 I've just re-vamped my web pages as a blog that will follow my preparations for the 2006 challenge.
In planning my route I've found the diaries of previous Challengers very useful, so much so that I think a diary of my preparation and planning might useful to others now and in the future.
I intend to use this Challenge to explore, further, lightweight backpacking.
You can follow my progress (or lack of it) - and comment and join in the debate - at:
http://www.ecotrend.org.uk/trek
RSS Feed at
http:/www.ecotrend.org.uk/?feed=rss
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 Excellent blog, Andy!
(I left you a comment, but I'm not sure whether it's 'taken'.)
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 Nice site Andy and very interested in your 'lightweight' thoughts!
I've got another 2 diaries for you if you would like them, but you don't seem to have a 'contact me' on the site or here?
See you up there?
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Bob,
You've spotted the deliberate mistake :-)
Thanks for the diaries.
The diaries are helpful and I reckon it would be jsut as useful to be able to read about the preperation as well.
I'm not really a heavy backpacker but I reckon I can get lighter. I'm interested in the compromises that you have to weigh up in reducing weight. I guess the art is keeping these to a minimum.
For example, my ankles are always dodgy. I can't really see myself walking in trail shoes, but I'm sure that I can walk in boots that are lighter thanmy Scarpa SLs. I do know that I can walk for three weeks in the Scarpas with not a hint of a blister. Now, do I take the risk of not? (Still thinking about your blisters on your first challenge.
I'll see you in Scotland in May. But I'm now getting a little bit bored of quick days on the Long Mynd. Thought I'd turn to Malvern. Fancy a walk on day?
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Yeah love to. Feel like I'm married to the PC currently! Its always nice to have a blast up Pen-Y-Fan though, which is a 'proper' walk if you feel like it? Could always do some bivvying with a tarp if you want to try it?
Re the blisters thing. First crossing, heavy boots, heavy pack, hot days, too many hard roads and the SuperFeet did me in. Second crossing lighter boots and lighter pack much better, but I should have listened as the SuperFeet did me in again, pinching around the ankle. The ones between the toes were messy, weeping all the time.
Peewiglet used ankle boots I recall, but I think would have liked a more challenging route, so perhaps would have needed more support?
I think if your packweight is sub 15kg inc food and water, you can choose where you step and don't need heavy leather support. But in the end its all about the route and the weather on the day of course.
As I crossed this year I was musing the first few days about how I would cope had I used ankle boots or adventure racing trainers, which I had considered at one point. Answer, very badly!
Each person has their own threshold of comfort v weight carried. The next crossing I'm doing with Rose, which changes the dynamics of the mindset as well as the food to be carried and comfort expected!
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 Hi Andy
I left a comment on your excellent blog, but it does not appear to have taken.
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Alan, the comment will appear. I have to moerate it first !!!
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I think real boots are still a good thing! I noticed, from Bob's podcast, that this was the one thing that John Manning felt he had got wrong on his PCT trail.
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Bob, I've just uploaded a rather detailed post about my experiences in looking for a lightweight pack - before you came along of course!
http:www.ecotrend.org.uk/trek
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 Hi Andy,
Hmmm... must listen to my PodCast again (it was hard enough listening to myself just once...).
My footwear thingie was all to do with shoes - light shoes vs heavy. The light shoes I wore at the start were too uncomfortable. I ended up in Asolo shoes which were heavier but much more comfortable - but still shoes.
i did take a pair of Hi-Tec Sierra Lite boots but NEVER wore 'em. Never even saw them after mailing them to a friend, from San Diego, before I started the trail. They were light but they weren't what I wanted.
Hope that clears up anything I might not have made clear before...
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John.
It was the weight issue that I was thinking about - probably, I guess, the firmness of the midsole. Personally, I have dodgy ankles the legacy of an early history of serious ice skating and football. I once tore the ligaments in my left ankle playing football. AFter 6 weeks or so I started playing again and tore the ligaments in the other ankle. After that recovered I went out and tore the ligaments in the left one again! After that I stopped the football!
I'm the kind of person that often jsut falls over in the street (no drink!) as my ankles give way. I'd be loathed to do something like the TGO CHallenge without some ankle support.
I might look at the Scarpa ZG 65 though. looks as if itmight be the answer. Mind you, they use that damned Gore Tex stuff!
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Andy, hopefully we'll have some exciting announcements to make in Jan re lightweight gear. So if you have any friends into it, make sure they subscribe to our newsletter and hear all about it first.
In fact I wonder? If I got together a van full of 'never seen before lightweight bits' and drove up to Birmingham (or somewhere green nearby) and set them all for a 'touchy feely session' would anybody be interested in coming and having a look at them?
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 Shouldn't that be down for you Bob?
I'd be interested, but I'd have to decide nearer the time to wether I could make it (alot going on at home at mo).
But a very kind offer all the same
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Well Darren I'm over in Malvern just outside of Worcester, so I don't know if that's 'up' or 'down' from here.
Anyway, I was thinking of the New Year for a get together. Just checking interest really? It could be around here I guess, perhaps near a train station to make it easier for folks?
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Sorry Bob, for some reason I thought you were up in Scots land.
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 I'd love to have a look at yer bits Bob C! ;)
There will be a bunch of OM folks in the Lakes this weekend. Fancy braving it?
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Sadly can't make it this weekend.
But I'm sure you'll have fun without us!
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We'd have much more fun with you, though :-(
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Have just been inspired to post my first set of thoughts on the philosophy of lightweight backpacking. At the risk of being promoted to pseud's corner, I'd be interested in what you think.
www.ecotrend.org.uk/trek
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