Been looking a lot lately at the kit I take out with me and how it can be cut back (mainly by not taking so much crap and the sink). With this in mind I wanted to see how little I could take and still be happy and comfy.
To start with the main issue is taking things that just don't get used, most of us have done it at least once in the past you go out for a night or weekend and come back with at least a couple of dry bags that never even got opened. Sure it's fine carrying a good first aid kit (we hope that never gets opened), but you have to think sometimes "why the arse do I have a spare jumper etc".
So wanting a quick test of this idea I set off yesterday around 5pm to Binevenagh, i've been there a number of times before and has a few advantages. You have a good trail all through it so can access anywhere quickly, safe parking at the church near the bottom of the mountain, and plenty of fast streams. All in all it's makes a great small spot to either just bugger off for a night with the aid of knowing should anything happen you will be no more than an hour from the car etc. Ideal for me since if this all went horribly wrong a night with the seat pushed back would be in order.
So got everything all listed and packed and total weight came to around 15kg (was using some dodgy cheap luggage scales so allow a kilo or two either way). Now this included all my kit, my food, the dogs food, a steel ground anchor for the dog, and 3lt of water. So at least a third of the weight was really none essentials as I knew where safe water could be found prior to going.
Arrived opened the boot and tada I forgot my walking poles...... this kinda stumps my quick tarp shelter method but good job I had a saw and knife as I could see myself having to make some stakes up. Turns out an old spot I set up two years ago is totally untouched, I made a frame for a shelter and to be honest it has a Blair witch look from the path so perhaps it spooked the locals to stay away (must make a wicker doll or something to add authenticity one day).
Then from halfway in it starts to loom at you, considering the age though it still stood just fine, the ivy rope was even still in place although dry and brittle so must redo them too some day. Saved me a job of making poles anyway.
So a quick throw of the tarp and line out the corners and camp was done and comfy in under 20 mins.
It is a high roof I admit but the tree cover means that short of a winter storm there was no way any possible rain was coming near me with this. Although I may chop the back poles down a little in future just to give a little more wind protection for winter.
Got everything unpacked and sorted and you can see it works out as a roomy spot for one or possible snug for two.
Here you can see that everything went into a 25l pack (soon to be replaced as it is beginning to fall apart), a maxpedition proteus bag, and two maxp fatty pouches. Total capacity could be much more than 30l.
At this point I was reminded that this is flying thing central, lucky for me I found an old hobo stove I brought last time was also still in place hanging on one of the poles, and remembered they don't like smoke. I had dry wood and more damp leaves than could be counted and a plan was hatched.
Now we're cooking.
It's a basic principle, get yourself a bunch of small dry as bone sticks. Then get a tiny fire going but make sure it burns very fast and very hot so you have super hot embers. Finally throw on big handfuls of semi damp stuff, I had leaves aplenty so used them. This smokes like mad and drives out the whizzy things. As long as you had a hot enough fire to start it will smolder like this for a good hour or so, combined with a pitched roof and the smoke flows around you and your gear for ages. Plus it also smokes cold so you don't get that burnt eye feeling everyone has suffered from a badly made camp fire.
Early morning tea and breakfast on the go.
Then camp all packed and done ready for home.
All in all it was a good test and worked very well, with few issues other than a simple lack of specific kit I haven't yet got the cash to afford so had to make do. But I never felt myself wishing I had this or that with me, plus on both inward and outbound hike I was able to really push a good speed including running for a few sections and felt no real problems. You probably noticed the footwear, this was also a test to see if monster boots are really needed. I have been moving my life in a minimal footwear direction and wanted to see if a good set of minimalist shoes could work.
To be honest I don't think it would of worked with my old kit as the weight was too much. But I hardly felt this load as such didn't have any fear of twisted ankles etc, plus had the confidence that even if this were deep boggy ground at camp I had footwear that would be bone dry before the morning, a spare set of lightweight socks too meant no matter what I would be sure to set out again the next day with dry feet.
Overall it was a total success for me and I am fairly certain that apart from mid winter I can now happily go just about anywhere in this country for anywhere up to 4-5 days with no more than 20-25kg, it's a definite load off both physically and mentally. So next time your getting the old moan of "do you really need to buy more kit" stop and think it through as often we don't. Of course this doesn't mean we don't spend money on gear, just now we don't need lots means the savings go on extra shiny expensive gear.
Follow NI-Wild
Author
Topic: Quick overnighter (Read 6248 times)