Ok,
Thanks to you all for a fantastic week, made ultra funny by the cat and his antics. Obvious thanks to the london guys, and JJD (you are now a legend at Oslo airport - the counter staff were amazed at your likeness!!!
The course was well run and the staff, were not only funny but hugely knowledgeable, So thanks to Stani, Ross, Jed, Megan and Woody.
The gear I took this time was almost the same as the gear i took last year, with the addition of Rab storm bivi bag, which I was glad of.
Good gear (stuff I will use again)
The hestra guide gloves (real warm and you can still work in them)
Anything Merino
Snugpak sleeka jacket (i won't bother with the north face monster down jacket again)
Swedish army windproof smocks (these are way better than the british army goretex i used last year)
Second hand norgie jumpers off Woody (FANTASTIC and I will endeavour to buy more as I see them)
Thermos ultra light flasks (as Stephen said, they will keep water hot enough to make coffee for 12 hours and after 24 hours water is still good and warm - I can't rate these highly enough)
Good old Petzl Tika torch (I took a zebra light head torch and a highpower led hand torch both sets of batteries ran out within 24hrs - Lithiums suck in the cold) The Petzl had 1 set of batteries for the whole week.
Reindeer skins Better than any mattress
Bad gear
Sodding Matterhorn boots (fine when you are walking and active, but pants for standing around in
Lithium batteries (as above pants in the cold)
Snugpak antarctica RE sleeping bag (to small for a 6'6" fella) but as warm as toast so if you are say 6'2" this is a great bag !!!
Indifferent
German army cold weather trousers (great trousers until the get wet and freeze - I will have FajllRaven foresters next time round)
Thanks to all on the course, you were a good bunch to be with.
Chris
p.s. Northern lights pictures? I have a few..... This one to whet the appetite: