84km bivvy challenge?

[dan_84kmbivvychallenge]

I'm planning an event that is running from Sept-Dec this year and being a fan of wild camping and adventure this is what i came up with:

The aim is to walk 84km (52 miles or about 2 marathons) in 48 hours and to sleep out in the open in a bivvy bag for 2 nights.

I've made a website about it all and have put some reviews on a few things. Take a look: http://www.84kmbivvychallenge.co.uk/

It would be great to have people do this from all over the UK and to share their experiences on the site.

Anyone interested in taking part?

Dan

 

[trail2]

Sounds a bit like Ten Tors for grown ups. See if you can get hold of a "Gold route" map
and do it on Dartmoor. Would not mind trying it again myself.
JWR.

 

[TeeDee]

Well the UK chapter of this lot are looking for something to do.

Maybe get in touch??

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=48793

 

[dan_84kmbivvychallenge]

Yeah Dartmoor looks like the place to do it though i watched the Royal Marine Comanndos on tv this week doing their training, 30 miles within 8 hours with full kit on Dartmoor and now I'm thinking I may have bitten off more than i can chew!! And they were running!

This will be my first time on Dartmoor...I hope i still like the place afterwards!

I havnt planned a route so looking for the Gold route would be a great idea.

I'll email the guys on zombie hunters. Would be good to see them do it somewhere in Wales.

Got to decide what cooking gear to take with me...I quite fancy an all fuel stove rather than lugging the trangia this time.

 

[kiltedpict]

Sounds like something I would be up for...I will have a chat with my walking buddies and get in touch- great idea.

ATB,

KP

 

[trail2]

When I did Ten Tors we took compo rats and Hexi burners. Got our water from the streams and chucked in a couple of purification tabs.
Now I would go with a light gas canister stove and high calorie rations either wet or dehydrated . As to water I would do the same or use a hi teck filter.
JWR.

 

[dan_84kmbivvychallenge]

KP - would be great to have you take part!

I've recently been thinking of using the gas burner from my trangia with a metal clickstand style thing and a pan so i have something pretty light-weight. My brother will be using his eta express gas stove so maybe i just need a pan to cook with and use that.

Is it wise just taking one stove between us? I've always doubled up on cooking gear just in case. What does everyone else do?

For water purification i've tried this lifesaver bottle:
http://www.lifesaversystems.com/techinfo.html

Water tasted good from it! The bulkiness and weight are the drawbacks. What other water purification systems are good?

 

[Colin.W]

I did part of my basic training on dartmoor. We got taken for a drive in the back of a covered truck with a sentry to make sure we didnt peek. kicked out the back of the truckafter driving around for ages, given a map and compas and told "supper is at 1900 hours at the point marked on the map" when we asked where we were the chief said "I cant tell you that, it'll spoil your fun"

 

[trail2]

Colin W, sounds a bit like the mob I was in.
Dan. If you are just going to do Dartmoor use tabs in your water bottle. No sense in buying a high price filter for one go round.
As to stoves, a small gas canister stove won't way you down. A hot drink/soup on a Dartmoor night far out weighs the scimping on a spare stove.
JWR.

 

[rik_uk3]

The zombie squad refused to have anything to do with raising money for our armed forces last year as in Help For Heroes, thats when I realised they are a bunch of to****rs and stopped visiting the forum.

If I've upset any members who are members here, tough.

 

[big_swede]

Do you need to bivvy? It's only 84 kms, it's doable in 24 hrs if you are really dedicated.

 

[dan_84kmbivvychallenge]

Hi big_swede, well for me, with only 8 or so hours of daylight in November (and no night walking skills) I'll definately need to bivvy...but i see your point and have been thinking that there should be a tougher ultimate event....what do you think?

The whole thinking behind doing this is to get people who don't do this sort of thing out into the wild and enjoying it, rather than driving their cars through it which is why the 26 miles a day came about. Tough enough for non-athlete types like myself!

The ultimate version...84km per day so 104 miles in 48 hours? That's shy of 4 marathons - too much, too little? What do you think?

Colin, that sounds fun! Did you make it back ok?

JWR, yeah that bottle and other systems are expensive. I'll get some tabs. I don't want to carry all my water this time!

 

[Intertidal]

Hi Dan,
Might give it a go - Dartmoor, Brecon Beacons or possibly coast path.
I'll keep an eye on the website.
cheers
Nick

 

[1972]

Hi all,

Firstly this sounds like a great idea, I may well have to persuade a mate to give this a go with me!

If anyone's planning on doing it there's a good resource here > http://gb.mapometer.com/en/ for planning your route.

 

[BushTucker]

That actually sounds a nice trip, was planning a cycling trip to Looe in Cornwall sometime next year. About 135 miles one way. All you have to do is walk at a steady 3.5 mph and you will do it in the 16 hours of daylight you get.

 

[dan_84kmbivvychallenge]

BushTucker, sounds good. I think 168km/104 miles for the Ultimate version of the challenge. I want to do this now...wondering if i can make it that far!!!

I'll update the site with it. Will put the mapping site on there too, very useful.

Nick, that would be great.

 

[BushTucker]

Well the ultimate version will be about 4 days, if as you say you only get 8 hours of daylight and you dont want to travel at night.You are still talking of a 3.25mph walking speed though.

 

[BushTucker]

As a note, I in the summer often do a 7mile walk around my area once a week, just to keep me fit. Usually takes about 2 hours but its up and down hills, across fields of mud and along a gravel beach. In 2 hours you know you have done it and ache all over. Its about 3.5mph and I dont think I would like to keep a pace like that for 8 hours to be honest.

 

[dan_84kmbivvychallenge]

Yeah, whoever wanted to do the ultimate version would have to move at night to cover that sort of groud...or run very fast. Not for me...yet.

I agree, by lunch time on the first day i'll be aching a lot! A few hours walking is likely to finish me off so 52 miles is more than enough. If some people want to do the big distance, good luck and i'd love to see them succeed, it would be a fantastic achievement.

 

[trail2]

Heres a pretty good link to the Ten Tors event.
http://events.exeter.ac.uk/tentors/
I did TT in 1966 and had a blast. 67 wasn't quite so much fun.
If yuo are to old for it(over 20) get your hands on a route map and give it a shot with a couple of friends.