Okay, the near legandary Mach' winter bivvy will once again be taking place. Oddly it'll be setting out setting out from Machynlleth and it'll be in winter ... But when?

Dec 10th/11th or Dec 17th/18th?

You decide

As last year, we'll be looking at a noonish meet up on the Saturday, possibly fish and chips before we depart and aim to make it back to mach' for an all day breakfast around midday Sunday. I've a different route/spot than last year which will be fine for bivvys and hammocks but may not suit tentage :D

I'd be up for that. 10/11th'd be preference, but either's cool.

Will there be room under the tarp? Count me in!!!!

Is it better to wait until the temperature is 10 degrees below and there's snow on the ground, for maximum effect, an' all?

Unless you know something about the weather this December that I don't

Maybe hammock for me this year!

Under the Tarp, Hammock? Could be re-named the super softies Winter trip?

Why not load a land rover up with a Yurt, some coal, a BBQ & beer, dump it at pre designated spot and just ride to that?

Why not load a land rover up with a Yurt, some coal, a BBQ & beer, dump it at pre designated spot and just ride to that?

Because it's not MBUK ... and besides I didn't see you refuse a spot under the tarp last year

Just as big a puff as me Matt

and besides I didn't see you refuse a spot under the tarp last year

Don't recall a Tarp?

I remember some water boarding device above my head.

Water?


P1030451 by ianbarrington, on Flickr

At -10 degress Celcius?

The more important question surely, is how is the Flat One going to better last year's Christmas dinner?


P1030436 by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Why do I have to better it?
Nobody has come anywhere close to challenging me for my crown.

The more important question surely, is how is the Flat One going to better last year's Christmas dinner?

Perhaps by making everybody one :D

Why do I have to better it?

Well you don't I suppose - I just imagined that you'd want to. Progress and all that. Refinement of the process from lessons learnt first time around.

Besides, if someone did do the one this year how much do you want to keep that crown?

Here's the challenge then:

Fresh Pizza made from scratch.

and

Fresh bread for the morning

I reckon it's do-able although I've no idea how

I can do the bread, so might be able to do some sort of pizza butty too

For anyone wondering what this thread is about I'll try to explain.

Last year at the start of December, 6 intrepid idiots set out from Machynlleth on an overnight trip. There was snow on the ground and temps hadn't gone much above -6 for a few days. It was the first time that some of the folk involved had met each other but through adversity and general piss taking everyone ended up good friends. The temp during the night would have dropped to minus double figures and no one died!

The pic above in the previous post is of flatfishy's Christmas dinner, lovingly cooked on his White Box meths stove

It's looking like this years re-run will be Dec 10th/11th ... everyone welcome but don't skimp on your sleeping bag!

I will do all I can to get on this one last year was vaguely exciting and the start of my obsession!!

be warned these other 5 men are very good at brainwashing you with kit advice, in aid of bikepacking I have gone through 3 bikes and ended up with a 29er and so much minimalist kit it is scary

As Stuart said it was a true adventure and a I am glad I made the effort even though I was crazily overloaded and could have catered for a platoon let alone just me.

As regards to the challenge

we could make flat breads cooked on stones, if we dare make a real fire that it

maybe the challenge is to make a portable, lightweight bread oven affair - no idea how but I have time to research it.

First challenge is to get fit enough to ride - I managed my first spin on the exercise bike today and boy did it smart

Fresh Pizza made from scratch.

If you want pepperoni, does that mean you have to bring a whole cow?

Google "Kubex Oven"

I remember using them in Scouts, a year or two (or more...) back.

If you want pepperoni, does that mean you have to bring a whole cow?

maybe hunting your food maybe the challenge??

fish and tiger meat anyone??

This may be useful;

http://www.andy-kirkpatrick.com/articles/view/nan :D

perfect thanks DNF

Just checked out some of the photos on Ian's link to last year's trip. Conditions looked spot on for a proper winter trip. I have of course now got a pair of bar mitts that I won on the WRT raffle and so need to get some serious use out of them.
Did you hunter / gatherers not get a good a camp fire going in the evening?
Either date looks good but the reality is that the date further from Christmas would end up being less stressful.

For some strange reason we didn't bother with a fire ... although Steves petrol stove nearly sorted that

It's looking like 10th/11th will be the date.

I'm in for 10th/11th.