{"id":21036,"date":"2023-08-21T09:03:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-21T08:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mountainwarehouse.com\/community\/?p=21036"},"modified":"2023-08-31T16:45:26","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T15:45:26","slug":"tony-paynes-top-hiking-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mountainwarehouse.com\/expert-advice\/outdoor\/buying-guides-outdoor\/tony-paynes-top-hiking-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Hiking Tips from an Outdoor Enthusiast"},"content":{"rendered":"

We had a chat with one of our very own climbing, hiking, and mountaineering experts.\u00a0 Tony Payne, who works in our Mountain Warehouse store in Keswick<\/a>, chats to us about everything from his love of the great outdoors, his favourite pieces of hiking gear, and what you should never leave home without when heading out on an adventure.\u00a0 Tony has climbed all 214 Wainwrights and knows the fells of the Lake District like the back of his hand.<\/p>\n

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  1. Tell us a bit about yourself.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I’m 65 years young and this September I\u2019ll reach retirement age, but I hope to carry on working as I really enjoy working with the MW team in Keswick. \u00a0On leaving school I studied photography and spent a good 30 years as a freelance working and living in London.\u00a0I discovered the Lakes late in life, but the rest is history as they say.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been with MW for over 11 years now and I enjoy the fells on my days off.<\/p>\n

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    1. Why did you start Mountaineering?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      I’ve always enjoyed the simple things in life, one of them being spending time outdoors enjoying nature.<\/p>\n

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      1. What was your most memorable trip and why?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        This would be an early childhood memory of camping out in the Libyan desert, where the desert meets the\u00a0sea. \u00a0My dad was in the army, and we were posted to Tripoli and we would pack everything we\u00a0needed for a weekend of camping somewhere along the coast. This is probably where my love of wild camping\u00a0comes from.<\/p>\n

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        1. How often do you spend adventuring outdoors?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Before my knee operations, I was hiking and wild camping every week, sadly my knees have deteriorated so it’s\u00a0just when I can manage to get out.<\/p>\n

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          1. What is the one piece of climbing equipment you would never leave home without?\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Essential for days out, it would have to be a map and compass.<\/p>\n

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            1. Is it required to know first aid to be a mountaineer?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Not essential but always useful to have\u00a0basic knowledge. Carrying a first aid kit is always a good idea.<\/p>\n

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              1. Can you tell us what you should pack for a day of mountaineering?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Entry Level:<\/strong> Based on what I wear when I go out for a day hike during May\/June\/July.<\/p>\n

                Base Layer:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Any lightweight wicking top, I prefer the Endurance T-Shirt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

                Headwear:<\/strong><\/p>\n