Comments on: Days Like This, No 21: Eternity in Borrowdale

By: McEff

McEff — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:07:57 +0000

That sounds like sheer purgatory, Chrissie. Do you ever wonder why we put ourselves through stuff like that when we could be at home in a nice warm bed, reading a good book and with a cup of tea on the bedside cabinet?
Cheers, Alen

By: McEff

McEff — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:01:26 +0000

Hi Steve. I must admit, you do get a decent night’s sleep on an airbed. On the rare occasions my wife goes camping with me she insists that we use one, and it does eradicate those first painful moments when you crawl out of your sleeping bag and attempt to straighten your legs and back.
Oh, the joys of camping.
Cheers, Alen

By: chrissiedixie

chrissiedixie — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 06:59:07 +0000

By, I’m frozen now, after reading that! Thankfully I’ve never yet been that cold in a tent (and would rather not be) but I do remember stuff like regularly scraping ice off the inside of the bedroom windows on a morning.
I have had an eternity in a tent though, one night. Mine was at 12,000ft on Mount Whitney(California) when I was totally not acclimatised to the altitude. I had the most unbelievably awful headache, felt horrendously nauseous, couldn’t sleep of course and every second was definitely an eternity…

By: Steve Bibby

Steve Bibby — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 02:57:01 +0000

“Body heat is sucked into the ungrateful ground” is such a lovely turn of phrase, and sums it up well. I camped, a fortnight ago, at Thornthwaite and, for the first time, enjoyed the luxury that is an airbed. I know it’s not old school, but previously the effect of a) being what is sometimes described as “a big unit”; b) a cold, uneven and unyielding ground; and c) heavy, heavy gravitational force, has always left me racked with pain for days. After a day walking up, down and around Haystacks it was blissful.

Thanks for the story Alen. I can’t ever see me wanting to do that in January.

Cheers

Steve

By: EchoohcE

EchoohcE — Sun, 31 May 2015 15:31:56 +0000

It’s never too late to update gear Alen. Just thought on – about ten years ago I also got a ‘Thermarest’ thin inflatable camping mat – they’re lush.
Mike

By: McEff

McEff — Sat, 30 May 2015 16:01:13 +0000

Hi Jo. I think the pain was part of the fun. Stiff upper lip and all that. Having said that, I’ve decided I’ve reached a time in my life where a little comfort is appreciated ??? not much, just a little.
Scotland can be quite cold in September. I’ve been caught in snow at that time of year.
All the best, Alen

By: Jo Woolf

Jo Woolf — Sat, 30 May 2015 14:24:06 +0000

Oh dear, Alen – you did inflict pain on yourself, in the pursuit of pleasure! But the photos are fab. Look at that sky – a real winter blue, with snow on the hills. Colin and I used to go camping in Scotland in the early 80s but it was usually in September and we stayed on camping sites – even so, I remember the frost in the tent and the abundance of insects in the toilet blocks. We had a Mini, too. Love your stories, so crisply remembered and well told! :)

By: McEff

McEff — Sat, 30 May 2015 13:33:24 +0000

You’ve got me thinking I should update my gear, Mike. Mind, I did buy a new Vango Nitro 200 tent a couple of years back and I’m very pleased with it. But I’ve never had much comfort in the sleeping bag department.
Alen

By: EchoohcE

EchoohcE — Fri, 29 May 2015 21:09:07 +0000

That does sound nasty. I’ve been on the same campsite as someone unknown whose tent disappeared in a trice from catching fire, fortunately the person wasn’t in it at the time.
Having said that, I also almost always cook under the flysheet (unless I’m bivouacing without a tent!) but do it ever so carefully, start with a tiny flame (gas) put the pan on then turn it up slooowly, and pay close attention to it the whole time. Like Alen says, if you did it outside in the wind etc it would take forever, especially if you were low on gas.

By: EchoohcE

EchoohcE — Fri, 29 May 2015 20:54:17 +0000

I’d better clarify what I was on about – the night on Ben Nevis in Feb ’83 was just a cheap three season artificial sleeping bag. And I have spent a fair few miserable long nights wearing everything I had available and coats over the top of the bag. I’ve never slept in an orange plastic bag.
I have to confess I have more recently purchased an Iceline four season down sleeping bag for use at cold times! I got it cheap, about 14 years ago at the Mountain Equipment factory outlet shop in Glossop, and it had been used and returned! Think I paid about ??100 for it (new price was about ??320) and it is really nice. The bivvy bag is a proper army surplus Goretex type, got for about ??45, twenty years ago in Bristol – also really nice. I put the sleeping bag inside that! Great for cold bivouac trips and even in the tent when it is really cold – like the time I was on Skye around Easter 2013 when it was -5 to -8C every night for a week!(Inside the tent!!) The condensation then is on the outside of the bivvy bag.
Not very retro I know but these days I’m a firm believer in ‘comfort camping’. Sorry if I’ve disappointed you Alen! I’m not the type to spend a lot of money though, it has to be said. My favourite small tent for the last 12 years has been a ‘Pro Action – Tiger Paws model’ bought from Argos for ??20. Well actually two of them, my mum wanted one ‘cos it was so good, and I went back for more. They were then selling them even cheaper as there was a sale on so it was two for ??30. Bargain! Can’t get them in the shops anymore. They were very well constructed. A bit snug for two but ideal for one person.
Cheers, Mike

By: McEff

McEff — Fri, 29 May 2015 16:36:40 +0000

A very serious situation. Good job he wasn’t alone and had people around him who were able to assist and get him to hospital. I bet anyone who has back-packed has had a close shave where the flysheet or flapping door has nearly caught fire. I was taught never to set a stove off inside a tent, which is fine advice for perfect weather, but in wind and rain you have no option but to cook under the flysheet.

By: Ash

Ash — Fri, 29 May 2015 13:24:05 +0000

Sorry everyone, it wasn’t in the 60’s it was in 1980. Next door…decided to light his camping gas stove at the front of his tent, under the flysheet! He was on his own inside the tent when his only exit was through the ring of fire engulfing his only exit. Had it not been for his blood-curdling calls from the back of his tent we would have been none the wiser. There was only one option for him: to run straight out towards us where he ricocheted straight into the stream alongside the campsite (thank heavens for that stream!) It was then a matter of stripping him off & smothering him in as much midge-bite cream, sunscreen, or whatever we could find. What happened next? The most senior member of our group then walked our friend off the mountain back to the car & straight to hospital. He had severe burns to his hands, arms & his face. He was very very lucky. It was a life-changing experience for him, for all of us in fact!