hilltrek

We will be at the Scottish Outdoor Show at the SECC in Glasgow on Saturady October 15th to Sunday October 16th.

You can find us on stand 55, near the entrance, where we will have a range of our own Ventile, Cotton Analogy and Nikwax Analogy Clothing and Páramo Directional Waterproof Clothing.

We will also have Teko socks, Superfeet, Anatom boots and much more.

The Páramo Portal will be on the stand to give access to all Páramo’s stock and great deals on Páramo Clothing.

See you there.

Don’t miss our Páramo Event Week starting Saturday 8th October

We will be showing off new stock and have some great deals on Páramo.

Alan wearing a Páramo Quito Jacket in the Kullu Valley India

During the week Alan Melrose of trekking company Walk Deeside will be visiting.

Walk Deeside offer guided walks  in Scotland and treks around the world including Atlas Mountains in Morocco, Indian Himalyas, Eastern Africa,  Peruvian Andes etc.

Alan wears a range of Páramo gear and will be available to discuss his experiences and his future plans.

 See us next weekend at the 10th Galloway Country Fair in the stunning surroundings of Drumlanrig Castle near Dumfries.

Our stand will feature Naturally Paramo and Hilltrek Ventile and Cotton Analogy ranges as well as Tilley Hats, Teko socks, Anatom boots and much more.

We will have great deals over the weekend. See you there.

www.gallowaycountryfair.co.uk

We will have a stand at the Aboyne Highland Games next weekend showing our Ventile & Cotton Analogy range of garments and  Naturally Páramo

Pipe band marching

 The Aboyne Highland Games has been held on the Aboyne Green since 1867 and is located only 300 metres from our shop and workshop.

The games is a traditional highland event with heavy events,  piping, dancing, fiddling competitions and the hill race.  This is a gruelling hill race  over rough terrain on the Fungle drover track. 

For more information see their website

We will have several offers available on the day including 10% off on production of a show catalogue.

John Green of Hilltrek is seen on the left is relaxing with Robbie MacIntosh of Anatom at the Scottish Game Fair at Scone in glorious sunny weather

We had a very sucessful Scottish Gamefair last weekend where we introduced our products and services to many new customers.

There was much interest in our Dee Wading Jacket and in our made to measure service.

Field Sports users are very familiar with Goretex but not with the atttributes and benefits of Páramo, Nikwax Analogy and Cotton Analogy.

Sometimes we felt like missionaries rather than an outdoor clothing business!

We also had Superfeet, Anatom Boots and Teko Socks on the stand from Anatom.

Are our products taking off at the Game Fair?

If you see see tired looking heavily laden walkers in the Highlands in the next few weeks they are likely to be TGO Challengers.

The TGO Challenge is a long distance walk, for up to 300 participants, across the Highlands of Scotland which has taken place every May since 1980. It was the brainchild of the well-known writer and mountaineer, Hamish Brown.

Challengers, as the participants are known,  can take either high or low routes within a maximum of 15 days.

There are 12 permitted start points on the west coast and North and South limits on the East Coast.

We see many Challengers in Aboyne  and at Hilltrek  we offer a cup of tea and a seat for weary feet. 

Several customers are Challengers in fact several years ago a customer from Belgium popped in to buy a Paramo jacket before starting the challenge.

This year the TGO Challenge started on 13th May and you can actually track the rapid progress of some of the Challengers on a section of the TGO Challenge website.

 The TGO Challenge is sponsored by TGO, the walkers’ magazine, Rab, the outdoor equipment specialist, and the adventure trekking company Himalayan Kingdoms.

For more information see the TGO Challenge Website

Paramo introduced new lightweight pull on waterproof Quito trousers recently and  last weekend I had the first opportunity to test them on a walking trip in Torridon in North West Scotland.

Saturday on Bein Alligin was sunny and windy and the new Quito trousers stayed in the bottom of my rucksack.

On the second day on Corbett Sgurr Mhor just south of Beinn Eighe the weather was  different  -very windy, warm and thunder showers.

We started the walk along the track passing the SMC Ling Hut in sunshine in 17 degrees and slowly climbed the slopes to the summit plateau. Then the thundery rain showers started and I pulled on the Quito Trousers over my light walking trousers.

Quito Trousers are designed to be pulled on without removing your boots. Each leg is zipped open, the trousers held up by a waist belt while each leg is zipped up. Difficult to do in a strong wind as I found out but it helps when the stud at the ankle is fastened. During the wind blown rain the Quito’s kept me perfectly dry and despite working hard walking through rough terrain I did not overheat.

Luckily on reaching the summit the rain stopped , the sun came out and I took the trousers off. This is done by zipping up from the bottom of each leg, unfastening the ankle stud and then removing the waist belt. This was all done when I was standing up without taking my boots off.

Next day in the same conditions I had to use the Quito’s on another nearby Corbett and by then I had mastered quickly putting them on and taking them off as the weather changed.

My first impression of Quito Trousers was very good. It took some time to master putting on the trousers and taking them off, especially in wind but so much easier and faster than conventional overtrousers.

They compare favourably to  lightweight Velez Adventure Trousers being very slightly heavier at 425g compared with 414g but much more versatile. Velez Adventure Trousers have slighly heavier fabric in heavy wear areas which make them more robust. They are both priced at £145.

Quito Trousers are only available at Paramo Partners such as Hilltrek and directly from Páramo.

The full specification is as follows:

• Innovative and simple “zip off” construction allows trousers to be put on or taken off speedily, without taking one’s feet off the ground or sitting down.
• Full-length side zips with poppered internal storm flaps allow variable ventilation.
• 2 handwarming pockets at hips.
• Adjustable webbing belt in waistband tunnel, with hook and loop tabs to secure.
• Articulated knees enable unrestricted movement.
• Contoured shape minimises fabric bulk and flap.
• Ideal to put on quickly over shorts or light trousers or can be worn next to the skin.
• Constructed from Nikwax Analogy Light fabric ensuring low bulk with minimum weight.

For more details of the walk see http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/sgorr-nan-lochan-uaine.shtml

Thanks to all local outdoor clubs who visited us on Sunday for our club day.  We had an excellent turnout from several clubs including Cults Hillwalking Club, Deeside Runners, Aboyne Ladies and Aberdeen Mountaineering Club.

As well as taking advantage of excellent deals, several bottles of wine and numerous cups of coffee were consumed while tales of 10K runs, munro bagging, ice climbs  and long range treks were shared.

The next event at Hilltrek will be the visit of Chris Townsend on April 16th.

Chris is a well known long distance walker with several firsts under his belt including the first 1600mile trek along the Rockies and the first continous climb of all the Munros and tops (Scottish Mountains over 300o ft first listed by Sir Hugh Munro).  As well as a gear reviewer in the TGO, Chris is an excellent writer and photographer, and on the day will sign his new book published by Cicerone on the Scottish Mountains called Scotland. Chris is also a Páramo fan and has recently tested our Foinaven Cotton AnalogyVentile Smock.  

We look forward to seeing you there.