Wild Camping

Try here bassplace.freeserve.co.ukwildcampOpen ↗

Very good site

Cheers

Andy

"Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all

I am planning a wild camp for 5 days in the Lake District,
I have not ever wild camped before, I have experience in
camping from my boy scout days,

and

Quoted message said:

also High Pike, I am fully aware of posible dangers, and
am constantly reading reasearching the area so my wild
camp will be as enjoyable and

SAFE

Quoted message said:

as i can make it, I would be pleased if any other wild
campers with experience in the Lake District could offer
me advice on equipment, what

to

Quoted message said:

take, what not to take, areas to avoide posible areas to
make good wild camps (I dont want your exact grid refs for
wild camps i would like to

find

Quoted message said:

my own) but general locations close to fresh water
supplys, my trip is in the very early stages of planning,
so any help and advice will be valuable to me.

I thank you in advance for any help, advice, and anything
you could offer
me.

Regards

Paul

Quoted message said:

I would be pleased if any other wild campers with
experience in the Lake District could offer me advice on
equipment, what

to

Quoted message said:

take, what not to take,

With 11 years wild camping experience I'd say take as little
as you can get away with without seriously compromising your
enjoyment of the hills. My experience is that one starts off
taking too much stuff with them. The website mentioned by
the other poster is a good source of info so I'll mention
things you really don't need to take.

Dont Take:
- Cleaning detergents for washing food up, a simple sponge
will do the job
- Loads of spare clothes, keep it simple - you don't need a
change of socks/undies/t-shirts for every day of your trip
when a bar of soap will be sufficient for cleaning what
you've got.
- Heavy food - tins, jars, meat etc. Take dehydrated
food instead
- A huge rucksac, there's a big temptation to just fill it
up to the brim when you should be asking "what don't I
need?". My 70ltr rucksack, to the astonishment of my
friends, is perfectly adequate for a two week trip abroad
- without needing to top up with food all the time.

Quoted message said:

I am fully aware of posible dangers, and am constantly
reading reasearching the area so my wild camp will be as
enjoyable and

SAFE

Quoted message said:

as i can make it,

I'd say here that you should be familiar and confortable
with the workings of your stove - especially if cooking in
the tent porch. I've had my epigas stove for 10 years and
for the first time, on a very cold morning, I got two foot
high flames in my tent porch. No damage done, but basically
the liquid butane / propane mix failed to vopourise before
exiting the nozzle of the burner. I get in the habit of
turning my cylinder upside down when it's low to keep the
flame powerful. If you do that just after you've lit the
stove, the assembly hasn't warmed up enough to vaporise the
liquid into gas and so you run the risk of the stove
flaring up.

One hazard is the weather changing overnight - especially if
you're high up. For that reason getting a forecast is a good
plan. I normally get my dad to send text messages to me as
to what the weather is going to do - very useful abroad
where I might not be able to understand radio broadcasts.
Aside from that, a good strong tent pitched properly into
the wind is good insurance against most bad weather.

In Scotland I tend not to bring water purifying tablets
however in the Lake District & Snowdonia, I do. I once did a
walk up Crinkle Gill, Langdale and there seemed to be
numerous dead sheep lining the side of the stream. The
stench was awful. Since then it was clear the Lakes more
likely to have contaminated water supplies.

Quoted message said:

areas to avoide posible areas to make good wild camps

Any obvious tarns at mid height close to popular mountains
like Scafell Pike / Helvellyn / Bowfell are likely to be
very popular both with daytrippers and wild campers and as
such they are worth avoiding. The nice wild camping sites
are found by valleys / streams that don't have busy paths
going up them. You can often find obscure places off the
beaten track that would have superb views.

Hope this helps

Anthony

In message <[email hidden]>, Paul
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Hi all

I am planning a wild camp for 5 days in the Lake District,
I have not ever wild camped before, I have experience in
camping from my boy scout days, and also High Pike, I am
fully aware of posible dangers, and am constantly reading
reasearching the area so my wild camp will be as enjoyable
and SAFE as i can make it, I would be pleased if any other
wild campers with experience in the Lake District could
offer me advice on equipment, what to take, what not to
take, areas to avoide posible areas to make good wild camps
(I dont want your exact grid refs for wild camps i would
like to find my own) but general locations close to fresh
water supplys, my trip is in the very early stages of
planning, so any help and advice will be valuable to me.

I thank you in advance for any help, advice, and anything
you could offer
me.

Regards

Paul

You don't say whether this is a fairly static wild camp with
day excursions from the tent, or five days of humping your
home about on your back. This makes a big difference to the
advice you might get.

I think it goes without saying that you are best camping
above the intake wall, but not actually on the top of
anything. My choice of campsite in the Lakes would always
aim to find a beck entering a tarn. This guarantees good
water, relative shelter, good water, a pleasing view of a
tarn, good water, a good height start for that morning romp
to a summit, the possibility of a swim [err.. well not at
this time of year] and finally of course a good water
supply. For general area remember that the more West and the
more North you are, then the further you are from the
Manchester Commuter Limit.

One of the very splendid things about L.D. camping is that
water is in fact not much of a problem, but it should always
be uppermost in your mind as twilight approaches.

For equipment: well call me soft but I always think a light
pair of pumps are worth their weight... Take more instant
coffee than you'll need and lots of packets of soup. Neither
weigh much.

--
Michael Farthing cyclades Software House

Thanks i've visited this site already, very usefull. I would
still welcome all peoples comments and suggetions Thanks

Paul

"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Try here bassplace.freeserve.co.ukwildcampOpen ↗

Very good site

Cheers

Andy

"Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all

I am planning a wild camp for 5 days in the Lake
District, I have not

ever

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wild camped before, I have experience in camping from my
boy scout days,

and

Quoted message said:

also High Pike, I am fully aware of posible dangers, and
am constantly reading reasearching the area so my wild
camp will be as enjoyable and

SAFE

Quoted message said:

as i can make it, I would be pleased if any other wild
campers with experience in the Lake District could offer
me advice on equipment, what

to

Quoted message said:

take, what not to take, areas to avoide posible areas to
make good wild camps (I dont want your exact grid refs
for wild camps i would like to

find

Quoted message said:

my own) but general locations close to fresh water
supplys, my trip is

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the very early stages of planning, so any help and
advice will be

valuable

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to me.

I thank you in advance for any help, advice, and
anything you could

offer

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me.

Regards

Paul

Quoted message said:

You don't say whether this is a fairly static wild camp
with day excursions from the tent, or five days of humping
your home about on your back. This makes a big difference
to the advice you might get.

This will not be a static camp, I am planning on camping
fairly close by to scaffel pike for two days and moving camp
on each of the other three days.

A good tip about safety with my stove, every little bit of
advice helps, and on the subject of stoves, any suggestions
on how many cartriges i should take

Thanks

Paul

"Anthony Dyer" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I would be pleased if any other wild campers with
experience in the Lake District could offer me advice on
equipment, what

to

Quoted message said:

take, what not to take,

With 11 years wild camping experience I'd say take as
little as you can

get

Quoted message said:

away with without seriously compromising your enjoyment of
the hills. My experience is that one starts off taking too
much stuff with them. The website mentioned by the other
poster is a good source of info so I'll mention things you
really don't need to take.

Dont Take:
- Cleaning detergents for washing food up, a simple sponge
will do the job
- Loads of spare clothes, keep it simple - you don't need
a change of socks/undies/t-shirts for every day of your
trip when a bar of soap will

be

Quoted message said:

sufficient for cleaning what you've got.
- Heavy food - tins, jars, meat etc. Take dehydrated food
instead
- A huge rucksac, there's a big temptation to just fill
it up to the brim when you should be asking "what
don't I need?". My 70ltr rucksack, to the astonishment
of my friends, is perfectly adequate for a two week
trip abroad - without needing to top up with food all
the time.

Quoted message said:

I am fully aware of posible dangers, and am constantly
reading reasearching the area so my wild camp will be as
enjoyable and

SAFE

Quoted message said:

as i can make it,

I'd say here that you should be familiar and confortable
with the workings of your stove - especially if cooking in
the tent porch. I've had my

epigas

Quoted message said:

stove for 10 years and for the first time, on a very cold
morning, I got

two

Quoted message said:

foot high flames in my tent porch. No damage done, but
basically the

liquid

Quoted message said:

butane / propane mix failed to vopourise before exiting
the nozzle of the burner. I get in the habit of turning my
cylinder upside down when it's

low

Quoted message said:

to keep the flame powerful. If you do that just after
you've lit the

stove,

Quoted message said:

the assembly hasn't warmed up enough to vaporise the
liquid into gas and

so

Quoted message said:

you run the risk of the stove flaring up.

One hazard is the weather changing overnight - especially
if you're high

up.

Quoted message said:

For that reason getting a forecast is a good plan. I
normally get my dad

to

Quoted message said:

send text messages to me as to what the weather is going
to do - very

useful

Quoted message said:

abroad where I might not be able to understand radio
broadcasts. Aside

from

Quoted message said:

that, a good strong tent pitched properly into the wind is
good insurance against most bad weather.

In Scotland I tend not to bring water purifying tablets
however in the

Lake

Quoted message said:

District & Snowdonia, I do. I once did a walk up Crinkle
Gill, Langdale

and

Quoted message said:

there seemed to be numerous dead sheep lining the side of
the stream. The stench was awful. Since then it was clear
the Lakes more likely to have contaminated water supplies.

Quoted message said:

areas to avoide posible areas to make good wild camps

Any obvious tarns at mid height close to popular mountains
like Scafell

Pike

Quoted message said:

/ Helvellyn / Bowfell are likely to be very popular both
with daytrippers and wild campers and as such they are
worth avoiding. The nice wild

camping

Quoted message said:

sites are found by valleys / streams that don't have busy
paths going up them. You can often find obscure places off
the beaten track that would have superb views.

Hope this helps

Anthony

Michael Farthing said:

I think it goes without saying that you are best camping
above the intake wall, but not actually on the top of
anything. My choice of campsite in the Lakes would always
aim to find a beck entering a tarn. This guarantees good
water, relative shelter, good water, a pleasing view of a
tarn, good water, a good height start for that morning
romp to a summit, the possibility of a swim [err.. well
not at this time of year] and finally of course a good
water supply.

I'm not going camping where you have been swimming in the
water. :-(
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the
"Westminster Gasworks"

Paul said:

Quoted message said:

You don't say whether this is a fairly static wild camp
with day excursions from the tent, or five days of
humping your home about on your back. This makes a big
difference to the advice you might get.

This will not be a static camp, I am planning on camping
fairly close by to scaffel pike for two days and moving
camp on each of the other three days.

Beware of the bars!!

thru-hiker.comarticles.aspOpen ↗

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
thenmc.org.ukindex.phpOpen ↗

NMC website: thenmc.org.ukthenmc.org.ukOpen ↗

Paul said:

I am planning a wild camp for 5 days in the Lake
District, [snip]

I spent about twelve nights last year wildcamping in
the Lakes, and can thoroughly recommend it. For what
it's worth, this is what I take for a winter weekend,
with the weight in grams:

1540 sleeping bag (Snugpak Softie 9) 535 thermarest
(3/4 length Ultralight) 1570 tent (Hilleberg Akto, love
it) 2800 rucksack (Jack Wolfskin Agadir II, wish it
were lighter) 560 toiletries (toothbrush, etc) and
toileting (trowel et al) 1720 cooking hardware (stove,
gas, pans, windshield, cutlery....) 1385 food 845 head
torch + gas light and canister 495 spare clothing
(light fleece, waterproof gloves, neck gaiter) 285
repair and first-aid kits 840 map, compass, AW 4 1000
electronics (phone, camera, GPS, watch/altimeter,
batteries) 390 books 190 miscellaneous (keys, cash,
rubbish bag)

I'm wearing a base layer, long johns, Paramo Viento
kit, distress whistle, handkerchief, wool hat and
gloves, and have the map, compass and AW in my jacket.
I need to add another 1350g for a litre of water and
the contents of my thermos. This brings the "pack"
weight to 14.67kg = 32.3 lbs.

There's nothing here I don't use apart from the first-
aid kit and the fleece. I could do without the fleece,
but I really don't like to go up into the hills without
extra warm clothing. Obviously if the weather gets
seriously bad I retreat into the tent (which is
seriously waterproof) and the bag (which is seriously
warm); but I haven't had to do this yet.

The food is: oatcakes, cheese, cereal and fruit bars
during the day; a 3-course dehydrated supper (soup,
pasta, apricots and custard); and breakfast (ReadyBrek,
hot chocolate). Various hot drinks as well of course.

Like you, I'm planning a longer (6 nights) backpacking
trip in the Lakes for later in the year. I'd strongly
suggest that you try a one-night-out trip, and then a
two-night-out trip, before your main expedition.
There's a great deal of difference between running a
one-night and a multi-night trip; for example, there's
no need to clean the cooking pan after a one-night trip
when you can do it at home. The problem of keeping
cooking equipment clean only surfaces when you're out
for more than one night.

I nearly always end up in the west of the District, which is
much
quieter. There's good wild camping to be had in Upper
Eskdale (Great Moss,
or below Scar Lathing); Wasdale (Low Tarn or Scoat Tarn);
and Ennerdale.

Hope this is useful. Enjoy! Mark
--
Mark Manning [email hidden]

"Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I would be pleased if any other wild campers with
experience in the Lake District could offer me advice on
equipment, what

to

Quoted message said:

take, what not to take, areas to avoide posible areas to
make good wild camps (I dont want your exact grid refs for
wild camps i would like to

find

Quoted message said:

my own) but general locations close to fresh water
supplys,

I think there are two things which vastly increase your
choice of pitches:

1. Take a tent with a very small footprint. (Tents of
apparently similar sizes can differ in the space they
can squeeze into if one needs lots of guy lines and the
other doesn't.)
2. Work it out so as you don't need to be by a water supply
or accept a longer walk.

My favourite spots are generally on high ridges with a good
view down a valley from where you can watch the sunrise
through your tent door.

Quoted message said:

1. Take a tent with a very small footprint. (Tents of
apparently similar sizes can differ in the space they
can squeeze into if one needs lots of

guy

Quoted message said:

lines and the other doesn't.)

I've been looking at the Vango range of tents im not sure if
should purchase a four season tent? would i need it in the
british climate at high altitude even during winter?

Quoted message said:

2. Work it out so as you don't need to be by a water
supply or accept a longer walk.

I plan to stay realativly close to a source of water

Quoted message said:

My favourite spots are generally on high ridges with a
good view down a valley from where you can watch the
sunrise through your tent door.

I could'nt agree more, although i havent seen for myself yet
i have seen other peoples photos, beautiful, this is the
type of camp i will be looking for.

Many thanks for your suggestions

Quoted message said:

Thanks

Every little bit of advice helps

"Mark Manning" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Paul said:

I am planning a wild camp for 5 days in the Lake
District, [snip]

I spent about twelve nights last year wildcamping in
the Lakes, and can thoroughly recommend it. For what
it's worth, this is what I take for a winter weekend,
with the weight in grams:

1540 sleeping bag (Snugpak Softie 9) 535 thermarest
(3/4 length Ultralight) 1570 tent (Hilleberg Akto,
love it) 2800 rucksack (Jack Wolfskin Agadir II, wish
it were lighter) 560 toiletries (toothbrush, etc) and
toileting (trowel et al) 1720 cooking hardware
(stove, gas, pans, windshield, cutlery....) 1385 food
845 head torch + gas light and canister 495 spare
clothing (light fleece, waterproof gloves, neck
gaiter) 285 repair and first-aid kits 840 map,
compass, AW 4 1000 electronics (phone, camera, GPS,
watch/altimeter, batteries) 390 books 190
miscellaneous (keys, cash, rubbish bag)

I'm wearing a base layer, long johns, Paramo Viento kit,
distress
whistle, handkerchief, wool hat and gloves, and have the
map, compass and

AW

Quoted message said:

in my jacket. I need to add another 1350g for a litre of
water and the contents of my thermos. This brings the
"pack" weight to 14.67kg = 32.3

lbs.

Quoted message said:

There's nothing here I don't use apart from the first-
aid kit and the fleece. I could do without the
fleece, but I really don't like to go up into the
hills without extra warm clothing. Obviously if the
weather gets seriously bad I retreat into the tent
(which is seriously waterproof) and the bag (which is
seriously warm); but I haven't had to do this yet.

The food is: oatcakes, cheese, cereal and fruit bars
during the day;

a

Quoted message said:

3-course dehydrated supper (soup, pasta, apricots and
custard); and

breakfast

Quoted message said:

(ReadyBrek, hot chocolate). Various hot drinks as well
of course.

Like you, I'm planning a longer (6 nights)
backpacking trip in the Lakes for later in the year.
I'd strongly suggest that you try a one-night-out
trip, and then a two-night-out trip, before your main
expedition. There's a great deal of difference
between running a

one-night

Quoted message said:

and a multi-night trip; for example, there's no need to
clean the cooking pan after a one-night trip when you
can do it at home. The problem of keeping cooking
equipment clean only surfaces when you're out for more
than one night.

I nearly always end up in the west of the District,
which is much quieter. There's good wild camping to
be had in Upper Eskdale (Great

Moss,

Quoted message said:

or below Scar Lathing); Wasdale (Low Tarn or Scoat Tarn);
and Ennerdale.

Hope this is useful. Enjoy! Mark
--
Mark Manning [email hidden]

"Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I've been looking at the Vango range of tents im not sure
if should

purchase

Quoted message said:

a four season tent? would i need it in the british
climate at high

altitude

Quoted message said:

even during winter?

Maybe a good idea if you want to camp high up in a snow
blizzard but for the majority of the time no. From walking
around campsites in extremely strong winds and rain it's
surprising just how much even the cheapest tents can take.
Also there's "4 season" and "4 season". I've always
thought it very dubious that Hilleberg call their Akto a 4
season tent for example when it's only a single pole
design compared to other 4 season tents which are full
geodesics with various other increased stability features.
Probably based more just on the fact that the flysheet
comes down to the ground to keep snow out. (Just my
opinion ofcourse, not based on extenxsive blizzard testing
of huge amounts of tents).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My favourite spots are generally on high ridges with a
good view down a valley from where you can watch the
sunrise through your tent door.

Quoted message said:

I could'nt agree more, although i havent seen for myself
yet i have seen other peoples photos, beautiful, this is
the type of camp i will be

looking

Quoted message said:

for.

Hence my point about the water. I wouldn't have been able to
use a lot of the sites I've picked as having the best views
if I'd needed to be close to a water supply. Fortunately for
me it's not a compromise because I don't see the point in
cooking and don't want endless cups of tea so I only need a
small amount of water for an overnight drink.

when i say close to water I mean a couple of hours
walk, im sure i can find a decent camp within 2 hours
walking distance.

"AndyP" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I've been looking at the Vango range of tents im not
sure if should

purchase

Quoted message said:

a four season tent? would i need it in the british
climate at high

altitude

Quoted message said:

even during winter?

Maybe a good idea if you want to camp high up in a snow
blizzard but for the majority of the time no. From walking
around campsites in extremely strong winds and rain it's
surprising just how much even the cheapest

tents

Quoted message said:

can take. Also there's "4 season" and "4 season". I've
always thought it very dubious that Hilleberg call their
Akto a 4 season tent for example when

it's

Quoted message said:

only a single pole design compared to other 4 season tents
which are full geodesics with various other increased
stability features. Probably based more just on the fact
that the flysheet comes down to the ground to keep snow
out. (Just my opinion ofcourse, not based on extenxsive
blizzard testing of huge amounts of tents).

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My favourite spots are generally on high ridges with a
good view down

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

valley from where you can watch the sunrise through
your tent door.

Quoted message said:

I could'nt agree more, although i havent seen for myself
yet i have seen other peoples photos, beautiful, this is
the type of camp i will be

looking

Quoted message said:

for.

Hence my point about the water. I wouldn't have been able
to use a lot of the sites I've picked as having the best
views if I'd needed to be close

to

Quoted message said:

a water supply. Fortunately for me it's not a compromise
because I don't see the point in cooking and don't want
endless cups of tea so I only need

a

Quoted message said:

small amount of water for an overnight drink.

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

I've been looking at the Vango range of tents im not sure
if should purchase a four season tent? would i need it in
the british climate at high altitude even during winter?

Yes, quite possibly. Don't forget we get wind as well as
rain.
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

Quoted message said:

Beware of the bars!!

thru-hiker.comarticles.aspOpen ↗

Beware of the Ranger more like.

Richard Webb.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Akto. I bought a Nallos
and used it in Snowdonia over New Year for the first time.
We had terrible weather and incredibly high winds on New
Year's eve. The tent was fine. I've read about people
talking about their tents just bouncing upright again - and
it works!!! These tents should be able to cope with most of
what the UK can throw at them.

I too have an Hilleberg Akto as recommended by Chris Townsend-Its great! I
also have a Force Ten Assault which is too good for lowland useage plus a
Vango TBS Micro 200 which prevails well too. Any good quality tent is good.
But, the Akto is very good-easy to errect and very lightweight.
Best regards,
John.
pbase.comjohn28julyOpen ↗

--
No direct reply option available. "Andy Howell"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I wouldn't worry too much about the Akto. I bought a
Nallos and used it

in

Quoted message said:

Snowdonia over New Year for the first time. We had
terrible weather and incredibly high winds on New Year's
eve. The tent was fine. I've read about people talking
about their tents just bouncing upright again - and

it

Quoted message said:

works!!! These tents should be able to cope with most of
what the UK can throw at them.

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 10:04:17 GMT, [email hidden] (RJ

Webb) said:

Quoted message said:

Beware of the bars!!

thru-hiker.comarticles.aspOpen ↗

Beware of the Ranger more like.

I thought exactly the same meself akshally, he doesn't
exactly come across as relaxed and care-free.

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
thenmc.org.ukindex.phpOpen ↗

NMC website: thenmc.org.ukthenmc.org.ukOpen ↗