Dartmoor and Me: How My Kit Held Up

[Ethan Hodge]

Alright folks, Ethan here. Just back from a proper solo overnighter on Dartmoor and I'm still grinning like an idiot. That place gets under your skin, I'm telling you.

The Vibe
Went for a simple two-day loop from Postbridge. Bloody glorious it was - one minute all moody skies and dramatic light, the next the sun's out and the ponies are giving you the side-eye. Found a decent spot to wild camp by a stream (left no trace, obviously). Waking up to just the wind and curious ponies? Can't beat it. Next day was proper Dartmoor mist - the kind that rolls in and makes you check your compass twice. Weather here changes on a dime, mate.

The Kit That Did The Job
Right, here's what I lugged around. Nothing fancy, but it worked a treat.

Rucksack: Osprey Atmos AG 65L
Old faithful. This thing carries weight like a dream.

Shelter & Sleep Stuff
Tent: GeerTop Navigator Mountaineering Tent Got this two-person jobbie - bit of extra room for me and my clobber. Pitches quick, stood up to the breeze no problem. Can't complain for the price.

Sleeping Bag: Geertop Flannel Sleeping Bag Went with the same brand as the tent to keep things simple. Actually warm enough in this season, I will try for more time to test.

Sleeping Pad: MSR footprint + blanket. Right, don't laugh - I grabbed a waterproof footprint from the shop and chucked a blanket on top. Yeah, I know, I need to get a proper insulated mat before it gets proper cold. Next on the list.

Grub: No Cook Challenge
Went stoveless this time. Breakfast was cold oats with nuts, lunch was tortilla wraps with cheese and salami. Through the day it was nuts and chocolate. I won't lie - when that mist rolled in at dusk, I'd have killed for a cuppa. But there's something proper liberating about not faffing with cooking.

The Truth Is...
Look, Dartmoor's special but it demands respect. As for me? I'm not one of those blokes with spreadsheets and everything planned to the gram. Half the time I'm throwing kit together last minute and hoping for the best. It's a bit chaotic, always a bit nerve-wracking, but that's part of the fun, innit?Anyway, that's my two pence. If you're thinking of going - just be prepared for anything. And if you're a bit disorganised like me, well, you're in good company.

Cheers,
Ethan

 

[Chris]

Glad you had a great time. It’s a lovely area of the country, spent so much of my childhood going up Sheeps Tor, Brent Tor and in the surrounding areas. Then later around Okehampton and Merrivale, but that was a lot less fun due to it being business rather than leisure. Still lovely scenery though.

Tortilla wraps with cheese and salami are a great lunch for some energy.

If you need help in choosing a sleeping mat, I am sure you will solicit plenty of opinions here. We’re never short of those! Or a willingness to help.

 

[oldtimer]

Took me back 70 years! Thanks for posting.

 

[Harold Godwinson]

Nice one Ethan, well done. You picked a nice part of the moors and sounds like you dodged the worst weather. Although coming from the landof the Scots your probably hardy enough for our balmy moorland weather.

 

[Ethan Hodge]

Glad you had a great time. It’s a lovely area of the country, spent so much of my childhood going up Sheeps Tor, Brent Tor and in the surrounding areas. Then later around Okehampton and Merrivale, but that was a lot less fun due to it being business rather than leisure. Still lovely scenery though.

Tortilla wraps with cheese and salami are a great lunch for some energy.

If you need help in choosing a sleeping mat, I am sure you will solicit plenty of opinions here. We’re never short of those! Or a willingness to help.

I'm not sure when my next trip will be, so I'll consider buying it when I have the next plan.

 

[Ethan Hodge]

Nice one Ethan, well done. You picked a nice part of the moors and sounds like you dodged the worst weather. Although coming from the landof the Scots your probably hardy enough for our balmy moorland weather.

To be honest, I'm someone who is very afraid of the cold, and I just want to get it done when the weather starts to get really cold.

 

[Ethan Hodge]

Nice one Ethan, well done. You picked a nice part of the moors and sounds like you dodged the worst weather. Although coming from the landof the Scots your probably hardy enough for our balmy moorland weather.

Yes, I was actually very lucky; the weather was pretty good. To be honest, I was very worried about the weather before I left.

 

[walker]

Am up there quite often overnight, so glad you enjoyed it.
Scotland is something else though I love it up there

 

[Falstaff]

Nice write up Ethan, thanks. Interesting about the stoveless catering, been considering options for that myself, but I'd still take a stove if only as a back up.

Open discussional re "Killed for a cuppa" ? - that (honest, understandable!) comment got me wondering, is there a need for an emergency food/drink heating option as essential, to prevent hypothermia/death?
- I'm thinking of a survival exposure issue like getting wet thru, falling onto a bog, be-nighted etc and being unable to get to a safe/help location.

 

[Ozmundo]

I carry a couple of MRE heaters. Very light, compact, cheap, store easily. I usually have at least some wet food I can heat up in one.

They can be used a a personal heater sat under your poncho etc, they are very hot for a short duration. Not much use to heat liquids, it’s possible but not ideal.

 

[Harold Godwinson]

I carry a couple of MRE heaters. Very light, compact, cheap, store easily. I usually have at least some wet food I can heat up in one.

They can be used a a personal heater sat under your poncho etc, they are very hot for a short duration. Not much use to heat liquids, it’s possible but not ideal.

Totally agree with you. My wife is a mountain leader and she uses them a lot... Interestingly she says the Americans have a additional bag that can be filled with water to heat it but I've never seen one.

 

[Ozmundo]

Yeah, there is a hot beverage bag (might be in some mre’s) or you can use something like a wazoo plastic bag that will take boiling water.

They’ll make about half a litre but I find handling them a bit awkward.



I do admit to having at least half a dozen brews a day so I may be biased!

 

[Foogs]

Sounds great, did you get any pictures while you were there @Ethan Hodge ?