Total adventures this year so far: 13
Solo Hammock at the Blair Witch Camp
16th September
Wildcamp: 67
This was a solo trip, and believe me the others were missed. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the trip, but I would have preferred company.
Most of the time was spent processing the wet wood and looking for fatwood, I did make a new pot support, which you can see in the video.
The fire didn't give out much heat this time, I'm guessing it could have been because the wood was wet.
What isn't shown in the video is me making a ridgeline in the frontline hammock and accidentally burning a hole in the bugnet.
Most of the time was spent processing the wet wood and looking for fatwood, I did make a new pot support, which you can see in the video.
The fire didn't give out much heat this time, I'm guessing it could have been because the wood was wet.
What isn't shown in the video is me making a ridgeline in the frontline hammock and accidentally burning a hole in the bugnet.
Hammock at the Blair Witch Camp;
Chews' first ever Hammock Hang
2nd September
Wildcamp: 66
I have always shied away from the label "Bushcraft" because it SEEMS that the people who do it TEND to be military obsessed (wannabes: "WALTs"), preppers, obsessive survivalist, or just plain idiots believing a zombie Apocalypse is going to happen. They seem to need an incredible amount of kit, some filling a 155 litre bergen AND having a second daysack worn as a chest rig AND needing a supermarket shopping bag! and make a 2 hour video on how to make a pot hanger. Obviously not all, some actually know what they're talking about.
To me this is not bushcraft. Bushcraft for me is taking as little kit as possible, improvising and making things to make camp-life easier.
So in that respect, I am not a bushcrafter, nor have I ever seen one on Youtube.
This trip was closer to bushcraft than I have been for a very long time.
OK, we didn't build a shelter, but I've seen bushcrafters build a shelter then cover it with a tarp! WHY? JUST USE THE TARP!
We didn't build raised platform beds and use ferns as a mattress. I don't want Lyme's disease.
We did process wood and light a fire with a firesteel. I did try charcloth but for some reason it kept going out. And anyway, that's another thing that goes against my idea of true bushcraft, preparing charcloth in advance at home to aid lighting a fire. Yes charcloth is a traditional method, but even if you prepare it in the field for the next trip, you need to have a fire lit first, so you may as well just carry cotton wool, which I lit the fire with anyway.
I am becoming more and more interested in a tamed down version of bushcraft, i.e. take minimal kit like a backpacker but make things around camp to make camp-make life more comfortable for the short time we're there, especially as I have permission to build a 'permanent' camp in these woods.
I'm not going to be going full out like a Youtuber I watch who builds mud huts, or another one who has built a small village out of fallen branches etc, both of whom I think are brilliant at what they do. I will be just foraging fatwood, making a fire, maybe building a small bench to sit on around the fire, little things like that.
Enough of my thoughts and plans, the camp was very relaxing, it was Chews' first hammock hang and actually his first experience of wild camping that wasn't the typical teenage version of wildcamping (loud music and get pissed in 10 minutes on a flagon of cheap cider). He didn't stop smiling, he couldn't believe how comfy the DD frontline hammock is, he ate more than I've ever seen him eat, we had sausage casserole cooked in Guinness.
About the casserole cooking. My biggest pot is the Swedish Army Mess tin, and apart from that I only had my single person titanium pot or smaller, so I went out and bought the OEX Grouppa. I used the large pot in this set for the casserole, which I initially started cooking on the fire. However, I didn't want to melt the silicon covering the handles on it's first use so I didn't put the pot on the fire as much as I needed to. To cut a long story short (this is long enough as it is!) I finished the casserole off on the MSR Dragonfly.
The Hammocks were set up in exactly the way Strider and I had discussed last time; in the triangle. The fireplace was moved and built properly, though because the stones were taken from the river, one or two did split in the fire, sounding like gunfire and making sticks jump out of the fire. Squatt and Chews were a little surprised, but I asked them "How would you feel if you'd been happily sitting in a river for a few hundred, possibly over 1000 years then suddenly you're pulled out and shoved in a fire?" I did explain the actual reason for it but I'm not going to insult your intelligence by explaining it here.
I could go on about the whole camp but instead, just watch the video.
To me this is not bushcraft. Bushcraft for me is taking as little kit as possible, improvising and making things to make camp-life easier.
So in that respect, I am not a bushcrafter, nor have I ever seen one on Youtube.
This trip was closer to bushcraft than I have been for a very long time.
OK, we didn't build a shelter, but I've seen bushcrafters build a shelter then cover it with a tarp! WHY? JUST USE THE TARP!
We didn't build raised platform beds and use ferns as a mattress. I don't want Lyme's disease.
We did process wood and light a fire with a firesteel. I did try charcloth but for some reason it kept going out. And anyway, that's another thing that goes against my idea of true bushcraft, preparing charcloth in advance at home to aid lighting a fire. Yes charcloth is a traditional method, but even if you prepare it in the field for the next trip, you need to have a fire lit first, so you may as well just carry cotton wool, which I lit the fire with anyway.
I am becoming more and more interested in a tamed down version of bushcraft, i.e. take minimal kit like a backpacker but make things around camp to make camp-make life more comfortable for the short time we're there, especially as I have permission to build a 'permanent' camp in these woods.
I'm not going to be going full out like a Youtuber I watch who builds mud huts, or another one who has built a small village out of fallen branches etc, both of whom I think are brilliant at what they do. I will be just foraging fatwood, making a fire, maybe building a small bench to sit on around the fire, little things like that.
Enough of my thoughts and plans, the camp was very relaxing, it was Chews' first hammock hang and actually his first experience of wild camping that wasn't the typical teenage version of wildcamping (loud music and get pissed in 10 minutes on a flagon of cheap cider). He didn't stop smiling, he couldn't believe how comfy the DD frontline hammock is, he ate more than I've ever seen him eat, we had sausage casserole cooked in Guinness.
About the casserole cooking. My biggest pot is the Swedish Army Mess tin, and apart from that I only had my single person titanium pot or smaller, so I went out and bought the OEX Grouppa. I used the large pot in this set for the casserole, which I initially started cooking on the fire. However, I didn't want to melt the silicon covering the handles on it's first use so I didn't put the pot on the fire as much as I needed to. To cut a long story short (this is long enough as it is!) I finished the casserole off on the MSR Dragonfly.
The Hammocks were set up in exactly the way Strider and I had discussed last time; in the triangle. The fireplace was moved and built properly, though because the stones were taken from the river, one or two did split in the fire, sounding like gunfire and making sticks jump out of the fire. Squatt and Chews were a little surprised, but I asked them "How would you feel if you'd been happily sitting in a river for a few hundred, possibly over 1000 years then suddenly you're pulled out and shoved in a fire?" I did explain the actual reason for it but I'm not going to insult your intelligence by explaining it here.
I could go on about the whole camp but instead, just watch the video.
Hammock at the Blair Witch Camp with Strider.
19th August
Wildcamp: 65
This camp was a long time coming off and STILL didn't happen!
Strider and I have been asking our other brother to come with us for ages, he was finally able to come. I'd packed a bergen for him, for two reasons; one was because I was lending him kit as he doesn't have any hammocking kit. The other was because I didn't want to risk him turning up with everything strapped to the outside of the bergen and him singing Edelweiss or Yodelling. We'd even specifically planned to light a fire, as he believes it's not camping without a fire.
Unfortunately, at the last minute, he couldn't make it, so Strider and I went anyway and had a BRILLIANT night, just to rub it in Cuthbert McTweedy-Pants.
Lessons were learned on this trip about cooking methods, not HOW to cook on an open fire but the fact that I enjoyed it surprisingly. After all these years of shying away from fires because of the devastation irresponsible campers cause by leaving fire scars everywhere and the sheer idiocy of some of the Bushcrafters or Preppers I've watched on Youtube. Know more, carry less is the saying they like to use, then need a 100+ litre bergen AND a Tesco bag!
Anyway whinge over, I don't mind lighting a fire at the Blair Witch camp because of the previous fireplace that kids had made and the abundance of rotting firewood due to the collapsed and abandoned shelter that they'd tried to build. As Strider and I collected wood from it, we also collected the litter that had been buried underneath it.
I'm already looking forward to the next trip, which I suspect may be back at this site and with an open fire.
Am I becoming interested in bushcraft? I sincerely hope not.
Strider and I have been asking our other brother to come with us for ages, he was finally able to come. I'd packed a bergen for him, for two reasons; one was because I was lending him kit as he doesn't have any hammocking kit. The other was because I didn't want to risk him turning up with everything strapped to the outside of the bergen and him singing Edelweiss or Yodelling. We'd even specifically planned to light a fire, as he believes it's not camping without a fire.
Unfortunately, at the last minute, he couldn't make it, so Strider and I went anyway and had a BRILLIANT night, just to rub it in Cuthbert McTweedy-Pants.
Lessons were learned on this trip about cooking methods, not HOW to cook on an open fire but the fact that I enjoyed it surprisingly. After all these years of shying away from fires because of the devastation irresponsible campers cause by leaving fire scars everywhere and the sheer idiocy of some of the Bushcrafters or Preppers I've watched on Youtube. Know more, carry less is the saying they like to use, then need a 100+ litre bergen AND a Tesco bag!
Anyway whinge over, I don't mind lighting a fire at the Blair Witch camp because of the previous fireplace that kids had made and the abundance of rotting firewood due to the collapsed and abandoned shelter that they'd tried to build. As Strider and I collected wood from it, we also collected the litter that had been buried underneath it.
I'm already looking forward to the next trip, which I suspect may be back at this site and with an open fire.
Am I becoming interested in bushcraft? I sincerely hope not.
Wildcamp beside Trig point 642
12th August
Wildcamp:64
I'd originally planed to camp near Llyn y fan fach but when I got to the car park it was absolutely ridiculous; so bad that I decided to risk the impossible parking at Pen y fan.
I was extremely lucky at Pen y fan, there was no parking at all, then as I was heading towards the exit of Pont ar daf car park someone left just in front of me and I pinched the space before someone else could.
The trip was pretty good, I did 3 separate time-lapses, unfortunately I didn't see any of the shooting stars that I'd only heard about after I posted a pic of my camp site on facebook.
I was extremely lucky at Pen y fan, there was no parking at all, then as I was heading towards the exit of Pont ar daf car park someone left just in front of me and I pinched the space before someone else could.
The trip was pretty good, I did 3 separate time-lapses, unfortunately I didn't see any of the shooting stars that I'd only heard about after I posted a pic of my camp site on facebook.
More bad behaviour on the Black Mountain
22nd July
Wildcamp: 63
I'd originally planned to go on the Friday night, but the weather was horrendous and I didn't feel like being holed up in a tiny tent for the whole evening and night.
My swimming kit was packed for a just-in-case as I still wanted to do a 'proper' river crossing and stand under that waterfall with more water in it. As it turned out the waterfall was a little too fierce to do under whilst on my own. Granted it may not look too bad in the video, but I know what's under that water, and one slip could easily result in a broken leg.
A person who I shall leave nameless on Facebook had called me a disgrace to the hill walking community for the lack of kit I'd taken on my last trip. He was only going by the photo of my camp. He obviously hadn't got the observational skills to notice that my Bergen was still three quarters full. This is the reason why I went through my kit on this trip as apart from the sleeping bag being swapped out for a padded throw, running tights, which I'd worn under the waterproof trousers and the closed cell foam mat, was exactly the same as the previous trip.
On my last trip, I'd worn the camouflage clothing for a specific reason and I felt like a Walt wearing it. So on this trip I decided to ditch the combats and dress more like Lara Croft; I felt much more comfortable.
My swimming kit was packed for a just-in-case as I still wanted to do a 'proper' river crossing and stand under that waterfall with more water in it. As it turned out the waterfall was a little too fierce to do under whilst on my own. Granted it may not look too bad in the video, but I know what's under that water, and one slip could easily result in a broken leg.
A person who I shall leave nameless on Facebook had called me a disgrace to the hill walking community for the lack of kit I'd taken on my last trip. He was only going by the photo of my camp. He obviously hadn't got the observational skills to notice that my Bergen was still three quarters full. This is the reason why I went through my kit on this trip as apart from the sleeping bag being swapped out for a padded throw, running tights, which I'd worn under the waterproof trousers and the closed cell foam mat, was exactly the same as the previous trip.
On my last trip, I'd worn the camouflage clothing for a specific reason and I felt like a Walt wearing it. So on this trip I decided to ditch the combats and dress more like Lara Croft; I felt much more comfortable.
Bivi at the Hidden Waterfall
8th July
Wildcamp: 62
Wild swimming, that's all this trip was about. I'd started the trip not knowing what to say and not feeling in the mood to do video, but obviously from the almost 29 minute long video that changed. I wasn't sure which type of camp I wanted to do so I'd packed the bivi AND the tent, and due to the midges at around 22:30 I almost pitched the tent. I had a bug-head-net but watching hundreds of them flying an inch in front of my face was driving me crazy.
I realised on this trip that I do need..... I say need but I mean 'could do with' another cook pot. I'd made my brew and drank it whilst cooking food. However, I wanted another one during food and couldn't because I was eating from my cook pot. A nice 400ml titanium pot would be perfect.
As I said, the trip was about the swimming but I also wanted to do a PROPER river crossing. Obviously that didn't happen as there wasn't enough water in the river.... next time maybe.
I realised on this trip that I do need..... I say need but I mean 'could do with' another cook pot. I'd made my brew and drank it whilst cooking food. However, I wanted another one during food and couldn't because I was eating from my cook pot. A nice 400ml titanium pot would be perfect.
As I said, the trip was about the swimming but I also wanted to do a PROPER river crossing. Obviously that didn't happen as there wasn't enough water in the river.... next time maybe.
Two night Wild Camp in the Llyn y fan Fach and Fawr area with Gandalf the 'Grey'.
5th & 6th May
Wildcamp: 61
I'd not been on a two nighter in the hills for many years, so when 'Galdalf' suggested a two nighter, I jumped at it.
What a weekend it was, great company, a truly amazing sunset and extremes of weather, the Saturday was high winds and the Sunday.... well when I was editing the video, I had to check at one point that I was editing a video and not a photograph.
After we'd watched the sunset on Friday night, I came back down the hill to retrieve the Gopro, which I'd left to do a timelapse. Unfortunately the wind had blown it over so I had just over 1000 black photographs, but that wasn't the problem as I COULDN'T FIND THE CAMERA!!!! It took us about 10 minutes to find it!
I have to be honest, I was beginning to panic a bit.
A few brews later and it was time for bed as 'Gandalf' had driven from wherever he'd came from, be that The Shire, Mordor or Stirling Lines straight after finishing a night shift. He also slept late the following morning. So late in fact that I was beginning to think that he'd just upped and gone and left his kit. I was thinking "How the bloody hell am I going to cart this lot back". Lucky he packs light.
Well about midday, his head popped out of his tent and he explained that he'd had a terrible night. All forgiven then.
The day was spent on a leisurely and windy stroll to Llyn y fan Fawr where the wind dropped.
We'd watched walkers making their way along the ridgeline and they'd circled around the foot of the lake heading past our camp. Suddenly one of them said "Squatt's Wild Camping" I'd been clocked. My first ever recognise on the hill. Hi Bushcraft Wales if you're reading this.
Guess what, several brews and a drone flight later it was bed time. The following day was pack up and make a quick T.A.B. back to the car as 'Gandalf' had a LOOOONNNGGG trip back.
What a weekend it was, great company, a truly amazing sunset and extremes of weather, the Saturday was high winds and the Sunday.... well when I was editing the video, I had to check at one point that I was editing a video and not a photograph.
After we'd watched the sunset on Friday night, I came back down the hill to retrieve the Gopro, which I'd left to do a timelapse. Unfortunately the wind had blown it over so I had just over 1000 black photographs, but that wasn't the problem as I COULDN'T FIND THE CAMERA!!!! It took us about 10 minutes to find it!
I have to be honest, I was beginning to panic a bit.
A few brews later and it was time for bed as 'Gandalf' had driven from wherever he'd came from, be that The Shire, Mordor or Stirling Lines straight after finishing a night shift. He also slept late the following morning. So late in fact that I was beginning to think that he'd just upped and gone and left his kit. I was thinking "How the bloody hell am I going to cart this lot back". Lucky he packs light.
Well about midday, his head popped out of his tent and he explained that he'd had a terrible night. All forgiven then.
The day was spent on a leisurely and windy stroll to Llyn y fan Fawr where the wind dropped.
We'd watched walkers making their way along the ridgeline and they'd circled around the foot of the lake heading past our camp. Suddenly one of them said "Squatt's Wild Camping" I'd been clocked. My first ever recognise on the hill. Hi Bushcraft Wales if you're reading this.
Guess what, several brews and a drone flight later it was bed time. The following day was pack up and make a quick T.A.B. back to the car as 'Gandalf' had a LOOOONNNGGG trip back.
Hammock hang at the Blair Witch Camp
14th April
Wildcamp: 60
It's all about the FOOD! Forget the views, the FOOD is what's important!
Well that was the case on this trip anyway. Almost two and a half kilos of food to be precise. Before you ask no I didn't eat everything, I had 4 tea bags, 2 hot chocolate sachets and 3 coffee sachets plus my packet of custard left. Oh plus 3/4 of a small hip flask of Tia-Maria, so I'm not that greedy.
Enough stew for 2 people cooked in 500ml (apart from 2 swigs) of Ale, which was absolutely gorgeous, I could certainly taste the Ale. Followed by steamed, hot chocolate sauce, which should have been a massive chocolate brownie but either too much cooking oil or too much water scuppered that. However, the chocolate sauce was amazing, I didn't want to spoil it by adding custard.
Anyway enough about the food or I'll be describing the full English breakfast (without the beans) I cooked in the morning and the big bag of peanut M&M's I munched my way through whilst listening to the rain on the tarp. Let me tell you about the camera bag idea.
I have a camera bag, it fits all the photography kit I used to use for photographing weddings when I used to do that, which means it's MASSIVE! I was also fed up with packing my DSLR in the bergen and struggling to get the damn thing on and off every time I wanted to take a shot and usually missing the light anyway so I'd just stopped taking it, plus it suffered a bit of damage due to being squashed into the bergen. I was sorting through my old kit and came across my old respirator pouch, so I ditched the respirator and tried the camera, BRILLIANT! Free camera bag designed for a webbing belt, we'll see how it goes on a few trips. I did enjoy messing around with the Trangia shot seen below, it's a composite of 2 photos. One exposed for the kettle trying not to overexpose it by the bright flame beneath, the other exposed for the glow of the flame showing through the holes in the bottom. Both had just a tickle of flash to show some details in the metal. I could go on and on about ISO, f-stops, shutter speed, flash level, the inverse square law, the meaning of life, but I won't bore you with such trivialities. We'll talk about the camp.
The camp is a clearing I'd rejected whilst looking for somewhere new during my last camp. I'd thought the trees were too far apart. They're nowhere near too far apart! I could go wider.
Some kids have, in the past attempted to build a shelter, unfortunately it's collapsed and reminds me of the Blair Witch Project. So from now on it'll be referred to as the Blair Witch Camp. It'd be a great place for a few hammocks and even a fire, though generally I hate them.
Anyway, enough of my waffle, look at the pictures and enjoy even more of my waffle in the video.
Well that was the case on this trip anyway. Almost two and a half kilos of food to be precise. Before you ask no I didn't eat everything, I had 4 tea bags, 2 hot chocolate sachets and 3 coffee sachets plus my packet of custard left. Oh plus 3/4 of a small hip flask of Tia-Maria, so I'm not that greedy.
Enough stew for 2 people cooked in 500ml (apart from 2 swigs) of Ale, which was absolutely gorgeous, I could certainly taste the Ale. Followed by steamed, hot chocolate sauce, which should have been a massive chocolate brownie but either too much cooking oil or too much water scuppered that. However, the chocolate sauce was amazing, I didn't want to spoil it by adding custard.
Anyway enough about the food or I'll be describing the full English breakfast (without the beans) I cooked in the morning and the big bag of peanut M&M's I munched my way through whilst listening to the rain on the tarp. Let me tell you about the camera bag idea.
I have a camera bag, it fits all the photography kit I used to use for photographing weddings when I used to do that, which means it's MASSIVE! I was also fed up with packing my DSLR in the bergen and struggling to get the damn thing on and off every time I wanted to take a shot and usually missing the light anyway so I'd just stopped taking it, plus it suffered a bit of damage due to being squashed into the bergen. I was sorting through my old kit and came across my old respirator pouch, so I ditched the respirator and tried the camera, BRILLIANT! Free camera bag designed for a webbing belt, we'll see how it goes on a few trips. I did enjoy messing around with the Trangia shot seen below, it's a composite of 2 photos. One exposed for the kettle trying not to overexpose it by the bright flame beneath, the other exposed for the glow of the flame showing through the holes in the bottom. Both had just a tickle of flash to show some details in the metal. I could go on and on about ISO, f-stops, shutter speed, flash level, the inverse square law, the meaning of life, but I won't bore you with such trivialities. We'll talk about the camp.
The camp is a clearing I'd rejected whilst looking for somewhere new during my last camp. I'd thought the trees were too far apart. They're nowhere near too far apart! I could go wider.
Some kids have, in the past attempted to build a shelter, unfortunately it's collapsed and reminds me of the Blair Witch Project. So from now on it'll be referred to as the Blair Witch Camp. It'd be a great place for a few hammocks and even a fire, though generally I hate them.
Anyway, enough of my waffle, look at the pictures and enjoy even more of my waffle in the video.
Hammock hang in the woods
18th March
Wildcamp: 59
After the stove tipping over in my tent during my last wild camp, I've been looking at ways to make my stoves more stable, I'm also getting a bit bored of boil in the bag food.
Strider has been feeling the same about the food and he wants to start cooking more during the camps. He has been thinking about the Trangia Stormcooker range of stoves, this has made me look more closely at them. I borrowed a copy of a Trangia 25-2 from my scout troop and after only one use I LOVE IT!!!!
Hammock camps for me are generally lazy, relaxed camps, no hard and fast tabbing to get to the destination and no up early - no breakfast, rush to strike camp and get back. The Trangia somehow made it even more relaxed. All I did was sit in the hammock cooking food, and afterwards I was so stuffed I just fell asleep, sleeping for 12 hours!
The camp was all about the cooking, I wanted to try something different.
Strider has been feeling the same about the food and he wants to start cooking more during the camps. He has been thinking about the Trangia Stormcooker range of stoves, this has made me look more closely at them. I borrowed a copy of a Trangia 25-2 from my scout troop and after only one use I LOVE IT!!!!
Hammock camps for me are generally lazy, relaxed camps, no hard and fast tabbing to get to the destination and no up early - no breakfast, rush to strike camp and get back. The Trangia somehow made it even more relaxed. All I did was sit in the hammock cooking food, and afterwards I was so stuffed I just fell asleep, sleeping for 12 hours!
The camp was all about the cooking, I wanted to try something different.
Llyn y fan fach - Fan Foel loop
4th March
Wildcamp: 58
This camp was a "couldn't be bothered" camp. I couldn't be bothered to set up my thermometer, I couldn't be bothered to get out of the tent once I was in it, I couldn't be bothered to actually measure the wind speed, I couldn't be bothered to pull my still camera out (because this meant pulling waterproof gloves off then warm gloves, taking my bergen off and trying to find it right at the back of the lid pocket).
The trip was kind of a route recce, I needed to know how long the loop would take me, so I'd originally planned on walking to Fan Foel and spending the night there. However, when I got there I still had a few hours of light left and (here it comes) I couldn't be bothered with the longer walk in the morning, so I carried on to the 'Grassy Knoll', actually called Pwll yr Henllyn, which took me a total of 3.5 hours from leaving the car park and leaving only a half hour walk the following morning. I walked over the back of the 'Hump-Back Whale, the video doesn't show it well but if you ever see it you'll know exactly what I mean.
Setting up camp was COLD! My fingers froze and for the life of me I could't get the pitch of the tent right to stop the door flapping in the wind. In the end I gave up and just wanted to get warm, which didn't take long in the tent once I'd changed into tent clothes and got the stove on for food.
I had a scary moment with the stove as it tipped over, spilling about 500ml of almost boiling water over the tent door and tipping nearly 40ml of burning methylated spirits onto the ground in the porch of the tent. It's amazing how fast you can plan what you need to do in the event of a tent fire, I'd planned everything before the pot hit the floor, but somehow the meths didn't light, what little was left in the stove remained burning but the spilt meths didn't burn; I've never seen that happen before. Every time I've tipped a spirit burning stove, it's created an inferno. Last time was under a hammock, you can bet I was out of that in less than a second!
I went to sleep early as due to the rain I was tent bound and the Zephyros 1 isn't a tent to be tent bound in! I planned an early start in the morning, but I must have been really tired as I didn't wake until gone 9am. I always open the tent door as soon as I wake and was very surprised to see the snow, I'd just assumed the constant rain from the previous day had carried on all night.
I was packed and on my way, leaving no trace by 10am for the short walk back the the car park.
The trip was kind of a route recce, I needed to know how long the loop would take me, so I'd originally planned on walking to Fan Foel and spending the night there. However, when I got there I still had a few hours of light left and (here it comes) I couldn't be bothered with the longer walk in the morning, so I carried on to the 'Grassy Knoll', actually called Pwll yr Henllyn, which took me a total of 3.5 hours from leaving the car park and leaving only a half hour walk the following morning. I walked over the back of the 'Hump-Back Whale, the video doesn't show it well but if you ever see it you'll know exactly what I mean.
Setting up camp was COLD! My fingers froze and for the life of me I could't get the pitch of the tent right to stop the door flapping in the wind. In the end I gave up and just wanted to get warm, which didn't take long in the tent once I'd changed into tent clothes and got the stove on for food.
I had a scary moment with the stove as it tipped over, spilling about 500ml of almost boiling water over the tent door and tipping nearly 40ml of burning methylated spirits onto the ground in the porch of the tent. It's amazing how fast you can plan what you need to do in the event of a tent fire, I'd planned everything before the pot hit the floor, but somehow the meths didn't light, what little was left in the stove remained burning but the spilt meths didn't burn; I've never seen that happen before. Every time I've tipped a spirit burning stove, it's created an inferno. Last time was under a hammock, you can bet I was out of that in less than a second!
I went to sleep early as due to the rain I was tent bound and the Zephyros 1 isn't a tent to be tent bound in! I planned an early start in the morning, but I must have been really tired as I didn't wake until gone 9am. I always open the tent door as soon as I wake and was very surprised to see the snow, I'd just assumed the constant rain from the previous day had carried on all night.
I was packed and on my way, leaving no trace by 10am for the short walk back the the car park.
Grassy Knoll beside Llyn y Fan Fawr
11th February
Wildcamp: 57
The weather forecast was for snow from 3pm on Saturday 11th right through to Sunday afternoon so obviously a wild camp needed to be done!
The reality was a little different; yes we had the negative temperature, recorded at -1 degrees Celsius (but I think it was colder than that. The sensor had moved in the wind, so maybe it wasn't reading correctly). We also had the 35mph wind that was forecast; we recorded 39.5mph on the anemometer. We had snow.... kinda.
There were no nice flakes of snow, it was a light spattering of that small powdery stuff; a little disappointing but still it turned almost everything white.
We arrived at the car park at around 15:30hrs and took the leisurely stroll up to Llyn y Fan Fach then further up to what we have come to call the 'Grassy Knoll'. We pitched the tents with freezing cold hands and got a brew on immediately. Even though the temperature at that time inside the tent was zero, it was so much warmer than being in that wind.
We'd followed another wild camper up from the car park and when it got dark we could see what we assumed was him pitched right on the far side of the lake, there were also a couple camped in, or just outside the Rescue Shelter.
The night passed pretty much uneventfully. Because of the sturdiness of both the Vango Nemesis and Halo we'd both almost forgotten how strong the wind was. We both must have been very tired as by 20:30hrs we were both asleep.
I woke in the early hours with the top of my sleeping bag soaking wet below my chin. This was due to my breath condensing on it. I then fell back to sleep. I woke again in what I initially thought was total darkness and was more than willing to go back to sleep, however when I went to turn over the hood of the sleeping bag moved and the sunlight almost blinded me. It was 8:45.
We cooked breakfast and was packed away by 10:00. We thought the guy across the lake hadn't woken yet as we thought we could see his tent still pitched, but when we looked through the binoculars we saw that what we'd thought was his tent was actually the patch of melted snow left by his tent.
I keep my bergen in the porch that faces the wind and when I came to get it out I realised the zips on the tent had completely frozen solid. I managed to get the zip up half way and pulled the bergen out, as I did the water tube clip on the shoulder strap caught on the tent and snapped. Five minutes later Stuart was taking the poles out of his tent and one snapped.
On the way down we were discussing how easy it was for people to get caught out by the weather as within 200 feet of elevation (downhill) the weather had changed from snow and brutally icy wind to a mild spring morning with a gentle breeze. This is when a couple walked passed us on their was up dressed for the lovely spring morning.
P.S. Strider actually recorded a fair amount of video, so hopefully he'll actually publish a video, which will then be included here!!
The reality was a little different; yes we had the negative temperature, recorded at -1 degrees Celsius (but I think it was colder than that. The sensor had moved in the wind, so maybe it wasn't reading correctly). We also had the 35mph wind that was forecast; we recorded 39.5mph on the anemometer. We had snow.... kinda.
There were no nice flakes of snow, it was a light spattering of that small powdery stuff; a little disappointing but still it turned almost everything white.
We arrived at the car park at around 15:30hrs and took the leisurely stroll up to Llyn y Fan Fach then further up to what we have come to call the 'Grassy Knoll'. We pitched the tents with freezing cold hands and got a brew on immediately. Even though the temperature at that time inside the tent was zero, it was so much warmer than being in that wind.
We'd followed another wild camper up from the car park and when it got dark we could see what we assumed was him pitched right on the far side of the lake, there were also a couple camped in, or just outside the Rescue Shelter.
The night passed pretty much uneventfully. Because of the sturdiness of both the Vango Nemesis and Halo we'd both almost forgotten how strong the wind was. We both must have been very tired as by 20:30hrs we were both asleep.
I woke in the early hours with the top of my sleeping bag soaking wet below my chin. This was due to my breath condensing on it. I then fell back to sleep. I woke again in what I initially thought was total darkness and was more than willing to go back to sleep, however when I went to turn over the hood of the sleeping bag moved and the sunlight almost blinded me. It was 8:45.
We cooked breakfast and was packed away by 10:00. We thought the guy across the lake hadn't woken yet as we thought we could see his tent still pitched, but when we looked through the binoculars we saw that what we'd thought was his tent was actually the patch of melted snow left by his tent.
I keep my bergen in the porch that faces the wind and when I came to get it out I realised the zips on the tent had completely frozen solid. I managed to get the zip up half way and pulled the bergen out, as I did the water tube clip on the shoulder strap caught on the tent and snapped. Five minutes later Stuart was taking the poles out of his tent and one snapped.
On the way down we were discussing how easy it was for people to get caught out by the weather as within 200 feet of elevation (downhill) the weather had changed from snow and brutally icy wind to a mild spring morning with a gentle breeze. This is when a couple walked passed us on their was up dressed for the lovely spring morning.
P.S. Strider actually recorded a fair amount of video, so hopefully he'll actually publish a video, which will then be included here!!
Upper Neuadd Reservoir below Pen y Fan
14th January
Wildcamp: 56
Wild camp beside the drained Upper Neuadd Reservoir below Pen y Fan. We watched what we think was the night Fan dance, as there were several people coming down from 642, this however may have been mountain rescue as they'd driven past us with their blue lights on and we'd spoken t one of them.
We searched for a campsite in the woods and found a decent enough site. This happened to be fairly near to another wild camper. I didn't want to introduce myself to him during the night but I did go over to say hello in the morning. If you're reading this Trevor, "Hello".
On the way back we decided not to go along the road but followed the route of the Fan Dance instead , it was great to fleetingly see Paul, Olly and Stuart.
We searched for a campsite in the woods and found a decent enough site. This happened to be fairly near to another wild camper. I didn't want to introduce myself to him during the night but I did go over to say hello in the morning. If you're reading this Trevor, "Hello".
On the way back we decided not to go along the road but followed the route of the Fan Dance instead , it was great to fleetingly see Paul, Olly and Stuart.
Pen y fan:
7th January 2017
Wild-Camp:55
A late afternoon wild camp near Tommy Jones' Obelisk. We'd set out late and got even later as Stuart needed a new jacket from a shop which is right beside the Liberty Stadium, just as the stadium was emptying.
We went to see a few friends who were competing in the Fan Dance before actually heading up the hill.
7th January 2017
Wild-Camp:55
A late afternoon wild camp near Tommy Jones' Obelisk. We'd set out late and got even later as Stuart needed a new jacket from a shop which is right beside the Liberty Stadium, just as the stadium was emptying.
We went to see a few friends who were competing in the Fan Dance before actually heading up the hill.