A look at the October issue of The Great Outdoors

The October issue of The Great Outdoors is out now. In it I review David Lintern's excellent book Thunder Road - Voices from the Cape Wrath Trail and Lowe Alpine's latest big pack, the Sirac 65L. 

Also in the gear pages Lucy Wallace and David Lintern review ten waterproof jackets suitable for year-round use and David Lintern and daughter review three pairs of kids' outdoor footwear.

This is the annual TGO Challenge issue and there are eleven stories from this year's event plus details for next year. 

There's a scrambling theme to this issue with seven routes recommended for beginners, Hanna Lindon having an exciting time on Tryfan with her six-year old daughter, and Mountaineering Scotland Safety Advisor Kirsty Pallas on how to start scrambling.

The scrambling continues in the Wild Walks section with Alan Rowan on the outlying Liathach summit Meall Dearg, David Lintern on the Lagangarbh Buttress of Buachaille Etive Mor, Vivienne Crow on Blencathra's Hall's Fell, Francesca Donovan on The Trinnacle in the Peak District, and Andy Galloway on the Daear Dhu ridge on Moel Siabod in Snowdonia.

Taking scrambling into snowy terrain Richard Hartfield describes a spring backpacking trip in the Cairngorms with David Lintern, who took the excellent photos, that included two low-grade mountaineering routes. 

Away from scrambling Lucy Thraves goes running in the Brecon Beacons with Simon Roberts, last year's winner of the Montane Dragon's Back Race.

Mark Waring has a different sort of adventure on a backpacking and packrafting expedition in Arctic Lapland. David Linter was along and his excellent photographs illustrate the story.

Much more sedately Andrew Wasley backpacks the South Downs Way and discovers layers of history.

In shorter pieces marine conservationist and mixed media artist Katie Tunn is Creator of the Month, Elise Wortley describes history-inspired adventures in several countries wearing the outfits of early female explorers, Jim Perrin finds Great Whernside uneasy in his Mountain Portrait, and there's the first of a new column by Emma Schroeder documenting her walk around Britain in which she discovers midges.