TGO 2012 My route outline

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!

PHD Sigma pullover

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!

Boiling water - KISS.

What's the hurry?

Relax

KISS

My hot food requirements are simple. Soup and dehydrated meal eg MX3, or Mountain House etc.,  for dinner ..............................and coffee for breakfast (with breakfast bars)

Gas or Meths?

Gas is quick. Meths is slow.

Just had a look at the TGO Notice board which has a thread on a Jet Boil problem - the original issue was raised on BPL.com. (Have you seen a Jetboil - like a Saturn rocket : keep that stable with a heavy payload, ie water!)

In the BPL.com thread is an obvious question - what's the rush?

Years ago I had a gas stove malfunction - luckily there was a pub nearby. Now, I just don't trust gas.

Now I use meths.

Which meths stove?

But I got to thinking - of all the meths stoves I have which works best for me?

(I use some building insulation material as a wrap-around windshield - same as used for pouch cosy's etc)

• On the TGO last year I used an Evernew DX stove and DX stand. Works fine. A little thirsty on meths.
• My pepsi stove works fine; it too is thirsty.
• Caldera Cone works fine and is fuel efficient: but (heresy!) is too fiddly for me... and bulky.
• Trangia stove with Evernew Trivet, works fine and is fuel efficient.
• Evernew DX stove with Evernew Trivet, works fine, but, not fuel efficient.
• Evernew DX stove by itself; very slow but fuel efficient. 575 mls water boiled in 15/20 mins with 30 mls of meths.

What's the hurry?

I know the arguement goes along the lines that: at the end of a hard day it's good to get some hot food or liquid inside you asap.

But, what's the hurry?

For me it's time to relax at the end of a hard day.

So, for me the scene goes: arrive at camp spot and put up Trailstar. Put stove on to heat water................ Outside: if on a good day with no rain and little wind, or, inside if not.
Boil water and make soup: use 575 mls for Knorr soup or similar and mix in a microwave/roasting bag. While water is boiling - unpack backpack and sort out gear. Relax.

Put more water on for dehydrated meal .....about 400 mls, so boiling time is less.
Let soup cool down ........and consume. ..........Relax.
Pour water into dehydrated meal and let dehydrated meal rehydrate..... and consume. .......Relax.

Simple. 60 mls of meths boils 1150 mls of water. Allow 100 mls to do coffee (breakfast) and dinner. Maximum fuel carried = 3 days = 300 mls.

No rush, no fuss, simple and straightforward. Nothing to go wrong.

Slow?

Yes, but, what's the hurry?

TGO 2012 - Comfort not obsession

The early days

My first backpacking trip was on the Ridgeway. I had Ventile trousers and jacket. I had a heavy tent and I carried a lot of heavy gear. It rained or snowed every day that Easter, back in the early 80's. The track was muddy. I wild camped every night. I arrived at Ivinghoe Beacon totally exhausted after 5 days. Ventile gear is no good for wet weather! The pack was heavy, the muddy conditions sapped all the energy I could muster and I didn't eat enough to generate that much needed energy. I used a heavy synthetic sleeping bag. During the day, most days, was miserible! At night, perhaps through exhaustion, I slept well.

Now

Fast forward to now and my gear is a little bit lighter.

What I have been musing on - as I try to shake off my first cold in 2 years - is how my gear collection has developed to date.

Here I must be honest and say that I am a recovering addict. Not alcohol or drugs, but gear.
I was one of those who looked at gear reviews and said ..... I want one of those (or not, if the review was not good). What it took me a long time to realise was that I didn't need loads of gear. I may have wanted it, but I didn't need it.

In this gear-aholic state I bought lightweight packs, tarps, jackets, stoves, etc etc................

Thanks to eBay I have been able to sell on some very good gear that I didn't need. OK I made less than I paid for the stuff, but I didn't have two wardrobes full of gear - and a cupboard over the stairs!

I havn't bought any gear for some time. I do not intend to buy any gear for some considearable time. I don't need to.

L/UL/SUL/Comfort

What I found from my various purchases was that I was getting top class gear that was L/UL/SUL. Some of this gear was OK. But, there was always a compromise. The pack may be light, but not that robust. The tarp set up I used to play with was OK in most conditions but, not for real foul weather. The Cuben Tarp I bought was excellent, but, was not up to real foul weather. The lightweight footware I bought was just not the right fit. I never did use my Terrocs on a walk. Even some of the rave gear was found wanting - by me. Take the Caldera cone. A great way of heating up water. Perhaps a bit too fiddly to assemble and also prone to damage quite easily. Even the likes of Titanium pins and nails were great at holding up my Trailstar in most conditions, but, not in a full blown storm in Scotland. I could go on.

So, here I am with a gear list for May's TGO.

What I need for the TGO is gear that will perform well and keep me comfortable under virtually all the conditions that can be anticipated. Snow, rain, wind, cold - day and night.

Some of the gear is L or UL - not sure about SUL - some of it is just gear. All of it has been used in the sort of conditions I expect to experience and what I can say is that it will keep me comfortable. Much of it becomes either a daytime or night-time system: eg the down gear will give extra warm on cold nights and the various daytimes layers can be worn or not depending on the conditions.

The gear

Shelter and sleeping

MLD Trailstar
MSR Groundhog stakes
Alpkit titanium pins
Wickes secondary gazing sheet
Titanium Goat Ptarmigan bivy bag
PHD Minim 300
Thermorest Ridgerest - cut down
Cheep bit of light foam to go under legs

Carrying or wearing

Osprey Tallon 44
Stuff sacs
PHD Ultra down pullover
PHD Down socks
Rohan briefs x 2
Smartwool socks x 2
Buff
Black Rock down hat
Montane cap
Extremities fleece gloves
Extremities Tuff Bags
PHD Alpamayo Smock
Marmot Dri-clime vest
Arc't'rex L/S merino zippped top
Montane lightspeed windshirt
Montane Terra trousers
Berghaus Paclite waterproof trousers
Integral Designs short gaiters
Keen Targee 11 Mids
Berghaus longjohns
Whistle
Compass
Maps
MSR peg trowel
Toilet paper (kitchen roll)
Tissues
Petzl e-light
Notebook and pen
Credit cards
Reading glasses
First aid kit
Mobile phone
I-pod
Pama power pack
Mobile phone charger plug
Leads for I-pod and mobile
Tool card
Tooth brush
Dr Bonners soap
Small towel
Comb
Black Diamond poles
E Trex GPS
Gaffa tape
Sunscreen

Kitchen

Evernew TX stove and stand
Windshied
Tibetan 900 pot
Kitchen roll (toilet paper)
Pouch to keep food warm
Lighter
Matches
Long plastic spoon
2L Platypus
500 ml plastic drinks bottle
Fuel bottles 100 ml plastic disposable - max 3 days (posted to resupply points)
Whisky bottles - 100ml plastic disposable

What's missing?

For most of my backpacking trips I took extra gear - just in case.

Even in 2009, on my first TGO I panicked and threw in an extra warm top. I didn't need it. I was also wearing Cioch gear, which is good for cold and wet, but not for hot and dry.

Last year I nearly got there. Much of the above list is based on last year's TGO experience.

There is a lot more gear I'd like to take. Eg my Nano Puff pullover. But, last year I took a lightweight synthetic and hardly wore it.

Musings

Well, these have been my musings on the gear I'll take in May for the TGO.

My conclusion on all the gear issues? Forget what it weighs or how small it packs. Ask, will it keep me comfortable in all the conditions that I can expect. Can I mix and match the clothing to enhance the comfort by day - and, by night?

Comfort over obsession.

But ........ what does it weigh?

Somewhere around 8k.

It could be much less. It could be much more. It will ensure that I am comfortable, not obsessed.




Ps: that MLD Cuben Trailstar looks good ....................................................................................