TGO Challenge 2013 – Days 13 & 14

Day 13 – 26 Kilometres with 300 metres ascent

One peculiar aspect of the Challenge is that most participants are always eager to pack and set off super early.  I could hear the occupants of nearby tents packing at some ungodly hour, concerned they would not be first in queue for breakfast at the nearby Retreat .  By the time I had enjoyed lazing in a warm tent, had breakfast and started to pack the campsite at Tarfside was almost empty.

Dave Pickles was also in no particular hurry either so we decided to join forces for the day for the long walk to the campsite at North Water Bridge.  I had initially planned to immediately cross the river on the rickety bridge and follow the path on the south side of the North Esk.  Dave however persuaded me to have a second breakfast at the Retreat so we set off down the road instead.

The early wave of Challengers had already passed on by the time we sat down and ordered breakfast.  After an earlier bowl of super noodles I was not that hungry but still managed a large fry-up.  My rucksack hip belt was on the tight side when we set off once more.  The walk along the road was pleasant in the sunshine with good views across the Wirren hills.  However it was tarmac and tarmac is never much fun.

I was pleased when we took the first vehicle bridge across the river, hard tarmac giving way to a nice soft grassy track.  A succession of heavy squally showers meant that I was constantly stopping to put on and take off my waterproofs.  In the end we both gave up and kept them on even during the sunny interludes.  With the wind being so strong, even with blue sky overhead there was always the risk that within minutes it would be hammering it down.

Track soon turned to tarmac once more, the hills left behind.  The rest of the challenge to the coast would be through an agricultural landscape.

The Tuck Inn at Edzell let me indulge in another plate of fried food and it was good to get my pack off and sit on a proper chair.  A quick visit to the shop and then it was head down for one of the worst sections of walking on this years Challenge.  An arrow straight road filled with lorries and fast moving traffic means a demoralising walk.  There is nothing to do but get your head down and get on with it whilst trying to avoid getting run over.  David took me along a pleasant alternative track for the last mile or so, a relief to escape the speeding traffic.

The campsite was filled with an array of lightweight tents.  The grass is flat and the facilities ok but I can’t for the life of me think why anyone would want to go there for a holiday.  For a start it’s right next door to a dual carriageway, not the best neighbour when sleeping in a tent!

A mighty downpour had everyone hiding in their tents for a while.  It would have been a wild evening to be camping in the hills, even in this sheltered spot the wind was rocking my tent.  Once the rain had passed through it was surprisingly cold so I headed to the reception area with Dave and had a few games of pool until we were kicked out.

Fully wrapped in all my clothes I sat on the benches with a few others celebrating the last night of the Challenge.  The cold soon had me heading to my tent and a warm sleeping bag.

Day 14 – 14 kilometres with 270 metres ascent

Once again I was one of the last to pack up in the morning.  Dave had originally planned to walk directly to Montrose.  However my company must be fantastic as at the last minute he decided to accompany me to the coast at St Cyrus.

The dual carriageway of the A90 was a frightening barrier to cross, its hard to judge timings when everything is moving so fast.  Once safely on the other side a collection of minor roads took us in an easterly direction.  The final climb over the hill of Morphie feeling like a bit of a slog.

The wind throughout the day was exceptionally strong when exposed to it.  Heavy showers were blown through with a violent intensity.  On the hill of Morhie we took a right old battering.  The hills in the distance had once again turned white.  We later learned that the road above Braemar had been shut due to snow.  The only photo I took of this section manages to make it look all warm and spring like though.  It was actually the coldest day of the whole two weeks.

Walking into St Cyrus a car slowed down and we were told well done, we were nearly there.  Though the village, past the church and we were at the top of the cliffs.  The view from the top is stunning, the sea and sandy beach below looking inviting.  We set off down the steep path to dip our toes in the sea.

As a small wave dampened my shoe I’m not really sure how I felt to be honest.  A week ago I would have simply been relieved, the fear of failure was the only thing driving me on.  Now along with the sense of achievement I felt a bit sad that the walk had finished.  A few days and I would be back at work.  The simple pleasure of getting up day after day and walking was now over.

St Cyrus is a fantastic place to finish a coast to coast walk, the sandy beach backed by dunes and gorse covered cliffs.

After the obligatory posing for photos by the water’s edge it was back up the cliff path.  This really is hard work considering that the walk is officially over.  It was the thought of a good lunch before the bus to Montrose that spurred us back up. The village cafe was full of familiar happy faces, all with the satisfied glow of reaching the east coast.

The bus dropped us off in Montrose where there was a short walk to the Park Hotel to sign in.  The place was buzzing with Challengers and it was good to meet with familiar faces once again.  I walked to the campsite, pitched, showered, dozed and then returned to the Park later that evening for the Challenge dinner.  A great end to my second TGO Challenge.

Reflecting on the Challenge

It’s easy to have a romantic vision of a backpacking trip before setting off.  For the TGO Challenge I imagined myself following a high level route each day, camping on the summits with fantastic views.  I would be climbing the peaks with little effort and spending long lunch breaks brewing up in the sun, a gentle breeze cooling me down.

Obviously I’m no fool and did not really imagine that I would spend two weeks like that, but it would be nice!  The realities of Scotland in May is a certain amount of bad weather, ticks and the fact that you are nowhere near as fit as you had hoped.  This year I had to add into the mix a foot injury, which was very painful and put a big black cloud over a few days, along with doubts I would finish.

I have wondered how my enjoyment of the Challenge could be represented in graphical form.  Therefore I have carefully constructed the following bit of art just for you (just to prove that my Humanities Degree did not go to waste).

As you can see, it started off very well.  There was a slight dip in the enjoyability factor due to the first weeks weather but I perked up after a comfy bed for the night.  It then went a bit wrong which culminated in me standing near Kingussie station thinking about catching a train home.  During the final week things got better and better and better.

I’m not a naturally outgoing or particularly social person.  However I found that the more I made an effort (which can be difficult after a 16 mile day) when in civilisation the more I enjoyed myself.  It has now dawned on me that I could go and walk across Scotland at any time I please.  It is the social side of the Challenge that makes it much more than just a walk.

Will I do it again?  Yes.  Will I do it next year?  Undecided, there are so many things I want to do!

TGO Challenge 2013 – Days 11 & 12

Day 11 – 26 kilometres with 860 metres ascent

I think that one of the reasons I’m veggie is because I crave disappointment.  This is certainly always the case at breakfast time in a Scottish b&b.  You watch the other guests being plied with piles of food to set them up for the day, you then receive a very lonely looking egg which constitutes the veggie option.

I had stocked up the night before in the local co-op, which involved mindlessly stuffing anything I fancied into a basket.  This became a problem that morning as I struggled to get everything into my pack.  In the end a large packet of bagels had to be sacrificed and left behind.  With my pack heavier than it had been since the west coast I set off in search of the path that would take me to a spot marked the Lions Face on my map.

I have to admit that I got a bit confused upon entering the woods as there appeared to be two routes to the Lions Face.  I found myself on a path that circles below Creag Choinnich instead of climbing directly upwards.  This is because I ended up following a couple of Challengers whose names I don’t know but will refer to as the ‘yellow rucksack cover couple’.  Nearly everyday I would see their yellow rucksack covers somewhere in the distance.

Luckily the path continued above the busy A93 for a while before it disappeared back up hill.  A march along the road led to Invercauld bridge, a relief as I get nervous of vehicles speeding past me at 60+mph with only inches to spare.  It was whilst having a break after the bridge that I realised I had taken something from the b&b with me.  My room key was still in my pocket!  There was no way that I was going back to return it.

It was a pleasant amble through the woods to Connachat cottage.  Although never far from the main road it was quiet and peaceful with hardly a soul around.  At Connachat I made a bit of a silly navigation error, taking a path on the wrong side of the stream.  I had climbed a while before noticing and rather than turn back I decided to make a beeline cross-country to the path I was meant to be on.  This went well until I was faced with a large area of bog.  Thankfully there was a plank of wood over one section that I really should have tested before committing my weight.  It broke in two plunging one leg into the slimy depths up to the knee, jarring my bad foot in the process.  I pulled myself out, cursing my stupidity.  Surely I had properly buggered up my foot now, time to admit defeat and go home?  No, for some reason that little tumble had done the trick, I had no more foot problems for the rest of the crossing!

Back on track I slowly climbed, the forest thinning out to give some great views.

As the last of the trees were left behind, the track turned ninety degrees and the satellite peaks of Lochnagar started to reveal themselves.  It was good to be among the mountains again, although I wished that I was walking the summits.  However now my focus was reaching the east coast by Thursday.  The summits could wait for another time.

The ‘yellow rucksack cover couple’ were having lunch on the bench outside Gelder Shiel bothy.  I joined them, getting my stove out to cook some couscous and make some coffee.  They were soon off and I took the opportunity to remove my shoes and socks to air my feet.  I think that it is important on a long walk to let air get to your feet as often as possible, especially if wearing trail shoes.  It’s a good way to avoid prune feet which can eventually lead to blisters.

My original plan had been to stop at Gelder Shiel for the night as it was recommended by my vetters.  After poking my head in the bothy I decided that it was not a place I wanted to stay.  It was dark and dingy with little natural light, it also did not have a fireplace and had a damp feeling to it.  Not a place I will be heading to in the future.

The map shows a path heading upstream to connect with the track over the watershed.  I found the beginnings of it near a plantation but this quickly petered out leaving me floundering in bog.  The plantation fence had been torn down and many of the young trees ripped apart.  It looked like a tornado had torn though it which I hope is the case rather than vandalism.

A trackless bit of heather bashing led me to the track which gave a pleasant and well graded amble up to the 700 metre contour.  Although getting increasingly murky the views were still good, especially Lochnagar before it vanished under a blanket of cloud.

I was getting tired but I was spurred on by the promise of soup and coffee at the Spittal of Glenmuick visitor centre.  As I reached the small building there were several Challengers resting before their final pull up to the Shielin of Mark bothy.  My luck was out with regards to soup but a hot coffee went down a treat whilst I asked the warden on suitable pitches below the bothy.  She was super helpful and knowledgeable and pointed out a spot on my map.  The other Challengers set off before me and I followed them up the Allt Darrarie which runs though a deep and narrow glen.

The identified spot did indeed provide some good camping and I wasted no time in pitching the Scarp.  The weather was closing in, the mist enveloping the higher slopes.  There was a good procession of people passing as I set up camp, all heading in the direction of the Shielin of Mark.  One chap who I think is called Pete appeared not to be in the best of health, possibly suffering from a chest infection. His walking partner had passed about ten minutes before and disappeared into the murk.  I hoped that Pete would be ok as he slowly headed higher up the glen.

I was soon cosy in my tent, enjoying the simple pleasures of brewing up and reading my kindle.  I heard familiar voices and stuck my head out to be greeted by Alan, Andy and Phil.  They appeared to have had a good day up on Lochnagar and were heading a bit further before looking for a place to pitch.  They pointed out I had company as a couple of tents had appeared nearby.

Left to my own devices once more I had another enjoyable wild camp.

Day 12 – 21 kilometres with 480 metres ascent

As I was cooking breakfast my next door neighbours passed by.  It turned out that one of them was Willem who has popped by a few times to say hello on this blog.  We were certain that our paths would cross on the Challenge.

By the time I had packed up the mist and low cloud was finally lifting, leaving the promise of a nice day.  The climb to the head of the glen was a pleasant one, a narrow path leading me through the heather.

As the glen widened out and joined the plateau the immediate landscape reminded me of the wilder parts of Bleaklow in the Peak District.  However the distant bulk of Lochnagar gave the game away.

Towards the top of the glen I passed the remains of the biggest bank of snow that I have ever seen.  It was glacier like in its proportions, with no one to stand in front of it to give scale there was little point in photographing it.  It was mightily impressive though.

I followed the meandering stream for a while before plunging straight up through rough slopes of bog and heather in the general direction of the Shielin of Mark bothy.  I was pleased to see the bothy below after a spot of bog hopping, my casual approach to navigation had worked this time.

From the outside it’s a lovely little building in a vast sea of high moorland, Mount Keen a gentle swell on the eastern horizon.  Unfortunately the inside was exceptionally damp, the bothy book little more than paper mache.  It seriously needs someone to spend a few days with half a ton of coal to dry it out.

My next destination was Muckle cairn on the nearby horizon and I managed to pick a route to the summit by following the lighter patches of dry grass.  The view back towards Lochnagar and across to Mount Keen gave an impression of vast open spaces.  Rough, bleak places, I love them.

A rough track was picked up near the summit which made progress quick and easy towards the east.  Here the open plateau was broken by smaller, rounded hills with a patchwork of burnt heather.  It was clear that I was heading into grouse shooting country.

Down in Glen Lee I found a comfy spot to sit for a while and got my stove on and my shoes and socks off.  The last couple of days weather had given me the opportunity to have leisurely lunches, which is what backpacking should be all about.  The sun finally broke out and the skies turned blue.  Spirits were already good but I felt them lift even higher.  One day I will do a Challenge when everyday will be like that.  I had discussions with people on the crossing where they felt it would be boring if the weather was nice all the time.  I don’t think that I could be bored with sunshine and dry socks.

Further down the glen I could hear the roar of water, the Falls of Unich looked a magnificent sight even from a distance.  If I came this way again I think the area around there would make a fine campsite.

For once I was finding myself too warm rather than wet and cold, a novel experience on this crossing.  I stopped for a rest and was caught up by a local chap who knew all about the Challenge.  He said that he was looking forward to heading to the Masons Arms later that afternoon to join in with the drinking.

I passed Loch Lee, the track finally joining the head of the public road.  A short distance later and a hill track signed for Tarfside led me through pleasant grassy pastures and over the shoulder of the Hill of Rowen with its massive cairn shaped monument.  Upper Glen Esk is a rather picturesque place.

Although not a particularly long day I was pleased to finally arrive in Tarfside.  Just outside the Masons Arms I was greeted with a hug by David Pickles.  David is the Dartmoor policeman that I walked with for a couple of days on the 2011 Challenge.  He is a thoroughly decent chap and I reckon that if Hamish Macbeth had been filmed in Devon he would have been well cast.

I was going to go and pitch my tent on the sports field but Alan Sloman would not allow me to do that until he had got me a drink.  Well it would be rude to refuse!

After a drink on an empty stomach I wobbled off and popped the tent up on the soft green mowed grass, a welcome change from the usual ticks and tussocks of the last couple of weeks.  I enjoyed lazing for a while, eating and watching the general hustle and bustle of a field full of Challengers.  There was even a delivery of fish and chips but I was keen to eat the food I had lugged all the way from Braemar.

Soon most people were heading for the Masons Arms where I spent one of the best evenings of my Challenge.  The atmosphere was warm and convivial and the company good.  The following day I would be leaving the mountains behind and heading into rural Angus.

 

TGO Challenge 2013 – Days 8 to 10

Day 8 – 19.5 kilometres with 540 metres ascent

I had a second sociable night in the Tipsy Laird, this time with an Aussie couple who were staying in the same b&b as me.  They were spending a few weeks touring the UK and were about to head off towards the Lake District the following day.  A good meal, a couple of pints and a comfy bed back at the b&b saw me feeling much better in the morning.  My foot was still sore but the swelling had gone down.  If I kept to my foul weather route it would be an easy three day walk into Braemar.  Once again I would reassess things there.

I rang the b&b that I had booked in Braemar many months before and let them know I would not be arriving.  The chap I spoke to was not too happy about that but agreed that I could still come and collect my parcel on the Sunday.  They were fully booked that night and could not swap my booking.  A call to my wife requesting she find me a vacant room and I set off along the road to Tromie bridge.

A cyclist stopped and chatted with me for a while.  He was a local who has been watching many people pass through on the Challenge over the years.  It is something that he has been thinking about doing for a while now, although now retired he can no longer be bothered.  He left me with the compliment that I appeared in a much better state than some that had already come through this year!

I left the road at Tromie bridge and took a track into the forest, coming out at the rather nicely situated but derelict cottage of Baileguish.  It looked to be in a poor condition which is a bit of a shame.  With a bit of TLC I would be happy to call it home.

You may have noticed by the photo that it was a gloriously sunny day, the first in which my waterproof stayed in my rucksack.  A walk though another plantation led me to a tarmaced track which I followed to the bridge over the Feshie.  It was whilst walking this track that the casual observer would have noticed me doing a strange little jig, involving me waving my Pacerpoles around frantically.  This is because a large wasp (it really was rather large) had decided that it wanted to land on me and would not take no for an answer.  I believe such things should be avoided at all costs.

I crossed the bridge and found a comfy grassy patch sheltered from the wind.  It really was rather idyllic so off came my shoes and socks and I made some couscous and a cup of coffee.  It was the sort of moment that I had hoped the Challenge would be full of, just a shame that I had to wait until day eight.

The path on the other side of the Feshie was a joy to walk, twisting and turning its well built and narrow course through the heather.  I passed a couple of much older Challengers, making me hope that I will still be that active a decade or two after retirement.  The woman was walking at a formidable speed, her small frame dominated by her rucksack.  Her husband looked like he was constantly playing catch up.  I saw them a couple more times on the Challenge and she was always marching purposefully a few hundred metres ahead.

The newly laid path and track never really appeared to match exactly what was on my map but was easy to follow.  Dense forest interspersed with open sections.

Ruigh Aiteachain bothy soon came into view, rucksacks lining the outside wall.  The MO was in residence, offering all new comers a cup of tea.  I have to say that both him and the MBA have done a fine job in maintaining this bothy.  It positively gleamed and is very well looked after.  I enjoyed a spot of food from the comfort of a chair whilst a selection of Challengers came and went.  One being Mike Knipe who attempted to charge rent of £5 for each inhabitant.  It didn’t work so he sat down and ate some cheese instead.

I had planned to stop at the bothy for the night but it was barely past lunch time, far too early.  I decided to continue up the glen for a while and find a pitch past the landslide.  The scenery above the bothy is absolutely breathtaking, a picture postcard image of the perfect Scottish glen.

The path crossing the landslide did not give any problems, but the slopes above looked pretty precarious.  I would imagine that the ground there is often moving judging by the trees and boulders that had fallen into the river.  I found a clearing about fifteen minutes away and spent a while walking around looking for a good pitch.  This was harder than I thought it would be due to the vegetation underfoot.  It was either dry tussocks, small shrubs or bog.  Perseverance paid off and I found a good patch of soft tussock free grass on which to pitch the tent.

I have to say that this was my favourite wild camp of the whole Challenge.  A combination of the location and the best weather so far meant that I spent an idyllic afternoon and evening before going to bed.  I was pleased that I had not given up in Kingussie.  I enjoyed the weather even more knowing that the forecast for the following day was meant to be rubbish.  In fact by the time I bedded down for the night the tops of the hills had been enveloped by cloud.

Day 9 – 22 kilometres with 440 metres ascent

It was grey and murky when I got up but the rain had not yet arrived, my tent was bone dry on both the inside and outside which was a bonus.  Walking up the glen I met Antti, a Finish Challenger.  He was revelling in the wide open spaces that Scotland has in comparison to the endless forests of Southern Finland.  I think that he became well know amongst other Challengers as the guy who tried to lighten his crocs by giving them a bit of a trim.  He conceded that this approach does not work!

I walked with him for a while as we climbed high above the river to avoid a ford through the deep and fast flowing water.

With differing paces we soon parted company but we would end up crossing paths for the rest of the day as each of us stopped and took in the views.

As height is gained the stunning scenery of the Upper Feshie is replaced by a more familiar scene of heather moorland.  Not terribly exciting but still very pleasant, especially with the odd Scots pine dotted around.

The landscape became bigger as I approached the ruined pony hut before the watershed, with glimpses of large hills hidden in the clouds.

A faint path started behind the pony hut and took me via various bogs to the bridge over the River Eidart.  This felt much further than the map suggested.  The bridge was above a thunderous waterfall that was throwing spray into the air, it was mesmerising standing on the rickety metal bridge looking down at the foaming waters.

The next section across the watershed and along the upper Geldie reminded me of parts of my trek last year in Arctic Sweden.  Huge empty expanses broken up by whaleback hills gave a sense of scale that is rare in the UK.  Truly magnificent open country.  Saying that after a while I found it all a bit dull, I often had the sense of not moving.  I would walk for twenty minutes and find that nothing had changed, progress on the map felt painfully slow.

I waded a large stream and chatted for a while with a couple of Challengers who were going through the boots then crocs then boots again process of river crossing.  There is something liberating about trail shoes when you can splosh through anything.  We chatted about how lucky we had been with the weather considering the forecast.

I soon regretted the weather conversation as within minutes it was raining.  As I progressed down the track it got heavier and heavier, a sense of purpose to the heaviness of the rain.  The rain meant business.

Soon my brand new shiny waterproofs were overwhelmed, I could feel trickles of moisture where moisture should not be felt.  I could feel my pack get heavier as it slowly filled with water.  A sign warned of a nearby building being unsafe and telling me not to enter.  I did and found a couple of very soggy Challengers having a break.  They had plans to head to Mar Lodge where they had booked for the night.  They left and I stood and dripped for a while whilst deciding what to do.  In the end I made a decision to head to White bridge and look for a place to pitch.

Anyone thinking of pitching at White Bridge?  Don’t as it’s a bleak and exposed place, especially when heavy is being blown into your face by an enthusiastic wind.  I carried on down the glen for a while, eventually finding a huge patch of flat close-cropped grass near a plantation.

I got the tent up, collected water and put my rucksack in the porch.  I then stood there for a while in the pouring rain working out the best method of getting inside without taking water in with me.  I did the remove your waterproofs as quick as possible jig and dove in.  I sat for a while in my damp clothing feeling rather sorry for myself.  If things had gone to plan I should have checked into a b&b by now and would soon be heading to the pub.  However after a change of clothes, a hot drink and some food I actually started to enjoy the miserable weather.  There is nothing better sitting cosy in a tent whilst the weather rages outside.  I slept remarkably well that night.

Day 10 – 14.5 kilometres with 240 metres ascent

I woke in the morning to silence, the wind and rain had stopped.  I popped my head out of the tent to find that the world had disappeared into a thick mist.  It was disappointing that I had no view but at least the rain had stopped.

I packed the sodden tent into the equally sodden rucksack and continued towards Mar Lodge.  I was looking forward to sitting somewhere dry for a while and hopefully get to chat with other Challengers.  It can be lonely sometimes crossing on your own.

In the grounds of Mar Lodge I came across Vicky and Toby and then John and Sue.  We all exchanged tales of how wet it had been the previous afternoon.  It made me feel better knowing that there were others out there going through the same experiences.

The gun room had an urn where we could make a hot drink.  I enjoyed sitting in good company, then all of a sudden it all got even better.  There had been a wedding the night before and the leftovers were brought in.  We all dug in like we had never seen proper fully hydrated food before.  I felt like the cat that had got the cream as I made myself a salmon cob (you may choose to call a cob either a bap or roll) and filled a plate with salad.  A great introduction to Mar Lodge, I think I will have to visit on a Challenge again.

I walked most of the way into Braemar with Vicky and Toby, chat making the miles quickly disappear.  All of a sudden the clouds evaporated and it actually became warm, I could even be bold and say that Sunday afternoon was hot.  So much so that Braemar faintly resembled a cosmopolitan European town (if you ignored the fact that in Braemar you are not trusted to drink out of a glass in the open air) with people eating and drinking in the sun.

I was greeted by David and Martin and dragged into the Fife Arms where some Challengers had returned after partying the night before.  Mr Sloman ensured that I was lubricated with a pint of Guinness before him, Andy and Phil set off for further socialising at Lochcallater Lodge.

I went off in search of my b&b.  I do feel the need to point out that not all b&b’s are created equal.  After my lovely stay at Homewood lodge in Kingussie this one was a bit austere, how I would imagine a 1950’s seaside boarding house would be.  The owner was friendly though and I soon had her moving washing on the line so I could hang my tent and hand washed clothes.

After a doze and feeling much fresher and cleaner I met David and had dinner at the Old Bakery.  After a big and cheap portion of food each we retired to the Fife Arms and sat with Chas and Dave.  Then all of a sudden a very strange thing happened.  In fact it was so odd it is just a feathery blur in my memory.  We were chatting when there was a commotion behind us.  Without warning a mallard duck flew over our heads and crashed into the window next to us.  The duck fell to the table we were sitting round and had a bit of a panicked flap.  Then like an expert duck wrestler Charles grabbed it by the neck and calmly sat there with the duck at arms reach.  The duck also seemed to realise that being calm was the best thing to do.  The duck was retrieved by a member of staff and that was that.  Except it was not.  The table was covered in duck crap which to be honest smells like something nasty has been dredged from the bottom of a particularly stinky pond.  David and I were very concerned that our Guinness had been tainted.  Chas and Dave just continued eating their food.  I discovered I had duck shit down my nice clean trousers.

It then turned into a nice convivial evening with David, Chas & Dave, Vicky & Toby and then Martin Rye.  There may have been others but my memory is rubbish.  We moved tables by the way as the duck crap remained.  That best sums up the Fife Arms to be honest.  They can’t summon up the energy to wipe shit off a table.

You may have noticed that I have not mentioned my dodgy foot for a while.  This is because although it still caused discomfort there was no longer the pain of previous days.  By walking slow and steady I had made it so far.  I was now quietly optimistic of getting to the east coast.  I had factored in five easy days from Braemar, so the plan formulating in my mind was to condense them down to four.  I would see how far I would get the following day.

Canine buddies

I was looking for a specific photograph last night and came across this, sent to me a couple of years ago by Peter Edwards.  It was taken by him in a remote bothy in the far north of Scotland.

It shows Reuben utilising a young Dougal as a blanket whilst at the same time being used himself as a comfy pillow.  Reuben has met Dougal a few times now and I have to say they have become the best of friends.  So, why the picture?  It took many years of gently persuading my wife to allow a dog to join the household.  With that duly accomplished I am now working on getting permission for a second canine to join the Bongo family.  I reckon that Reuben could do with some company as he starts his journey into middle age.  After doing my dog rescue bit I really would like to bring a dog up from a puppy, probably of the Labrador / Labradoodle persuasion.  Pete, if Dougal ever becomes a dad……………………..

A backpacking shelter with woodburner purchased

For the last few years I have been lusting over getting a backpacking shelter that would support a woodburner.  For me there is something decidedly attractive about sitting in front of a fire inside a tent miles from civilisation.  It’s in the last year that I have been doing some serious research, weighing up the pros and cons of the different makes and models.

There are two brands that I became interested in, these being Titanium Goat and Kifaru.  Both of these companies are based in the States, making some really nice Tipis and stoves designed for backpacking.  Unfortunately it turned out that the Tipis were far too heavy to be able to lug around on my own, especially when carrying a woodburner.

This then ruled out Titanium Goat as their lightest Tipi designed for a stove (the Vertex 6.5) weighs around 1900 grammes.  They also did not bother answering an email full of questions.  Why would I want to spend money with a company that can’t be bothered to communicate?  This left me with Kifaru shelters, which are primarily designed for hunters in places like Alaska.  I have to say that I have spent far too long reading forums written by men with an interest in firearms and camouflage.  That aside they have been really useful as they go out hunting for days on end in the frozen backcountry, a real test of gear.

I settled on the Kifaru MegaTarp a cavernous shelter that pitches with two trekking poles.  What sold it to me was its internal space in comparison to its weight.  The poles are set to 132cm and that height runs the whole length of the shelter.  The length is 345cm with a width of 172cm, with most space useable due to the vertical lower walls.

The front of the shelter is open with a beaked canopy, whilst there is a rear sewn in door.  The total weight is a totally reasonable 595 grammes.  I take trekking poles with me anyway so that would keep the weight down further.  Add say 200 grammes for a pile of heavy duty pegs (there are numerous pegging points) and you still have a huge shelter at under 800 grammes.

So far you have a large and lightweight shelter which when it is windy will be a little bit draughty.  The clever thing is that you can turn it into a four season floorless tent by adding an annex.  This weighs an additional 170 grammes.  This will take the total enclosed length to 410cm.  The great thing about the annex is that it comes with a stove boot sewn in.  This is a fire resistant patch (covered by a waterproof flap when not in use) through which a stove chimney fits.  This is why I went with this shelter after all!

Now to the stove itself.  This is a Kifaru Small Stove made from stainless steel.  It packs flat to about the size of a small laptop and weighs in at 1400 grammes including the chimney (which also rolls away to 30 cm long).  This video shows how they work (although he is putting together their large stove).

Fitted inside the MegaTarp and with the annexe attached it will look like this from inside.

I have to say that I am really looking forward to getting this package through the post.  As is usual with small cottage manufacturers I am going to have to wait a while whilst it is made.  A very long 12 weeks.

If the weights on the website are accurate, the shelter with annex and stove should come in at 2165 grammes.  Add pegs and a groundsheet and the weight should still be under 2.5 kilos, not bad for a heated shelter.  As my wife sometimes reads my blog please don’t ask how much the setup costs, lets call it £50…………….

Photos above were taken from a couple of forums, clicking the photos will take you directly to the page they came from.  They are not your usual backpacking forums!