Walking on roads for 25 miles from Richmond to Ingleby Arncliffe?
Sorry... but which particular "Wainwright" Coast to Coast guide has that amount of road-walking. My edition contains an unbroken 7 miles of road-walking, with the rest of the distance being a mixture of field paths, tracks and occasional bits of road. When I was last in that area, things were much better than Wainwright noted. He stuck to the 7 miles of road because the rights of way nearby were unwalkable, but when I was there, the rights of way were perfectly acceptable, so even the 7 miles of road-walking wasn't necessary.
It's more than twenty years since I walked from Richmond to Ingleby Arncliffe and in those days it was almost entirely on roads. Things may well have improved but after the glories of the the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dale,s and with the North York Moors to come, I still have no qualms in missing out this flat section.
We are now off-message for this thread and so this is my last word on the route!
Well yes... we could really use another national park between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors... but sadly the landscape just isn't up to it!
in the classifieds on here are a Berghaus arete 45 pack and a Snugpak sleeping bag, i'll do you a good price if you want them both.................of course if you don't my son will just have to go without a birthday present again
I agree that on a summer trip you don't need a second fleece. I've never worn more than a T-shirt and lightweight fleece. If there's a cold wind then wear your waterproof jacket. Nor have I ever carried mozzie repellant, nor wished I had.
Why chopsticks? I've wondered that myself, having seen folk buy lightwight titanium chopsticks with their eyes lit up with joy... not once... but twice!
(I refuse to name names, but one, if not both, read this forum!)
Why chopsticks? I've wondered that myself, having seen folk buy lightwight titanium chopsticks with their eyes lit up with joy... not once... but twice!
(I refuse to name names, but one, if not both, read this forum!)
Paddy I own 2 pairs of the Alpkit ones The GF thinks we are all sophisticated when we are camping now! Had a proper home/tentmade chow mein waiting for me when I came off'f Ben Donich and The Brack in May.
I wouldnt take em wildcamping though, a spork is enuff for me.
Wash is not much, soap, t brush, floss (1/2 pack), small t paste, tiny mirror. Tea towel for towel.
First aid is a few plasters, blister kit, zinc tape, 1 x small Gen purpose dressing, 1/2 bottle of thai yellow oil - cures everything.
You don't mention a flannel. Even a tea towel I find to be unnecessarily heavy. I use two J-cloths - one as a flannel and the other as a towel. I find the secret of washing when backpacking is to add a little liquid soap to a damp I-cloth and then I rub myself all over from head to foot. Then I dry myself with the second J-cloth. I have a tiny comb (an airline giveaway) and I use the mirror on my compass.
I never bother with a dressing and a roll of zinc tape obviates the need for plasters. Even though I almost never get blisters (the last one was so long ago that I've forgotten when it was) but I still carry three or four Compeeds.
I was planning on taking half a sarong as my towel, dries in a flash, but can't find mine - mislaid in a move.
Re starting - not sure, soon. I want to: a, avoid a weekend gaggle, b, have half a plan to meet up with my g/f 'somewhere nice' the w/e after next so that needs some planning.
I personally think 12 kg is very light. An adult male should easily be capable of carrying 12-15kg all day without too many problems. Might need some conditioning and training to do it.
I'm a postie and reglarly lug 16kg bags on a daily basis (officially anyway, unofficially 20-22kg sometimes, yes I'm delivering all your ever increasing online purchases). This is done with a single strap bag slung diagonally courier style over 1 shoulder. Compared to this 15-18kg in a decent pack is comfortable. The modern westerner has gone soft, and an awful lot of it is in the mind. The body is far more capable than many people think. Try doing a day walk with a 30 kg pack, then 12-15 kg will seem easy, even without any conditioning. Think it's hard riding a bike into a strong wind, try racing a ten mile time trial on a windy day.
(Slinks off for high intensity turbo trainer session and afternoon walk).
Rog, this wasn't aimed at you pesonally, just all those aghast at the suggestion of a 12 kilo pack. You've all gone soft finding ways of expending less energy. It's a vicious circle you know. Once your body and mind gets used to the lighter weight, that will seem hard, and you'll have to go lighter all over again.
Steve, there will be plenty of folk on here who like me have carried silly weights. Frequently in excess of 80 kgs is quite likely. I've a knackered set of knees, neck & shoulders because of it. Yes, the human body is capable of these sorts of things, but it's only a fool who does so when they don't have to.
Steve - I recently did a section of the SWCP and bumped into a guy on several occasions who was walking with a 30kg pack on his back. First day I saw him he seemed quite chipper, second time I saw him he was telling me about aches and pains and the thrid day I saw him he complained about his aches and pains and also about the fact that the weight of the pack meant he was constantly staring at the floor rather than the views. He also mentioned the first time I saw him he was going to do the whole 630 mile stretch but by the last time he said he was going to stop once he got to Bude.
I was happily trotting along with my 9.5kg pack and not once did I think 'I wish I had brought along....'
The point is that you can walk with a heavy pack but it is far far more enjoyable to not do so
.................of course if you don't my son will just have to go without a birthday present again
The GF thinks we are all sophisticated when we are camping now! Had a proper home/tentmade chow mein waiting for me when I came off'f Ben Donich and The Brack in May.
