Gpx file.

GPX file for my recent Howgills walk.

Howgills. Sedbergh to Kirkby Stephen using the Settle to Carlisle train.

Had planned to wild camp the Howgills this weekend, however, remembered it was my wedding anniversary so it was just a reccy.  Stunning scenery and best of all no one around at all. Lots of opportunities to camp on the higher hills or descend in to a gully  and get out of the wind. Pictures and gpx to follow.

: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=200096573754407368465.0004913ff289bdb584cc0

Helvellyn wild camp

Diesel being £1.20 per litre we decided to catch the train to Windermere and then a bus to Ambleside.

From Ambleside we walked up to Helvellyn. The wind was really strong so we dropped down to the woods below Helvellyn.

Quick Wild Camp after work

A quick wild camp after work above Glossop.

Unfortunately my new boots gave me terrible blisters and the walk had to be cut short and i limped back to the car early next morning.

Snowdon Easter 2010

A very Snowy and cold weekend in the Snowdon area.

Dulyn Bothy Weekend 2

Thursday night I drove down to Abergwyngregyn and slept in the Bongo. Friday I had planned to camp in the tent on the Friday night but it soon became clear that the wind was far too strong. I reached Drum and I was nearly blown of my feet and poor Oscar was crying. I decided that Duly Bothy once again was the safest option. On reaching Duly Bothy I had a roam around the reservoirs to see if I could find a sheltered spot to camp (I'd carried my tent after all), however, everywhere seemed to be exposed to the gale, so I resigned myself to the Bothy. Four lads from Liverpool turned up with a couple of bags of coal and a very warm night was had.

The following day I had planed to return to Abergwybgregny via Drosgl Moel Wnion. However, the lads from Liverpool asked me to join them and said the would give me a lift back to the car. This was a great opportunity for me to take in higher peaks I wouldn't have attempted on my own. I also got to use my crampons and ice axe. Oscar did really well and didn't seem to mind the freezing conditions apart from when we stopped. My left eye kept trying to freeze shut.

On the tops it was a complete white-out and extremely difficult to navigate. We made a major mistake and relied on other peoples footprints instead of the compass. Instead of taking the Bwlch Eryl Farchog Ridge we strayed all the way over to Carnedd Dafyd. Instead of getting lost further we made the decision to drop down to Llyn Ogwen and hitch a ride back to the car.

Rombald's Moor Wild Camp

Here is a map of my wild camp round Rombald's Moor. The route was completed clockwise.

Lots of interesting lessons learned.

1. Gators are godsend. The snow was knee deep in places. The gators kept my feet dry all day.

2. Meths won't light when its cold.

3. Sit on Meths to make it warm then it will burn, yey!

4. Walking poles split into 6 massive pegs to pitch your tent in the snow, however, careful they may freeze solid to the ground.

Practice Snow Pitch

We have had about 8 inches of snow here in West Yorkshire.

Thought it was the perfect opportunity to practice pitching my tent in the snow.

Will try this weekend up higher where the snow is deeper.

Some good snow pitching tips can be found here

Ingleborough in the snow