Chat about backpacking, trekking and hiking
It’s difficult to keep up with all of the new blogs these days, but here is one to watch. Gordon is based — like me — in the West Midlands. His passion is the Scottish Hills. Currently he is wrestling with the dreaded midge! early days I think, but there is some good stuff here — and some good ideas for Scottish routes.
Technorati Tags: Scottish Highlands, Trekking
A beautiful new book has just arrived for review, Chris Townsend’s ‘A Year in the Life of the Cairngorms’, not a diary but a coffee table, style, book of photographs. The kind of book that brings back memories.
Full review coming up soon.
I always think it is nice to not only feature great customer service but to thank the people involved.
A month or so ago I took (yet another) Suunto Watch that had developed the strange Sunnto internal misting effect. The watch was a Sunnto Core which, believe you me, is not cheap. I only bought the watch because Colin Ibbotson assured me that his was fabulous and that these problems seemed to be a thing of the past.
Actually, it would be more accurately to say that the watch was a present at Christmas; I didn’t actually buy it myself.
The watch was bought at the Betws-y-Coed branch on December 31st.
I took the watch into Cotswold in Birmingham who happily got in touch with Suunto for me. Suunto’s reaction was a little weird I thought.
Firstly, the store sent Suunto the serial number on the watch along with details of where and when it was bought. Suunto’s response was to claim that this model was way out of warranty and that it couldn’t be covered by them. When the watch went back to the store it was less than 6 months from purchase — the watch had proved to be quite useless on the TGO Challenge.
Suunto wouldn’t enter into any conversation about the watch until they had the full receipt and proof of purchase which I didn’t have this (as I didn’t buy it). I gave Cotswold details of the purchase and they then ran a copy of the invoice off from their national system; painless enough. Suunto now had the proof that this was sold well within a reasonable date.
Brendan — and his staff at Birmingham — dealt with all of this in a stoic and efficient manner. He has just rung me to tell me that Suunto have replaced the unit; I shall pick it up tomorrow morning.
Regular readers might recall that I’ve had these problems before, on more than on occasion.
The Suunto Core is a very expensive piece of kit and it comes with a glossy little booklet which features their customer guarantee. This guarantee gives you the kind of piece of mind which is soon dashed when you do have a problem. The company seemed to be arguing that this watch was from an old batch of production and must have been older.
A quick bit of investigative work revealed that mine was not a unique problem, of course. I was told that Suunto had been forced to change the country of production following quality control problems.
Suunto had the serial number and presumably would have known if it was from this dodgy batch. A watch of this price is quite likely to be sitting around a store showroom for some time; I guess they don’t actually fly off the shelves. I find it peculiar that they were so resistant to sorting out the problem quickly. I must admit I did think of invoking this blog and seeing how quickly they responded but really I like to focus on genuine customer experience.
All in all, I got the impression that the company is increasingly grumpy to deal with about warranties (this is a polite way of putting it). Customer Service staff at Suunto would be wise to read the documentation they send out with each purchase.
Thankfully, Brendan and his colleagues were not grumpy at all, they were patient (which I got the details of purchase) and very accommodating; beautiful customer service with a smile.
In this internet world real life stores will only survive on providing a quality retail experience and great customer care.
If somebody from Cotswold Outdoor is reading this, well Brendan and his team in Birmingham have got this all spot on.
Anyhow, I shall be fascinated to see how well the watch performs and how the company responds when (inevitably) the watch strap falls to bits after its first exposure to prolonged wet weather. But that’s another story …
Thanks again Brendan.
A couple of weeks ago I plugged Kimberlie Dame’s new project which anyone can support through the Kickstart Website. Kickstart is a new kind of community where people can get together and back a new initiative, idea, service or product — it’s a bit like Just Giving, but for business purposes.
Once you discover Kickstart you find that the projects come at you at a hell of a speed!
A new project of interest to this readership is Hendrik Morkel’s A-Z of Lightweight Backpacking project. Hendrik is aiming to raise enough funds to produce a first batch of 26 of these videos. Investors receive a whole series of goodies, including a DVD box set of the finished series.
You can learn more about Hendrik’s project on Kickstart here.
Here is a sample video:
I’ve been meaning to write this for a few days now, but better late than never.
Many of you will have heard me talk about the writing of Kimberley Dame before — she writes the New Nomads blog. Kimberley was also one of my guest bloggers while I was away in Scotland.
Kim now has a new project for which she will need your support! The plan is to “walk away from civilization”, embarking on a mammoth journey of 18 months of more.
The plan is to walk away (literally and with great fanfare) from my life in Brooklyn, New York and head south along the Appalachian Trail. After completing the trail, I will then head west onto a network of smaller trails along the southern periphery of the United States. Along this route I will join up with a Hobo convention, a Renaissance camp, a Rainbow gathering, and other people in subcultures that I already am aware of, and hopefully with some that I will become aware of. I will then begin the Pacific Crest Trail in California and head north to its terminus, completing all 2,650 miles of it with varied and interesting people. I will then enter the “flaneur” part of the journey,intentionally allowing open space and time to research and pursue new trails, new people, and new experiences that are outside the range of normal civilization. I will return to Brooklyn when three years has passed. All throughout this time, I will be doing a whole bunch of writing, communicating, and figuring it all out. My legs and fingers will become deft and muscular.
As well as the posts and videos that are compiled along the way Kim is thinking about putting all of the experiences together in a book.
But Kim needs our help. She is looking for people to contribute towards the cost of her project. You can make any kind of contribution but different bands bring different benefits. Pledge $25 and you get access to posts and exclusive videos> pledge $50 brings additional monthly videos, a digital copy of the book and a signed copy of the print version.
Don’t think of this a a charitable donation rather an upfront subscription to what will be some great writing and wonderful entertainment.
It is not everyday that you can hep someone fulfil a dream. And of course, you will be benefiting from the contribution!
You can here Kimberley talking about the project, in her own inimitable style!
All Who Wonder — Living Outside of it all (Project Page)
Neil Wilson-Harris
Saturday was one of the most pleasant and fascinating days that I have spent in a long while. I met up with Neil Wilson-Harris of Routebuddy, small UK company that produces a native mapping program for Mac OSX. We met to record a podcast interview on computer mapping to mark the production of Routebuddy v.3. In the event we spent most of the nattering about exploration and adventure, the development of software, the perils of running a small business and generally revelling in all things Mac! Our chat expanded and expanded, we moved from coffee to real ale and then to lunch! I thought computer mapping would be fascinating and so it was!
For many years the PC mapping companies were adamant that they would not be developing their software for Apple computers, indeed, they were often very critical of the Apple platform. I remember being quite frustrated about this and so was Neil, so much so that although not a software man by background he decided to risk his future on building a company to do this. I remember the time well. Jobs had returned to Apple and — if you were a long time Apple user like we both were — you could see things changing for the better. But the PC world was entrenched and (as Neil puts it) described Apple “as a system for losers”. How times have changed!
The podcast interview goes all over the place but after a bit of editing I hope it not only makes sense but makes for fascinating listening.
I’ve given Neil a bit of stick over the last couple of years. There’s no doubting the quality of Routebuddy but topographical mapping for the outdoors has not been a business priority even though the Routebuddy team are all keen outdoor enthusiasts. Apparently, those huge motor homes you see in the USA have driven much of the market to date. Routebuddy were the fist OSX platform to work with OS maps but many of the features that I wanted — commutative height and OS Grid references were missing.
Routebuddy 3 is now here — or it will be in a week or two — and on Saturday I got a sneak preview of the program. Not only is Routebuddy 3 far better in working with topographical maps but I feel it gives you a glimpse of the future of desktop mapping in a way that no other software does. This is the future!
Re-built
Routebuddy 3 has been completely rebuilt from the ground-up. Previously RB was a Carbon App and now it runs not only in pure Cocoa format but it is the first mapping software to be written in 64 bit code. The program flies, even on a minimum spec laptop.
I can now see how the modular design of RB3 was worth working on. PC software has to deal with a messy legacy of old Windows systems with patches linking bits of of code that lurk all over the place. On the Mac RB3 only really has to deal with a much simpler program and data structure and as a result I think RB3 will be doing things that others will take a long time to replicate.
Screen Handling
The screen handling of RB3 simply blows you away. RB have always used vector and high resolution rasters to show off maps and to my mind the quality of their display has always been superior to the opposition, whether on a desktop machine or on an iphone. RB3 take screen handling into a new dimension.
The way this software transitions when flipping from map to map or zooming is very impressive. This screen handling allows some stunning features to be built into RB. Imagine a section of a map on your screen. With one mouse clock the image changes to a high quality satellite image using tiles downloaded over your broadband connection. The ‘flip’ is exceptionally quick and seamless. But now imagine that you can ‘fade’ between the two so that effectively the two are blended together. Believe me this is very impressive and although I’m not sure this fading will be available on RB3 it is coming shortly.
Route cards, sections of elevation and so on are all treated to the same quality display.
The Trek Planning Tool Extraordinaire
Within a short time of playing with the new software it seems to me that Routebuddy is a planning tool like no other. Not only does the screen handling allow you to flip between satellite and top map but it seamlessly joins maps together, maps of different resolution and even different grid system. Some of this stuff will be coming in future RB3 releases but it is not far from production.
I was immediately struck by the usefulness of this is planning, say, one of my Pyrenean walks. I like to amble along the HRP which means regular crossing from France to Spain. Under RB3 I can not only switch from maps to photo images — which can be very useful — but seamlessly move from a French to a Spanish map. The French ISGN maps will not be available on launch but they are being worked on. In the meantime, RB supports all UK OS maps and will launch with the entire USA on 1:24 (I think).
Working with the Customers and Community
Not everything I want RB to do will be in the new version immediately. For example, when planning a TGO Challenge I want to know the cumulative height gain of my route — something which saves a lot of contour counting. Neil tells me this is coming but when users and beta testers were offered the choice of this feature over satellite integration they chose the later. In all honesty when planning other long trips I just look at a day and think ‘that’s a high and long day’ or tat’s an easy day. I don’t really worry about actual height gained and so I’ll not be loosing much. I can wait a little longer.
The Mapping Hub
RB3 strikes me as being a real hub for mapping and planning. Neil tells me that RB sees the future of mapping as a desk-based tool rather than something that is simply seen through a web browsers, and I can see what he means. But RB will integrate with many online sources and as Neil describes it will become an ‘aggregator’ for all kinds of data. In addition, RB seems to be able to import and export to almost any mapping/GPS devise that you could have sitting in that rucksack pocket.
RB sees RB3 as opening up new markets and attracting new users. As a result the price for the program will come down considerably with the upgrade price being very attractive. Also, neil tells me that discounts for maps will be given for those wanting to move from other platforms (on proof of purchase of the other maps).
Building Background Capacity
RB’s customer care and relations is already far superior to — say — Anquet’s on the Mac and for a small company a lot of work seems to have been undertaken to get this right. In order to make the most of the future a lot of work seems to have gone into building the software that company sits on and that we won’t see — new compression technology and Apps that enable on the fly conversion from different formats. Neil concedes that all of this takes time but is a pains to stress that we will increasingly reap the benefits of this.
Future Reviews
I’m looking forward to upgrading and to writing a full review of Routebuddy 3. It might not be the ultimate planning tool on launch but it will offer a quality of experience that is not found elsewhere. And I’m sure that the new release will give me the confidence of knowing that this is a powerful platform that is only going to get better.
As an innovative and small UK company I with Routebuddy success. Neil is a real enthusiast and has staked a lot on its success, indeed, one of his biggest problems at the moment is coping with all of the new demands that are made by those how use maps for walking, cycling, sailing and even flying!
Routebuddy 3 is well worth a look when it launches shortly.
As for those PC companies who used to be so sniffy about Apple. So, long suckers …
The Start. Phyllis and Lou at Queen Street Station — no collection would be complete without the annual photo of these two!
Breakfast with Dennis Pidgeon: ” ..it’s dangerous for me to get to Braemar this early!”
Humphrey Weightman on Stonehaven Beach after two days navigating us through the Fetteresso Forest without once consulting a map! Respect!
Tony Bowe and Lee Wells in the bar of the Park Hotel; it’s why they came!
Sierra and Steph Manning
Colin and some Canyon somewhere …
I may need your help with this one!
Colin is of course no stranger to this blog. Here you will find the Colin Ibbotson Pages and details of home made gear designs. Colin has also written here before as a guest writer, talking about his Arizona Trail trek.
Well, I’ve approached Colin to guest write while I’m away. He doesn’t thin we’re interested or that he has anything interesting to say! Yet my blog stats show that everyday someone is reading his stuff and downloading his files from this site!
So, Colin needs a bit of encouragement! He tells me he could write about his plans next year when he will be setting out on a new life as permanent global trekker. Would that be interesting? YES OF COURSE IT WOULD.
He’s a very nice and modest guy Colin.
You would like to hear more from him wouldn’t you?
Colin, your public awaits ….
Carl
Carl is an old friend and colleague of mine. Over the last few years we’ve got a bit too relaxed at catching up with each and we found we’d not been out for a drink in quite some time. When we finally got around to it Carl announced that he’d become a Munro Bagger!
Carl has become a proper ‘bagger’, fixated with trips to Scotland some of which seem quite extreme to me although I guess a lot of you will recognise the symptoms. To be fair, Carl objects to my description of him as being extreme. But I think leaving Birmingham in mid afternoon, driving to the furthest most tip of Skye in one long haul and sleeping overnight in the car is a bit extreme!
Over the years I’ve me all kinds of people who are fascinated at becoming a Munro bagger and they talk to me about it as a walker and backpacker. I’m sure I disappoint them though. Of course, I have clambered enough a fair number of Munros but I don’t count them and I can never remember the damn names of the places (let alone pronounce them!).
So I hope Carl is going to share some of his experiences with you. Over the last couple of years he has walked high and low all over the country and he has a fair share of stories to tell. Not for Carl the delights of tents and wildcamping! No, Carl’s excursions are planned using £19 stop-overs at Travel Lodges. He can show you how to tackle the whole country using Travel lodges as a base!
(Maybe while I’m gone some of you can work on him to encourage camping — he and I hope to be tackling some of the Munro rounds together later this year and I’m buggered if I’m sharing a smelly bothy with a load of drunk Glaswegians …)
Health, Fitness and Nutrition
Carl is not only a bagger though. Like many of us Carl has taken to the hills as a response to oncoming middle age, a quest to building up fitness and stamina. To that end Carl has thought a lot about walking, health and nutrition and I’mm be encouraging him to explore some of his ideas here.
Let me introduce you to Gordon Smith from New South Wales in Australia, the first of my Guest Bloggers who will be ‘looking after the shop’ while I’m away in Scotland!
Gordon has his own blog lookANDsee which he describes as a pictorial journal of life in rural Australia. For us, Gordon will be reflecting more on the walking experience. Gordon is a great photographer and I suspect you may be in for a treat!
About Gordon …
Gordon was born and raised in Aberdeen and, consequently, did a fair bit of walking in Scotland. He ventured south into foreign lands a couple of times including making a start on the Pennine Way, south to north. That trip was aborted, though, when his walking companion suffered food poisoning (Gordon suggests that it might have been something to do with too much English beer).
Gordon left Scotland in 1980 and, for all but two years, has been lived not far from Armidale, New South Wales. The slightly unusual thing about Gordon’s part of Australia is that it’s around 1000m a.s.l. atop the Great Dividing Range[1] – this Range separates the eastern coastal strip from everything west of it (the rest of Australia). Just about any walking trip from Gordon’s home location starts from that altitude, heads downhill 700 or 800m into the gorge country, which later requires a slog uphill to get home. Gordon’s trips into the gorges frequently follow old bridle tracks along spurs and ridges, rather than formal National Park walking tracks; consequently, in many years of walking in gorge country, he and companions have yet to meet any other walker.
Gordon also enjoys travelling around Australia. Unlike most tourists, Gordon prefers the inland to the coastal strip – and that means heading into the Outback. The Outback isn’t all flat, though, Gordon has some fascinating photographs to share from walking trips in the Flinders Ranges in Outback South Australia
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