A toast to Col and Liz

By Kenny Stocker

A toast to Col and Liz, celebrating their spirit of adventure and camaraderie.

This weekend Alpkit Col (some of you may know him as ‘The Chunk’) is getting married to Liz. We couldn’t let him go without being sure he was of sound mind so a couple of weeks ago we headed down to the Green Man festival. It is never easy to keep these things a secret, so we invented an official Alpkit engagement at a LandRover Show. We nearly blew it. our alibi was the week following, luckily for us Col had other things on his mind. Despite being disappointed he was not going to get to drive a LandRover after all, the festival got the Chunks stamp of approval, and we were satisfied everything was going to work out just fine.

Festival goer
Festival goer
For those of you who don’t know, Col is one of the founding members of Alpkit and original micro boulderer. He is also officially company secretary but he doesn’t really like to talk about that. As well as getting on with everyday chores he takes the product shots on our site and designs all of our tees. Never one to shirk the less glamorous tasks he the least likely to suffer from mispack in the packing room. Col is usually first off the mark dealing with returns, he really is a beast on the shop floor and probably the only one of us who truely understands the returns system Jim put into place (Jim himself included). Many of you who have ordered on his day will have already enjoyed his special attention. Other talents of note include doubling as a capable Wolfenstein engineer, and making guest appearances as a retro 90s kayaker.

Despite his stature Chunk lives a gentle and frugal life. He realised from an early age it was better if others bought the latest, techiest and highest capacity kit. One 30l sack for all eventualities, if it didn’t fit in his bag it went in someone elses. Standard issue kit included a toothbrush, a jar of Black and White pomade and his trusty Pentax ME Super, 50mm prime lens, loaded with a single HP4 film to last him for a 2 week trip. This was way before lightweight was fashionable.

On the day itself we will calm nerves by sneaking in a quick 9 holes before proceedings. Col and Liz will be taking time out for their honeymoon after the wedding. We are not invited so Alpkit business will go on as normal meaning we have to let Nick back in the packing room, but don’t tell Col this!

Books & Magazines

  • Save 10%

Oat To Joy Oat To Joy

Oat To Joy

Emma Pooleys oat-based recipes
€29,99

  • Save 10%

BOMS-1001CT-01-1001_climbing_tips BOMS-1001CT-01-1001_climbing_tips

1001 Climbing Tips

An irregular instruction manual for anyone who hangs off stuff or just hangs around in the mountains
€29,99

  • Save 10%

Coffee First, Then The World Coffee First, Then The World

Coffee First, Then The World

In 2018, over the course of 18,000 miles, Scottish cyclist Jenny Graham smashed the round-the-world...
€19,99

  • Email when available

Epic Rides Epic Rides

Epic Rides

Packed full of our favourite stories, photos and articles and every bike in our range.
€0,00

  • Email when available

Where There’s A Will: Hope, Grief And Endurance In A Cycle Race Across A Continent Where There’s A Will: Hope, Grief And Endurance In A Cycle Race Across A Continent

Where There’s A Will: Hope, Grief And Endurance In A Cycle Race Across A Continent

Emily Chappell's story of pushing the limits of her endurance
€0,00

  • Email when available

The Cold Fix The Cold Fix

The Cold Fix

Drawing strength from cold-water swimming and immersion
€0,00

  • Email when available

Bothy: In Search Of Simple Shelter Bothy: In Search Of Simple Shelter

Bothy: In Search Of Simple Shelter

The doors are always unlocked, you just need to step inside.
€0,00

  • Email when available

Making Tracks in the Lake District Making Tracks in the Lake District

Making Tracks in the Lake District

10 enjoyable walks for children around the Lake District, with child-friendly instructions and illustrations
€14,99

  • Save 10%

The Uncrowned King Of Mont Blanc: The Life Of T. Graham Brown, Physiologist And Mountaineer The Uncrowned King Of Mont Blanc: The Life Of T. Graham Brown, Physiologist And Mountaineer

The Uncrowned King Of Mont Blanc: The Life Of T. Graham Brown, Physiologist And Mountaineer

The biography of scientist and mountaineer Thomas Graham Brown
€17,49

  • Email when available

Swimming Wild in the Lake District Swimming Wild in the Lake District

Swimming Wild in the Lake District

The most beautiful wild swimming spots in the larger lakes
€22,49

  • Save 10%

BOMS-BON-01-chris_bonington_mountaineer BOMS-BON-01-chris_bonington_mountaineer

Chris Bonington Mountaineer

This books breaks down 30 years of Chris Bonnington's climbing with pages of wonderful photographs - an inspiration to any mountaineer
€24,99

  • Save 10%

Lake District Trail Running Lake District Trail Running

Lake District Trail Running

Helen Mort's compilation of 20 off-road routes for trail and fell runners from 5 to 17 km
€14,99

Your next reads

Snowboard Rescue

So what happens when your son loses their board and it disappears far down the slopes and across into the middle of a frozen lake? Well plot a snow...
January 26, 2017

Wild Child to Adventure Aficionado

I grew up in the heart of the National forest- as a kid people used to say that I was more wild than child. I would spend hours in the forests and ...
May 09, 2017
South Island Canyoning

South Island Canyoning

Sh*t. Sh*t. Sh*t. I say to myself while the full force of a pretty high volume waterfall pounds on my helmet. I've just spotted a knot in the rope ...
April 25, 2013

In The Frame - the journey has started

8th September and we were down at Holme Fen in Cambridgeshire to see off Joe as he started his journey to Ben Nevis. We caught up with the In The F...
September 09, 2013
Mongol Rally – Mongoliando.com follow up

Mongol Rally – Mongoliando.com follow up

Back in July we quizzed Johnny P about his imminent Mongol Rally. When he got back we checked to see if some of his previous answers rang true. AK....
January 21, 2013
En route to Antarctica.

En route to Antarctica.

Beth Davies and team are on their way to Antarctica. The team have arrived in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. I feel like I’ve been travelling fo...
February 20, 2012

Backcountry snow in Kyrgyzstan

Mike Handford sends back an update of the Renegades Out of Bounds backcountry expedition to Kyrgyzstan. "We first started discussing the possibilit...
April 03, 2014
Canyoning in the Southern Alps

Canyoning in the Southern Alps

What do you get when you combine climbing, kayaking, caving and a gigantic children’s water park? I couldn’t quite believe it when I stumbled ...
November 12, 2012

Operation Point Clunk North

Johnny Parsons, age 41-and-a-half Every year I try to set myself a challenge or spontaneously try something different. I am not especially talented...
July 02, 2014

Andy Smith - illustrator

Born and raised amongst the muddy fields of Norfolk, Andy Smith studied illustration at the University of Brighton and the Royal College of Art, Lo...
January 23, 2014

Amazonia Calling

Back in May James Vybiral headed into the Amazon and now we finally have had contact. So what has he been up to all that time deep in the rainfores...
September 03, 2010

Back to surgery

2014 was a year of pushing myself. You all may be by now getting accustomed to tolerating my crazy ideas and seeing them turn into reality. No matt...
January 19, 2015
Bremgarten

Bremgarten

After weeks of river running I was itching to get back in my playboat again, especially with the World Cup fast approaching. Our travels took us no...
July 28, 2008

Alf the Adventure Seeking Jack Russell

Alf found himself getting a bit chilly up in Scotland, luckily he had a trusty AlpineDream to save him! Dear Mr Alpkit This is Alf Alf i...
January 17, 2018

Caving into Pressure

Many years ago, during a caving trip with the Scouts, I was asked to propel myself headfirst down a tunnel so narrow I could barely wiggle my hips ...
January 02, 2018
Yorkshire Fun

Yorkshire Fun

I am extremely lucky to have made some very good friends through my years at University in Leeds. My family and I have just spend a few days with t...
December 30, 2007
Dachstein Caving Exped 2012

Dachstein Caving Exped 2012

Chris Jones swaps the openess he enjoyed on the Patagonia Expedition Race last February for the Austrian depths. This month 35 cavers from 8 count...
August 15, 2012
Pick of the Big Shakeout

Pick of the Big Shakeout

As the new girl in the Alpkit team I’m quite excited to be writing my first daring deed! Jim has asked us to write about our favourite bit of ...
October 20, 2011

Zero to Hero Training in Norway

Below is a quick catch up of recent activity ahead of the Birken Ski race on 15th March.For a full rundown of what both Henry and I have been up to...
February 28, 2014

Ario Caves

What is the Ario Dream?In one sentence, to find and document the world's deepest caving through trip.In another sentence, to abseil into the mounta...
October 17, 2017
Weekend of activity

Weekend of activity

So the weather has been pretty good the past couple of weeks out here in Lecco. My time here is coming to an end so I have been pretty keen to make...
January 29, 2008
Between trips

Between trips

I have had 6 weeks back in the UK after coming back from Europe, the weeks have flown by. Most of my time has been spent at the water course in Not...
August 11, 2010
A great day out on the Vallee Blanche

A great day out on the Vallee Blanche

4.30 AM is not unusual for an Alpine Start however hanging around in a cemetery car park felt a bit strange. I had arrived first and there was not ...
February 17, 2008
Johnny P and Lina head east

Johnny P and Lina head east

AK. So Johnny, you've been getting excited about the Rally for plenty of months and I'm sure you're reaching fever pitch by now. How did you fall i...
July 13, 2012
Going Underground

Going Underground

I’d never been caving, never really having the inclination to venture into the belly of the Earth whilst the outer surface gave me ample space...
August 09, 2011
Paragliding over Keswick

Paragliding over Keswick

Feeling exhausted after a week of sailing I thought it would be a good idea to spend a week learning to paraglide. This was also something complete...
April 21, 2011
Ski-Karting in Sweden

Ski-Karting in Sweden

In January, when England was thawing out and after I’d been snowed into my uni room for a good week or two in the midst of November and December’s ...
April 21, 2011

The draw of Wanaka

We first came across snowboarder and backcountry splitboarder Mike Handford as he headed off to explore the possibilities inKyrgyzstanat the start ...
March 06, 2015

The Magic of the Valley Blanche

When you’re living in Chamonix, every now and then someone will suggest, “let’s go and ski the Valley Blanche”. It’s always presented as a casual i...
February 08, 2019

Inspirational ideas how you can Win Winter and chase your passion for the outdoors throughout the winter months

Are you getting that urge to wrap up, fireside, and wait for the snowflakes to gently settle? The hills will soon stand in winter's grasp. Trails y...
October 06, 2023

What to Pack for the Alps

Way back when Nick, Col, Kenny and Jim thought up a name for their company, it was simple. Kit you’d throw in a van to go and have fun in the Alps?...
July 22, 2022

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

=