hilltrek

We will have a stand at the Aboyne Highland Games next weekend showing our Ventile & Cotton Analogy range of garments and  Naturally Páramo

Pipe band marching

 The Aboyne Highland Games has been held on the Aboyne Green since 1867 and is located only 300 metres from our shop and workshop.

The games is a traditional highland event with heavy events,  piping, dancing, fiddling competitions and the hill race.  This is a gruelling hill race  over rough terrain on the Fungle drover track. 

For more information see their website

We will have several offers available on the day including 10% off on production of a show catalogue.

For a start you have too be super fit.  If you don’t find the walk comfortable to achieve in summer conditions then do not attempt it in snowy conditions, especially when drifting snow can give snow depths of over 1 metre.

Preparation is key, know the weather forecast in detail, apply your local knowledge, tell some one where you are going and when you will be back.  Clothing in many layers, compass, map and all the common sense basics.   If you are not first out in the hills then you will gain the advantage of following in the footsteps of others but there will come a time when you need to cut a virgin trail through the snow, this is when things will get extremely tough going.  Take the space steady and work on a technique of walking that gives the best cutting motion through the snow,  I like to lead with my knee to shin and lean my weight slightly forward.  Walk on paths you know well,  it will surprise you how different they look when covered in deep snow, all the trees look the same, there is no path to guide your eye.  So, you need to work harder on examining the terrain and not just the terrain but the patterns on the snow.  Paths often are cut into the hill thus with any wind they get blown full of snow, often the deepest now will be on the path.  Examine the wind direction and see where the snow is being stripped down from, often a ridge line of a hill.  The snow will be more wind packed there and the pattern of the snow will resembles sand waves in a dessert.  But a word of warning, these are not golden rules, pocket of really deep snow will catch you out, the snow will give under you feed on snow condition that look identical so the only rule to follow is to concentrate on each step and be prepared to break through the snow with out warning.  This dictates a slow steady walking rhythm.  Listen to your body, it is easy to over heat, take on board liquids on a regular basis and food.  And start the return to home when you still feel energised as it will be just as hard getting back as hiking up as tiredness takes it toll.  Why, put yourself through this?  It can be fun making the first tracks, views to be had and just for the joy of walking in powder snow,  also the joints get a nice soft landing cushion.  There is much pleasure to be had but take care and be prepared.

Looking ahead to the summer months, this years Active Aboyne will be held from Saturday 11th September to Sunday 26th September.  The full programme is yet to be published but watch the site for the mix of walks, bushcraft, other outdoor pursuits and not forgetting the social activities put on.  The special guest this year is Karen Drake.  A true adventurer and sought after speaker.

What to do on a bank holiday Monday? Answer: walk from Aboyne to Aberdeen. The warm sunny days had slipped away, so the vision of wearing shorts and t-shirt for the walk was no longer on. What to wear on a day when the weather forecast suggested a band of rain early morning that would clear the sky come evening along the coast but with a northly wind, stronger nearer you get to the coast? Well, when I woke at 5.15am it was a clear sky and frosty in Aboyne, -2c but with a quick scan of the radar image, a band of rain was steaming south. So, I chose my ventile ‘made to measure’ hilltrek walking trousers and the inner lining of my skiing jacket. Sure enough it started to rain just after crossing Aboyne bridge. My first leg of the trip was to walk to Potarch Bridge via the south deeside road, 6.6 miles according to google maps. By then the rain had past and it cloudy but with sunny spells, and it remained like that for the rest of the day. The Deeside Way, was the walk I was wanting to follow, the only snag is, that it does not exist between Aboyne and Banchory so I free walked it along the river bank to Invercranny before walking along the road to enter Banchory, a 6.9 mile leg.

River Dee Banchory

Then I met up with a friend in Banchory and we started on the official  Deeside Way path, the old Deeside Railway line walk. The train was in operation at Milton of Crathes and 6.5 miles from Banchory we arrived at Drumoak.  Not far from the edges of Aberdeen, Peterculter being the first sign of Urbanisation.  It was windy by now keeping it cool but feeling warm in the glimpses of the sun.  Now I thought, my 4 month old ventile trousers may still be in need of some wearing in but no, they felt great the whole way.  More than I can say for me feet.  I chose my hiking boots but by Peterculter I opted for my trainers.  Us hill walkers are used to soft hill tracks or soft peaty ground but the deeside way path is hard and tarred for good stretches.  I met up with another friend for the last 7 miles from Peterculter to Duthie Park but the finishing line for me was the north seas at the beach esplanade.  I think about a 32 mile walk in about 10 hours.

We will be holding a sale at our shop in Aboyne this weekend when we will be offering huge discounts on some of our retail stock including Helly Hansen Shell Jackets, Patagonia Shell Jackets and Fleeces and Paramo Jackets and trek clothing.

Included in the sale are deals on Velez Smocks, Alta Jackets, Reversible shirts and so on, as a participating retailer in Paramo’s Happy New Gear Promotion.  The Paramo website gives an overview of the deals available. See  Paramo New Gear.  Sadly we cannot offer these over our website. Its against the rules folks – you have to visit us in beautiful Aboyne!

You can also pick up some excellent bargains in Hilltrek fleeces in colours we no longer stock, discountinued Golite stuff and many more.

The sky has awoken bright and clear in Aboyne this morning.  With great visibility the opportunity to get out in the hills to stretch the legs and to take in some majestic views arises.  Here are some tips on powder walking:

1. Wait for the weather to give you a clear blue sky day or at least favourable conditions

2. Choose a walk that you have done many times before i.e. you know it well.  It is amazing how such familiar surrounds look so different when under 50-100cm of snow.

3.  Equipment, map, compass and in terms of clothing, Gators are the top tip.  The powder snow can get everywhere, especially when its up to your knees.  A band around the sole of the boots is also invaluable to save the gators riding up.  Carry plenty of liquids.

4.  The walk will take up to 2 or 3 times as long and it will be tough going so keep an eye on the clock.  NB. day light is still short.  Leave information on your plans and arrival time back.

5.  If at all possible walk with a partner, helps with sharing the burden of breaking new ground.  Life is better to share any how!

Lastly remember a camera.  The views will be stunning.

The new year brought a lot of new snow with it.  A local Hilltrek customer got on his made to measure ski jacket and gators and hiked up the Fungle, through the trees and on to Carnferg, 1700ft (often referred to as the highest point in Aboyne but over 4 miles away!).  The video shows how powdery the conditions were.. .