Blog / Blog 2017

Crux Scout B1 Bivvy Bag

I’ve owned a few bivvy bags over the years but not found one that ticks all the boxes. The main things I look for in a bivvy bag are: Large enough not to compress my sleeping bag Breathable Water resistant Non-slip Light and packs small Bags I’ve owned: Rab Ranger eVent– best bag, only issue was width, but very breathable Alpkit Hunka XL – perfect size but had condensation problems MLD Superlight XL – far too slippy and a naff zip, constantly snags So I’ve sold the above and bought a new bivvy that I’m hoping performs better. Crux, a new name …

2016-2020 / 2017 / Wild Camps

Kinder Jabob’s Ladder

Location: Kinder Scout, Dark Peak, Peak District Derbyshire Distance: 15km Date: April  2017 Shelter: MLD Trailstar Sixteenth Wild Camp The main purpose of this trip was to have a final test of the kit I’ll be taking on the TGO in 3 weeks time. Everything has been used/tested before on previous trips but not necessarily together in this combination. The short route started at Edale and headed up The Nab and turning West towards Swines Back. Arriving at Swines Back a few friends that I’d arranged to meet had already pitched their tent on the summit. Wind speeds were forecast for 40mph gusts…however it was …

TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO Route – Vetted & Approved

Having had our vetters feedback and responded to the adjustments the route is now approved and finalised. The comments from the vetters were both very helpful and extremely thorough containing not just sound route advice but some great tips on places to visit. Equally they provided a suggestion on what to avoid, namely the new wind farm currently being constructed at Stronelairg on the Monadhliath (mainly due to the heavy construction traffic/machinery in the area). “…. You have put together a very adventurous route considering you have not backpacked in Scotland before. The weather will very much dictate whether you get …

TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

Rich & Pete Hike for British Red Cross

Pete and I reckon the TGO Challenge is a great opportunity to raise some money for charity. Therefore we’ve setup a website and Facebook page detailing our adventure along with info regarding how people can sponsor us. Donations are for the British Red Cross and you can find links to our donations page on both the website and the Facebook page (below). If you spare a couple of quid then please click donate or share the page with someone you think might. Here are the website and Facebook page links.  

TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO 2017 – Route Submission

OK a brief update, so the route card has been submitted to the TGO for vetting. The route starts at Plockton on the 12th May and passes through Fort Augustus, Kingussie, the Cairngorms and into Braemar. It then heads south to Lochcallater, Glen Cova, East to Tarfside and then to Montrose via North Water Bridge. 21 Munros, 15 Subsidiary Tops and 11 Corbett/Tops, over 360km with 14,000m of ascent. Here is the route sheets I submitted, which may change subject to vetting (click to enlarge): Vetters comments and final route to follow shortly….

Blog / Blog 2017 / TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO Challenge 2017 – Planning so far

So..I have a place on next years TGO Challenge!! Over the last few weeks I’ve been refining the kit list and working on the route. I’m fairly happy with the kit I’m taking as its pretty much the kit I’ve used over the last few years with a few minor tweaks and additions for the longer duration (spare clothes/socks etc). There are a few items I’ll decide on in the week before I set off e.g. Ice Axe and Crampons being the most significant. It’ll be a tough decision depending on the snow conditions. The route dones’t include very much time …

2016 / 2016-2020 / Wild Camps

Woolpacks

Location: Woolpacks, Kinder Scout, Peak District Derbyshire Distance: 14km Date: November 2016 Kit: MLD DuoMid + Exped Downmat 7 Ultra Light + PHD Custom Sleeping Bag (Minim K Series) Fifteenth Wild Camp I met up with my mate Dean Read for a walk and wild camp on Kinder, the intension being we’d head over to Kinder Low to get a good view of Manchester and maybe see some fireworks. We met at the Ramblers Inn at Edale where they let you park overnight for £5. We had a quick pint and set off to the Nags Head for another quick pint…. We left …

Blog / Blog 2017 / TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGOC 2017 The very draft route….v1

There are many more hours of planning and refining the route yet, however this is the basic route I’m working on. Camping locations are approximate and will be properly defined as the planning continues. I also need to plan the Foul Weather Alternative (FWA) route which will stick to lower levels and skip out the Cairngorms. Once my route has been submitted to TGOC and vetted I’ll upload the final version.

Blog / Blog 2016 / Blog 2017 / TGO Challenge / TGOC2017

TGO 2017….Application

  Well my application for next years TGO Challenge has been submitted!!! Apparently I’m the first applicant for TGOC2017, I happened to notice the online application form became available last night so without hesitation I submitted it. The application process involves answering a few questions to assess your experience, competence level and reasons for wanting to enter. This is then assessed by the Challenge coordinators and once accepted places are confirmed early November. Depending on how many applicants they receive it may result in a draw being held. Spaces are limited to 350, the unlucky few are then added to …

2016 / 2016-2020 / Wild Camps

Back Tor

Location: Back Tor, Dark Peak, Peak District Derbyshire Distance: 7km Date: May 2016 Kit: MLD DuoMid + Exped Downmat 7 Ultra Light + Wilderness Down Quilt Fourteenth Wild Camp   This was a quick, last minute solo wild camp, setting off from home at around 4pm I drove over to The Strines Inn and stopped for a swift pint. After asking the landlords permission to leave the car in their carpark overnight I headed off West along the Foulstone Road towards Derwent Reservoir. It was raining relatively hard and the wind was battering me as I climbed up to Derwent Edge. Back Tor overlooks the …

2016 / 2016-2020 / Wild Camps

Crookstone Knoll

Location: Crookstone Knoll, Dark Peak, Peak District Derbyshire Distance: 20km Date: May 2016 Kit: MLD DuoMid + Exped Downmat 7 Ultra Light + Wilderness Down Quilt Thirteenth Wild Camp I’ve been meaning to write a report on this route for ages and only just got round to doing it, so this will be brief as its all from memory. I met up with my good friend Graeme in Hope and set off for Lose Hill. We didn’t really have a plan other than to head to Crookstone Knoll. We followed the busy path along Mam Tor and dropped into Edale where we sampled a few …

2016 / 2016-2020 / Wild Camps

Cadair Idris Wild Camp February 2016

Location: Cadair Idris, Snowdonia National Park, Wales Distance: 12km Date: February 2016 Kit: DuoMid + Exped Downmat 7 Ultra Light + Wilderness Down Quilt Twelfth Wild Camp After a fairly lengthy drive and a quick pub stop for a full english and a pint, Tim and I parked up at the carpark near Minffordd to begin the assent of Cadair Idris. Without a route planned as such, we followed the main footpath out of the carpark that heads up to a small cafe. Just next to the cafe is a 3D diagram of Cadair Idris and the circular route that isn’t marked on the OS …

2016 / 2016-2020 / Wild Camps

Kinder North Edge Wild Camp

Location: Kinder Scout, North Edge, Derbyshire Peak District  Distance: 15km Date: January 2016 Kit: Trailstar + Exped Downmat 7 Ultra Light + Wilderness Down Quilt Eleventh Wild Camp Winter 2016 and time to fill up the Osprey 88ltr pack with warm kit and head out for the first wild camp of 2016. After a short break, the first wild camp of 2016 has long been anticipated. Kinder Scout has to be my favourite place for a walk and wild camp so with the route roughly planned we drove up to Hayfield and parked near the Kinder Reservoir on Saturday morning. Finding a space …

Blog / Blog 2016

2016 Update from UKWildCamper

It’s been a while since I posted anything on my website so I thought as Christmas and New Years eve celebrations are now out the way it is time I updated my blog. The last wild camp seems a lifetime ago back in August 2015 when I camped on Brecon. Wild camping has been on hold since then, as my wife and I were planning for the arrival of our daughter. Hettie arrived a little later than expected on October the 9th weighing 9lb 3 and perfectly healthy, couldn’t ask for more! So over the last few months I’ve being elbow deep …