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ldmountaincentre

19th – 22nd June – A Big Weekend for Northern Cyclists

Since being established in 2007 the Virgin Money Cyclone has grown from strength to strength,  the event is now a festival of cycling over the whole weekend finishing with the Beaumont Trophy  on the Sunday that this year has been classified as European tour event, making in one of just four UCI road race held in the UK   Tyne 6 Bridges Leisure Rides The weekend kicks off on the Thursday with two rides of different distance starting at ever popular Cycle Hub café in the Ouseburn. Both routes are... Read More

Norse Mythology

On campsites across Europe the Cotton Tent is making a come back. These retro designs offer a fun and spacious tent for relaxing family trips, festivals and parties. Scandinavian manufacturer, Nordisk, sit top of the list with some great tent designs. Understanding the names, however, requires some knowledge of Mythology.                                                                                ... Read More

How Big Are Your Hexes?

Climbers, are you looking for a summer challenge. Fancy something a little more vertical than the Three-peaks. Grab your rack and have a go at The Big Hex. To complete this mountaineering challenge, your team will have to climb three of Scotland’s most impressive mountain ranges, ascending and descending via their most exciting ridges and buttresses. The Big Hex participants will have to traverse the Cuillin’s Pinnacle Ridge on Skye, take on Ben Nevis via West Ridge, North East Buttress and Tower Ridge and climb Buachaille Etive Mòr via North... Read More

Spring Snow Makes for New Lines

A great video from the Alps of three guys hunting for spring snow and a great new line. Five hours of hiking up the rocky south faces of the ‘Les Courtes’ in the Mont Blanc range proved worth it for this epic descent.  

An Interview with Phil

Having been fascinated with Phil’s tales of his Fjällräven Polar experience we asked him if we could follow up on his adventure with an interview. Very kindly, he agreed to answer some of our questions. Hi Phil, I suppose the first question we’d like to ask is, how did you find out about Fjällräven Polar 2014 and what made you decide to take part? I first came across the Fjällräven brand in the summer of 2012 when visiting the Lake District, where I bought a few items of their clothing.... Read More

The Fjällräven Polar Day 6 – The End

I was first of our team to wake following our night in our snow camp. I can’t remember what time it was as I couldn’t be bothered to get my arms out of my sleeping bag to look at my watch. It was a beautiful morning and so peaceful. Even the dogs were unusually quiet, so it must have been early. Or maybe they knew it was our final day and not wanting it to be, just like the rest of us. Then all of a sudden I heard movement... Read More

The Fjällräven Polar Day 5 – Northern Lights… Camera… Action!

Following another great night’s sleep, it was Phil’s turn to wake me up as we slept in once again. This didn’t stop us from being one of the first teams ready and first to leave our lake camp. Our team had such good chemistry, that our Norwegian friends Madeleine and Jostein were starting to speak a lot more in my Mackem accent. Which was so funny and it really suited them, so they will have no problem when they come to visit me in Sunderland in the future. As for... Read More

The Fjällräven Polar Day 4 – Haway the Dogs

I had a great night’s sleep, probably the best I have had for a very long time. So good that both Phil and I had slept in. We should have been up at 6am, but instead woke just before 7am. Maybe that’s the secret to my sleeping problems, I need to sell my house and just live in a tent for the rest of my life in the Arctic Circle. If only…   After waking Phil up, he once again showed his military instincts by jumping out of sleeping bag... Read More

Day 3 – Let Fjällräven Polar 2014 Begin!

After a not so great night sleep for me due to strong winds (from the weather, not Phil), we were up at 5am before heading to Signaldalen to be each assigned our six husky dogs for the trek. We arrived at Signaldalen to meet the 240 dogs that would take us all on our 300km trek, where the sound of them barking was unbelievable. I had never heard anything quite like it. You literally had to shout to each other in order to be heard. The reason the dogs were... Read More

The Fjällräven Polar Day 2 – This One Time, At Polar Training Camp

After watching Phil’s early morning bed hurdling to turn off our alarms which went off in sync at 5:30, something he must be accustomed to being an Apache helicopter pilot in the Army, we quickly ate our breakfasts before heading to the airport for our two flights to Tromso. As we headed through the airport, Katrina and myself decided to head to Duty free to cover ourselves in our favourite perfume and aftershave samples. As we wouldn’t have the luxury of showers or facility to wash ourselves though out the... Read More