Trail Magazine - February 2012

In the February issue of Trail magazine...

Out There

The latest news, events, stories and findings from the outdoor world in an easy to digest format free from artificial flavourings and preservatives.

Choose your challenge - if you believe the ancient Mayans, 2012 is the year the world ends. So then, better make it a good one. Trail lists 12 challenges for 2012 - one for each month. See how many you can tick off before the world explodes in a fireball sometime before 2013.

Buried alive in the Himalayas - for most of us, the sensation of being swept up in an avalanche is hopefully something we'll never experience. Cory Richards tells of surviving his encounter with a great white wave on Gasherbrum II and why he chose that moment for a self-portrait.

Dream peak - describing it as "rampant with musculture", Trail gets all misty-eyed over Bowfell in the Lake District (not to be confused with a cat stroking Bond villain).

Trail Talk

Your letters, faces of fatigue, losts and founds, and a glimpse at Trail readers' "to do" lists for this winter season.

Adventures

Team Trail go in search of excitement, thrills and adventure - wherever and whenever they may be found.

Snowdonia - former Trail editor Matt Swaine takes a summer attitude to winter walking around Snowdon the Glyders, and finds the results thoroughly rewarding

Lake District - photographer Stewart Smith spent a year capturing the various seasonal faces Great Gable. See the amazing results of his labour of love.

Scottish Highlands - Trail's Phoebe Smith tackles her first Grade 1 winter climb on Creag Meagaidh and challenges her fear of avalanches in the process.

Skills

These are the skills you will need and should know. Read, learn, and be better at what you do. 

Winter Skills Masterclass Part 2:

     Layering - how to prepare yourself for comfortable performance in winter temperatures.

     Weather FAQs - how to read the conditions and what dangers you should be looking out for.

     Winter emergency - what to do and how to survive if things start going wrong.

Walking in the moonlight - how to continue your walking long into the night.

Staying safe - how best to avoid disaster on a multi-day hike.

Down jackets - how to wash and maintain them.

Cornices - their dangers and how to spot and avoid them

Gear

The latest round up of releases and reviews from those in the know.

Garmin eTrex 10 - Does a facelift prove that there's still a place in the hillwalkers's pocket for a budget GPS device?

Headtorch group test - 8 torches from Alpkit, Lifesystems, Coleman, Ring, Black Diamond, Petzl, Mammut and Hope Technology are tested for reliability, design, value and that all important brightness.

Glove group test - 8 pairs from Trekmates, Mountain Equipment, Extremities, SealSkinz, Rab, Marmot, The North Face and Outdoor Research are put head to head. Or hand to hand.

Buyer's guide - Ice grippers from Yaktrax, Petzl, Grivel, Ice Trekkers, Kahtoola and Hillsound.

Routes

13 routes from around the UK including detailed guides and mapping, plus accompanying GPS data on LFTO.com.