About time I joined here!

[Pudd]

Hello all.

As the subject states, it is about time that I joined this forum.  Have signed up else where, but never to a forum with the base land at heart.

So, everyone can call me Pudd. 

I started into walking/hiking/camping in 2010 where I tried to rally a group of my friends to come with me and travel the Mournes.  Having had a lot of interest from multiple friends and getting quite excited, I thought to myself that it's too good to be true.  Low and behold it was - in the end up it was only myself and one other friend.

Back then, I had the basic gear (bar the boots!  Went all out on the boots), pretty much anything that I needed to buy, I bought cheap.  I'm paying for it now sadly!  However, even buying cheap and having a hard time dealing with cheap gear (breaking walking poles, rucksacks etc) I was never really put off the activity.  So definitely something in there says this is something for me. 

Since it has been a few years later, I've had the time to bump up my map reading (hopefully my time away from the mountain has given me enough revision  ), get myself a job, save up and buy quality, decent gear.  Which I've already started.  My aim is to get myself all up and running for the summer months ahead.  Though with the weather we have had this weekend, no doubt it's a race against time.

Don't get me wrong, I have been up there a few times since in all manner of weather conditions.  The most notable was walking from Meelmore Lodge to Newcastle.  When my girlfriend and I reached Hare's Gap, literally the heavens opened from there on out and stopped as soon as we got to Newcastle.  As I am sure you can guess I was definitely soaked - my waterproof trousers held up, but sadly the jacket didn't.  I don't know whether its to do with the fact that it can't breathe, just isn't waterproof or a mixture of the two.  I've treated the jacket with nixwax, with surprising results - it's definitely waterproof,  just not breathable unfortunately and of course me being me, I'm warm when I move, and cold when I sleep.  So all in all a catch 22 situation that I quite haven't been able to remedy just yet.

My gear aim for summer is this:
Base layers - Have bought - Done
Fleece - Not bought
Waterproof shell jacket - Not bought / considering the Stretch Neo
Sleeping Mat - Have bought -  Neo Air
GPS - Have bought - Garmin eTrex 10
Rucksack - Not bought / considering Osprey Talon 44
Stove - Have bought - Jet Boil Sol Alu
Sleeping Bag - Have bought - need to return the Rab Alpine & buy the PHD Minim 300
Tent - Not bought - have a coleman avior x2, trying to consider if I want to replace it or not as it's held up against some tough stuff, that not only I've thrown at it, but the weather too.

To expand on the activity, I'm quite interested in rock climbing and mountaineering, and hope to make some progress with that this year.  But all in good time, unfortunately my wallet isn't that big.   

The only down side is where I live.  I'd love to go regularly, or at least a lot more than I currently do.  But find it quite difficult due to not having a car (or lets be honest, not being able to drive!), unpredictable working hours, and where I currently live. 

That's me.  I hope I haven't bored you too much reading this.  Looking forward to integrating into the community, getting to know you all and even maybe joining you if any events happen in the coming future.   

[Mourneman]

Welcome pudd ! You'll certainty learn some things on here

[LennyJ1]

Welcome to the forum Pudd. Hope you really catch the bug of the outdoors.

[Spud]

welcome to the forum!

[FlapJack]

Hi pudd, 

[Wolf_Larson]

Welcome to the form mate, i have a the cheapest of gear just my shoes i payed a phew pound for.

[Pudd]

Thanks very much all for the warm welcome.   

[greensprite]

Welcome 

[LandyLiam]

welcome pudd, you seem to have a good selection of gear already, hopefully you'll be able to cadge lifts using the forum, i hope to try some rock climbing this summer myself, maybe sooner of the weather holds out 

[Pudd]

welcome pudd, you seem to have a good selection of gear already, hopefully you'll be able to cadge lifts using the forum

If that's possible?  As a thank you I wouldn't mind helping towards travel costs, or as I read somewhere else, paying for a McDonald's. 

[whoRya]

Hi Pudd, you're very welcome.

[Kayakgirl]

Welcome Pudd,
Where would you be looking a lift from?

[Pudd]

Live in Ballymena. 

But wouldn't be a greedy bugger and hope for a lift from home if no one passes through here.  Maybe from Antrim  ?  Only joking, would try and go as far as possible to minimise expenditure for the driver. 

[RedLeader]

Welcome!

[Oisín]

Good to see another member a bit more local  to myself.

Again I'd be in the same boat (or bus) as you. But its all part of the adventure.