Starting out?

Hi everyone!

I'm going to the lake district this weekend for a 4 day trek and I don't know much about the land.

Will it be muddy? would I need to wear gaiters? is it alright to wear shorts and what is the water like? will I need to purify it?

Also, I have bought some lifesystems chlorine and neutralising tablets and it says on the back of the chlorine tablet container: 'do not use with other products in water. may release dangerous gases (chlorine)' does that mean I can't use protein and carbohydrate powders? and does this still count after I use the neutralising tablets?

One last thing, can everyone do a rain dance or cool dance on sunday morning? I don't want to be fried :!

Thanks everyone!

Ken

PS COME ON ENGLAND!!! (Hopefully I'll get to the lake district before the kick off:( )

It's highly unlikely that the Lake District will be muddy this weekend. I don't know where you live, but up here in the north west has been as hot, dry, and sunny as most of the country, and the forecast is for it to stay that way at least until Monday.

So, you won't need gaiters, and shorts sound like a good option. It's baking hot in north Lancashire today (and so it will be similar in the lake district, barring any localised mountain weather), and the forecast for Friday and Saturday is much the same, with Sunday set to be even hotter (temps up to 30 degrees).

Regarding the water, it depends on the source. I've drunk water from mountain streams without purifying it many times. It's refreshing and tasty! However, you need to be sensible about where you get it from. For example, don't get any downstream from tarns, or where there may be human activity. Fast-moving water is 'better' (supposedly). And check upstream for dead sheep! ;-)

You may get conflicting opinions/stories, but I've never once had a problem from drinking lake district mountain stream water.

P.S. I think neutralising tablets just neutralise the taste of chlorine - I don't think they neutralise its effects, but I could be wrong. But, TBH, I'm not sure about using carb powders with chlorine tabs.

Have a good weekend - and don't forget the sun cream and a hat to protect your head/face/neck from the sun!

The neutralising tab just gets rid of the chlorine taste, not the effect.
i.e. if it has got rid of organisms then adding the extra tab (which is often just vit C) won't suddenly re-introduce the bugs.

Once you have got it purified you may add fruit powders etc. The problems with the production of chlorine gas occur most often when mixing different lavatory cleaners for example. I think it's safe to say that if when adding the powder to tap water you don't get clouds of choking gas then you'll be fine.
Disclaimer: this is a disclaimer, it works for me.

If you're adding flavours to the water you probably won't need to disguise the chlorine flavour.

We tend not to bother chlorinating the water if we're going to boil it well for tea or if we get it from a spring straight out of the source.

Kenneth, make sure you phone up the pubs before going to watch the match on Saturday as some aren't showing it or don't have a telly, for example the Wasdale Head Inn isn't showing it, but The Screes up the road is!

Also I don't think it'll be very muddy as its been baking all week, you can easilly get away with shorts this time of year, you won't need gaiters.

And... don't you dare "rain dance" I'm up there too camping and don't want no rain! :)

Thanks everyone for your help.

I'm camping too and the tent did not come with a ground mat! whats up with that? (pikey school!)

So calling off the rain dance!!! calling off the rain dance!!! ;)

Thanks again

ken

Dont fall off Ken , and have a good un ,youll love it.

Have a good one Ken, may fav part of the world, you will love it..
I'd say after 4 days treking you wont really care about getting a little wet on the legs, so I'd ditch the gaiters and just enjoy.
Several folks here have very large web sites all about the lakes, you can find some good likes off my site.
All the best.

Thanks for all your comments guys

Ken

Keneth just come back from 4 days backpacking myself ,around the Haweswater/Ullswater areas.Just be aware the Hills are as dry as sticks with not much running water and the midday temps are running at around 20c which makes it really hard work.

I,ve been hillwalking for 30 odd years and allways drunk from streams .Never used tablets and never had problems.It always makes a good addition to the whisky on a nighttime!

Hope he takes a lot of bottles with him.. I just did 17 mile - 10 hour slog and drank a little short of 5 litres.. man it was hot today!

where did you go today ,Chris?

Chris-Did you take that much water with you or did you fill up from streams during the walk?

.......CH...not sure they'll be that bothered as the thread is three years old.....

ah. Well then for the benefit of others reading the thread....

Welcome to the OM forum there Chris, and of course Kenneth!! LOLHa ha ha ha! Brilliant! Classic OM forum!!! That's what I call a true real proper zombie thread for sure, that one is. Really funny replies guys, made me chuckle!Cheers.