Beacons Bimble

[Eddie]

Dried fruit (raisens, apricots etc) are always good and easy to carry, also things like tinned pineapple are quite nice, and often give a much needed energy burst.

I'd be wary of how much fresh fruit you take as it will get knocked about (even in a sandwich box etc), if it's warm enough, chocolate will melt, and having to dig through a squishy mars bar to get to a item of kit you need isn't good.

I carry some carbohydrate powder sachets to whack into a waterbottle if I'm that low on energy, they're about 99p in Millets, or alternatively energy gel bars are around the same price.

Hot drinks are good, and often a major morale booster, Vimto or similar fruit squash, warm, is good, as it won't dehydrate you like tea/coffee.

If it is snowing, you may want to rethink the dates mate, I've not been to the Beacons in snow, but winter conditions in Snowdonia are often enough to need crampons, also people's ability comes into account (I'm sure you've considered this, but I feel it's best to bring it up.)

Hughser, have you sent out a kit-list? If you haven't it'd be a good idea.

Sorry if I'm rehashing points made before, just some off the top of my head things.

[bird]

No the snow would of gone by next week I expect. Don't forget the Hipflask good for moral anyway!8)

[Eddie]

Either way, check the Met Office's site for their Mountain Weather forecasts, as it goes into far more detail than you'd get anywhere else.

[Hughser]

Thank you for bringing up one thing I'd forgot to mention - thermos flasks are good for a hot drink!!!
As to the Mars bar, I hadn't thought of that or squished banannas (despite having that happen before)!

Regarding the snow conditions, the date will be rethought if the recce doesnt turn up so well.

Cheers again Eddie, ever helpful mate!

Regards,
Hughser

PS: Kit list and details of the 3 days have been sent out to those interested. If anyone else wants these details - you will have to PM me.

[Eddie]

Any time mate.

Here's the link to the Met Office's site, just type mountain weather in the search bar, top right.

You mentioned someone's sorting food for the group, remember you'll need over the recommended daily intake (2,500cal?) per day.

Don't mean to sound patronising, just been on the wrong end of someone not getting enough food for the trip before

[Iles]

Thank you for bringing up one thing I'd forgot to mention - thermos flasks are good for a hot drink!!!
.

Just don't use the ones that have glass on the inner layer because if you drop them and the glass inside smashes you won't know until you go to drink it.

Matt

[Cliodna]

Any updates??

[bird]

Well Hughster damaged one of his teeth so had to rethink as we should of been going on a recce today. I think 3 of us are going on a 2 day Recce on monday which is good because I don't think the weather is great this week up there, and as high pressure looks as though its coming through this weekend it might of been for the best. Cheers Hughster

I will take some pics for you though let you no a bit more about the plan.

Im sure Hughster will come on and add anything else.

Cheers, Bird

[Hughser]

Hopefully Monday and Tuesday will give us a better idea of what the weekend will yield.

[bird]

Kind of a mix of emotions at the moment. Was down to have keyhole surgery on my knee to sort out a few things just got a phone call from them to see if wanted a slot on monday morning at 7AM which is great! only been waiting 3 weeks!

Bit gutted not being able to make it though had rearranged a job interview and lots of other stuff even packed all my stuff as I'm going to my girlfriend's this weekend, so I would be ready for monday! So I'm really gutted that I have let you down any other situation I wouldn't of cancled already had to rearrange loads of thign to do it. but I need to if i want any chance of joining the RM.

Hope everything goes well mate I'll keep everyone posted.

Bird

[Hankins]

the mountie is back, and too bad over easter leave im back in mountie land, otherwise i would take you for a good hike up there.

[chris_]

Thank you for bringing up one thing I'd forgot to mention - thermos flasks are good for a hot drink!!!
.

Just don't use the ones that have glass on the inner layer because if you drop them and the glass inside smashes you won't know until you go to drink it.

Matt

just wanted to say that i found in my experience a thermos flask is not really needed. 99% of what you put in a thermos flask can be carried and prepared when needed, which often reduces the weight.

while i would love to come, it would cost me too much to get there at the moment.

iv done a lot of outdoors type stuff (hikes, scrambling, solo climbing trips etc) mostly on my own (i like having time on my own to think and stuff).

-obviously it goes without saying everything needs to be waterproofed. i usually put a black bin liner inside my rucsack, pack all my stuff and seal it by tieing it, and putting a couple of elastic bands round it to be double sure.

-if you sleep on a hill, try to camp about 2/3 of the way up, on the slope, not the flat bit. camping at the bottom usually means water will be faster flowing and there will be more of it should it rain. a flat bit on a slope
will collect water so you will be soaked by morning.

-if it rains, place mess tins, bottles etc outside for the night which will mean you dont need to go hunting for water. make sure they are secured, partially burying them is best, esp. for bigger containers. try and keep collected and water you brought seperate, as you may want to boil collected water, and if you mix the two, you have to boil all water before you use it.

--take a plastic sheet about a metre square works best for me. you can dig a hole place a cup or mess tin in the centre, cover with a plastic sheet, secure it down, and place a stone in the centre. moisture from the ground will condense on the sheet, and the stone creates a drip point, aimed at the container. if you secure well, you can do it at night, and collect as it warms for morning. if it rains, it will collect water in the resevior created on top of the sheet as well.

-in heavy rain, water may flow under the tent (if the bottom if sealed to the sides) or into it (if you dont have an all in one tent). digging a moat around the tent can help stave of flooding for a while (couple of hours, all night if your lucky). it only needs to be 2 inches deep at most really.

this shape works best (a more gradual slope is better, the slope points towards your tent) :


\___|

the earth you dig out should be placed either side of the ditch.

-it is best not to have square meals. stop and eat a bit every couple of hours. that way you spread out your calories evenly, which will make it easier.

-try to pack some foods that keep well, but do not require water. pot noodles and other dehydrated foods are fine when all is well, but if something goes wrong and you run out of water etc you should be able to eat without the need for water. if the nearest stream is 6 miles away, you will need a meal before you make the trip probably.

-top up on water whenever possible. using the methods i explained above, you can collect enough water for your breakfast and maybe lunch. you cant really carry enough water for three days, as you will want nearly 4 litres a day, plus more for food preparation, and safety.

-take a hip flask or similar with alcohol in it. brandy, gin, whiskey, vodka (if you are mental enough to like it).
dont get wasted on it, but it is very useful. it can sterilise open wounds, an effective pain killer. in an emergency drinking it can help. the famous example of the chef on the Titanic who drank a lot of strong alcohol before jumping ship into the water, and survived in the freezing water until rescue arrived later because the alcohol helped slow the onset of hyperthermia and keep his system warm enough to keep living, while many people died in the cold water. if you are in a situation where the cold is getting dangerous and you are unable to keep moving on, digging a simple shelter, getting into your sleeping bag and such, and drinking small sips of alcohol and curling up, may allow you to survive until rescued, or are suitably able to make a move to getting to safety.

-tie a length of elasticated chord around your water bottle. in a survival situation, it is possible to make rope, but elastic is not. it can be used on a catapult and such.

-strong rope can be used as trouser twists, and if lost, can make building a shelter much easier.

-carry a flint and striker around your neck, tied to your wrist or similar. then if all kit is lost, you can still create fire quickly.

-everybody should attempt to learn some simple knots, as most people only know reef or overhand knots, which are not good in all situations.
a bowline and its variations are best for lifting people, or securing people when they cross a river. it does not tighten under pressure. a knot that slips when secured around the torso can cause breathing difficulties, which is very bad if used to lift an already injured person.
figure of 8 knot variations are good stop knots, and securing knots (to tie something to a tree etc)

-if for some reason you need to build a shelter, a teepee is a quick easy method. tie long sticks together at one end, open up the other end and secure into the ground.
smaller sticks should be woven into the main supports (leave a door), and then weave leaves or sapplings between these, and cover with turf.
alternatively, dig a small pit to lie in. create a covering from four large sticks tied in a square or rectangle. secure sticks every couple of inches, interweave with small twigs, sapplings, big leaves etc. finish with turf. then simply lie in the pit and pull the covering onto the top of it. if made with care this can be quite water proof.
the smaller the shelter the warmer it will be. however, remember you need to be comfortable too.
i have made and slept in both of these, and the teepee was not comfortable at all. i made it only about 4 foot high, to save time, and slept in a foetus position. the entrance faced a big rock, and i lit a fire between the two, which acted as a reflector and allowed a lot of the heat to reach me. the very top should have a smallish hole to allow smoke and such to escape.
the pit was more comfortable, but colder, as i couldnt really light a fire. without risking setting myself alight.

-if you fall into freezing water, try to make as little movement as possible to keep afloat. unless the bank is close, swimming and excessive movement increase the flow of water around your body, cooling you quicker. even strong swimmers cannot swim for long in freezing water (often swimming 50m is enough to kill you), so conserve energy and await recuse from your party (assuming they saw you go in, and are near by. if they are a long way away, or unaware, swimming downstream at an angle is probably your best bet.)

all of this may sound paranoid, but think that girl died on dartmoor recently when she fell into a cold river.
hopefully people may never need to use any of this advice, but when your out in the middle of nowhere, things can go tits up in minutes. somebody breaks a leg, the weather changes drasticly, and does not follow the predictions, a person gets seperated from the group, somebody loses a bag.

whenever i say dig a hole, the correct method is to roll the turf in large pieces and dig the earth. when you move on, simply replace the soil, and roll the turf on the top again. this way you will not damage the area. obviously if your lost with little kit, preserving the area takes a back seat to surviving, however, rolling turf instead of destroying it means you have ample insulation, and it can be used to sleep on if you have no roll mat or sheet.

some may know this, but others going may not. its better to hear this kind of thing twice then never. i know quite a lot more then just the above on this subject, from finding food to direction finding without a compass at day and night, so ill be happy to explain anything further or offer more advice if people want it.

[bird]

Just got back home after having my operation today, my knee is sorted they found the piece of floating bone wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[offbeatpath]

Hi guys can the lads who are going on this trek just post a yes or (something along those lines) just so we can all have an idea of numbers? Also are there any drivers here who are willing to do a pick up from close by? Thanks lads

[AndyG321]

Yes should be, just on a tent hunt......