While I was searching to update my backpacking gear, and I was looking for a half-day to one day backpacking solution, I came across the Quechua Forclaz 20l Air. This is a price winning backpack with a ventilated back. The product’s capacity to enhance air circulation to limit warmth and moisture.
One of the most used items when mountain climbing or hiking is the backpack. The backpack is the “core” of any trip and any mountaineering expedition. There are many different types for various activities, in diverse colours and on numerous sizes. The backpack I have been using since 2014 is the Lowe Alpine Cholatse II 55-65.
The Black Diamond Transfer 3 Shovel’s home is in the mountains, where it can use its tough aluminum blade, trapezoidal aluminum shaft, and hybrid D/T handle to dig snow pits and plow through avalanche debris. The handle’s extendable, and also pops out of the blade for easy storage in your pack and quick access when you need it.
The whole past year, I was looking for a warm high quality down sleeping bag for 4-season mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, camping andother outdoor activities. I have been looking to all well established manufacturers such as Mountain Equipment, Feather Friends, Marmot, Rab, Montbell, Mountain Hardwear etc. I have been comparing various models and I was still searching for other manufacturers until the point I came across the Cumulus website. I have compared several of their models and I came to the conclusion that the Cumulus Panyam 600 was the right piece of gear for me.
This solar mobile power supply is specially designed for smart phones, handheld PDA, for iPhone/iPad and tablet MID series to provide adequate back-up energy, It is equally applicable to mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3 etc.
Vardousia is a mountain in northwestern Phocis and southwestern Phthiotis, Greece. Its highest peak, Korakas reaches 2,495 m (8,186 ft), making it the second-tallest summit in Central Greece after Giona. It is a southern extension of the Pindus mountains. It is divided into three main parts: Northern Vardousia, whose highest peak is Sinani at 2,059 metres (6,755 feet), the very steep Western Vardousia, whose highest peak is Soufles at 2,300 metres (7,500 feet), and Southern Vardousia, with the highest peak of Korakas. The whole range measures about 25 kilometres (16 miles) from north to south.
Last weekend, together with a group of friends we have been climbing towards the Korakas peak, starting from Athanasios Diakos village. The first part of the climb is more like trekking under beautiful trees and with wonderful views towards the Vardousia peaks.
In the past couple of years I have been in many mountaineering trips and therefore I had to camp various times on snow. Setting up a tent on snow or hard (iced) snow it can be a bit tricky if you do not have the necessary equipment. This necessary equipment is the right pegs that you can stake out the tent properly.
I have been researching on the best possible snow pegs and I came to the conclusion that most of them did not have the full spectrum of characteristics that i needed them to have. From the other side, the ones that had all desired characteristics, where quite expensive. That was the reason that I thought to design and produce the snow pegs on my own. I did an extensive research on best possible materials and techniques and I came to the conclusion that i would be using Aluminium L 1.6mm angle EN-AW-6060. This material is strong and durable but at the same time lightweight enough to be carried on the snowy slopes.
In detail, the design produced is the following one:
Continue reading “Olympus Outdoor Gear – Snow/Sand Pegs review”
When Hilleberg first introduced the Akto nearly 20 years ago, they didn’t know that it would become as popular as it has. Although only slightly heavier than a bivy bag, the Akto offers near-luxury, all-season shelter for the solo traveler – lodging that includes a vestibule and a packed size small enough to fit into a side pocket on many packs.
My first pair of crampons where the Rock Empire Machki. At the beginning of my mountaineering adventures, I needed a basic still good pair of crampons. As always, I did an extensive research on which pair of crampons would fit my necessities and my budget too and at I ended up purchasing these pair.
While searching for a good Snow Picket/Anchor, I have decided to create my own ones. I have done extensive research and I have studied several documents on what are the important elements to make the best possible snow picket.
One of the main resources has been the research by Don Bogie “Snow Anchors for belaying and rescue”, the research by Art Fortini named “Failure modes of Snow Anchors” and the full documentation on Snow Anchors by Don Bogie.
Olympus Mountaineering 