Exped Megamat Duo 10 M Review - ‘Van Mat’

A short summary of the Exped ‘van mat’ - the comfy and catchily-named ‘Megamat Duo 10 M’

reviewTom LivingstoneNovember 1, 2018review, van mat, mattress Comments

Avoiding Cold Hands

Some detailed advice on how to keep your hands when climbing in the mountains. Having numb hands is a faff, so hopefully this will help.

adviceTom LivingstoneOctober 21, 2018climbing, cold hands, gloves, mitts, circulation, how to have warm hands, avoiding cold handsComment

The King's View

A view from work is as good as the view from the top of a mountain. Rope access jobs from the top of a nearby castle are to be enjoyed.

workTom LivingstoneMay 21, 2018work, play, runningComment

Expedition Report: Revelations, Alaska 2018. Livingstone/Hawthorn

The expedition report for my trip with Uisdean Hawthorn in spring 2018, to the Revelation Mountains of Alaska.

Fun or Fear - New Route on Mt. Jezebel, Alaska

Uisdean Hawthorn and I spent three weeks in the Revelation Mountains in Alaska. We attempted a new route on the north face of Mt. Jezebel (2880m), then climbed a new route on the east face of Jezebel. We named it Fun or Fear.

alpine climbingTom LivingstoneApril 13, 2018alpine climbing, Alaska, FA, Fun or Fear, Uis, TomComment

New Petzl ERGONOMIC Preview

Petzl asked for my thoughts on the new Ergonomic axe, released in early 2018. Here's what I think.

reviewTom LivingstoneMarch 22, 2018petzl, ergonomic, review Comments

Creme de Violette

Ben Silvestre and I headed to Scotland for a quick winter hit. We made the second ascent of 'Creme de Violette' (IX,9) on Beinn Eighe, and then climbed The God Delusion (IX,9) on Beinn Bhan the next day. It was a great trip, in (almost) perfect weather and on some high-quality routes.

scottish winterTom LivingstoneMarch 22, 2018scottish winter, creme de violette, ben silvestreComment

A Tribute to Marc-Andre Leclerc

This is a tribute to Marc-Andre Leclerc, who died with Ryan Johnson in early 2018. This was first published on UKClimbing.com.

Tom LivingstoneMarch 21, 2018marc andre leclerc, tribute Comment

What's in my Pack - Alpine Climbing

Mountain Equipment asked me to show folks what I take alpine climbing. It's a personal choice, but this is generally what I use for single push/multi-day climbing in the mountains - both summer and winter.

alpine climbing, reviewTom LivingstoneFebruary 2, 2018alpine climbing, gear, what's in my packComment

2017

The highlights of 2017, month by month. What a year it's been!

Annual HighlightsTom LivingstoneDecember 16, 2017round up, 2017Comment

The Collection - Bold or Stupid

This is the last of five short stories based around climbing, and describes a gripping time on 'Book of Ages,' Yellow Walls. A micro-wire was all I could find. The stories were first written about two years ago, and have never been published.

trad climbingTom LivingstoneNovember 24, 2017yellow wall, gogarth, trad climbing, the collectionComment

The Collection - Goldmember

This is the fourth of five short stories based around climbing, and describes one of my 'lucky' pieces of gear: a small gold wire, which has stood the test of time (just). The stories were first written about two years ago, and have never been published.

trad climbingTom LivingstoneNovember 17, 2017the collection, goldmemberComment

The Collection - RPs

This is the third of five short stories based around climbing, and describes buying my first micro-wire - a Brass Offset. These legendary minuscule pieces of gear are synonymous with hard - and bold - trad climbing. The stories were first written about two years ago, and have never been published.

trad climbingTom LivingstoneNovember 10, 2017trad climbing, rps, the collection, brass wire, llanberis, north walesComment

The Collection - It's Only a Skyhook

This is the second of five short stories based around climbing, and describes a frightening trad lead, when I 'came to' high above a skyhook, about to fall off.

The stories were first written about two years ago, and have never been published.

trad climbingTom LivingstoneNovember 3, 2017the collection, skyhook, trad climbing, onsight, north wales, summerComment

The Collection - New Blue in the Deep Blue

This is the first of five short stories based around climbing, and describes a dirtbag climber's worst nightmare - losing gear to the sea. The stories were first written about two years ago, and have never been published.

trad climbingTom LivingstoneOctober 27, 2017trad climbing, pembroke, cam, the collection, new blue in the deep blueComment

Sugar Rush

A visit to Red Walls should contain as much excitement as nervousness. This piece describes two days of trad climbing with John Orr and Tim Neill at Red Walls - one of the finest crags at Gogarth.