One of our most enjoyable episodes to date, we decided to mix things up and chat to a creative figure! Alex Shapiro, an inspiring photogrpaher and videographer based in the lowveld, was kind enough to entertain our wide range of questions for the better part of an hour. From the difference between Drakensberg hiking and primitive trails, to minimalism, drones, what it takes to make a career change, and of course some shooting tips for aspiring photographers, we cover more topics than you can imagine... So take a listen - you're guaranteed to learn something from, or at the very least feel motivated by, @someshap and his Crusade Against The Mundane!

In this episode we chat to guest speaker Iain Peterkin about bike packing. An accomplished runner, Iain explains why he loves his old 26er and enjoys riding slower than he runs, and what to pack and eat on a back-road cycling mission... Anyone with a passion for movement and the outdoors is guaranteed to be planning a bikepacking trip after this.

Following on from a winter 'Berg fastpacking mission by Nicolette, we discuss the intricacies and art of moving "fast" with a pack. Still very much a grey area between trail running and hiking, we share our personal interpretations of fastpacking as well as some of the gear you'll need to move fast and light in the mountains!

This week we are back to full strength with a Gegrond and Mountain Abandon blend of tales from the past! We each share our first mountain hiking experience as well as our first encounter with coffee - two of life's greatest pleasures that have led us all down this trail and brought us together on the Mountain Ground podcast!

Ever wondered what coffee processing, such as washed and natural, is all about?

In this episode, the team welcomes Megan (the latest edition to the Gegrond family), bring you up to speed on our Shot In The Dark journey before explaining what is meant by "coffee processing" and how different processes can influence the coffee flavour and approach to roasting. We end the episode with the Gegrond team picking their favourite method for processing coffee. Hope you enjoy this episode!

01:52 - Introduction to Megan

04:58 - Update on Gegrond's a Shot in the Dark Journey

09:41 - Coffee processing methods

14:58 - Megan takes us through how the processing method impacts flavour

28:42 - Frederik explains how processing can influence your approach to roasting the coffee

34:08 - Gegrond team picks their favour processing method

Episode 7 of the Mountain Ground Podcast is a very special recording... In this edition Pieter, Pierre and Nicolette broadcast live all the way from Wales! They bring you the brand new flavors of the Burundi coffee from the Murabi Hills, as well as some raw emotion from Ultra Trail Snowdonia. For more insight into each of their races, from the highs to the lows to dealing with the unexpected, this one is not to be missed!

00:45 -New Coffee Burundi and our ASITD Tanzania beans

04:15 - We chat about Ultra Trail Snowdonia

In this episode we answer a few open questions from our previous discussion before Pieter chats about his Seven Sisters Skyrun race. That leads us into the topic of expectations in the mountains... Pierre and Nicolette then brief us on how to pace over challenging terrain, so if you're new to mountain running or racing your first trail event take a listen! We end this episode chatting about the " A Shot in the Dark 2022" coffee roasting competition and Gegrond's ambitions to take the top spot for a second year running!

01:10 - Caffeine content in a cup of coffee 05:20 - Expectations of pace in the mountains 37:00 - A Shot in the Dark 2022

In this episode Frederik takes you on a historic journey of the not-so-old history of the AeroPress; Pieter cracks a few jokes and spills the beans on his personal Aeropress recipe, and Nicolette and Pierre chat about when and how to get your caffeine fix in training, racing and the mountains.

01:55 - Frederik on the history of the Aeropress!

07:44 - Aeropress recipe

21:50 - Pierre and Nicolette - Get your caffein fix in training and racing!