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SUE'S VIEWS ARCHIVE
July 12th, 2010 - Pyrenees Walk France GR10
As you read this, I’ll be walking just this trail – the Grande Randonnee 10, along the French side of the Pyrenees.
The whole walk from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean covers a distance of 700km but we have chosen a two week section from St Jean Pied de Port in the Western Pyrenees to Cauterets in the Central Pyrenees. There is enough flexibility to be able to choose your own entry & exit points, studying which towns have bus or train access, so you can plan your own itinerary.
An excellent guide book is Trekking in the Pyrenees by Douglas Streatfield-James, published by Trailblazer Publications 2005. Although a little out of date, there’s a lot of practical information, & doing the preparation, I’ve found not much has changed. However, I’ll be able to report more on that later.
Many of the refuges & villages are only small, not always open all year round, some of them ski resorts in winter so researching & booking accommodation can be tedious. Our walks around Kings Park, Jacobs Ladder (when it was open), & now in France, will hopefully have prepared us sufficiently for this walk. Some sections appear challenging, with long days, steep ascents & descents so hopefully we will quickly become ‘trail fit’.
.... more later. Au revoir!
June 28th, 2010 - Soft Day Packs
When travelling overseas, or even for weekend trips away from home, a small, lightweight & compact day pack has endless possibilities for usefulness. Stored inside another bag when not needed, it can be invaluable for shopping at the local markets, carrying water & rainjacket on a short day walk, exploring the streets when you don’t want to be carrying a handbag, or packing with towel, hat & sunscreen for a beach outing.
Check out the options in store or on the site.
June 14th, 2010 - STS Neoprene Zip Pouches
With today’s technology, travelling often includes carrying mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras & all the associated power cords & cables. Add to that the adaptors required for each country you’re visiting, & there can be quite an assortment.
Neoprene zip pouches from Sea to Summit are available in an array of sizes, colour coded for easy categorizing. The zips are reliable & the flexible fabric allows for poking into gaps & corners in your bag or daypack. Also means your camera charger, spare battery & memory cards can all be in the one place when you need them.
Check out the range next time you’re in store.
May 31st, 2010 - Most Useful Travel Clothing Item
The item of clothing I would most often not be without is a close call between an Icebreaker t-shirt & a lightweight shell jacket. The Icebreaker t’s can be worn day & night, dressed up & down to suit different occasions & always look smart.
However, probably a shell jacket, with its windproof, showerproof qualities is the winner. Light & easy to always have on hand, & can mean the difference between being cold & miserable, or warm & comfortable in changeable weather.
Despite checking daily weather forecasts, measures of a weather in a new environment can be unpredictable, & setting out in the morning for six or seven hours of exploring I prefer to take the jacket!
Check out the popular Montane Shells, North Face Shells or our full Shell and Rainwear range. Also see our Icebreaker section for some great merino clothing.
May 17th, 2010 - RAIN JACKETS!
Montane is a new brand in store with some excellent jackets for rain, wind & warmth. What I particularly like about them is the fit & fabric. They have good length, comfortable styles & quality fabrics.
The first of two rain jackets that stand out for me, is the Lite-Speed H2O Jacket (available in mens and womens). It is extremely lightweight & compactable, is well shaped with a long tail & has a hood that can tuck under the collar. It is small enough to carry in its stuffsac in your handbag or daypack & comes in cherry red, lime green & black.
The second is the eVent Venture Jacket, a stronger, more waterproof & breathable jacket, but still lightweight. It has small features that make a difference, such as good sized chest pockets & microfleece on the front collar, also the shape & sizing are very comfortable.
Try them on next time you’re in the store.
May 6th, 2010 - Test before you go
Preparation for a trip away is an important part of planning your adventure, & an even more important part is to try out your gear. That water bladder you've had carefully stored since it's last use, may have deteriorated, & it wont be much fun discovering that when you fill it the morning before you leave. A small rubber O ring where the tube attaches to the bladder was missing on mine recently, when I went to use it - hence the timely reminder.
I'm also product testing the small Sea to Summit Trek & Travel range of Pocket washes. These small lightweight plastic containers with flip top lids contain leaves of Shampoo, Body wash or Laundry wash. They are small & compact & comply with airline carry on rules. I've found it takes a bit of work to get the leaves to completely dissolve, as they turn into a papery blob - not a good look with the shampoo one left in your hair! However, the laundry one worked well, though I found I needed twice the recommended leaves for the body wash which eventually lathered up ok.
Sea To Summit Liquid BODY WASH Liquid
Sea To Summit Pocket BODY WASH
Sea To Summit Pocket LAUNDRY WASH
19th April, 2010 - Cape to Cape Walk Track
The Cape to Cape Track is located south west of Perth & runs 135km between Cape Naturaliste & Cape Leeuwin. It’s a delightful walk combining coastal track & forest trails & is easily accessible. There are many options in how to approach this walk, from a 5-7 day walk with full camping, or by choosing daily sections to complete with a daypack only, be picked up & dropped off & stay in comfortable accommodation along the way.
This track is well documented in guide books by Jane Scott & Ray Forma & has an excellent website for full information www.capetocapetrack.com.au.
There is some spectacular scenery of coastal cliffs, surf, beaches with crystal clear water for refreshing swims, & freshwater springs to discover. One of my favourite sections is from the rivermouth at Margaret River to Joey’s Nose at Kilcarnup. I thoroughly enjoyed walking this short section on the weekend in perfect weather conditions – blue skies, warm sun, gentle breeze & briskly chilled ocean. Do your research now, & plan your own walk, whether for a few hours or several days – you will be rewarded.
In news just to hand - the Cape to Cape Track has been voted in the top 10 walks in Australia. Visit here for the full story!
6th April - 2010 Avon Descent
For those of you who have still been considering participating in this year’s event, now’s the time to go for it! Four solid months of training is still time to hone your skills & prepare your paddling fitness for the event.
Especially after consuming copious amount of food & easter eggs over the weekend, what a good incentive to get stuck into that training regime. Paddling training towards a goal such as the Descent provides an excellent all over physical fitness, with the joy of being outdoors.
Mainpeak’s Paddlesports shop is running training courses – give them a call on (08) 6103-4530 to book your place. Avon Descent 2010 Information Nights will be held on 13th April & 11th May from 6pm at Mainpeak Paddlesports, 2a Railway St, Cottesloe, & specials on gear are instore now.
To visit our paddle page click here
March 23rd, 2010 - New Icebreaker!
Just as we have a few cold nights, the new Icebreaker starts arriving in store…sshhh… Don’t tell anyone until you’ve been in to check out the range & get first pick of the new styles & colours. The new GT range combines 3% elastane with the merino wool for more stretch. My favourites are the Quantum full zip jacket with hood in a new blue quartz/petunia & the Long Sleeved Pace Crew. I had the opportunity to wear this one in New Zealand last month & loved the shaped styling & comfort while having a light layer of warmth next to the skin – perfect for autumn.
March 9th, 2010 - GARMENT BAGS
Organizing your trip away is an integral part of any journey, & mostly an exciting & enjoyable part of the process. My experience is that organizing my gear is just as important. Mesh garment bags & lightweight stuff sacs help this enormously. It enables you to keep like clothing items together, & have adventure-specific bags at the ready. For example, paddling shorts, rash vest, bathers, gloves, hat can be packed in one bag ready for packing into your dry sac once a flight gets you to your destination. Separating underwear, thermal clothing, day wear, evening wear or snow specific items also helps keep packing & unpacking under control. With bags & stuff sacs in varying colours, shapes & sizes, there’s sure to be a combination that will help you keep your gear efficiently packed & be ready for action.
February 23rd, 2010 - Speight’s Coast to Coast New Zealand - Race Report
Well New Zealand really is like being in a picture postcard! Great mountain, lake & river scenes all around. The Speight’s Coast to Coast Adventure Race is a gruelling mix of run, cycle & kayak & has individuals & teams of 2 competing over one or two days. After pitching our tents in a field at the overnight camp, this year’s event had to be modified – the weather forecast was for 150mm rain & 120kph winds overnight! The race director reluctantly changed the course & we not so reluctantly dismantled the tents!
My Lowe Wheelie Roll on comfortably carried all I needed for the week, including my Mont Zodiac 350 sleeping bag & Exped Downmat 7 Short Pump mat – both lightweight small & compact. Icebreaker clothing layers suited all conditions we encountered. A short walk to Ben Lomond above Queenstown gave me a taste of more adventures to be planned in New Zealand.
February 8th, 2010 - Speight’s Coast to Coast New Zealand
A great opportunity has come to attend New Zealand’s Coast to Coast Adventure race next weekend, 12th & 13th February. In its 28th year, the Speight’s Coast to Coast Adventure Race is one of the most highly regarded multisport adventure races in the world.
Whilst enjoying our warm summer weather, it’s hard to think back to the weather being wet & cold & the need to pack gear for such conditions. However, that’s exactly what I need to prepare for. We’ll be part of a support crew for a team so will get pretty close to the action.
So, what to take?
Obviously a rain jacket, rain pants & my Zamberlan Venture shoes. Clothing? Icebreaker! From Hipsters & Cami through 200 long sleeved Scoop top & leggings to a Tech-T, socks, gloves & Chunky cable beanie. I will wear my Henley top for airport & dining out & my super comfy multipurpose Vertical Quantum jacket for stylish warmth. My aim is to pack it all into a Lowe Alpine TT Roll-on 40 Wheelie bag for easy travelling.
Will let you know how I go!
January 24th, 2010 - Patagonia!
To those of you who are familiar with this brand, you’ll be as excited as I am to know we have new clothing in store! Patagonia have been around for a long time, making practical active adventure wear in great fabrics with unique designs.
Paddlesports have mens & womens boardshorts & rashies. Check out the Girona longer board short in stretch fabric & the Wavefarer short in a turquoise patterned cotton fabric. The Outdoor store has the Gingko T-shirt, the Pinback halter top in two colours & a very comfy halter dress, the Morning Glory. Patagonia have a consciousness about eco-friendly fabrics & production so they are a label you can feel even more comfortable wearing.
Check out this, and other styles, in Women’s & Men’s clothing in store, or on our website.
January 12th 2010 - Arc’teryx Clothing
A new range of this exciting Canadian clothing brand has just arrived in store. Their products are ultra high quality in design & fabrics, resulting in great looking, comfortable performance wear.
The Arc’teryx Motive short sleeved Polo shirt is a combination of cotton, polyester & spandex. It is soft to touch & a stretch garment with collar, v-neck & one button, shaped back & front for a flattering finish, with a zipped security pocket. Suitable for active or smart casual wear.
The Arc’teryx Velox T-shirt is designed for active wear. It is extremely lightweight 100% polyester, has shaped panels for fit, a smart v-neck & is a stretch fabric. Suitable for climbing, running, walking, gym, yoga or lounging!
Check out this, and other styles, in Women’s & Men’s clothing in store, or on our website.
January 4th 2010 - Eider Ski Jackets
While most of us are enjoying the warmth & sunshine of the Australian summer, there are many preparing to seek the snow of the northern hemisphere. With falls good in many areas & plenty of time left yet to enjoy, investing in some new clothing is timely.
Our new range of Eider jackets are superb – beautiful European styling & quality fabric provide a warm, comfortable, lightweight & practical jacket that’s designed to keep you warm & dry.
Small but important features that show attention to detail, such as soft lycra thumb cuffs, a hood you can still see from when you turn your head, a snug snow skirt to keep the wind & snow out, make the choice of this garment one you’ll appreciate.
My choice is the Eider Isida jacket in red – teamed with white or black pants – a slimcut fit that is flattering yet comfortable to wear all day. This French company have put years of experience & technology into quality garments. Check them out now online or in-store.
December 7th, 2009 - Suunto Lumi Watch
This watch is one of my favourite recent acquisitions, & I wear it constantly. With features such as a compass, altimeter & dual time zone capability I use it even more when travelling.
Although a large faced watch, I find it light & comfortable to wear, even on my small wrist. This is the first outdoor adventure featured watch I’ve found that looks attractive & not black macho in styling. It is suitable to wear day & night regardless of whether you are walking a trail or dining at a restaurant.
One caution is to be generous with sizing when cutting the wristband to suit. You can always cut another section off to make it shorter, but there’s no reversing a tight fit.
November 16th, 2009 - Summer Beachwear
It’s officially summer at last, so what best to focus on – beachwear! Rip Curl bikinis, board shorts & rashies are in stock in great colours in our Paddlesports shop on Railway St Cottesloe. We have expanded on last year’s range so there is sure to be something to suit you.
This year we also have a new range from Xcel of kids rashies & Lycra springsuits from size 1. They have also included toddlers wetsuits – perfect to keep them warm once the seabreeze comes in.
For adults we have a full range of hats designed to stay on while you’re out paddling or enjoying the beach. Lightweight & compactable - call in to check them out at Mainpeak Paddlesports Cottesloe.
November 16th, 2009 - Wilderness Systems Zephyr Kayak
After paddling a sit on top through most of winter & getting wet in the process, I decided to upgrade to one of these plastic sea kayaks. What a joy! Not only are your legs protected from the wet & wind, these kayaks cut through choppy waves, and lift & glide seemingly effortlessly. I also find I’m getting a better work out with my legs bracing against the inside of the cockpit, and the manoeuvrability of this craft is excellent.
Several compartments include a small easily accessible one near the cockpit which is perfect for keys, drink bottle, snack or a thermos. The larger storage compartments allow for extended storage for my next extended trip. The weight of the Zephyr is good for manageability. It’s better to have a friend help with lifting on & off but if stuck on my own, I can still manage to nose it onto a towel at the end of the car & guide it onto the roof racks on my own.
Best little accessory:
Harmony Bilge Sponge - Soft chamoix style outer, highly absorbent, convenient hang cord, floats in water, comfortable shape & size.
Need Lessons? – we offer a free introductory one with an boat purchase, and also have many others available. Check out the Paddle Classes section for more info.
Click to view: Wilderness Systems Zephyr Kayak
November 2nd, 2009 - Nalgene Drink Bladders
One of the Mainpeak crew has hit the pavements jogging, & asked me for my recommendation on our range of drinking bladders.
A Nalgene bladder with wide opening, a detachable tube and a bite valve which you can turn off is my favourite. I load it into my daypack & secure the tube down the shoulder strap so there’s easy quick access to a drink at all times. I find the the Nalgene valve has easier suction, & after the inevitable bad experience one time of my water leaking out through an unsecured tube while packed for transport, prefer the small turn off valve.
There are several varieties of bladders on the market – check out Mainpeak’s range next time you’re in.
Click to view: Nalgene Bladder CXC RAPID FILL 1.5L Standard
Click to view: Nalgene Bladder CXC RAPID FILL 2.0L Get-A-Grip
Click to view: Nalgene Bladder CXC RAPID FILL 3.0L Get-A-Grip
October 19th, 2009 - Spring Clothing
With warmth in the air but still a chill in the breeze, I’ve decided to share my favourite clothing items for spring!
The Icebreaker first layers are ideal for warming up after laps in the pool, or an early morning paddle & help keep you at a comfortable temperature all day. Icebreaker Cami's in great colours with matching hipsters are perfect to keep your core body warm. Add a layer of Icebreaker short sleeved in between – there are some new styles & colours in store now.
Combined with Lowe Alpine's Sierra Lite Shell Jacket, this will keep your body warm & the cold wind away while still allowing great flexibility & lightweight comfort. The shell jacket is slimcut, soft & lightweight, and with its 4-way stretch is really comfortable, so easy to wear all day.
These are my favourite clothing items for spring!
September 28th, 2009 - GRAVIS TRAVEL BAGS
I prefer my travel bags to be compact but functional and have discovered two great ones recently.
The Gravis Sidearm is a trendy shoulder bag suitable for around town, the working day and for travelling. A spacious main compartment has room for a essentials as well as separate dividers for biros and items you want to keep tucked away. The front flap hides two separate pockets (great for keys) and a zipped outer pocket for quick but secure access to your mobile phone. A full size pocket on the outside has plenty of room for documents or letters and the shoulder strap is fully adjustable.
Gravis have also introduced some bright colours to their travel wheelie bags and the 90litre Jetway comes in a variety of colours including lime green or bright (Mainpeak) orange – easy to spot on the luggage carousel! The Jetway has a reinforced base for toughness and is medium sized but with more height in the bag rather than length. This also allows for easier manoeuvrability and storage.
Click to view: Gravis Sidearm shoulder bag
Click to view: Gravis 90 litre Jetway wheelie bag
September 21st, 2009 - LEKI SHIVA ANTISHOCK WALKING POLES
Walking poles significantly reduce the impact on knees when descending and are a worthwhile support for ascent – also a great way to test the depth of the soggy ground if needed!
I used my Leki Ultralight walking poles last year when hiking the Coast to Coast Walk across the north of England. The Coast to Coast Walk is a great walk, where you can choose to camp or stay in a myriad of B&B’s pacing yourself to complete the walk in your own time. The average time to complete the whole Coast to Coast traverse is just over two weeks.
Light and compactable, the Leki walking poles fitted easily into the base of my bag for the flight from Australia, then were strong enough to help me on the steep ascents and descents on the walk, particularly on day 2 for the steep ascent of Loft Beck beside its picturesque waterfall and day 4’s gruelling descent off Kidsty Pike, where fog, rain and cold provided challenging conditions. And of course testing the depth of the bog on Nine Standards Rigg.
Click the link below to see the details of the pole I used or check out Mainpeak's range of walking poles to find something to suit you.
Click to view: Leki SHIVA ANTISHOCK WALKING POLES Women's