p14,15 Outdoor TOM:SGBGolf_NEW_template 26/02/2009 12:58 Page 14
SGB Outdoor
The Twilight Zone
Increasing numbers of walkers are upping the ante and including a bit of
scrambling in their big mountain days. Tom Hutton takes a look at the gear
required when things become that little bit more vertical.
W
alkers are walkers: it’s easily defined. And climbers are normal hill walking inventory are definitely a good idea, with the particular
climbers: even more distinct. But somewhere between the emphasis on making movement easy and keeping weight down. A good way
two there lies a semi-vertical twilight zone; where walkers to look at it is that every extra kilo carried will sap away 10% of the fun.
employ hands as well as feet in order to keep heading upwards. In
its simplest form, it’s a steep, rocky section somewhere along the There are plenty of places where the savings can be made. Heavier
voie normale where the hands are suddenly brought into play, and waterproofs – wonderfully bombproof in winter – can be swapped for ultra
a few simple climbing moves are needed to keep the show on the light Paclite or eVENT – which at less than 500g, can spend all day in a
road. pack without placing too much strain on already overworked muscles.
But it doesn’t end there, and Scrambling, as this best-of-both-worlds There are savings to be made on the legs too. A pair of good soft shell
grey area is known, has many dedicated devotees that actively seek these trousers will stretch enough to enable easy movement, will breathe
steep and challenging lines purely to add a pinch of excitement to their sufficiently to prevent the scrambler from getting wet from the inside, yet
walking. will still hold off some drizzle and the odd shower. And a pair of cheap and
very light waterproof trousers can always be carried as a last resort, but
The great thing is, as a natural extension of hill walking, it’s something these will almost certainly get trashed if they’re brought into action too
that almost anyone can do. It doesn’t demand a whole host of special skills often.
that need to be learned, and it doesn’t require too much specialist kit either
– though a few modifications to typical hill walking gear will make things Boot choice can be a very personal thing, with some preferring to slip on
easier for those starting out. And some basic climbing equipment (and the ultra light trainers or fabric boots, after all weight saved on feet is worth so
knowledge of how to use it) will make things safer for those really pushing much more than weight saved anywhere else; but others, myself included,
their limits. go for three-season leather boots that provide support and plenty of
stiffness for purchase on those tiny holds. A pair with a good rand will hold
So what’s in the sack and what’s on their backs? At the easy end, Grade up better than those traditional looking plain, full-grain leather.
I as it’s referred to; it’s usually possible to flank most of the awkward
sections so no specific climbing gear is carried. But a few modifications to a Scrambling places different demands on packs, and not just weight
14 SGB OUTDOOR FEBRUARY 2009
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