Tuesday 27 March 2012

Best 'Benighting' Story Competition

We've just got in our new Petzl Myo RXP stock and it started us all talking about our evening trips to the crag, or long days on the hill....and then to our stories of benightings.  Well, most of us have got them; they get funnier over time; and they are often swapped over a well-deserved drink in a cosy pub at the end of a great day out.  As stories of benightings are such great fun to share, so we thought we'd run a competition to see who can come up with the best of them...

What do you get in return for sharing your funniest benighting anecdotes?...a fine Petzl Tikkina2 Headtorch.  Small enough to keep handy should you ever find yourself caught short of sunlight again!



So what do we need from you?

1) a short account of your benighting
2) a picture to go with it if possible

Please note that we must be able to publish these on-line to share the best ones with the rest of our customers, so please do not use names or photographs of individuals that don't wish to be mentioned, or detail anything dodgy etc.

The competition closes Monday 2nd April at 2pm.

Please submit your stories via our email address at info@campfour.co.uk, via our Facebook page, or our Campfour Blog.

We'll share a couple of our stories with you too...so watch this space.

If in the meantime, you would like to view our full range of Petzl Headtorches, please visit us in-store or online.

Good Luck!

The Campfour Team


Please note that by "benighted" we mean "overtaken by night or darkness" rather than the other meaning - "being in a state of moral or intellectual darkness; unenlightened"!!

Sunday 25 March 2012

Half marathon completed!

I have just checked the weather online - at 5pm it is 20 degrees C! It has been an amazing day but not the conditions that I am used to training in. Still, we did it. Wilmslow half marathon was great - a beautiful course with a few small(ish!) hills. The first 10 miles were "comfortable", the last half hour endless.

I am a little bit gutted too - my official time was 2:00:00! I couldn't have planned it, one second less and I would have been under 2 hours! For a first race though, I am pleased. I am off to do some shopping though - I have decided a watch with pace on it is essential kit. At the best of times I am a little obsessed with the stats but I am sure it would have made the difference - both today and in training.

Am trying hard not to think too much that in a months time I will have to run double that - one day at a time!





Caroline, Nick, Ben and me on the finish line :-)

Thursday 22 March 2012

This week's focus - pace (what's that??!)

One area I have struggled with from the start of this training is pacing myself. My training plan calls for 4 different sppeds/effort - 'easy'; 'steady'; 'tough' intrevals; 'challenging' threshold running.... I seem to have 2 gears only - flat out or not flat out and definitely forget ever having a negative split.

On my long run this week (3 hours, 19 miles :-) ), I was determined to take it 'easy'. Several times I had to talk to myself.."go slower" "go slower"...yet still I was doing 8 min 35 miles at the beginning and not far off 10 min miles by the end. Wth hindsight, a garmin (or similar) would have been handy for all this training as I don't have instant feedback on my speed, I am just going on how I feel and my time at mile intervals.

This Sunday I am doing Wilmslow half marathon so am even more determined to run at a more sensible pace for the first half and not let the race occasion take over. My mental arithmetic is going to be seriously tested woking out my speed with my trusty 16 yr old stopwatch. The focus continues!!!

PS Got my marathon registration form and magazine in the post today - I got butterflies in my stomach just reading it!

PPS One month today and it'll all be over! :-)

Thursday 15 March 2012

Awesome Outdoor Mum Hall of Fame

A massive thank you to everyone that entered.  We wish we had more packs to give away as there were so many deserving Mums.

The winner is...


Well done!, your pack will be winging its way to you for the weekend (as soon as you contact us with an address!).  The pictures, video and story were all great.

We have decided to award a runner up prize to...



Well done.  We're sending you a goody bag (as soon as we get an address for you too!).

Below are a selection of the other Awesome Outdoor Mums that we wanted celebrate in our 'Hall of Fame'.

We hope you all have a great Mother's Day and continue to have fun in the hills....

The Campfour Team









Wednesday 14 March 2012

Phew, long run completed

With a huge sigh of relief I can happily report I managed a 2.5 hour run this week - 16.5 miles (no mean feat after the last couple of weeks disastrous training).

What a difference it makes feeling well and not recovering from a cold. I have also bought a drinks bottle hand holder so had regular liquid (although going for water next week not just energy drink), and have found a new gel that felt like it really worked!

I thought that all gels were a revolting necessessity. I have been using Lucozade ones which tasted like concentrated artificial goo that made my face scrunch up, but I presumed they did what they said on the tin. My new discovery are SIS gels (thanks to campfour for coming to the rescue after I forgot to get some more of my usual ones). Tasting like runny jelly without stong flavours, they went down easily and I genuinely felt like I had an energy burst shortly afterwards (placebo or not, I'm in!).

I came straight back and ordered an SIS belt to hold them as I cannot stuff them into the back pocket of my tights (I cannot fit more than one in with my phone too but I don't want to make my backside any bigger either!).

Quite stiff after the long run I am ploughing on - intervals this afternoon so am off to fuel up now first....

Friday 9 March 2012

Staff Review: Mammut Monolith Gtx

Just like a lot of people I know who climb and mountaineer, I'd found a pair of boots some years ago that fitted me well and did what I wanted and expected a B2 technical boot to do, and used them year on year.  But technology moves on, so I was really surprised at the difference when I first tried the Mammut Monolith.

If you pick up a Mammut Monolith boot, even without wearing it, the first thing that strikes you is how light they are for such a tall boot!

Construction wise, the upper is comprised of abrasion resistant velour leather, Dropstop textile and a Gore-Tex lining. A full rubber rand runs around the boot to add longevity and absorb rock related punishment. The boot is board lasted with a Vibram outsole which has widely spaced lugs and a dedicated 'Climbing Zone' at the front and available in UK half sizes.

Slip a pair on and the fit is very precise as well thanks to asymmetric lacing and Mammut's Base Fit which transfers the force of lacing to the sole and puts extra pressure over the big toe. What this amounts to is a surprising feeling of precision under the big toe where the Climbing Zone is on the outsole.The Monolith is also very supportive allowing for plenty of flexibility forward and backward but preventing the foot from bending sideways. Overall in terms of fit and feel the boot is substantially lighter, taller, a little more supportive and feels a lot less clumsy than other B2 boots I've worn like the Scarpa Manta or the venerable Salomon Super Mountain Expert.

Accessorising well with orange jacket & boots (caption from Lucy)
The first time I used the Monolith in earnest was over several days of fast moving mixed grade scrambling (which is a tricky mix for any boot) in the Ogwyn Valley and I was quickly struck by how much of a difference the precision and lightness of these boots made. The feeling of control under the big toe in these boots meant I was quite happy to exploit very small holds and often strayed onto easy climbs without a second thought.

As well as generally wearing a rigid boot without thinking about the weight. The additional height on the way up felt both beneficial and very supportive, on the walks down however as you would expect the extra height became more of a hindrance and slowed me down.

Over the last year I've used my Monoliths as my 'go to' option for hard scrambles and general mountaineering and I'm still very much taken with them. I've yet to get a chance to use them under proper winter conditions with long days in crampons but I've no doubt they would perform just as well.

Overall the Mammut Monolith are a superb boot for general UK mountain use or classical Alpinism but the extra height and fit may not be suited to everyone.

So the bottom line. Would I recommend them to you?

Yes I would, especially if your an aspiring mountaineer and are planning to take in a Scottish Winter and want something light, comfortable and precise, then this is a serious contender.


You'll see me coming in mine (seriously you will...mine are bright orange (Royal Oak)).

Boots hard at work...



Chris - Web Manager

Dabbling in a bit of Caving

My first foray into caving was on Tuesday.  I've been into French Grottes and some cave systems in the UK that have specially laid out paths and steps to take you round, but this was a step further.
Kit on and Ready to Go

I wasn't sure whether I would like the whole business of crawling through confined spaces so thought a trip down Alderley Edge Copper Mines with the Derbyshire Caving Club would be ideal.  The blurb said anyone welcome over the age of 6, so I knew it wouldn't be too hardcore!

There were about 30 of us (I was only expecting about 10) and they got us all kitted out in our hard hats and lamps and we walked off to the mine entrance looking like a taller version of Seven Dwarfs (obviously more than seven too, so probably not much like the Seven Dwarfs at all!).

I felt pretty over-dressed in full waterproof gear, gaiters and walking boots - one person turned up in a t-shirt and jeans! but although I was little warm when wriggling through the smaller spaces, I was pretty happy that I'd made the effort.  I would have felt more daft turning up without the right gear. No excuses when you work at Campfour.

We went into the Wood Mine part of the Alderley Edge mine system.  It is great - a real rabbit warren.  We only went through a section of it - there were tunnels and chambers leading off all over the place, and the guys from the Derbyshire Caving Club are currently digging out even more of the original tunnels.

Pictures are below...

The guys from Derbyshire Caving Club that took us round were great.  They were able to provide a good deal of history with stories of finding pots of gold coins and working conditions for the miners.  It definitely added to the whole experience.

I found out about this event through the Cheshire East Ranger's Service Events Guide.  The next trip to the Alderley Edge mines is 5th June.  For more information, visit the Cheshire East website or Derbyshire Caving Club website.  Their pictures are much better than mine too!

I was asked whether I would be joining a caving club....I would love to say yes, but I think I prefer climbing up things rather than climbing down things.  I will definitely continue to dabble though!

Lucy - Shop Owner



Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho...
And down we go...

A brief pause for a bit of interesting info

And like underground lemmings, in we all went...

And out we pop again!

Some looking slightly more disheveled than others!

See... copper!

Someone disappearing down Chain Stairs

More Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho...
Gravity Chamber - marks in the lichen, some from the 19th Century

Access vents and doorways

Yet more Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho...

Very dirty but very happy!

Sunday 4 March 2012

The ups and downs of training

The last two weeks have been a disaster. I have been full of cold and getting no sleep with an irritating cough so went light on the training. And then on Tuesday I did a long run - 2hrs15. My usual long run speed is 8min50 miles. This time my average speed was 9min28 - that is a huge difference! I have been trying to rationalise it but am disappointed and feeling a little despondant. I am meant to be on top form but feel the total opposite.

Today (Sunday) was a rest day. With no long run I have been relishing having a long lie in and the Sunday papers, pure luxury.

7 weeks to go today and I am determined that I start again tomorrow, fresh and dedicated to do my best for this (one and only!!) marathon I have to run.

Friday 2 March 2012

Awesome Outdoor Mum Competition!

Now we're in March, Mother's Day is on the horizon.  To celebrate, we thought we'd run a little competition...

We have a fantastic The North Face Women's Enduro Boa Pack in Spackle Grey worth £85 to give away! All we need you to do to be in with a chance of winning is to nominate an 'Awesome Outdoor Mum' - it can be your Mum, someone else's, or even yourself.  Please provide us with a photo and a few words outlining why you think the person you are nominating should win.

The winner will be chosen on Thursday 15th March.  The prize will then be sent to the winner that same day (should arrive in time for Mother's Day that way).

Enter via our Facebook page/ wall, our Blog or by email to info@campfour.co.uk.

Final date and time for entry is 5pm Thursday 15th March.


Good Luck!

The Campfour Team