Winter wander land

There is something quite magical about our countryside this time of year.

From the frosty snap in the air and the crunch of snow underfoot, to the stunning colours and smells, there is plenty to entice even the most fair-weather walkers into this winter wonderland.

Providing you stick to a few basic, common-sense measures, and adapt your gear to suit the conditions, the fells can be a safe environment to enjoy all-year round.

Before the call of the wild takes a hold and you grab your favourite walking boots, let's consider some winter walking basic essentials. We have been checking out some core, classic and innovative products from Grivel.

New this year is the Condor, which cleverly turns your trekking pole into a mountain pole should you encounter snow or icy conditions during your trek. You simply substitute the top part of your telescopic pole with the one fitted with the Condor.

You don't have to turn into a full-blown mountaineer to enjoy a snowy day out on the fells, thanks to the Spider, an instep crampon for emergency use on icy terrain.

If you want to take things to the next level, then check out the Grivel G10 new classic crampon, a 10-point walkers crampon compatible with B1 rated boots and perfect for UK winter walking.

To complete the picture, we also checked out the excellent Grivel Ice Fall Glove, a waterproof, breathable Hipora lined glove with built-in knuckle protection.

See a full review in the December 2005/January 2006 issue of Lakeland Walker.

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