Lake District

Backpacking this weekend

I had been planning to walk to Woodhall Spa this weekend, but following the BBC weather forecast yesterday I quickly changed my plans to a trip to the Lake District.

So the plan is to climb the Old Man of Coniston and then find somewhere to camp tonight.

We left Lincoln at about 4.30am and have now stopped in Lancaster. This gives Richard a chance to reset the multiple controls on his G12.

20120922-081904.jpg

As with all good walking trips this one features an English Breakfast.

20120922-082708.jpg

Backpacking this weekend Read More »

Overnight trip to the Old Man of Coniston

Next weekend I am planning a backpacking trip to the Lake Dustrict, with a couple of friends, to walk up the Old Man of Coniston with an overnight camp – depending on the weather. (Click on the map for a larger version).

Old Man of Conniston

The main reason for going away is to spend the weekend taking photographs – so we are taking a tripod with us and I am going to try my hand at some video on my iPhone. I have a bracket to mount my iPhone on a tripod.

iPhone on a tripod

This weekend I have been sorting the gear.

  • I will get to try out my second inflatable pillow!
  • I am going to take my MSR Pocket Rocket stove with a 100g cannister – I have not yet used it on an overnight trip
  • I am going to test using a Molle water bottle pouch to carry my lunch and brew kit – fixed to the hip belt or compression strap on the Golite Jam2

Molle Water Bottle Pouch

  • I am going to pack the titanium meths stove and 50ml of meths in the Molle pouch – for hot drinks whilst walking

Food for the trip

We are going to start walking after lunch on the Saturday

Saturday

  • On the trail dried mango slices and salted cashew nuts
  • Instant white coffee – I can make a brew whilst waiting for the light to change for that perfect photograph

Evening meal

  • Smoked Sausage
  • Tortilla x3
  • Onion Gravy
  • Instant custard and chocolate chip cake
  • Tea

Indian tea (with milk and brown sugar) wafer biscuits
Hot chocolate, wafer biscuits

Sunday

Tea and biscuits  whilst still in my sleeping bag

Breakfast

  • Cereal bars
  • Breakfast biscuits
  • Crackers and jam
  • Apple flakes
  • Tea

On the trail dried mango slices and salted cashew nuts

Extras

  • Boiled sweets, apple flapjack bar
  • 2x instant peach teas (use hot or cold)
  • 15ml of dried milk 2x sugar packets 2x pepper packets 1x salt packet 1x tomato ketchup sachet
  • 1 oz Southern Comfort
  • Tissues

Emergency Food – Glucose tablets

Water

  • 1l in my CamelBak for the walk – this should be enough for both days as we are not walking far
  • 1.3l for evening meal
  • 0.7l for breakfast
  • 0.9l for extra cups of tea and cleaning

I am going to store some water in the car so I can drink before setting out and on my return.

 

Let’s hope the weather is good enough!

Overnight trip to the Old Man of Coniston Read More »

Coniston – Old Man pt 3

On the summit

20120116-224352.jpg

20120116-225454.jpg

20120116-231409.jpg

20120116-231011.jpg

20120116-224550.jpg

20120116-224801.jpg

To use the camera on my iPhone means I have to take off my gloves and when that is on top of a mountain and the temperature is below zero it severely limits the number of shots I can take.

Once done I packed the camera away as it was getting late and I knew that the last part of the journey down would be in the dark, not a problem as I always carry a headlamp. So I finished an excellent days walking with the stars out.

Coniston – Old Man pt 3 Read More »

Lunch Break

I went for a walk in the outlying limestone area south of the Lake District today. The outcrop of limestone the path followed was an impressive bit of geology, worth seeing.

I came across a hollow just off the path which was a good place to stop for lunch – the stepped rock made for somewhere to put my sitmat.

Although it was a grey day it is interesting country to walk though – when I get back I will try and upload my Memory-map route.

Lunch Break Read More »