Summit Camp/Bivvi - Back by popular demand - 15/16 Jan 11

[MikeD]

I can help you with the tent....

[darren]

thanks to mike D for the use of his tent.
and to 666 pack for the lift, ill help with petrol costs mate.

[666_pack]

i also have a spare bivvy bag if you want.

[darren]

i also have a spare bivvy bag if you want.

cheers mate.

which ever is easier to carry a tent or bivvy bag.
ill choose the one thats easier to carry.
im sure there is no real work to setting up a bivvy.
as i say thanks for the help chaps.
really appreciate it.

looking forward to camping out in the mountains for the vry first time.

[Matthew]

I'm in too. Andy and Jonny, if you need a lift I think it is about time I drove you guy's down.

Matthew

Nice one... I like the sound of that 

The three of us can organise it by text closer to the time


Matthew

[Dowser]

The faint purple line in the map below is our suggested route for the Slieve Meelmore Summit camp with parking at Meelmore Lodge.

Obviously if anyone wants to do their own thing and just rendezvous at the summit then feel free to do so.

I did not reduce the image size so that quality is maintained.  If it's hanging off the edges of your browser then Right click on the image and Save it to your computer and open it in your usual image viewer.

[LennyJ1]

I'm going the other route Dowser.

Gonna go between Meelbeg and Meelmore

[Dowser]

I'm going the other route Dowser.

Gonna go between Meelbeg and Meelmore

That will be a nice walk.  I'm going to go up the route on the map posted and visit the summit of Meelbeg on Sunday morning and go down the way your coming up.  I always like doing a circuit rather than back-tracking on myself if I can...  Also, I've never been on the summit of Meelbeg so I'll be killing two birds with the one stone on the 15th & 16th.

If your walking on your own on the 15th I will leave one of my Walkie Talkies at Meelmore Lodge for you to keep in touch with us.  I'll PM you with where it will be.

It's been a while since you and I have been in the hills... We'll get a bit of craic and a catch-up round the hobo stove 

[LennyJ1]

I'm going the other route Dowser.

Gonna go between Meelbeg and Meelmore

If your walking on your own on the 15th I will leave one of my Walkie Talkies at Meelmore Lodge for you to keep in touch with us.  I'll PM you with where it will be.

It's been a while since you and I have been in the hills... We'll get a bit of craic and a catch-up round the hobo stove 

Sounds like a plan

[MG1]

Guys count me in as well, I'll prob take a different route in but i'll meet you's at camp.

[darren]

Guys count me in as well, I'll prob take a different route in but i'll meet you's at camp.

looks as if half the forum will be there.
will there be enough room on the summit for us all.

[Tim]

looks as if half the forum will be there.
will there be enough room on the summit for us all.

Just what I was thinking haha. Does anybody know what its like going straight from the summit of Meelmore to the carpark? I need to be away early on Sunday and that looks the quickest way, but what's the terrain like? Looks relatively easy from map, not too steep

[666_pack]

i also have a spare bivvy bag if you want.

cheers mate.

which ever is easier to carry a tent or bivvy bag.
ill choose the one thats easier to carry.
im sure there is no real work to setting up a bivvy.
as i say thanks for the help chaps.
really appreciate it.


Bivvy bag is way easier but if the weather turns nasty it could get interesting! Also what sleeping bag are you bringing? You might need both!

looking forward to camping out in the mountains for the vry first time.

[andy1984]

Bivvy bag is way easier but if the weather turns nasty it could get interesting! Also what sleeping bag are you bringing? You might need both!

How does a night in the bivvy compare to in a tent, for temp, wind, shelter etc?

[Dowser]

Bivvy bag is way easier but if the weather turns nasty it could get interesting! Also what sleeping bag are you bringing? You might need both!

How does a night in the bivvy compare to in a tent, for temp, wind, shelter etc?

My own personal opinion would be there's very little difference.  I suppose a tent does give you more of a feeling of protection and if the weather does turn nasty you can climb in, batten down the hatches and wait it out.  If your using a good bivvi (bivouac ) bag, and a well anchored/positioned tarp then there really is very little difference.

I use an Army Issue bivvy bag, which I find very roomy, and so far it has protected me from all that nature has thrown at me.  There's nothing I like more than climbing into the comfort of my bivi bag on a good stormy evening and listening to the rain/sleet/hail/snow pelting down outside.  You really feel at one with the elements!!!

For this summit camp I am planning on travelling ultra light and will only be bringing my Issue bag, Sleeping Bag, 3/4 Self-Inflating Mat and no tarp.  I find that there is plenty of room in there for me and all my gear.  Provided you've not to many lumpy bits in your ruc, the ruc sitting on top of your legs actually provides an extra layer for heat retention and additional protection from the elements.

All that said, it will be sods law that my Bivvi Bag will leak like a sieve this time and I'll be knocking on somebodys tent at 3am in the morn looking for shelter  

But... Don't take my word for it... Hopefully a few others will give you their thoughts too.