What's in the January issue of The Great Outdoors

The January issue of The Great Outdoors is out now. In it I review ice axes and crampons suitable for hillwalkers plus three Pertex/Pile tops. Testing the last reminded me just how good they are.

The opening spread is a stunning shot of An Teallach in the snow at dawn by James Roddie.

Staying with the winter theme Carey Davies has a look at Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Helvellyn under snow, and there's advice on winter skills from Glenmore Lodge. Phoebe Smith makes a winter visit to  the remotest place in mainland Britain in the Fisherfield Forest in the Scottish Highlands.  In an article that made me shiver Sarah Stirling goes winter swimming in mountain lakes and rivers. Brrr! Across the North Sea Alec Forss goes ski touring in northern Scandinavia, a feature that brought back memories of my many skiing trips in the area.

Away from winter Hanna Lindon looks at the problem of route markers left after organised challenge events in Snowdonia. Roger Smith gets excited at the idea of 'footpath farming' - grants for farmers to maintain paths. There are book reviews of Alex Stainforth's Another Peak - Everest is Not the Only Summit by Alex Roddie and Nick Corble's Diagonal Walking by Roger Butler. TGO Challenge coordinators Sue Oxley and Ali Ogden praise solo walking in an excellent piece. In his Mountain Portrait column Jim Perrin looks at my nearest Munro, Cairn Gorm, and finds much to praise despite the ski resort.