Reflections TGO 24

This Challenge was important.

I needed to complete my 9th Challenge, I needed to successfully cross Scotland so I can try to get my 10th next year. It's just taken me too long, failed too many times and it's become a monster. This monster has eaten away at my confidence and my anxiety has grown and become almost unmanageable.

I needed a plan.

Friend and fellow Challenger Laura was also having confidence issues, although probably not so much the anxiety thing going on, but I decided we needed a plan together, to get us both to the east coast and restore confidence in ourselves.

The plan was simple, but I think quite clever. I had already plotted a route for myself from Oban to Kinnaber Links, the first day would see me walk a coffin route from Achnaba to Barcaldine. I'd chatted to Laura about this as I had a few queries about it and after a while, she asked if she could walk that first day with me. This was a great idea, but the second day would be tough, through Glen Creran to Glencoe, and quite long, probably too long for me let alone Laura, so I had a think and worked out a way to take out a day from towards the end of my route and squeeze it in to the beginning, giving us three days to get to Glencoe. The basic plan was for us to meet up each night for the first week or so, plotting our own routes in between. This would then give us choice most days, we could choose to walk separately or together. Camping together every night would give us the chance to discuss our day, whether we'd enjoyed it or not and offer each other support and encouragement to carry on. After the first week our routes diverged and we planned to go our own ways to the coast.

We were very organised and had our routes vetted quite early on, this gave me lots of time to look more closely at possible pitches in case my intended spots didn't work out, what shops were available where for resupply, book accommodation and transport and generally iron out all the finer details. I love the planning and always enjoy this part. But as the Challenge drew closer, I got more and more anxious. Had I bitten off more than I could chew? Had I set myself up for failure? We are both solo Challengers for a reason, it's what we enjoy and works best for us. We walk together as friends outwith the Challenge, could we tolerate each other for a week? Two weeks before the off and I was so anxious I could barely eat, I lost weight, it was ridiculous. The day before we were due to travel to Oban, we had a slight hiccup with arrangements, but David came to the rescue and Laura arrived with her gear to stay the night before Ciara took us to get the train to Oban in the morning...

In the end, we reached the east coast, together!

It wasn't easy, Laura showed real determination and tenacity to carry on with blisters from very early on, due to the heat and a combination of the wrong socks and possibly the Gore-Tex lining of her boots. We looked after each, made decisions together, gave each other space at times, but we ended up deciding to stay together to the bitter end and we did it! We had a brilliant Challenge.

Of course, the Challenge wasn't just about us, there was the gear I decided to take with me and how that all performed.

The Good

Last year I'd had blisters for the first time in over a decade which ended my Challenge prematurely. I still don't know why, as I had worn socks and boots that usually suit me and that I have crossed Scotland wearing before. I decided to try different socks, Injinji liner and hiker socks, but also stick with my favourite, tried and tested style, Bridgedale Hike Midweight Merino socks. I also carried a pair of Bridgedale liners, just in case the Injinji pair didn't suit.

I found the Injinji socks very comfortable and they worked brilliantly with both pairs of hiking socks.

I had a new pair of boots, Hoka Sky Kaha II, but when I started to wear them in the lead up to the Challenge, realised that they were a tad short and I could feel the end of my boots with my toes. I was a bit surprised, they were the same size as the previous pair, but obviously, they were no use for the Challenge, so I'd bought another pair a half size up and they were just dandy.

No blisters this year. No sore spots at all. In fact, I usually have slightly swollen feet by the end of the Challenge, just because walking every day for two weeks, 20-25km most days, is hard on the feet. Once my feet settle down the skin usually peels off, a very odd experience.

I didn't even have swollen feet this year! So no skin shedding either. Brilliant!

I was very aware I was going to have limited laundry opportunities, so I had reverted to carrying long sleeve merino tops, one to wear walking, a clean one to walk in when the first could walk by itself, and one to sleep in. Long sleeve because I don't like bare arms and they give protection from insects and the sun.

Worked perfectly, kept me comfortable at all times, walking and in bed, no pong, this will be my go to for future Challenges.

I also returned to taking my Tilley hat. It is my trademark hat and gives the best sun protection.

I have been cold on the last couple of Challenges. In 2022 I had forgotten the silver mat I put under my Synmat and thought that was why I was cold, but last year I had taken the mat and still felt the cold. I'd also omitted my thermal tights in a bid to shed a few grams from my pack weight, about 100g, to be precise. So this year, I had a rethink. Instead of my primino hoodie, obviously I had a merino LS top. I also swapped my primino zip top for my Montane Allez Micro Fleece. I decided to take my Montane Prism jacket and RAB Xenair gilet, despite them being a few grams more than just taking my Montane Fluxmatic jacket, because I felt the combination was more flexible. And I took my thermal tights.

This was also a good decision, being able to wear thin layers under the Prism jacket, tights under my 'social' leggings and have the gilet loose in my bag over my hips really helped keep me warm and comfortable this year.

Sorted.

I've started to carry a GoPro to video my adventures. I'm not very good at it, but quite enjoy doing it. The problem has been carrying it, along with my phone, my maps and my compass.

This year, my compass was in a hip pocket of my belt. Last year, I had taken my OMM Chest Pouch, but I found it very faffy and annoying with the way it attaches to the chest strap of my pack but the bottom attachments or elastics and hooks and I haven't found a way to attach them that isn't a pain, so this year, I took my Montane Gecko waist pack.

It worked an absolute treat, proved to be very useful when we were in civilisation as a handbag (we do like gear to have two uses) and I only nearly lost it once...

I also took mesh Tesco fruit and veg bags as a food come shopping bag. They are super lightweight, you can see the contents easily and they are stronger than say a plastic carrier bag.

The Bad

I did consider carrying my Osprey Exos pack to save weight, but on closer inspection one of the webbing shoulder straps is worn and damaged and I was worried it might fail during the crossing, so I took my Ariel AG 55L. I do like the way it carries and I have a routine for where everything is packed, nothing dangling on the outside, but yet again I had very sore hips, grazed and bleeding, especially my left one. As one is worse than the other, it's clearly not just the hip belt that is the problem. I have realised that not only do my knickers have a seam in an awkward place, there is a label on the left side.

So, I need to solve the hip belt issue and the seam/label issue. I may get my Exos fixed, so long as I can keep my base weight low, currently 7.209kg without pack or food, the Exos should be fine. Or I could carry my Ariel without the top pocket, which would reduce its weight by about 200g, but I would still get sore hips.

I need to source different knickers...

I have an Exped Hand Pump for my Synmat and air pillow. It's great, but it does have a drawback. It's fine when the weather is good and I can pump up my mat with it inside my tent and me standing just outside, pumping with my foot, I just look a bit of a plank. If the weather is pants, I have to lie in my tent, with the Synmat lying on top of me and pumping the pump on my head to inflate the mat. Laura could hear all this going on and found it hilarious. Me, not so much... But I have solved this issue! For my birthday I asked for a Flextail Zero Pump. Weight wise, it is only one gram lighter, but it takes up so little space. It will also be useful for pumping up our Exped mat in Ellie. Perfect.

The Ugly

I love my Tarptent Notch. Or at least, I did. I like having two porches, the space inside the inner suits me, it is quick and easy to pitch once I got the hang of it, but I do think the half mesh inner is colder than my Terra Nova Laser.

I also discovered a leak.

Or more precisely, five leaks.

There are four ties to tie back the outer doors. Loops on the outside and a hook on a loop on the inside. It would appear that, despite having paid for seam sealing when I bought the tent, the ends of the loops caught into the seams have not been, or not done properly, and after a couple of periods of rain the loops wet out and moisture then tracks along the loops inside the tent and drips off the hooks onto the inner. The moisture makes the inner damp and anything that touches it then gets wet, including my sleeping bag, if I'm not careful or don't notice in time. The centre seam also appeared to spring a leak and again, looked like it had not been sealed properly.

I need to have a look at these areas and see if I can seal them effectively myself, but I have lost a little confidence in the Notch now and I might just go back to using my Laser again, because I do love it.

So just a couple of projects to get sorted.

Reflections of TGO 2023

 I've taken my time to have a good think about this post. I think we can safely say, my Challenge this year didn't go to plan.

I didn't have any major changes of gear this year, except I carried my RAB Xenair gilet and the lighter of my two Montane primaloft jackets, the Prism, in the hope of a little more flexibility with my insulated layers. I also had my Montane Primino zip top instead of my Montane Allez Micro. The combination seemed to work, but I was still cold at night at times, so I might have a re-think.

My food plan works, so long as I can find suitable items to resupply. Kinlochleven was tricky, but I managed. Perhaps more imagination needed.

The route plan itself wasn't the best, I think I lost sight of my goal of a simple route across Scotland and took the easy option of cycle paths in the first few days which meant I had long days. Coupled with the added pressure of a ferry crossing on the first day, and missing the most convenient one back to the main land, the first three days proved to be quite taxing. The blisters that developed on Day Four were my own fault, I felt the hot spots but couldn't be bothered to deal with them, I was so close to camp. At the end of Day Five I really aggravated them after taking some heavy duty painkillers for my shoulder and didn't realise the damage I was doing until they exploded.

In the first few days after returning home, I was convinced I was not going to Challenge again. I have now failed four times out of twelve to get across Scotland, perhaps I'm not really cut out for this? There was some doubt in my mind that the Challenge itself might continue after 2024, meaning maybe I couldn't now get my 10th Challenge, so what was the point?

After a while, I decided that if I didn't get my 9th next year, and the Challenge did continue, it would take me longer to get my 10th.

Then I had news from my dear friend Alan that change my thinking completely. Alan had been hugely influential on my having entered the Challenge in the first place, back in 2009. Ever since, he had been the most wonderful support, always encouraging and interested. Not just to me, but to dozens of other Challengers and First Timers.

So now, I *have* to get my 10th. Because Alan had faith in me. So I must have faith in me too.

Thanks Alan xx

Alan and his pal, Phil, in the Mason's Arms, Tarfside

Reflections of TGO22

Gear

Tarptent Notch

The major bit of new or largely untested gear is my tent, Netty Notch. I had only spent about 3 nights in her before this Challenge, and the main test had been whether the midges could get in last June/July. Which they didn't.

This year, midgies weren't going to be the biggest issue.

The inner of this tent is half solid, half mesh, so it was possible that I could be cold, but I never felt that there was a cold draught coming through the mesh, so that was good. We had plenty of rain overnight, but Netty was completely water tight, which was also reassuring. The main problem faced this year was high winds, so pitching the tent and remaining upright was the concern. Because of some of the decisions I made, based on the forecast, meant I was mostly pitched safely with shelter, unlike some other unfortunate Challengers who had to endure several difficult nights. The worst conditions I faced were on the Invernahavon Campsite, so I was at least in a safe place, but I was still pretty worried by the huge gusts of wind over a two or three hour period, the torrential rain at the time meant that if Netty had failed my gear would all be soaked, so when the rain had first woken me, I had packed everything away in my rucksack and had a plan to rescue my sleeping bag and mat to keep them as dry as possible. As it was, Netty was awesome, my walking poles, Black Diamond Carbon FLZ, also new, were absolutely solid and we survived in tact.

As well as being pitched with my walking poles, the other main difference with this tent is having two porches. I find this incredibly useful. When Netty is pitched, she is pointy end into the wind. because of the way the doors open, one will open into the wind, the other will be sheltered, so when emptied I keep my rucksack in the windy porch as I won't be opening that one again till I drop the tent. The other porch is where I will keep my boots and water and use my stove, with the door open. Unless it is raining, this works well. If it is raining, it really depends on how the rain is falling as to whether I use my stove or not, I usually have enough food with me that I can cope without having to light my stove if necessary.

I need more practice to pitch her nicely every time, but overall, I think I like Netty, and trust her.

MSR 9" Core Pegs

Yup, four teamed with four mini-ground hog pegs, did a great job.

MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe

I had a new stove this year, an MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe, and I had an Alpkit MyTi mug to go with it. I had debated what size gas canister to take as obviously I expected to use more gas than with my Jetboil Flash, but had no idea how much. I settled on taking a 230g cannister, and if needed I could collect a small can from Laura's front porch or buy one in Braemar or Ballater. I also knew I wouldn't be on my own in the second week, so if I badly miscalculated, there would be someone who had spare.

I found that I was comfortable with the stove after a few uses, it burned well and usually brought a half litre of water to the boil relatively quickly, unless it was catching a bit of wind. I did not use it in the porch without the door open, which I have done with my Flash in my Laser, but I don't think I would use the Flash in Netty's porch either.

I almost got across Scotland with the one canister, I just needed to borrow a small canister from Barry on the last morning for my coffee, so that gives me an idea of how much gas I might use in future, I did not have a hot meal and drink every night and sometimes no coffee in the morning, mainly due to mood, not weather.

The Alpit MyTi mug is also great, no issues with that except I am stupid and kept burning my fingers. I have made myself a pot grab to resolve this.

Buff Trek Bucket Hat

I love my Tilley hat, I have taken it on all but one of my Challenges thus far, but the brim catches on the top of my pack and gets irritating. So this year after a little bit of searching I found the Buff Trek Bucket Hat and I have loved it. It fits nicely, has a handy little bit of adjustable elastic cord at the back of the had, a big enough brim to give protection but not catch on my pack, it is light and comfortable to wear and takes up no space in the pack. A good buy.

The Crocs

Croc Literide. These are not a lightweight option, but they are a really comfortable shoe to wear when I take my boots off, which after suffering Plantar Fasciitis for nearly two years and recently resolving the issue, I wanted something with support and comfort, so this was my choice. I decided to pack them in the parcel I would collect at Newtonmore, this was an illogical decision given the river crossings I was due to make on days One and Seven, but in the event, I made no river crossings that required a change of footwear and got away with the decision. I would also say that, once I had my Crocs, I was glad of them when I took my boots off at the end of the day. They may be heavy, but are likely to be high on the list next time.

Rab Borealis Jacket and Montane Primino Hoody

I wore the Borealis every day, either under my waterproofs, or as my top layer. I also wore it as a thin layer in bed over my Montane Primino Hoody. I love it. It is light and comfortable, very effective as a windproof and doesn't make me hot underneath my waterproofs. Love it. The Primino Hoody is super comfortable, surprisingly cosy for such a thin layer and the hood was fantastic instead a hat in my sleeping bag. I also wore this as my social top, as it is largely merino, it stays odour free for days, brilliant top.

Montane Dart LS top

A great t-shirt, worn every day to walk and only washed twice I think during the trip, just wish it was slightly longer.

Knickers

Back to the drawing board with these, I took two pairs of Sloggi knickers, Wow Comfort and Sensual Fresh, neither of which were comfortable to walk in, one was better than the other thankfully. Merino is definitely better for freshness, just need to find a comfortable pair that don't have an awkwardly placed seam that rubs on my hips. I had sore, rubbed hips again this year, I like the rucksack, it carries well, but there is conflict between my rucksack belt and knickers that causes the rubbing which I need to resolve. I put clear film waterproof dressings on this year, the kind used on a canular or new tattoo, they definitely helped, but it was still sore enough that I had to take painkillers towards the end of the longer days, so I need to sort this.

Hoka One One Sky Kaha boots

I love these boots, no rubs, no blisters, no sore toes, all day comfort. I will buy them again.

Kula Cloth

Hmm. Saved my carrying much toilet paper, needs much more sunlight to work at its best. Enough said.

Panda Bamboo Dry Wipes

Yup, work fine, will take again.

Salt of the Earth Deodourant Crystal

Brilliant, I felt much better than I usually do, I had a wipe down at night using the Panda wipes and then applied the crystal. I use the bigger version every day at home and for me, it is amazing. Love it.

Aluminium mat cut off

Next time, don't forget it. I could definitely feel the cold coming up through my mat from the ground, just enough to notice it, if the weather had been colder, I would have been miserable. Take the mat!

At this moment in time, I think that was all my major new kit.

Struggles

Clearly, I had a bit of a crisis before the start of the Challenge this year. There was a combination of issues which ganged up on me, but Ciara's advice of step by step, go to the start, was crucial. Once there, I was able to focus on each decision, one at a time, and once walking, I relaxed and had no further issues.

I did not eat brilliantly for a few days before setting off which did not help, and the first few days on the Challenge I wasn't brilliant either. The evening meal I had at the Prince's House Hotel definitely helped, once I got to Newtonmore, my food problems resolved.

I felt as though I didn't sleep well, but I think in reality, I was often asleep much earlier than normal, and even if I was awake several times in the night, it was mainly for very short periods of time, and on the whole I got a good amount of sleep. This probably helped with my mood and with my decision making.

The most important thing was meeting friends in the second week. It gives an enormous boost to be able to discus your adventures and to have them put into perspective by hearing theirs. Don't underestimate the power of your friends!

Challenge Afterthoughts

If you have read the account of my TGOC21 here, you will know I suffered an unfortunate injury and had to retire from this year's event. It is not the first time this has happened to me, but I must remain positive and decided to make a few changes to try to ensure I can cross successfully next time.

The injury itself was caused by slipping as I tried to climb a boggy bank beside the Allt Innis na Larach. There is little that I could do to avoid that in itself, I did nothing wrong, it was just unfortunate. I did wonder though if my pack was lighter or less bulky if it would not have swung. And carrying a lighter pack is always preferable anyway, so I started to look through my spreadsheet of kit and examine it more closely.

I know the quickest way to save weight in a pack is to consider the biggest items first. I have already got a new down sleeping bag, it is super warm, doesn't leave my tent looking like I've been plucking chickens in the night and weighs less than a kg, so I am happy with that. I have an Exped Sunmat UL7, there is no need to replace that. I have a new tent, having replaced my Terra Nova Competition with a Tarptent Notch. I could have gone further and bought a Li version, but didn't like the idea of it being see through. I have changed my light Exos pack for a heavier Ariel 55 AG pack, I need the padding on the hipbelt and harness and will not be changing it. The next item to consider would be my Jetboil Flash.

I adore my Flash, I have carried it on all my Challenges so far bar one, when I borrowed David's Flash Lite. It has never let me down, I only boil water for rehydrating meals and making hot drinks and usually manage to cross using just the one 100g gas canister. However it isn't a particularly lightweight system, at 426g, as I have to carry a mug to drink from so that adds bulk and at least another 116g, so altogether about 737g. I could improve on that.

After some investigation and asking for recommendations, I decided an MSR Pocket Rocket was ideal, David persuaded me the Deluxe version was even better, so that is what I went for, at 83g. The Snowpeak pots I have would do the job, but the lid is a frying pan which I don't need and doesn't sit tight on the pot, so would probably be loose in my pack and annoying. I wanted a pot that was big enough to boil all the water I needed in one go, if necessary, and be used as my mug, to save taking a pot and a mug. After much thought and internet browsing, I suddenly remembered Alpkit and found they had the MytiPot 900 that fitted the bill, similar to the MSR Titan Kettle, but much cheaper.

Altogether, that would be a saving of 339g, if I took the same size gas. I would obviously need to be able to replace that as I crossed, so if I took a larger canister there would still be a saving of nearly 200g. I can make that decision nearer the time, depending on what the supply of gas is like next May.

The one thing that I worried about this year was my tent pegs. I didn't really consider these until the week of the Challenge, when it was too late to do anything. I realised that the MSR Mini Groundhog pegs that I love were perhaps not long enough to cope with the different forces on my new tent. There was nothing I could do, but I coped with the pegs I had , double pegging the main points and using the longest peg in my possession for the end into the wind. I don't know the origin or the composition of this peg, but I used it and survived. Mainly because there were no high winds. I can replace these pegs, I will take four MSR Groundhogs, four MSR Mini Groundhogs and six Terra Nova skewers to help pin the ends out and the inner. None of this will affect the weight I am carrying much.

I need to consider my washbag, there may be more in there than I really need to take.

If I can get nearer to the 11kg mark, or less, including food, I'll be happy.

And in the meantime. I am already back to running to maintain and improve my fitness and I will start back on the yoga and strength training as soon as I am completely happy with my shoulder.

All good.

Challenge Afterthoughts

So, it's more than three weeks since I got home from the Challenge, have I had any thoughts of how it went?

A few.

On the whole, it was brilliant.

My planning was thorough and well executed. I'm getting the hang of it. I somehow managed to plan my food to  as near perfection as I think I can. I ate enough most of the time, I certainly didn't appear to suffer as much from food deprivation as I sometimes do. I think the dehydrated meals I buy from mountaintails.org.uk are the best, for me anyway, and I ate as much fresh food as I could when it was available. I mainly slept well, but I think that was down to the nights not being so cold rather than any of my gear in particular, although I do think thermal tights under my merino leggings works for me. I only had two nights in accommodation and three nights on a campsite, so slept most nights in my wonderful little Laser, however, I still have never managed a solo wild camp.

I was really excited about my route, it was covering an area largely unknown to me and I really enjoyed the new views and places of wonder that I found along the way. Even when I re-routed through Glen Tilt from Blair Atholl, I was still in unknown territory until I crossed the Geldie Burn. I was unfamiliar with the Morrone Birkwood, but I do know Braemar and Ballater quite well.

There was a change in the wildlife that I saw and heard as I made my way across Scotland. There were plenty of dippers and wagtails by the rivers, the woods were full of chiffchaffs and willow warblers and I heard a cuckoo every day as I walked. I saw ravens, a golden eagle and a kite and lots of roe deer, but no red deer. I heard a green woodpecker when I was camping at Innerwick, which was wonderful, having never heard one before. One day I'll see one, but not this far up north perhaps! On the whole, I think most of the ground I covered was more rural than usual, hence the different wildlife.

I could cover my gear in a different post, but most of it was the same as usual so I don't feel the need. I've mentioned the thermal tights already, they worked for me. This year I carried a spare pair of thinner walking socks instead of my thick sleepy socks and a pair of 'social' socks (as opposed to anti-social socks, obviously...) which meant I had choice of what to wear in bed if necessary and whether I wore an ordinary or thinner pair for walking in, depending on the weather and how much road walking was planned. I took the hat I had crocheted over the winter and I loved it, wearing it at the end of the day as I pitched camp and through the night, when necessary. I took my Velez Light instead of my regular one, which allowed me to wear my Rab Lunar top underneath in necessary or I was happy to carry the Velez Light if I didn't need to wear it, which I an not inclined to do with the regular one. I also found my Cascada II trousers very comfortable in all conditions. I still love my Osprey Exos 58, although with my new skinny collar bones, I found the need to make some extra padding to put underneath my shoulder straps. My sit mat came in handy for that. My Phd sleeping bag performed better, but I think that was down to the weather conditions. My lovely Laser is my best friend, I have no complaints at all. My Meindl Burma boots are in the same category.

There's not much else to say at the moment. If this was my last solo Challenge, (or possibly Challenge ever) I am happy that it was the most successful and enjoyable so far.

The Great Outdoors Challenge 2016–Tick done

The write up of my Challenge is now available here, if anyone is interested. The accounts of my previous Challenges are available in the right hand column, at the top, in date order

I had a fantastic time this year, helped in part by relatively good weather conditions, but mainly by the people I met and walked with along the way.

I’ll be back to sum up my thoughts about my journey and gear at a later date.

For Alan

Alan likes to publish his gear list for the Challenge. Apparently, this is my fault, but I deny this. I did not publish the first Gear List, but he obviously saw mine and liked the idea…

Anyway, this year I have made a few changes, which I may, or may not, regret, so I’ve decided to publish my list, as much for my own records as for anyone’s interest.

Miscellaneous Items Weight g Cards/Cash 30 3 inhalers 101 Camera 224 Charger 79 Compass 30 First Aid Kit 500 Glasses case 34 Handkerchief 15 Hand warmers 175 Head torch 47 iPod Shuffle 12 Maps 120 Mobile 141 Notepad/pencil 38 Trowel/paper 39 Walking poles 515 2,100 Shelter/Sleeping Laser Competition 960 Groundsheet protector 222 Pegs 110 Poles 155 Synmat 462 PHD Sleeping Bag 820 Pillow Case 87 2,816 Clothes (Carrying) Bra 20 Hat (knitted) 71 Icebreaker leggings 186 Icebreaker shorts 46 Keen Whisper Sandals 476 Montane Prism Jacket 388 Rab Power Stretch 261 Smartwool base 149 Social socks 34 Socks 58 Sunglasses 39 Tights 87 Trousers (Marmot Scree Pants) 430 Tuff Bag mitts 80 Vest 71 2,396 Kitchen/Bathroom Blue Towel 51 Cup 94 Jetboil Flash/Gas 661 Platty Soft Bottle x2 48 Washbag 200 Water Treatment 78 1,132 Rucksack Liner 111 Osprey Exos 1,140 Raincover 121 Sea to Summit Daysack 95 Sitmat 32 Podsac L 66 Podsac M 52 1,617 Total Carry 10,061 Wear Boots 1,448 Bra 20 Buff 51 Glasses 23 Gloves Power Stretch 43 Pants 46 Paramo Velez Light 575 Paramo Cascada II 478 Rab Lunar 210 Tilley 143 T-shirt 100 Total Wear 3,137

The figures may not be wholly accurate, (my patience runs out as I weigh things…) the list may not be complete (because me memory is shocking, and I struggle with tables and stuff…) my maths is rubbish, and there’s no food or water included. I don’t have so many resupply or eating out opportunities this year, so I’ll be carrying around 2kg or more of food…

Challenge Planning

Judith made me chuckle with her take on Challenge Planning here but it had me thinking, what of my own?

I have a list. Or at least, I did have a list. That was before we moved and I haven’t seen it since…

My food was delivered yesterday, thanks to Mark at Mountaintrails, my Challenge Cake (for the Cheese and Wine) is currently being fed and my new water bottle holder has been despatched. I am still trying to establish the existence of a local bus from Shiel Bridge to Dornie run by MacRae Kintail Buses, but hopefully that’s the last thing on my list, bar the fresh food. So, am I prepared?

I was thinking about this as I strolled yesterday and I’ve come to the conclusion I’m feeling more relaxed each year about this preparation lark. My route is good, for me at least. There is variation and there are expanses of the unknown and there are opportunities to go high if weather allows and I want to. It’s also quite a sociable route. Again. I have all my OS LR maps and I have printed off my route maps. I might even remember to pack my route sheet this year. I am very happy with my dehydrated meals choices and I’m fairly confident I’ll find fresh foods that I like quite easily en route. I have booked my accommodation at the start, a B&B and two hostels along the way and arranged for parcels to be posted on to myself, just containing a couple of dehydrated meals and maybe maps.

I have a dry run with the planned kit on Thursday as I have a DofE training night and I intend to take mine and Ciara’s packed rucksacks to demonstrate the kind of kit they should carry, how to pack a rucksack (I hate lots of dangling bits on the outside!) and what they could aspire to. This will give me the opportunity to give things I haven’t seen for a while a check over, including my Laser which hasn’t been out since September.

Will I be posting a kit list this year? Probably not. It hasn’t changed much. I will replace my fleece with my Rab Lunar pull on and my thermal vest, mainly due to the bulk, but I’m confident I won’t regret it. I will also take my groundsheet protector instead of my foiled mat. The protector is a little heavier, but gives me a groundsheet in the porch as well as some insulation and protecting the bottom of my tent and my Synmat. It also means I won’t be sliding around the floor of my tent for two weeks! I haven’t decided which trousers I’m taking yet, that largely depends on the weather forecast before we leave and whether my Paramo trousers are repaired and returned in time. So I don’t think I’ll post the list, I may just post the total weights to keep the fussy folk happy. (I still have my spread sheets, I know how much it all weighs and what I’ll be hauling across Scotland!)

Now, what have I forgotten?

The rest of the Challenge musing

There isn’t much more Challenge musing to relate to you, but I’ll jot a little something down just to keep records correct.

I’ve planned a route this year that, whilst there shouldn’t be an awful lot of road walking (or a lot of awful road walking, whichever) there shouldn’t be an awful lot for bog trotting either (or a lot of awful bog trotting, you get the picture). I decided I didn’t want to carry all 236g of my usual Rab gaiters as I would only wear them when doing a tiny amount (…ummm…) of bog trotting and carry them the rest of them time. So I searched out a lighter pair. Now, I do know that the ones I’ve plumped for are designed for use with trail shoes, but I have tried them with my boots and for the short periods of time I’ll be wearing them (…ummmm…) they’ll be just fine. Or if Laura wears her trail shoes for the Challenge, we could do a temporary swap. The ones I’ve plumped for are Trekmates Atlas gaiters, £15 and weighing in at a whole 68g.

For a treat the other weekend, TTS took me to Aviemore for the day to have my feet vacuum packed. Now, those of you in the know will know that this has nothing to do with extra freshness, this is for the purpose of having custom fit insoles made. What an utterly fascinating little trip that was to see Bob at Mountain Spirit, pad around his shop barefoot then sit on the Superfeet throne in the shop window. Joy. Bob reckoned that my life could be transformed by my new custim fit insoles, I think this may have been an exaggeration, however, I have worn them in all my footwear for the last week and my poorly foot is definitely showing signs (or feeling signs?) of improvement. I have high hopes of a not-excruciating Challenge…

And finally (I think, although I may muse some more with some chords playing in the background, musically…) my Paramo Velez Adventure Smock. TTS and I both have one of these, his is a slightly older version in bright orange with the detachable hood and mine is in grey, with a non-detachable hood. TTS had been complaining for a while that the velcro on the sleeves of his jacket no longer did so he wanted it sent back to Paramo for repair. I thought I’d send mine along at the same time as the elastic hood volume adjuster was wearing a little thin where it attaches to the jacket inside it’s little sleeve which is too hard for me to get at myself.

David’s is a registered jacket and I hoped they would recognise it as such and complete the repair foc, as per their lifetime guarantee. Mine came from Paramo 2nds however and I wasn’t sure I’d be extended the same courtesy, so I was absolutely delighted to receive a letter confirming that the repairs would indeed be carried out for free and I am expecting their return any day now, so that will be job done.

If I think of anything else, I’ll let you know..

Sunshine in a bag

So that all left me with an idea in my head, a bee in my bonnet, an itch that needed scratched, I could go on.

I found my self having a good dig around in all sorts of places, the hat and gloves box, a couple of wardrobes, my quartermaster’s stores, looking for something, the right thing, the one in the vision in my head. I’m not quite sure how I ended up poking about in the airing cupboard, but I came up with this…

For those of you that don’t have children, or have long since forgotten the transition stage from nappies, (or haven’t had a visitor with bladder problem to stay…) you won’t recognise this as waterproof or rubber sheet. But that’s what it is!

At first it felt a little wrong to want to cut it up, but then I opened it out and discovered that one of those little treasures that had used it when small had been at it with scissors already! Luckily not in such a way as to make it useless to me now, but I felt a whole lot better about whipping out a felt tip and a pair of scissors, along with my sewing machine, for a little play.

And here it is!

My tent bag

I’ve used a spare guy to thread through the top, which could also double as, oh, I don’t know, a spare guy! (If required in an emergency) I had a spare thingy for tightening (can’t think of the technical term, it’ll come to me) and I’m considering decorating it as white isn’t my favourite colour.

Shorter, fatter and flatter, just like I wanted

Before anyone asks, it’s about 24g more than the original bag. I can live with that. It would be fair to say I’m quite chuffed.

Thinking out loud

Obviously the main point of our little adventure last week was to iron out a few issues and test some of our kit.

Mostly, I think the kit did well, but I have found myself doing a little thinking…

There are one or two things I’d like to improve. I’m not interested in doing major modifications, just perhaps finding a way around things.

My tent. I love it! But I will have to carry a lightweight but very absorbent cloth to dry any condensation I might get on the inner and perhaps the outer too if necessary. I find the tent bag too long and thin. It makes packing it into my rucksack more awkward, so I’m looking at all my tent bags (I have a few…) and stuff sacks to find something that suits better. It needs to be short and fat (Don’t!) so I can flatten it more easily in the back of my pack. I might even have to make one, but I think I’ve got some bits and pieces that will do.

Gayle mentioned that she has found herself pitching a Laser the wrong way into the wind, despite having taken great care not to do so! So, I have attached a small bit of cord to the tail end of my tent in an attempt to make this easier. We’ll see.

I also wondered, if I’d had to separate outer from inner in order to keep the inner dry, if I could then pitch the outer first and reattach the inner, instead of having to fiddle to reattach it before pitching, if the weather is inclement. Well, I tried that out this morning in the garden, albeit in a rather controlled environment. The answer appears to be yes, perfectly possible. Joy!

I’m also rethinking my sleeping mat. It should have been my Synmat 7UL, but now I’m taking my Laser and not the Voyager Superlight, I have a bit of an issue. I can’t get hold of an Exped Mini Pump in time and if the weather is normal (!) I have to lie on my back and blow the mat up on top of me and then turn us both over. It’s tricky and giggly, okay when with a friend but not so good if your camping companions are strangers! Add to that I don’t like to sit on it (in the Superlight I would have sat next to it) and the fact that I like a full length thin mat underneath it to protect it, in total my Thermarest and small sit mat are a lighter and tougher combination.

I think that’s it. For now…

One night only

I should first apologise for my tardiness in producing this post, but I’ve been busy.

Since Laura had gained a place on this year’s Challenge from the stand by list, we had intended a little back pack of some kind, especially since as things turned out, sadly neither of us were able to join The Pieman’s Pre-Challenge walk in the Borders. The main aims were to test one or two bits of kit and make sure the tents were both watertight and although we had intended something a little longer, due to lack of free time we ended up with a simple overnight trip planned.

Thursday morning I went for my daily brisk stroll before performing a little gear magic.

From this…

…to this!

I packed only once as I now have a routine and place for everything that I am happy with. In the end I didn’t take the gaiters or Tilley that I’d intended to wear and I carried my poles the whole way (why, why do I do that?!!)

After an early lunch, I walked into town to meet Laura who had jumped onto the bus in Aberdeen. Less than a mile from home, it began to rain. Obviously my waterproof trousers were packed. In the rucksack sitting in my lounge. Hmmph. At least it was just a bit showery.

After running a couple of errands whilst in town, I met Laura at the bus stop and led her across the road and back up to the other bus stop to catch the bus back to my house to collect my pack and wait for a lift to Dava from where we would start our overnighter. Our chauffeur soon arrived (although we did have time for tea and toast) and whisked us away to our planned start point.

Town centre (it stopped raining)

Hello!

David neatly set us down on the track to the Dava Way at Dava and we set off north to find a place to pitch somewhere behind the Knock of Braemoray.

Laura heads north, with The Knock appearing over her left shoulder

Although I quite often do parts of The Dava Way and I have walked it’s entire length (all 24 miles of it from Grantown on Spey to Forres) in one go twice, I don’t do the most southerly half very often. I don’t like it much. It’s a real shame, it goes through some wonderful scenery with a variety of environments and habitats, but it runs along the bed of a disused railway line. As such, it is a really stony track for the majority of the way, although it does improve from Dunphail north. These stones are of a very particular type. They are hard and sharp and pointy (we’ll come back to this later) and this is what puts me off the route as a whole. It can be miserable.

Anyway, we strolled along quite happily with the intention of finding a little sheltered spot somewhere along the way. The route is maintained by the voluntary organisation The Dava Way Association and they do a grand job. The path is maintained (sort of…) and not allowed to become overgrown, the gates are all regularly repaired or renewed and various features have been added since I’d last been along this section, including the Half Way Hut. This has a solar-powered, movement sensitive light, a few benches and some interesting information boards and leaflets available inside, plus another couple of benches outside. I forgot to take a photograph but it was a better hut than this one which we passed shortly after.

Anybody home?

We found this little froggy chap on the path

The gate was a little recalcitrant until Laura found the obvious instructions…

We never found the spot I’d intended to use as we missed the turn off I think we should have taken, but we were hardly tired (!!) and were happy to just keep walking, marking possible spots out of ten, although finding few scoring more than three. Eventually we came to a track leading to the ruins at Bogeney and thought the little wood would give a nice bit of shelter. It was worth leaving the Way to stroll along the farm track to investigate. Sure enough, after a thorough inspection and discussion, a pitch was settled upon and tents retrieved from our packs.

Looking north

Looking east

We soon fell into evening routine, with Laura scoffing her home prepared meal and me not feeling hungry. This is always my issue. Instead of hydrating the meal I had brought and didn’t fancy, I had the soup, Babybels and wholemeal roll I’d brought for lunch and a chocolate pancake I’d intended for breakfast. Oh well.

As we were chatting and settling down for the night I mentioned the first time I’d wild camped with David and we had been haunted by the oddest sound that turned out to be snipe drumming. Within a few minutes of snuggling into my sleeping bag, the local snipe decided to start their night time displays. I was thrilled, it made my day. I spent most of the night (that I didn’t sleep) listening to and identifying the local bird life and various other creatures nearby. Very nearby at times…

3.56 miles 203 feet total ascent (although I had obviously done a bit more in total over the whole day)

…

Friday morning dawned as Laura visited the powder room. Apparently the sunrise was stunning and the tents were covered in a hard frost. I had been aware that it had been a cold night, but I had cracked a couple of hand warmers the previous evening and kept them in my sleeping bag overnight. I had been lovely and cosy. Later, when we were both awake again, the snipe were still drumming, a woodpecker had joined in on the act, a couple of wrens were trilling, curlew bubbling, lapwing making their peewit calls but the local tawny owls had long since stopped calling. It must be time to get up and strike camp. Flashes were struck up and tea made whilst chocolate and ginger flapjack and chocolate pancakes snaffled.

Soon we were taking down our damp tents. As well as the hard frost, there had been some rain earlier in the night and the tents were both quite wet but neither had leaked. I also had a small amount of condensation as we had been very successful in picking a sheltered spot out of the gusty wind that had been forecast. It was quite a fresh morning, showery with hail and due to this, and the dampness of my tent, I found my self suffering an attack of Raynaud's. Damn! My hand warmers last about ten hours but by now were no longer functioning, however, Laura of the Warm Hands came to my rescue. As I crouched on the ground (so I didn’t fall) Laura held my frozen, useless hands between her warm little pandies and performed a miracle. I need to back pack with Laura, my Mobile Hand Warmer more often!

We went on our way, back to the Way and headed north with the intention of stopping at Logie Steading for lunch and may be loiter there waiting for our chauffeur to return and collect us. Along the way we kept a look out for possible pitches, just in case there were any better than the one we’d picked. As it turned out, we’d definitely picked the right one!

There’s plenty of interest a long the route, from wildlife to views. The Dava group have put plenty of information boards up but the one at the top of an impossibly steep bank seemed a bit daft and was left unread.

Our pitch was just left of centre

Lots of learning

We were soon crossing the Divie viaduct, a masterpiece of Victorian engineering. Not far from here is the small collection of houses of Dunphail where once there was a station, now a private dwelling, which meant the Way is slightly re-routed to avoid walkers and cyclists being able to look in through the windows and watch television. Here there is a National Lotto funded Breathing Space, including picnic benches and a bird hide. Not surprisingly we took advantage of the benches for a break, involving fruity chewy things and Lindt dark chocolate with a touch of sea salt. Num num!

As we set off again, I was aware that a slightly sore patch on the ball of my left foot was not easing off. I was concerned it may have been a hot spot forming, right on the point I’d suffered so badly on last year’s Challenge. This was not good news. I made quite a point of saying I was unlikely to want to walk further than Logie, despite it not being at all far from town. As luck would have it, as we headed off the Way along the farm track at Peathillock (which we initially missed, I usually join the Way here not leave it, I was disorientated!) we had another terrific hail storm. Coupled with the steep track down to the steading, which we would have to climb back up if we continued after lunch, I managed to persuade Laura that my plan was good.

We stopped for a lush lunch of brie and cranberry sandwiches, made with walnut bread with crisps and a salad on the side and a rather good coffee. I failed in my training here by not having cake. I led Laura astray as she failed too, but it was my fault. After mooching around the steading shops and making use of the facilities we had eventually killed enough time for David to have finished work and driven straight across to collect us. Fabulous.

Lunch stop

6.4 miles 288 feet total ascent

I later concluded that the sore patch on the ball of my foot was probably not a hot spot, but actually an impact injury from those dastardly stones, curse them!

Hands

Sunday proved my hands, or rather, the Raynaud’s Syndrome I suffer from and the effect it has on my extremities and the rest of me at times, can be a little problematic. I have suffered from the cold on both of my previous Challenges, but not suffered a Raynaud’s attack like that one. (Apart from when Laura and I arrived at St Drostan’s in Tarfside, happily I didn’t do the shock thing though) This is fortunate and I hope I never do however it would be silly not to take precautions. Obviously I always wear gloves. Even during the summer months I will have a pair of gloves about my person should they become necessary as it doesn’t even have to be particularly cold for my hands to react.

So, I’ve been doing some thinking and over the last few months, I’ve been making plans and finding solutions. Here they are.

A selection of handwear

Christmas 2011 David bought me a pair of Extremities Tuff Bag mitts. I wore them on last years Challenge and often over the year, usually with my merino flip flap mitts and they are absolutely brilliant. It’s not so much the waterproof qualities that impress me, but the windproofing is excellent.

At Cally Rally in October (a Scout/Guide camp weekend by the Loch Ness Canal when it is cold. Very, Very Cold) my pal Janet donned a rather nifty looking pair of gloves to protect her nails whilst pitching and striking camp. I tried them on and they were indeed a nifty bit of kit, a thin knitted glove with rubberised palm and fingers, leant to her by her husband who uses them whilst he is backpacking. Aha! They’d be neat if they fitted over my mitts.

In November I bought a couple of lucky bags from Terra Nova, one for David as a stocking filler and one for me because I’m greedy and I don’t like to miss out. One of the things I got was a pair of Polartec gloves. They are really comfy, cosy and fit inside my Tuff Bags. In summer, these would do a good job and as I’ve often been concerned that my mitts get damaged when I get them inadvertently velcroed to other bits of my kit, or wear holes in them whilst using my walking poles, these would be a good alternative. They also fit in side the gloves with the rubberised palms, so I can keep my hands warm and protected whilst pitching and striking camp.

Another problem I have on the Challenge is collecting water or washing my pots. Obviously I can’t wear cosy gloves when I’m doing these chores, or can I? A pair of Marigolds struck me as a mite heavy, but a tough pair of latex gloves would be just the job and blue ones are harder to lose.

All the protection I require for *161g, as opposed to the 130g two glove combination I carried previously, this arrangement will have everything covered, so to speak.

Sorted!

*Edited: Can’t count!

Oh lummy, my memory's going

I know I was reading somewhere, maybe a blog, or a magazine, about a nifty little rubber gadget that clipped to the fly sheet, (or anywhere else for that matter) without making a hole, (looked like a suspender fastner, for want of a better description) that you could use for an extra peg, (or whatever).

I could do with one for Bill, just for less flap.

But... I don't know where I was.

Pants.

Any ideas? 'Cos I'm clueless and frustrated.

(Nothing new there then...)

Let me introduce you

For a while now, I've been collecting tents.

We have Aedan's tent, a four man Gelert Eiger 4, Topsy, which would only house four very small men, because it's a tight squeeze for four children!


We have a four man Wynnster Falcon Deluxe Vis-a-Vis tent, Terry, for the children again, for last minute decision camping to use alongside Maisie.


We have The Palace, our family camping tent, a Gelert Alaska 8, which is a roomy, four bedroomed detached number with a lounge/kitchen/diner. Great for space, waterproof, but fun if the wind picks up!


At The Sands, Gairloch, one of our favourite sites.

Fully equiped to cope with (almost) all eventualities. Quite impressed with that, you can't see the vast amounts of alcohol used to numb the pain.

We also have Maisie, a cute two man number, a Coleman Adrenaline 2, and possibly my favourite tent. She's lovely. Watertight, well ventilated, roomy and you can't lose her.

At another site we've used a few times, Rothiemurchus, a fabulous shower block, but the ground is stoney and the midgies are murder! This was when we walked home from Glenmore, through the Ryvoan Pass, Nethybridge, Grantown on Spey and up the Dava Way to Forres. When this photograph was taken, I had a raging migraine. Shortly after, I was in my bag.

David at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park, beer in hand. Lovely site, fantastic shower block!

And here we have our newest member of the family, a Coleman Kraz 1, Bill. Bill has been specially acquired incase I have to attempt my first TGO Challenge solo.


It would certainly be a challenge in the event that David couldn't join me! I'm quite confident that I could plod my way across Scotland with my no doubt huge pack, my navigation might need a little work, but should be ok, but I suspect I will be a nervous wild-camper, because I'm a wuss.
And David would have to trust me with a gas stove and matches.


I've been very keen to give Bill a whirl, so I pitched him in the garden. David came home from work, adjusted him, then said I should 'strike camp' because it looked like rain... I waited for another convenient moment yesterday and pitched Bill in the garden, only to have a the six year old from next door bombard me with questions, ("What's that?", "What's it for?", "Who's going to sleep in it?", "Why?") so I scuttled inside and and waited for dusk. Bearing in mind it's Midsummers Night tonight.

I retired to the annex at about 10.30 pm when I was fairly sure noone would be watching (we are quite overlooked here, but they know I'm barking) and I read for a while. When I cuddled down in my cosy bag, I realised I was missing essential equipment. In my pack, I would have had spare clothes and a small cloth bag to stuff and make a second, small cushion for my knee. I wriggled for comfort and realised I was missing something else. A slope! Lumpy ground! I'm not used to the comforts of a manicured lawn. I wriggled some more. By now, I was too hot. There was fairground noise in the background from the Summer Ball, a flashing light which I couldn't at first locate.

I gave up.

I need to take Bill into the wilderness for some peace and quiet. I have a plan, but I'm going to have to be patient.