Friday, 26 August 2011

2012 - The Countdown Begins

Well it really has been a long while since my last post.  I've been up and over the Yorkshire Three Peaks, round the back o' Pillar and Scoat Fell etc in the Western Fells and made a few significant decisions concerning my future (more on that to follow). 

So here it is, I am now officially an applicant for TGO Challenge 2012 and my hours/days/weeks spent in front of the OS sheets are now being put down in ink for the first formal draft.  I'm doing it for real this time!  I just hope and pray that I am one of those first timers that gets on the challenge.

Great to see Bob and Rose's videos on Youtube - they are always really detailed and helpful.  Great for ideas for kit to take and kit to leave out.

I have to say though, that I threw in the towel with the Golite Jam - it was just too floppy and I couldn't be bothered with packing it so carefully.  I put it on eBay so someone else could take the time to get the most out of it.  I've apologised to the MACPAC now, and I think I am forgiven.  I'll never desert it again.

So now it is time to wait.  A wait in anticipation of the response from the TGO team with a confirmation that I am in.  And then I suppose I should get my skates on, get rid of the spare tyre(s) that have formed, and reduce my resting pulse rate a tad.

I'm off up to Lakeland in a few weeks to help a mate of mine finish of his last two Wainwright's - Rosthwaite Fell and Hard Knott.  We'll probably do a bit of a wildcamp so I can test my gear again and I suspect we'll stay at Fisher Ground on at least one night for a bit of campfire cooking.

I've pre-ordered my mate a copy of The UK County Tops (new release by Cicerone) so he isn't short of a list of things to tick off as he'll have finished the WWs.  I'm fearing he might not thank me for that, and if he doesn't, I'll ask for it back!

Oh, and after this trip, I've a week near Mosser in a wee cottage so I'll get out and about a bit that week with the family I should think - carrying the bairns up and down hills ought to help the pins get back into tip-top (ahem!) mountain shape again.

I'll do another post if anything interesting occurs between now and then.

Much love to my handful of followers - look forward to hearing about your plans for the outdoors.

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

Lowland leg crunches, Lakeland windblasts & more gear...

It's been a while since my last post (I wonder how many blogs begin with just those words?).  Anyway I have been out stretching my legs in the wilds of Suffolk with a day walk from Bury St Edmunds to Clare, and on to my hometown - Haverhill.  In all I'd guess its 26 or 27 miles (plus a bit for diversions - I took a couple of wrong turns).

This was largely a bit of preparation for The Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge later in June as a means to getting my head on really. 

The stretch from Bury to Clare (around 18 miles) felt pretty good but it all got measurably harder from Clare to Haverhill - the last 8 or so miles.  Having said this, the Inov8s performed really well (I threw away some memory foam inserts I was trying as they kept creeping around  my shoes) and my feet felt tired but ok by the end of the day.  The road walking had given them a battering but this was to be expected, and I don't expect that any of my days will even approach 27 miles on TGOC.

I've also been up into Lakeland (the scenic region, not the kitchenware shop!) again getting a bit more hillwalking under my belt.  A friday afternoon jaunt from Castlerigg to High Rigg of around 4 miles to get the juices flowing, followed by the three Dodds and Clough Head to the north of the Helvellyn ridge.  To say that the wind was strong was understatement of the century - I won't estimate the windspeed but thank Montane for their windproof gear - the Featherlight jacket and trousers nailed the windchill.  Just my hands suffered at one point when I picked up my poles (which I actually used to great effect this time) and jogged over to catch up with my brother in law who had gone off ahead.  I swear frostbite was moments away - brrr!

I took the opportunity to test out walking in running pants (I'd recently bought a couple of pairs for £16 from Aldi) and have to say they performed brilliantly, keeping off all but the keenest wind and when combined with the Montane Featherlight Pants made for an excellent alternative to regular mountain pants.  One slight downside is the lack of pockets.  Just a single money pocket at the back, but this really is a pedantic complaint and they are a definite contender to be in my pack for TGOC.  I'll just have to get over the psychological issues of walking in tights!

Helly Hansen's baselayer Tee is a new garment for me and I hardly noticed I was wearing it which has to be a good thing.  Two for £32 in Blacks Keswick was reasonable I thought.

I can't remember if I mentioned that I have sold a ton of kit on eBay but that's exactly what I have been doing.  Here's what I sold:

- Mtn Eqpt AR Ultralite 1 Tent
- Trangia 27 UL Cookset
- Primus Stove
- Thermarest Prolite 4 Reg
- Rab Summit Extreme Jacket
- Some climbing crabs and quickdraws
- My MLT confidence rope (spare)
- A few other sundries

and here's what I've bought with the money:

- Tarptent Moment (so excited about that)
- Montane AntiFreeze jacket
- Golite Jam
- Montane Featherlight Pants
- Vargo Triad Titanium Meths Stove
- Lifeventure Titanium Mug
- Helly Hansen base layer Tees x 2
- Fizan Compact Lite poles (pair)

I have had to put very little towards the new kit so my mantra of "BUY CHEAP BUY TWICE" has truly paid off here.  I look after my gear so its all in good nick.  If I had bought cheap gear it'd probably have packed up by now so I would be replacing it anyway, but by buying top gun gear, and looking after it I have been able to 'recycle' it into new gear for little if any extra outlay. 

The resale value of top gun kit on eBay is excellent.  Folk realise that well looked after kit on eBay can save them money and can be resold meaning that kit can be kept up to date without shelling out for more and more gear whilst the old stuff festers in the loft space.

That'll do for now, I'm at work and due back from lunch in five minutes.  I'd be interested to hear from anyone who reads the blog about connected issues so feel free to comment. 

Might try an audioblog next time.

Bye for now.

Carl.

Sunday, 24 April 2011

Consumed with envy...

...because I decided to apply for TGO Challenge after the expiry date for 2011 applications.

You see right about now I am reading tweets about folk who are making their final preparations for their crossing of Scotland, and it's making me ever so slightly green-tinged.

On the 13th of May 300 like-minded folk will be setting off from the western coast of the Highlands on a footpath which will not finish until they reach the waters of the North Sea.

They will have probably spent most of the year sorting gear, selling the old and testing the new with a view to making their challenge that tiny bit more comfortable. They will have deliberated about their route, re-planned sections in case of foul weather and listened closely to news of bridges and path obstructions with the potential to scupper carefully meticulated routes.

They will have learned of new eating, camping, supply-getting, and socialising venues on their routes and will doubtless have considered how to carry which foodstuffs and how much of them they'll need.

They will have learned of bereavements in the TGO community, new arrivals, challengers who have had to drop out and those who have gained a place as a result of their disappointment.

I have been through all of this and I am not even applying for TGOC 2012 until the form comes out in TGO Magazine's October issue - out September.

I have my route largely planned with a couple of foul weather alternatives to get pinned down.

I have revised my base kit from somewhere around
10kg to more or less 5kg including my pack.

I have got out into the wild outdoors much more to strengthen my legs and tone up.

I have reduced my bodily pack weight (aka Belly) from a gross bodyweight of 15st 8lb to 14st 4lb.

I have moved from mountain boots to trail running boots (a liberation).

I have shifted from heavy waterproofs to water-resistant wind-proofs.

I have over a year to go!

So all you challengers, please do me this one favour; please keep blogging, tweeting, podcasting (that one is best left to Bob Cartwright and his clan) , and posting on forums. It is keeping me inspired and making me rethink my approach to long-distance walking daily.

Bye for now, I'm just off to pack for a midweek break in Basecamp Billy (aka the caravan). Off to the Broads with my family for a bit more outdoors-ing!



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Tuesday, 19 April 2011

TGOC 2012 - Grid References

Tonight I realised that I have an absolute fascination with grid references.

For some reason they capture my imagination and compel me to put them down on paper. I have a couple of those notebooks with the black elastic strap on them, a bit like the Moleskine ones you can get for posh journalists.

So I have spent this evening logging every key point of every day of my intended route for TGOC 2012. Starting from Strathcarron in the west and finishing in Montrose in the East, going via Gordon Menzies' boat to Inverfarigaig and over the Monadhliath wilderness down through the Cairngorms via the committing Lairig Ghru to Derry Lodge. On to Braemar then heading either over Lochnagar after a pause at Loch callater lodge or down Jock's road into Glen Doll to Tarfside, Edzell, North Water Bridge and St Cyrus before walking South along the coast to Montrose.

I have picked a relatively low level route for most of my challenge because I want to break myself in to it and enjoy the experience rather than ruining myself after tough days in the high mountains. I want to finish and be able to want to come back again for another go.

As for the grid references I now have pages and pages of waypoints written down by hand, checked by computer and committed to my notebook which will come with me on the challenge.

At any point I will look at where I am and know exactly where I will be heading to next. My GPS will aid me in difficult situations but largely my faith will be put in my navigational ability and my map and compass so that I can truly soak up all that the physical reality of the grid references present.

Who would have thought that a couple of letters followed by a few numbers could have such an impact on a journey across Scotland?

Does anyone else out there have an obsession with the minutiae of route planning or mapreading?

Any other little obsessions with regard to logistics or cataloguing?

I'd be interested to hear....

I'm of to bed, dreaming of NH 9734 0131

Nighty night.




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Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Langdale Pikes and more gear...

So I'm recently back from a weekend in Great Langdale and a round of 8 or 9 fells.  The pupose of the trip was fourfold:

1) to test out my new X-Talons
2) to get back into the swing of using trekking poles
3) to get a bit more hill fit
4) to get a mountain fix - I'd been away from them since October 2010!

On point one I succeeded - The X-talon 240s are tremendous if you have good confidence on your feet and take care when placing your steps.  They got wet from time to time but the intial cold sensation was soon overridden by warmth in a similar way in which a wetsuit might work.  The fit was good, a little loose if wearing thin socks but I wasn't so they didn't rub at all.  The soles were a tad soft, but again with good placement this would not be a problem.  Comfort-wise - tremendous!  My feet suffered no soreness over the 10 miles and 8 summits despite taking the steep descent off the front of Loft Crag at the end of the day.  Scramble-wise, they again performed well but the rock was dry - I'd be interested if they remained as grippy in the wet - time will tell.  In all, these are serious contenders for TGOC 2012. 

On point two, I failed miserably.  The poles were strapped neatly to my pack on the approach to Dungeon Ghyll where I was to remove them and use during the ascent and also for the remainder of the days yomp. 
they stayed fixed to my pack and only came off when my companions needed a steady on the Loft Crag descent.  As I am planning to carry the poles to use as supports for my shelter system, I need to get used to using them more, or else carry some lighter shelter poles.

In terms of getting hill fit - it seems that after the initial removal of rustiness, my second wind kicked in and I felt fantastic all day long.  There was a smidge of "can't be bothered" when approaching the last of the peaks of the day but I soon overcame this purely psychological issue and bounced my way down the hill to the campsite.  I was surprised at feeling so fresh given that I had had no hill action and little exercise of any kind for practically 6 months!  I put a large amount of this down to a slightly slower pace than usual, coupled with the X-Talons minimalist nature.  I felt truly liberated!

Point four - well, the weather was supremely kind offering no sign of rain or any wind to impede our travel.  The temperature was cool to warm so no heat or cold to hamper us.  The mountains were so familiar, and so welcoming.  I could have stayed forever, but I couldn't - I have a desk job!

The Langdale Pikes are a great testing ground for both body and kit - beating the low lying countryside of suffolk and the billiard table like terrain of Fenland!

Turning to gear - I succumbed to my temptation once again and despite earlier comments on this blog, swapped my MACPAC Pursuit for a much more minimalist GoLite Jam, at 840g a full kilo lighter than the MACPAC.  On first impressions I suspect that this will serve me well as my main pack.  The weight (or lack thereof) does not seem to have taken an affect on durability and the style is nice.  plenty of pockets and straps.  I can't wait to test it properly.  I feel another outing coming on....

Anyway - I'm off to check my eBay sales to see if I can afford to by any more kit.

Bye for now!

Monday, 21 March 2011

Gear again!

As is irritatingly frequent, I have decided to blog about my gear again - apologies but I love it.  I have recently taken delivery of the following items:

1) The Ultra-Sil Daypack from Sea to Summit

2) The Montane Featherlite Marathon Running Jacket (too small - sent back for a size-up!)

I already have my X-talon 240's (for my feet - google for more info), and I am awaiting delivery of the Rig7 Tarp from Alpkit.

I'm also awaiting delivery of my daughter's first backpack - a Little Life Ladybird - she's only 23 months old so a bergen was unwise.

My TGO Challenge gear list is taking shape but I still haven't gone for a new rucksack yet - for mine is the rather weighty MACPAC Pursuit Classic 55 @ 1.8kg!  I just can't encourage my conscience to agree to discard the kiwi wonder in favour of a lighter stateside pack.  Golite, Gossamer, ULA etc all have my attention.  Darn it - it never ceases.  There's a new force in physics - Gear-avity.  I just can't escape it.

I know I'll get by just fine with the MACPAC so it'll will just allow me to experience another weight saving for the next big challenge after TGOC 2012. 

So its now time to test the kit thus far with a short trip to the Lake District.  I'm heading into Langdale for a foray onto the Pikes, after a wee (very lightweight) dash up onto Lingmoor Fell on Friday pm.  I am struggling to wait to get out into the hills again. 

I'll subject you all to another blog when I am back with some feedback on the various bits of kit.  I might even do a bit of audioblogging if I can get my head around it.

Oh, and I'll elaborate on my accidental involvement on a Yorkshire Three Peaks event due in June this year too. How do I get involved in these things! 

Saturday, 12 March 2011

Fuel Price Protest 1/4/2011

You may have heard about a protest involving not filling up on 1/4/2011.

Hitting the fuel stations won't work.

FIRST - its not their fault. The FUEL stations make maybe 5p a litre in profit, so around £3.50 per tank full.
The rest is partly overheads, but mainly DUTY and VAT.

SECOND - the fuel stations are, in the main, privately owned. By people like you and I. They just sell a brand and try to make a living, like you and I.

THIRD - they don't set the prices - the fuel companies do that.

So, what say we ALL write to our MP to ask them to REDUCE fuel duty. Keep the duty flexible so that fuel price follows the inflation rate. Still a tough pill to swallow but alot better than the way things are at present.

If we all write they are DUTY BOUND TO LISTEN, and to do something about it.

Google "contact your MP" and get writing.

Please - assuming that this is not a bit of April-Tom-Foolery that is.


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