I tried out my new four season tent this weekend, Mountain Hardware
Trango 3.1. We camped at Celyn Brithion campsite
(http://www.celynbrithion.co.uk/). Walked up the Minffordd Path and
along the Cadair Ridge and down Gau Graig on Saturday. A low level
circular walk around the Afon Mawddach Estuary on Sunday.
On Sunday evening we went to the pub for dinner, returned to the
campsite at about 10.45pm. My NEW tent was caught on a barbed wire
fence. The contents of my tent was strewn over the field. Both the
inner and flysheet are ripped beyond repair, the footprint is missing.
Two of the five poles are bent.
I suspect that, working without lights, the thieves were unable to
take down the tent so they pulled it from the ground, tearing the
inner. They managed to take off the footprint. They dragged the
tent, leaving my clothing strewn across the field. They then tried to
force the tent to collapse, bending the poles. They then gave up,
leaving the tent to be blown into the barbed wire fence where the fly
got badly damaged.
All evening there had been fairly heavy showers. My clothes, which
were all over the field, were dry, so it is possible that our return
from the pub had disturbed the thieves.
To lessen the blow somewhat, it seems likely that my insurance will
cover most of the cost of a replacement tent.
North Wales Police, Event Number E208216, will be pleased to hear of
any information.