Archive

2014

Good news for Skiers as temperatures drop in Europe

Hurray for cold weather! As reported by Ski Club Great Britain, it looks like many ski resorts across Europe will be planning to open from this weekend. This does of course depend on snowfall but now that temperatures have dropped many resorts will be able to make their own snow this week. If resorts are able to make their own snow then this will provide a good base for any fresh snow falling before the weekend. There are of course many higher resorts that already have some great conditions so... Read More

Great Christmas Gift ideas for Skiers

“Where did November go?” we hear you cry. With only 22 sleeps till the big day we thought we’d better try and help all you last minute Christmas shoppers to find a great gift for that special person in your life. If that person likes skiing then read on because LD Mountain Centre have put together a list of 5 fantastic Christmas gifts that will bring a smile to the face of any ski enthusiast on Christmas morning. And just to be safe, we’ve included 5 super little stocking fillers.... Read More

Carry On Walking Through The Winter

A good friend of Ld Mountain Centre Mark Dunn has kindly wrote us a blog on his mountaineering adventures. Mark is a passionate walker/mountaineer and has illustrated just how spectacular the British outdoors can be. Hope you enjoy… What a fabulous summer it has been, the best in ages. We’ve all enjoyed endless, sunny, warm days ideal for long, memorable walking and hiking expeditions in the hills. Sadly, despite some beautiful autumn weather, it seems that the spells of sunshine and cloud free days are coming to an end. Certainly... Read More

Rich Visits The North Face Kalymnos Climbing Festival

Earlier in the summer I was offered the chance of a trip to Kalymnos (Greece) with The North Face as a Summit Series Specialist retailer to take part in the four day Kalymnos Climbing Festival they sponsor. Having climbed on the island earlier in the year of my own accord I was knocked out by the sheer scale and quality of climbing such a small Island has to offer. So naturally I jumped at the chance. The logistics were pretty simple; a quick form to fill out listing my climbing... Read More

Life from Machermo: Reuben Tabner

The first three weeks in Machermo has been busy for the IPPG team…   The First Three Weeks at Machermo The season is now well underway at the Machermo Rescue Post, and the numbers of trekkers passing through the valley is steadily increasing as the main trekking season has now started. All the doctors have been kept busy, seeing a mix of locals, porters and trekkers, presenting with problems from toothache to HAPE and HACE, and we have had four helicopter evacuations already, including one from Dole, (two hours walk... Read More

LD Welcomes Rab

History The original seed of an idea for Rab® was started when Rab Carrington found himself stuck in Buenas Aires en route to Patagonia in 1973. His expedition was postponed by a dock strike in the UK which delayed his equipment. He turned instead to working for a friend Hector Vieytes, sewing sleeping bags for the Argentinian Army. He didn’t realise it then, but he was learning the skills with which he would redefine the future of technical mountain clothing and equipment. Throughout the 1970s, Rab Carrington was a key... Read More

John Shedden’s Fjällräven Classic 8th-12th August 2014 (Part 2)

Day 4 Alesjaure Mountain Hut – Kieron – Abiskojarure (22km) The first part of day four follows the path close to the west side of Alesjarure for about 6 or 7 kilometres to a point where the little boat that ferries tourists and trekkers up and down the lake drops people off. Here you can go for a swim and there’s a Tepee and wooden benches for getting changed. The path swings away from the end of the lake and rises slightly to what is I suppose a vast mountain... Read More

John Shedden’s Fjällräven Classic 8th-12th August 2014 (Part 1)

The last minute call to join the Fjallraven Classic Trek in Swedish Lapland, as a guest of Fjallraven, came just a couple of weeks before the event. A call from our rep Ross explained that someone had dropped out and a place was available but he needed to know by the end of the day. Thankfully when asked if I could go my diary magically became clear for that week, decision made there followed some frantic web searching to find flights. The Fjallraven Classic is a 110km trek through the... Read More

LD Welcomes Stepchild Snowboards

New to LD Mountain Centre for the 2014/15 winter Season is Stepchild Snowboards a true rider owned and rider operated brand. The whole ethos is snowboarding, owned and run by JP Walker, Simon Chamberlain, Sean Johnston and Brad Richmond. Stepchild isn’t about cheap bits of wood covered in marketing trickery and flashy graphics; it is about producing quality snowboards for the street, park, mountain or powder. Stepchild is about riding and producing tough durable snowboards.   We will be stocking the Sleazy Rider an all mountain directional twin that can... Read More

25 Hour Adventure

With waves at Tynemouth looking sparse on Saturday a plan to surf became an impromptu trip to wild camp in the Cheviots. Upon reaching Wooler, the black cloud hovering over the hills turned this into a spur of the moment drive up to Loch Lomond where we pitched the tent before walking to Balmaha to find a cunning hiding place to escape the Midgies….the pub. The clear night and long, long….long days meant that Loch Lomond spent the evening doused in a silver light and the calm water was only... Read More