Adjustable cuffs

I don’t understand why Montane insist on producing their excellent windshirts/jackets with elastic cuffs rather than adjustable ones. I’ve found elastic cuffs restrict venting. Other than insulating garments, I much prefer adjustable cuffs. I could use my Fuera Pull-on as a windshirt instead, but it is a lot heavier than my Litespeed.

As I have a slightly aged Litepseed, I decided to see whether I could adapt the sleeves with Velcro closures. As you might have gathered from my repairs on my Scarp, I’m not exactly an ace with a needle and thread. The first step was to cut off the elasticated cuffs. This was not quite as straightforward as I thought. The gathering in the material meant a slightly jagged finish. The next hurdle was to make a seam on the cuff. Instead of sewing, I decided to use some silicone sealant (McNett) to glue a seam. This was a bit messy, but a lot easier and neater than sewing.

The second step was sewing the “hooked” velcro onto a vertical sleeve seam. Before attaching to the sleeve, I folded over one end and secured with a few stitches to have a tab to pull on. Attaching the other end to the sleeve was easy. Next I sewed two pieces of the “fluffy” velcro onto the cuff. One secures the matching tab with the sleeve fully opened. The other secures it with the cuff tightened around the wrist.

Hey presto! I now have a Lightspeed jacket with adjustable cuffs. The sewing is not that neat, but it’s not visible. Coupled with a fleece, I reckon this will be quite a versatile combination. The extra venting option of opening the cuffs, especially going uphill, ought to make the Litespeed a lot more comfortable. If I was any good at sewing, I’d like to add a couple of short venting pit zips, but I think that’s beyond me! Another benefit is that the jacket is now 5g lighter. Pictures below should be fairly self-explanatory.

Scarp repairs

On my Dartmoor trip I discovered a couple of issues with my Scarp that needed some remedial work. Firstly, the seam on one door near the pole arch had started to fray (left below). The door seam takes quite a lot of tension. Perhaps I have been too rough with it. All it took was a few (messy) stitches to resolve the problem. I’ve used some nylon thread, so it should be quite strong. The next two pictures show my repairs. A combination of the slippery silnylon and the nylon thread meant it was difficult to be neat (click on pictures to enlarge).

The second problem I noticed was a small stress fracture on one pole section. The top right picture shows the duck tape covering the crack, the bottom left shows the fracture. Although minor, it had the potential to develop into something worse and a catastrophic failure. I decided to swap the pole sections around so that the fracture was at the base of the last pole section. This meant removing the plastic plug attached to the pole shock cord.

Undoing the knot was a bit of a trial. It was easy enough then to swap the pole sections and re-thread the shock cord. Finally I secured the shock cord with a knot and replaced the plug. For extra security, I replaced the duck tape. It also means I know which section to check. In future, I shall be a little more careful with the pole.

Vintage Trouble

Who needs wind turbines, just hook the national grid up to these guys!!!!!

Magnificent obsession

Chris Townsend has just written a piece on the TGO website on Colin Ibbotson’s new Tramplite rucksacks which are due to go on sale in October this year. How many of us have had a good idea, but never really developed it? We might have done a MYOG project, but very few make it to a saleable product. Well, Colin, seems to be making the leap with his pack designs. From the descriptions, I can’t wait for some more details as they seem to be quite radical. I’ve come to a similar conclusion to Jörgen, that reducing the big three (shelter, carrying, sleeping) is critical to going lightweight. I have a cunning plan for the shelter bit. Perhaps now the carrying bit can be reduced radically. I look forward to finding out more in October. Well done Colin.  Tramplite countdown clock.

Dartmoor pictures

I’ve uploaded my Dartmoor photos to my Picasa account.

Keen Venice Sandals

I have joined the merry band of Webtogs blogger gear reviewers. Webtogs is a company that I’ve bought a few bits and pieces from over the last year or so. They are amongst a select band of web-based retailers who have provided first class service, so I’m happy to review gear for them. As a reviewer I have full editorial control. My intention is to do two reviews for most pieces: an initial impressions, then an update after a few month’s usage.

The first piece of gear that they have sent me is a pair of Keen Venice Sandals. Keen is not a brand I’ve used before, but they seem to have a number of enthusiasts. The products are quite distinctive in an increasingly “me too” marketplace. I’ve been using them over the past week, so here’s my initial impressions.

I have quite narrow feet, so I was concerned that the fit might be a bit wide. However, it’s not so much of an issue with sandals and they are actually quite good. There are some comments that Keen shoes tend to be a bit wider than normal but the sizes tend to be shorter. I think I can confirm that this is the case. For normal shoes I take a size 8 (I usually go up to size 9 for boots). Webtogs sent me an 8.5. Lengthwise, they are just right with enough room for my toes.

In terms of looks, they aren’t going to win a prize for style. However, they would certainly win a prize for comfort. The footbed is slightly shaped and is made of a soft suede material. This is pleasant to the touch and grips well enough that my foot doesn’t slide around. Unlike a few sandals with rubber footbeds I’ve worn, it doesn’t seem to be prone to becoming sweaty.

 

The webbing is leather with a neoprene like fabric lining. The “neoprene” is soft to the touch and provides some elasticity to the straps. The straps are secured with a criss-cross piece of shock cord and cord lock. I was concerned that they might not feel secure and “flap”, but they can be tightened enough to be secure.

The sole has a nice grippy pattern (I’ve not tried it in the wet though). The midsole is cushioned but not overly soft. The pronounced toe cap protects from toe stubs and keeps grit out, even if it looks a bit clumpy. At 746g for a pair, they won’t be going in my pack on a trip, as they are a bit too heavy. However, the Venice sandals are a good choice for casual wear in hot weather.

So far I’ve used them for a few dog walks and for slobbing about the house and the garden. I really like them. My fashionista daughter is not impressed by their looks, but I like their comfort. I’ll give a further update in the summer, as I reckon I’ll be wearing them quite a lot if the weather is hot. They have piqued my interest in Keen. I quite fancy trying a pair of Targhee Mids and getting the more dainty Whisper sandals for my wife.

Dartmoor gear roundup

Here’s quick summary of how my gear performed.

Adidas Terrex Mid GTX: As I hinted in a previous post these didn’t quite work out. There’s a lot to admire. The grip is good. I like the speed lacing system. Most of the time they seem quite stable. However, every so often I was thrown off balance. I think this is a function of the “hinged” heel. If it strikes the ground at the wrong angle, then it can be unstable. That’s how it seemed to me. It’s a shame because I like the feel of the Adiprene cushioning. The second issue was breathability. It was fine while the boots were dry, but when wet they were quite sweaty, and the mesh outer didn’t dry very quickly. Hence, I had a couple of blisters. In the end they don’t quite work for me, which is a shame. I’ll be returning to my Fastpackers.

Rab Generator Jacket: this is an excellent half way house between my Haglofs LIM Barrier smock and my PHD Minimus jacket. At 364g, it’s the same weight as the Minimus. Obviously it’s not quite as warm, but it can be used for layering. I used it over my Krypton when wind chill was an issue. It could also be used under a waterproof, giving it more flexibility than the Minimus. I found it gave the right amount of warmth and the material is beautifully silky. The fit is just right and it’s smart enough that I’ve used it a lot for casual wear. The Napolean pocket is handy for stowing gloves etc. The DWR works well. All in all a really good jacket.

Montane Krypton Jacket: I bought this as a lighter alternative to my Paramo VAL smock. At 399g, it’s 160g lighter. It’s definitely not as warm. On Monday I had to layer my Generator jacket over it to be warm enough. However, most of the time it’s warm enough. In sunny weather with the sleeves rolled up and zip and venting pockets opened, it’s not too hot either. It’s midway between a windproof and a Paramo jacket. The inner fleece is very pleasant on the skin. The body fleece is slightly fluffy, while the sleeves have a smoother fleece. The waist pockets are venting and are usable with a hip belt. There is a sleeve pocket for a compass/GPS, which is a bit superfluous, but I used it for my compass as it’s there. The sleeves can be rolled up, although they are a bit tight. The hood is really good with a proper volume adjuster. I wore the Krypton for the whole walk, which tells you how comfortable it is. It is a good alternative to the VAL in warmer weather, although it needs a waterproof shell, so the weight advantage disappears, but it is a more flexible clothing system and packs quite small.

Waterproofs: I took my TNF DIAD Jacket (202g) and my Montane Atomic overtrousers (170g). Neither are as breathable as eVent, but are very light. I only used them briefly. I think they are adequate for shorter trips but I would switch to eVent shells if I thought there was going to be sustained bad weather or on a longer trip where long term comfort is more important.

Lightwave Ultahike 60 rucksack: now that I’ve modified the hip belt, the carry on this sack is second to none. It’s just fantastically comfortable. Even on my 18 mile day, at no point, did I feel sore or uncomfortable. It simply swallows gear, so you don’t have to crush everything down. I’ve replaced the cords on the sides of the sack with shock cord, which makes securing a tent or foam roll a lot easier. The lid pocket is large enough to store waterproofs and other bits and pieces. The side pockets are surprisingly robust, considering they are mesh. I scraped one on a granite boulder to no effect. If you want a lightweight (1150g), robust rucksack, then the Ultahike is difficult to beat.

M&S Ultra Fit underwear: these were very comfortable. My only observation is that the waistband can hold moisture. This is not a problem when it’s hot, but could be an issue in cold weather.

Tarptent Scarp 1: I’ll do a separate post on this when I get round to some repairs. The stitching on one of the lineloks used to tension the fly next to the pole hood has come adrift slightly. This might be my fault, being too rough on it. Anyway, a few stitches should repair it. More serious is a slight stress fracture on the end of one of the centre pole sections. I taped it with duck tape. I will swap the pole sections around so it’s at one end and shouldn’t cause any problems. I might cannibalise an old DAC Featherlight pole to use instead. However, it’s worth checking poles for stress fractures as failure can be catastrophic as I found with my Marmot Thor.

Sleeping: the POE Peak Elite was every bit as good as the Ether Elite but lighter. It worked well in combination with a roll of thin foam tent underlay. I used my Alpkit Pipedream 400 sleeping bag and was grateful for the generous shoulder baffle which makes it very cosy. In cooler weather, the shoulder baffle makes a big difference.

Everything else: not much to say. Everything worked well. I probably should give an honourable mention to my Chocolate Fish merino-possum socks, which gave a bit of luxury at the end of the day. The two things I wished I had taken were my Nike Mayfly trainers for camp wear and my Montane Terra long sleeve shirt. The only things I would leave behind would be my Integral Deigns Hot Socks, which are not really necessary unless the weather is cold. I also didn’t need my Montane Marathon wind jacket as the Krypton can double up as a wind shirt.

Full gear list:

Sunrise

Sometimes you’re in the right place at the right time.

None of these photos have been processed BTW.

Dartmoor April 2011 part 3

Thursday

Next morning I was up by 7.00. The sky was clear and there was a gentle breeze, which meant there was no dew or condensation on the tent. My target was to get to Okehampton before three o’clock to get the bus to Exeter.

Dawn looking towards Broad Down

I was away by 8.45, following an indistinct track northwards towards the Grey Wethers. The going was quite wet, especially just before reaching the stone circle. It was now obvious that soaking boots meant limited breathability and sweaty feet, doing no favours for the blister on my left heel and one underneath the ball of my right foot. While not incapacitating, it was certainly irritating.

The Grey Wethers

At the Grey Wethers, I could spot the trees of Teignhead Farm. Walking down the valley, the path didn’t seem to match entirely the one shown on the map. Nonetheless, I couldn’t get lost. Yet another clapper bridge, this time with a loose slab, provided a crossing over the river.

The clapper bridge near Teignhead Farm

I saw a path climbing Manga Hill in front of me. Originally I was going to ascend the ridge to the south of the farm to Whitehorse Hill. However, I didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth so I took the track up the hill. This was a bit of a mistake because it took me too far east to a prominent cairn south of Watern Tor.

Walla Brook Head

I then had to turn west over the marshy ground of Walla Brook Head. The steeper solid ground of Hangingstone hill was a blessed relief. Hangingstone Hill has little to commend it other than the views. The army observation building is a real eyesore.

At the summit I met an older chap with his dog. He seemed to be taking a lot of photos and in radio contact with someone else. We exchanged greetings and I sat down with my back against the wall for brunch.

View north from Hangingstone Hill

I was now fairly confident that I would meet my deadline as it was downhill most of the way on defined tracks. However, I didn’t hang around and pushed on north along a track, down into Steeperton Gorge. I was slightly concerned about getting across the stream as I approached it, but there were some stepping stones, which weren’t visible from a distance.

Oke Tor

It was a short pull up the other side to Oke Tor and yet another ugly observation post. Passing Higher Tor on my right, it really was downhill all the way now. The sun was glorious.

Down to the Tarka Trail

Descending the hillside, I joined the Tarka Trail, which follows the East Okement River valley. It was here that I passed a couple of day walkers. I greeted them with a cheery “good afternoon”. They looked back at me as though I was Wayne Rooney celebrating a goal. Oh well, I tried!

East Okement River

The Tarka Trail was a lovely end to my walk. Before crossing the river I had a rest and some more food. I left myself just over an hour to reach Okehampton. It was a pleasant, cool walk under the trees following the river as it gushed over small waterfalls.

The Tarka Trail near the A30

I started to panic that I wouldn’t reach the bus in time, so after going under the A30, I put on a spurt of speed. In the end, I shouldn’t have worried as I arrived with about 15 minutes to spare and time enough to buy a cold fruit juice from the shop next to the bus stop.

The bus was on time and deposited me at Exeter St David’s 10 minutes before my train arrived. I was worried that the train would be full, but there was plenty of room. It arrived back in London very marginally late but it didn’t matter. The Tube worked well and I was back home by 7.30, so just under four and a half hours from Okehampton. Not bad!

All in all it was a great trip. It’s a shame that having a day washed out meant that it wasn’t as leisurely as I had intended. I’ll certainly be back as Dartmoor is a brilliant place for backpacking with lots of places to wild camp (legally) and relatively modest hill climbs. The only shame is that it is quite small and that access is somewhat restricted in the north by army firing schedules. I’m already planning a circumnavigation!

 

Dartmoor April 2011 part 2

Wednesday

I got up just before sunrise. Outside, I was greeted by the orange and red glow of the sun below the horizon and the silhouette of the copse opposite. Down in the valley and in places on the ridge above there was some mist, but above was blue sky. It was very atmospheric and made me glad to be alive.

Glasscombe Corner Copse

I knew it was going to be a long day, so I had breakfast and got sorted as quickly as I could, pausing only to take a few photos. As the sun rose above the horizon, the only thing to spoil the beauty of the place was the faint noise of traffic on the A38.

Looking towards Piles Hill

I was away just after half past eight. I climbed the ridge due west over some rough ground to regain the railway track at Piles Hill. I headed past Sharp Tor and made a detour to Three Barrows. The slope back down to the track was a bit awkward with clitter partially covered with grass. The spoil heap of Left Lake came into view. Passing the foundations of some ruined buildings, I paused on the bridge to see whether I could have camped there on Monday evening. There are some flat pitches on either side and I could have found some shelter from the wind. However, it wouldn’t have been as picturesque.

Left Lake and Quickbeam Hill from Three Barrows

I made speedy progress along the track taking a large curve eastwards along the side of Quickbeam Hill. Just before Brown Heath, I decided to cut the corner of the Two Moors Way, heading northeast. I passed some settling pits, which I presume were for the china clay pit at Red Lake. I rejoined the path just after the spur that leads to Red Lake. The conical spoil tip was a strangely artificial and alien form in the landscape but somehow adds to the character of the place.

Red Lake spoil heap from Quickbeam Hill

A wide grassy track now led me to the River Avon. A steep descent led to the clapper bridge across the river. I followed the surprisingly rough path along the river to Huntingdon Cross. At Huntingdon Cross, there is a nice flat patch of land with the potential for a pitch in the future. On the left I could see the field system of the abandoned Huntingdon Warren.

River Avon clapper bridge

I followed the prescribed path until Hickaton Hill and then cut north directly to Pupers Hill over rough moorland. Thus far the conditions under foot had been reasonably dry. At Pupers Hill I rejoined the path towards the three cairns on Snowdon. From here on the conditions under foot deteriorated and became wetter. I passed a small herd of Dartmoor ponies, one with a beautiful foal.

Ponies near Pupers Hill

At Ryder’s Hill, there is a welcome patch of firm grass with a trig point and two standing stones. As it is the highest point in the area, the views are extensive. In the distance I could make out Bellever Tor. The track down to O Brook was unpleasantly wet, but improved as I reached some old mine workings.

Ryder’s Hill looking north

On reaching O Brook, there were some pleasant patches of grass and some tress, so I decided to stop for lunch. By this time the hazy clouds had largely disappeared and the sun was shining strongly.

I didn’t linger too long over lunch as I knew I still had a lot of ground to cover. I followed the brook down to the road to Hexworthy. I was in two minds whether to follow the leat which siphons water to the Venford Reservoir, but decided the following the brook was shorter and likely to be more picturesque.

O Brook

Then I walked a couple of miles on minor roads through Hexworthy, crossing the bridge over the West Dart River and followed the river for a short distance. At Huccaby Cottage it was back on to the moor. Climbing up to Huccaby Tor, There were patches of burnt gorse, still giving off an acrid smell.

Huccaby Tor looking at Bellever Tor (left) and Laughter Tor (right)

I could now see Laughter Tor and Bellever Tor. Although it was hot, there was a pleasant cooling breeze. However, my feet were getting decidedly sweaty and the heel on my right foot was starting to get sore. While it is not far to Bellever Tor, it seemed to take an age to get there.

Bellever Tor looking west

Bellever was the most impressive tor so far. There was a simple scramble to gain the top and extensive views all around. After a few pictures, I had a snack and pushed on. My target had been to get to Postbridge by 4 o’clock. Rather than take the more interesting westerly path past some prehistoric remains, I used the more utilitarian forest road. At Postbridge, the Post Office was open and I bought a can of Lilt, sitting down on the bench outside to slake my thirst.

Postbridge

I couldn’t stop too long as I still had a way to go. At this stage I was still intent on pushing on to Teignhead Farm. I crossed the East Dart via the incredibly impressive clapper bridge along side the road bridge. It must have been some feat to get the enormous slabs of stone on to the piers.

Postbridge clapper bridge

I thought I would make rapid progress up the East Dart valley. However, after a field of rough pasture, it was slow going. The path either pushed through dense gorse bushes or followed boggy ground down by the river. Although it was very scenic, the gorse bashing detracted from my enjoyment. My feet were also hurting.

East Dart near beehive hut

At the beehive hut, the East Dart turns west. On the outside of the curve there is a lovely patch of grass by the river. Slightly above this there is another patch of flat ground, but with rough grass and slightly damper.

It was half past five and I felt I had had enough. While it would leave me a slightly longer walk on the next day, I felt to go on further would drain me too much. My guesstimate at the start of the day had been for a 16 mile day, but measuring it when I returned home suggested that it had been 18 miles.

The end of the day above the East Dart looking south

Instead of pitching on the attractive short grass, I decided that the noise of the river might be too much and so I pitched on the higher ground. I was glad I did as when the wind dropped later in the evening, the midges swarmed down by the river.

It was beautifully warm in the evening sun and I took the opportunity to dry out my socks and air my boots. Once the sun dropped below the hills, it became chilly, so I started arranging things for bedtime.

Once it was nearly dark, I spotted a couple of head torches on the other bank. Then the hillsides came alive with other lights. My first thought was that there must be a DoE or an Outward Bound exercise. However, they wandered around and around. Finally three guys passed near my tent and I asked what was going on. Apparently it was some night rescue exercise. Phew! I was worried that my idyllic spot would be invaded by other tents.

After about half an hour the torches disappeared. However, not long afterwards there were popping sounds. It was a live firing exercise on the Merrivale range a couple of miles away. This carried on intermittently for about two hours. Then I was able to go to sleep.

 

Dartmoor April 2011 part 1

Monday

The inspiration for this trip came from various bloggers who have written about Dartmoor recently. In particular James’ recent visit with his atmospheric pictures piqued my interest. My previous experiences of Dartmoor were limited to driving through it on the way to Cornwall as a kid and a geography field trip in Chagford as a student.

Rather than drive, I had decided to use public transport, getting a train from Paddington to Newton Abbot, and then changing to another to Ivybridge, a total journey time of 3 hours 12 minutes.

I elected to get the midday train as it avoided getting mixed up with rush hour travelling across London from home. I arrived at Paddington ridiculously early and had nearly an hour’s wait for the train. Once aboard, I located my reserved seat and was surprised at how full it was.

Our much maligned public transport system worked perfectly, depositing me at Ivybridge exactly on schedule. The weather on the way down had been mostly sunny but the clouds appeared to be massing in the west and there was a stiff wind.

Ivybridge station

After a quick photo pose by the sign to the Two Moors Way, I followed the path and then the road to the bridge over the railway line leading to the moor. After a few yards up the country lane, there was a track on the right, which is the Two Moors Way proper.

The Two Moors Way above Ivybridge

The hedge and trees on either side of the lane gave some shelter from the insistent wind. After about half a mile, the lane opened out onto some grassland leading up to Butterdon Hill. Here there was no shelter and the view to the west revealed grey, roiling clouds.

The view south from below Butterdon Hill

Rather than follow the remains of the old narrow gauge railway the Two Moors Way uses, I climbed Butterdon Hill for my first view of Dartmoor proper. To the north, before me, lay rolling moorland largely devoid of colour. On the western flank was the Erme valley and to the east, Brent Moor.

I headed due north to Hangershell Rock and then rejoined the old rail track. The going was easy under foot heading towards Piles Hill, past numerous standing stones and mounds. When I reached Sharp Tor, the weather seemed to be deteriorating. The wind was stronger and the clouds darker.

Hangershell Rock

My intention had been to camp at Left Lake, another mile and a half further on. However, the westerly wind suggested that it could be an exposed pitch and that it might be wiser to camp on the eastern side of the ridge.

On the eastern side of Sharp Tor there is a tributary of Glaze Brook. About half a mile down, a “homestead” was marked on the map. I reasoned that if there had been a dwelling, there must be some flat land and water.

The tributary of Glaze Brook

Initially the tributary was dry, making me doubt my assumption. However, eventually, a stream appeared. By the time I reached the homestead it was a babbling brook. To my delight there were some flat spots in amongst the humps at the homestead, so I pitched my tent there. To the east there was a copse, making it a rather pleasant place to be.

Unpacking the tent, I discovered some stitching had come adrift at the end of one of the zips on the fly and that there was a small stress fracture at the end of one of the pole sections. I wrapped some duck tape around the pole to strengthen it and hoped it would last the trip.

My camp site

Even though the spot was reasonably sheltered, there were some strong gusts that shook the tent. I was glad that I had decided to take the Scarp. After a meal (Pasta Provence), I texted home and had a look at the weather forecast. The Met Office was suggesting rain overnight and clearing in the afternoon.

Tuesday

Well the rain started in earnest at 2.30 in the morning. For about four hours it was like having a hose trained on the tent. However, I felt quite safe in the knowledge that the tent was well up to the test and that there was no way that the site I had picked would flood.

As it became light, I had a look outside the tent. The world was grey, enveloped in mist. Although the intensity of the rain had lessened, it was still spraying the tent. I lay back and waited for a pause. Eventually the rain lessened and I made a quick dash out of the tent for a call of nature.

The only picture of the day!

After breakfast, I opted for a waiting game. I didn’t fancy walking in strong wind and rain with little prospect of shelter. If the weather forecast was correct, I could get going at lunch time and make some progress.

The rest of the day was incredibly frustrating. Every so often the rain would pause and the light would brighten, but the hillside remained resolutely shrouded in mist.

After lunch, I decided I needed a plan B. I straightened my intended route slightly and decided that a reasonable objective would be Teignhead Farm. A rough calculation suggested this would be about 16 miles (actually 20 miles!).

As long as I got within striking distance, it would mean that getting to Okehampton for 3 o’clock to catch the bus would be feasible. The major drawback of using public transport is the deadlines it imposes, which made me feel a bit stressed.

By around 5 o’clock the rain finally stopped, but the hillside was still shrouded in mist. All I could hope for was that the weather would clear on the following day and that I could get an early start.

 

The worst and best of Dartmoor

I arrived back from Dartmoor mid-evening yesterday. It’s fair to say that I saw both faces of Dartmoor, the gloomy and the glorious! I’ll do a fuller write-up over the next week but here’s a taster. When I arrived on Monday afternoon, the clouds were massing and the wind freshening. So much so, that I sought an early pitch. On Tuesday it rained from 2.30 in the morning until 5.00 p.m.! The day was a complete washout with next to no visibility, so I stayed put.

That meant the next day turned into an 18 mile yomp. However, the weather improved and ended in a glorious sunny afternoon and evening. The yomp meant that I was nearly back on track. Thursday was even sunnier and I got sunburnt. It entailed a bit of a race to get to Okehampton to ensure I got the right bus to Exeter to connect with the train.

All in all, I can confirm that Dartmoor is a truly excellent place to backpack and wild camp. Not a wind turbine in sight! I shall be back as I’ve spotted several places I want to camp and they are all legal! The only shame is that Dartmoor isn’t a bit bigger and that access is somewhat restricted in the north by military use. Lots of really interesting, wild and beautiful places to see.

I’ll do a proper gear report, but I’m afraid the Adidas Terrex Mids had some issues, which led to overheated and blistered feet. The Scarp needs a few running repairs, including a new pole section. It stood up to some ferocious weather on Tuesday morning. I took the Lightwave Ultrahike pack in the end and was glad I did as it was superbly comfortable, especially on the yomp.

Public transport worked superbly, with everything on time within 5 minutes. The only downside was the deadlines it imposes and the reduction in flexibility. Still, it is very easy to reach Dartmoor and get quickly on to the moor from London, so it has some advantages. Here’s a taster of what’s to come.

Service interruption

I’m off tomorrow morning to Dartmoor. The weather forecast is not too bad. Tuesday looks like it will be windy and showery, but Wednesday and Thursday look reasonable. Hopefully, I’ll have a tale to tell and some reasonable photos. To preserve my phone battery, I think I’ll skip live blogging. Back on Friday.

Duomid inner

Sean at OookWorks has been making a bespoke inner for my Duomid. Unfortunately it probably won’t arrive in time for my departure to Dartmoor. However, Sean has a gallery on OM where he has some pictures that you might want to look at. I had it made slightly oversized, if you are wondering why the pole tilts back slightly. The inner is the same width as the Scarp but longer, meaning that it takes up slightly more than half the width of the Duomid. It should be palatial. It weighs 570g, but it has a PU groundsheet rather than a silnylon one and the zips are robust. It could probably weigh about 100g lighter with a silnylon  groundsheet and lighter zips, however, this should be a good compromise between lightness and robustness. I won’t be able to give you the full low down until I get back from Dartmoor at the end of next week.