TRAIL MAGAZINE

As a subscriber (of a few years) I must confess the mag is quite shite!

What with articles these days like "YOU TOO CAN DO FIVE MOUNTAIN MARATHONS ON JUST A JAM SANDWICH!" The key words within the said publication are BOOST,POWER,ACHIEVE, TRAIN etc.. Along with the classic scientist say? or nutritionists say!  Look to be honest i don't care if by sticking a beetroot up my arse it will allow me to get up Scafell quickier. Trail seems to be taking hillwalking as an Olympic sport, what with complex training programmes, mental fitness programmes, body fitness plans etc..

Over winter the routes at the back of the mag got longer, I know that 20 miles in Scotland espeacilly most of the time whilst in crampons is a tough day, what with the lack of daylight and the tricky weather. So next month we will see a 3D Route guide of" Everest The Horsehose" along with "Do All The Munro's on a Pogo Stick to save the Environment", and make it even more fun by dressing as a glove puppet! The Gear Test will have all the sponsor's kit getting good mark's as per---

 A question to Trail If do not go to the hills by bike bus or train(or pogo stick) does that make you the sporn of devil? I hope so. Right must dash, got to go and pay a Grand for a Jeremy Ashcroft 2 day scrambling course.

Just to add on a postive note, it's nice to see the Lass out of the rock group 'Berlin' has found work, with Trail.  It's been a long while since her sucess with "Take my Breath Away" The number one smash and Top Gun film promotion.

Ps The deputy Editor needs a good slap!

My God Kate, Country Walking! I used to be so cool, NME, The Face mag etc..

By reading Trail i have become Old and boring, Country Walking is a step too far, towards the world of the Volvo driver, and thinking that Julia Bradbury is sexy! and joining the national trust for cheap parking!

Help!

or TGO.

There's a Woomble bloke in there from some rock band group thingy or other. A bit more modern and "with it" than Berlin methinks.

Anyone read that Lakeland mag too? Or how about camping mag or MMM?

BTW I have a few questions for you magazine buyers, how long does it take to read your mags? Do you read all of it? I'm especially interested in all those mugs who buy more than one mag. I mean I don't think I've ever managed to get beyond the first paragraph in a Jim Perrin article. Despite being into backpacking I can't get into the TGO backpacking articles neither. I doubt I will ever get onto the very long trails in USA that he writes about so can't get into them. Besides the green eyed monster comes into effect with people who can go off for several months at a time. I am not allowed more than a fortnight off in one go.

Country Walking? I do like to know how many stiles I've got to go over on a walk, I mean I'm doing a 9 mile walk know that there is 4 or 5 stiles could be the thing that breaks me. The fact you have to climb up a steep hill or go down a steep slope is not mentioned but a nice easy stile over a fence-line is considered essential information for someone who is considering doing a 9 mile cross country walk. Correct me if I'm wrong here but if you have difficulties going over stiles then wouldn't you have difficulties doing a 9 mile walk in the Lakes or Dales?

Does anyone read the letters pages? And why print people's comments on a letter printed two issues ago that no-one in their right mind will remember? What is that about? And why on God's Earth is a letter complaining about giving malt whiskey as the best letter prize because "women might win it and they don't drink Whiskey do they?" worth anyone's interest. Is it just so two issues down the line you can get some woman referring to that letter writer by name and contradicting her but you don't know what the letter was about because you never wasted your time reading it? And then when you hold off getting a subscription until some gift you want comes up so you send you money in only to find out they only had about 10 of them and you have to take a crappy coloured buff or something you don't want and not the item promised (but in the small print has a comment like "subject to demand")?

And why....?

Sorry I could be here all day you might want to move to a different thread or forum while I get these of my chest.

Country Walking "Stiles" brilliant, always have a picture of these epic beast's.

So bascially each year i piss my money up the wall, for a set of dry bags, a multimat and a pair of gloves.  Nice.

Nick

The beetroot thing, would organic be best? as i've found i have been struggling getting to the tops lately.

mick dray wrote (see)

Nick

The beetroot thing, would organic be best? as i've found i have been struggling getting to the tops lately.

Mal Mawr wrote (see)

"I mean I don't think I've ever managed to get beyond the first paragraph in a Jim Perrin article."
? Too literary for your taste ttg? I think Jim perrin is an excellent writer and his offering is the first I turn to when I receive my copy of TGO through the post. He is obviously a well read and culturally literate author...Ah! The penny's just dropped.

And probably better published in the Times Literary Supplement. Its a goddamm walking mag not really a place where references to Diogenes or whatever has any real relevance IMHO. Or perhaps the TLS should be publishing the best routes up Ben Nevis or advise on crampon use or some other such topic? I just don't find his writing worth the space Mal but I do think you have made an assumption about me based on my lack of interest in his essays. Although I daresay I would find his articles a bit more interesting if he just listed a range of references instead. It wouldn't be the first time I found the references in an article more interesting than the article itself.  That's how I found a rather interesting author on the paleolithic. Fascinating period of mankind's past. I digress. Just because I don't appreciate his writing style doesn't make me any less or more culturally literate than anyone else, just a critic with an opinion contrary to your own. Perhaps time to find that penny you've dropped Mal. Can I suggest your sofa? I do like that band member's writings though, is it Woomble?

Simon Barry wrote (see)

mick dray wrote (see)

Nick

The beetroot thing, would organic be best? as i've found i have been struggling getting to the tops lately.

A beetroot...all the way to the tops...

i'm impressed it took you a few years to realise that trial is shite. took me three copies of an annual subscription way back. nothing was worth doing unless it was lung bursting, thigh burning, involved having to wear very expensive clothes and frightening and dangerous like an overnight bivvy somewhere. however, i'm sure gear makers love the mag as they probably sell a lot of "look at me i'm a fit, active, in yer face trial type outdoorsy person - brand brand, loadsagear, feel the cut of my jacket" stuff.

stiles are very important for some people. at least country walking, for all its faults, acknowledges that there is country beyond the peak and the lakes and snowdon and it is not necessary to scale the highest point in order to enjoy a day out. steep bits are catered for in their grading. when i'm out i often see people who have difficulty with stiles - i assume they're out for a walk rather than just wandered off from somewhere when someone's back was turned.

Nick the Mod wrote (see)

organic mick, 16% more stamina than non-oraganic, remember to hydrate mick, 500ml of water every 5 minutes  and use a good cinnamon stick to keep the beetroot in place

Cheers Nick

a cheese and beetroot sandwich is one of my favourites. I could make one at the top.

should i dare ask about the cheese?

oooh, i thought of something else too....yuck!

Nick the Mod wrote (see)

...and use a good cinnamon stick to keep the beetroot in place

mick dray wrote (see)

Nick

The beetroot thing, would organic be best? as i've found i have been struggling getting to the tops lately.

the thing is Parky, i personnally do like to take hard routes and cover long distances in short spacers of time and climb high mountains, i just don't need to have personal trainer and all the crap trail waffle on about.

i love things like Trail showing you wildcamping danger's and how to avoid them, whilst showing a picture of a Ginger girl sharing a tent, Rightly so that is dangerous espeacially if she is on the Blob!

right got to go to the shop's and buy "Model Railway toilet Builder" Mag and also remember the lastest issue of "Nut n Bolt" collectors monthly is out today!

Nick the Mod wrote (see)

right got to go to the shop's and buy "Model Railway toilet Builder" Mag and also remember the lastest issue of "Nut n Bolt" collectors monthly is out today!

Do not joke - I do a paper  round and you would be amazed what magazines are published - and who has them delivered with their daily paper.

And no - they arent wrapped in plain paper either