camping on the pennine way

Use Harveys... only three maps... only 260g... and waterproof.

Or use my guidebook... all the OS Landranger mapping from start to finish... 280g... and a snip at £12.95 retail... 25% off plus free postage this month if ordered direct from Cicerone... and I've recently learned that there are even bigger discounts if you're a member of the Backpackers Club and order off them.

Fairy Nuff.

Was just looking at the Backpackers Club website too........

Harry Whitehouse: Won't let me sign up!

I got second hand copies of the Tony Hopkins National Trail Guide books, which have full-page width OS maps, cut out the introductory pages, ones that just had text on and most of the card covers, then threw away the map pages after use.

I either own or have read all of the PW guides, and with due respect to Paddy, on this particular walk I am in no doubt that the Trailblazer one is by far the most useful.  I also downloaded the GPS waypoints from their website (although I never used them).

I'm doing it again next month, and hoping for at least one day without rain this time. I always try to get a pub or chip shop meal for lunch or dinner every day, but carry three Mountain House dried meals for unlucky days, plus three instant porage pots and a few home made muesli bars and cup-a-soups.  My golden rule is that the only thing I heat is water, so there's no burnt pans or nasty washing up.  Just dried food that needs boiling water tipped on it.  I always have a big tussle with myself about how much water I carry.

Harry... I don't use any guidebooks on the Pennine Way... I only use maps. Have you really read ALL the PW guides? Chris Sainty's list on the Pennine Way Association website runs to a staggering length.

As for water... I just get it off the hillsides on the Pennine Way. Beats carrying the stuff, and there seems to be no shortage of it, especially this summer!

Clearly not then, Paddy, thay was quite a careless and extravagant remark on my part.  I actually own the half dozen that are most commonly encountered nowadays, mainly because "sad" or not, I actually enjoy reading them.

As in any area of the country, Paddy, there are places where I'll happily drink water untreated, places where I'll drink it treated, places where I wouldn't drink it in any circumstances, and places where I don't think there's any chance of finding any.

So let me ask you:  Do you really NEVER carry any?  As a minimum, I'll have half a litre handy and half a litre buried in my rucksack where it's difficult to reach.

At the height of summer last year, I was drinking a litre before setting off in the morning and half a litre an hour, and that wasn't keeping my kindneys particularly busy.

Me and water... here's the story...

There was a time when I used to bust my guts on the hills, rushing up and down everything in sight, and I would drink water like it was going out of fashion. Any water, anywhere... within reason. I've never had any problem with water that runs off hillsides, no matter how many animals might be peeing and pooing in it. I draw the line once water has passed through a farmyard or other habitation. Whether or not this is a 'sensible' approach really doesn't bother me. I make up my own mind whether or not to drink from a source, and so far, they've always been good.

As for carrying water... I avoid it at all costs when I know I can get it more or less on demand off a hillside. Now, bearing in mind that in recent years it's been my lot to explore and write about a lot of hot, dry places... Canaries... Mediterranean... I tend to take a different approach. If I'm in a hot, dry place for a month, I'll usually carry 2L of ordinary tap water for a day's walk at the start, but within a couple of days I'll adapt and drop the amount I carry to 1L. By the end of a week, it's quite usual that I won't bother carrying or drinking water all day long. In hot places, I don't bust my guts, rarely work up a sweat, and just plod along slow and steady. My only concern is if I'm planning an overnight camp, for which I'd probably want 4L of water for food and drinks, covering evening meal and breakfast. With 4L in me, the next day will be fine and I won't need to carry any water. Even in hot, dry places, I can usually find water at least once a day.

I can certainly believe that Paddy doesn't carry water. John Merrill probably the first marathon walker (it was reading "Turn right at lands end"  about his walk along the british coast that got me into long distance walking) never used to carry water either and that was also during the deserts on the Pacific Crest Trail.

I respect your choice, Paddy, but I would want guidance from an authoritative medical source about the effect on my body of water deprivation during prolonged vigorous exercise in a hot climate.  I would also hate to think that anyone reading this was influenced into following anything other than conventional beliefs on the subject.

I can think back to a few years ago, after a hot day's walking, and moderate water consumption, when I decided to empty my bladder, and watched a trickle of deep green liquid ooze out.

I don't think that's how a body was designed to function.

That profile picture, incidentally, is of me about to sink a cupful of water from a source on the North York Moors from which I will happily drink in any quantity.

Incidentally, my usual rule of thumb before camping ina waterless spot is to have a minimum of 2.25 litres available - rather less than you.

The human body is designed to function according to its environment, just ask the San people in the Kalahari who don't carry water either. The body can adapt so when you do the pennine way walk with your head up mouth open and let the rain rehydrate you or rig a funnel into a camelback. Sorted

Looking at this summer's weather... I can't help feeling that keeping hydrated is the least of anyone's problems. If only you could dehydrate soggy socks!