Bags of Stuff...........

Not long now!

I was going to weigh all my kit for the Challenge and produce a neat list (as others have done) but........it's a little too scary!

Instead I'll just tell you that I've put everything in stuff bags - colour coded as far as possible. If I pluck up the courage I'll weigh each bag and make a total. That may not happen.

The bus leaves here just after 8 am on Wednesday morning and I'll have to be ready by then.....it'll limit the re-packing impulse a bit. From Aberdeen I'll catch the bus to Forres where Louise and I will meet up. On Thursday we'll travel from Inverness to Shiel Bridge where we'll start our Challenge on Friday morning. It's really not possible to travel by public transport from one side of Scotland to the other comfortably in only one day hence the Wednesday start.

I had intended to post some of my pre-Challenge training walks but sadly I didn't get round to doing that. Mostly I'm depending on two weeks recent walking in Provence and some regular day walking to give me enough fitness for the route we've planned.  That fortnight was almost all sunshine and I wore my shorts every day.

{TGOC training in Provence....}

In previous years I've had trouble with my feet on the Challenge so this year I'm going to try the Inov-8 solution. Much lighter weight and cooler than boots I've got a newish pair of Ladies Terroc 308 (now discontinued!).

There's also a new rucksack to try out. The Granite Gear that I used last year and the year before remains on top of my wardrobe - I haven't taken the decision completely to replace it yet. Last Autumn I bought a Lowe Alpine Nanon 50 + 10 - it has more pockets and should be easier for packing and accessing stuff on the hoof than the Granite Gear.

{New rucksack waiting to be filled up....}

Stuff Bags - Ready to Go

Blue Tent Bag - MSR Hubba with footprint, extra guys, j-cloth.

Long Red Bag - MSR tent pole, tent pegs.

Blue Bag - Vango short self-inflating sleep mat, Poundland blow-up pillow

Exped Grey Bag -  Tundra Warmth Unlimited -5 down sleeping bag.

Exped Blue Bag - clothes: fleece, Ron Hill tracksters, 1 spare Icebreaker undies, long sleeved zip top,
SS Smartwool t-shirt, Smartwool longjohns, silk LS top, I pair thick walking socks (sleeping),
3 pairs merino wool socks, spare Buff.

Exped Yellow Bag - repair/emergency kit: fleece hat, wool Buff, head-torch, shoo-goo, Tenacious tape,
Montane Primaloft gloves, emergency foil bivvy bag.

Exped Orange Bag - waterproofs: Goretex socks, Goretex over-mitts, lightweight gaiters.

Black Bag - stove/cooking: Coleman F1 stove, Alpkit titanium mug, collapsible food bowl with lid, 2 Lexan foons, 1 spatula, tiny frying pan, windshield, tiny bottle of oil, tiny bottle of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint liquid soap, Wind-proof lighter, small folding bowl, piece of w/u sponge, TGOC mug, 100g gas canister,
canister stabilising feet.

Mesh Bag - Mountain Equipment Primaloft jacket with hood.

Exped Red Bag - food: dried vegetables (cherry tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, mushrooms), spicy couscous, dried mashed potatoes, soya protein mince, falafel mix, angel hair pasta, whole egg powder, rolled oats, dried milk powder, tea-bags, coffee sticks, oat crunchy bars, mixed nuts, mixed dried fruit, packet of small Tortilla wraps, 2 small single serving packets of humous, 4 cuppa soups, squeezy mini-juice, 2 x Pour & Store bags.

Light Green Bag - small micro-fibre towel, wash kit: Dr. Bronner's Lavender liquid soap, Faith in Nature rosemary shampoo, tiny tub of toothpaste, tiny tub of foot cream, tiny tin of vaseline, half a toothbrush, baby talc, small hairbrush, moisturiser, deodorant wipes.

Green First Aid Bag - Compeed plasters, tape, antiseptic cream, moleskin, Engo blue anti-friction plasters.

Red Pill Bag - daily Thyroxine tablets, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, hayfever eye drops, anti-histamine nasal spray, Kwells (for the boat trip).

Orange Toilet Bag - digging stick, wipes, toilet paper.

Various Other Stuff - compass, whistle, Montane wind-shirt, head-net and anti-midge gel, camera, smart phone in Aquapac case, spare batteries, mobile charger, note book and pencil, tissues, tiny pen knife, spare lighter, lip-salve, handkerchief, full length foil mat, piece of foam sit map, spare glasses, suntan cream, sun hat, money and credit card in purse, bus-pass, TGOC card, waterproof hip pouch, Water-to-Go filter bottle in Lifeventure carry case, 2 x 1 litre flexible water bottles, water treatment drops, ranger beads.

Map Bag - 4 maps, A5 Ortlieb case with route print outs, TGOC route sheets.

Wearing - Paramo jacket, Paramo trousers, Inov-8 trainers, Bridgedale socks, Icebreaker undies, wicking t-shirt, Anatom walking poles.

I expect I've forgotten to mention something important! When it's written down it looks very daunting and not very lightweight so there may be some weeding to do before I catch that bus............

{Some of the bags!}

A good day to practice.......

The weather forecast for today was for rain or even snow, so I was surprised to see only clouds when I finally got up this morning. These clouds were sitting quite low on the mountain tops but this side of the valley, above the house, there was a hint of some blue sky.

I've been waiting for the opportunity to get my snowshoes on and go out for a little stomp. With the sore shoulder/arm last winter I didn't do very much - using the sticks was rather painful. There are a couple of interesting looking 'intineraires' in the Queyras that I fancy exploring so a couple of hours practice was called for - this could be the day for it.

It didn't take long to get organised once I'd made up my mind and I was soon marching purposefully up the road behind the house. My plan was to work my way up through the forest until I reached the church at Reotier. The snow pack was quite hard but not icy and there were patches where the sun had melted most of it away but not too many. It never really became a sunny day but it didn't rain and there was no wind.

{Just enough snow on the path}

{Ooops! Turning round and following my own prints.}

Following my usual pattern I turned too early and then had to retrace my footprints to arrive high enough up the hillside to reach the church above the village of Reotier. There are about thirteen small hamlets that make up the village - we live in one of them slightly round the side of the hill away from the main settlements.

In summertime it's possible to climb a steep zig-zag path through the trees but I find it easier in the snow to take a longer route. There are several paths which look surprisingly similar until you round the bend and discover a dead end - which I did today but fortunately only once.

{Finally the right way}

I had also forgotten how narrow the path is in places and with the thick snow I had a few wobbly moments thinking about possible snow slides or avalanches. However, I discovered I can climb quite quickly in snowshoes when the adrenaline kicks in and I was soon out of 'danger' and onto the wider path.

{The end of the snow - looking towards the lunch spot}

I reached the junction and descended towards the church. Along this path the snow finally ran out and I carried the snowshoes to the bench above the valley where I planned to eat my lunch. The sun was quite warm when it did shine on me for brief moments, so I arrived carrying my gloves, hat, buff and jacket in my rucksack.

{Brilliant view over the Durance valley for lunch time stop}

{A new board beside the bench}

The original plan was to retrace my route back home but I decided to continue on through the village, mostly walking on the roads and make a circular day of it. There was still no rain.

The small village roads wind down the hillside - passing old and new houses and eventually deposited me on the 'main' road. It's been a while since I walked this way. Some of the roads are too narrow for today's traffic but easily wandered down on foot.

{View over Reotier from the high road}

{Fascinating example of the old architecture}

I arrived back at the house after being out for nearly four hours. This was much longer than I had originally planned but very enjoyable.

It was the first time I'd used the Keen winter boots in my snowshoes and  I was very impressed. They're comfortable to walk in and I know they're waterproof as well as warm in the snow.

All in the mix.........

The weather here is mixed - much like it is in the UK at the moment. It's been warmer than usual for January although plenty of snow in the mountains its high water content has led to some high avalanche warnings for the whole area of the Alps.

{Storm bound}

{Last week - skies are blue and the snow perfect}

I've begun to settle into a regular programme. Downhill skiing on Friday and over the weekend when John is here and cross country efforts for some of the other days of the week. Wednesdays are reserved for cross country expeditions with my neighbour Christiane.

{Christane - first across the road at Pelvoux}

The downhill is going well - the pistes are well looked after and my new skis seem to make turns all on their own!

The cross country has been mixed too. As most of the prepared trails are in the valleys the snow has been a bit icy and sometimes soft and sticky. There has been some falling over and one such tumble resulted in a nicely bruised knee!

{Heavy clouds moving away}

Yesterday the sun eventually came through the clouds which were left over after a stormy night. Skiing seemed a step too far so I decided to walk along the river Durance. John had told me there was a new trail, signposted for bikes, towards St. Crepin.

I had lunch first and lazily drove down to the car park at the bottom of the hill.

Much of the night's snow was melting or melted and the path was muddy, icy, and slushy in places, but pleasant beside the river.

{Photo taken on the way back - shows typical condition of the path!}

I was searching for a new bridge which John said was after the camp site. The path continued but I couldn't see a bridge. The sun having dropped behind the mountain by then, I turned back and retraced my steps.

{Passing through the Municipal camp site}

{No sign of a bridge here!}

My Sorel snow boots have developed a problem with the zips. I have had them for about 10 years so I've replaced them with some winter Keen boots called Revels. These have an insulated sole. I'm finding them extremely useful and comfortable. They're great for general use in winter weather and for walking in snow. When I get round to it they'll be good for snowshoeing too! They have a hook at the front to attach gaiters - very practical. I used them yesterday for the walk along the riverside. Despite plunging my feet into deep slushy snow and puddles they didn't leak.

{The fishing ponds at the car park- closed for winter}

{Best view of the day - looking back towards the car park}

Playing catch-up.....

Oh dear, it's been a while since I sat down to write anything here. Not deliberate, but I have been busy doing things. Plenty of walks in December, by myself, with Louise and with the Friday walking group. Some decisions were made about what to take on the Challenge in May - although I constantly keep changing my mind (well, I am a Libran) so I won't write about it until I've properly decided.

Christmas was spent in the Alps. It was really dreich weather and so the skiing didn't get going until after that. The snow is a bit wet at the moment and the avalanche warnings have been somewhere between 3 and 4 for the past two weeks. There's enough to downhill ski on and there have been some good days in the limited sunshine of early January.

I have shelled out for a season pass for the x-c skiing too. It's a good way to make me go and do it! Had a second day out yesterday even though the snow was a bit hard and icy. I have been looking to buy some more cross country skis, the ones I'm using are probably 20 years old, and I find them rather long. I know they're supposed to be long but there are some available now that are slightly wider so it's possible to use a shorter length. Keeping a snow plough with the longer skis puts a strain on my knees that I can do without!

After the last post I wrote about the Inov-8 shoes I reconsidered the wear and tear and decided to contact Inov-8 to find out if this was a problem they know about. In response, they sent me a leaflet about lacing shoes properly. However, an arrangement was made with the retailer (outside.co.uk) and I sent off my shoes for Inov-8 to look at. I then got a full refund as they said they were 'faulty' but unfortunately they didn't answer my question about the shoes. I still have the second pair I bought more recently and I'm pondering whether to wear them for the Challenge or not. If I can keep my pack weight down, even try to lose a few pounds from my body weight (!), then they may be ok.

One of various problems I'm having with my computer is that most of the time it won't read my camera's SD card so there are no photos for the moment. If I can get it all to work without the gremlins I'll post them up later......... That's the photos not the gremlins......

In the meantime - Happy 2014 to everyone.......

Wearing the shoes.......

I sent for a pair of Inov-8 Ladies Terrocs 308 after this year's Challenge. My boots are generally comfortable but during the two weeks my feet had become blistered and eventually I lost five toenails - big and small.

{Brand spanking new - first outing}

The shoes arrived and seemed comfortable - much lighter and cooler for the feet. I took them with me to Alnmouth for two weeks walk leading in June but didn't pluck up the courage to wear them at all.

They had their first proper outing when Louise and I walked the 7 Bridges from Ballater.

{Showing off the new shoes}

There was a big day with Mick & Gayle when we found our way to the top of Creag nam Ban and a trot up to the bottom of Glas Tulaichean exploring the old railway in Glen Lochsie. Both these walks had tested the way the water soaks into the shoes - cold at first but then hardly noticeable. In Glen Lochsie I had waded across the river a few times with no ill effects. Last week 13 miles over soggy Culblean was no problem.....

{Underwater in Glen Lochsie}

What I did notice after wetting my feet properly was that when I arrived home and took out the insoles they had begun to fall apart. These were not the insoles that came with the shoes but a pair of my own that I felt were more supportive. A search on the internet came up with Crocs RX Silver insoles which I've been using ever since.

Since then I have been wearing the shoes for all my walks. First exploring the hills of the Borders, then standing up to my shins in wet marsh on Harris followed by two weeks in Whitby for HF, established that they were really enjoyable to use on day long routes too. Although my feet were wet they were never uncomfortable. And best of all - no blisters or lost toenails!

The soles are very grippy and I haven't had a problem going up or down tracks in wet or dry conditions.

{Wear and tear after several months of use}

This is all very positive but there is one thing which is not very pleasing. The inside of the heels of the shoes have worn quite badly. I've stuck on some moleskin tape now to prevent them wearing to pieces which is OK but needs replaced regularly. However I have gone ahead and bought a second pair - possibly to use for the Challenge next year - while they are available.

I do wonder how they will be when I'm carrying a heavy backpacking rucksack and perhaps walking on harder stony tracks so I haven't completely made up my mind about using them in May. A slightly thicker insole might be appropriate for more cushioning under foot. But I'm looking forward to the river crossings!

I'll continue to use this pair until they fall apart. At the moment there is no sign of wear on the soles or the uppers. They've been washed in running water after particularly 'peaty' outings and they dry quickly. The insoles are looking worn but I expected that.

Altogether I'm liking my 'dancing' shoes......

Reflections..Part 1

The recent TGO Challenge is still on my mind so I'm going to share some of these thoughts in this post.......

First of all, I'm going to have a rant......about the state of the tracks left by the churning of the bike wheels by the riders during the Scottish Six Days Trial. It's really staggering to realise that this is being heralded as a 'great success' by the organisers with hill paths and tracks completely destroyed by the passage of hundreds of motorbikes. I hope their ears were burning as I tried to negotiate my way across this ground.

{Somewhere near the Blackwater Reservoir}

I'll move on to happier thoughts.......

The Challenge 2013 route that I designed for myself was officially Acharacle to Lunan Bay but those who've followed the links and read through my account will realise that once again I didn't finish at Lunan Bay! It's so seductive to wander along the trade-route from Tarfside to Edzell to North Water Bridge Campsite then across to the coast. NOT going to Lunan Bay is becoming a record in itself.....

After failing to continue last year I made a few adjustments to ensure I could keep going this year.....I bought a hip mounted water bottle which I could use without taking my rucksack off. I carried more snack bars and dried fruit for eating during the day. Whenever I pitched the tent I was ultra-careful to consider the wind direction and strength - even using heavy stones to weigh down the pegs.

The next problem I face every time on a long distance walk. The condition of my feet. I currently use Keen leather boots which overall are the most comfortable I have ever used. But I still had blisters. The first few days there were numerous river crossings which meant I removed the boots, put on sandals, waded the torrent, then dried my feet and put on the boots again. I think that protected my feet in some way, certainly cooled them down regularly, so I was pleased that at the end of day 2 I had no problems.

That changed after I had to walk the road. To begin with my heels became blistered, not something I'm usually bothered by......this pushed my feet forward in the boots and then my toes blistered too.

{On the mend - after getting the Compeed off!}

To try and stop this happening next time I've been reading up on Inov-8 shoes and found a pair to try at a reasonable price. I didn't use them when I was leading walks in Northumberland but I did try them yesterday on the Seven Bridges walk with Louise.

{First steps for new shoes}

I was worried the Inov-8's wouldn't be wide enough but the tops are quite soft so I think they'll mould to my feet. The insoles I replaced with my normal instep supporting ones. My feet tend to heat up quickly so there should be no problem keeping them warm in wet conditions.......only time will tell! Certainly for 5 miles on the flat they were comfortable and extremely light to wear.

{Cooling the feet in Glen Tilt}

The repairs I made to my tent withstood some heavy rain and gusty winds but I've redone them this week with some sealant better suited to use on the silicone-coated fly of the Hubba. None of the patches have moved at all. Once it's dried off again I'm planning a little overnighter somewhere local to test it out......

When I fell heavily in Glen Gour I not only banged my thigh and twisted my knees but bent my walking pole too. I've been using Mountain King TrailBlaze poles for a few years now. Admittedly they are rather lightweight for Challenge use but they've survived surprisingly well. After a phone call to Mountain King I sent them back for a 'reasonably priced' refurbishment - two new sections were put in for me. Great service - thank you!

During that fall I also ripped holes in my new Paramo Quito trousers. I continued to wear them throughout the Challenge - but they're away being repaired at the moment. Being Paramo they withstood rain, wind, sleet and hail, along with, mud, peat and river water, admirably. They're also not so heavy as the original Cascadas so were comfortable to wear all day.

A casualty of this thought process will be the Paramo 3rd Element jacket. I love it for its waterproof qualities but it's a bit short for me and if I'm being brutally honest, a bit tight for me round the hips.  It's going to be sold, probably on Ebay. It splits helpfully into a hood and sleeves, and a gilet. During the time I've used it I have also never unzipped it into two parts like that........

Meanwhile - I'm still thinking..............

'Hot' pants......another Honourable Mention

Well....maybe 'warm' pants would be a better title......I've been searching for something to keep the rear end a bit warmer than M & S standards and thanks to Louise (who blogs here) and her good advice, at last I've found the answer.

Just before Christmas I ordered a pair of Icebreaker Boy Shorts at a reduced price from SportPursuit and they eventually arrived just after New Year. I've been wearing them for all my cold weather activities and they've been extremely comfortable and most importantly, warm. Washing is no problem, just throw in the washing machine and then air dry.

One pair is not really enough so last week I searched the online shops for another pair. Not so easy to find except at their full price. I did get lucky though and natureshop had a good offer. So here is another of my Honourable Mentions 2013 - the parcel arrived within a couple of days for a very reasonable international postage cost. Brilliant!

{Very 'eco' packaging!}

I ordered two pairs. Icebreaker gear is too expensive full price but if you can find it at a bargain price then go for it! 

{A copied picture - to spare all our blushes!}

A new rucksack to review.....

When I started blogging here I didn't think of having to deal with requests from gear manufacturers to review their goods. HOWEVER, last week I was politely asked if I would like to do just that so this morning a brand new rucksack arrived for me from Berghaus. Those of you who know me well also know I love a good rucksack!

It was delivered quickly by courier. The parcel contained an updated version of a Freeflow 20 in a VERY bright green, almost luminous in fact. The colour isn't really true to life in the photos so you'll have to take my word for it!

{Ready for the reveal....}

The first thing I noticed was quite a strong looking waist belt, and a curved back on the bag itself, with mesh keeping it away from the spine. There is a zip compartment on the outside and two short stretchy pockets which are angled so perhaps they can be used to stow a water bottle. Inside there's a pocket for a hydration bladder and an exit hole for the tube.

{Unwrapped....}

The straps are made of cut-out foam but look quite sturdy. There's an adjustable chest strap. As is not unusual for a small daysack there is no lid but a well covered zip with tagged pulls. Inside, to one side, I found a key hook.

{Top view}

I am surprised the rucksack has no waterproof cover as I'm sure the previous models have had.

{Back pocket zip tucks away neatly}

{Waist belt}

As the photo shows the zip pull has a cover. There are also two pole holding straps, with loops at the bottom, for storage. I'm not sure I like the habit of stashing walking sticks on the back of a small rucksack, but this feature appeals to some users.

{Storage loops for walking poles}

The weather here this morning was a persistent dreich so I didn't feel like joining the Friday group. If I had I could have given the bag its first outing......so that will have to wait.

I'll post a proper review once I've used it for the next month or so. That month will probably include walking, skiing and possibly snowshoeing - a good workout for me and the rucksack!

"Slings for Damaged Wings"............

WARNING!    This is not the usual kind of outdoor gear posting.


As you can imagine, I searched Ebay for a sling to wear on my broken arm ............and found this.......

Well, who could resist?

It comes from a firm called 'The Sling Clozet' in the States. And it arrived within a week............!

I've worn it a couple of times now especially when leaving the house. It's well made in cotton with a broad Velcro strap for support.

Be Prepared.....

When you think you've thought of everything you might need in an emergency - think again!

After my accident last week I am finding plenty of time to re-think my own emergency kit that I carry whenever I go walking.

The most surprising thing for me was how much I under-estimated the effect of such a fall as I had.

I found myself down a narrow gully, surrounded by old trees and stones, on quite a steep slope. As I had hurt my arm and shoulder it was too painful to move or stand up without risking further injury. Taking off my rucksack was also impossible. Luckily I had been carrying my map case and it had landed near by. My phone was attached to the chest strap on my rucksack and I could still use my water tube to drink.

After getting to a fairly secure position with my feet against a small tree I had time to assess my situation. Fortunately I had one bar of reception on my phone so I decided to phone for help. I was worried that I might drop the phone so I used my hat to lean into. I also put the map into the hat.

So, although I was carrying a fairly good amount of kit that might have been useful it wasn't possible to use or even reach all of it.

For day walks I am often on my own. I had quickly pointed out on the map to John where I was planning to go - but didn't leave a map with him. I do always try to estimate an ETA and promise to let him know if I'm delayed.

Therefore the first thing to change will be to print out a copy of my route to leave with him, along with a route description.

The Deuter rucksack I use for day walks here in the summer is a 20 litre model.  It has a main sack with an internal bladder holder and drinking tube exit onto a shoulder strap clip, two small mesh side pockets and a zipped top lid pocket. The front chest strap takes a small pouch for my mobile phone.  There are no waist pockets.

There is definitely room for improvement - not necessarily only WHAT but HOW I pack essential items.  So, I've typed up a table/list to help me think again about this.  I'm looking particularly at summer day walks on my own. There might well be different options for walks at different times of the year and with a group.
I'm sharing the chart with you below. I would welcome any comments or suggestions.

Item	Where carried	Re-think
Small first aid kit	Rucksack top  pocket	Rucksack top pocket
Compass	In map case	Chest pouch
Whistle	Rucksack top pocket	Chest pouch
Map	Map case	Attach Front rucksack
Phone	Rucksack front strap pouch	Rucksack front strap pouch
Water (2 litres)	Rucksack in bladder	Rucksack in bladder
Food	Rucksack main	Rucksack main
Spare energy bar	Rucksack main	Chest pouch
Notebook, pencil	Rucksack top pocket	Chest pouch
Wet wipes	Rucksack top pocket	Chest pouch
Waterproofs	Rucksack main	Rucksack main
Large hankie	Rucksack top pocket	Chest pouch
Foil blanket	Rucksack main	Chest pouch
Gloves, hat, head-torch	Rucksack main	Rucksack main
Monocular	Rucksack side pocket	Rucksack side pocket
Spare clothes	Rucksack main	Rucksack main
Sun-cream	Rucksack side pocket	Rucksack side pocket

{My rather wobbly chart!}

My tiny Montane wind smock should also be on the list. It could be carried in the chest-pouch too. There are sometimes hiking poles included in my essentials as well as a camera.

The items I have decided to do something about after a re-think would be carried in a chest pouch or similar bag.  This will be easily at hand and not tucked away in the rucksack.

The OMM chest pouch is rather large for a small rucksack and as I found on the TGO Challenge this year, not waterproof. It also renders removing my rucksack more difficult.

I was reading (here) a couple of days ago and saw the Osprey Grab Bag which Martin was reviewing. Now this could be just what I need!

Any thoughts.........................?

More plans...

So here are the plans (so far)....

In order to walk the other end of the lake it's going to be more sensible to spend a few days there, camping in the van, instead of travelling back and forth.  Tomorrow we'll spend the night at Chorges and then I'll continue my tour of the lake from where I stopped last year. The first walk will be to take in the Col Lebraut and the Museoscope du Lac. 

A night in Espinasses or nearby will enable me to walk around the end of the lake towards la Breole and subsequently to le Lauzet-Ubaye.

The weather forecast is fairly good for the next three days and barring any possible problems with my feet that should leave me just the longer walk from Savines to le Lauzet-Ubaye. After that it will be the Pic de Morgon - possibly after next weekend.

{Lac de Serre-Poncon}

The map only shows the roads unfortunately. I still haven't found a reasonable way to show Memory Map routes here. Most of the paths are through the forests and smaller hamlets around the lake.

My feet are still not completely healed from the Challenge attempt this year. Some of the blisters were quite deep and I've now lost two toenails, one of them from a big toe, so they are still a little tender. I'll probably walk in my Keen McKenzie shoes as I did last year. They're very grippy and keep my feet cool.

So now I have to decide what food to take and start packing up to go and do it.........

Running on empty.............

There was a slight hint that things might not go as planned - my Neoair burst and deflated, leaving me trying to sleep on Louise's lounge floor......I replaced it on Thursday morning in Inverness before we caught the train to our start points. I bought a Vango Ultralite self-inflating mat - thankfully it is quite comfortable and seems much tougher than the blow-up neoair - also much cheaper!

This is not going to be an account of the few days of Challenge 2012 which I managed to complete but more a reflection of why it all went so badly wrong and why I was very relieved to find myself on the bus home late on Tuesday afternoon......

After the sleeping mat incident things settled and I enjoyed the first couple of days walking to Kinloch Hourn and beyond. The Granite Gear rucksack was exceptionally comfortable to carry and didn't seem too heavy. I didn't miss a top pocket as the OMM chest-pouch was a great substitute. It enabled me to access my small bits and bobs without having to take off my rucksack. The Keen boots were grippy, comfortable and supportive.

The ground was wet, well, saturated, with water standing in pools everywhere and any burns I had to cross were full and fast. A dry wild camp site proved difficult to find on the first night so I eventually went with two other Challengers right down to Kinloch Hourn and camped in late evening sunshine just before the bridge, this made my day a lot longer than I had planned.

I stopped short on the second evening, realising that a crossing of the River Loyne might just be too difficult for me on my own. The sky seemed dark and threatening, with occasional squally showers. A passing Challenger told me the weather forecast - heavy rain and a south-westerly gale, maybe gusting over 80 mph.
The pitch I chose at the old Altbeithe cottage was as sheltered as I could find.

By 5 am all hell was breaking loose - and I spent two hours listening to the wind howling like some pre-historic beast and trying to tear the tent out of the ground. After packing up inside the tent, eating a cold breakfast, there was a lull so I finally went outside, foolishly losing my concentration and the wind succeeded in taking the tent....I'll never forget how it flew up, kite-like, still complete, and was carried over the barbed wire fence and up the hill away from me. There was some very bad language.........................

I haven't run up hill for a long time but fuelled by adrenalin and panic - I set off.  Ploughing upwards through bog, tussocks, dips, mounds and hollows I would almost reach the tent when the wind would take it off again. A last effort found me climbing a waterfall and finding, resting in a small river gorge, my tent, still assembled, waiting for me........

Getting back down, grimly clutching the tent, I was knocked off my feet several times by the gale but finally made it to the house. Three other Challengers had come to meet me, realising what was happening but not being able to see me, and helped me fold the tent and finish packing up. The next few hours we all struggled along the road, fully exposed to the terrible gusts of wind and monsoon-like rain. Even the Paramo gave up, my feet were completely soaked, and I could hardly see through my wet and steamed up glasses. Stopping for food or drink or respite was not an option.

The walking on Monday was hard going. My feet were badly damaged by a day spent walking in water-filled boots. A mistake in my route made it necessary to almost double back to Invergarry leaving me the endless canal-side walk into Fort Augustus. I arrived at 9 pm, foot-sore, and too hungry to eat any supper.

Struggling up the road in the morning, eventually reaching Loch Tarff, being hit in the face by a heavy shower of sleet, hail and snow - I asked myself a simple question. Are you enjoying this? And another, are you looking forward to the next few days' walking?

The answer to both these questions was an emphatic NO!

I went back to Fort Augustus and caught the bus............

Why did this happen? I have thought about it.....

I allowed myself to get too tired...My mental and physical tanks were emptied by the frantic race to retrieve the tent......I made a bad decision about following my route in bad circumstances  despite there being an easier alternative....I didn't eat or drink properly nor rest enough.....I should have stopped before I had to walk the canal tow path and done that the next day....I should have put on my gaiters and waterproof socks before walking in the storm....If I'd carried my bothy-bag could I have sheltered inside it?.......I should have waterproofed the OMM chest-pouch more carefully as everything inside it was soaked through.....I could have sprayed the rucksack too, so that losing the use of the pack cover (it was too windy to keep it on) didn't have such consequences (a wet rucksack is surprisingly heavy!)......and so on.....

I did feel that I was putting myself in danger by carrying on, so, although the decision was hard, I still believe it was wise........

Last minute.......................

{Alnmouth beach}

Another week in Alnmouth but as you can see from the photo above, not such good weather this time - though to be fair I only got wet once!

The sea was quite rough at times - a trip to see the puffins on the Farne Islands had to be cancelled. I was rather relieved about that really, sailing is not my thing - it's the smell of the marine diesel........

{The body of a gannet on the beach possibly killed by the strong wind overnight}

One of the walks took me to Wooler where I visited 'Gear for Girls' in the high street. There I couldn't resist the temptation of buying a new pair of boots - Keen Glarus. They're going to become my 'serious' boots - starting with the Challenge in a few days time. The other Keen pair that I have - the Pyrenees - did me good service but the sole is rather worn and they've become generally rather soft. I'm thinking about some of the underfoot conditions I may encounter as I make my way across Scotland!

{Keen Glarus - my new boots}

This will only be a short post as I'm still struggling to pack everything into my rucksack. There is rather a large bag of food (which will diminish as the days pass) and I'm having to take an extra jacket in case it's cold when camping......

{TGO Challenge kit laid out on the spare bed - but will it all go in the rucksack?}

I'm not going to put out a kit list - it's all the usual stuff - as you can see. No matter how hard I try I can't get under 10  kg. Now I'm at the stage of not being able to cut it down any further especially as the weather forecast is not terribly favourable.......... 

It's the little things that count.............

Apart from the new backpacking rucksack (here) there are no major purchases this year for the Challenge. There are a few 'little things' that I need though....

New Socks
My favourite socks (Smartwool Ladies lite crew) have unfortunately been carelessly left in France. They do need to be replaced as they are wearing thin on the heel and still have a few nasty sticky bits where a Compeed blister plaster 'dissolved'. 

When I returned home after the Challenge last May I initially put them in the bin but then rescued them the next day and tried to remove the lumps of Compeed goo by soaking, washing and finally just picking the bits out of the sock! That worked (more or less) and I have worn them since on quite a few day walks and during the winter for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

My sock drawer is full of walking socks of one kind or another, but these Smartwool ones are definitely the best for my feet. As they are wool, I can wear them a couple of days before they need washing - which is ideal for backpacking.

So I've sent for a couple of new pairs.............

{Borrowed picture - I've chosen purple and grey though}

Water Treatment Drops
I bought this water treatment system for my first solo Challenge. The two little bottles are easy to carry and I've found they don't taint the water at all. The original bottles are now out of date so I've sent for some replacements.

{Aquamira drops}

I did do a bit more research into other ways of treating water but I like this system so I'm staying with it.

Gaiters
About twelve years ago I did a week's walking in the Yorkshire Dales and left my gaiters at home. By the time I got to Grassington I was regretting the decision so I bought a cheap pair there. They've only recently started to fall to pieces so I'm going to replace them. I do still have my original Goretex gaiters but they're heavy to carry, and hot to wear so I rarely use them.

{Borrowed picture of Outdoor Designs gaiters}

I've found these really good, lightweight and comfortable to wear. I like the zip up the front and the re-inforced foot area. When they get muddy they wash easily in the washing machine and occasionally I have reproofed them with Nikwax. Hopefully the new ones will be the same......

Omm Chest Pouch
This is a new idea for me. The Granite Gear rucksack has no hip belt pockets or top pocket so I've bought one of these chest pouches to carry the things I need as I walk e.g. compass, energy bars, lip-salve, small amount of money etc. I haven't used it yet as I am not sure it's going to be what I need. I already have a Boxit waterproof box for my phone/GPS and an Ortlieb map case to carry so a small bag on my hip belt maybe a better option. After my week in Alnmouth I'm planning an overnight 'practice' camp so it'll get a try-out then.

{Borrowed picture of OMM Chest Pouch}

I had some trouble ordering the chest pouch as OMM have recently re-designed it so stock levels were affected.  Eventually I got hold of one of the new ones. It has a map case in front, a zipped pocket with a key hook and internal pocket and then mesh at the back. There are clips and hooks at the four corners so it can fit onto the rucksack straps.

Gehwol Foot Cream Extra
My feet deserve some pampering so I've sent for some Gehwol Foot Cream in the hope that it'll do what it says on the tube!

{Borrowed picture of the 'magic' cream!}

 Of course, all these little things start to add up....so I expect the over-stretched pension fund will be relieved to know that seems to be the end of the buying for this year!



(Well, maybe................)