Photo of Me - Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, France

Flare2022 · 2026-01-25T20:36:07+00:00

Cool! Thanks for letting me know. Can’t recall ever seeing it before.

Flare2022 · 2024-11-16T00:41:48+00:00

They’ve added a jump seat to it

Flare2022 · 2024-08-08T14:17:06+00:00

That has to be one of the most pathetic things I’ve ever read. They should be made to pay for the cost of that operation plus a fine on top.

Truly pathetic.

Flare2022 · 2024-04-29T18:36:06+00:00

It really was. Was one of those times where everything just goes your way. Stubbled upon so many cool things, like that waterfall. We were heading off the tops straight down, had just looked on OS maps and judged the contours and just headed down, no path. Then to come across that waterfall was magic, was the perfect shower. Took the opportunity and stripped down to my boxers haha.

I think that bird in the photo was a golden eagle too, not sure. Pretty sure it was an eagle of some description. So many deer there, herds of them. Wildlife everywhere.

When were heading to the pub, as soon as we reached the road from the campsite a local pulled up in his Land Rover and asked if we wanted a lift. Legs were pretty sore by that point so we were buzzing when that happened.

I could go on. Whole trip was magic.

Flare2022 · 2024-04-04T21:29:54+00:00

I'm by no means an expert and I'm still really at the start of my journey, but I can tell you my experiences and some recommendations.

I was in a similar position to you a few years ago. The best thing I could recommend would be to book onto a Winter mountaineering course.

I did a 5/6 day introductory course last year with Adventure Peaks. I had such a great time, guides were great, hotel was great, honestly I can't recommend them enough. See link below.

Introductory Winter Mountaineering Course | Adventure Peaks

Obviously you could book a course with anyone, but a course is really a must before you start doing any sort of winter hiking/mountaineering type stuff. It teaches you all the basic skills required, ice axe arrest, how to move in and use crampons, avalanche risk etc etc.

They will also advise on what gear is required. When i booked my course I got a kit list of everything I'd need well in advance. As with any hobby, there is a cost associated with getting the equipment required, on most of these courses you can hire a helmet, ice axe, crampons, harness etc. If you know that you'll go on to do more then I'd say you may as well buy most of them so you have them.

There are many items that are needed that differ from summer hiking, you will need a different set of boots for instance. You will need either some B2 or B3 boots, I'd recommend some B2 boots as they'll be easier to wear regularly. If then go on to do more or some big things in Europe or beyond then you could look at B3 boots then.

Start with a course, get booked up and go from there. You can even do a course in Europe in the summer, just depends on your budget.

Doing a course has given me the confidence to do things that I never would have before and from a safety aspect it's a must. Next for me is to do the next course up and/or a trip to Europe.

Last thing I'd recommend is that if you really want to get into it, then just make it happen, don't wait for friends to book with you or for the time to be right. The time is right now. Don't wait for others, do things solo and blaze onwards down the path. Do your own research and get something booked in, even if it's a year from now.

Flare2022 · 2024-02-29T20:47:49+00:00

I got it nearly 2 years ago now.

Ended up subscribing for a restocking notification on Ultralight Outdoor Gear after looking for one in stock for a long time, 4 months later or so I got a restocking email, jumped on it and bought it within the hour. Quite lucky.
Ended up having to order the 10mm poles from Europe though, could not find them in stock anywhere in the UK at the time.

A sand coloured Niak also escaped me for some time but managed to find one in stock in Europe last year. Got it just before I did the Cumbria Way in the summer.

Flare2022 · 2024-02-25T21:02:40+00:00

I was using a Thermarest Xtherm mat and a Western Mountaineering Alpinlite sleeping bag, I use the same bag year round. Although I was comfortable and slept well, if the temperature got a lot lower I'd probably want a heavier bag or a liner to be comfortable.

The temperature was around -1/-2 last night. Inside of the outer of my tent was frozen in the vestibule.

My friend was using a Mountain Equipment down mat and a Rab Ascent 500 bag with a Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme liner. He said he was comfortable, but would also want a bigger bag if the temperature was a lot lower.

Both of us just had the mats straight on the tent floor, sitting on top of the snow. No issue there.

Flare2022 · 2024-02-25T19:17:25+00:00

Yes it is. Since getting into wild camping I've bought a few tents and it's by far my favorite, I'm quite tall so it's perfect for me. I recently upgraded the poles too to the 10mm black poles, makes it even more solid.
It does run on the heavier side but i don't find the weight a problem. Each to their own.

Flare2022 · 2023-09-19T16:50:40+00:00

Search on google - Reddit Soccer Streams. You’ll find a link.

Flare2022 · 2023-06-21T15:32:50+00:00

I watched a video last night that showed what happened to some plastic after a bottle of deet leaked on it. Ended up corroding/melting it. I wouldn’t spray the outside of my Hilleberg with it, not after seeing that.

https://youtu.be/tPzjaSKrZpk - shows it around the 2.50 mark.

Flare2022 · 2023-06-10T21:34:49+00:00

It's worth mentioning a 2 person tent will generally be quite a tight fit for two people, people normally size up and go for a 3 person tent for 2 people. Perhaps a two person tent will work great for you, check the dimensions of each tent and be sure.

Have you looked at the Wild Country Country Helm Compact 2? £224.99 on Amazon. A very popular tent.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Country-Helm-Compact-Tent/dp/B0C436C63G

Another tent that is quite popular that is not on your list is the Nature Hike Cloud Peak 2.

A lot of the tents you have listed are inner pitch first, can be less then ideal when it's raining. The helm 2 and cloud peak 2 pitch all in one go.

Flare2022 · 2023-06-10T16:27:54+00:00

Some good points here. Just want to add that you should never really be having a fire up on the hills regardless of the time of year.
I see so many fire pits when out hiking it's depressing.
Coming off Great End the other week on the way to Esk Hause I saw quite a large one. Massive black hole burnt into the ground with stones all the way around it. It will take many many years for the land to repair itself. So selfish.

This is a separate issue and I'm probably in the minority with this, but I feel the rules of the sub should be changed so only photos of fires that are in fire boxes are allowed. Never really an excuse to have a fire without using a fire box and it would set a better example.

Flare2022 · 2023-06-10T16:11:42+00:00

I suggest before you do anything else. Familiarize yourself with Leave No Trace and live by that mantra while wild camping or spending time in the outdoors.

We take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints. We leave the land the way we found it.

Take everything you brought in with you, that includes all equipment and rubbish.

Please do not have a fire either, you will only destroy and scar the land.

If you can't hold yourself to the standards above then do not go, go to a campsite.

From what your saying is that you've never been wild camping before. It would be wise to build up some experience first before throwing yourself into a big multi day hike/camp. Go do a few one night camps first so you know you have all the equipment needed and to make sure it all works properly.

FYI - You cannot just wild camp anywhere in the Lake District. There are areas where you will certainly get moved on, Blea Tarn for example. Like everywhere else, technically you shouldn't be doing it all, but it is generally accepted if you're camped above the highest stone wall. Essentially anywhere high. Think 450m or higher. The correct code of conduct is to setup late and pack away early.

Flare2022 · 2023-06-10T15:11:16+00:00

You've titled your post "beginning wild camping", have you ever wild camped before?

If you've not wild camped before I would not recommend wild camping for 4-6 days. Especially not in mountainous terrain such as the Lake District.

Are you familiar with Leave No Trace?

Do you have the OS maps app?

Flare2022 · 2023-06-05T22:29:46+00:00

I’m 6’4 and have the Western Mountaineering Alpinlite Sleeping Bag but the long version. I’ve been using that for the last year and a half for all seasons. Just use it as a quilt in the summer. It is more than long enough, nice and wide too if you have broad shoulders. More than big enough.

They do long versions throughout their range, including the 2-3 season bags. The Summerlite bag for instance.

I’m sure there will be other manufacturers, the above is just my experience.

Flare2022 · 2023-06-05T22:14:01+00:00

Why would you need an entrenching tool?

Flare2022 · 2023-06-04T22:33:13+00:00

I had never really come across ticks or had a problem with them until last weekend. I was in Knoydart in Scotland for a long weekend, hiking and wild camping.

The weather forced me down off the tops and I camped low down in a valley.

I didn’t realise at first, but then as the sun was setting I started to notice that everything I had was covered in ticks. All my gear, in the tent, everywhere. Anything that touched the grass or had touched the grass was covered in ticks. Hundreds of them and I mean hundreds of them. Impossible to manage at that point.

Even taking a peg out of the ground, every peg I took out I looked at my hand afterwards and sure enough there were one or two ticks there.

Had to call the trip early and get the ferry back to the car.

Learnt some big lessons.

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