Author Archives

Jools

UK backpacker, striving for lightweight while body gets increasingly heavyweight. Completed all of the UK national trails while fitting in local day hikes and other multi-day trails both in the UK and overseas. Walked across mainland UK on five month 2500 mile 'Three Points of the Compass' hike in 2018

Trail talk

Trail talk: Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls Trails. Básar to Skógar

Three Points of the Compass rounds off his 56km hike of the Laugavegur Trail with the 25km Fimmvörðuháls Trail, passing high between two glaciers, to then descend to the sea, following the Skóga River and one of the finest collections of waterfalls in the world.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls Trails. Álftavatn to Básar

Three Points of the Compass continues his Icelandic adventure. Two more days of hiking will see me finish the Laugavegur. But will the notorious changing weather conditions permit me to continue to the coast, on the Fimmvörðuháls Trail?

Trail talk

Trail talk: Iceland’s Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls Trails. Landmannalaugar to Álftavatn

Three Points of the Compass takes a walk from Iceland's southern Highlands to the sea, across a landscape continually shaped by the forces of nature. Both Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls Trails are exceptional.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the WEDO adjustable kilometre measure

This month's measure was produced by German based company WEDO. A familiar brand in Germany and across the globe partly due to their well-known "we do it" slogan.

Gear

Gear talk: the Fire Maple Polaris Pressure-regulator Gas Stove

Polaris is the name that Fire Maple has given to their series of stoves that each feature a pressure regulator. There are three stoves in this range- a remote canister stove, a canister top stove and an integrated 'cooking system'. Three Points of the Compass has a look at their Polaris Pressure-regulator Gas Stove

Electronics

Gear talk: Nitecore Carbo 20000, the world’s lightest 20000mAh powerbank

Most backpackers are carrying a powerbank on multi-day trips. As the need for additional power for a multitude of electronic devices increases, so does the search for the lightest and most efficient of high capacity 'bricks'. Three Points of the Compass has a glance at a 20k mAh option from Nitecore.

Gear

Gear talk: fitting magnetic door closures to my MLD Duomid

Three Points of the Compass has just completed a simple ten minute mod that makes magnetically securing one or both doors open on the MLD Duomid a lot simpler and quicker.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: HC model 457, combination pedometer, compass and map measure

This month's measure combines three functions. Two of which are inefficient measures while the third is of questionable use. That said, it is a fascinating example of how manufacturers would squeeze extra function into an instrument to attract customers.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Kendal Mountain Tour 2023

In 1980 a group of climbers met to swap stories. The two-day Kendal Mountaineering Film Festival, as it was then called, sold tickets in order to raise funds for further adventures. This has grown to become an annual Kendal Mountain Festival- an eclectic assortment of 'outdoor' films, photography and talks, showcasing all that is different, exciting, innovative, challenging, or simply joyous, in the outdoors. The festival goes on the road as the Kendal Mountain Tour.

Gear

Gear talk: the WickiUp 3, a shelter with a history

Three Points of the Compass dives in to the gear locker to look at one of the tents languishing there. The Eureka! WickiUp 3 SUL is a classic design of tent, usurped by lighter alternatives, but still an excellent piece of kit. Is it time to resurrect this single pole 'Mid'?

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Tower Bridge to Woolwich Foot Tunnel

Tower Bridge to Woolwich Foot Tunnel. 12.0 miles (19.0km) Our […]

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Putney to Tower Bridge

Putney to Tower Bridge. 9.5 miles (15.0km) This was a […]

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Hampton Wick/Kingston-on-Thames to Putney

Hampton Wick/Kingston-on-Thames to Putney. 13.5 miles (21.5km) We slept well. […]

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Chertsey to Hampton Wick/Kingston-on-Thames

Chertsey to Hampton Wick/Kingston-on-Thames. 12.5 miles (20.0km) Leaving our overnight […]

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Windsor to Chertsey

Windsor to Chertsey. 12.0 miles (19.5km) Oh dear! another hot […]

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Marlow to Windsor

Marlow to Windsor. 14.5 miles (23.0km) Despite a fair amount […]

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Sonning to Marlow

Sonning to Marlow. 15.0 miles (24.0km) It was a hot […]

Trail talk

Trail talk: The Thames Path- Goring to Sonning

For the remaining eight days and 105 miles of this national trail, Three Points of the Compass is joined by Mission Control, who has stipulated good accommodation and good food. We hold out hope of a few decent pints of beer too...

Cooking

Gear talk: Heat Exchanger pots

What do heat exchanger pots have to offer the lightweight backpacker? Are they any more efficient, and if so, does this compensate for the increased weight, bulk and expense? Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at some of those available.

navigation

Trail talk: A-Z Adventure Series ‘for walkers’ maps

For those that like to venture out on a long distance path in the UK, be it National Trail or some other route, a physical map, with the trail highlighted through it's centre, is a useful resource. And if that resource comes with Ordnance Survey mapping, it is a match made in heaven, well, almost!

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