The Stuff of 177 Miles

I know there have been many posts about challenge kit, and several probably for this year.  I may not be adding anything new, anything interesting, but I wanted to illustrate here how my kit choice has changed since my first post about my kit here.  I haven't put weights in because I am bored with weights and measures.  This is the stuff I have decided I will need.


This is Kitlist v2.0

So a list it is - I'll go roughly left to right as though following text in a book:


One pair of trekmates liner gloves (silk) 
One pair of karrimor outer gloves (synthetic)
One midgie headnet
Two standard buffs
Drybag with loo kit
Bag of tablets (various)
First Aid Kit
Spoon (long handled)
Stove/Pot combined
2 x 100g gas canisters
Brew kit
Silicon collapsible cup
Waterproof Overtrousers
Down Jacket
Little stow-away sil-nylon bag
Maps (all of them - the whole way across)
Contact lens kit (including mirror)
Tub of smash
Bag of muesli
Small folding knife
Small headtorch
Small tentpeg (should be in the tent bag)
Compass & spare (not in case it breaks, in case I lose it!)
Simple GPS Unit
Hygiene kit
 - Small bar of soap
 - Tea Tree Oil
 - Small anti-perspirant (I know everyone will smell at the end, but I will smell slightly different)
 - Midge repellent
 - Sunscreen
 - Toothpaste & toothbrush
Gadget charger
Nokia mobile (with a seemingly endless battery life)
1 x Nokia battery (lord knows why, the original will never run out)
Food (4 days worth)
Bubblewrap toner bags (one for a meal cosy, the other for my kindle)
Tiny backup stove - for woodburning
Tent
Sit-mat
Toilet trowel
Wiping sponge (condensation control and spillages)
Stuff sacks (for segregating kit - like you need to have that explained)
Notepad & pen
Sleeping quilt
Sleeping pad
Water bottles
Whisky bottle
One Balaclava
Two pairs pants
Two pairs of thin day socks
One pair warm night socks
Pair of windproof bottoms - lightweight
e-Reader
Two baselayer-tees
One windproof jacket - lightweight
Trekking poles
Not in the photo
Waterproof jacket (old XCR one)
TGO Fleece (hasn't arrived yet)
Camera (I was using it)
Smartphone (it was charging - like they all probably are, most of the time)
Smartphone batteries (x3)
Rucksack - 44l
Chest pack - 4l




So that's it.  Everything I need - apart from what I will be wearing which will be a pair of trousers, underpants, socks, tee-shirt - and probably all the warm and wet weather gear from the above!


Go on, slate me for taking too much, and leaving stuff out - whatever, but most of all....


....PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME CHANGE MY MIND!!!!!!!!!

Coming up... ...Wanders from Wonderland

My challenge preparations unfortunately lack much hill work which I am sure to pay for when it is crunch time.  I am putting the distance work in though and my next post will be a full write up of my latest backpacking outing involving some East Anglian stealth camping.  For now, here is a taster...

News from my vetters - the route is on!

Tonight I received my vetters' comments following my route submission.  Thanks to my research and help, once again, from new found friends the route was completely acceptable to my vetters.  I had made a few bloopers with grid refs, and on one day I had my direction as Southwest when I was actually heading Southeast but apart from that I am now officially good to go.


Here is an overview of my route from Strathcarron to St Cyrus.

Just want to say a special thanks to Alan Sloman and Dave Wood for the advice/assistance in tidying up my route.  You just can't beat talking to folk who have walked the walk, can you? 

"Grab your waterproof, you've pulled!"

Shortly after 0330h this morning, I dragged myself out of bed and was going through the necessary ablutions when the mobile phone pinged after being resurrected after a few short hours.
There, at the top of the pile of twitter notifications, was the email...


"Welcome to the TGO Challenge"


I am not on the Standby List any more.  See you in the Highlands!

17 to 1. Time for a dram.

I am officially Number 1 on the Standby List.  So I have got the whisky out.  


Have one with me, will you?

It's all downhill from here..

So, the progress is slow but, as with any long-distance walk, if you keep putting one foot in front of the other you will always reach the end.  I'm on that part of the journey where you are up high, coming down from the summit and you can see the car in that spot just off the road.  Its a way off, but you know you will get there.

The latest from Challenge HQ is that I am placed at Number 5 on the Standby List.  This has given John enough confidence to email the route and admin sheets through to me so I can have them ready asap.  Naturally, I am well prepared so they were already in place, ready and waiting.  I've had it given the once over by trusted new friends and it looks good - low, and good, and a wee bit wild.

As I said, I am on the stretch where the car is in sight, only there is one difference.  The car is just the start of the journey...

The Larks ascending...

I was almost going to miss out on getting a walk in this weekend, until I had a brainwave last night and decided to get up early this morning and go for a quick blast as fast as I could (with the pack of course).  No photos this time as it was purely a leg stretch.  You will have to imagine the crystal clear skies, and wonderful low sunshine, warming the frosty earth.


I'm 10 minutes walk from the Stour Valley Path (that's Path, not Way) so I jumped on that for a bit and back over the farmland into town for about six miles at full pelt.  I hardly felt the pack, which made me smile as I took a gamble based on advice received from numerous challengers/backpackers.  I bought a lightweight pack from Lowe Alpine, the Crag Attack 42.  It's smashing, although it misses out on a mesh pocket for wet stuff, but that's a small price to pay.  It fits nice and weighs less than a kilo and I can't pack much in it, which in turn means I can't pack too much!


Anyway, this walk - as I mentioned - passes through farmland and that is why I named this post "The Larks ascending...".
For the first time I can recall this year, I heard Skylarks chirruping and rising from all directions.  I'd forgotten about this spot for seeing 'larks, and it is truly brilliant for them.  I managed to get a good view of a pair courting on the ground, before doing their distinctive pursuit flights.  All the while, many others were suspended from the sky like little model aircraft on strands of cotton hanging from my bedroom ceiling.  They truly never stop singing.


So here is what Ralph and Nicola make of those 'larks....

If you are interested, I got round in 1hr 30min including the pauses to take my fizans off my pack and also to admire those larks.  I was back in time to get the kids (and Mrs M) up and make them breakfast.  Lazy tikes, my lot. 

And for those who are into the boot v trainer debate, my New Balance 570 AT's felt lovely - old and knackered, but lovely.

Night folks.  Hope you enjoyed the 'larks.

Come in number 9...

Latest update from TGOC HQ is that I am floating at number 9 on the Standby List.  Something to be said for patience but the Participant List is still tantalisingly out of arms reach at the moment.  


There are still 100 days to go (give or take).   I feel like a lurking scavenger, without a conscience!


Off to The Cheviots this weekend.  Weather - be kind.

Never be afraid to change your plans Pt.2...

So where did we leave it last time?  Oh yes, I was awash with whisky and spaghetti bolognaise by Ladybower...


So we were both awake before dawn, but the first hints of light were beginning to materialise to the northeast.   The pocket rocket was fired up and a brew on the go within a few minutes.  Breakfast was one of those flapjacks that you will have seen on an earlier blog.  Not great, but the chocolate chips helped.  Black coffee always helps to kickstart me in the morning, in more ways than one, so a trip to the wilderness toilet was had.  The turf was replaced and a huge rock placed over it to ensure it didn't escape.  I resisted taking a photo - some things are best left unrecorded.


Today we had decided to walk the shore and join the road at the Ashopton Viaduct which would take us around to the westernmost point of Ladybower.  After the shoreline section, the road was not pleasant, although the A57 was thankfully very quiet with it being early on a Sunday.  


I think my wife must have been praying, because the teawagon on the A57 was there, open and a steaming cup of tea was ready for us to purchase.  A smashing chap runs that wagon - and I urge you to stop by if you are driving through.  Some nice fellas were in front of us, be-gaitered and ready to go off hiking.  One of these men appeared addled, and was clearly confused that he had lost something, but was making no sense when I questioned him.  He was ushered away by his 'pal' who I asked what he had lost - he too said he didn't know.  We came to the conclusion that he had some form of dementia.  That thought stayed with me and troubled me for a while after we left the lay-by.


After being caught short again, I had to catch up with Den who had walked on slowly ahead.  Every time I looked up - he looked back over his shoulder, and started running off.  This he did about a dozen times, until I finally caught up with him.  How we laughed.

Looking back down the Woodlands Valley over to Ladybower

The road section, despite seeming endless, was not and we crossed the bridge in the Woodlands Valley, just to the north of Hope Cross on the OS map.  There was a slight uncertainty as to which was our path onto Win Hill - our main target for the day.  A short walk ahead confirmed there were no other paths to take and that, coupled with the fact that Len's Path was clearly signed as a route onto the Roman Road, removed any doubt that this steep and dirty trail was the one we should take.

Len's Path, that's Den by the way, not Len

Occasionally we saw dirt-bikers, all of whom Den asserted were off-duty superbikers having a day of fun.  In fact I think we saw all of the following according to Den:


- British Superbike
- World Superbike Champion
- MOTO GP Champion
- TT Champion
- Eddie Kidd
- Evil Knieval


Each of these were on their DT50's with muddied out number plates.  I resisted the urge to stop them for their autographs.  Didn't want to bother them on their days off.


The initial distasteful appearance of Len's Path (now known to me as Den's Path) gave way to a really lovely route which became so at what appeared to be a small settlement at around SK164867.  For some reason I failed to take a photograph here, but I couldn't quite work out what these places were other than long deserted homes.  I wondered if the owners might have been cleared as in the Highlands.  
From these mysterious steadings the path leads through dense conifer plantation (which may or may not confirm my clearance wondering).  Despite my having a real dislike for dense conifer plantation, the path was a joy to walk, being sheltered from the wind and full of atmosphere.  Punctuated with lush and verdant grassy clearings to the southwestern side, this latter section of ascent eased off in steepness as we gained the ridge.  

The coniferous tube of Den's Path

The ridge took us by surprise for it was substantially broader than we expected.  The Roman Road section was largely easy walking and this was borne out by the myriad Sunday walkers in trainers and bomber jackets that materialised shortly after we popped out above the conifer line.


The views over to Kinder were fine at first, but Mother Nature seemed to have her felt pens out and quickly coloured everything to the west in grey.  She spared us for some time along this never-ending, long tongue of a hill.  It was a lovely place to be and I felt like I could have walked along it for hours.   I'd say from the point where we joined it, to the summit rocks, was around 2.5 miles of loveliness.  
There was a varied, sandy terrain of neatly grazed grass, interspersed with tussocks of tougher grasses, and heather in places.  There were several pits which dotted the top of the spur-like plateau and we wondered what they might be.  Evidence of open-cast mining - but of what?  Sink holes?  We remain clueless. 
The highest point is marked by Hope Cross which seems to have had its top stone removed and all that remains is the upright and a metal spike where the top stone once rested.  At least that is what I can glean from a quick Google search. I might have been looking at the wrong marker post I suppose(?).  Anyone got any better info?

Den on the Roman Road - summit bound

Some you Win.  Lose Hill from Win Hill

Grass, Heather, Sand, Erosion, Mist, and Den

After a brief spell of more closed in mist, the air cleared and the winds got up to full strength for the first time so far, the air being compressed on the prominent summit rocks of Win Hill itself.  We'd looked across to this pointy top some ten years earlier and vowed to 'do' it one day.  We never expected it to take us 10 years.  I suppose the Munros and Wainwrights got in the way.


The summit moment was poignant, but brief due to the gale-force battering we were getting so we set off downwards for a steep and very careful descent to Yorkshire Bridge. 

Den in his lovely new Spyder jacket.  The armed guards weren't far away
on account of its ludicrous value.   

Me at the Trig - you'll not believe the number of times that Garmin knocked me on the head.
Note to self - reposition next walk.  It didn't even get switched on!

Although a fabulous setting, the conditions underfoot were less than fabulous - ankle deep mire most of the way.  And folk were coming uphill in shiny white trainers!  I should add that a good many of them were not smiling.  
My trusty Fizan poles had had a good outing and continued to prove themselves by making this descent far less troublesome with them in hand.

We regained our knees for a spell at Yorkshire Bridge and I phoned home with a quick progress report whilst Den caught his breath with a much needed roll-up.  Nuthatches were shouting in the trees above us and as if to tease us, remained disguised by their silhouettes or hidden by the boughs.  A little way up the lane all manner of small songbirds erupted from the trees by the road and my eyes scanned for the cause.  In that moment the culprit, a male sparrowhawk, burst empty-handed from a bramble and flew off along the line of trees.  Doubtless cussing the wasted energy.  There's usually a moment like this on our walks, a real treat.

The next couple of miles along the peakland lanes were a bit of a slog, but I enjoyed getting into the rhythm with my poles.  I paused often to suck up the views down over Bamford, I remember thinking that it was a shame it would soon be over. 

Shortly before we reached the parking spot at Dennis Knoll - a honeypot for Stanage climbers - Den noticed the car, stile a mile or so away.  It was a welcome sight, and given that I couldn't see any bricks supporting the axles, I was all the more pleased.

We slumped into the car, checked the map for a while, scouting a pitch for the night, and headed down into Hathersage to fill the tanks and resupply.  After driving about looking for suitable spots to camp close to the road, we decided that we'd head for the North Lees campsite and pitch there.  It was a little soggy, the facilities were clean and serviceable - although the lights in the loos seemed to be switched off overnight and only came on after dawn - go and figure that one out.  Oh, and there was no cold water either.  Bear this in mind if you are thinking of staying.

Therein lies the tale of my first bit of backpacking in what seemed like an age.  How quickly one can get back into the groove.  Quite apart from the fact that our initial route plan was dumped on day one, we had a great walk, a good wild camp, and a memorable weekend outside.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much a I did recording it.

Finishing where we started, beneath Stanage Edge.

Standby Number 15... ....have your route ready!

I contacted John Manning yesterday and got a super quick response informing me of my progress up the standby list.  
I have moved from number 17 to number 15 since 18th November.   John tells me he is awaiting something in the way of progress himself.  His second child's impending arrival is currently 3 days overdue.  I hope you will join me in wishing John and his family a safe and swift delivery of the latest in the Manning clan.


Ok so getting back to the standby list, it's not exactly a massive jump but it is progress nonetheless and it certainly seems like I'll be making the trip north in May.


Confident of getting to number 0 on the list, I have been tweaking my route a bit with a little help from my new found challenge friends and I have to say that their feedback seems to have made it all the better.  I have got a rough idea of where my overnights will be.  I have been encouraged to be flexible in this regard, and to ensure that I have some B&B numbers punched into my phone should the need for such a pick-me-up arise.  


I am leaning firmly away from the Lairig Ghru and towards Glen Feshie,  mainly due to the fact that I have been through the L. Ghru a few times already and want the Challenge to be something of a voyage of discovery.  Its also due to the fact that I then don't have to bother with an official FWA, although given the weather that some experienced in 2011, and the feisty nature of the winds of late, I might have a wee back up plan tucked up my sleeve, just in case.


I'm still going over the Monadhliath but a little bit further south to avoid the Dunmaglass wind turbine construction works.


Braemar features for a couple of days with the main purpose of finding some of the folk who have been helpful to me so I can buy them a beer in thanks.  Up to Loch Callater Lodge maybe for another pause over night, or maybe to press on over Jocks Road.


I've stuck with Jocks Road because I am curious about it, and like high passes.  I have the FWA for this route out to Glen Gelder to Glen Muick before rejoining my original route at Tarfside.  


From there I will make my way to St Cyrus via North Water Bridge, following the many challengers who have gone this way before, some of whom will doubtless be doing so again this year.


I've made a significant improvement to my pack weight, bringing it down from well over 15kg, to less than 12kg with 3 days food on board.  Base weight is more like 9kg now and it does feel liberating.  I'll test out the revised kit set-up this weekend and see how I get on.


Be great to hear what you folk are up to, so do post a comment if you can spare the time.


Night night, off to dream of long days and short nights in the hills.  


I'll leave you with a couple of pictures that make me smile, alot.

Me on Ben Hope for the Summer Solstice in 2008

Me and the wonderful Mrs Mynott on The Cairnwell in April 2008

2011 - The Year of No Wild Camps

I aim to keep this brief - from a backpacking point of view 2011 was indeed the year of no wild camps.  Not one!

I got out into the hills a bit, and went for a few local walks but wild camps were a-none. Some of the walks have been posted on this blog and you may have already read them.  My youngest son Ashley was born in January, when my eldest daughter Hope was just 20 months old.  To leave my wife with these little ones, and to leave them too, has been difficult and would have been more selfish than my conscience would allow.  Not to mention the fact that the funds required for a weekend of free-of-charge walking are increasing with every percentage point the chancellor slapped on a couple of pints of diesel.

I managed to get a myself involved in a charity walk around the Yorkshire Three Peaks which was a challenge for sure, but not so much so as it might have been a decade ago.  The event itself repulsed me but I had a view to get my two good pals - soon to be first-time parents - into the hills a couple of times before the wee one was to arrive.  It worked, and I hope that it won't be too long before they are all back on the trail, big-wheeled buggy in tow.  No wilderness night under silnylon here.

And I got up to Cumbria to help Den finish off his Wainwright round in September too.  That was a couple of brief dashes on a very wet weekend which although satisfying, and salubrious, and a tad drunken, didn't involve any camping in the hills.

Many a local (for local, read East Anglian) walk was enjoyed, long mornings in the field margins, bridleways and studlands.  Many a prime stealthy overnight spot was surveyed.  None were used.  I arrived home after each, refreshed and wonderfully tired, as every walk I take leaves me, but my still became low, and today I think I reached the valley bottom.  

The period of Christmas soaked through me and dripped out the other side, most of it I enjoyed and the rest I endured.  The lack of outdoors time had me selfishly grumpy.  Itchy.  Tetchy.  Unpalatable.

My wife came to the rescue today.  She gave me the most fantastic gift that the whole of the festive season failed to provide.  4 passes for overnighters leading up to TGO Challenge 2012.

About 18 months ago I began reading about TGO Challenge, and after a time, the gravitational pull of the associated blogosphere and mostly the compulsion created by Bob Cartwright, Andy Howell and Shirley Worral on their podcasts had me posting my application the moment it landed on my doorstep.  I got number 17 on the standby list, and in a week or so I will find out if that number has reduced.

I am assured that this number will reduce sufficiently so as to ensure a place on the Challenge and I am planning as if it were so, as you will have seen if you follow my post both here, on Twitter and occasionally on the Challenge message board.

In her gift, my wife has provided the liberation of days and nights outdoors.  One in Jan, One in Feb, One in March and One in April.  Each will involve at least a single night in the cocoon of my Tarptent and grant me the tiny fix of the wilds that I have discovered I need to remain buoyant in spirit.  Doug Scott could not have put it more eloquently when he was asked why he climbed 'because I get grumpy when I don't'.  What a lucky boy I am!

So, out with the old.  2011 - The Year of No Wild Camps.  And in with the New.  2012 - The Year of the Challenge.  

I'll leave you with a couple of photos which bring back fond memories of 2011 as it seems is customary among similar pages.  I hope you like them, and I look forward to seeing you on the hills this year, and maybe on the Challenge too.  

The Langdale Pikes from Blea Tarn

Enroute to Buttermere - Rannerdale Knotts in the middle-distance

And one of my favourites from 2010 as well - I couldn't resist.  Happy New Year!!!

2010 - My pal Den climbing up Allt Clach nan Taillear in July!!

KITLIST V1.1

TGO Challenge Kit List laid out - awaiting judgement.

Following a few comments on my previous post, here is my kitlist for your scrutinous pleasure.  This is for day one with 6 days of grub in it.  In fairness I probably wont need to carry it all on day one, but that's where you lot come in.


Be kind, be humourous, and if you can be helpful at the same time, so much the better!

Category	Item	Weight (g)
Baselayer	Technicals L/S Baselayer	210
Baselayer	Baggie	15
Communication	Nokia 1616 Mobile	75
Cooking	Trangia 1l Kettle	175
Cooking	Lifeventure Titanium Mug	60
Cooking	Long Handled Spoon	15
Cooking	MSR Pocket Rocket	75
Cooking	Matches & Lighter	20
Cooking	Gas Cart	500
Cooking	Sea to Summit Baggie	25
First Aid	First Aid Kit	90
First Aid	Painkillers and Anti Diarrhoea	80
Food	Be-well Exped Main Meal	180
Food	Be-well Exped Main Meal	180
Food	Be-well Exped Main Meal	180
Food	Be-well Exped Main Meal	180
Food	Be-well Exped Main Meal	180
Food	Be-well Exped Main Meal	180
Food	Be-well Exped Dessert	130
Food	Be-well Exped Dessert	130
Food	Wayfayrer Dessert	200
Food	Wayfayrer Dessert	200
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Be-Well ChocChip Flapjack	115
Food	Smash Packet	175
Food	Smash in Clip Top Container	175
Food	Beef Jerky	100
Gloves	Karrimor Gloves	50
Gloves	Trekmates Silk Liner Gloves	25
Headgear	Lowe Alpine Mountain Cap GTX	75
Headgear	2 x BUFF	75
Hydration	2ltr pop bottle	50
Hydration	2ltr platy	30
Hydration	2l water	2000
Hygiene	MSR Pack Towel	30
Hygiene	Nivea 4 Men Cool Kick 35ml Antiperspirant	35
Hygiene	Small Bottle of Lifeventure All Purpose Soap	35
Hygiene	Sunscreen 30SPF	25
Hygiene	Smidge 75ml	85
Hygiene	Loo roll	30
Hygiene	Wet Wipes	45
Hygiene	Kitchen Roll (10 Sheets)	15
Hygiene	Sea to Summit Baggie	20
Insulation	PHD Yukon Jacket	550
Insulation	Montane Chuckchi Microfleece	230
Navigation	Silva Expedition 4 Compass	45
Navigation	Garmin Geko 201 (inc case)	110
Navigation	Printed OS sheets in plastic case	320
Navigation	Moleskine Notepad (Navigation Notes)	40
Odds & Sods	Length of Dyneema	25
Odds & Sods	Alpkit Carabiner (for the dyneema)	15
Odds & Sods	Baladeo 22g Pocket Knife	22
Odds & Sods	Spare Lighter	15
Odds & Sods	Front Door Key	25
Odds & Sods	Wallet & Cash	100
Outer Shell	Mountain Hardwear Paclite Trousers	300
Outer Shell	Mountain Equipment Changabang XCR	625
Power & Light	6xAAA Lithium Batteries & 3 x CR2032	65
Power & Light	Petzl eLite	25
Power & Light	DSL Mini Alu Light	10
Power & Light	Spare Mobile Battery	20
Reading	Kindle (inc protective case)	340
Rucksack	MACPAC Pursuit Classic (Size 3)	1900
Shelter	Tarptent Moment (including 4xAlpkit Spike Pegs)	1040
Sleeping	Pacific Outdoor Equipment Ether Thermo 6	575
Sleeping	Golite Ultralite 3-season Quilt	700
Trekking	Fizan Compact Ultralight Poles	335
Trousers	Pair of Running Leggings	225
Trousers	Pair of Running Leggings	225
Trousers	Baggie	15
Underwear	Tilley Underpants	45
Underwear	Bridgedale Hiker Socks	110
Underwear	bridgedale Hiker Socks	110
Underwear	Helly Hansen Baselayer	130
Underwear	Baggie	15
Writing	Moleskine Notepad (journal)	40
Writing	Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.1	15
Writing	Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.1	15
Writing	Baggie	10
Total		15692
Food	6-days	3340
Water	Max Carried	2000
F & W Total		5340
Base Weight		10352

Now awaiting critique..............