Walking in powder snow is fun.  However, to keep it that way you need to make sure the wet does not get into your hiking boots.  Easier said than done, powder snow has that ability to find its way in regardless how tranquil the weather conditions are.  The only solution I have found to work is to wear a pair of snow gaiters.  The tip on buying gaiters is to select a good fit and make sure they have strap under your hiking boot.  In deep snow it is just so easy for the gaiter to ride up your leg.  The team at the Hilltrek store will be happy to share their advice with you.

With the higher hills in Scotland now sustaining snow cover, deep cover in places due the strong winds that accompanied the precipitation.  This has been to the benefit of getting safer conditions for early back country skiing.  Already, the enthusiasts of this pursuit have been out.  For example, here is a back country skier touring around the mountains south of Glas Maol.  Clearly a blue sky day in these photos but conditions can change fast, so this group of individuals really take the performance of the clothing and equipment seriously.  When you are miles from home and the elements turn again you, then you need all the support you can get.  Often the layering of the clothing is critical as the up hill climbs require the clothing to keep the body cool and allow moisture to escape, while an exposed plateau walk may produce a high wind chill and the need to keep warm.  Not forgetting the flexibility of the clothing the activity of skiing requires.  One way to ensure all these demanding features are met is to invest in  made to measure clothing.

Sunday was a cracker of a day, a damp cold valley floor soon crisped up as I walked up the Fungle where the puddles were mini ice rinks.  However, the Fungle lower down was a tricky walk, damp and slimy conditions under foot, damp rocks covered in leaves or needles, its all too easy to slip and give a musle a tear.  In the trees the exposed roots were well slick too, try and avoid those.  Once out into the expose moorlands the ground was pretty much frozen and the sun was warm.  Gannoch  was my destination 731 metres above sea level but before then I had to head down into Feughside to 200m metres before ascending again.  Under foot conditions were similar but this time I was heading above the general freezing level.  The path went from firm to bullet proof and had a dusting of snow that made for tricky conditions under foot.  Luckily I was still in full sunlight, just as well as the wind was picking up and it was biting.  I reach the snowy summit, views to the deep blue north  sea at Aberdeen to a view of the whole of the Cairngorms, Cairn Toul to Ben Avon, taking in the whole of Deeside, infact a 360 view of Aberdeenshire.  Jaw dropping.  But it wasn’t a day for hanging around.  I was heading home to Aboyne via Glen Tanar and that put me in the shade of the sun and the gentler slope meant the running water on the path had turned into min glaciers, real dangerous walking, especially when you are a 2 hour walk from home.  With the wind buffeting you down the slope you have to place every step with care.  Including watching out for a high altitude frog that had found a ray of sunlight further down the hill.  The deeper bogs were slightly frozen but not enough to hold my weight, so some jumping was required.  All in all the wind chill was allowing the cold to get to me but that was soon put right with the last climb of the day to head across to the Tower of Ess.  All in all 30km of tricky hillwalking conditions especially underfoot.  My feet were in great condition through out and I put that down to a pair of quality socks, purchase from Hilltrek.co.uk .

Ken Reid Fisheries Development Officer at the River Dee Trust tested our Dee Wading Jacket in Iceland in a recent trip. Here is his story:

I visited Iceland in some of the wonderful salmon fishing on offer; there are so many fabulous rivers in this country sitting at the roof of the world. It’s been a must go venue to me for some time so when the opportunity arose over a beer with a friend in Argentina in January, I knew I would have to take the opportunity. Having fished in a number of countries around the world where you can encounter cold, wet and windy conditions, I knew Iceland would be no different. Prior to flying out though I paid a visit to Hilltrek to speak to owner Dave Shand as I was intrigued to hear about their bespoke facility for fishing jackets. Dave explained the principles around the design of their jackets using top quality materials which have stood the test of time such as Ventile. I was delighted to be given a jacket to field test and promised I would report back my findings in due course after it had been given a decent workout. The jacket was technically sound and had all the features I like to have in jackets I use when fishing around the world.

I met up with friends in Reykjavik and we organised our provisions needed for our visit to the Laxa in Adaldal River in the north of the Iceland . Ahead of us was a drive from the south of Iceland to the north via the town of Akyureyri and onto our fishing lodge, where we would meet up with other anglers staying at the Veidiheimilid Arnesi Lodge. We had 3 days fishing at this venue and then we headed back to the south west of Iceland to fish on the Holsa Thvera River , where the famous East and West Ranga Rivers enter it beside the lodge we were to stay in. I somehow managed to leave the big Laxa River having picked up the wrong wading jacket, however a phone call notified me of my mistake and the jacket was promptly retrieved to much hilarity from the lodge manager, who wanted to keep the jacket for himself. The journey over the highlands of Iceland was quite dramatic as the weather was a lot colder than back in Scotland , there were fresh snowfalls on the mountains indicating we were fishing in late autumn conditions. It really is a quite beautiful country where the roads are very quiet compared to the United Kingdom and this allows you to travel at a leisurely pace admiring the breathtaking scenery.

The fishing was carried out in tough weather conditions and the fishing jacket acquitted itself fantastically. As is often the case when fishing; when the weather is bad, the fishing is good. We were delighted to catch over 40 salmon throughout the week from both the rivers, whether fishing from the bank or wading above waist depth in icy cold waters. I was very comfortable thanks to the efficient breathable membrane and construction of the jacket, and at no times were there any problems with water ingress from persistent rain or deep wading. As a result of being comfortable I was able to concentrate on the job at hand where success is never easy when visiting new rivers to fish. I was delighted with the jacket, and I would be more than happy to endorse Hilltrek as a company that can deliver a quality bespoke garment to suit your needs. I look forward to fishing in Argentina in January 2011 where we will encounter force 9 winds and driving rain, in the knowledge that I will be comfortable when pitting my wits against the giant Sea Trout of Tierra Del Fuego at the world’s basement.

For more information on the River Dee Trust see www.riverdee.org and for information on fishing on the Dee see www.fishdee.co.uk