Council keeps control of fire-ravaged moor

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Pakistan drops its fees for high mountains

Fancy a bargain? Check this out: a mountain sale.The Pakistan government has celebrated the designation of 2007 as Visit Pakistan Year by dropping its...

Irish farmers demand cash for access

Farmers in the Republic of Ireland are demanding €5 per metre for allowing walkers on routes crossing their land.In a move grough can only hope doesn’t catch on this side of the Irish Sea, the farmers’ representative body, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) says its members should receive government money as compensation for having waymarked paths across their land.The IFA was also the only member of Comhairle na Tuaithe, the country council set up by the Irish Government, not to agree to a report which outlined a strategy for access and recreation in the Irish countryside.

Marshals needed for fell championships

Calder Valley Fell Runners are asking for help marshalling a national event next month.The British Fell Relay Championships are being hosted by the Yorkshire club at Castle Carr.

Harness recall notice and battery advice issued

Two manufacturers have issued warnings about their equipment.The first, and perhaps most urgent, is from climbing gear makers Black Diamond who have put out a ‘stop using until inspected’ instruction on some of their climbing harnesses.The models affected are the ‘Speed’ range – Focus Speed, Gym Speed, Momentum Speed and Vario Speed harnesses along with the Wiz Kid.

Cozmo says The North Face is Cool

You may have noticed that grough tends to fight shy of the usual brand recommendations and exhaustive gear reviews.We have neither the time nor the money to fritter on comparing fifteen makes of water purification systems or enlightening you on which expensive waterproof makes you sweat the most (they all make me sweat – Ed).The CoolBrands Council's website (right)So it is with trepidation that grough dips its boot-clad toe in the murky waters of outdoors brands.

DJ to deliver AW lecture

Radio 2 DJ and upcoming grumpy Stuart Maconie will deliver this year’s Wainwright Memorial Lecture.The Lancastrian, better known for his cameos in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights and numerous appearances as a Rent-an-Opinion on Channel Four’s The 100 Best series, Maconie will no doubt be recounting his more fell-oriented pursuits.Falling far short, in grough’s opinion, of being a Grumpy Old Man at only 46, Maconie is a fan of the fells, and has reputedly more than 200 Wainwrights under his Vibram.

Charity trekkers at risk on Kilimanjaro

A shock report claims that not one of 20 charity treks up Kilimanjaro it studied followed expert advice to protect participants.Mountain medicine experts say this is putting lives at risk from altitude-related illnesses.The report, presented at the Symposium of Climbing and Altitude Medicine held at Plas-y-Brenin at the weekend, heard that the recommendation for anyone heading for the summit of Kilimanjaro should spend at least seven days above 2,500 m to acclimatise.

Glenmore offers an ice try

With winter just round the corner, climbers have the chance to learn all about ice techniques at two events next month.Glenmore Lodge, Scotland’s national outdoor training centre, is offering the chance to brush up on equipment and techniques for climbing steep waterfall ice.