Mountain Adventure Holidays
We have this month planted 70 trees through our partnership with Carbon Footprint. Every time you book a trip with Tracks and Trails you have the option to choose a gift, one of those being to 'Plant a Tree'.
This is the 'full monty' on our Corsica GR20 Kit list. We put a great deal of thought into our kit lists, but we are asked on many occasions about the finer detail, and on the trip we are often quizzed about what we are wearing, carrying and using. After 20 years as an International Mountain Leader I have my own views on what I need to be comfortable and efficient on a route such as the GR20 - Europe's hardest trek.
What a difference a year makes! A year ago we were still to emerge from a long, cold, dark and snow-bound winter. The mountains were oppressive, the forest gloomy and forbidding, our minds constrained by the memory of what had gone before. Of course, the memories are still there, never to be expunged, but the sheer zingy brightness of this Spring is a balm to the tortured soul.
Early April sees us tramping through the woods checking trails and trying to exhaust an irrepressibly bouncy Irish Terrier. Is it just me or are there more nodding Hellebores than ever before? Cyclamen have emerged from frozen ground and compete with blankets of Violas and Ajuga for the flashiest dazzle of colour. I always considered Primroses a rather mundane flower - a bit "Meh" - but to come across a small glade in a new walking path completely covered in the creamy yellow is a wonder to behold. The lack of canopy has allowed three months of almost uninterrupted sunshine to summon this riot of colour to lift our spirits.
According to Wikipedia, 'Trail Running' is a sport-activity which combines running, and, where there are steep gradients, hiking, that is run "on any unpaved surface". Anyone can trail run, whether this be competitively or just getting out and enjoying the nature. Here we highlight the key kit you need to get started.
Trail running is great because you don’t need very much to start, a lot of us think we need more than we do. The key is to make sure your gear is safe, useful and light weight.
Ideally you want the minimum gear to travel quickly and as comfortably as possible. But things can change quickly on the trail, such as weather and injury, so you might find yourself taking more than you use. If you’re unsure, try checking local races for mandatory kit checklists and you can often base what you pack accordingly.
Continue reading to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything for your next run.
We are delighted to announce a new venture for Tracks and Trails, a partnership with the Ski Club of Great Britain.
For winter 2022, the Ski Club have enhanced their partnerships programme which we are proud to be a part of. The partnership programme ensures members exclusive discounts only available to Ski Club members.
The Ski Club mainly focuses on Alpine downhill skiing, but after the massive surge in popularity in cross-country skiing, and UK summer staycations, the Club is keen to be affiliated to Tracks and Trails offering its members our trips in the UK, the Alps and Scandinavia.
Having worked out with Joe Wicks in the living room, completed couch to 5km and participated in the local Parkrun it’s time for the next challenge, running 10km.
Doubling the distance can be intimidating but it’s a fulfilling distance to train for, it won’t take over your whole life and following a few simple steps you’ll be able to see huge improvements quickly.
So, what better way to enter the autumn than with a plan ready to challenge yourself, push your limits, and explore new areas outdoors. If it's been a while since you last exercised or you have any health issues or concerns, talk to your doctor before starting a new running routine.
Read on to find out how to progress safely through the stages of running your first 10km.
To be able to slow down and take life at the pace of the 'montagnards' is hugely appealing right now. Too much social media, press, politics, Covid, Brexit and such like make me shy away from the digital world and long to be back in the mountains. In a remote valley in the French Alps I discovered a haven of tranquility where chatting to your neighbour is more important than your Facebook 'Likes', and where the seasons dictate the pace.
It's been a turbulent time for the past 18 months. The global pandemic that is Covid-19 has had a personal, financial and physical effect on everyone. Now we are having vaccines and hoping for normality and freedom to return, and this too could prove to be a daunting time with uncertainty never far away.
Summer is approaching and we know that the easing of 'lockdown' in the UK is encouraging many of you to contemplate a holiday. If travelling abroad is not on your radar this summer, then you might be looking at what you can do in the UK. With this in mind we have a few ideas on how to head for the hills and enjoy the great outdoors. What is more staying local will cut your carbon footprint and benefit the environment, while most likely also reducing the impact on your wallet.
We have trips on offer in Scotland and England as Scheduled Departures, and then, of course, you can also consider booking a private trip with Tracks and Trails which is one of the best ways to ensure some summer fun.
