Salomon Eskape Shoes

On test: Salomon Eskape GTX shoe
Country of manufacture: Vietnam
Weight: 780g a pair of (size 44/9½)
Price: £100
Colour: grey/orange
Material: uppers, textile; sole, rubber

1,000 Mile Ultra Performance Sock
Colour: white/grey
Country of manufacture: EU
Weight: not known
Price: £9.49
Material: 35 per cent cotton, 32 per cent nylon, 24 per cent polyester, 8 per cent Cupron, 1 per cent Spandex

The Salomon Eskape GTX is the brand’s lightweight hiking shoe with, even in the British summer, the essential Gore-Tex waterproof lining.

The uppers are soft, with instant comfort once on the foot, but have a rugged feel at the same time, and the material feels like it should stand up to a good deal of abrasion.

The lacing feeds through a set of textile loops with the final eyelets, where the tension is highest when knotting, having metal reinforcement.

The tongue, which is well padded, is gusseted and has additional ventilation holes.

Extra protection is provided at the toe

There is protection at the front of the shoe with a reinforced toe box and the outsole extends upwards slightly in the centre of the toe area for extra security.

The heel is well held without the foot feeling constricted and the footbed, which is not fully detachable but is glued at the front, has adequate underfoot padding and is also ventilated.

The Salomon Sensifit system is meant to cradle the foot and stop movement within the shoe which, with correct lace tightening, it did well, with no sliding forward on downhill sections of our test routes and no heel lift when going uphill, both of which can lead to blistering or bruising.

There are reflective trim areas on the shoe too.

Much of modern footwear’s technology is hidden, and the Eskape is no exception, with its Advanced Chassis sandwiched between the outsole and midsole, with claims of energy efficiency and comfort.

The outsole is Salomon’s own Contagrip, with a Chevron pattern, with fairly tightly arranged tread in durable rubber.

The Contagrip outsole has an aggressive chevron pattern

The grip is reasonable, without approaching the best achieved by top walking boots or by super-sticky soles on some lightweight fellrunning shoes, but the pay-off is that, unlike the very soft rubber on such shoes, the Eskape’s will, I believe, provide good durability.

Most shoes designed and made for trekking and hiking have good durability in the sole and will last longer than trainers aimed at, say, road or track use.

There was some slip on wet sloping paving flags when going downhill, but grip uphill was good and the Eskapes coped well with wet grassy slopes, muddy paths and gravel routes.

In fact, the shoes provided good comfort all round. The best bits of kit are those that you put on and forget about. The Eskapes achieved this. The low ankle section doesn’t rub on the ankle bone and the cushioning underfoot leaves the feet fresh after even a prolonged outing.

On a lengthy outing in persistent rain, we did end up with wet feet, but bear in mind that, unlike boots a walking shoe is vulnerable to water getting in at the top, round the opening for the ankle, much more than boots with their higher ankle that benefits from protection from trouser hems.

The Eskape has become my shoe of choice for general mooching around, both in urban areas and in the country. It’s ideal for use on maintained routes and the lightweight nature of the shoes mean you can breeze up those hills faster than if your feet were clad in heavier boots.

The 1,000 Mile Ultra Performance Sock

For heavy rainy days, I would swap to boots but, in general use the Eskapes were versatile, coping with our forays over a variety of ground: loose gravel hill paths; muddy sections of track; grass slopes, boulder fields, asphalt and town routes.

We used the Salomon Eskape shoes in combination with 1,000 Mile Ultra Performance Socks, which feature a high ankle, extra padding under the toe, ball of the foot and heel areas as well as arch bracing the aids fit and also gives support.

The material mix benefits from Cupron – copper fibre technology to reduce odour– and after use there was a welcome absence of whiffiness.

The Ultra Performance Socks provided extra comfort, with padding in the right areas enhancing the walking feel in our Eskapes.

The socks are in 1,000 Mile’s running range and are ideal for fellrunning but they’re also a good choice for walkers using hiking shoes or even fellrunning shoes for those occasions when boots are not needed.

They are great for the summer months when, given some decent weather, walkers can leave the boots and home and stroll out in shoes.

Runners too will appreciate the fit and lack of odour at the end of the day.

However, in our experience, after a few outings in muddy conditions, nice white socks tend to take on a distinct off-white colour even when washed. Not a big problem, but be warned.

Eskape GTX

We liked:

Comfort

Looks

Weight

We weren’t so keen on:

Grip on wet stone slabs

1,000 Mile Ultra Performance Socks

We liked:

Comfort

Lack of odour

We weren’t so keen on:

Colour
More details on the Salomon and 1,000 Mile websites.

Blizzard conditions could prevail on Scotland's hills tomorrow

It may be only a month from the summer solstice, but forecasters warned today that hillwalkers and climbers should prepare for severe winter conditions tomorrow.

Blizzards are possible over the Scottish mountains and there will be a severe wind-chill, the Met Office said.

Anyone venturing on to the hills north of the border should be prepared with appropriate clothing and equipment.

Storm-force winds are forecast over the Cairngorm plateau with sub-zero temperatures.

Other Highland areas will also have strong winds and the Mountain Weather Information Service said it could feel as cold as –17C on the mountain tops.

Met Office chief forecaster Martin Young said: “Although we are well into May we will see some very difficult conditions on the mountains, especially on Thursday.

“On the tops of the mountains in Scotland we could see winds gusting up to 80mph, giving blizzard conditions in the snow and making things very hazardous.

“Whether it’s a pre-planned expedition or a spur of the moment decision to head off, it is vital to check the mountain forecasts on the Met Office website.”

Bob Kinnaird, principal of Glenmore Lodge, the Scottish National Outdoor Training Centre, said: “Although it’s not that unusual to encounter winter conditions on the Scottish hills at this time of year, this is a very severe forecast for the high tops.

“While this still leaves plenty of options to enjoy the hills, careful consideration should be given to planning and route choice, particularly for those who have little experience of mountaineering in Scottish winter conditions.”

As well as wearing and carrying the right gear for conditions, the Met Office advised hillgoers to check the intended route is appropriate for your ability.

Walkers should also carry a mobile phone but not rely on it and should leave a note of their route with someone.

Both the Met Office and Mountain Weather Information Service sites can be accessed via grough’s links page.

Simone Moro pilots his helicopter during the rescue high on Everest. Photo: David Hamilton/Jagged Globe

One of the men involved in the recent ugly confrontation on Everest between three European mountaineers and Sherpas has carried out a daring helicopter rescue of a stricken climber.

Italian climber Simone Moro flew his aircraft to a record-breaking 7,800m to airlift the Nepali-Canadian casualty from Everest’s South Col yesterday.

It was the highest ever rescue by helicopter.

The rotary-wing aircraft struggle to gain uplift in the thin air at such altitudes, but Moro piloted his machine higher than any previous flight so the injured climber could be brought to safety.

The rescue was witnessed by David Hamilton, an expedition leader from Sheffield-based Jagged Globe.

He said: “An injured Nepali-Canadian climber was lifted on a long-line from 7,800m on Everest at 1.30pm Nepali time on 21 May.

“The climber got into difficulties in the afternoon of 20 May high on Everest.

“A Sherpa team led by Pasang Tenzing, who was working for Jagged Globe, rescued the injured climber from above 8,500m in the evening reaching the South Col Camp at 7,950m at 8pm.

“On 21 May they lowered him over several hundred metres of difficult ground to reach a spot from where the record-breaking helicopter pick-up was possible.

Simone Moro. Photo: Gabriele Marabini CC-BY-2.0

“The pilot was Simone Moro.”

Mr Moro was with British climber and photographer Jon Griffith and Swiss speed-climbing expert Ueli Steck last month when they were confronted by a group of angry Sherpas who took exception to their Alpine-style climbing in an area where the Sherpas were fixing ropes.

The European climbers said their lives were threatened and they had to make a dangerous escape from Everest Camp Two back down to Base Camp.

Griffith and Steck flew out of the area after their expedition was abandoned, but Moro remained in the Everest area.

The Marmot Nabu jacket

Marmot’s latest waterproof jacket is the result of another team up with high-tech fabrics from Polartec.

The Nabu uses a combination of NeoShell and Power Dry High Efficiency to offer breathability and high wicking in a lightweight waterproof.

The jacket features NeoShell, which is highly breathable and the latest Power Dry High Efficiency bi-component knit fabric, which is claimed to move moisture away from the body at least 30 per cent more efficiently than single component fabrics.

The jacket also has 100 per cent taped seams, an attached hood with laminated brim, asymmetric cuffs with Velcro adjustment, a chest pocket with water-resistant zip, an internal zip pocked and angel-wing movement, meaning the jacket shouldn’t ride up when the wearer is engaged in activity.

The Marmot Nabu weighs 592g and is available in sizes S to XL, in either black or rocket red.

The Nabu sells for £250.

More information about the Polartec fabrics can be found on the company’s website.

Further details of the Nabu jacket are on the Marmot site.

Mark Townsend and Julie Gardener raise a glass at the end of the South West Coast Path

A pair of ultrarunners smashed the record for completing England’s longest national trail.

Mark Townsend and Julie Gardener’s traverse of the South West Coast Path also helped raise cash for the upkeep of the trail.

The pair beat the previous record for the 1,014km (630-mile) route by almost two days.

The runners set off from Minehead on 27 April aiming to complete the path in 16 days, but beat their own expectations by arriving at South Haven Point at Poole, the eastern terminus of the route, in 14 days, 14hrs 45mins.

The previous record holder, Malcolm Law, completed the South West Coast Path in16 days 9hrs 57mins.

Mr Townsend is managing director of Contours Walking Holidays and he and his running companion received support from company staff along the way.

The effort involved 50 baked potatoes, five pairs of running shoes, 60 litres of water, 150 cups of tea and coffee, one lost rucksack and a campervan crisis.

En route, the pair tackled 920 stiles, 300 bridges, 7,000 steps, river crossings, ferry encounters and almost 35,031m (114,931ft) of ascent, almost four times the height of Everest.

Money from the challenge will go to the South West Coast Path Association, which has a footpath repair programme.

Mr Townsend said: “Knowing that our achievement would fund improvement projects along the path really spurred us on.

“The coastline is so stunning and varied that it deserves our support.”

The runners have set themselves a target of raising £4,000 through their justgiving page.

Gleann an t-Slugain, on the route of the walk. Photo: John Rennie CC-BY-SA-2.0

Mountain rescuers have issued a challenge to walkers to tackle their annual fundraising trek.

The Aberdeen & St John Mountain Rescue Association is seeking outdoors fans prepared to walk the 28km (17-mile) route north of Braemar to help raise cash for the volunteer team.

A team spokesperson said: “It costs approximately £30,000 each year to keep the team fully equipped and ready to respond to a callout.

“Maintaining, insuring and running vehicles are expensive, and the need to purchase specialist rescue equipment and protective clothing places a serious financial burden on both the team and the association, which supports the team.

“The main fundraising activity for the team is the annual sponsored walk.

“It is generally held on the first Saturday in June and is designed to be an enjoyable day out for supporters, friends and family.”

This year’s 1 June walk will be the 42nd annual event. The spokesperson said: “This year we are returning to a walk that we last did in 2004. It proved to be something of a hit with walkers and so we thought a return visit was in order.

“The route will start and finish at the Keiloch sawmill, just to the east of Invercauld House.

“The walk will then follow the line of Gleann an t-Slugain, known locally as the Fairy Glen, and perhaps one of the most beautiful and serene glens in the Cairngorms.

“The glen rises gently through the old Caledonian pine forest of Invercauld, and then on past the ruins of Slugain Lodge to meet the headwaters of the Quoich as they tumble south out of the Beinn a’ Bhuird massif.

“At this point, weather permitting, walkers will have stunning views of the eastern corries of Beinn a’ Bhuird, before turning north-east, along the southern flank of Ben Avon and down through the craggy glen between Creag an Dail Mhòr and Creag an Dail Bheag.

“This section, connecting the head waters of the Quoich and Gairn, sees few walkers and is quite spectacular with a real sense of remote wilderness.

“Crossing the Gairn the walk will then follow the Bealach Dearg path up to the shoulder of Culardoch, with an opportunity, again weather permitting, for the more adventurous to visit the summit. The route will then take walkers south towards Invercauld and finally over the shoulder of Creag Leek and down to Felagie before heading back towards the Keiloch.”

The team is asking anyone taking part to raise at least £25.

The spokesperson added: “It should be remembered that although the route will be marshalled and patrolled by members of the team, it is a remote mountainous environment and those wishing to take part should be fit and appropriately equipped.”

There will be spot prizes for participants and for those raising most money.

More details are on the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team website.

Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team was formed to undertake search and rescue operations in its area of the Cairngorms and the lower hills of Deeside and Donside.

Shortly after the formation of Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team it was decided a parent body should be established to assist in providing funds and support for the team. Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Association was formed and latterly, to acknowledge the financial support given by the Order of St John, the name was changed to Aberdeen & St. John Mountain Rescue Association.

The order helped finance some of the team’s vehicles and the base at Westhill.

The team has the use of two bothies, one at the Spittal of Muick and one at Derry Lodge, which they use as bases when out training and on rescues and has about 35 members with a callout list of 30.

The Glencassley site and Ben More Assynt

Scottish mountaineers expressed dismay at the decision of councillors not to oppose the building of two windfarms in a national scenic area.

Highland Council’s north planning applications committee today followed its officers’ advice and said it would not object to the Sallachy and Glencassley developments.

The schemes, involving a total of 48 turbines, will now be considered by the Scottish Government.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland said the councillors had failed the Scottish public.

Ron Payne, MCofS director of landscape and access, said: “A few weeks ago there was fighting talk from Highland Council saying it would write to the Scottish Government about windfarms.

“Today the councillors have failed Scotland, its people and its most precious landscapes by refusing to oppose industrial-scale proposals that will blemish some of our most beautiful mountain landscapes.

“We are now looking to Scottish Government minister Fergus Ewing to defend our natural heritage and halt these schemes.”

The applications are being made by SSE Generation at Glencassley and WKN Sallachy at Sallachy.

Oliver Patent, head of international development at WKN, who attended the planning meeting said:
“We are delighted by the Highland Council’s decision today.

“We appreciate that the committee has recognised that the project will benefit local communities, the wider Highland region and Scotland as a whole.

“For WKN it is the first key step in making our potential investment into Scotland a reality. We look forward to the Scottish Government making a final determination following this positive decision by the north planning applications committee.”

Iain Thomson, manager of Sallachy Estate added: “This is an excellent decision by the Highland Council today and I welcome the support of the local members that understand the fragility of businesses in this area and the importance of job security.

“This crucial first step in consenting Sallachy windfarm is vital to securing the long term viability of our business and providing opportunities to diversify our operations ensuring security for years to come.”

SEE had not replied to our request for a statement at the time of publication.

Everest, left, Lhotse and Nuptse, right. Photo: seb bsm CC-BY-2.0

Record-breaking Everest mountaineer Kenton Cool has posted a new first by summiting what he has termed the Ultimate Three Peaks.

The Briton and his climbing companion and friend Sherpa Dorje Gylgen successfully climbed Lhotse, the final mountain in the Everest horseshoe surrounding the Western Cwm.

The two men are the first to achieve the feat of summiting Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse in one trip.

Gloucestershire-based Cool’s ascent during the expedition of the world’s highest mountain also extends his record to 11 successful summits, the most ever completed by a Briton.

Cool and Gylgen climbed to the top of 8,516m (27,940ft) Lhotse, the world’s fourth highest mountain in the early hours of today, having summited Nuptse, Everest and Lhotse on three successive days.

Sherpa Dorje Gylgen and Kenton Cool have set a new record by summiting Three Peaks

Kenton Cool’s London spokesman said: “They summited the three peaks in three nights, a feat that even they didn’t believe would be possible when they set out. This is truly epic in my book.

“Kenton believes that every climb ends when you are safely down, so the ‘Ultimate Three Peaks Challenge’ as Kenton fondly calls it is technically not complete until tomorrow.

“However the three peaks are confirmed as being summited together for the first time ever.

“The descent has been tougher than he was expecting and he has taken the decision to sleep overnight at Everest Camp Two, followed by an estimated arrival in Everest Base Camp at lunchtime tomorrow, Tuesday.”

The first Everest Three Peaks comes nine days before the 60th anniversary of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary’s first successful ascent of Everest in May 1953.

The walker slipped and injured herself on Holme Fell. Photo: Andy Stephenson CC-BY-SA-2.0

A walker was airlifted from a Lakeland fell after injuring herself.

The woman, from Carlisle and in her 60s, was walking near Ivy Crag on Holme Fell today when she slipped and broke her ankle.

Coniston Mountain Rescue Team was called out and the Great North Air Ambulance Pride of Cumbria helicopter also flew to the area about 1.15pm.

The woman, who was walking with about 12 others on the fell, north-east of Coniston, was treated by a doctor and paramedic from the air ambulance.

Members of the mountain rescue team then stretchered her to the waiting aircraft, which flew her to Furness General Hospital in Barrow in Furness.

The two-hour rescue involved 11 Coniston MRT members.

Sherpa Dorje Gylgen and Kenton Cool in their tent during the night of high winds that led to a change of plan. Photo: Kenton Cool

Kenton Cool has reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain for the 11th time.

He summited Everest at 2am local time today with his climbing companion and friend Sherpa Dorje Gylgen.

The pair will now attempt to complete for the first time an Everest ‘Three Peaks’ by climbing Lhotse. They have already climbed Nuptse and a summit of the third peak, planned for the early hours of Monday, would set a new record.

Cool has already extended his own record as the Briton with the most Everest summits.

The pair of mountaineers are said by their London representatives to be in good spirits and pushing each other. They can communicate only by satellite phone, but their spokesman said Cool sounded strong – much better than in previous years.

He said Cool had told him the scene on the summit couldn’t have been dafter: “Two mates sitting in nothingness, having a giggle as they watched their head-torches bouncing pathetically around space.”

Gloucestershire-based Cool said he changed his plans and went for a rapid, early ascent of the mountain. “Dorje Gylgen and I took bare essentials and made it to roof of world in total darkness,” he said. “We challenged each other all the way and can’t say who won.

“The disappointment of being early and not seeing sunrise was made good with the privilege of sitting alone in absolute silence with my friend just as I’ve always thought Hillary and Tenzing did.”

Eight days ago, the pair had to replan their Everest Three Peaks venture after bad weather nearly destroyed their tent on the Nuptse face.