Bivi trip to Severn and Wye sources (v.pic heavy!)

[Kerne]

Just got back from a walk and an overnight bivi to the sources of the Severn and the Wye with a couple of mates (with a slight diversion to the top of Pumlumon thrown in). Got a chance to use the new Bison Bushcraft Guide shirt in earnest for the first time and to give the Bushbuddy stove a decent workout. (Both came through with flying colours).

Set out from Llangurig and up through the Hafren forest. Nice morning light through the trees.

The Severn - not at all like it is in Gloucester, where I live!

The bivi site at 540m in the Hafren Forest:

Frost on the tarp in the morning (but cosy warm in the sleeping bag!)

The Bushbuddy doing its thing for a morning brew:

Another view of the Severn, near its source:

The team:

Yours truly at the source of the Severn, modelling the Guide shirt (I won't be threatening Wayland's position on the catwalk!):

The source of the Wye is not so prominent and took a bit of finding from the foggy top of Pumlumon:

The route back down the Wye to Llangurig:

All in all, a great weekend. I was particularly impressed with how windproof the guide shirt proved to be (nice one, Roger!) - I wore it over a HH merino/polysomething hoodie and was warm throughout the day, only having to slip another layer on when it got dark and the temperature plummeted. Just got to replace those bright red gaiters now...

 

[lou1661]

looks like you had a cracking trip there!

 

[SimonM]

Looks like a good trip.

Gives me itchy feet.....

 

[traderran]

Good Pic,s looks like a good time was had.

 

[w00dsmoke]

Thanks for a great read. It's great to see different parts of the country esp down south where I'll rarely go! I love the first waterfall pic and the bivi pics are great. Thats a very nice midle bivi set up, it's not often you see folk with it set up like that.
There really is some nice country there and nice looking walking. Glad the weather was good. Looks like you all had a lot of fun too.

I'm curious as to what you slept on? Karimats or something like that?Were you all comy enough on them? When I bivi on the ground its a full sized airbed or nothing...but a heck of weight to carry!

Great blog.

 

[Shewie]

Great pics Kerne

That looks like a nice part of the world to kick back in

 

[Kerne]

I'm curious as to what you slept on? Karimats or something like that?Were you all comy enough on them? When I bivi on the ground its a full sized airbed or nothing...but a heck of weight to carry!

All of us used various versions of thermarests and were perfectly warm and comfy. The ground was grassy/mossy so that helped as well.

 

[tommy the cat]

Great post would love to see the source too, as I used to live a stones throw from the river.
The shirts are very nice on my wish list!
dave

 

[MartinK9]

Great pics and commentary, thanks

 

[Kerne]

Thats a very nice midle bivi set up, it's not often you see folk with it set up like that.

I got this from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkBeZqXU4zk&feature=player_embedded

I also used a second pole to attach a guy to the central tab on the basha - this gives a little more headroom. The basha is Katmandu trekking basha 2.5 x 2.5m. Any smaller and this becomes a difficult setup.

 

[hanzo]

Very nice Kerne. Thanks for sharing.