So I'm pretty new to the forum... Long time follower, first time posting yada yada yada.
So been going out most weekends for some time for hikes / wild camping and thought for a change to write about it!
So today the beautiful fiancé was out with the girls for their quarterly catchup, so it was down to just me and the hound for this trip. (no chance I'm staying indoors)
After consuming time changing a lightbulb on the car and some admin tasks for the hike I finally started walking about 1pm.
Off up a steeper field hill than anticipated I got into some wooded area. Started following a path that was gravelled as they are culling a load of pine trees to reintroduce the more authentic trees back into the area (which you shall see on the end photos as the light was just right to snap a few on the return journey!)
Kept a steady pace going up and up and up until it leveled off and decided to take the harder / untamed route.
Came to an opening which gave some spectacular views across some of the rolling hills before seeing cardiff in the distance and the sea beyond.
After continuing down the path I spotted a track that lead away from the path further in to the woods, however, I could see an opening ahead. I made a bee line for the opening to only see that it was to a field in the distance so opted for plan B and turned around to proceed to the track that lead into the woods.
While following the track I noticed that with all the rain we had that was supposed to fall as snow had made the track incredibly boggy. The hound the decided to go nuts and try her hand at "lets see how dirty I can get in the shortest time possible". A quick whistle and shout of her name (Posie) she was back under control. A blessing I suppose, as I had a quick assessment of the area I noticed this.
After admiring the pretty and marvelling at the fallen dead wood I clocked a spot for a nice double espresso followed by a sausage and bacon baguette on the honey stove that the fiancé bought for me for Xmas. What a gift that was.
After processing some dry wood I got to work with setting up the stove and igniting it the the ferro rod and some birch bark I brought with me and got a blaze on with the dead wood and had got the coffee on.
After the coffee was brewed I was read for some food. Took off the metal grill and tossed it on the floor, knelt down to pick up the pan with the sausages in to place on the honey stove and felt a huge amount of pain in my knee, first reaction was, where the hell did that bramble come from which was embedding itself into my knee. Looked down to see that it was the grill still red hot below my knee. A quick reminder that I had become slack in control and preparation due to hunger and eagerness.
Anyway. Knee hurt but my ego even more, but the plus side, the combats I was given from someone in the army didn't have a mark on them. Delighted!!! Comes to something when you are more concerned over your bushcraft gear than your body! Sausages and bacon on and a baguette was full of goodness and the hound had her own couple of sausages to deal with also. (sorry, only tool a couple pics of the sausages.
My manly 50p cup also that doesn't damage!!!
And the hound Posie (posing)
So, by this time it was 3:55 and could feel the temp drop and light diminish, head back time.
Managed to notice more on the return than on the original outing.
Wanted to harvest the horses hoof fungus, but i managed to harvest a massive cramp ball fungus which I neglected to take a photo of, bit I have cramp balkl fungus for days!!!
As mentioned earlier, this is the deforestation going on at present, a massive shame as I wanted to look for fatwood bit the light was dropping fast, which made for some spectacular shots.
Then out of the woods and back into the field / hill that almost ruined me in the beginning of the trip. Once stepping out of the woods and capturing this view I'm my gaze, i remembered something Ray Mears said. (When venturing out, ways take a minute to stop and look back, as these moments can be some of the beat things you will see) "not exactly word for word, bit close enough and an extremely valuable thing to take on board"
Things I learned this hike.
It was cold and I am stubborn, i walked harder to warm up instead of putting another layer on and slowing down.
Space means a lot. I tried to keep confined while cooking etc (to keep warm) which meant I had a poorly prepared camp for cooking meaning, i burnt my knee a little.
Look back, honestly, you should always look back at what you have climbed, whether it was difficult or not, it always has something to show you when you expect it the least.
And finally. Stop being arrogant, im 32 and think I can take on the world. I probably got a bit colder than I should have and didn't regulate my layers AT ALL! If i didnt make it back to the car for what ever reason, my sweat would have caused major issues when the temperatures dwindled.
Also, get a bigger bag, Sabre 45L with side pouches en-route. Can't wait!
Thanks for reading if anyone does, and if the pictures don't work, i apologise, I've done this through my phone.
Alex
So been going out most weekends for some time for hikes / wild camping and thought for a change to write about it!
So today the beautiful fiancé was out with the girls for their quarterly catchup, so it was down to just me and the hound for this trip. (no chance I'm staying indoors)
After consuming time changing a lightbulb on the car and some admin tasks for the hike I finally started walking about 1pm.
Off up a steeper field hill than anticipated I got into some wooded area. Started following a path that was gravelled as they are culling a load of pine trees to reintroduce the more authentic trees back into the area (which you shall see on the end photos as the light was just right to snap a few on the return journey!)
Kept a steady pace going up and up and up until it leveled off and decided to take the harder / untamed route.
Came to an opening which gave some spectacular views across some of the rolling hills before seeing cardiff in the distance and the sea beyond.
After continuing down the path I spotted a track that lead away from the path further in to the woods, however, I could see an opening ahead. I made a bee line for the opening to only see that it was to a field in the distance so opted for plan B and turned around to proceed to the track that lead into the woods.
While following the track I noticed that with all the rain we had that was supposed to fall as snow had made the track incredibly boggy. The hound the decided to go nuts and try her hand at "lets see how dirty I can get in the shortest time possible". A quick whistle and shout of her name (Posie) she was back under control. A blessing I suppose, as I had a quick assessment of the area I noticed this.
After admiring the pretty and marvelling at the fallen dead wood I clocked a spot for a nice double espresso followed by a sausage and bacon baguette on the honey stove that the fiancé bought for me for Xmas. What a gift that was.
After processing some dry wood I got to work with setting up the stove and igniting it the the ferro rod and some birch bark I brought with me and got a blaze on with the dead wood and had got the coffee on.
After the coffee was brewed I was read for some food. Took off the metal grill and tossed it on the floor, knelt down to pick up the pan with the sausages in to place on the honey stove and felt a huge amount of pain in my knee, first reaction was, where the hell did that bramble come from which was embedding itself into my knee. Looked down to see that it was the grill still red hot below my knee. A quick reminder that I had become slack in control and preparation due to hunger and eagerness.
Anyway. Knee hurt but my ego even more, but the plus side, the combats I was given from someone in the army didn't have a mark on them. Delighted!!! Comes to something when you are more concerned over your bushcraft gear than your body! Sausages and bacon on and a baguette was full of goodness and the hound had her own couple of sausages to deal with also. (sorry, only tool a couple pics of the sausages.
My manly 50p cup also that doesn't damage!!!
And the hound Posie (posing)
So, by this time it was 3:55 and could feel the temp drop and light diminish, head back time.
Managed to notice more on the return than on the original outing.
Wanted to harvest the horses hoof fungus, but i managed to harvest a massive cramp ball fungus which I neglected to take a photo of, bit I have cramp balkl fungus for days!!!
As mentioned earlier, this is the deforestation going on at present, a massive shame as I wanted to look for fatwood bit the light was dropping fast, which made for some spectacular shots.
Then out of the woods and back into the field / hill that almost ruined me in the beginning of the trip. Once stepping out of the woods and capturing this view I'm my gaze, i remembered something Ray Mears said. (When venturing out, ways take a minute to stop and look back, as these moments can be some of the beat things you will see) "not exactly word for word, bit close enough and an extremely valuable thing to take on board"
Things I learned this hike.
It was cold and I am stubborn, i walked harder to warm up instead of putting another layer on and slowing down.
Space means a lot. I tried to keep confined while cooking etc (to keep warm) which meant I had a poorly prepared camp for cooking meaning, i burnt my knee a little.
Look back, honestly, you should always look back at what you have climbed, whether it was difficult or not, it always has something to show you when you expect it the least.
And finally. Stop being arrogant, im 32 and think I can take on the world. I probably got a bit colder than I should have and didn't regulate my layers AT ALL! If i didnt make it back to the car for what ever reason, my sweat would have caused major issues when the temperatures dwindled.
Also, get a bigger bag, Sabre 45L with side pouches en-route. Can't wait!
Thanks for reading if anyone does, and if the pictures don't work, i apologise, I've done this through my phone.
Alex
