It's only trip 2 of my promised monthly nights out and it was back in the same spot but, I got back out and that's the big thing for me.
Last trip I carried so much stuff that I really didn't need (even I knew I didn't need it, I just left it in the pack) that it left me with a lightly unweildy pack (LK 70 pack on an LK 35 frame) so I wanted to get on top of that. Still needed the British Army bag. Took the DD overquilt as well as underquilt to top up the sleeping bag and I'm glad I did. Dropped sub-zero before I went to bed and probably a bit below afterwards but I was OK. Not too warm, but OK.
Fire, or almost the lack of it was the bigger problem. It had been raining for days and everything I could find was soaked. The wood I foraged was generally just too moist to get going and my first attempt was frankly too rushed and relying on more luck than judgment. Wandering off into the trees, headtorch glowing I stumbled across some dead rhododendron hung up on some lower branches. Rocket fuel! Really made a difference and we got going. I had passed a small (maybe 8 meter) silver birch that had been knocked over when the trees had been felled a year ago on my way in so went back to salvage wood from that to try and get a snag fire got enough to dry wood as it went. Fortunately it worked and my usual steak, onions and mushrooms was augmented by some rather tasty sautéed sweet potato!
The glorious morning with some blue sky, the ground boiling with mist, a couple of coffees and more nettle tea than you can shake a stick at was pure, relaxing bliss.
The trip back included a small diversion to try and find a new spot that was more open and that might have even paid off. Cracking trip for me but I did prattle on at the camera a bit. Here is the video, but be warned, it's about 20 minutes. Still, is more for me than you
Here is to next month!
https://youtu.be/iyz8l_Jfkjw
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Last trip I carried so much stuff that I really didn't need (even I knew I didn't need it, I just left it in the pack) that it left me with a lightly unweildy pack (LK 70 pack on an LK 35 frame) so I wanted to get on top of that. Still needed the British Army bag. Took the DD overquilt as well as underquilt to top up the sleeping bag and I'm glad I did. Dropped sub-zero before I went to bed and probably a bit below afterwards but I was OK. Not too warm, but OK.
Fire, or almost the lack of it was the bigger problem. It had been raining for days and everything I could find was soaked. The wood I foraged was generally just too moist to get going and my first attempt was frankly too rushed and relying on more luck than judgment. Wandering off into the trees, headtorch glowing I stumbled across some dead rhododendron hung up on some lower branches. Rocket fuel! Really made a difference and we got going. I had passed a small (maybe 8 meter) silver birch that had been knocked over when the trees had been felled a year ago on my way in so went back to salvage wood from that to try and get a snag fire got enough to dry wood as it went. Fortunately it worked and my usual steak, onions and mushrooms was augmented by some rather tasty sautéed sweet potato!
The glorious morning with some blue sky, the ground boiling with mist, a couple of coffees and more nettle tea than you can shake a stick at was pure, relaxing bliss.
The trip back included a small diversion to try and find a new spot that was more open and that might have even paid off. Cracking trip for me but I did prattle on at the camera a bit. Here is the video, but be warned, it's about 20 minutes. Still, is more for me than you
Here is to next month!
https://youtu.be/iyz8l_Jfkjw
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
