The Kathmandu Ultra Marathon 2015.

Here's a quick one for you. 

The Kathmandu Ultra Marathon takes place on January 3rd 2015.

It's worth looking up if you're in the area. I ran the inaugural event in 2014 and it was brilliant. Fantastic trails around The Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park with breathtaking views of The High-Himalaya to distract you from the pain!

Richard Ball (a very nice man!) runs it through his organisation Trail Running Nepal and can be followed on

Facebook here: Trail Running Nepal

Twitter here: @TrailRunNepal

and via their website here: Trail Running Nepal

One of the views you can expect to distract you! From Chisapani. Stunning!

Sri Lanka - Swerving the curve balls on the path to The Rumble in the Jungle.

The "Rumble in the Jungle" is the latest instalment of the newly formed Yak Attack World Challenge Series.

Regular readers will be fully aware of my compulsion for the original, and highly acclaimed, "Yak Attack" race held annually in Nepal; I have competed in the last three, and to be honest it's becoming something of an obsession! :D

The Sri Lankan chapter, however, wasn't entirely on my radar. I had taken a look at it out of interest but was undecided as to whether it was my thing or not. I enjoy the brutality of extreme events, I like the challenge of mastering the demons that shadow you and, perversely, I'm also fascinated by observing the way other racers cope (or not) with the mental and physical demands that such events throw at you and the way that preconceptions can completely disintegrate over the course of a few hard days.

I just wasn't sure if it was extreme enough.

The stages certainly looked tough enough, lots of hard climbing, some great looking descents, river crossings & jungle to be negotiated, a couple of 80km+ days, and my personal nemesis - heat & humidity. I just thought that four stages wouldn't be quite enough; from personal experience the breakdown process for most people starts at around 3 - 4 days and gets interesting from there onwards.

There was also the spectre of minimal preparation; I broke my elbow and several ribs in August which would mean that I would only have a few weeks back on the bike before racing!

However with the thought of a reunion with friends from around the world, some less than subtle persuasion from Team Yak Attack (Phil Evans & Kate Hobson), and the offer of a reduced entry fee (or a reward, as Phil put it, for my support, championing, and promotion of Yak Attack over the last couple of years) finally saw me click on the entry button. Thank you for that Phil & Kate, it is much appreciated.

It was then that things started to unravel...!

Cyclone Hudhud: The 2014 Annapurna Disaster, Nepal.

I've been considering writing something on this since the news broke. Fortunately experienced Mountain Guide and Author Jamie McGuinness has taken up the mantle and has said what needed to be said in a much better way than I ever could (see the link below).

Jamie McGuinness wrote the Trailblazer guide book "Trekking in the Everest Region". We used it extensively on our first unsupported trip in 2012 and found it to be invaluable; referencing it on a daily basis.

It is a tragedy that really could have been prevented for the most part. Nepal is a staggeringly beautiful country, but it is a country that is also chaotic and suffers from many social and political problems that will take a long time to be fully addressed, if ever. Don't let that put you off from visiting though; it is one of the most rewarding places in the world in which to travel.

I would personally add to Jamie's comments that there is a worrying lack of genuine mountain experience amongst the majority of trekkers. Hiring a reputable guiding company is a good start but there is no substitute for personal experience. The ability to route find, read a map & compass, and make simple safety decisions, should be something most people entering The Himalaya should probably consider before embarking on an arduous trek in a remote, and potentially hostile, region.

My heart goes out to all the families that have been affected by this unfortunate tragedy; I know from personal experience the pain that you are suffering. Rest In Peace.

You can read Jamie's viewpoint using the link below to his website Project Himalaya.

http://project-himalaya.com/nepal-info-cyclone-hudhud-storm.html

Alpkit. A great brand and a cool place to visit.

Alpkit have a great showroom.

Alpkit are a brand that many of you may not be familiar with. A lot of climbers and mountain-bikers (particularly Bikepackers) certainly will be.

They are based in Newthorpe, close to the town of Eastwood, on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border.

They have a great reputation for producing quality kit and because they sell direct, either from their website or from the factory showroom, they are able to keep their prices very competitive. And I mean competitive. 

I'm a great believer in buying the best that you can afford, it always pays off in the long term; and believe me I've made the mistake of buying cheap! Alpkit, however, seem to have pulled off the coup de gras of making quality kit and keeping prices attractive.

I've visited their showroom a few times and I own a few items of their kit. After today's visit I own quite a few more.

I went particularly for some of their Bikepacking kit. (Bikepacking is simply the lightweight mountainbiking alternative to bicycle touring with pannier racks etc.)

I have been drooling over it for a while but with my current plan to take on The Tour Divide in America I thought it was time to take the plunge and get myself kitted out.

Review: Rab Ascent 700 Sleeping Bag

A grumpy Dave Slater demonstrating "The Rab Ascent 700" in Bupsa, Nepal, during our first trek in that region.

I first acquired this bag, from Rab, in early 2012 and it has since been on four high-altitude trips to The Himalaya. I think I can now give it a fair assessment.

Firstly it's squarely a 3 to 4 season sleeping bag, and from a UK perspective you are unlikely to use it outside of the November to February Winter period. Internationally, of course, you might well use it much more than that.
It is manufactured from the excellent Pertex Microlight fabric and is filled with 700gms of 650 fill power European duck down.
Which means that is reasonably light and very warm.
I have the (now) older version of this bag and it weighs about 1400gms when packed into the stuff sack.

(The information from Rab, provided below, is for the current model).