Yumna Martin recently went on a trip to Kenya to take part in some voluntary work with Christian Aid's partner organisation Maji na Ufanisi. She took with her a pair of Lithium GTX boots which proved to be a most useful piece of kit.
Yumna sent us a piece about her travels and how she got on during her two week trip.  

"Everyone was laughing at me at the airport, but once we had to climb all those hills in Kenya, I was the envy of everyone with their flip flops and sandals.

I've attached some pics, one of me on the mountain we climbed called Nzambani Rock.

The picture below was taken when we visited an HIV/AIDS support group. They showed us an alternative means to farming which provided them with a sustainable income. In the photo I am shredding leaves to make string with the plant fibre.

I've learned so much about the Kenyan way of life and the warmth and fighting spirit of Kenyan's, I'm off to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and after seeing the impact that the drought and climate change has had on the Kenya way of life, whose main source of income is farming, I'm very excited to shout for those who haven't got the means to be heard!"

You can see all the articles Yumna and her friends have written on the website www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk

A new line of cairns has now been completed by The Nevis Partnership. The work was carried out to ensure that walkers have a safe route to follow when snow is covering the usual route.

The cairns are 1.8metres in height and located at 50 metre intervals. It's still advisable for walkers to carry a map compass in the event of heavy snow when the cairns may become covered. 

Full details can be found on The Nevis Partnership website.

...and this year we will mostly be photographed in "The Lakes District", brasher's most popular playground.

Next season's footwear collection took to the hills and were captured on film doing what they do best - walking.

Based at Glenridding, the action packed days took place on top of Hallin Fell, Martindale, Blea Tarn in Langdale and on the shores of Ullswater.

The weather was kind to us, our models kept up to the pace, the creativity was flowing so the photo's kept being snapped.

Take a look at some of the amateur, behind the scene photo's, you will have to wait until the unveiling of our Spring Summer 2010 marketing campaign to see the professional ones.

On top of Hallin Fell, amazing clear view.

Getting ready for action at Blea Tarn, great view of the Langdale Pikes in the background.

The men got to go in the canoe whilst the women had to walk!


But the men had to go in the lake whilst the women got to watch!



Back on dry land and all was a success.

At brasher we are in the great position that every quarter we get the chance to get out of the office and into the outdoors.

The brasher team recently spent the day participating in a number of outdoor activities at nearby Hamsterley Forest in County Durham organised by our product team. As we arrived although cold, it was apparent that waterproof clothing wouldn't be needed despite it being the end of September.

The first activity of the day was team orienteering - an event that allowed us all to develop both excellent map reading skills and team building. After this, we headed into Hamsterley village for a well earned lunch at the Cross Keys pub.

The afternoon activity offered us the chance to take in Hamsterley Forest either by foot with an energetic walk or a guided tour on bikes hired through Wood N Wheels. The bike ride allowed us all to try out both new and existing skills by taking us on numerous types of terrain and often challenging technical courses.

Overall, an excellent day was had by all.

By Richard Schorah

On our recent photoshoot we visited Aira Force, the most popular waterfall in the Lake District, located between Glenridding and Watermillock.

An area owned by the National Trust offering superb circular walks. It was a perfect location for photographing our new multi activity shoes in action. En route we couldn't help but notice two trees with a difference.

At the top of the parking area we took a path that lead us through lovely woodland. Along the way we discovered a fallen tree in which visitors have begun a custom of hammering coins into. They must have been doing so for a very long time as it was covered in anything from pennies to pound coins. Naturally enough this tree has become known as the Money Tree.

We took a circular path that lead us to a pair of footbridges across Aira Beck, one above Aira Force and one below the falls. The best view was from the lower viewpoint, where you could see the waterfall as the water plunges down through a cleft in the rock and taking in the stone upper bridge as it arches across the Aira.

Heading back to the car park we came across another unusual tree. A yew tree that was bent in the middle, apparently one of the branches had been cut causing it to grow like this. It is also meant to have the widest tree girth in the Lake District but I cannot find evidence to back that up.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.