Well, following on from my last post, my dad wants to stop in Youth hostels, B+B's etc. (I'm sure when we talked about it, I said I'd get an airbed and a tent for him, oh well.)

This is not too much more than staying at a C+C Club site, BUT it will make it less of an adventure, I'm not knocking it, but well, I think you can imagine that it wont be as much a Boys Own as walking and camping.

In fact the YHA was one of my original ideas, but dropped it for exactly this reason, that and the cost.  Well, I'll have to wait and see what happens. I am a lowly poor student after all.

Lightweight Gear

Well now, after finding out I don't need the Lightweight outdoors gear I went into the left to find what I have

Terra Nova Laser Photon
Thermarest Neo Air
Jetboil SOL Titanium

Probably close to £600 in 3 items I bought specifically because of there weight after my crappy experiance going from Edale to Crowden.

Before you say I've spent a lot of money on high tech kit when I could just have gone with a bivi bag and tarp, some of the areas I'd be sleeping can get VERY wet, horizontal rain, perpetually wet underfoot etc, so I thought after doing the first few days of the practice, high tech was better in this case.
I won't say that's a waste of money because they can always be used for later expeditions, but I'm now looking for a couple of decent 4 person tents, airbeds and 2 ring stoves!

I'm  potentially going to get a pair of 3 man, 2 compartment tents and airbeds/ US Army cots.  I'm not really kitted out for "Family" camping, as I'm normally on my own and on public transport, but I think this will certainly make a nice change to having to carry all your own gear and live of dehydrated lunches.

Even the Osprey Atmos 50 rucksack will be replaced by a larger holdall!

At least for this trip.  At the end of August I'm going up to Loch Lomand with a friend, for my part I will be having a bit of a recce to see how feasible it will be to take the L/W gear while I do the Great Glen way, or go "Old School" and go with a Basha and Bivi.

Anyway guys, all the best

Chance conversations.

Hi Guys
Recently had a boost in my challenges.

As you may recall I have completed the pennine way, but because I didnt have a very good time of It I am hoping to do it again, in 3 5day legs.

I was going to do it solo and take my time and enjoy the walk for its own sake.  Well, the thing is, after a chance conversion with my father those plans have changed!

He suggested that he drove from camp site to camp site with the bulk of the gear, and I just take a daysack with a flask in and my waterproofs.  As you may imagine this is a very welcome bonus, it means I can almost fly the length of the pennine way.  It also means I'll be able to take "Wet" rations or (assuming he can find a supermarket) propper food!

This calls for a very different set up more like day walking than hiking, and if he is still fealing the same way after,
Atmos 35 Daysack
Chocolate/ flapjacks
2 Litre Hydration Bladder with squash
Sigg 1L water bottle
Water proof permeable membrane jacket
Hat wide brimmed & Woollen, maybe a Buff,
sealskin all weather gloves
Flask containing either tea or hot choc
GPS, Map and Compass
Camera and spare card & batteries

First Aid Kit which contains:
Large Dressing X2
Plasters
Savlon Sprey
Burns & Antihistamine creams,
Antiseptic Wipes
Scholl Blister Plasters
scissors
Triangular Bandage
Face Shield
Plasters
Nitrite Gloves

Survival Kit which is always on mein the outdoors comtains:
 Mora Clipper knife and Gerber 600
Survival Bag
Space Blanket,
Wire saw,
Flint, Striker & Cotton wool.
Head Torch,
Whistle,
Small notebook and pencil,
Paracord (wrapped around the survival tin in a ball)
And last but not least Haribo


All the things like L/W tents, technical sleeping bags etc are not necessary as I wont have them on my back, the only issue will be packing.

Anyway, more later, its just a flying visit to let you know whats been happening with me.

Nearly There

Hi again guys.  Thanks for your support so far!

I've got most of the equipment I'll be taking, just need a few new bits of kit, but nothing major.  The biggest concern at the moment is fitness as I have felt myself go in the last few months, so I'm on a diet and exercise regimen to get back into shape.

College finished last week, so as soon as I have the last few bits I'm off on the first leg.  I've decided to do it in 3 five day legs, which should hopefully give me the time to replenish my kit between legs, and give me a week off between each trip.

Well, that's it really, its more to let you all know I'm still around and the plan of doing each National Trail in Great Britain is still alive.

Catch you all soon.
Syd

Well, I didnt realise it had been 7 months since my last post, time flys doesnt it?

I've been studying with the Open University and South Nottingham college (seperatly)since the begining of November, Studying a BSc in Environment Studies and with the OU, and the equivilent of an NVQ in Environment Conservation..

All this studying isnt getting in the way though, I've still been going to the gym, admittedly not as often as I'd like, but still 3 times a week is better than none.

I've only gotten out a few times in the last few months, so not as many miles under my belt as I'd originally planned, as I was originally going to start the pennine way at the begining of may.  Thats been put on hold until I've finnished my first OU module.

Anyway, I'll leave it at that for now, TTFN.

Weight & Fittness

Weighty Issues
After Lots of thought I think I've come up with What is possibly a better kit load than the one I took to Hebdon Bridge.

Shelter - Rab Ridge Raider Hooped Bivi.
It will be a bit cramped, but at just over 800g its the lightest shelter I can find without taking Basha's and putting them up from trees.

Sleeping Bag
RAB Neutrino 400
After talking to Mark at Ultra Light Outdoor Gear he recomended the Neutrino as its light, yet with a rating of down to -4 Deg C.

Clothes
Cragg Hoppers Kiwi Trousers
2 Pairs
Lycra Cycle Shorts. None padded to help prevent chafing
Paramo Gambia Sport Zip
Paramo Mountain Pull On
Paramo Taiga Fleece
Paramo Alta 2
Seal Skin Beany Hat
Seal Skin All weather Gloves
Seal Skin Liner Gloves
Bridgedale Endurance Trecker Socks
Bridgedale Coolmaz Liner Socks
Magnum Classic Boots

Food
Jetboil PCS
Optimus Fuel 100g X2
SIS Gel 1
SIS Hydration Sachets
Fuzion foods
Flap Jacks
Cadbury Hot Choc Sachets
Nescafe 3-in-1 sachets
Milbank bag

FA Kit
Blister Plasters
Plasters
2X Medium Dressings
Triangular Sling
Safety Pins

Wash Kit
Soap
Toothpaste
Tooth Brush
150cm x 150cm Travel Towel

Nav Kit
OS Explorer/ Outdoor Lesure Laminated Maps
Silva type 4 compass
Chinograph Pencils
Ortlieb Map Case

Misc
L/W Dry Bags
Casio G Shock.
3" Locking/Folding penknife
Whistle

On the Fittness front I've just bought 20kgs(aprox 50lb) in weight lifting weights, I'll be putting them in an old rucksack and walking about 9 miles (chesterfield to mill green & back on the chesterfield canal.) every day. Although the route is pretty flat, it will get me used to carrying weight, as this was one of the things I struggled with in July.

I've also been going to the gym almost daily, I'm hoping to keep this up at the same time as walking with the weight, then by the time I've got enough sponsorship I'll be fit as the butchers dog.

TTFN

Post Event

Well, that was a complete wet fart. The guys I "Invited" along were sucsessfull in making it a living hell for me, and then went on and on about I needed to "dig deep".


Lessons Learned

Weight
I need to cutt down on the weigt I carry on my back. I can see two ways I can Do This
1)Use one of the "Sherpa" services that operate along the Pennine Way.
2)Stop only in B&B's and Youth Hostels. If I'm only carrying a change of cloths, lunch and thermos I'm sure I wont haveany problems.


Food & Water
I need to be disiplined and stop and eat, normally not a problem, but the person I was with didnt seem to want to stop anywhere long enough.