Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: Kayakgirl on January 04, 2011

Title: summit camp
Post by: Kayakgirl on January 04, 2011
I would love to do a summit camp!
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: LennyJ1 on January 04, 2011
we all would
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: Dowser on January 04, 2011
I would love to do a summit camp!

A few of us are chatting about organising a summit bivvi very very soon.  I'll make sure your one of the first to know when it's taking place.

Is there any particular summit you would like to tackle???

The snow/flu slowed a few of us up over the holidays and I know there's a lot of folk out there busting to try out some new kit.

 8)
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: andy1984 on January 04, 2011
I'd be interested in this too depending on work.

Im on the look out for a bivvi, any recommended ones?
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: Kayakgirl on January 04, 2011
I bought an Alpkit Bivvi bag through a recommendation from Trail Magazine. I think it is great for the price, it cost around £30..
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: andy1984 on January 04, 2011
Thanks Shamara,

I had been looking at those, I was a little unsure if the regular Alpkit bivvi was big enough or would the XL at £50 verison be a better bet?
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: MikeD on January 04, 2011
I'm up for a summit bivi - this weekend would be sweet....
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: Dowser on January 04, 2011
I'm up for a summit bivi - this weekend would be sweet....

I was just about to start a post to do this on the 15th and 16th, just to give everybody interested time to get their permission slips signed.  Could you do it that weekend instead Mike?
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: MikeD on January 04, 2011
Yep, next week is cool too....

I just got an Exped Down Air Mattress and I'm busting to get a night on a mountain on it!
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: Dowser on January 04, 2011
I'd be interested in this too depending on work.

Im on the look out for a bivvi, any recommended ones?

Just at the foot of Cove Cave (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1449.15) is a great spot with the Caves providing a bit of interest once you've got your Bivvy set up.

Douglas Crag (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1490.0) is another excellent spot, discovered by our resident scout Chuck.  Amazing views and the granite steps and solid granite wall, approximately 30ft, high add a bit of interest to the location.

The Lost Village (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1496.0) Again, discovered by Chuck, is another great looking bivvy site.  I'm sure you can see a theme developing here... I love sites with a point of interest thrown in.

Slieve Bearnagh summit is another favourite of mine... Again some awesome rock formations to bivvi amongst with excellent panoramic views if you get a clear day.  I did post a few pictures of my trip up there but can't find the link just now.  I will edit this post if I find them later.

I'm going to start a new thread for a Summit Bivvi on the 15th & 16th January 2011. (This is not going to be strictly Bivvi so if you want to bring a tent feel free to do so)

I'll let the NI-Wilders pick the particular summit so that it can be ticked off a few members to-do lists.
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: LennyJ1 on January 04, 2011
I would love to go if I can get a lift, cant afford to drive as don't get paid till the 18th.

What about a bivi in belfast? Cave hill or Divis?
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: MikeD on January 04, 2011
I could probably give you a lift if you like (subject to me going and nothing cropping up - which is shouldn't).
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: LennyJ1 on January 04, 2011
Cheers Mike

Appreciate it
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: Tim on January 04, 2011
I bought an Alpkit Bivvi bag through a recommendation from Trail Magazine. I think it is great for the price, it cost around £30..

What's the alpkit like for keeping the rain out? I'd like to get a few trips up the mournes without the tarp and just the bivvi, but with an almost 100% chance of rain whenever I seem to go I'd need something that could do a decent job of keeping me and my down sleeping bag dry. The cheap tkmaxx one I have does a good job except for not being able to cover my face too well.
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: RedLeader on January 04, 2011
I've used the Alpkit a number of times and it's always been fine in the rain. I think it performs better than the Rab one I have.

I bought an Alpkit Bivvi bag through a recommendation from Trail Magazine. I think it is great for the price, it cost around £30..

What's the alpkit like for keeping the rain out? I'd like to get a few trips up the mournes without the tarp and just the bivvi, but with an almost 100% chance of rain whenever I seem to go I'd need something that could do a decent job of keeping me and my down sleeping bag dry. The cheap tkmaxx one I have does a good job except for not being able to cover my face too well.
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: Kayakgirl on January 04, 2011
I think it's great, with the hood folded over mine measures 220cm. I have been able to fit my thermarest inside so I find it quite roomy.
I have only experienced one night of rain whilst using it bivving and I was dry as a bone!!
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: 666_pack on January 04, 2011
Count me in fellas...it's been too long ;D
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: suspectmonkey on January 05, 2011
Im on the look out for a bivvi, any recommended ones?

The already mentioned Alpkit Hunka is hard to beat, although I'm currently using a Rab Storm.  The Storm is much more spacious than the standard Alpkit Hunka, with plenty of room to fit a self-inflating mat and sleeping bag inside the bivvy.  I found the Alpkit Hunka was a bit too tight with anything other than a very slim sleeping mat, but then I could probably do with loosing a few inches around the chest and waist ;)  Mind you, I'm not really making much use of the extra space in the Rab Storm now that I've decided life is much simpler when you sleep with the sleeping mat on the outside of the bag!

I never got to test the Alpkit Hunka in proper rain, but I did a summit bivvy of Binnian in my Rab, under no shelter in the rain.  Stayed pretty dry, any moisture on the inside of the bivvy was from condensation which is inevitable when you seal it up to try and keep the rain out.  I was certainly happy with it, felt it did the job well.

The one thing I can't get used to with the Rab is the zip around hood.  I find the material always ends up flapping around your face, whereas the Hunka has a drawstring which allows you to cinch it up nicely around your face leaving plenty of space for an air hole.  Good thing about the Rab Storm is that it is usually stocked locally so can be picked up handy.
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: RedLeader on January 05, 2011
Okay, looks like we're doing a summit camp next weekend.

Signup and pick your peak here:
http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1648
Title: Re: summit camp
Post by: MikeD on January 05, 2011
i'm in too