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Subject Topic: First camp of 2019 Post Reply Post New Topic
25/3/2019 at 8:38pm
 Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
 Outfit: Tents
View Ewen c's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ewen c Reply   Quote Ewen c Quote  
Joined: 22/8/2013

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With the weather getting a bit nicer, and not having been in a tent since August, a wee trip was planned. Originally it was to be a jaunt in the wicklow mountains taking in Duff hill, Mullacleevaughn east top and a camp at Cleevaun Lough. Return would be via Black hill (yes there are two black hills in the area, one in English and one in Anglicised Irish - Black hill and Duff hill). However, this would not pan out due to time and weather. Instead I did Duff hill and dropped down to camp 200m below Cleevaun Lough. A very wise decision.

Anyway, here is the final route



At mid day I was dropped off at the entrance to a Coilte forest plantation. The weather was ...hot and the trail, along forest roads, would be long enough. My pack was rather heavy with 4 litres of water and a can, yes only one, of Bulmers plus food.



In the distance I could see duff hill on the left and the line of hills leading to Mullaghcleevaun on the right



Finally, the forest track ended. I would now be entering Wicklow National park where it is legal to wild camp but first a few obstacles

Forestry machinery makes bogs...



And this fence is easy if you dont have a massive heavy pack. Aforesaid pack was thrown over the fence.




I was now on the stretch to Duff hill. It looked sort of a gentle incline on the map...

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Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag


25/3/2019 at 8:55pm
 Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
 Outfit: Tents
View Ewen c's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ewen c Reply   Quote Ewen c Quote  
Joined: 22/8/2013

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   3012
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Most unusually, there was no path. Could Duff hill be that hump looming ahead. The last section looks a bit steeper than I thought but so far it is a dawdle



apart from the sun beating down and only snow goggles in my rucksack. No fashion police up here so snow goggles it is. Wish I had a sun hat though.

And there is the intended destination. The Coire below Mullaghcleevaugn with a bit of snow still clinging on.



Still got to get up Duff hill



but I did



The top was a bit windy and clouds were coming over. Sunset was at 18:45. I descended to the col between Duff hill and Mullacleevaugn East top. One look at the peat hags and the terrain and I knew my late start had put paid to my original plans. A quick look at the map and I had found an alternative spot.The coire below the col had a watershed with flat areas. As long as they weren't bog it would be fine.

Descending from the col I heard multiple warning clicks from deer. Three herds were bouncing through the heather away from me. I was soon down and saw telltale signs of deer grazing. Thanks deer. A better mown flat pitch would be hard to find on many campsites'





Tent up, mat and sleeping bag in and ready to cook or rather boil water..



It would be interesting how the new insulated air mat went. The temperature was dropping rapidly.



So, Down jacket, outer shell, gloves and dinner was eaten and cider drunk. I then wandered around a bit and went for a nap.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag


25/3/2019 at 9:08pm
 Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
 Outfit: Tents
View Ewen c's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ewen c Reply   Quote Ewen c Quote  
Joined: 22/8/2013

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Now, my sleeping bag is a down three season. The temperature dropped to -10 celsius.
I was in my bag with hat, gloves and down jacket. Two pairs of wool socks kept my feet warm but my legs were only clad in my thermals' The evening was spent watching a netflix film I had downloaded to the phone and I eventually dozed off to waken at 6am.

Nature called so I opened the tent to get a load of frost down my neck. I hadn't put the nikon battery in the sleeping bag so it was kaput. Luckily my Chinese phone lived up to it's promise of working down to -20 so some photos were taken.









My water bottle was slushy and my petrol stove refused to prime. That was fixed by pouring petrol over it and setting it light. That melted any frozen condensate and cheered me up. In the spirit of leave no trace, no grass was burnt. I always prime the stove on an old trangia frypan. The whole stove and fuel bottle was covered in ice. Coffee was made and I started packing. The sun came up and melted the ice but the tent was soaking. At least the pack was about 6 kilos lighter.

I got off that hill at some speed catching the wife out who had not even left to pick me up. An hours wait at the trail head and I was home to unpack, dry the tent out and have a long hot shower.

Great stuff!!!

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag


via mobile 25/3/2019 at 9:54pm
 Location: Rannoch Scotland
 Outfit: autosleeper fairford
View Lorfal's Profile View Profile   Reply to Lorfal Reply   Quote Lorfal Quote  
Joined: 01/8/2016

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Brilliant! Loved your pics and chat


25/3/2019 at 10:00pm
 Location: North Devon
 Outfit: Robens Fairbanks Coleman Phad X3
View seanfdh's Profile View Profile   Reply to seanfdh Reply   Quote seanfdh Quote  
Joined: 20/2/2011

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Seeing you're still alive I assume that the mat worked. Great report and pics. Thank you.

-------------
Sean


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via mobile 25/3/2019 at 10:37pm
 Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
 Outfit: Tents
View Ewen c's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ewen c Reply   Quote Ewen c Quote  
Joined: 22/8/2013

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Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it folks.
I have been given 'permission' to invest in a 5 season lightweight bag. I might not though. I reckon a pair of down trousers will do the trick at about £50. The mat did a fine bit of work but I reckon I could have been warm with the same bag and a karrimat 30 years ago. Then again, 30 years ago the pack would have felt lighter, the miles would have flown by and I would have yomped the whole lot in half the time.
Next month I hope to do another.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag


26/3/2019 at 10:40pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View VangoMan02's Profile View Profile   Reply to VangoMan02 Reply   Quote VangoMan02 Quote  
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Looks the biz Ewen, an enjoyable short break. Yep the sluggish circulation as we get older is sometimes a bugger.

-------------
It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.


06/4/2019 at 11:34am
 Location: London
 Outfit: Vango Beta 350xl
View uktrucker's Profile View Profile   Reply to uktrucker Reply   Quote uktrucker Quote  
Joined: 26/3/2017

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loved the report must remember to take pictures next time I am out , which mat were you using ?


via mobile 06/4/2019 at 3:07pm
 Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
 Outfit: Tents
View Ewen c's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ewen c Reply   Quote Ewen c Quote  
Joined: 22/8/2013

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   3012
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I bought a paria recharge xl. A US company but made in China. It replaced a half size vaude norrsken which had gone mouldy inside. The paria has a pump sack so should stop mildew forming from my breath. It is thicker than a klymit and about half the price of an exped or thermarest.
It is insulated inside. I only go for insulated air mats.
The sleeping bag is a Kelty cosmic 20 down bag. Good to 20 Fahrenheit.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag


12/4/2019 at 10:09pm
 Location: NE England
 Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents
View spiritburner's Profile View Profile   Reply to spiritburner Reply   Quote spiritburner Quote  
Joined: 02/8/2004

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Great report. Old school prime - non of your piezo malarky!


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via mobile 13/4/2019 at 8:32am
 Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
 Outfit: Tents
View Ewen c's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ewen c Reply   Quote Ewen c Quote  
Joined: 22/8/2013

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   3012
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Quote: Originally posted by spiritburner on 12/4/2019
Great report. Old school prime - non of your piezo malarky!



I think I should have taken the svea. I find petrol stoves with remote fuel bottles often have problems on a cold morning. My theory is that the fuel pipe gets slushy. Now the weather is better it will be back to the trangia.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag



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