18/04/2019
Day 5 in the 15x15x15 challenge and after a great night sleep next to Hadrians Wall, I was refreshed and revitalised and feeling as fit as a Roman Emperor! Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Day 4. Day 5. Day 6. Day 7. Day 8. Day 9. Day 10. Day 12. ... Read More
17/04/2019
I woke up on the banks of Loch Lomond today at around 0600, this National Park boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the world. From breathtaking mountains and glens to the vast tranquil beauty of the Loch. It was simply incredible, I seemed to have the whole Loch to myself so decided it would be rude not to take a bath and make the most of this delightful opportunity! Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Day 4. ... Read More
16/04/2019
They say ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ – a mantra that served me well today in the most northern of the UK’s National Parks; the Cairngorms. Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Day 4. Day 5. Day 6. Day 7. Day 8. Day 9. Day 10. Day 12. ... Read More
15/04/2019
I woke up this morning to the realisation that it would probably be my last night in a proper bed for the next 2 weeks. I made the most of it and set the snooze for another 30 minutes. If I told you my legs weren’t feeling the effects of yesterday’s 26.2 miles in the New Forest, well I would definitely be lying. This could be tougher than I envisaged after all… Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Day... Read More
14/04/2019
Welcome to my first daily blog for my latest challenge in association with my awesome expedition partners Montane, which for me provide the best clothing around for endurance sports and expeditions in extreme, remote and complex environments. Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Day 4. Day 5. Day 6. Day 7. Day 8. Day 9. ... Read More
14/04/2019
“So when are you off on your shakedown trip Ash?” asked a North American friend. Shakedown sounds like an unwanted pat down at Airport security to me. However, this alien term actually refers to a short training trip to test out equipment and dust off your skillset. And so in late February, I headed to the Hardangervidda Plateau in Norway, to do a shakedown of my Arctic travel skills in preparation for a 35-day ski along the sea ice of Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. This was my third-time... Read More
29/03/2019
Time outdoors is precious, and moving quickly towards specific goals has become the best way to maximise this finite commodity. Efficiency of movement is the key to unlocking hitherto out of reach summits, and the Trailblazer range of packs are perfect for exploiting brief windows of opportunity and help you push on, further. faster. The rules have changed. A new style of enjoying the outdoors is emerging. Fastpacking, run-camping; it’s so new its terminology has yet to properly evolve. Whatever you call it, its philosophy of pushing hard to achieve... Read More
28/03/2019
Hello and welcome to Further Faster in association with Montane. In this episode, we meet a remarkable character. He has completed some of the most difficult races in the world, including only recently the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra, the 430-mile course, and the Montane Spine Race. So far, so impressive, until you learn that he often ‘doubles’ the race. Having completed the Spine Race he simply had a break, turned around and did it all again. Yet speaking to Javed Bhatti, his attitude isn’t as crazy as it first seems.... Read More
20/03/2019
On Thursday 7th March it was confirmed that British mountaineer Tom Ballard and Italian climber Daniele Nardi had lost their lives while attempting a first ascent of the Mummery Spur on Nanga Parbat in Pakistan. Numerous parties including the Base Camp support team, other mountaineering groups from across the region and the Pakistan Army did everything they could to locate the team after they went missing on Sunday 24th February. Early on Thursday, 7th March, another expedition team lead by Spanish climber Alex Txikon identified the bodies of both... Read More
19/03/2019
Scott Gilmour (GB) has set a new speed record for an unsupported crossing of Siberia’s frozen Lake Baikal, beating the record he set with team-mates Michael Stevenson and Rob Trigwell. The Norway-based expedition guide, friend of Montane and organiser of the SPINE RACE covered a distance of around 640km (397 miles) in 11 days, 15 hours and 28 minutes, finishing just after 09:28am UTC on the 16th March. This has broken the existing record of 12 days 21 hours and 13 minutes set by Gilmour and his team-mates last... Read More
