Total adventures this year: 10
Lougher Estuary Bivi:
30th December 2013
Wild-Camp:23
Squatt and I had received new RAB storm Bivi bags for Christmas so we wanted to try them out. Squatt had also had a RAB Microlight down jacket for his birthday a few days before Christmas and I had replaced the stove that had been stolen in the summer with the MSR Dragonfly. This trip was to try them all out in the field, plus we hadn't wild camped for a while.
We didn't go far, just to the banks of the estuary near our home, a place we'd camped a few times before. We were planning on bivi'ing in the same place as we had during the summer, however horses had churned up the whole area and had left a 'deposit' exactly where we would have been sleeping. Due to the prolific rainfall recently all the other flat areas were under water.
We found a site, not too far away and set up camp. Whilst we were cooking food, dog walkers walked past on the other side of the railway line and shone their torches on us, so our stealthy wild camp was discovered. The bivi's worked extremely well, Squatt had his zipped up all night , which it turned out was a good thing, I however, did not. At about 5am it started raining hard, I awoke but as I was well under the tarp I was staying dry, I quickly checked on Squatt, he seemed more than comfy so I went back to sleep to be woken about half hour later with the tarp collapsing and dumping the puddle of water that had formed on top right on my head. The top half of my sleeping bag was soaked. Again I checked on Squatt and he was fine so I started packing my kit away before waking Squatt. When I eventually woke him there was a puddle on the collapsed tarp beside and slightly on top of him. This puddle was about 6 foot long, 18 inches wide and about 4 inches deep, it was quite hard to pull the tarp to 'pour' it off him. We quickly packed up the rest of the gear and began the 5 minute walk home. Just as we finished packing away the rain stopped... typical!
UPDATE!!
The day following this trip, the area where we had camped was FOUR feet under water due to a combination of the extensive rainfall and an unusually high tide. The park that we walk past to get to this area was knee depth in water, including the rugby field, cricket ground, bowling green, tennis courts, plus several houses had been flooded. I was tempted to get the kayak out and go for a paddle around the park, but by the time I had time the water had gone down to around a foot deep which isn't deep enough for kayaking.
We didn't go far, just to the banks of the estuary near our home, a place we'd camped a few times before. We were planning on bivi'ing in the same place as we had during the summer, however horses had churned up the whole area and had left a 'deposit' exactly where we would have been sleeping. Due to the prolific rainfall recently all the other flat areas were under water.
We found a site, not too far away and set up camp. Whilst we were cooking food, dog walkers walked past on the other side of the railway line and shone their torches on us, so our stealthy wild camp was discovered. The bivi's worked extremely well, Squatt had his zipped up all night , which it turned out was a good thing, I however, did not. At about 5am it started raining hard, I awoke but as I was well under the tarp I was staying dry, I quickly checked on Squatt, he seemed more than comfy so I went back to sleep to be woken about half hour later with the tarp collapsing and dumping the puddle of water that had formed on top right on my head. The top half of my sleeping bag was soaked. Again I checked on Squatt and he was fine so I started packing my kit away before waking Squatt. When I eventually woke him there was a puddle on the collapsed tarp beside and slightly on top of him. This puddle was about 6 foot long, 18 inches wide and about 4 inches deep, it was quite hard to pull the tarp to 'pour' it off him. We quickly packed up the rest of the gear and began the 5 minute walk home. Just as we finished packing away the rain stopped... typical!
UPDATE!!
The day following this trip, the area where we had camped was FOUR feet under water due to a combination of the extensive rainfall and an unusually high tide. The park that we walk past to get to this area was knee depth in water, including the rugby field, cricket ground, bowling green, tennis courts, plus several houses had been flooded. I was tempted to get the kayak out and go for a paddle around the park, but by the time I had time the water had gone down to around a foot deep which isn't deep enough for kayaking.
Pen-Y-Fan Wild Camp:
19th October 2013
Wild-Camp:22
Squatt really wanted to go up Pen y fan so obviously I didn't need much persuasion.
We knew that rain was forecast so we took the tent. Our bivis always come with us anyway. We started the walk up by the red phone box without waterproofs as it was only overcast with patches of blue sky. By the time we were half way up the first hill before getting to the river we both had our waterproofs on and I was starting to realise that I need new waterproof trousers. Squatt wanted to camp by the river before getting to Corn Du.
As always on the fan there were loads of walkers, all quite polite, which after doing my training on the Millennium Coastal Path was a refreshing change! The friendliest of them all were the military guys out on exercise. They were soaked to the skin and looked exhausted, but they still managed an enthusiastic hello and sometimes a joke.
We pitched the tent in pouring rain and stayed inside waiting for the rain to stop. During the hour or so we were laying in the tent I decided that I don't like tents any more. I couldn't see out plus neither myself nor Squatt could sit up to drink or eat.
When it stopped raining Squatt went for a short walk, when he came back the sole of his boot was almost off. I guess he needs new boots before our next trip!
We were just laying in the tent with the doors open watching the people coming down off the Fan, some carefully tiptoeing across the stream, others just striding across as though it wasn't there. When the soldiers started coming back down from the Fan, due to the fact that in order to see us people on the path would have to physically turn around, some of the soldiers didn't see us until after I'd got them on camera.
I cooked our food on the Trangia-Honey Stove combo. Squatt had his usual Wayfarer beans and bacon, I had an Adventure foods Cashew rice.
The rest of the night was just spent mucking around videoing people on the path from the tent and listening to the wind and rain on the tent, which DIDN'T LEAK!!
We didn't wake until 8am when we just cooked out breakfast and walked back down in the rain. Squatt has definitely decided the the bivi is better than the tent, as even in good weather, once your in a tent it's too much hassle to get back out compared to the hammock or bivi.
We knew that rain was forecast so we took the tent. Our bivis always come with us anyway. We started the walk up by the red phone box without waterproofs as it was only overcast with patches of blue sky. By the time we were half way up the first hill before getting to the river we both had our waterproofs on and I was starting to realise that I need new waterproof trousers. Squatt wanted to camp by the river before getting to Corn Du.
As always on the fan there were loads of walkers, all quite polite, which after doing my training on the Millennium Coastal Path was a refreshing change! The friendliest of them all were the military guys out on exercise. They were soaked to the skin and looked exhausted, but they still managed an enthusiastic hello and sometimes a joke.
We pitched the tent in pouring rain and stayed inside waiting for the rain to stop. During the hour or so we were laying in the tent I decided that I don't like tents any more. I couldn't see out plus neither myself nor Squatt could sit up to drink or eat.
When it stopped raining Squatt went for a short walk, when he came back the sole of his boot was almost off. I guess he needs new boots before our next trip!
We were just laying in the tent with the doors open watching the people coming down off the Fan, some carefully tiptoeing across the stream, others just striding across as though it wasn't there. When the soldiers started coming back down from the Fan, due to the fact that in order to see us people on the path would have to physically turn around, some of the soldiers didn't see us until after I'd got them on camera.
I cooked our food on the Trangia-Honey Stove combo. Squatt had his usual Wayfarer beans and bacon, I had an Adventure foods Cashew rice.
The rest of the night was just spent mucking around videoing people on the path from the tent and listening to the wind and rain on the tent, which DIDN'T LEAK!!
We didn't wake until 8am when we just cooked out breakfast and walked back down in the rain. Squatt has definitely decided the the bivi is better than the tent, as even in good weather, once your in a tent it's too much hassle to get back out compared to the hammock or bivi.
Bivi on the Black Mountain:
28th September 2013
Wild-Camp:21
I had been promising Squatt a PROPER wild camp for a while but everything got in the way, so this weekend we finally got out onto the Black Mountain.
Squatt wanted to Bivi so we took the Bivis but I packed the tent as well just in case the weather was too bad. I didn't consider using the tent, we didn't even use a tarp!
We wen't to one of our usual spots but didn't set up camp straight away. We gathered and prepared wood for the Honey stove, though we had a Trangia as back up (the MSR XGK EX was stolen a few weeks ago). It was so windy that it took 25-30 minutes to boil 500ml water and almost all the wood we had prepared, which we thought would have been enough to cook our 2 meals, make hot chocolate before bed and boil enough water for breakfast in the morning. The flames were being blown so hard that it was like a jet coming out of the door of the honey stove and this was with a windshield! We both wondered if the water would have boiled quicker if I'd put the pot beside the stove.
Once we'd eventually had our food we explored by the river for a bit and Squatt wanted to pick stinging nettles to make dye as he's found out from somewhere that you can do this. As it was beginning to get a little bit dark we headed back to camp and used the Honey stove again in a slightly more sheltered location to boil the water for drinks. By the time we'd drunk them it was totally dark at 20:30 and we got into sleeping bags under the tree. Squatt played Minecraft on his phone and I, like always, looked through the video and photos of the day. We didn't get much sleep as the wind was very strong and the noise kept waking us and keeping us awake. I woke at 6:30ish in time to see a magnificent sunrise which I actually managed to capture on video. But then I fell back to sleep.
We both got out of bed at 8:30 and instead of faffing around lighting a fire in the Honey stove I used the Trangia burner in it. Due to the wind even with the wind shield it still took 20 minutes to boil enough water for breakfast. Biviing is great for speed of packing. I packed both mine and Squatt's kit in less than 10 minutes. Then it was just the hour and half walk back to the road and the waiting van.
Squatt wanted to Bivi so we took the Bivis but I packed the tent as well just in case the weather was too bad. I didn't consider using the tent, we didn't even use a tarp!
We wen't to one of our usual spots but didn't set up camp straight away. We gathered and prepared wood for the Honey stove, though we had a Trangia as back up (the MSR XGK EX was stolen a few weeks ago). It was so windy that it took 25-30 minutes to boil 500ml water and almost all the wood we had prepared, which we thought would have been enough to cook our 2 meals, make hot chocolate before bed and boil enough water for breakfast in the morning. The flames were being blown so hard that it was like a jet coming out of the door of the honey stove and this was with a windshield! We both wondered if the water would have boiled quicker if I'd put the pot beside the stove.
Once we'd eventually had our food we explored by the river for a bit and Squatt wanted to pick stinging nettles to make dye as he's found out from somewhere that you can do this. As it was beginning to get a little bit dark we headed back to camp and used the Honey stove again in a slightly more sheltered location to boil the water for drinks. By the time we'd drunk them it was totally dark at 20:30 and we got into sleeping bags under the tree. Squatt played Minecraft on his phone and I, like always, looked through the video and photos of the day. We didn't get much sleep as the wind was very strong and the noise kept waking us and keeping us awake. I woke at 6:30ish in time to see a magnificent sunrise which I actually managed to capture on video. But then I fell back to sleep.
We both got out of bed at 8:30 and instead of faffing around lighting a fire in the Honey stove I used the Trangia burner in it. Due to the wind even with the wind shield it still took 20 minutes to boil enough water for breakfast. Biviing is great for speed of packing. I packed both mine and Squatt's kit in less than 10 minutes. Then it was just the hour and half walk back to the road and the waiting van.
Bivi in the garden:
16th August 2013
Even though it's the summer holidays, for some reason we just haven't had time to get out for a proper overnighter. I promised Squatt I would take him out but I wan't feeling too well so he agreed to sleeping in the garden. We lit the chimnea at around 8pm and sat talking watching the fire until about 11:30 when we went to bed in the bivis. We lay there watching the stars and clouds and I explained to Squatt about the North star and why it doesn't move and the constellations that can be used to find it. We woke at 5:30am and Squatt went to bed for a while.
Our First Summer Bivi:
7th June 2013
Wild-Camp:20
We didn't leave home until around 8pm and walked the short distance to our intended camp site. We spent a bit of time choosing our spot as we saw the high tide line and the previous times we had camped there would have been nearly 2 feet underwater if the tide was that high again, so we looked for another place. We chose a site within the trees and was sheltered from the wind. This could have been why we were plagued by midges until around 11pm. We boiled water for our drinks and couldn't wait to finish them, in fact I threw half my coffee away so I could get into my bivi bag for shelter from the midges. All in all though we both enjoyed the night. It was a little unnerving laying there watching hundreds of midges inches from my face the other side of my head net, but we both enjoyed and Squatt prefers camping in a bivi to the tent and even the hammock.
Hammock in Troserch Woods:
25th May 2013
Wild-Camp:19
Just a quick overnighter in local woods. I had forgotten to take my cameras on this trip so had to make do with a photo from my phone. We didn't leave home until 4:30pm as the camp site is only about a mile from our house. We cut small logs to build a small fire on rocks beside the river once it had got dark and cooked our food, again on the honey stove. I had taken the MSR stove as a just in case but we didn't use it at all on this trip.
Squatt spent a while building, what he called a raft, in actual fact it was just a pile of sticks that he sent floating down the river. Squatt was getting cold so at 9:30pm we went to bed in the hammocks. It was a totally clear night but I still kept the tarp over as rain was forecast. The temperature went down to 1degree Celsius and we both felt very warm. I was woken at 6:30am by the birds singing in the trees, but as usual in the hammock I didn't want to move. At about 8:45am I finally dragged myself out of the hammock, I always find it harder to get out of the hammock than a tent, it's so comfy. We cooked breakfast, again on the honey stove. By 11am we had eaten breakfast and packed away, arrriving home at 11:30am |
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Fan Dance Recce and Wild Camp on
Pen-y-Fan:
28th April 2013
Wild-Camp:18
Plans change! The plans we made (seen below) were looking good until about a third of the way back.
My pack weighed 54Lbs Stuart's weighed a more sensible 45.5Lbs we left Storey Arms high spirited and made it to the top in 1hr 12 minutes. We know this is not anywhere near record breaking time but we were trying to pace ourselves. We walked UP the slopes but ran on the level part and down to the river. At the top there were A LOT of people. Getting away from the madding crowd is not possible on Pen y fan.
My pack weighed 54Lbs Stuart's weighed a more sensible 45.5Lbs we left Storey Arms high spirited and made it to the top in 1hr 12 minutes. We know this is not anywhere near record breaking time but we were trying to pace ourselves. We walked UP the slopes but ran on the level part and down to the river. At the top there were A LOT of people. Getting away from the madding crowd is not possible on Pen y fan.
The steep part down Jacobs ladder was slow and careful being polite to the crowds coming up, but as soon as the terrain allowed we started running. We carried on running until the road drops sharply across a stream where we carefully picked our way down and back up the other side. At this point we walked to the other side of the gate then ran again. Where the path joins a road we passed a military minibus there for the soldiers doing what we assume was the real Fan Dance. At this point we had to consult the map for the first time as we got a little confused. The road split into two and we were only going by clips from youtube videos as to where the turn around point was and how to get there. We decided just to carry on along the road for half an hour or until we found the bridge. We were quite surprised when we came across the bridge (or a bridge) 5 minutes later.
We arrived feeling quite fresh at the turn around point in 2 hours and 20 minutes. We had a break for 20 minutes for some cereal bars and a drink. We walked back up the road until we got on the roman road proper then ran for a bit until I started to feel a twinge in my right thigh which gradually became worse until I could hardly put any weight on it.
Two hours and fifteen minutes later we arrived at the bottom of Jacobs ladder, both of us really struggling and limping quite badly. As we had taken over 2 hours just to get back along the roman road we were expecting a tortuously long climb to the top. Surprisingly it only took an hour of agonising pain to get back to the top of Pen y fan. As we hobbled across tho plateau the 2 soldiers there started packing their tent away and by the time we got across had completely packed away and strolled past us. Judging by their faces we provided them with much amusement. By the time we had almost made the descent from Pen y fan summit into the 'saddle' the soldiers had climbed Corn Du and were disappearing from view.
After climbing Jacobs ladder we thought the worst was over. I do not know if Stuart was in as much pain as me but I found this the hardest part as the pain in my thigh was excruciating allowing me only small steps maybe 10 inches at best. The limp down from Pen y fan to the river took another 2 hours and we camped on a small level place just downstream from the path. We decided to camp here because there was no way I was going back down Jacobs ladder to the reservoir to camp as I needed water, only to climb Jacob's ladder again in the morning, nor was i going to go down to Llyn Cwm llwch as I though my leg would be even worse the following day when the stiffness really kicked in. We set up camp and settled down to a peaceful night. No clouds, no wind and a beautiful starry night kept Stuart and I talking until almost 11pm. During the night the lowest recorded temperature dropped to negative 4 degrees Celsius. In the morning the pain had eased for both of us, we had stuck camp by 8am and had a pleasant albeit slow walk down to the car at Storey Arms. We arrived back at the Storey arms 21 hours after we had left the previous day... just a little over the allowed time!
We both learned valuable lessons from this trip:
1. Pack our bergens carefully, only going over the 35Lb weight requirement by one or two ounces.
2. Do not under-estimate the Fan Dance as it'll chew you up and spit you out.
We both learned valuable lessons from this trip:
1. Pack our bergens carefully, only going over the 35Lb weight requirement by one or two ounces.
2. Do not under-estimate the Fan Dance as it'll chew you up and spit you out.
Hammock Hang in Troserch woods:
3rd April 2013
Wild-Camp:17
Pack weight 20.5kg including 2 litres of water plus camera, separate flash and tripod.
We didn't leave home until 3:45pm as we didn't have to go too far, in fact the intended camp site is only about a mile from our house.
As soon as I had set up Squatt's hammock, as usual he got in it straight away. I set my hammock up and made coffee for me and drinking chocolate for Squatt before he emerged from the hammock again.
From then on he was happy burning the dried leaves in the Honey stove. We cut small logs to build a small fire on rocks beside the river once it had got dark and cooked our food, again on the honey stove. I had taken the MSR stove as a just in case but we didn't use it at all on this trip.
After food we went for a short walk, not too far as we had pitched very close to a busy dog walkers path.
After dark I did some photography and lit the small fire by the river. Squatt was getting cold so at 9:30pm we went to bed in the hammock. This was the warmest I'd ever been (during winter) in the hammock, I didn't even notice any cold spots from the underquilt.
We didn't leave home until 3:45pm as we didn't have to go too far, in fact the intended camp site is only about a mile from our house.
As soon as I had set up Squatt's hammock, as usual he got in it straight away. I set my hammock up and made coffee for me and drinking chocolate for Squatt before he emerged from the hammock again.
From then on he was happy burning the dried leaves in the Honey stove. We cut small logs to build a small fire on rocks beside the river once it had got dark and cooked our food, again on the honey stove. I had taken the MSR stove as a just in case but we didn't use it at all on this trip.
After food we went for a short walk, not too far as we had pitched very close to a busy dog walkers path.
After dark I did some photography and lit the small fire by the river. Squatt was getting cold so at 9:30pm we went to bed in the hammock. This was the warmest I'd ever been (during winter) in the hammock, I didn't even notice any cold spots from the underquilt.
It was a totally clear night and the view from my hammock can be seen in the images below, it's the last photo. The temperature went down to -2 degrees Celsius but I stayed nice and warm. I was woken at 6:30am by 3 separate woodpeckers in different locations, close by. At about 9am I finally dragged myself out of the hammock, I always find it harder to get out of the hammock than a tent, it's so comfy, and cooked breakfast, again on the honey stove...I say cooked but it was boil water for 'Ready Brek'. By 11am we had eaten breakfast and packed away, arrriving home at 11:30am
Black Mountain: Bivi with Squatt, Baldy and Strider
30th March 2013
Wild-Camp:16
Pack weight: 18.1kg including 2 litres of water and food for Squatt and Baldy, plus an SLR camera and separate flash.
We planned on camping at the derelict cottage where we had hammocked before, only this time we were going to bivi under the DD 3X3 tarp. Strider was under his poncho. The weather couldn't have been better considering it's the coldest March since records began for some parts of the country. As we got to the top of a hill close to our intended camp we saw smoke, this turned out to be a huge grass fire almost surrounding our campsite. First we though o well we'll have to find aother site, then O MY GOD! THE TREES ARE GOING TO GET BURNT DOWN, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HAMMOCK THERE EVER AGAIN!
We thought the safest place would be the other side of the river, so strider took the plunge and waded across, he sat patiently munching chocolate while Baldy tried to find a safe place for Squatt to cross and guarantee that he stayed dry.After many attempts Baldy gave up and Strider crossed back across the river.
We knew the the campsite is quite hard to get to as it is surrounded by marsh, so we decided to give it a go and keep an eye on the fire. We set up camp relatively quickly, Baldy changed his mind as to the setup of the tarp opting for a completely closed tarp going over a hooped pole as he knew the temperature was going to well below freezing and Squatt was already feeling quite cold and had borrowed Striders Snugpak softie jacket.
Strider changed his mind 3 times as to the position of his tarp, eventually opting to go between the low wall and the large tarp.
We cooked our food completely on the Honey although we had the MSR as a backup, Squatt was cold and hungry and wanted to use the MSR. Immediately after food Squatt got in his sleeping bag and was warm. He did get out of the sleeping bag when Baldy started taking photos as he wanted to 'play' with the Honey stove (Photo can be seen below).
After Squatt went to bed Baldy and Strider stayed up for a few hours watching the stars, the grass fire in the distance as it had gone out close by as Baldy thought that it would, and talking all sorts of gibbering about the merits of different camping kit.
During the night the temperature outside dropped to -5 degrees celsius and Badly woke with cold feet as he had pushed them out from under the tarp in his sleep, the only trouble was that the tarp was pitched tight and had compressed his sleeping bag against his feet. The lowest recorded temperature INSIDE the Tarp/tent was a tropical -3 degrees celsius.
We planned on camping at the derelict cottage where we had hammocked before, only this time we were going to bivi under the DD 3X3 tarp. Strider was under his poncho. The weather couldn't have been better considering it's the coldest March since records began for some parts of the country. As we got to the top of a hill close to our intended camp we saw smoke, this turned out to be a huge grass fire almost surrounding our campsite. First we though o well we'll have to find aother site, then O MY GOD! THE TREES ARE GOING TO GET BURNT DOWN, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HAMMOCK THERE EVER AGAIN!
We thought the safest place would be the other side of the river, so strider took the plunge and waded across, he sat patiently munching chocolate while Baldy tried to find a safe place for Squatt to cross and guarantee that he stayed dry.After many attempts Baldy gave up and Strider crossed back across the river.
We knew the the campsite is quite hard to get to as it is surrounded by marsh, so we decided to give it a go and keep an eye on the fire. We set up camp relatively quickly, Baldy changed his mind as to the setup of the tarp opting for a completely closed tarp going over a hooped pole as he knew the temperature was going to well below freezing and Squatt was already feeling quite cold and had borrowed Striders Snugpak softie jacket.
Strider changed his mind 3 times as to the position of his tarp, eventually opting to go between the low wall and the large tarp.
We cooked our food completely on the Honey although we had the MSR as a backup, Squatt was cold and hungry and wanted to use the MSR. Immediately after food Squatt got in his sleeping bag and was warm. He did get out of the sleeping bag when Baldy started taking photos as he wanted to 'play' with the Honey stove (Photo can be seen below).
After Squatt went to bed Baldy and Strider stayed up for a few hours watching the stars, the grass fire in the distance as it had gone out close by as Baldy thought that it would, and talking all sorts of gibbering about the merits of different camping kit.
During the night the temperature outside dropped to -5 degrees celsius and Badly woke with cold feet as he had pushed them out from under the tarp in his sleep, the only trouble was that the tarp was pitched tight and had compressed his sleeping bag against his feet. The lowest recorded temperature INSIDE the Tarp/tent was a tropical -3 degrees celsius.
Black Mountain: Solo Trip
16th February 2013
Wild-Camp:15
Pack weight: 17.3kg including 2 litres of water and food.
Squatt was supposed to come on this tip but 30 minutes before we left he was offered to sleep at his friends house and he chose to go to his friends.
I left the car at 11:40am and as Squatt wasn't coming I had decided to try to make my way to Llyn-Y-Fan Fawr, but I got distracted on the way.. 'What is that on the horizon? What is over that ridge? Where is that small lake?' I ended up zig-zagging the first three miles and spending too much time looking at things so I gave up on the Lly-Y-Fan Fach idea and decided to walk until 3pm.
It was around 2:45 when I noticed the huge rocks close to the river and I thought that would be a marvellous place to camp!
I had originally planned to leave the tarp open until I wanted to go to sleep or it started raining but as I was laying there the sky completely cleared to I pulled the tarp off completely, leaving it pegged and ready to pull back over me if it rained. I slept totally out in the open watching the stars with only the bivi bag and sleeping bag as protection from the elements. During the night the temperature dropped to -2 degrees celsius, the sleeping bag kept me warm and totally oblivious to the cold. I did wake a couple of times during the night but this was due to lumpy ground not the cold. In the morning there was ice on my bivi bag, this shows how well the sleep system insulated me from the cold.
The walk back the following morning was quite hard. I decided not to to go back the same way I went there as I had zig-zagged across the peaks. I wish I had gone back the same way! I crossed bog then fields full of football sized icy boulders that wanted to snap my ankles. I had planned on getting close to the waterfall on the way back but I had already gone past it by about a mile before I remembered about it. I will take a trip up there to camp beside it one night. I was quite happy to finally arrive back at the car.
Squatt was supposed to come on this tip but 30 minutes before we left he was offered to sleep at his friends house and he chose to go to his friends.
I left the car at 11:40am and as Squatt wasn't coming I had decided to try to make my way to Llyn-Y-Fan Fawr, but I got distracted on the way.. 'What is that on the horizon? What is over that ridge? Where is that small lake?' I ended up zig-zagging the first three miles and spending too much time looking at things so I gave up on the Lly-Y-Fan Fach idea and decided to walk until 3pm.
It was around 2:45 when I noticed the huge rocks close to the river and I thought that would be a marvellous place to camp!
I had originally planned to leave the tarp open until I wanted to go to sleep or it started raining but as I was laying there the sky completely cleared to I pulled the tarp off completely, leaving it pegged and ready to pull back over me if it rained. I slept totally out in the open watching the stars with only the bivi bag and sleeping bag as protection from the elements. During the night the temperature dropped to -2 degrees celsius, the sleeping bag kept me warm and totally oblivious to the cold. I did wake a couple of times during the night but this was due to lumpy ground not the cold. In the morning there was ice on my bivi bag, this shows how well the sleep system insulated me from the cold.
The walk back the following morning was quite hard. I decided not to to go back the same way I went there as I had zig-zagged across the peaks. I wish I had gone back the same way! I crossed bog then fields full of football sized icy boulders that wanted to snap my ankles. I had planned on getting close to the waterfall on the way back but I had already gone past it by about a mile before I remembered about it. I will take a trip up there to camp beside it one night. I was quite happy to finally arrive back at the car.
Part 1 |
Part 2 |
Pen-y-Fan: Baldy and Strider
26th January 2013
Wild-Camp:14
Cause and effect:
Pack weight: 13kg I didn't carry any water.
Cause: 60mph winds at 3am, driven needle like shards of constant heavy rain, waist deep drifts of melting snow in places, thunder and lightning and a mountain that obviously didn't want us there.
Effect: One tent with two broken poles, unfortunately the repair kit only carried enough spares to repair one pole. This happened during pitching the tent at around 5pm so we weren't off to a good start. The other tent suffered a bent pole almost immediately after pitching and to be fair to the tent it stood up extremely well to the severe battering it received until 10 hours later at 3am the tent finally gave up and the zip on the door split open. So two tents down, lying in a puddle because in those conditions ANY tent would have leaked, we decided to call it a night.
During the rushed packing of gear I had moved out of the tent to roll my sleep mat so Strider could carry on packing his gear the wind snatched my sleep mat out of my frozen hands and I stood there as it rose high into the air disappearing quickly from sight to land only God knows where. Pen-y-fan had beaten us, the mountain had got what it wanted, we were suitably chastised and were leaving with our tails between our legs, Pen-y-fan had thrown everything at us... Or so we thought.
The trip up in good conditions usually takes us about an hour, sometimes less, it took us a little longer on this trip as we were playing in the snow, negotiating waist deep drifts on the path and the river that we usually just walk through was a little deeper than usual (maybe mid calf depth) with a two foot drift on the bank to climb up on the other side, so we went about 20 or 30 yards upstream to find a narrower part with a suitably placed stepping stone. As we were nearing the summit of Corn du light rain started and the wind picked up, Strider measured the wind speed at the ridgeline just below the summit at an impressive 47mph. The wind was behind us and although we were having trouble just standing still we knew that as we dropped down the other side towards Llyn Cwm Llwych, our intended camp the wind would die down. As we carefully climbed down the snow and ice covered bare rock that has formed a dangerous at the best of times natural stairway, the wind dropped to almost nothing and we started looking forward to a peaceful night. How wrong we were.
Pen-y-fan must have been watching us and decided to teach us a lesson, for as we started to get the tents out of our bergens the rain increased to a downpour and the wind changed direction, coming up the valley, hitting the cliff like face of Corn du and buffeting us from all directions. This is when our troubles began with the tent pitching disaster.
The trip down was no different. We had come up the path only hours earlier and knew where the hazards were, we were expecting a 45 minute to an hour walk through the darkness to the waiting car. Pen-y-fan thought otherwise. So at 3:40am we donned our bergens for the walk back. The heavy rain combined with the now fast melting snow had turned the staircase up to the ridgeline into a dangerous very slippery small river. We carefully and slowly climbed this sometimes on hands and knees helping each other where necessary. One consolation was that on the ascent, as we were so close to the almost vertical face the wind had died to almost nothing. This came back with a vengeance as we got to the ridgeline. We did not want to walk along the precarious ice and snow laden path that follows the edge of the ridgeline back to the main path up Corn du and Pen-y-fan so we decided to go up further away from the edge and travel parallel to the path, this is where the wind really hit us, we recorded it at 60mph, even with my hood up the rain at this point hitting me from the side was stinging my ear. Also somehow the wind had changed direction and we were not looking forward to heading into it when we reached the main path. The trip to the path was relatively easy considering the conditions even though the going was a bit slow. The main path had become treacherously icy in places so we skirted around the obviously icy parts looking forward to the clear parts of the path, it was when we got to the parts that were waist deep in places that Pen-y-fan had revenge for the ‘easy’ parts of the path. We wanted to avoid the deep snow by trying not to leave the path even by a foot. Unfortunately the melting snow had turned the path in places into a raging torrent forcing us into the deep snow. This snow had melted from the bottom giving maybe 10 inches of supporting snow that we occasionally broke through into the thigh deep slushy ice cold water beneath. When we got to the small river that we usually walk through without thinking, we heard it even above the noise of the wind before seeing the seething white water. We considered our options: A) We should have foreseen this and taken the other path at the top to cross at the bridge. B) Follow the river until we met the other path and cross at the bridge. C) Go back up to the top and follow the other path down. D) Try and find a place to cross. We had almost decided to go back up when we noticed a point in the river that looked narrow enough to cross. Thankfully we were able to jump across without falling in.
From this point in was just heads down, concentrate on the path, get down as fast as possible without falling and breaking any bones. I had always sort of taken the mickey out of people using walking poles but for the first time ever both of us used poles on this trip and to be honest I don’t think either of us would have made it back without cuts and bruises, maybe worse without them. I will always use walking poles from now on, it’s so much easier.
As we neared the bottom, I was concentrating so hard on the path as the batteries on my head torch were now dying that I didn’t realise where we were until I heard the wind in the trees, I looked up the see a light on in the Storey Arms adventure centre and I cannot explain what a welcome sight that was, knowing that only yards from that light was the warmth of the car. At 5:42am I unlocked the car.
Cause: 60mph winds at 3am, driven needle like shards of constant heavy rain, waist deep drifts of melting snow in places, thunder and lightning and a mountain that obviously didn't want us there.
Effect: One tent with two broken poles, unfortunately the repair kit only carried enough spares to repair one pole. This happened during pitching the tent at around 5pm so we weren't off to a good start. The other tent suffered a bent pole almost immediately after pitching and to be fair to the tent it stood up extremely well to the severe battering it received until 10 hours later at 3am the tent finally gave up and the zip on the door split open. So two tents down, lying in a puddle because in those conditions ANY tent would have leaked, we decided to call it a night.
During the rushed packing of gear I had moved out of the tent to roll my sleep mat so Strider could carry on packing his gear the wind snatched my sleep mat out of my frozen hands and I stood there as it rose high into the air disappearing quickly from sight to land only God knows where. Pen-y-fan had beaten us, the mountain had got what it wanted, we were suitably chastised and were leaving with our tails between our legs, Pen-y-fan had thrown everything at us... Or so we thought.
The trip up in good conditions usually takes us about an hour, sometimes less, it took us a little longer on this trip as we were playing in the snow, negotiating waist deep drifts on the path and the river that we usually just walk through was a little deeper than usual (maybe mid calf depth) with a two foot drift on the bank to climb up on the other side, so we went about 20 or 30 yards upstream to find a narrower part with a suitably placed stepping stone. As we were nearing the summit of Corn du light rain started and the wind picked up, Strider measured the wind speed at the ridgeline just below the summit at an impressive 47mph. The wind was behind us and although we were having trouble just standing still we knew that as we dropped down the other side towards Llyn Cwm Llwych, our intended camp the wind would die down. As we carefully climbed down the snow and ice covered bare rock that has formed a dangerous at the best of times natural stairway, the wind dropped to almost nothing and we started looking forward to a peaceful night. How wrong we were.
Pen-y-fan must have been watching us and decided to teach us a lesson, for as we started to get the tents out of our bergens the rain increased to a downpour and the wind changed direction, coming up the valley, hitting the cliff like face of Corn du and buffeting us from all directions. This is when our troubles began with the tent pitching disaster.
The trip down was no different. We had come up the path only hours earlier and knew where the hazards were, we were expecting a 45 minute to an hour walk through the darkness to the waiting car. Pen-y-fan thought otherwise. So at 3:40am we donned our bergens for the walk back. The heavy rain combined with the now fast melting snow had turned the staircase up to the ridgeline into a dangerous very slippery small river. We carefully and slowly climbed this sometimes on hands and knees helping each other where necessary. One consolation was that on the ascent, as we were so close to the almost vertical face the wind had died to almost nothing. This came back with a vengeance as we got to the ridgeline. We did not want to walk along the precarious ice and snow laden path that follows the edge of the ridgeline back to the main path up Corn du and Pen-y-fan so we decided to go up further away from the edge and travel parallel to the path, this is where the wind really hit us, we recorded it at 60mph, even with my hood up the rain at this point hitting me from the side was stinging my ear. Also somehow the wind had changed direction and we were not looking forward to heading into it when we reached the main path. The trip to the path was relatively easy considering the conditions even though the going was a bit slow. The main path had become treacherously icy in places so we skirted around the obviously icy parts looking forward to the clear parts of the path, it was when we got to the parts that were waist deep in places that Pen-y-fan had revenge for the ‘easy’ parts of the path. We wanted to avoid the deep snow by trying not to leave the path even by a foot. Unfortunately the melting snow had turned the path in places into a raging torrent forcing us into the deep snow. This snow had melted from the bottom giving maybe 10 inches of supporting snow that we occasionally broke through into the thigh deep slushy ice cold water beneath. When we got to the small river that we usually walk through without thinking, we heard it even above the noise of the wind before seeing the seething white water. We considered our options: A) We should have foreseen this and taken the other path at the top to cross at the bridge. B) Follow the river until we met the other path and cross at the bridge. C) Go back up to the top and follow the other path down. D) Try and find a place to cross. We had almost decided to go back up when we noticed a point in the river that looked narrow enough to cross. Thankfully we were able to jump across without falling in.
From this point in was just heads down, concentrate on the path, get down as fast as possible without falling and breaking any bones. I had always sort of taken the mickey out of people using walking poles but for the first time ever both of us used poles on this trip and to be honest I don’t think either of us would have made it back without cuts and bruises, maybe worse without them. I will always use walking poles from now on, it’s so much easier.
As we neared the bottom, I was concentrating so hard on the path as the batteries on my head torch were now dying that I didn’t realise where we were until I heard the wind in the trees, I looked up the see a light on in the Storey Arms adventure centre and I cannot explain what a welcome sight that was, knowing that only yards from that light was the warmth of the car. At 5:42am I unlocked the car.
On the Wednesday after this trip 'Strider' found this article in the newspaper.
It made me realise just how bad the conditions were and how lucky we were to get back down safely as this tragic accident happened to a man of such calibre and a with level of training and experience that it would be impossible for us to compare ourselves. Our sympathy goes out to his friends and family. |
From:http://www.dailymail.co.uk
Soldier found dead on snow-covered Welsh mountain in gruelling 'SAS training exercise where he had to complete toughest Army march in freezing temperatures' Rob Carnegie is believed to have been taking part in selection processAn army captain believed to be training for the SAS in one of the toughest marches in the British Army has been found dead on a snow-covered mountain in Wales.
- Soldier, in his twenties, was given first aid by army personnel but died
- Family paid tribute to him today, saying: 'He died doing job he loved'
- Police are investigating soldier's death
It is thought Captain Rob Carnegie was taking part in a gruelling 17-40 mile march in freezing conditions in the Brecon Beacons as part of a selection process for the special forces regiment, when he collapsed and died.
The soldier, in this twenties, was given first aid by army personnel but could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene on Saturday.
His devastated family today paid tribute to the soldier, saying: 'He died doing the job he loved as an officer in the British Army.'
Capt Carnegie was based at the SAS headquarters in Hereford but was from Dublin and was a member of the Royal Signals.
Police are investigating the soldier's death, whose body was found at Corn Du in the Welsh mountain range.
A Dyfed Powys Police spokeswoman confirmed that what is being treated as a 'sudden death' was reported at 9.42pm on Saturday.
'We are devastated by the loss of Rob who was a loving son, brother and uncle,' his family said in a brief statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.
'He died doing the job he loved as an officer in the British Army.'
An Army spokesman added: 'It is with great sadness that we can confirm that Capt Rob Carnegie has died in an incident in the Brecon Beacons.
'The soldier's family have been informed and are being supported. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
'As is normal in circumstances such as this, the incident is being investigated and it would be inappropriate to comment further.'
Each January soldiers take part in a three-week selection process for the SAS which includes a gruelling 'Test Week'.
They have to complete six marches, the first five 17 miles long and requiring the soldier to march with a 30k pack on his back while map reading.
But at the end of the Battle Fitness Test they have to complete the Long Drag a 40-mile march in 20 hours.
There are two selections a year, one in winter and one in summer to put soldiers through temperature extremes.
It was below freezing on the 2,907ft Corn Du peak on Saturday night when the soldier collapsed and died.
It is not known which exercise he was taking part in nor how far into the march he was when he collapsed.
The soldier’s senior officers and colleagues who were taking part in the march are being interviewed by police.
But the investigation is being kept under wraps by the Army because of the sensitive nature of the SAS.
An Army spokesman in Brecon said: 'An investigation is ongoing.'
Troserch woods Adventures
20th and 23rd January 2013
Not really adventures as compared to the other posts, but a fun, unexpected few hours out on both days. The schools had closed so we made the most of the time off and we don't need much encouragement to light a fire to cook on.
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