The Outdoors Station - Audio

It's no mean feet planning a walk across Scotland for the RAB TGO Challenge. But how difficult it is to plan a route when you're based two or three thousand miles away on the other side of the world? Andy Howell talks to US backpacker Rob Hausam about crossing Scotland and about a planned Packrafting, hiking, adventure in Alaska. Is Andy tempted to a life on the fast watery wave?

Join me for my end of year frosty wander into the hills, when I stop for a while and roast some chestnuts on my Honey Stove. Looking for inexpensive ideas for next years break? Then imagine kayaking down the Nile, paddling your own wood Canadian canoe or having a custom made adventure with Jed Yarnold! Its all in this one!!

A bit late, but still inspiring, here's a few interviews from this year's Wilderness Gathering. A real 'back to nature' event full of knowledge, enthusiasm and ideas. We learn more about the art of manufacturing Saxon jewelery, how to tell a story, hear about life on Islay and talk to the authors of some new books to encourage youngsters to 'get out more'!

Extended Podcast. Where did it all go so wrong? We look at the facts behind the media storm from the weekend and talk to competitor Jeremy Webb maker of the video used by the BBC, Mark Weir at Honister Slate Mine, competitor Lucy Harris who spent the afternoon at the mine, Mark Hodgson of Keswick Mountain Rescue and finally Mike Parsons organiser of the OMM. Its a long one but make your own conclusions as to how big the tea cup really needed to be!

Extended podcast. This is part one of two podcasts which follow the recent OMM event in Cumbria. In this section we record the event itself, sharing our experience and those of others, as we all battle against the weather conditions. Rain finally stopped play and general flooding stopped the fun, so we record our thoughts and review the gear used, to see if it performed as it should. (Part two looks at the media storm reviewing the facts and the fiction)

The final preparations and gear check before Rose and I set off north to Cumbria for the OMM Mountain Marathon. The forecast isn't good, with 2 inches of rain and 60 mph winds on the first day of the event. Should make for an interesting podcast and gear test review!!

We're back and you can hear us panting and running along the hills training for the forthcoming OMM. Andy Howell meets Mary and Philip Lenerhan, hotel owners and mountain walkers in the Pyrenees, plus Nick Mayell a tracker from Shadowhawk Tracking, tells us why he's in demand in the UK.

In this the final podcast from the trade show series we speak with Andy Burgess the VP of design at Golite to understand more what goes into the design principles and philosophy behind their successful range. Plus Rose asks Coup what he takes with him in his bag, which he has had to pay for? Interesting!

In our never ending search for new products and information we talk about the work which goes into the small useful things with Sea to Summit head honcho, we chat about safety and theft with Packsafe, catch up with Brian Vargo for the US perspective and meet a very weary John Manning and Chris Townsend for their impression of the event.

How do you pitch a Lazer? Are Terra Nova really selling Tarps? A new super light super thin walking pole from Mountain King? A whole new range of female footwear from Inov-08? A whole new range of useful anti-bug lotions from Nikwax? Answers to all these questions can be found in this podcast. Enjoy!

In this the third podcast from the series, Roman really enjoys himself as he discusses new technical developments relating to the outdoor experience. Hear all about personal locater beacons, solar recharging panels, a new way to boil water and 2009 updates for the excellent Sat Map system. Gear freaks will love it!!

Our second report from the European Outdoor trade Fair in Germany in July 2008 and this time we concentrate on clothing. We hear about an exciting new Event jacket from Rab, new fabrics used by Icebreaker, a really interesting explanation and demo from Primaloft and Silk Boxers for men, all make for a great podcast!

Our first report from the huge outdoor trade fair at Friedrichshafen in July 2008 where we look at exciting new developments in rucksacks from Lightwave, Inov-8 and Osprey. Join us to find out more and stay tuned to The Outdoors Station for more podcasts from this event.

Just a few days after they finished their 84 day epic walk from Lands End to John O'Groats 2008, Gayle and Mick talk to me about highs and lows of walking through Great Britain. The countryside, the people, the weather and of the gear. Stepping out of normal 'life' how are they feeling now?

And so we drag ourselves away from the most perfect wild camping spot in the UK and make the final push from Sandwood Bay to Cape Wrath. The weather is fantastic, sunny and fresh and one would expect the going to be easy underfoot. However the last few miles were the toughest of the whole trip. And then, suddenly that's it. It's all over ... now just got to catch the ferry to Durness in time...