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Last week, a new Head was appointed to take charge of Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre in the Cairngorms.  Bob Kinnaird, who has been chief executive of CairnGorm Mountain Ltd for the last eight years, will take up his new role at Glenmore Lodge in December.  Bob will be taking over from Tim Walker, who has held the post for over 31 years.

Bob Kinnaird

Mr Kinnaird has spent a lifetime working in, or around, mountains, previously being responsible as the chief outdoro instructor for British Mountaineering Training Centre in Norway and chief exectutive of the British Association of Snowsports Instructors.

In repsponse to the appontemnt, Bob Kinnaird stated:

I am delighted to be joining the sportscotland team, particularly at this time when there is an increasing recognition of the importance of outdoor sports in both education and more generally in society.

Glenmore Lodge has a long and distinguished history as a centre of excellence and I look forward to taking on the challenge of ensuring this continues in the future.

Glenmore Lodge has an international reputation as a leader in the field of outdoor leadership training and assessment, so this appointment is big news to the outdoor industry.  Especially as some of the UK’s most experienced and highly-qualified people provide coaching and receive coaching via this centre in rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, river kayaking, sea and surf, open canoeing, mountain biking, orienteering and ski-ing.

We wish Bob Kinnaird all the best for his new post and to Tim Walker thank you’s on behalf of quite a number of outdoor people I expect!

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Headlines over the weekend have been highlighting what has been some of the worst storms to face ‘The Original Mountain marathon’, causing it to be called off for the first time in it’s 40 year history.

The Original Mountain Marathon, near Keswisk, Cumbria

Each year several hundred people take part in this mountain marathon, a fell run over very challenging terrain in the Lake District.

It involves teams of two, carrying all clothing, equipment, tent, sleeping bag, and their food for 36 hours, during the run. They must also navigate their own route and camp out overnight.

The race course follows the route along one of England’s steepest passes in the Borrowdale Valley, rising to some 2,000ft in height (610m).  The longest route of the 7 available is for the Elite class which is literally 2 consecutive marathon lengths and c2,500m of ascent over 2 days.

The race is typically for experienced mountain runners and most of whom were prepared to cope with adverse conditions.  Many though were without the right gear and could not find the adequate shelter, and suffered  with hypothermia from the severe conditions.

Horrific Weather

The race saw the worst weather it has ever seen.  Since Thursday, more than 1ft (40cm) of rain has fallen there, according to the Environment Agency.   The best way to gauge the weather is via footage, here’s a snippet along the Honister Pass, courtesy of Paul Dodd:

Overnight Stays

Because of the intensity of the storm, many runners opted in to hole-up for the night, taking refuge in barns and other building along the course of the race.

Missing Runners and Mountain Rescue

“Race director Jen Longbottom made the decision just before midday after several hours of torrential rain had resulted in extreme conditions on the mountain and severe flooding,” it stated.  Actually canceling it was harder said than done, having experienced a huge amount of torrential rain and winds across the hills where runners were scattered.

Although weekend reports were claiming that up to 1,000 runners were lost, sleepmonsters.com reported that there was more likely to be fewer:

Despite media reports of over 1000 competitors being ‘unaccounted for’ the true facts as of 02.00 in the morning were that 44 competitors had not been located, and by 12.00 this was down to just 8 pairs.

(At any normal OMM there are usually this number not checked in after the race has finished at around 17.00 and more often than not they have set off home without checking in.)

About 12 people have been taking to hospital with hypothermia and minor injuries, Northwest Ambulance Service have said.

Share your thoughts…

For all those that took part or have been interested in the news,

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Maybe you would like to recount a feet of bravery, news of an upcoming event or show-off about your biggest achievement!  or even share your opinions on gear through a gear review…

Contact us using the comments form below or via email.

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Here’s a summary of the big news stories in the Outdoor Industry so far this Summer:

The North Face

The North Face sponsored ultra-marathon. Jez Bragg broke another record by winning The Devil o’ the Highlands on the 9th August by knocking an astonishing 46 minutes off the existing record, finishing in 5 hours 22 minutes.

The Devil o’ the Highlands features some of the best competitors in the challenging sport of ultra-running, where each runner is given 12 hours to complete the course, over mountain and vale running from Tyndrum to Fort William.

Jez Bragg comments:

“I had a great race, especially with the exceedingly high quality of competitors… 2008 has been a personal triumph so far, but there is no time to rest on my laurels, I want to be at my best for The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc at the end of August”

Holding records for all three of the West Highland Way ultra-running races: The West Highland Way, The highland Fling and The Devil O’ The Highlands, Jez Bragg is really making a name for himself in this long-distance endurance form of ultra-running.

First on the Beka Brakai Chhok Summit in Pakistan

The North Face sponsored athletes, Simone Moro and Hervé Barmasse, were the first to summit the Beka Brakai Chhok in Pakistan, part of the karkorum chain of mountain and stands just shy of 7000m at 694om.

Challenges to these alpinist climbers included no support from an advanced camp - commencing from 4750m, overcoming jutting out ice streches, numerous sheers parts, some mixed parts and several crevasses, sleeping without a tent or sleeping bag or camp stove, and all carried out in under 48 hours.

“It’s a climb that gives us great satisfaction and awareness of our skills and that puts an end to the several previous attempts…We are glad we are providing some good news from the world of Alpinism, after the tragedies we have witnessed in the last days. We hope that our expedition will help remind people and climbers that alpinism is not only about death, tragedies, survival and heroism. We, as many others, go to the mountains sensibly, to live, enjoy, grow, accept life, sport and sometimes also destiny, never questioning or lacking respect for what allows us to carry on all this, the value of life.”

Simone Moro and Hervè Barmasse

Berghaus Sponsors Charity Endurance Race at Catterick Garrison

Berghaus has pledged to sponsor the Paras 10 endurance race on 14th September at the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.  This grueling multi-terrain race hopes to raise money for The Airborne Forces Charity and Help for Heroes Campaign.

Participants will be competing with some of the fittest and most elite soliers in the British Army in this grueling ten mile race, following the Parachte Regiment’s ‘P’ Company selection march, marked as one of the world’s toughest challenges.  Competing in this race requires a great deal of endurance, especially as competitors will be wearing army-style booots and 35lb rucksacks.

Berghaus will supply each marshall with a branded performance t-shirt and prizes including rucsacks and footwear to the winning competitors.

Camelbak and Platypus Bladders are BPA-Free

All of Camelbak and Platypus hydration bottles and bladders are now BPA-free, having made this announcement back in August, they are now designed with a new material that avoids this

What exactly is Bisphenol-A (BPA)?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic resins, epoxy resins, and other products sometimes used in the manufacture of water bottles, bladders and hydrations packs.

Mixed Reports on the Safety of BPA

There has been some negative press on BPA but some researchers state that it is not damaging to health.  Manufacturers such as Platypus and Camelbak have moved away from BPA in response to consumer research, and so are both BPA-free.

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