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Cathy and Wayne chat with Climber Jesse Dufton who offers a fascinating insight into rock climbing without sight.

The first blind person to climb the Old Man of Hoy, Montane sponsored athlete Jesse describes how his wife describes the rock in front of him which he then interprets with his fingers to place gear and build belays. Listen to how their unique relationship has lead to new routes and climbing all over the world.

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Going through a rough time? Find a mate and take yourselves off to climb a 4000m peak in Tajikistan! That's exactly what Hannah Mitchell and Sam Jagger did earlier this year and they tell Cathy & Wayne all about it in this laughter packed episode.

Supported by Deuter, Hannah and Sam trekked un-supported before tackling their mountain and share how their rucksacks went with them every step of the way through joy, tears and friendship.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action...

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Cathy and Wayne chat with Climber and Mountaineer Dave Evans about gearing up for Scottish winter mountaineering adventures.

Head of Climbing and Mountaineering at Plas Y Brenin, the National Outdoor Centre; Dave knows a thing or two about how to prepare for vertical fun in some of the worlds foulest weather and talks through how the National Centre's long term relationship with one of the countries most established outdoor manufacturer's; Mountain Equipment, creates clothing and equipment offering consistent protection in all conditions. 

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Cathy and Wayne chat with new Women's World Record holder Sarah Perry about her incredible run at the Backyard Ultra in Tenessee.

Listen to the worlds toughest Maths teacher describe how she kept running every hour, on the hour for 4 days non-stop and how she uses her Suunto Vertical 2 to help her compete, train and rest.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal


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Cathy and Wayne catch up with Berghaus Athlete Ed Jackson to chat about his success as the first disabled person to complete a first ascent of a Himalayan mountain.

Ed is joined by Alice Sainsbury to share their experience of the Berghaus Adapts program creating bespoke clothing to help everyone of all abilities access the outdoors and how the charity Millimeters 2 Mountains, which Ed runs with his wife Lois, is using the power of community to help individuals re-define their limitations.

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Cathy catches up with the legend that is Sir Chris Bonington to chat about his incredible year celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Everest The Hard Way, what it has meant to him and the team members and how the legacy of that 1975 expedition is positively impacting the people of Nepal.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal


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It's Kendal Mountain Festival time!

Cathy and Wayne have been invited back for a second year and have pulled together an incredible guest list to chat about outdoor kit, clothing and the festival theme of "Hope".

This intro gives a hint of the climbers, mountaineers, adventurers and runners they will be catching up with at Basecamp, The Brewery and Kendal Climbing Wall.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal


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The fifth of an extra special 5 part series celebrating 50 years since Doug Scott and Dougal Haston became the first Britons to stand on the summit of Everest, Cathy & Wayne are joined by Scarpa sponsored athlete Di Gilbert.

The first British woman to lead an expedition to the top of Mount Everest from the North side, Di has climbed all 7 Summits and worked 4 Antarctic seasons, gaining a phenomenal amount of knowledge about climbing and working in extreme, remote and challenging environments. Di gives us an insight into todays commercial expeditions chatting about essential...

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The fourth of an extra special 5 part series celebrating 50 years since Doug Scott and Dougal Haston became the first Britons to stand on the summit of Everest, Cathy & Wayne are joined by Mountain Equipment sponsored athlete Tom Livingstone.

Tom is known for his  trad, winter and alpine climbing - the bigger and badder, the better! His Fast & Light approach sets him apart with Sir Chris Bonington describing him as: ‘one of the finest climbers in the world, always using the purest techniques.’  Listen in as Tom talks about minimalism and the self-belief that g...

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The third of an extra special 5 part series celebrating 50 years since Doug Scott and Dougal Haston became the first Britons to stand on the summit of Everest, Cathy & Wayne are joined by special guest Mick Fowler.

Voted the Mountaineer’s Mountaineer by a poll of his peers in 1989, Mick is a three times Piolet D’or winner who is the master of small, extreme expeditions.  From tales of climbing in flares and crampons to brushes with the law, be prepared for your jaw to drop as he describes using clothing (most of the t...

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The second of an extra special 5 part series celebrating 50 years since Doug Scott and Dougal Haston became the first Britons to stand on the summit of Everest, Cathy & Wayne are joined by Mike Parsons, the original owner of Karrimor and OMM.

Running the family business Karrimor, Mike was one of the key equipment sponsors for the groundbreaking Everest 1975 expedition and describes how working with the team to create bespoke equipment shaped the products demanded by customers as participation in outdoor activities rocketed. 

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The first of an extra special 5 part series, Cathy & Wayne are joined by two members of the 1975 Everest South West Face expedition which saw Doug Scott and Dougal Haston endure the highest bivvy ever survived to become the first two Britons to stand on the summit of the worlds highest mountain.

Expedition leader, Sir Chris Bonington and key member of the climbing team Paul ‘Tut’ Braithwaite describe the responsibility, sense of adventure, logistics, equipment, camaraderie and conditions they encountered climbing the worlds highest mountain via a new route. 

This is a uni...

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Venture into the world of sports watches and wearable tech with Cathy and Wayne as they chat with Suunto UK Marketing Manager Dan Southam.

Wayne is a tech geek, Cathy is most definitely not so this is an ideal listen for anyone who already embraces their wrist computer to anyone thinking about using a back up to their trusted map and compass.

Find out how easy they are to use, which training apps are available to pair with, what a "mermaid" function is, the many ways you can style your...

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In this special anniversary podcast Cathy and Wayne celebrate 70 years since Joe Brown and George Band stood just below the summit of the world's third highest peak, making them the highest climbing Britons until Doug Scott and Dougal Haston summited Everest in 1975.

Joined by climber, author and film maker John Porter, this is a fascinating insight into an incredible expedition that cemented friendships, promoted respect for the local people and their beliefs, challenged class distinctions of the time, applied technical rock climbing skills above 8000m and saw four members attain the summit...

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Cathy is joined by British Mountain Guide Tom Ripley to chat about the kit you need for self sufficient Alpine Climbing.

In addition to what to carry in your pack Tom gives some great tips on classic routes, how to use alpine huts on a budget, top snacks for scary routes and describes what happened when he once managed to forget his harness.

If you have ever wondered what IFMGA stands for, what's involved in becoming a Guide or what's a Guide's favourite snack on hard routes then this is...

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Cathy and Wayne are joined by Lake District Sky Trails creator and Race Director Charlie Sproson.

Listen in to learn about the evolution of Sky Running, what courses and events entail, the kit and skills required and why comfy shoes are a necessity.

Charlie gives a fantastic insight into all aspects of the sport as well as drilling down into kit lists and why training is key to coping with those times when things don't always go to plan. Shoes, poles, race vests and bivvy bags - we cover them...

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Wayne chats with Cathy about her wander along the UK's most remote long distance path; The Cape Wrath Trail.

After a 15 year search for two friends willing to trek 220 miles through Scotlands wilderness, Cathy chats about their fantastic 12 day trip involving camps, bivvies, bothies, hostels, river crossings and a LOT of bellowing stags. Listen to tips on planning, training, logisitics, spreadsheets, blister management, cooking, packing and clothing as well as middle age, dodgy knees and falling over.

And laughter. Lots of laughter.

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Part 14 and the final podlet of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy is joined by Ourea Event Director Shane Ohly.

Shane is the man leading the team behind the legendary KMF Terrex 10k and the new KMF The North Face 50k Ultra and gives a peek of what goes on behind the scenes at these really popular events that go ahead - whatever the weather!

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community...

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Part 13 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Kerry Page from Community Action Nepal.

Founded by mountaineer, the late Doug Scott as a means of giving back to the communities that had given him so much, CAN works with local people and the Government to build, maintain and run health posts, porter shelters and schools in remote regions of Nepal. Their sister company Community Action Treks offers tailor made trekking trips with all profits going to the...

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Part 11 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Mountaineer and Deuter Athlete Tamara Lunger.

After summitting her first 8000m peak at the age of 23, Tamara went on to become the second Italian woman to summit K2 without oxygen. Tamara's passion for the mountains extends to her equipment - testing Deuter rucsacks in the worlds harshest environments.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal

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Part 12 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Adventure Athlete and Montane Ambassador Jenny Tough.

If you have ever wondered about how kit is tested - take a listen to Jenny describing how she took her Montane Trailblazer pack and ran mountain chains in 6 continents. Solo.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal

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Part 10 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Billy Ridal, La Sportiva Sponsored Athlete.

Listen in awe as Billy describes how he retired from indoor competition climbing and took a trip out to Yosemite with his friend and climbing partner Alex Waterhouse to become the first Brits to make a free ascent of the world-famous Nose on El Capitan, Yosemite. The route was first climbed by Lynn Hill in 1993 and has subsequently only received eight ascents in 30...

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Part 9 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Tim Francis, Regional Trainer and Account Manager for Grangers International.

We chat about the new changes in waterproof fabrics, why and how we need to look after them differently - including why you may wish to tumble dry or even iron your waterproof garments! Grangers have been offering a wealth of cleaning and proofing products since the 1930's and are very proud to be the official partner of the...

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Part 7 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Lucy Speakman, Director of Addidas, Terrex and 5:10 and Andrea Paulson, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Technology at Primaloft.

Primaloft is an industry leader in synthetic insulation and in this episode you'll hear about the passion that goes into every stage of creating the award winning Terrex Xperior jacket.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal
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Part 8 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Matt Haigh, Key Account Manager for Osprey.

Osprey celebrate their 50th Anniversary this year and in this episode we chat about the history of a company that specialises in Rucsacks and load carrying systems.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal

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Part 5 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Isla McCay, Communications Officer for Glenmore Lodge, the National Outdoor Training Centre.

Glenmore Lodge has consistently delivered world class training in a wealth of outdoor activities for 70 years from it's stunning base nestled at the base of the Cairngorm Mountains. Isla explains how courses are continually evolving and how your course may not be in Scotland......

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Part 6 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Alice Sainsbury, Product Designer for Berghaus Adapts.

This is a fascinating insight into Berghaus' drive to create adaptive outdoor clothing for adventurers with additional needs where we discuss garments adjusted for limb length, additions to aid moving limbs and design features allowing for catheters.

Listen ,learn and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal

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Part 3 of our Kendal Mountain festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Malcolm Rudge, Product Design Manager at Mountain Equipment.

If you have ever wondered how a glove is made, how many pieces are in a glove, how they are waterproof and why certain gloves work with a smart phone and others don't then you will find all your answers here!

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: https://www.canepal...

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Part 4 of our Kendal Mountain festival 2024 Season.

Recorded live out and about at the festival, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Catriona Shearer, UK Account Marketing Manager and PR Specialist for W.L.Gore Ltd.

We chat about fabrics, testing and how Gore-Tex is changing to reduce it's impact on the environment.

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: https://www.canepal.org.uk/

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Part 1 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 season

Cathy talks with Jon Frederick, Group Marketing Director for Equip (Global) about their key brand Rab.

Recorded in front of a live Audience this fascinating episode gives a real insight into how your favourite outdoor garments journey from concept to reality. This years festival theme is "Balance" and this podcast looks not just at how we, as users, offset or compare the value of one garment over another but also at how production has evolved to balance growth with sustainability, how we are...

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Part 2 of our Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 season

Recorded in front of a live audience at Kendal Mountain Festival, Cathy chats with KMF CEO Jacqui Scott about their unique journeys into and through the Outdoor industry, how they have balanced motherhood through their careers and how they are helping those just starting out.

Fair warning: there is a little bit of language, a lot of crazy stories and plenty of laughter but if you are expecting advice on how to be a perfect mother - this may not be the best...

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There are big changes happening in the world of waterproofs . They're a long time coming and are great news for the environment BUT we will all need to learn how to use and maintain the new technologies. 

In this first of three special podcasts, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Debbie Read, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR at Equip Outdoor Technologies to discuss why chemicals that have been used in waterproof garments for years are being phased out and how this will effect performance. 

As technical garment users, we al...

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There are big changes happening in the world of waterproofs . They're a long time coming and are great news for the environment BUT we will all need to learn how to use and maintain the new technologies. 

In this second of three special podcasts, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Laura Howe, Fabric Technologist at Mountain Equipment, to discuss how new waterproof fabrics are chosen, tested and built in to technical garment design.

As technical garment users, we all need to better understand why these changes are needed, how they w...

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There are big changes happening in the world of waterproofs . They're a long time coming and are great news for the environment BUT we will all need to learn how to use and maintain the new technologies. 

In this final part of three "waterproof special" podcasts, Cathy and Wayne are joined by Tim Francis Regional Trainer and Account Manager for Grangers International, to discuss why new waterproof fabrics will need to be washed and re-proofed more frequently than older garments and how you can do this simply and easily at home.

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Planning an expedition to Greenland?

Cathy and Wayne are joined by Olly Sanders to chat about how to prepare, what kit to pack, why climbing style may be dictated by your kayak, the effect of comms and tech on expeditions and why wellies are always on his kit list.

There are top tips on how to travel with minimal impact, information and funding advice for those planning their own adventures all interspersed with how to pack your boat, where to strap your gun and the very real discovery that Polar...

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Ever wondered what's involved in starting a new outdoor clothing brand?

Cathy and Wayne are joined by Artilect Co-Founder Trent Bush to chat about the incredible amount of passion, science, skill and global logistics involved in getting a product from concept to shelf.

Based in Boulder Colorado, Artilect offer men's and women's ethically produced base layer, insulation and waterproof clothing packed full of  innovative technologies and centered around the outdoor user.  This is a fascinating behind- the-scenes insight into the passion, knowledge and expertise poured into technical outdoor garments.

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This week Cathy and Wayne talk about head protection with Petzl sponsored athletes and climbing giants: Emma Powell and Neil Gresham.

Whether you are trad, sport, winter climbing or dry tooling we delve into why you might choose to wear a helmet when you climb, different construction types, testing, safety, how to check your helmet, how to tell when your helmet should be retired and why recycling them is so difficult. Packed full of technical geekery, anecdotes and possibly a little too much information from Cathy, this an essential listen for climbers...

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Cathy and Wayne talk about the NEW Mountain Goat Circuit/ Cylchdaith Yr Afr Fynydd, a spectacular 50km loop in Snowdonia along the skyline from the Joe Brown's Capel Curig shop to Llanberis and back.

Joined by Rab Global Sales Operations Manager Chris Vanderhoven, they discuss how the idea came about, the route, the terrain and there are lots of tips on what kit you'll need depending if you run, fastpack or backpack what is sure to become an iconic round of it's own right. The odds are good you'll see one of...

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Cathy and Wayne are joined live from Colombia by Ben Davies and Felix Sullivan from the El Rio Hostel in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains.
This very special episode talks not just about the kit needed for the nearby trek to the Lost City but also the unique relationship between The Climbers Shop and the El Rio Foundation. Listen to how buying great kit from us helps fund vital work with children in post conflict Colombia - and how you can help kids learn simply by visiting the...

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Join Cathy and Wayne with Dr Matt Fuller, for a fascinating insight into down and it's amazing ability to keep us warm!
Matt has a PhD in Feather and Down Structure and is Product Engineer at Mountain Equipment.
This episode is a real journey, explaining how ethically sourced down ends up in your jacket, sleeping bag, or suit  from source. Learn how down is almost structurally perfect, how it works, it's longevity, why insulated legwear and skirts rock, what "clumping" is and what to do if you've got it.
If you h...