Total ascent 1,300m

Start/finish SH570526

Snowdonia’s headlining peaks are crammed into a small corner of the National Park, along with most of the crowds. In contrast the adjacent Nantlle hills feel like a neglected backwater – in a good way. A grassy stride along elegant curved arêtes, the traverse of the main ridge linking the many summits in the range is a classic Welsh walk, with occasional easy scrambling and spacious seaward views.

For the full description see this UKHillwalking Route Card.

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You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

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Total ascent 1,086m

Start/finish NY285061

Langdale’s impressive western skyline is dominated by the charismatic biggie Bowfell, and the well-named Crinkle Crags – which do exactly what they say on the tin. This route traverses the lot, packing plenty of rough, rocky challenge and some unforgettable scenery into its relatively short length. There’s a little light scrambling along the way, but nothing unavoidable. Afterwards, celebrate in one of Langdale’s famous climber’s pubs.

For the full description see this UKHillwalking Route Card.

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For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

Total ascent 836m

Start/finish NY395159

The circuit around the chiselled crests of the Red Tarn cove must be England’s most spectacular ridge-top horseshoe. Under snow Striding Edge and Swirral Edge look at their wintry best, and give a genuine mountaineering round with some grade I climbing. While the technical challenge is fairly modest this remains a route to take seriously, and an axe, crampons and common sense are all required. If winter mountaineering sounds like a step too far then wait for snow-free conditions, when the edges are rather more forgiving – though just as airy. Whenever you choose to go, it’s a memorable day out.

For the full description see this UKHillwalking Route Card.

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For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

Total ascent 650m

Start NY646418; Finish NY689250

This superb hard hike treads the high ground from Hartside Pass to Dufton, following the edge of the North Pennine escarpment with views out over the Eden Valley to the Lakeland skyline. To the east the ground rolls into the empty bogs at the heart of the range, the largest expanse of wild land in England. Highlights of the day include Cross Fell, the biggest English hill outside the Lake District, and High Cup, a geological marvel on an epic scale.

For the full description see this UKHillwalking Route Card.

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

We Learn by Doing

I’ve walked, climbed, biked and paddled in all corners of the UK and beyond.  However, it has been in those far flung places that I’ve realised it is the exploration that gives most satisfaction, together with the appreciation of the freedom we are privileged to have in the UK.

Risk and Responsibility

Looking after your self in the mountains is as paramount as looking after the environment. Being warm and comfortable is quickly mastered – get your layers right and be flexible in your clothing.  Modern fabrics make life a lot less sweaty, our rucsacs are lighter, our understanding of food and hydration a whole new science.   We have better maps ( it’s not that long ago that maps of Scotland where only One Inch to the Mile) and now have a proliferation of techno gadgets that will get us to within metre of a known point on the globe.  We have phones that can reach all corners of the world; if the signal is there and the batteries are sound!

Sound Mountain Judgement

We learn by doing.  We can be taught skills and techniques whether it is knot tying or fire lighting but until you need to do this for real you have not mastered the skill.  You learn; ‘When to turn back, How to respect the mountain environment, and be flexible in your plans’.   It is often said, there is no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothes  …. Or the wrong activity!

It is our responsibility in to make ourselves safe and in doing so we greatly enhance our performance and enjoyment.  And the biggest factor in doing so is by learning how to navigate.

Hill Skills – Navigation isn’t Rocket Science

OK, soon as you mention the ‘N-word’, some people glaze over or become freaked by childhood memories of geography teachers or Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.  Another group reach for their smart phone and then spend a while bringing up some form of mapping software which struggles to scan and sweep to the desired scale and location, whilst fearing the basic skill of navigation.

Contours are Crucial

All those wiggly lines are the most important things in the hills and mountains. Don’t worry too much about compasses; they are often over rated (especially complex ones just like Smart phones!)   Yep, you need a compass and a map too of course but don’t get hung up on compasses bearings and magnetic variation.  Good navigators ‘read’ the contours of map far more than they dial up a compass bearing.

Good basic navigation is easy!  There – I said it.  We can all do it, if we want to.

About  Joe Faulkner;

I’ve spent 30 years walking, climbing, running, biking and paddling in the UK and gained a reputation as a competent ‘Mountain Athlete’.    I coach all forms of mountaineering with a specialism for Hill Skills and Navigation.   Further details can be seen at my NAV4 Adventure website  – ww.nav4.co.uk

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For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

In 1992 I was fortunate enough to complete the original Dragon’s Back Race. The event was way ahead of it’s time and I was in awe of some my legendary long distance runners companions; Cudahy and Kyle, Turnbull and Jones, Clark and Walsh, never mind McDermott and Belton, Stone and Diamantides.

I was aged thirty and just coming into my prime as a long distance runner (the word ultra didn’t exist then) and had already racked up several 50’s and 100’s (mile events)

The second running of DBR in 2012 had just four returning Dragon’s Back ‘veterans’, including myself. I was now armed with a further twenty years experience including several dozen mountain marathons and multi-day ‘Expedition’ adventure races.

Sadly, Steve ‘Dubie’, my original 1992 Dragon’s Back race partner, didn’t complete all of the five days in 2012. So, I’m the only man on the planet to have done it twice … along with two amazing female athletes, Wendy Dodds and Helene Whittaker! Much has been written about the race at the sharp end of the race, but it gave me great satisfaction to complete DBR for a second time, and now aged 50.

At the risk of sounding arrogant – I arrived at the briefing for DBR 2012 tired and a little foot sore. The reason being, I had completed a five day Expedition Adventure Race one week before. My legs were a little jaded and my ankles chaffed from the sandy grit and vegetation abrasion of the Scottish Highlands.

So, I’ve developed a reputation for finishing tough events. How? Well it’s not through speed or a racing snake physique, but through a positive mindset. Finishing DBR 2012 was never in doubt, just the speed and time it would take, and the depth of pain that I might endure, and length of the days required. Listening to the DBR briefing I had one advantage over many people in the room: I knew what to expect! I knew what was about to happen over the next five days, and I knew the route was going to destroy the majority of the entrants. Many had seriously under estimated the terrain. I have experience and a huge amount of ‘Hill Skills’ and navigational ability to get me through. Hence, come Day One, I did just enough to get through the unseasonal heat wave, beat the cut-offs, stay in The Race, and maintain mind body and the souls of my feet. Day Two would be harder and Day Three the Longest….

How to Survive the Dragon’s Back ( and other epic adventures)

Pacing – Speed Kills!

I have very little speed, but shed loads of endurance. Being a little overweight means I can’t run fast and burn out, but I do have fat stores! I can no longer do much running in training due to back and knee problems but enjoy long days out walking and jogging at my ‘ultra pace’ in the UK mountains. I can usually maintain 5-6kmph on rough UK mountain trails. ‘LSD’ – Long Slow Distance will be trendy again soon, and you read it here first. Over the years I’ve found great benefit from starting slowly and steadily rising up the leader board in races. I saw this quite literally in front of my eyes in a 24hour track race a few years ago, as I watched my name go up the leader board on the side of the track, as it was updated every two hours. ‘Go Steady, Go Strong … Go Long’ is now my professional advice. It actually started as joke in our NAV4 Adventure Team during Expedition Races as ‘Start Slowly and Taper Off’ and was always a little self-deprecating!

To Finish First – First you have to Finish

Move steadily in the right direction – and you will get to the end. Walking in the right direction is better than running the wrong way! Don’t stop – simple! Don’t forget that finishing an event should be your primary objective, not chasing an unrealistic schedule or pushing the pace. So, back off the speed and avoid a ‘crash and burn’ or even worse the dreaded DNF! An Australian running guru once advised me to ‘always finish a training run wanting to do a little more’ …so you’ll look forward to the next session. I also learnt about ‘Negative Spilts’ from that same long holiday spent running and racing in ‘Oz’. A negative Split is where you run the second half of a race faster than the first half. It seems unnatural, is quite hard to do, but really works; try it…if you can!

Eat Real Food

If you went to work for a day or a week and ate nothing but sweet stuff, energy gels and sports bars – how would you feel? Not good! So why try to exist on such stuff in adventures. Eat real food, with a good variety of predominately savoury flavours. Drink enough water to be hydrated but not so much it causes over-hydration issues, and don’t get hooked on sports drinks. Our AR team were doing rather well in a multi-day race a few years ago and pushing for second place. The team ‘manager’ of the second placed and sponsored team nervously asked my teammate Dave, ‘What sports fuel are you guys using?’ to which Dave replied, ‘Oh, we’ll eat ‘owt us, Pork Pies mainly. Why?’ But, having said that there are now some very good sports drinks and bars on the market which do have a more natural and nutritious taste to them, but it’s still good to mix the diet up a bit.

Navigate – Getting lost hemorrhages time and energy.

Getting lost also causes stress, and incurs a negative mindset. Good navigation, (we call it ‘Navigating on the Move’) saves time and energy. Contours are crucial and compasses easy if you learn how to use them properly. Navigation isn’t rocket science – it’s just a simple set of techniques which you use whenever appropriate. Invest some headspace, time and money to learn how to do it, and you will improve your overall performance significantly more than any physiological training improvement can.

Pack Light and Travel Fast

I saw some scarily large rucsacs at DBR just as I have at many other events. Cut the clutter from your kit list, but don’t scrimp on safety gear. And never run out of food. You should always have spare layer for your torso and warm headwear. Pulling on a pair of over trousers really does help maintain body warmth and current models are so light and comfortable, compared to the older generation stuff I grew up with. Pre-Goretex days, waterproofs were heavy sweaty things which you wore only when it really rained. Adequate waterproof jacket and over trousers for the conditions are always essential. But an i-Pod, smart phone or GPS are non-essentials for me.

OK – So, that’s it really

Get out there, have fun and learn how to move efficiently in the mountains. Seek out a few adventures and events within your grasp, but don’t try too much too soon. The majority of us learn better by doing something with a little help and advice. Kit yourself out with some lightweight gear, learn what it can do, and use it on your own adventures. And finally; spend a few months of gym membership on some navigation and hill skills training and coaching you’ll learn stuff that will last a lifetime.

Joe Faulkner has a wealth of experience of trail and ultra running, fell running, Mountain Marathons, Adventure Races and extreme triathlons. Whilst he does not consider himself and ‘elite’ athlete and ‘podium finishes’ may be a rarity, his reputation as a strong finisher in epic events is legendary. In 2012 he became one of only four people to return to run the iconic Dragon’s Back Race, twenty years after the original race.

Joe offers training and coaching in mountain activities under along with staging some tough events via NAV4 Adventure. Joe also has experience as an equipment and race consultant. www.nav4adventure.co.uk

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s insulated jackets, men’s boots and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

Of course, aside from avoiding temperature related injuries it is also going to mean that your outdoor activity – whether it’s bird watching or ice climbing is that much more enjoyable if you don’t have to worry about being too cold or too warm.

Most fatalities from hypothermia recovered by mountain rescue teams are found with spare warm clothing in their backpack, which if they had bothered to get it out & wear it could have saved their lives, so it is not just a question of having the best kit, but of knowing how and when to use it. In a series on this subject, David Leaning will first explore the outer layers and how to keep dry.

The first thing that will make a difference in the cold is being wet, this will suck the energy right out of you and in cold weather this is potentially very dangerous. Insulating layers become less efficient when they are wet, not to mention heavier, so part of every outdoor wardrobe should be a decent waterproof outer shell.

I know that there are some great new materials out there and that waterproof soft-shell tops are quite popular but I have always been of the opinion that a waterproof top and an insulating layer should be kept separate –perhaps it’s old fashioned but I’d rather have one, thin waterproof layer that I can take on and off as the conditions demand and then have subsequent insulating layers beneath that can also be removed if it gets warmer – rather than the 2-in-1 approach provided by waterproof soft-shell garments.

For a waterproof top I think that Gore-tex™ has to set the standard, I have tried others but always come back to it. Pac-lite™ is also an excellent derivative of Gore-tex™ and I have always gone for the lightest kit that will do the job – however when choosing a waterproof top you have to make sure that it has a few essential features: Principal amongst these is a hood, try a few jackets on, do the hood all the way up and adjust it with the elasticated internal drawstrings to see how it fits, what your field of vision is like and how effective it will be at keeping out driven rain or snow – then try rotating your head from side to side, up and down and see whether your head turns inside it or if it turns with your head – this is a good indication of a well-designed hood. Try a couple of different designs to see what you like best and get a comparison.

The arms must be long enough so that there is no gap between a glove and the sleeve when they are held out at any angle – when trying on a jacket, bring a pair of gloves and try reaching for the ceiling, stretching your arms out in front, touching your toes etc. To see if you can create a gap into which wind, driven snow or cold air could be forced – if there is any gap then try a larger size or a different cut. This is really important as without a good seal you can get frostbite on your wrists in the cold, or the blood can become cooled on its way to the finger tips and contribute to frostbite there.

Every waterproof top should have and elasticated draw-string at the waist. This is very important to keep the warm air inside, without this you can get cold spots on your kidneys & waist. The cut of the jacket should be such that its hem does not rise above your waistline even when you raise your arms to touch the ceiling. Likewise it should not be so low as to come down to reach your knees or restrict your leg movements. However with a drawstring at the waist a jacket which is too long can be bloused up under itself, but one that is too short will always be too short.

A nice-to-have feature is the under-arm vents that some models have, these allow you to regulate your temperature by opening and closing them as required to provide ventilation. Some jackets have lots of pockets inside and outside, or a mesh layer inside the Gore-tex™ for insulation or sweat wicking or whatever. I prefer the lightest and simplest design there is, with just two hip pockets to keep hands warm when stationary and maybe one chest pocket for a compass or something. When you’re not wearing your outer-layer you want to be able to stow it away as small and light as possible, hence why I love the Pac-lite™ models. Velcro cuffs are recommended – just make sure that they do-up OK over your wrist size and another nice feature is a panel of soft material on the inside of the collar so that your chin doesn’t touch a cold metal zip – or freeze to it.

Waterproof trousers are not worn so often, however if you are going somewhere it may become cold and wet then it is recommended that you take a pair. Features like an elasticated waist and zips up the sides are desirable. Zips up the sides can be full-length or half-length so that they run only from the ankle to the knee – this feature is designed to make it easier to put them on without taking boots off – often a discouraging factor which leads people to get unnecessarily wet.

For the head and hands there are options available, many outdoor brands have caps to protect the head and ears which are made from breathable fabric and fleece lined – all well and good, but I am a die-hard fan of wool, so in the cold and wet the only thing you will find on my head is a wool-knit beanie, under a hood. In the cold a hood is far more effective than the warmest headwear or balaclave as it channels the warm air that escapes from your collar, up and over your sweed, re-using that energy to keep you warm – sort of like a turbocharger for an engine.

If you’re going somewhere that is really wet then part of the outer layer will be a pair of gaiters – I know they look nerdy, but so’s the limp you could end up with if you get frostbitten toes from wet socks. There are two different types of gaiter: Those that attach to the ankle of your boot, and those that have a thick rubber rand which stretches around the sole of the boot. The choice depends on how much jumping in and out of bogs or snow drifts you want to do. Obviously the all-enveloping full gaiter is for heavy-duty use whereas the tighter & lighter ankle length type would be more than adequate for normal walking use. Both sorts should have a zip up the front, a Velcro storm flap to cover it and an elasticated draw string at the top.

This sounds obvious but I still see plenty of people doing it; when it rains then make sure your g-tex trousers go over your gaiters – otherwise the water will just run-off them and down the inside to your feet.

And if anyone in outdoor R&D happens to read this I’m still waiting for what I would regard as the holy grail of skiing footwear to be designed; the cross-country ski boot which has a built-in non-breathable gaiter. And if they happened to need someone to test it on an expenses-paid trip to the Swedish mountains around about late March then I could just be persuaded.

So – please take what you have read here, incorporate it into your own experience and hopefully it will help you to make the best choices for your own outer-layers. Don’t regard anything I’ve written here as gospel or definitive, everyone has different systems that work for them and what works for me might not work for you. However there is one constant that applies to everyone – water is wet and it runs down-hill so bear that in mind when making your choices.

Stay safe,

Dave

David Leaning is a consultant for Magnetic North Travel a tour operator which specialises in trips to show you Scandinavia at its best, including experiences to see the northern lights and find out what it feels like to drive a team of sled dogs for a week in the Arctic.

David has walked across Australia, (2,300 km) and skied the length of Norway (2,600 km) on solo expeditions, in 201 led a team to ski across the Arctic island of Svalbard (600 km). His experience includes several years’ service with the Royal Marines Commandos including deployments to jungles, deserts and the Arctic.

To learn more about Magnetic North Travel and the trips they offer check out their page on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Berghaus is not liable or responsible for any content provided by third parties to the site. The contributions of third parties do not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Berghaus.

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For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s 3 in 1 jackets, men’s walking boots and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

Total ascent 1,203m

Start SS314250; Finish SS231179

At a whopping 630 miles the South West Coast Path is by far the longest of our official National Trails, and a real classic. Starting at the historic and almost-too-perfect fishing village of Clovelly, the day-long stretch described here is among the best and wildest of the entire route, following the rugged Culm Coast to the outermost point of the Bristol Channel and on down the weatherbeaten Atlantic seaboard. With its wave-washed slabs, sharp fins and tottering headlands the rock scenery is continually impressive.

For the full description see this UKHillwalking Route Card.

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s windproof jackets, men’s boots and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

Post 2 – Campcraft, Gear and Physiology

“Keep close to nature’s heart, yourself; and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean…”  (John Muir)

Campcraft

A wilderness walker needs to be well rested and fed to keep going over challenging terrain for many days, good camping skills are needed to achieve this. Camp will also provide a refuge and shelter from difficult weather conditions. It’s your home from home and should sustain and comfort you. Sound ‘campcraft’ is vital.

- Know the principles of good campsite selection. Look for somewhere that’s dry and slightly raised so that water ‘run off’ from storms or rising stream levels won’t flood you out. Do you want a camp sheltered from the wind or will a breeze keep biting insects away? If camped in woodland make sure dead branches on trees (‘widow makers’) don’t overhang your site. Is there snow on overhanging trees and will it fall? Don’t camp at the bottom of cliffs or gullies vulnerable to falling rocks or scree. Avoid single or clumped trees, targets for lightening strikes. Remember low lying ground such as valleys can be the coldest and foggiest spots (cold air sinks) in the morning. Consider where the sun will rise, either for its warmth or to avoid waking too early in bright sun. Consider wind direction when pitching, you’ll want the narrowest point facing wind direction and your entrance/exit sheltered. Look for animal tracks, don’t pitch on a ‘game trail’.

- Good campsites are found not made. Always practise low impact camping, ‘Leave No Trace’. Take you rubbish with you, bury your own water, carry out toilet paper and put back rocks or stones used to anchor tent pegs etc.. Make campfires carefully and sensitively.

- A good, reliable shelter is an imperative. It needs to protect you from wind, rain, sun or biting insects and is your home from home. Whether you choose tent, tarp or bivvy bag know how to pitch camp quickly and efficiently in case of bad weather. Have your shelter organised so that you can cook and clean in the shelter if possible (in the case of a tent never in the tent itself due to fire risk, rather the ‘porch’). Have enough water to hand for overnight and the morning. Organise your clothing and equipment, a tidy camp is a happy camp. Scattered gear can be easily forgotten as well. Have your gear ready in case you need to pack and move quickly at night (e.g. in case of flooding).

- Think about water available to you. Is it clean, can you trust it? Do you need to boil, treat or filter your water? What equipment might you need such as treatment tablets or water filtration?

- In bear country consider the necessary changes to routine. Consider signs of bear activity when making camp site selection. Food and rubbish need to be stored and consumed well away from your shelter (minimum 100 metres). Bears have an excellent sense of smell, any bag or container possibly tainted by food odours needs to be cached with food. Use a ‘bear canister’ or ‘Ursack’ (if permitted). Wash and store toiletries in your cache. Keep bear spray and sheath knife to hand at all times, even when toileting. Never use a bivvy bag in bear country (think sausage roll!), bears can be deterred from approaching tents. Make noise when on your own. Seek out specialist advice on backpacking in bear country.

- Be aware of other ‘critters’ too such as the wolverine or marmot. Protect your food and rubbish. Respect wildlife and don’t contribute to ‘habituation’.

- Stay dry and warm in camp. Have a set of dry and warm ‘camp clothes’ to change into. Never be tempted to wear these setting off in the morning, put on wet clothes instead as walking will warm you up. Keep those dry clothes well packed in ‘dry bags’ when on the move. Use a good sleeping bag. Down or synthetic, it’s your choice. Keep down bags dry. Insulate the body from the ground with a sleeping mat, no sleeping mat means a very cold night as warmth leaks from you into the cold earth. Air your sleeping bag in the morning to prevent moisture ‘clumping’ down and rendering inefficient.

- Develop a successful ‘wet weather strategy’. Know how to live and camp in rain, potentially for many days. Work hard to keep sleeping bag and camp clothes dry. Develop a positive mindset to deal with the gloom of rain.

- Keep clean and wash with soap daily. Not only will you be more ‘social’ but a build up of body oils transmits heat from the skin and blocks membranes on technical fabrics, preventing waterproofing etc..  Sleeping bags heat retention can be compromised from body oils. Dirt on the body can increase a risk of infection if allowed to build and will compromise health. Keep your ‘eating irons’ clean and free from food residue to prevent bacteria. After toileting make sure hands are clean (defecate and urinate away from water courses). Pay attention to your feet. Wash and clean them regularly to avoid cuts or sores becoming infected. Treat blisters and ‘hotspots’.

- Sleep well. Consider ear plugs to prevent waking to changes in wind and precipitation. Assess adequate ventilation through the tent at night in response to climatic conditions. Check for ‘build up’ of snow if in winter. Is an eye mask needed if camping in summer arctic conditions?  Keep a torch to hand during a dark night. Carry spare batteries.

- Eat well and regularly. You need to eat and proper meal at the beginning and the end of the day. Lunch can be replaced by regular small meals (‘grazing’) on the go but the day needs to end and finish by eating properly. Choose foods with the proper nutritional balance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Avoid fats during the day as these can make you sluggish but at night eat foods such as nuts or meats that combine protein and fats. The protein will repair damaged muscles whilst the fat metabolising will warm you whilst you sleep. Experiment with foods before you leave home only, know what works for you on the trail. Work out how much food you need and don’t skimp on carrying it. Make sure you have a varied and interesting diet. Pack the occasional treat, be it whisky or chocolate. Work out what cooking systems works for you and your needs. It could be gas, wood, alcohol or ‘tabs’. Make sure your stove is in good working order before setting out. Carry two means of lighting a fire or stove, a ‘fire steel’ is advised as one of those options.

- Know how to deal with biting insects. Carry repellents and head nets. Consider carrying an after bite treatment. Develop a mental tolerance for the annoyance and physical discomfort of swarms of biting bugs.

- Consider attending a good ‘bushcraft’ course. Learning from an expert the principles of building your own camp from natural materials and making fires successfully may assist.

Gear

Gear! Clothing and equipment, there’s plenty of choice out there and some of it can be very expensive. Take your time, though, in accumulating the right gear. It is entirely possible to start out with a basic ‘backpacking’ set from an army surplus shop and to add and subtract as your experience grows. Find out what works best for you and evaluate your clothing and equipment after every trip, try and achieve a good selection of light weight clothing and equipment.

Some experts talk of the ‘ten essentials’, a concept first aired in ‘Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills’ (first published in 1960 by The Mountaineers of Seattle, Washington). These are as follows.

- Map

- Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS receiver)

- Sunglasses and sunscreen

- Extra food

- Extra water

- Extra clothes

- Headlamp / flashlight

- First aid kit

- Fire starter (matches, chemical tabs, canned heat, or a magnesium stick)[4]

- Knife

These are the basics for a walking day. A backpacker needs to consider tent/tarp and good sleeping system (i.e. sleeping bag and mat). A cooking system is required too (options are gas, liquid fuel, ‘meths’, tabs or wood). Other items  may be portable water purification and water bottles. Ice axe for glacier or snowfield travel (if necessary). Repair kit, including duct tape and basic sewing materials. Insect repellent (or clothing designed for this purpose). Signalling devices, such as a whistle, cell phone, two-way radio, satellite phone, unbreakable signal mirror or flare.

Obviously a good and comfortable ‘rucksack’ or ‘backpack’ that will carry your gear. Take time to find something that fits you. Don’t buy too big or small. A 50 litre pack should carry all you need for several days, 70 litres upwards for longer trips. Keep all your gear inside, don’t have stuff hanging off. It will imbalance, snag or simply drop off. If it has to ‘hang’, clip it with a mini ‘caribiner’.

Clothing is your mobile shelter, keeping the elements and cold from your naked body. The insulation clothing provides is the principal means for you retaining heat.

The system of ‘layering up’ is fundamental to remaining comfortable and warm while outdoors, and is the tried and tested way to achieving optimum performance in various weather conditions. The general principle has three layers: ‘Base Layer’, ‘Mid or Insulation Layer’ and ‘Outer Shell Garment’. The three layers enable the wearer to manage warmth and moisture.

- The ‘Base Layer’ is designed to sit next to the skin and is fundamental in regulating body moisture. It needs to be a ‘technical’ synthetic fabric or natural fabric such as wool. These materials do not absorb moisture, but tiny fibres help ‘wick’ moisture away from the skin to the outer surface to evaporate, enabling you to remain drier while sweating.

- The ‘Mid Layer’ is the Insulating garment designed to trap the warm air close to the body. Either a ‘fleece’, ‘softshell’ or ‘insulation’ layer (such as down or a synthetic alternative). Not only do they keep you warm but also help with the ‘wicking’ process of sweat management.

- ‘Outer Shell Garment’ is  imperative offer both full protection against the elements and also provide a high degree of breathability. If wind and rain penetrate to your inner layers, hypothermia could quickly set in. Without the ability to breathe or vent, moisture can quickly build up on the inside of your shell garment.

Clothing is your mobile shelter, keeping the elements and cold from your naked body. The insulation clothing provides is the principal means for you retaining heat.

The system of ‘layering up’ is fundamental to remaining comfortable and warm while outdoors, and is the tried and tested way to achieving optimum performance in various weather conditions. The general principle has three layers: ‘Base Layer’, ‘Mid or Insulation Layer’ and ‘Outer Shell Garment’. The three layers enable the wearer to manage warmth and moisture.

Practise the layering system. Make sure you clothing and gear are checked over after every trip and properly cleaned. Technical shell clothing needs specialist cleaning solutions such as ‘Nikwax’ and should be ‘reproofed’ fairly regularly for optimum performance.

Physiology

You are your most important piece of equipment. Stay as strong and fit as you can. Make walking a daily part of your routine. Do some basic weight training to keep you upper body balanced and able to handle a heavy load. Keep your own body weight healthy.

Keep your body temperature comfortable and well regulated on the trail. Feed yourself well. Keep clean, healthy and happy! Above all enjoy yourself!

Conclusion

Becoming well versed in the art of wilderness backpacking puts you in an exclusive club. Secret and wild places will open up to you and you will indulge in wild beauty beyond the reach of most people.  Our wild land, especially in Britain, is under threat. Get out and appreciate it and tell others of a value that’s intrinsic. Walk, enjoy and protect our last wildernesses!

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s softshell jackets, men’s insulated jackets and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

Berghaus is not liable or responsible for any content provided by third parties to the site. The contributions of third parties do not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Berghaus.

That’s why we are bringing you blogs from experts on outdoor subjects who can share their skills and knowledge, giving you the confidence and information to try something new or build on your existing skills.
Here we bring you expert advice on lone backpacking.

Mark Waring is a keen ‘backpacker’ and hill walker with over twenty five years experience of walking and camping in wild and lonely places. Mark has backpacked extensively both home and abroad and has a particular interest in the circumpolar regions and the sub-arctic mountains and tundra of Scandinavia, North America and Russia. Recent trips have included the remote wilderness of the Yukon Territory and Alaskan border and he enjoyed the unique challenge of hiking alone in the last strongholds of the Grizzly bear. Mark has been published in the UK outdoor press and has articles pending.

Next summer Mark undertake a return to the landscape that saw him fall in love with backpacking in the sub-arctic. He aims to be the first from outside Sweden to complete the coveted ‘Gronabandet’ or ‘Green Band’, nearly 1000 miles of walking through the spine of Scandinavia’s mountains, totally self-powered and wholly self-sufficient. He’ll be out for two months, living and moving through Europe’s last wilderness, a landscape more populated by reindeer, wolverine and bear than man. All enjoyed under the midnight sun. More details can be found at ‘oneswedishsummer.weebly.com’.

“… there is nothing like a wilderness journey for rekindling the fires of life. Simplicity is part of it. Cutting the cackle. Transportation reduced to leg – or arm – power, eating irons to one spoon. Such simplicity, together with sweat and silence, amplify the rhythms of any long journey, especially through unknown, untattered territory. And in the end such a journey can restore an understanding of how insignificant you are, and thereby set you free.”  (Colin Fletcher)

Wilderness journeys provide a unique opportunity to challenge and revive ourselves in the natural world. Packing up all you need to sustain body and soul in a single ‘backpack’ or ‘rucksack’ and heading out into the wilds on an extended ‘backpacking’ or ‘hiking’ trip is necessary ‘time out’, an opportunity to reconnect with the gentler rhythms of nature. There are considerable challenges but these allow us to appraise ourselves afresh. Doing it on your own, removed from the assistance of others, can heighten the experience but the consequences of misadventure are acute. As with the acquisition of any new skill it’s best to practise, grow in confidence and ability and to resist the temptation to ‘run’ before you can ‘walk’. Once you’ve got it though some of the world’s last wild places will open up to you. You will have the run of places that others don’t. An inner freedom can be won as well, character strengthened.

I’ve given thought to what works well for solo wilderness adventurers in northern climatic conditions. I am out for two months this summer crossing the Scandinavian mountain chain, travelling on foot and self-sustained in tundra and mountains high above the Arctic Circle. Dealing with extreme heat or cold may change some principles but I’ll be trying to put into practice the following approach to lone wilderness backpacking.

Going Solo

You are on your own. You have no-one to consult, discuss or, alternatively, negotiate. Where to camp or to walk, the decisions and the responsibility for it is down to you. There’s a freedom on heading off into the wilds alone but there are disadvantages too. You’ve got no-one to share the joys or worries of a trip and an experience shared means it can be enhanced. Embrace though the freedom that going solo can bring. You’ll need to form your own strategies and a ‘can do’ mindset to overcome the challenges. These could be as follows.

- Practise thinking positively, studies have shown that positive thinkers have much higher chances in a survival situation. When things go wrong learn from any mistakes and move on

- Compartmentalise loss or disappointment. If you lose or break expensive kit, ‘ring fence’ the upset and don’t let it spoil the rest of trip. Stay positive, keep a ‘mindfulness’

-  Be self disciplined, keep yourself and your kit in good working order. Be regular in your eating, sleeping and toileting habits

- Think through the consequences of any decision carefully and try and foresee the worst outcome. Consider your options carefully. Never be afraid to change your plans or retreat from a hazard or situation. ‘Fuel’ with regular eating and drinking properly to keep your thinking as sharp as possible. Things will go wrong, expect that and react thoughtfully!

- Develop and keep to a routine of walking and camping. Push yourself and take care of your own needs at the same time. Above all enjoy it!

Travel

Wilderness backpacking is principally about travel on foot through wilderness or wild land carrying all you need to live and travel out in the wilds for many days. Sometimes on marked trails or routes or, at times, over rough and unmarked land, solo wilderness adventurers need excellent navigation skills. You need to know where you are to choose the most efficient and safest routes of travel and the practitioner should devote time to being able to navigate with confidence. Understand how your own body works, what you need as fuel to help you travel and make informed decisions. A successful travel strategy has a number of principles.

- Master the paper map and compass and treat these two as the primary navigation tools. Learn about electronic aids to route finding, not just the GPS but the ‘altimeter’ too and view these as your secondary aids only. Develop the ability to observe the changing terrain as an aid to navigation. Gain some understanding of natural navigation techniques, not only as a valuable ‘back up’ but also to heighten your appreciation of your natural environment.

-  Understand how your own body works and what it needs to walk over very rough ground, in potentially bad weather conditions and with a load on your back, for many hours a day. Have food and water to hand. Work out what foods  are the optimum fuel for your body. Make sure you eat and drink enough, you need to be fuelled and hydrated sufficiently, poor fuelling can lead to poor judgement. Incorporate rest breaks into your walking day and use this as an opportunity to assess your route and check your maps. In the final hours of the walking day start appraising the route, map and terrain in front of you for potential campsites.

-  Monitor the weather when on the move, understand a little about meteorology and how changes in cloud pattern or wind speeds might indicate a worsening weather situation. Use your altimeter to assess pressure changes. Make route decisions accordingly and never be afraid to camp early.

-  Assess the terrain you are travelling on. Think several steps ahead to minimise risk.

-  Look after your feet. Read and learn (for example from the Berghaus ‘Expert Blog’ on ‘Blisters’) about foot care.

-  Know how to pack your ‘rucksack’ or ‘backpack’ effectively. Keep heaviest items packed towards the top and close to your back to ensure a proper balance. Take great care in protecting the hip strap buckle, the hip strap allows a proper carry of the pack. Know how and when to loosen and tighten straps. Loosen when travelling downhill and tighten when travelling up to aid balance.

-  Are you travelling in bear country? Avoid surprising a bear by frequent noise. Look for signs of bear activity such as scats, prints and/or torn trees. Beware obscured parts of the trail such as bends etc.. Keep bear spray to hand. Seek out specialist advice on backpacking in bear country.

-  Water is going to present the biggest obstacle for most wilderness adventurers. Mostly, it’ll fall from the sky, just presenting a challenge to morale as you move through a dim and obscured landscape. It can, especially if you are high in mountains, mean slippery conditions underfoot and the simple stumble or ‘trip and slip’ can mean broken gear or limbs if not worse. That’s when you know you are on your own. Make sure your footwear ‘holds’ the trail well in wet conditions. Minimise the risk of a stumble or slip by using trekking poles. They will stop you, heavier with a ‘pack weight’ on your back of 5kg upwards hitting the deck hard. They will also alleviate fatigue (some research suggests poles can minimise 10 percent of effort, I find ‘Pacerpole’ trekking pole to be very effective as they have a natural hand grip). Poles will balance the load on your back and a good pair is a sound investment.

-  Make sure you have a good clothing system that can deal with water. I’ll say more in ‘Gear’, but in short you want warm protective clothing that will prevent the ingress of water when you are moving through wilderness. Water next to the skin robs the body of precious heat. Exposure and hypothermia are real dangers so warmth and moisture management are key to travel and staying safe.

Crossing Water (Streams, Rivers and Creeks)

Wilderness travel at some point will mean crossing natural watercourses such as creeks and rivers. If you are on a trail you may be lucky enough to use a bridge or other means to cross. Often there will be no facility and you need to carefully assess your options for crossing potentially fast, cold and dangerous water. These can present the biggest danger to the solo walker. If you make no proper risk assessment of your crossing options and/or fail to execute a proper strategy then you face drowning, or losing your equipment and possible hypothermia when soaked through and without shelter.

It’s worth taking some time and perhaps expert training to learn how to cross water safely. Some pointers are as follows:

-  Make a risk assessment of the creek or stream in front of you. In identifying a place to cross you want ‘straight, wide and shallow’. That will provide the least riskiest option.

-  Look for braided channels. The crossing may be wider where a river breaks into separate channels. This breaks up the force of the flow and there may also be small islands or gravel bars to rest and further assess your crossing.

-  Check for debris flow. If the river is carrying a lot of debris, such as branches and small logs,  stream flows are likely high. Flowing logs and branches can strike you and knock you off balance.

-  Test the current. A quick game of ‘Pooh Sticks’ and a tossed branch will indicate flow direction and speed.

-  Don’t cross where flows are much above your knees. A rapid flow will press your thighs downwards and render you unsteady.

-  Loosen your ‘pack straps’ before starting to cross. Unclip the waist belt and let out the shoulder straps so that the pack is easier to remove. If you fall in you will need to ditch your pack quickly as its weight might drag and hold you down. You might lose your pack but the alternative is potentially drowning.

-  Consider some basic survival equipment in the pockets of your clothing in case you lose your pack. I’ve used a large jacket ‘map’ pocket to hold a light windproof shelter, a ‘fire steel’ to light a fire and a knife. These will aid stabilising a survival situation.

-  Look for low and open exit points on the opposite bank. Once you reach the other side, you’ll want to be able to get out of the stream as quickly as possible. A scramble up a steep bank could lead to a slip that sees you dumped back in the flow.

-  Now cross. Wear footwear, bare feet will not suffice. Wear boots with no socks or trekking sandals/camp shoes. Be prepared for the shock of the water temperature. Do so facing the flow (i.e. ‘upstream’ ) and shuffle sideways. Slide your feet along the bottom while facing the river. Move slowly. Angle yourself side on to the current. Move in a slightly downstream direction towards your identified exit point.

-  Use your trekking poles, think ‘four wheel drive’ and improved grip. Make sure your hands are in the poles’ wrist loops.  Always maintain two points of contact with the bottom. Use your poles to steady yourself as you shift your feet. The more contact you have with the bottom, the more stable you’ll be.

-  Keep your knees slightly bent and your body braced. Move slowly, always thinking and always assessing risk. Don’t be afraid to abandon a crossing if the flow is too fast and the water too deep. Get out at your entry point and move on down the bank side looking for crossing points. The consequences of an accident are too great.

Practising these principles should getting you moving safely and efficiently. Wilderness backpacking is also about living comfortably out in the wilds. I’ll post again on ‘camp craft’ and ‘gear’. Travel safely!

Berghaus is not liable or responsible for any content provided by third parties to the site. The contributions of third parties do not necessarily represent the view or opinions of Berghaus.

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s 3 in 1 jackets, men’s walking boots and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.