Snowpulse Airbag Packs are the next best piece of avalanche safety equipment after the big 4 (Transceiver, Shovel, Probe, Thinking). When inflated they help keep you near or on the surface of the avalanche and protect your head and chest from debris impact. We sold out of them completely last year but hope to have the right number for this season.
Snowpulse Safety Packs
The Rab MM was in the NE Lakes this weekend and was for the 4th year running blessed with good weather. I was in the elite distance, running with another Ilkley Harrier, Nicky Jaqueri. It was cooler than it had been for most of the week but the wind was OK and it was dry and clear. A bit of summit mist on day 2 but nothing too problematic.
Copying control values at the start
We had a good run on saturday, opting for the long run for high value checkpoints. We scored really well (although didn’t realise how well till the overnight camp) BUT were 14 minutes late back. The penalties are harsh for this event and we were docked 40 points putting us back to 250. 250 put us in 16th place overnight which we were pleased with, where as 290 would have put us 8th overall. 14 minutes isn’t much added onto 7 hours but what a difference! No one to blame but myself for that one.
We were pretty comfortable although a bit chilly at times overnight. I was gutted to see people strolling around in down jackets and looking a lot warmer than me, but once fed and in my bag I was fine. Used my balloon bed/sleeping bag for the first time and was very impressed. Nicky and I squeezed into a 1 man Laser Photon Elite tent which is very light but means you sleep with your nose against the tent inner. I am going to do a full article about the kit I carried and bag weights etc…
Mine is the little green tent.
Day 2 started a bit cold but soon warmed up. We went for a slightly more direct route back to the finish area were a small cluster of controls gave us plenty of options. For most of the day I thought we would be back too early and clear all the local ones with time to spare but Nicky stopped me being over ambitious and in the end (and after me wasting 15 minutes in the wrong stream gulley) we had to skip the very last 10 pointer. At least no penalties were incurred and we can home with 185 points. I thought we did not score that heavily on day 2 but it put us in 17th for the day, as opposed to 16th for day 1 so we gave a fair account of ourselves. Final poistion was 16th overall for the event.
The Rab is a great event, smaller in scale than some of the other national events but of the same very high standard. The atmosphere was great and we were very well looked after. I will definitely be back next year.
Following the sucess of the Marker Duke and Baron last year, marker have launched 2 more touring/backcountry bindings. The F10 and F12 are aimed more at the skier who splits their time between lifted off piste and outright touring. The F10 & F12 have reduced weight and DIN ranges than the Baron and Duke but still share the very secure mechanism that requires the removal of the boot to change from downhill to touring mode. See all our Marker Bindings.
All in stock and available now.
New Marker F10 Binding
We’re staying in Rossland, BC at the moment. This is a mountain town (Altitude 1060m) and this time of year there are plenty of bears around. Makes for interesting mountain bike rides. We’ve seen about 10 in the last week alone.
Today we saw this one on the edge of town, she didn’t care that we were there, just munched apples with her cub. Luckily there was a electric fence between us.
Just received this winters stock of Demon Body Armour. We have a 2 styles of crash shorts and 3 styles of back protector. Ideal for the those pushing their limits.
Demon Shield Vest
Our first delivery of skins and Coll-Tex bit has just arrived. Time to choose your new skins for your new shiny skis!
We have one new product, the Split Skin. 2 narrow strips of skin per ski rather than 1. A bit of a pain in the wind but ideal to make one set of skins fit 2 different skis and ideal for those with super wide skis who don’t need or want skins that look like your hall carpet.
Update: All stock live on the site now.
Dakine Winter 10 stock arrived in warehouse this morning. I will let you know when the stock is live on the website but you can see all the products at Dakine Autumn/Winter 2010
Dakine Boxes Everywhere
From now on Facewest will be a Rab stockist and our Rab selection is now in stock and live on the website. If you want to know why we have added Rab, watch this…
Free Mountain Equipment T shirt with any ME item with an RRP of £100 or more offer continues with all new Winter 10 stock
You might have read what a shocking run I had a couple of weeks ago in Sedbergh and hoped things would be better at the mountain trial, well I am happy to report that they were. I finished squarely mid pack (57th out of 129 in the mens race) in a time of 5 hours 50 but was happy and running for the whole thing. This bodes a bit better for the Rab Mountain Marathon in 2 weekends time, if my form improves by the same amount again, I will be on for a good run.
Photo: Ian Charters. Read his blog post on the LDMT 2010 HERE
CP2 at tarn outlet
