Shelter and sleeping

I’ll write up my trip notes over the next week or so, but it will take a bit of time to get everything in order. In the meantime I’ll do some short posts on gear and how it performed, to help you with your gear choices. The first observation is that everything worked well and I was pleased with the combinations.

My tent (as if you didn’t know already!) was the Terra Nova Laser Competition with my modifications. I’m now very happy with this, having addressed many of the shortcomings through various tweaks. Other than some strong gusts on Monday and Thursday evening, it wasn’t tested by strong winds but the battering it took in Wales makes me confident that it will withstand windy weather as well as most tents, although at the expense of a bit of noise and flapping.

On Wednesday, after lunch it withstood one and a half hours of intense rain with absolutely no leaks at all, unlike my Akto where I have had to seam seal two weak spots. Condensation is no better or worse than other one man tents I’ve had and it was only an issue on Friday morning. Drawing inspiration from others, I’ve rigged up an end venting system of a length of dyneema tied the the flysheet guy tie out loop, threaded up through the plastic hook that retains the shock cord for the end pole, then terminated with a cord lock. Hopefully the photos below show how it’s done.

This gives two venting options. With the end pegged out with the shock cord, the end can be lifted up slightly without taking the shock cord off the tent peg (photo second left). If the shock cord is taken off the tent peg (easy to do from inside), then the tent end can be lifted up appreciably to ensure a good air flow. The two pictures on the right show this. I also use a short loop of shock cord attached to the door hook loop to peg out the door a fraction to provide ventilation when cooking. I should have taken a photo to explain.

The two essential tweaks are the pole hood line loks, which work really well especially in conjunction with the small karabiners and the door threshold cord. The interior pocket worked well. Using safety pins to attach was a good idea as the pocket can be moved to wherever it’s needed. The porch groundsheet is now an essential item. I couldn’t manage without it. It adds so much usable space. The double end guys make the tent more stable but weren’t really tested. All in all, all the tweaks I’ve made add up to a considerable improvement, I think.

My sleeping mat was the Thermarest NeoAir, which as I suggested on an earlier post is the bee’s knees. Incredibly comfortable, making a mockery of poor ground conditions, excellent insulation and very light. I was very happy with the small version. I used the foam pad from the Mariposa under my feet. I also used a 150cm length of thin tent underlay under the NeoAir, which wasn’t strictly necessary but probably helped with insulation. I won’t bother next time.

My pillow was the Ajungjilak blow up pillow, which is very comfortable and folds away to next to nothing. I know others have issues with it, but for me, the comfort, the weight and compressibility make it ideal.

My sleeping bag was the Cumulus Ultralight 350, which I took in preference to the Pipedream 400 as it packs down smaller. Night time temperatures were well above freezing, so warmth wasn’t an issue. I would prefer to have a draught collar, but it wasn’t an issue. I didn’t regret taking it and valued its compressibility, making more room for food on a five day trip.

I was very pleased with the way everything worked and enjoyed a good night’s sleep every night, even when the under tent conditions were less than ideal on Monday and Thursday night.

Cairngorms May 09 pictures

While I struggle to adapt to normality and put my trip notes together, I’ve put together a photo album on Picasa of my trip, which you can access here.  I think this is my favourite shot, with the clouds boiling up from the western side of Braeriach just before I reach the top.

Mobile blogging

This was my first attempt at mobile blogging. It was inspired by others who have done the same, particularly Alan Sloman and Martin Banfield.

For me, the iPhone has made it possible as it’s so easy to use. The WordPress app is free and easy to use once you get used to it. It is a bit quirky and inflexible at times.

Obviously the main constraints are signal availability and battery life. I found signal availabilty better than expected. Even with a low signal strength it was possible to make a post.

The battery life is poor on the iPhone and there aren’t any plug points or computers to charge from in the wild. The battery extender was an absolute life saver. I used four AA lithium batteries and so far it’s given me four complete charges. Having said that, I don’t think it charges as fully as a computer charge even though the battery indicator suggests it is fully charged. Nevertheless it’s a brilliant device that is lightweight, cheap and ensures that you have a sensible amount of power available for mobile blogging.

Integrating pictures is easy even though the camera on the iPhone is not the best. However, I learnt the hard way that it is only worth doing where the mobile signal strength is good.

Blogging style is individual (hi Alan!). All I’ve tried to do is to make several entries a day so I can share with you what’s going on. Hopefully it means that even if you are chained to your desk you can enjoy a little bit of the outdoors and the freedom of backpacking. When Alan was blogging LEJOG, I looked forward to his daily posts.

I’d encourage anyone who is thinking about it to give it a go. For me this is a lot easier than shooting video footage. It is appropriate that I’m writing this on the tube on the way home. Please forgive any spelling mistakes as WordPress have not got round to incorporating a spell checker. Perhaps the next version will include it. Cheerio for now.

P.S. It’s been fun reading the comments as well.

CG May 09 5.6

This will be the last live post for this trip. It’s been a different trip than the one I’d anticipated, but enjoyable nonetheless. Adaptability according to changing conditions has been a key feature of the recent trips of others and has been my experience too.

I feel a measure of achievement as well as pushing the boundaries. The achievement of summiting my first Munro and doing it the hard way. Admittedly this was by accident and not design. If I’d known Coire Dhondail was that difficult, I would never have attempted it.
I’ve pushed the boundaries by going high with a full pack. I attempted more than on previous trips.

I’ve learnt lessons too. I was too ambitious to attempt all the high peaks with a full pack. In future for tougher climbs, I’ll do them with a day pack. I’ve gone to about the limit of what my body can do with a full pack unless I do some fitness training. I can cope with distance on the flat, but distance and height require a higher level of fitness and stamina than I have at the moment. Hats off to those Challengers who do high routes.
My original route plan was a journey, allbeit a tough one. It turned into two trips with a rest day. Next year I want return to the idea of a journey, which was very much a feature of last year’s trip. I also want to wild camp in some of the places I passed through previously, like the source of the River Gairn.

The gear has been a huge success this year. It’s the first year where I haven’t regretted my choices. Everything worked well. My base weight was around 10kg, but I was a long way from being minimalist and could have coped with more adverse conditions than I had.
I’ve got plenty of material for the next few weeks. I’ll write up my trip notes and I’ve taken nearly 200 photos.

One area in which I’ve failed is video. I took some footage on the first two days but I don’t think it’s for me. It’s a bit of a hassle and I don’t like speaking into the camera. I’d rather take more photos. I’ll leave video to others for the moment.

Returning to gear, there were three outstanding items this year:

Boots: the Salomon Fastpackers were brilliant. They hinted at how good they were in Wales. They are the best boots I’ve had by a country mile. The level of comfort is stunning. With these beauties my feet may feel tired but never sore, even pounding on hard surfaces like most of today. The other amazing thing is that, despite having a Goretex membrane my feet don’t over heat. Today was pushing 30c, yet my feet remained comfortable. They sweated a bit and were warm, but never uncomforable. However, they are wateproof as well. I’ll get another pair before Salomon discontinue them.

Matress: the NeoAir is awesome. Downmat comfort at a third of the weight. The insulation is nowhere near as good, but much better than previous Thermarests. It made two lumpy pitches into featherbeds.

Drywaklers: I have to say I was in two minds whether to take these, but they really proved themselves on the first day. I would have been really stuck without them. OK they are very Heath Robinson, but they work and they only weigh 250g. No longer do I have to fear river crossings. They will come with me whenever I come to Scotland now.

There’s some preliminary thoughts but I’ll give you some more over the next few weeks.

CG May 09 5.5

I suppose it’s ironic that the last day gets the most posts but it reflects that this has been an easy day although I’ve done reasonable mileage.

Anyway, I’ve arrived at Aviemore station. I’m about to partake of my now traditional burger at Roo’s Leap. It’s a bit incongruous to have an Australian diner here, but it’s not bad at all.
Alan, I’m not sure whether the cyclist was Welsh but if you don’t have the shape, don’t wear Lycra!

After I’ve eaten I’ll do a short round up post as I’m sure I’ll be bored waiting for the train. Thanks for the comments everyone. It’s given me a few chuckles. Here’s a last view from the station.

CG May 09 5.4

Sitting here under a tree next the place where I camped for two days. It’s very hot and it’s been a bit of a route march. I could have taken the old logging trail back to Aviemore, which is five miles but that’s too easy. Parts of the walk are delightful, others dreadful. However, the paths are good making for speedy progress. Here’s the view.

CG May 09 5.3

I decided to stay at the cafe for lunch. Lentil and bacon soup followed by ice cream. It makes up for recent privations. The air is thick with tree pollen. Looking across to Cairn Gorm, the sun is catching these swirling clouds of yellow pollen. Extraordinary. As is one of the male mountain bikers on another table who clearly shouldn’t be wearing Lycra. One more cup of tea and I’ll be off.

CG May 09 5.2

I’m sat outside the Glenmore cafe in the shade, having consumed an orange Fanta and a chocolate toffee shortbread. Am now having a cup of tea. Very civilized. I called at the Ranger’s tent to see if Sheila was there, but no one was in residence, so I went up to the cafe. I’m very tempted to stay here for lunch. I took the high level path to Glenmore, which felt like the GR20, not that I know anything about it.

CG May 09 5.1

Survived the night at the world’s most haunted (allegedly) pitch. No headless horsemen here. Woke to……bright sunshine, not a cloud in the sky. Virtually perfect. Ablutions and breakfast finished. I’ll enjoy a few more minutes of paradise then I’ll pack. If you are in the office, you have my commiserations. There will be delayed transmission because of no signal.

CG May 09 4.4

I’m not very happy with the RSPB. First one of their pickup trucks nearly splashes me with a muddy puddle when it went past and then they prevent me from pitching where I want. As I was descending from Bynack More (rather tired) I spotted an inviting green sward of grass in the distance in front of Ryvoan Bothy. That’ll do nicely I thought. When I got there the RSPB had banned camping because of black grouse nesting. Zut alors! I had to go back to the bridge over the Nethy, where I was originally going to camp, adding a round trip of c.3 miles to an already tiring day. It’s not ideal as it’s quite open and the wind is gusting. I was tired and smelly; now I’m just tired. I’m afraid today’s finally defeated my merino long sleeve. Into the wash bag you go. I had a decent wash in the river, so I’m not too bad. Tomorrow is back through Rothiemurchus via Sheila’s ranger post to Aviemore and the sleeper home. You’ll get this on Friday morning as there’s hardly any signal here.

CG May 09 4.3

Just climbed Bynack More. Left pack at base of summit. Glad I did as it’s quite a strenuous climb. Clouds have lifted and are just brushing the higher summits. The sun is out most of the time. Incredibly desolate views east of here. Good compensation for yesterday. Starting to feel tired so I’m off to find somewhere to camp.

CG May 09 4.2

Having an early lunch by the bridge over the River Nethy on my way up to Bynack More. Light drizzly rain early morning but now dry. Quite a lot of hill fog but Bynack More is clear (just). So it would have been a poor day to go up Ben Macdui anyway. Third Element jacket has proved useful and adaptable in varying wind and rain conditions. Onward and upward.

CG May 09 4.1

Early start. All packed by 7.45. A bit of light early morning rain meant a wet tent. Quite still so I used my head net to keep the flying things at bay. Light drizzle at the moment. Heading for Bynack More as the weather is supposed to mprove. I will try to call at Loch Morlich ranger post tomorrow late morning on my way back to Aviemore. Toodle pip!

CG May 09 3.4

Well, I’ve had a really lazy day, thanks to the weather. It’s now brightened up a lot, so tomorrow should be better. Today’s highlights were flicking ants off my food box. They must know there’s sugary stuff in there. I also had one of the best sachet meals I’ve tasted so far: Mountain House potato and salmon in a dill sauce. Up to Real Turmat standards. I’ve now been joined by a couple of other tents but they are a decent distance away. Let’s hope the forecast is right about tomorrow.

CG May 09 3.3

Well, that’s that. It’s just stopped raining. It’s too late to pack and go to the River Nethy. I suppose it’s lucky it started just before I had finished packing, otherwise I would have been drenched. There’s something magical and mesmeric about being in a tent when it’s raining. Yet again the Comp has proved to be absolutely water tight. No drips anywhere.

Reading Alan’s comment on Coire Dhondail was very sobering. I’m not sure I should have done it now. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. Perhaps a bit foolish. I almost went back. Still I survived. I supose you could say I made the right judgement. I’m not going to do it again though.

CG May 09 3.2

Typical,I start packing up and it starts hacking down with rain!

CG May 09 3.1

Camped in Rothiemurchus. Woke this morning to showers, which became more persistent. Mid morning some sun but still with the odd shower. Weather toying with me. Will wait until after lunch before moving. Will camp at bridge across River Nethy assuming weather clears as forecast suggests. Tomorrow I’ll go up Bynack More and back.

CG May 09 2

Apologies for the interuption but the WordPress app got stuck. Pictures are a problem unless the reception is good.

Monday ended a bit wet. Pitched short of head of glen. Waded river twice in search of a pitch.

Tuesday, sunny morning. Hard work up Coire Dhondail path. Track up headwall very scary. Hard walk across plateau with strong wind and snow showers. Topped Braeraich at about 2.30. Too late to do ridge to Cairn Toul. Met couple on summit who said forecast was poor for next day.

Decided to head down to Rothiemurchus. Fantastic view, lots of pictures. Descent very rough in places. Fell over and bruised my knee. Reached pitch in Rothiemurchus at 6.00.

Rest of route is now shot. Will decide on new route tomorrow depending on weather.

CG May 09 1.3

Veiw from my lunch spot in Gleann Eanaich. Some light rain but not too bad. Breezy. Looks as though clouds might be breaking. Over half of day’s walk done so having a lazy lunch.

CG May 09 1.2

Lochan Eilein. Light rain for half an hour. Now stopped. Very still and quiet apart from a few twittering birds. Wonder if they are twittering with Darren. May be the last post for some time now.