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...
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.
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...
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?
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.
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 :)
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.
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.
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
