Just ordered, today, a Trailstar Door from Oookworks.
35 grm Cuben Fibre, for £35.
I've followed the comments on the various innovative custom inners that Sean has produced for the MLD Duomid, Trailstar and Golite. He has a very good reputation for producing well made first class gear with excellent workmanship.
I think the idea of a light easily fixed door for The trailstar is so simple and yet I never thought to even try to rig up a door/vestible - (like I did a few years ago when I was playing around with my two tarp set up - above).
I know I could have done with one, for sure, on last year's TGO. I had pitched over a clump of heather and had limited room for laying out under the Trailstar. The winds were swirling round. Consequently, I put my waterproof over the end of my bivy bag. It worked, but, a door would have been a much better option.
I'm looking forward to using it.
And it will be available in time for the TGOC.
Great to have a UK Cottage manufacturer producing imaginative and innovative designs with top class workmanship.
Imagine, if you will, 7 days in which you only put your waterproofs on for 10 minutes.
In Scotland?
Before the World turned white.
Read on ..........
Corrour to Fort William 28 March - 3 April - NOT directly
This week was to be a good week, getting some serious hill walking in before the TGOC.
It turned out to be a fantastic week.
Day 1: Wednesday 28 March.
The train left me at Corrour station, in the middle of nowhere, at 1520. Time to do my first Munro of the day. Round on the track to Allt Luib Ruairdh, then on a faint Land rover track up to Garbh - bheinn. It was chilly but dry and the views were very good. There followed a superb high level stroll over Garbh - bheinn, Meall Garbh and on to Chno Dearg, my first Munro of the day.
The winds were pretty strong and gusty. It was getting late - I arrived at Chno Dearg at 1900.
To get shelter from the winds and to get a good source of water I headed down to Lochan Coire an Lochain, tucked below my next Munro, Stob Coire Sgriodain. The Coire was a good - ish shelter and I found a reasonable pitch for the night. It was 750m high.
That night was cold and the wind was gusting from time to time, but I was happy in the knowledge that my Trailstar could take it. I prepared a concoction of mash and sardines in a freeezer bag and washed this down with soup. Nice.
Day 2: Thursday 29 March
Next morning, after a warm and comfortable night's sleep, I woke up to a very misty morning.
It was a simple stroll up to the bealach and on to Stob Coire Sgriodain. It remained misty.
The route off and down to Fersit was notable in that there was very little in the way of a path for much of the way. The mist lifted as I got down lower. At Fersit I got wind of the weather forecast from a fellow backpacker who was resting there. Tomorrow was going to be good.
Ok, Grey Corries day!
Train to Fort William and Bank Street Hostel. Grog and Gruel.
Day 3 : Friday 30 March
Taxi to the end of Glen Nevis - £11.90.
Off at 0900 towards the Grey Corries. Cloud was around but lifting. The day was set fair and the Grey Corries were a wonder to wander over.
Stob Ban involved a rough stoney scramble over slidey stones. Then a gentle stroll down to the Leacach bothy for the night. Here, I shared the tiny bothy with four others, but there was room on the two platform bunks to sleep us all. Another freezer bag meal of pasta and tuna washed down with soup and followed by the water of life - whisky.
Day 4: Saturday 31 March
My plan was to pop over to Laggan hostel and come back over the two Munros over striding Loch Lochy.
So, back first to Glen Nevis campsite for the night.
Down towards Meannanach bothy in literaly 10 mins of rain. This started as I left the bothy and didn't look like going away, but, it did. This was my first and last time I had my waterproof on!
The ground underfoot was dry and the burns were pretty low, but there were still some very wet bits going through Glen Nevis and I still needed to do a Crocs crossing near Tom an Eite.
There's now a restaurant by Glen Nevis campsite and this saved a walk in to Fort William.
It was a still, cold night.
Day 5: Sunday 1 April
I took my time packing up and left the campsite at 1015.
The Great Glen Way is pretty boring until you get past Clunes, but it was easy going. I arrived at the Great Glen Hostel in Laggan at 1845, having booked a meal later on the Eagle barge.
I can heartily recommend the Eagle - the folk who run it, Janet and Paul are really good people. The restaurant bit seats around 15 - 20 I think, but I was the only diner that night.
Today was the first day of their season. Yesterday, they were closed.
Paul did me a Seafood fayre. Lobster, crab, mussels, razor clams, clams, whitebait, squid, langoustines and some I forget: all on a bed of rice and served with loads of veg. You are supposed to book a meal in advance - by 1600 - but Janet and Paul fitted me in for 2000.
Beer was good too. Sleep was easy.
I've booked my next meal there on Monday 14 May on the TGO. Seafood fayre! ............I like seafood.
Day 6 Monday 2 April
I looked out of the window to see rain.
By the time I left the hostel the rain had stopped.
The hills were shouded in mist and cloud.
By the time I got to Cam Bealach the cloud was starting to lift a little, but it clung like a limpet to Sron a Choire Gharbh and was icy cold. The grass was encased in ice.
Over the bealach the mist had lifted.
Up and over to Meall na Teanga. Here, the mist set in ..... and lifted from Sron a Choire Gharbh.
My original intention was to continue round the tops and come off Meall Odhar, reversing my intended route on the TGOC in May, but the mist and my uncertainty about coming down the steep looking side in in to Gleann Cia - aig decided my action.
Back down to the bealach and then down by the Allt Cam Bhealaich and over to Fedden - an old ruin. From here a faint watery path, in places, led down to a bridge and eventually to the forested side of Gleann Cia - aig.
The side off Meall Odhar looked steep, but, do-able. Better going up than coming down, so my route in May will be ok.
OR NOT!
"Do not proceed past this point - find an alternative route"
If you know Gleann Cia - aig, there is no alternative route down to Loch Arkaig.
I scrambled across thick layers of pine branches for about 400m until a machine operative informed me that the path was closed. Like I didn't know!
He was good, though. He explained that there was major forestry work taking place and mentioned some hydro work too. He didn't know when it would finish (14 May is not far away and this is my TGO route, coming up from Loch Arkaig!)
He directed me up through the forest for about 60 metres, where, thankfully, I hit the very end of the forest road. I had to walk down past 3 or 4 machines - the men saw me and stopped to let me by. It was well after 1700 and they were still working hard.
After what seemed like ages I reached the road. Over by the end of Loch Arkaig and on to Inver Mallie bothy. By the time i got there it had started to rain a bit. Not enough to draw out my waterproof. A cyclist had passed me earlier and Steve and I were the only ones at the bothy. What a big place. Three upstairs rooms and plenty of room downstairs. Steve told me that only in January he had been blown over while out with a climbing club group. He had badly damaged his back and collar bone - falling over 100m. The doctors had given him the ok to get out again, but he was feeling discomfort with his collar bone. Enough to warrant his decision to call in to the Belford the next day.
That night the wind blew and the rain/sleet/snow fell and then .........
Day 7: Tuesday 3 April
It snowed heavily overnight: almost down to loch level. It was bitter cold, but, remained dry for the walk back to Fort William. I was back at 1400 and had a MacDonalds (I was hungry!)
Bank Street Hostel and Grog and Gruel and curry. A good way to end an extraordinary week. Dry all week and 8 Munros.
The early morning news was of blizzards and mountain rescues and Aboyne - record highs to well below freezing in one week. Still I got to do the Grey Corries - before the snow. Nice.
LOCHAILORT TO MONTROSE TGO - 2012
There's a new craze sweeping across computers all over the World.
But, not to be left out in the World of Boggersphereland - here is an outline of the route I'll be taking in May.
Yea, I'm copying others, but I like thinking positive thoughts about May too!.
Total distance is 327 k and there are 17 Munros along the way.
There is no map, very simply, because I don't know how to attach a map!
The outline is just a list of starting and finishing points. If you take it that any Munro within the general direction from A to B, will be gone over, this will give some idea of the detail. One Munro is missed out because I've already been up and down it, but all the others are new to the list-ticking. (I don't like list-ticking! I do like the opportunity to be in Nirvana land!)
The other thing about my route this year is that I intend to stay up in the clouds. All the bits between the Munros will be as high as I can make them. Last year I killed my feet crossing endless, pathless, heather, and, peat, and, potholes .............................. I hate heather! As most of the heather was lower down, I'm going higher!
(I know .............. I'll still get endless, pathless, heather, and, peat, and, potholes - but I'm into positive thinking!)
The start is at Lochailort. (Hotel)
Then day 1 is to Oban Bothy (camp)
Day 2 is to Gualann nan Osna (camp)
Day 3 is to Invermallie Bothy (camp)
Day 4 is to Laggan (Hostel)
Day 5 is to Garve Bridge (camp)
Day 6 is to Newtonmore (Hostel)
Day 7 is to Minigaig (camp)
Day 8 is to path E of Loch Tilt (camp)
Day 9 is to Spittal of Glenshee (camp)
Day 10 is to Glen Clova (Bunkhouse)
Day 11 is to Tarfside (camp)
Day 12 is to North Water Bridge (camp)
Day 13 is to Montrose (Hotel)
This year, unlike last year, will not be too warm/not be too cold. Any rain will fall at night. There will be slight breezes to blow off any midges. Ticks will stick to deer and sheep. I will manage to climb all the Munros on my route this year.
In my dreams!
I'll be using my Trailstar again.
Last week I did a 6 day trip in the Peak District (around the TGO dinner at the Snake Pass Inn) and used the gear I'll be using on the TGOC. Only problem is that the nights under the Trailstar were too warm! May cut down on the down.
54 days to go.
Exciting!
Here's me celebrating two months, this year, without buying any gear.
But, the PHD sale starts on Monday.
But, this isn't in it.
So, yesterday I ordered one.
Ok, ok, I've said I wouldn't, but.....................
I've had a PHD Sigma vest for years. It is superb.
I've wanted, but resisted a PHD Sigma pullover, for years - hoping that it would be in a PHD sale, like the PHD Sigma vest was. But, when I saw that it wasn't in the sale, I had to place an order.
With the Sigma pullover, I like the idea of a light, warm top with handwarmer pockets and with a hood. In a large size and with a hood, it will probably weigh in at just over 400 grms. It's light for a robust piece of insulation and I just know it will be used a lot.
I had desired the Sigma pullover for a long time and had read good write ups on it.
It's easy to be swayed by the manufacturer's blurb, or, indeed testimonials on their gear (I too have written testimonials on PHD gear - obviously I've been delighted with the gear that I've written about). But, it's good to come across Blogs, or, Forum comments that reflect the views of folk who use the gear in all the sort of conditions that you want to use it in.
Eg. there's a OM contributor by the name of JimboJames1972. He rates the Sigma over any of the usual contenders around this sort of weight. Having read his posts in OM and knowing that he uses gear in real conditions, then I can respect his comments on gear. The drishell outer I know to be good as I have drishell stuff already.
Oh, and I have accumulated loads of PHD gear - all top class stuff ....................................................................and, made in England.
Now, it will take at least 4 weeks to arrive. It's worth the wait.
This will probably be the last piece of gear I buy this year.
Update 13/03/12
It arrived while I was away for 6 days backpacking in the Peak District - and attending the TGO Dinner at the Snake Pass Inn on Saturday.
First impressions - superb!
It is, as expected a great piece of insulating kit. The usual PHD quality gives this a luxury feel and fit. The hood is particularly impressive. When fastened up it sits snug around my head and moves well when turning from side to side. The handwarmer pockets are tunnel type and there is a small zipped pocket inside on one side.
If I compare the Sigma to my Patagonia Nano Puff pullover, the Sigma is in a different league. Of course, this is exactly what I wanted. The Sigma provides more warmth and with the hood, would be robust enough for any really cold damp conditions. Whilst the nano Puff is more of a mid layer, the Sigma is more of a stand alone top for all but the wettest of wet conditions. It will be great to throw on as a belay type top, or, to wear when walking in particularly cold conditions. I could have done with Sigma when skiing on minus 20c days back in January. (The Nano Puff, plus an R1, plus a Cioch Harta just about kept me comfortable!).
One point about advertised weights: most Companies will show an average weight, or not say what size the weight is for. The PHD weight shown is 360 grms (Just noticed - 05/12/12 - that the weight is now shown as 450grms, which makes more sense). Make it a Large size and add on a hood and this takes the weight up to 560 grms. For roughly a 100 grm fill top this is still pretty impressive. Compare say to a Montane Flux which has less fill and weighs more - but of course a fair part of the extra weight is the zips.
Now, if the weather can only get right - it is still early spring and it still can get very cold - then I'll be able to use the Sigma for real. If it continues warming up I may have to wait a while to use it for real.
But, I have a piece of gear I've desired for years and it is superb!
