill: Tryfan, still 88 of 283 M*nr*s to go.
http://www.therewaslight.co.uk/201007/IMG_7925.jpg

Thefts warning to Lake District tourists

sandy saunders — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 06:28:00 GMT

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-10976191

No surprise ............ but not only the summer ....... or The Lakes.

--
Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
'Mountains or Mole Hills, summiting
still brings the same excitement!'

Heads-up: Worthwhile Tent Sale

David Skinner[_2_] — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:21:20 GMT

Folks,

Field and Trek may not be the poshest place to shop, but they've got a
decent sale on tents at the moment (amongst other things).

PLUS - until midnight on Sunday, there's an extra 20% off everything.

I've just picked-up a Terra Nova Laser Comp for �160. (Most places list
it at �280).