Don't fail us now!!!

I'll be out again tomorrow night ... I might have the feeling back in my forefinger by then, or at least the pain might have gone

Conditions are a bit better in the Beacons. Currently at 700m just off the summit of Fan-y-big. Lots of snow, but well consolidated. Pics in the morning...

Good luck.

Bit of a failure last night as I woke up far too cold in the early hours and had to pack up and cycle the 6 miles home

Should have taken 2 sleeping bags

I had a nice time star gazing and a little sleep so I suppose it counts, feel rather demotivated this morning

I had a nice time star gazing and a little sleep so I suppose it counts, feel rather demotivated this morning

Ah yes but you stayed out ... I was home by 8pm

Right, I'm alive :D

Probably the most tricky conditions I've bivvied in; very cold (-8 degrees C), snow, ice, frozen ground and quite windy. Enjoyed it though. Pitching the tarp was a bit of a triumph using a combination of pegs, rocks and a couple of guy lines tied off to my bike. Very glad to have taken my MSR stove too for melting snow.


Snow shelter by ianbarrington, on Flickr


Home for the night by ianbarrington, on Flickr


Tucked away by ianbarrington, on Flickr


Melting snow by ianbarrington, on Flickr


Ready to roll again by ianbarrington, on Flickr


Morning sun by ianbarrington, on Flickr

s8tannorm wrote:Ah yes but you stayed out ... I was home by 8pm

I was home by 2am!

It will have to count as I can't go tonight, got work in the morning


That's a hardcore bivi Ian :)

I must admit I briefly contemplated packing up at around midnight when a guy line failed and a peg got ripped out leaving me with a wildly flapping tarp. I got up and found some bigger rocks, re-tied the frayed guy line and hoped it would hold, which it did.

I too would probably have been better with two sleeping bags; I was ok in my -2 bag and down vest and thermals, but only just. Also, the first time I've thought I must get myself one of those down mats...

Also, the first time I've thought I must get myself one of those down mats...

Think of the weight!!!! :D

Whats the green stripy thing?

I see that Exped have launched a 'budget' version of the Downmat ... weight goes up a bit but price comes down.

http://www.aboveandbeyond.co.uk/.exped- ... 761919.htm

Whats the green stripy thing?

I'm going for swimming costume.

Ian wrote:
Ready to roll again by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Hey Ian...

Great photos.

I'm curious about your bar setup... (Presumably thats a prototype Jones bar bag on top?) But your main drybag - is that in a Mountain Lion? If so, how well does that work with the Jones bar? Is it just attached to the rear section of the Jones, as it would be to a normal bar?


Cheers, Chris

Managed to squeeze mine in at the last minute as well. Been busy, full of cold and this weather hasnt been inspiring. Part of me was considering not bothering, but trips for the next 6 months are all in the pipleine so it seemed a shame to stop now.

Decided to head out on foot as this snow wouldnt have been much fun to ride with the ice. Managed to find a spot where there wasnt any snow and had a bit of cover from a dry stone wall.

Not the warmest i'd ever been and a winter bag is on the cards now i can justify it. One thing i've found is if i wear my buff like a ninja it feels warmer by covering my mouth and heated the air up a bit before i breath it in.

Great sunrise to welcome me this morning



Then a gingerly walk home over the snow home for some tea and a hot bath.

flatfishy wrote:

Also, the first time I've thought I must get myself one of those down mats...

Think of the weight!!!! :D

Whats the green stripy thing?

I wouldn't have fitted the Larry to the bike if I was worried about weight :?

Green stripy thing is a Outdoor Research 10litre dry bag complete with bamboo style pattern.

InspiredRamblings wrote:Hey Ian...

Great photos.

I'm curious about your bar setup... (Presumably thats a prototype Jones bar bag on top?) But your main drybag - is that in a Mountain Lion? If so, how well does that work with the Jones bar? Is it just attached to the rear section of the Jones, as it would be to a normal bar?


Cheers, Chris

Thanks Chris. Yes, standard Mtn Lion fitted to the rear section of the Jones Bar. Works fine, just as well as any other bar I've used. And, yes, (rough) prototype bar bag on top.

I ended up at Comrie Croft on Friday night. The purists might claim it wasn't a bivvy as we had a good camp fire going until midnight but it was another night in my tent under a cloudless sky full of stars and a bight moon so it's a big tick in my book :D

Epic stuff in the snow! Nice one Ian
Still not good round your way by the look of things Stu... no chance of my late Elan Back unless things become a bit more srping like soon?
Great photos and trips. I nearly did the same as you Chew but managed to find something rideable (albeit a bit 'sanitised').

Wahey - actually managed a Bivvy in March (31st... :? ). On the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides whilst on holiday, friend in a tent, 2 friends in the berlingo and me staring up into the stars in my Bivvy bag. Frost inside and outside the Bivvy when I woke up, but was plenty warm and the scenery was good :)


P1010530 by zippyonline, on Flickr


P1010536 by zippyonline, on Flickr


So actually, I've only missed out Feb so far, so I errr might alter my challenge to at least 12 over the course of the year

so April is here..... my first one this month is planned for tomorrow night over the shropshire hills...got loads of new things to try out this time

I just snuck my March trip in. It was a very snowy one in on foot to jaggers clough. Still no photos as forgot to take my phone... Promise to take photos next next time! I ended up not where I'd originally thought as there was a LOT of snow drifts that made for tough going.

Was a beautiful calm and clear night but was well below 0c overnight as water bottles froze solid over night but the twin PHD sleeping bag system worked a treat. The homemade dehydrated food was tasty and rehydrated well. Managed fine with my usual hexamine stove set up.

Was woken by the sun and walked and ran over kinder then down to Edale to jump on the train home.

Done.


P1050475 by ScotRoutes, on Flickr


P1050486 by ScotRoutes, on Flickr

More details in due course!

march bivvy for me was a bit of a farewell to southeast england affair before I move to wales (1 week later)
It was also a chance for me to introduce a friend to this this way of life.

so in brief we took a canel route from central london for 30 miles in total along the rive lea to the river stort we found and nice muddy place to camp and did so.


Untitled by MM-on-POINT, on Flickr


Untitled by MM-on-POINT, on Flickr


Untitled by MM-on-POINT, on Flickr


Untitled by MM-on-POINT, on Flickr


I cant wait for aprils bivvy it will simply be a blind ride out in to the hill/mountains to explore and conquer :D

MM was ur friend really carrying those two boxes?? I thought i took alot of stuff :0)

yep, all on the back of his tricycle.
It was a great way to do it for him, everything was so accessible and what you can not see is the mini bbq and coal underneath on the chassis... waste of time bringing it tho as soon as it was lit down came the rain

More on my latest overnighter here...

http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2013/04/ ... tions.html

4/4 now.
Lovely ride down to the Mendips in dust with Yetiman.
He's got the pictures.

they will be posted this eve

Right heres a few of the pics from flatfishy's mendip trip that i crashed.....cheers dude it was a great one!!


need some of these down pants!!

my pitch-not so warm

Taylors palace-cosy


A great downhill to end the day, nearly.

Cracking picture of Taylors Lunar