A Video On The Hilleberg Akto

 

Earlier in the year I wrote a post about the Hilleberg Akto as this little tent is thirty this year. That piece had stories and pictures from my many years of using it. Now I've made a little video showing how I pitch it and what I like about it.

Sun & Midge Protection: some products and a little video

Sunday Afternoon Ultra Adventure Hat & Vallon Daytripper sunglasses

Summer's not over. August may have started cool and windy here in the Highlands but hot weather is forecast. There's a heat warning for much of England with temperatures forecast to climb above 30C. Here in the Cairngorms it's meant to be the lower 20s Celsius, which is quite hot enough for me.

Ombraz Refugio sunglasses & Columbia Skien Valley Hooded Jacket

This year I've been trying out various items designed for sun and insect protection and comparing them with my favourites. Today I gathered them together and made a little YouTube video.

The photos with this piece show some of the items I discuss in the video. They were all taken this year except for the Midge Specs one which is from last year.

Tentree Juniper Altitude Hat & Vallon Daytripper sunglasses

Midge Specs

Paramo Katmai Shirt & Vallon Daytripper sunglasses

Storm Loris & aftermath

Storm Loris blasted through yesterday with record-high wind speeds for the time of year. Storms in August are not unusual but they're normally not like this severe. 

While the storm raged I went outside very briefly and shot a few seconds of video with my phone. Rain was lashing down and the trees were thrashing wildly. I certainly wasn't go into the woods or even very near them. Watching the storm from inside seemed wise and I was soon back indoors.

Unlike many people, some not too far away, we didn't lose power and we weren't affected by road and rail closures as we'd no plans to go anywhere, having been following the build-up to the storm for several days. So a combination of luck and planning meant Loris didn't affect us. 

In fact the biggest shock was this morning when I woke up. It was unnervingly quiet. No wind in the chimney, no rain rattling the window. Just silence. 

In fact it was quite windy. Just normally windy though. It felt safe to venture into the woods so I went out for a walk to see what damage Loris had wrought. It was less than I'd expected. Plenty of twigs and dead branches everywhere of course but not that many fallen trees. Most of the latter were at two corners of the woods vulnerable to winds and where trees had come down in previous storms. 

At one of these spots the wind was still fierce and I recorded another little video, again having difficulty holding the phone still.

The weather looks unsettled the next few days but not abnormally stormy. The second half of August looks like it might be fine. I hope so. I have a walk planned.

A Video On the Lenses I Use

 

A Walk In The Sunshine To Huntly's Cave (the less well-known one)

Uaigh Mhor

On a perfect summer's day with sunshine, clear views, and beautiful colours - the landscape glowed - I went to visit the less -well known of the two Huntly's Cave in the area, which lies in a short but rugged ravine. Although not far from home I'd only been there once before, three years ago as described here. 

A glorious day

The shallow ravine, the Uaigh Mhor, containing the cave was as awkward to walk up as I remembered - a tangle of juniper bushes, boulders, and heather. The cave is a slot in the boulders facing up the ravine and I went past it without seeing it until I looked back. One of the lords of Huntly may have hidden here in the 1640s though the other, bigger, Huntly's Cave is the more likely location. This cave is small and uncomfortable. You'd have to be desperate to stay here for long though on this hot day it was nice and cool. 

Looking out

By the time I was returning home the sky was clouding over. Rain is forecast. It's needed. The ground is still very dry. Then the day after tomorrow Storm Floris arrives and there's a warning of very strong winds. 

I made a short video of the visit to the cave.

My cameras video

 

A Look At The September Issue Of The Great Outdoors

The September issue of The Great Outdoors is out now. The cover is a superb photo of Sgurr a'Mhaim taken from Sgurr an Lubhair in the Mamores by James Roddie. The opening spread is equally wonderful and encapsulates the the theme of this issue. It shows nine teams of skiers spread over 7km of the Jostedalsbreen glacier in Norway at night using their headlamps to shine a giant morse code SOS signaL In this case it's because the glacier is threatened both by climate change and a gondola. And that's the theme - action to save mountains and nature and to give ourselves hope.

To this end deputy editor Hanna Lindon meets people working for the mountains from the Himalayas to the Lake District and the Cairngorms. In Scotland photographer Richard Cross uses drone photography to show land issues in a way hard to see on the ground. In the Skills section Detective Constable Paul Flint of Derbyshire's Rural Crime Team gives advice on how walkers can help tackle wildlife crime. 

The mountains can revive ourselves too, as Andy Wasley found on a walk in the Dolomites in Italy. Also overseas James Roddie spends two weeks in the spectacular High Sierra mountains in California. 

In shorter pieces Nadia Shaikh writes about the common but often overlooked Meadow Pipit; Francesca Donovan reviews Paul Besley's The Search - the life of a mountain rescue search dog team; artist, poet and 'Day of Access' founder Alec Finlay asks who belongs in the mountains and how should they enjoy them; Jim Perrin takes a lesser-known scramble on Yr Wyddfa; and Juls Stodel gives advice on taking dogs hiking and camping.

In the Gear pages Steph Wetherall reviews the Therm-A-Rest Questor 0F/-18C sleeping bag; Fiona Russell reviews the Alpkit Ultra 1 tent; Lucy Wallace compares four solo tents; Gemma Palmer tries six backpacking meals; and Kirsty Pallas and James Roddie each review a pair of three-season sleeping bags.

Wild Walks covers seven walks all reachable by public transport. In the NW Highlands Ian Battersby goes by bus to the Five Sisters of Kintail. In the Central Highlands Alex Roddie crosses Geal-Charn, Aonach Beag and Beinn Eidbhinn on a walk between the railway stations at Dalwhinnie and Corrour. It's back to buses again for Stefan Durkacz's Glen Sax Round in the Southern Uplands. In the Lake District buses give access to St Sunday Crag for Vivienne Crow and Wansfell for James Forrest. In Mid Wales Roger Butler takes the train to explore Wernygeufron Hill and Beacon Hill. Finally, Fiona Barltrop takes a ferry to the Isle of Wight to walk on Limerstone Down and Hanover Point. 

40 years ago on the Continental Divide Trail, 15 years ago on the Pacific Northwest Trail

The Highline Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail

On July 27 1985 I reached Macks Inn close to the boundary of Yellowstone National Park and completed the first 815 miles of the Continental Divide Trail. It was day 59 on the trail. I posted a piece on the walk here. 

On July 27 2010 I camped by Sinclair Creek in the Whitefish Divide region after the first 118 miles of the Pacific Northwest Trail. It was day 8 on the trail. 

Stahl Peak. PNT.

At this point both trails were in the Rocky Mountains but the PNT would soon leave them on its journey east to the Pacific Ocean. The CDT of course stays in the Rockies until they fade away in northern New Mexico.

There were mosquitoes! PNT

On the PNT the walking was becoming tougher as I'd left the prepared trails of Glacier National Park behind. It was to become much more difficult, both with the terrain and navigation. On this day I still had trails to follow. It began at a mosquito-infested site where I just slept in the inner mesh tent and finished with thunderstorms and rain. Along the way the scenery was superb and the final section on the Highline Trail wonderful.

There was rain! PNT

On the CDT the walking was already tough, the hardest in fact of the whole walk as there was much bushwhacking and steep rocky slopes and navigation was often just continue south by the easiest way I could find. I wrote in my journal that the ten days I spent in the Beaverhead Mountains were the "toughest walking I've ever done". I did also note that the rewards were "pristine cirques ... no campsites, no trails, no fire rings, no cut trees ... immaculate scenery". 

Immaculate scenery. CDT

On the PNT I was half a day's walk from my first rest stop in the little town of Eureka. On the CDT I hadn't had a break for seventeen days when I reached Macks Inn, a small fishing resort. I needed one! In fact I took two.

Ahead the terrain on the CDT would be much easier though as I crossed Yellowstone National Park with its signed maintained trails and backcountry campsites. 

Whitefish Divide scenery. PNT

A big difference on the walks was my camera gear. 1985 was still film. I haven't yet scanned many of the thousands of images I took. I must do so! 2010 was digital. The images from that walk posted here are ones that didn't appear in my PNT book. All of those with this piece were taken on July 27.

Fire Lookout on 2205m/7235ft Mount Wam. PNT

I 've never written a book about my CDT hike but there is a long chapter about it in my first book The Great Backpacking Adventure (long out of print). The cover of that book is of my friend Scott Steiner who accompanied me on the first 500 miles at a camp below the Chinese Wall in Montana.

A brief video of a walk over Geal Charn in the Lochan na h-Earba region

 

Short video on a tent, a chair, and a wild camp

A look at the camp mentioned in this post. 

Fifteen Years Ago I Set Out On The Pacific Northwest Trail

 

At the trailhead, day 1, July 20, 2010

On July 20, 2010, I started out to walk from the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean on the Pacific Northwest Trail, inspired by writer and backpacker Ron Strickland, who'd come up with the idea for the trail and wirtten the first guidebook. Thank you Ron! It was a wonderful, beautiful, exciting walk.

The trail wasn't as developed as it is now, thanks to the work of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association, but I had Ron's guidebook, which I ripped up and sent to resupply points in sections, and a line on a map to follow. There was much off-trail navigation to deal with though - luckily I love this! 

The Belly River, Glacier National Park

That first day I hiked trails in the spectacular Glacier National Park, a tremendous start to the walk. I marvelled at the huge forests and snow-streaked mountains, revelling in the wild glory and vastness.

First camp

Hiking in Glacier National Park is constrained though. Permits are needed and you have to camp at designated backcountry campgrounds. The first camp of the walk was on the Mokowanis Junction Campground. It would be another three days before I left the national park and permits, campgrounds and trail signs (sometimes the trails themselves) would disappear.

The guidebook after the walk

A first on this walk was a smartphone. The iPhone had been launched just three years earlier. I chose an Android phone though, for the sole reason that it had an interchangeable battery so I could carry spares. Good lightweight battery packs were in the future. So was satellite communications. I only had a phone signal in or near towns. I mostly used it for navigation as it had GPS and I'd downloaded maps. I did take some photos which I sent back to The Great Outdoors magazine along with updates typed on the tiny keyboard. 

My cameras were all digital. I'd given up film several years earlier. An advantage of digital is that advances in processing means I can now get better results from the images than I could at the time. I'm glad I shot raw files so I can do this.

Back home I wrote a book about the walk. It's out of print but I expect there are secondhand copies around. 

A Heatwave Walk In A Doomed Landscape

Lochan na h-Earba

Hillwalking in a heatwave is hard work, especially carrying camping gear. The forecast was for a few days of clear skies and light winds when I planned the trip. After became a forecast for a heatwave I decided to go anyway and modify my plans if necessary.

I’d been planning to visit the Ardverikie area south of Loch Laggan since March when the Scottish Government granted permission (see here) for a huge pumped storage scheme that will drastically change this wild area. I wanted to see it again before it became a different and diminished place.

Foxgloves & the Abhainn Ghuibinn

I set off late, hoping to avoid the hottest part of the day. I don’t know if I did but it was certainly very hot, the air still and heavy. The land looked lush and green. Lines of red and white foxgloves edged the track. As long as I kept my place slow it was lovely walking.

Soon I reached Lochan na h-Earba under the walls of craggy Binnein Shuas, only 747 metres high but a rugged hill with a classic rock climb, Ardverikie Wall, on its cliffs. At the southern end of the lochan is a golden sandy beach, a lovely spot. A few tents dotted the grass at the sand’s edge. It is a grand place for wild camping.

Lochan na h-Earba

Lochan na h-Earba is a double lochan as the same name applies to the next lochan in this narrow glen between steep hills with just a half kilometre of flat land, Am Magh, between them. When the hydro comes this will disappear under the waters of a reservoir as the twin lochans become one with dams at both ends. That will be a sad day.

I considered joining the campers by the beach but there were still several hours of daylight left so I pushed on up a steepening stony path into Coire Pitridh and then to the Bealach Leamhain at almost 750 metres. Here I pitched my tent on rough ground that was probably boggy in wet weather. This night it was dry enough.

Loch a' Bhealaich Leamhain evening

Just beyond my camp I could look down on Loch a’ Bhealaich Leamhain, a jewel set between the steep rugged walls of two Munros, Beinn a’ Clachair and Geal Charn. This will be the upper loch of the hydro scheme, with a large dam at one end. Low sunlight lit the grasses on the bealach. The waters of the loch shimmered in the breeze. The sky and the hillsides glowed. A wild peaceful place. For now.

Bealach camp

I settled into my tent. The light wind kept off the midges for a while but died away as it grew dark. A few bites and I had the doors zipped shut, even though it was quite stuffy inside. The air did cool in the darkness though, dropping to 12°C, and I was able to sleep for several hours, until the rising sun woke me with brightness and a rapidly rising temperature.

Loch a; Bhealaich Leamhain morning

I wandered over to look at the loch again. The water was a deeper blue, undisturbed except for one little whisper of wind. The grasses glowing in the sunshine again but the slopes either side were shadowed. It felt an enchanted place.

By the time I set off the heat was building rapidly. A rough path took me up to the col between Creag Pitridh and Geal Charn. I had intended on climbing the former, another Munro, as it’s less than 100 metres above the col and just half a kilometre away before heading up Geal Charn but I was already feeling the effects of the heat and not quite enough sleep. A rest seemed much more attractive, especially as I found a shaded spot behind a boulder. It’s not often conditions are right for a nap outside during a summer’s day high in the Scottish hills, midges or the weather usually moving me on quickly. I was glad to take advantage of the opportunity.

Creag Pitridh

The rest lasted two hours, at least half of which I spent asleep. I felt rested and relaxed. So relaxed I could have stayed there all day. I wanted to climb Geal Charn though, or rather I wanted to descend Geal Charn. On the map I’d noticed a path marked on the north side of the hill that eventually curved down to Am Magh. I’d found no mention of it in any guidebook. Did it still exist? I wanted to find out. The situation looked excellent as it traversed across steep slopes high on side of remote Coire an Iubhair Mor.

Geal Charn

A steep stony path led up to the extensive plateau-like Geal Charn, a path not marked on the map, though it is well-used and described in every guidebook. As the path levels out the distinctive summit cone appears, its sides strewn with the pale stones that give the hill its name – Geal Charn meaning white hill.  On some maps it also has the alternative name Mullach Coire an Iubhair, the top of the corrie of the yew tree. I could see no trees in the corrie below nor did it seem likely that yew trees ever grew this high.  There’s a big well-built cairn and a circular trig point on the top. I rested here a while, enjoying the extensive view. In the sun my thermometer read 42°C. There was a breeze though, which took the edge off the heat.

Summit cairn and trig point

A short descent led to the steep edge of Coire an Iubhair Mor. I could see the path not far below and follow its snaking line across the corrie wall. It looked even better than on the map, and better still when walked. It’s well-constructed and wider than a walker’s path, made, I think, for ponies. In places it’s fading away, in other crumbling and narrow, but still easy to follow. The only tracks I saw were those of deer. Not far below a little lochan lay in the heart of the corrie.

Marvellous & neglected

I thought this path lovely and easily the best way up Geal Charn, which is an underrated hill. But I could see why the path was neglected. It’s on the wrong side of the hill for combining Geal Charn with Creag Pitridh and Beinn a ‘Clachair, the round of these three Munros being a standard route and recommended in every guidebook.

Looking back up the path to the rim of Coire an Iubhair Mor

Leaving the corrie rim the path ran down to the Allt a’ Mhaigh (Moy Burn). As I descended the breeze dropped away and the air became stifling. The clegs (horseflies) came out and I wasted precious energy slapping them away. Despite this and adding insect repellent to the sunscreen and sweat I was still bitten painfully a few times, smears of blood decorating my arms and legs.

Loch na h-Earba & Binnein Shios

Lower down the path faded away into boggy ground. I could see the north-easterly Lochan na h-Earba and craggy Binnein Shios, a companion to Binnein Shuas. Soon I was down on Am Magh and the estate track that runs along this long glen.

Am Magh & Lochan na h-Earba

Am Magh is another lovely peaceful place. There are a few trees here and many more on the flanks of the hills either side of the north-easterly lochan. If I’d been out for a second night I’d have camped here. As it was I tramped the track alongside the other lochan back to the golden beach and on to my car and the main road. The heat didn’t relent and I stopped regularly for water and a rest. I probably drank five times as much as usual on a day out. On the way home I heard that the temperature reached a record 32.2°C in Aviemore, which wasn’t far away.

Binnein Shuas & Loch na h-Earba

I’m glad I visited this area again. It’s how I shall remember it. If the hydro is constructed I doubt I’ll return.

There was a campaign against the hydro scheme. Parkswatch Scotland ran several excellent piece such as Free market landscape destruction by Nick Kempe and Shafting Ardverikie – the fate awaiting its lochs, corries, bens and fine old hill paths by David Jarmin. The last, which I only read after my walk, describes the Coire an Iubhair path.  The John Muir Trust made a formal objection too but all the campaigning was to no avail. A beautiful area of wild land is to be lost.

A Look At The August Issue Of The Great Outdoors

The August issue of TGO is all about islands. The magazine opens with a splendid double-page photo of  Mangersta on the Isle of Lewis by Eilidh Cameron. Hanna Lindon looks at eight British ones, from Rum to the Scilly Isles. Helen Iles revisits Ynys Enlli  (Bardsey Island) for seal watching and star shooting. Alastair  MacDonald showcases some of Scotland's west coast islands after spending two years visiting them. Jim Perrin's Mountain Portrait is Ben More on Mull. And John Fleetwood describes going coast to coast on Corsica on the wonderful GR20, which I walked twenty years ago.

In shorter pieces Nadia Shaikh looks at hedgerows, Francesca Donovan reviews the Wander Wild festival  in Killarney National Park in Ireland, Eben Muse argues that reservoirs should be open for swimming, and Juls Stobel answers a query about the Mountain Bothies Association.. 

In the Gear Pages Lucy Wallace and Alex Roddie review four backpacking rucksacks each, Lara Dunn  reviews four budget solo tents, Lucy Wallace and James Roddie review two budget sleeping bags each, Steph Wetherell reviews the Outdoor Research Vigor Half Zip fleece, and Fiona Russell reviews the Rab Veil XP 20L Waterproof Pack.

In the Skills section Alex and Hannah Roddie go on a Peak District-based course to learn about overcoming a fear of heights. The skills learnt fit in with the Wild Walks this issue as this consists of seven scrambles. Alex Roddie tackles An Groban in the North-West Highlands while James Roddie takes on the Aonach Eagach in the West Highlands. In the Lake District James Forrest does the Gable Girdle on Great Gable, Norman Hadley scrambles the east ridges of Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike, Ian Battersby goes up Thorn Crag on Harrison Stickle, and Vivienne Crow climbs Steel Edge on Wetherlam and Prison Band on Swirl How. Finally, in Eryri Andrew Galloway goes up Yr Wyddfa via Cribau. 

   

A video on gear for a forthcoming overnight trip

 

The Dava Moor Fires

Wildfires are dangerous, destructive, and terrifying. We all know that. When one comes close to your home it all becomes much more real though.  This has just happened with wildfires where I live, one coming just eight kilometres from our house. The fires raged for four days before being declared over. All the local roads were closed. There are many other isolated dwellings in the area.

The first inkling I had of a fire was driving home from Aviemore on a cloudy day. Approaching the house I noticed the towering clouds had a strange colour to them. Must be the sun, I thought. Later my partner said she could smell smoke. A search on social media showed reports of one or two or maybe three wildfires burning not far away.

Finding information was difficult. It was the weekend when local news tends to shut down. Initially our only source of news was social media, especially Facebook group Grantown Grapevine and page Highlands, Islands, Moray and Aberdeenshire Weather. This is where social media is really valuable.  From a series of posts we learnt about the extent and whereabouts of the fires. Some info was confusing as no-one had a clear picture of what was happening but overall a general picture built up. Gradually more became known. A NASA satellite image was posted showing the location of the fires. One was certainly too close for comfort. The wind, thankfully, was blowing it away from us.

By the end of the second day traditional media was catching up and local newspapers, TV and radio were reporting the fires. Once the weekend was over national media joined in. There were also reports from Highland Council, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service about the state of the fires and the road closures.

On day 3 the wind changed and blew from the direction of the fires. Soon we could see and smell smoke in the fields outside. Not knowing exactly where the nearest fire was or how fast it was moving we discussed what we’d take with us if we had to evacuate. With rain forecast for the evening we checked the weather forecast constantly. We wanted that rain so much! Late in the evening it arrived and we relaxed, a little.

-All this time firefighters, estate workers, and volunteers were fighting the fires, a huge effort for which we are very thankful. There was a great community effort to support them too. The disaster brought everyone together. With all the roads closed we decided the best thing we could do was stay put and not risk getting in anybody’s way.

Thankfully no-one was hurt or killed and, as far as I know, no property damaged or destroyed. The fires were on Dava Moor a large area of moorland mostly used for grouse shooting and sheep with a few areas of woodland to the north of the Cairngorms National Park. Few people live there. It could so easily have been much worse.

It’s bad for the wildlife of the area though, much of which will have perished. Any that survived will have to find new habitats as it will be a while before plant life returns.

The day after the emergency was declared over I went to see the aftermath. It was as shocking as I expected, huge areas of moorland burnt black, trees dead and scorched. Mile after mile of devastation. The smell of smoke still hung in the air. Across Lochindorb the ground still smouldered, trails of windblown white smoke rippling across the blackened earth. A helicopter was still at work, catching water from the loch to dump on the hot ground and dampen down the chance of the fire reviving. The ground is covered in peat. This can remain hot underground long after the last flames have gone and then burst out again. Ensuring it is thoroughly soaked is essential.

All the pictures with this piece were taken the day after the fires were declared over.

How the fires started isn’t yet known. The police and fire service are carrying out an investigation. There’s much speculation online, of course. As I have no information I’m staying out of this. I think it’s best to wait for the official report. What is clear though is that climate change makes such fires more likely, with more extreme weather, including long dry spells, occurring more often. No single event can be put down to climate change but an increase in them can. Sadly, that means that more fires like this are almost certain to occur.

Climate change doesn’t directly cause fires of course, just makes them more likely. As there were no thunderstorms in the area these weren’t lightning caused fires. They were undoubtedly human caused.

Now there are many ways people can cause fires to start on bone dry vegetation including the sun shining through discarded glass, discarded still lit cigarette butts, lack of care with disposable barbecues (which should be banned), and, of course, abandoned and badly sited campfires. Great care needs to be taken with anything that could cause a fire.

Campfires have definitely been the cause of some destructive fires in many areas, and their use seems to be on the increase. Certainly I’ve found and dismantled more rings of rocks and tried to remove traces of fires far more often in recent years.  Rangers report the same and there are many reports on social media of campfire problems. Usually these have been in unsuitable places – on grass, under trees, on peaty ground.

Badly sited campfires cause damage apart from the risk of starting a wildfire. Rings of stones pockmark grass and burnt earth takes years to recover. Too often branches are broken or hacked off living trees, showing a lack of knowledge as green wood doesn’t burn easily. Standing and fallen dead wood is needed ecologically too, especially in areas without many trees.

I don’t think there’s any need to have campfire in Britain. If people do insist on one then it should be on a campsite that allows them, or the builder should know when and how to make one that is no risk to the surroundings and leaves no trace. If you don’t know how to do that don’t build a campfire.

I also think that campfires should not be promoted on social media, something that is unfortunately too common. I think doing so is irresponsible. Even if the fire fulfils the above criteria those copying it may not have the same skills or knowledge. Spreading the idea that campfires are an integral part of camping is wrong. They’re not, at least not in Britain.