A wet weekend in the Dales.

[copper_head]

Just back from a couple of days hiking in The Dales with Adz-1983 of this forum. We had decided to hike some of the Pennine Way from Malham to Horton-in-Ribblesdale with a nights wild camp in the middle. Not a great distance at about 20 miles but plenty for me when there's mountains and a full pack involved.

We set out from Malham and the Cove was looking impressive as always.

The path up to the top was just as steep as I remembered but we were soon up on the characteristic limestone pavement that all the school geography classes like to come and look at.

Did our best to avoid breaking our ankles on the clints and grikes and headed up a dry valley bottom towards Malham Tarn.

It was about this point I realised I'd failed to charge my camera, so phone pics only from here sorry! But still gorp makes it all better, mmm gorp .

The rain had started in earnest by this point but I was keen to see how my new Keela Munro jacket would deal with it. We headed up and round the tarn which looked choppy and somewhat bleak in the gloomy weather.

Stopped for a sort out of gear and a brew.

My cook kit for this trip; Fire-Maple gas stove, Primus Alutech 1.0l and a Alpkit MyTiMug (for man size brews). I'd been given a load of OOD army rations so my food was pretty heavy but tasty enough and very convenient.

We left the tarn behind us and could see our destination, Fountains Fell, shrouded in mist ahead of us. Stopped for a check of the maps and had a chat to a sheep farmer. "Rather you than me" he said with a wry grin when we told him our plan to camp on the summit. He might have been right .

We headed up in to steadily worsening weather but with good spirits we reached the summit. Checking around for a camp spot we discovered several things. One, the rain had turned from torrential to biblical. Two, the area was strewn with open mine shafts. Three, the idyllic mountain Tarn I'd envisaged turned out to be a boggy hole. Good job my phone is waterproof or I wouldn't have any pics of our camp here.

Well once the tent was up and water collected I was drenched to the skin, sorry to say my Munro wet out which was disappointing. But then I'm yet to discover a jacket that can handle hard physical work and persistent rain. Painting a picture of a bad night here but actually I still had a smile on my face, at least I did after a brew and a change of clothes . Cooked up some chilli, rice and cheese and had a couple of drams then turned in for the night. The clouds did lift a little as the sun was setting...

My Zephyros 2 is a great little tent and withstood the harsh conditions admirably but what it does lack is space. Surrounded by my drying gear and wet back pack I couldn't help but look enviously at the Silnylon palace of Adams MiniPeak. Still I slept like a log and woke to some better conditions in the morning.

First real go with my Sawyer Mini, very impressed so far.

Got packed away and made sure we left the camp just as we found it and headed off the hill towards our next peak, Pen-Y-Ghent. Not sure while there is a Welsh mountain in the middle of Yorkshire, anyone know how it got its name (translates to Hill of Winds apparently, I can see why)?

More rain on the way.

Looking back up Fountains Fell.

Pen-y-Ghent steadily looks steeper as we approach.

I'd climbed this hill several times previously but never with more than a day pack. 5 weeks off the death sticks were showing some benefits and hiking poles definitely made it easier going.

Adam making his way up a brutally steep bit.

Made it!

Nice views over to Ingleborough.

Hull pot, always worth a look.

A shot of Adam where he's first come wild camping two years previously. A bit older and wiser now eh mate ?

Headed down to The Crown in Horton for a well deserved pie and a pint.

Pitched up at Holme Farm campsite which is always an experience. Still at a fiver a night you cant complain .

Had a chilled out journey back to Malham. Got the train to Settle then a bus back to the car park at Malham which after 24 hours in wet boots was just fine by me .

Anyway hopefully Adam will put some of his pics up, but a great weekend all round .

 

[MartinK9]

Great trip report, thanks for sharing.

 

[Dave]

Nice photos. Cheers.

 

[fluffkitten]

Even with the rain that looks like a great weekend.

 

[ADz-1983]

Was a great weekend with great company and loved every minute of it ....except the Pen-Y-Ghent climb in slippery rain (bricks were definitely shat).

Thanks Kit, look forward to another weekend with you and the outdoors

Will post some more pics up soon once I'm organized.

 

[copper_head]

Great trip report, thanks for sharing.

Nice photos. Cheers.

Even with the rain that looks like a great weekend.

Thanks all, glad you like the piccies.

Was a great weekend with great company and loved every minute of it ....except the Pen-Y-Ghent climb in slippery rain (bricks were definitely shat).

Thanks Kit, look forward to another weekend with you and the outdoors

Will post some more pics up soon once I'm organized.

Cheers mate I had a right good time too.

 

[Gooner]

Nice photos and a good read, well done

 

[Teepee]

Great TR CH! Thanks for posting, we were doing much the same thing, probably commenting on Malham in the car as you were going up it.

I'd like to see Malham cove one day, not got to it yet.

I'm just starting out with the Sawyer mini after swapping from the heavier Aquaguard type. First use was on the bladder as normal. Last trip was with the sawyer screwed onto the squeeze pouch or a 2l bottle.
I noticed that I was drinking much less with the bottle than having the water just a suck away on the hose, also missed the gravity filter aspect of it where I can just hang the bladder off a tree or pole and fill the pot without squeezing it. Although it's massively lighter using the bottle over the bladder, I suspect I'd have drunk more water, saving that weight and also keeping better hydrated. A massive improvement on the Aquaguard though, the flow rate is excellent and it's just a better product IMO all round.

 

[Shewie]

Nice one lads, one of my favourite areas.

Pie and chips look good, I hope you had a better pint in the Crown than I did a few months back, tasted like battery acid and went down the drain outside

 

[copper_head]

Great TR CH! Thanks for posting, we were doing much the same thing, probably commenting on Malham in the car as you were going up it.

I'd like to see Malham cove one day, not got to it yet.

I'm just starting out with the Sawyer mini after swapping from the heavier Aquaguard type. First use was on the bladder as normal. Last trip was with the sawyer screwed onto the squeeze pouch or a 2l bottle.
I noticed that I was drinking much less with the bottle than having the water just a suck away on the hose, also missed the gravity filter aspect of it where I can just hang the bladder off a tree or pole and fill the pot without squeezing it. Although it's massively lighter using the bottle over the bladder, I suspect I'd have drunk more water, saving that weight and also keeping better hydrated. A massive improvement on the Aquaguard though, the flow rate is excellent and it's just a better product IMO all round.

Cheers Pete, yeah I enjoyed reading your adventures in the Lakes . Malham tarn is well worth a look and I love that part of the Dales in general.

The Sawyer sure is a big leap up from my PreMac MWP I was using previously. I had a 2l bladder I was using as a 'dirty' water bag which I could attach the Sawyer to and filter into my two Nalgenes. It also meant I could hold an total of 4l in camp. I think I might swap one of the Nalgenes for a 1l bottle with a standard thread so I can have a bottle to drink on the go which sounds like what your using.
Anyway a top bit of kit .

 

[copper_head]

Nice one lads, one of my favourite areas.

Pie and chips look good, I hope you had a better pint in the Crown than I did a few months back, tasted like battery acid and went down the drain outside

Cheers Rich, my pint (s ) of 'Old Perculiar' were pretty good. Had a couple in the Golden Lion, just check theirs was ok too...

 

[cbr6fs]

Fantastic trip report

Great TR CH! Thanks for posting, we were doing much the same thing, probably commenting on Malham in the car as you were going up it.

I'd like to see Malham cove one day, not got to it yet.

I'm just starting out with the Sawyer mini after swapping from the heavier Aquaguard type. First use was on the bladder as normal. Last trip was with the sawyer screwed onto the squeeze pouch or a 2l bottle.
I noticed that I was drinking much less with the bottle than having the water just a suck away on the hose, also missed the gravity filter aspect of it where I can just hang the bladder off a tree or pole and fill the pot without squeezing it. Although it's massively lighter using the bottle over the bladder, I suspect I'd have drunk more water, saving that weight and also keeping better hydrated. A massive improvement on the Aquaguard though, the flow rate is excellent and it's just a better product IMO all round.

The Mini still works as a gravity filter, only having one working arm i find it tough to squeeze the bladder so 99% of the time i use both the Sawyer and the Mini as gravity filters.

Here's my setup

Either use a tree or a walking pole to hang the dirty bladder from

Used a paper hole punch to make the holes in the bladder
Used paracord as the bladder attachment cord as i figured having some stretch and being thicker diameter wouldn't stress the holes in the bag as much.
I then used dyneema for the hanging cord with a prusik knot so i can adjust the height perfectly.
T'other end (not seen in the pic, but will happily snap a pic if anyones interested) is just a small clasp so i can just wrap it round a tree, stone, pole etc.

It's the full sized Sawyer in the pic, but i use the mini all the time now.

Did 5 days in the lakes a couple of weeks ago so was filtering all the water, takes around 7 mins to gravity drip around 2 litres of water.

Sawyer full sized is very slightly quicker but you're talking 20 seconds of so.


Sorry for going off-topic

 

[crosslandkelly]

Great report, thanks for sharing.

 

[copper_head]

Hey that's a neat set up. I'd considered doing something similar but I was worried about damaging the bladder, it doesn't weaken the seams any then?

 

[Teepee]

Fantastic trip report




The Mini still works as a gravity filter, only having one working arm i find it tough to squeeze the bladder so 99% of the time i use both the Sawyer and the Mini as gravity filters.

Here's my setup

Either use a tree or a walking pole to hang the dirty bladder from

Used a paper hole punch to make the holes in the bladder
Used paracord as the bladder attachment cord as i figured having some stretch and being thicker diameter wouldn't stress the holes in the bag as much.
I then used dyneema for the hanging cord with a prusik knot so i can adjust the height perfectly.
T'other end (not seen in the pic, but will happily snap a pic if anyones interested) is just a small clasp so i can just wrap it round a tree, stone, pole etc.

It's the full sized Sawyer in the pic, but i use the mini all the time now.

Did 5 days in the lakes a couple of weeks ago so was filtering all the water, takes around 7 mins to gravity drip around 2 litres of water.

Sawyer full sized is very slightly quicker but you're talking 20 seconds of so.


Sorry for going off-topic

I wanted to try that with my liquitainer attached and sealed to the drinking tube but it was chewed by a bloody fox and I haven't replaced it yet.

How do the Evernew's hold up mate? As good as the liquitainers do you know? I had 3 years solid use before Megan got hold of it.

Sorry CH for the hijack.

 

[cbr6fs]

Hey that's a neat set up. I'd considered doing something similar but I was worried about damaging the bladder, it doesn't weaken the seams any then?

So far no problems, i check the seams and the area around the holes after each trip and not even the holes have stretched yet.

I'd say that squeezing would put more stress on the seams than hanging the bladder, worst case i could envision is that the holes stretch and finally give out.
If this does happen then it won't affect how the bladder holds water as the holes are above the water line so to speak.

I wanted to try that with my liquitainer attached and sealed to the drinking tube but it was chewed by a bloody fox and I haven't replaced it yet.

How do the Evernew's hold up mate? As good as the liquitainers do you know? I had 3 years solid use before Megan got hold of it.

Sorry CH for the hijack.

We stayed the night at Angle tarn a few weeks ago, gotta say after reading you and Shewie's report i was kinda disappointed we didn't get raided by the local fox.
Bit insulting really, i mean wasn't out food as good as yours?????

No experience with the Liquidtainers, so no comparison sorry.

Been using the Evernew bladders for a couple of years now which easily equates to over 200 uses the bags still look like new.

Should also say that i've had the bladder hanging full of water all night several times, so i don't baby them at all.

Actually experimented a bit with the system when i got back and now use a Blake's hitch for the bit the bag attaches too.

If there are no trees of high rocks around i usually stick my walking pole as deep into the ground as it will go, then rest my rucksack on the pole to counter the weight of the bag hanging from it.

On the last trip my brother was squeezing the bladder (sounds painful ) and i hung mine from my hiking pole, squeezing was certainly faster but there wasn't much in it.


Only major problem we had was filling the bloody bladders up, i've tried scoops, rocks in the bladder, even rigged a system up with some of my sea fishing weights to pull the bladder under the water, nothing seems to work well.

Have a couple of cyclone tubes coming.
These are little plastic connectors that enable 2 male ends of plastic bottles to connect, as usually cola style plastic bottles have the same threads as Sayer/Evernew they should connect straight up.

Plan is to use a 1/2 cut bottle like CH uses as a scoop, but connect it to the bladder with one of these gadgets, hope is the cyclone type effect will fill the bladder up.
Fingers crossed.

Again sorry for going off topic CH


Cheers
Mark

 

[Teepee]

Bit insulting really, i mean wasn't out food as good as yours?????

Mr fox had malt loaf, peanut butter, jam, 90% lindt chocolate, cereal bars, coffee, Baileys and whiskey and a silnylon bag to carry it in. He's probably still asleep.

Cheers for the info Mark. I'll look at those for replacement.

 

[cbr6fs]

Mr fox had malt loaf, peanut butter, jam, 90% lindt chocolate, cereal bars, coffee, Baileys and whiskey and a silnylon bag to carry it in. He's probably still asleep.

Cheers for the info Mark. I'll look at those for replacement.

Couple of guys on t'bay have then in stock now.
About £7 for the 600ml and £8 for the 1500ml, but he's charging $24.57 for postage

There is also a seller in Japan with them in stock with free postage, but they're up to £18 for the 2000ml version.

After the tsunami it was extremely difficult to find the Evernew bags, it seems as though production has caught up though as they tend ti pop up more often now, so don't worry if you miss one, they come up every couple of weeks.

 

[Shewie]

Only major problem we had was filling the bloody bladders up, i've tried scoops, rocks in the bladder, even rigged a system up with some of my sea fishing weights to pull the bladder under the water, nothing seems to work well.


Plan is to use a 1/2 cut bottle like CH uses as a scoop

Cheers
Mark

I use the bottom of a 750ml water bottle as a scoop, light as you like and I can stuff my empty rolled up bottles in there in the side pack pocket.

I was pondering in camp the other day, I currently use the bottle bottom to fill the little 500ml Sawyer bag, then squeeze that into a 3L soft Platypus bottle, that way I always have plenty of drinking water in camp. 90% of it always gets boiled for brews or food so I'm over cautious, I could do away with the Sawyer bag and just filter straight from the Platy, it'd save ten minutes at camp and a massive 21g from the pack weight though

 

[tartanferret]

Thanks for sharing your trip