Cumulus review from within cloudy sky's.

So what does it all mean.

Simples,recently I sent off a request form to take part in the test programme http://www.keela.co.uk/

which Keela have set up.

Requiring new kit for the coming season I just couldn't wait, so off to http://www.outdoorwales.net/

To get kitted out. Received fantastic service from Outdoor Wales, prompt fast delivery backed up with great technical knowledge.

Purchased a Cumulus Pro Jacket

Plus to finish a pair of Monroe Sellopets.

At this moment in time I cannot find fault with this fantastic design. They have been designed with help from Mountain Rescue Teams from around the Uk, and it shows. I too currently serve with the Mountain Rescue Service and will be putting this kit to the test over the next coming months. I will BLOG out each time I go out and provide open and honest feedback, so keep logging in and see how it goes.

Windy heights

                                          Windgather Rocks Kettleshulme Derbyshire

Wow it's windy out there today. Went out up onto Windgather Rocks for a quick stroll before work, wow the wind chill was massive. Taking your hands out of your pockets and boy did you feel the cutting wind.

 Anyone heading out onto Kinder today needs to be prepared not like last nights chaps,

http://www.buxtonmountainrescue.org.uk/call_outs/kinder-scout-39

So back to the walk, always have the right gear you never know things can turn out different to that expected.

Nice little Diff route on the main wall, very popular.

Looking out over Goyt Woods towards Kinder and Mam Tor.

Super walk out but very windy on the ridges.

White Peak calling

Great job well done in Ricklow Dale Monyash yesterday. Lesson to be learned, make mental note. Do not jump over stone walls with barbed wire on top.

A very lucky lady received help from Buxton MRT in a fast response, snatch job to be precise. A snatch is a known casualty location with medical or truama complications.

This lady jumped the wall and caught her foot in the wire resulting in a nasty ground fall, impacting her lower  back. A nasty crack sound was heard and instant pain.

Super paking spot, but a bit dangerous with the fast moving traffic.

Casualty site from the air.

Getting ready for the long stretcher carry off to the road.

Over the wall and were off to an awaiting ambulance.

Casualty in the corner of the field near Ringham Low.

All ends well with the cass of to Chesterfield A&E.

Flagshare

Flagshare is a great way to raise some money and have a bit of fun at the same time.

Check ya length

What goes up must come down, but remember to come down as safe as you went up. 

Be careful out there.

Aldery cliff Earl Sterndale, super crag. Limestone routes in a super spot. Finished my run then got a shout down to Aldery Cliff, 20 mins away from home. 

Chap had a nasty fall whilst abseiling off the route.

Bit busy at the gate.

Misty moors

Late night call to a lost walker on Kinder Scout last night at around 22:00. Rushup edge to Edale was almost impassable due to fog, the fog was below,low. 

Driving conditions were hazardous, driving at around 5mph, passing through Mam nick below Mam tor was interesting to say the least.

Mam nick on a sunny day.

Heading up Jacobs ladder onto Kinder plataue.

Very dark indeed.

Not much visibility here.

Enhanced to show the difference.

So off up Jacobs ladder when we get a call on the radio to return to base. 

Jacobs ladder on a finer day.

http://www.near-chesterfield-derbyshire.com/jacobs-ladder-walk.html

The cass has been found safe and sound by a SARDA dog handler. http://www.sardaengland.org.uk/

So, a super result by the team at Mountain Rescue England & Wales.

Mountain Rescue Call to Edale

                                                  http://www.battleoats.com/

Busy day on the hill, with a stretcher carry off down Grindsbrook to the Nags Head in Edale village.

Good place to refresh, hydrate so to speak. Oh bugger, no wallet.

Tricky terrain to negotiate, steep sides to the right lots of team members required here to keep the chaps on stretcher party safe from slipping down the bank.

The heather is in full bloom in the valley at present, a sight for sore eyes.

More tricky ground to negotiate.

So all in all casualty is back safe and sound at the Nags on his way to Sheffield A&E. Good turnout from both Edale and Buxton Teams. All volunteers giving 24hr 365 days a year cover to respond to emergency situations. 

http://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/

http://www.buxtonmountainrescue.org.uk/

Testing the Ascent

Taking delivery,

Taking delivery of new kit is like candy to a baby. We have just been issued with the new windproof from Paramo. (Fuera Ascent)

http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/index.php?pgc=NIKWAXWINDPROOFJACKETFUERAASCENTUNISEX

So it's off for a test on the moors overlooking the goyt valley here in Derbyshire. (http://www.goytvalley.co.uk/)

Full kit on to get the right feel, full rescue pack. No point in testing the kit outside normal conditions. So rucksack on and alls well, straps locked and cross strap located across the chest to stop rucksack swing whilst on the move. Moving across the moor I start to zip pockets up and down. Really impressed here as there is no obstruction from the rucksack straps. The zippers go up and down, ok so what you say, well it is a big deal as most go up ish and down ish. Pretty annoying when your on the move trying to get access to your kit.

 

 

The next item on the agenda is the hood, oh the hood. This is usually an area were nightmares are found. Well not here, the hood fits over a helmet with no issues and fits snug to the head by the way of a side cord which pulls the neck in and a second cord at the rear which shapes and closes the hood down to fit your head.

Fitting snug with total comfort, wind speed here is about 25mph. Totally wind proof without a doubt.

 

Top feature as small as it is, is the zip covering at the top. A flap over prevents that itching caused by the sharp end of the zip runners, most annoying if not protected.

Easy to fit cuffs, simple and neat. 

So overall, superb wind resistance, fantastic access to the side pockets and internal clothing from the underarm vents. Hood and adjustments fit for purpose in every way. Looking forward to testing this jacket on a Callout, that should throw up more pros and cons, but at the moment a definite 10 out of 10.