Take Heed!

This is a post I really didn’t want to write because I’m probably going to come off sounding a little preachy, I promise I’m not trying to be, but given today’s subject I don’t think it could go any other way, so strap in I’m going for it.

So I’ll start at the beginning, and the beginning was in December last year when I was reading through a few posts on FaceF**k. I occasionally trawl through a few camping groups that I registered with a while back, just to keep in touch with the hot topics of the day, that kind of thing.

Anyway, I happened to stumble upon one which was asking for a recommendation, nothing unusual there, there are dozens of such posts each day asking for advice on this that and the other. However, this one was from somebody who admitted to being a complete newbie asking for a recommendation for a tent that was storm worthy enough to stand against high winds on the peaks? WTF? I mean WTF?

This guy wanted to go on his first wildcamping experience into the hills and peaks in the depths of winter looking for bad weather in a tent he didn’t know how to choose for himself, and probably with just as much of an idea about the other kit he’d need to survive the night.

And this got me thinking. Thinking about what is actually required to take part in this great activity that we call wildcamping.
I’m a great believer in the fact that as many people as possible should get off their sofas and into the great outdoors and experience what this country has to offer in terms of wide open spaces and the benefits to health and mental wellbeing that come from it.
BUT, and this is a big old fat BUT, you have to do it safely, and that means two things, having the right kit, and having the right knowledge.

Nobody is saying that you have to be Lofty Wiseman (showing my age there) or Bear Grylls (for the younger readers) in order to enjoy hiking and camping out. You don’t need to be able to navigate in the pitch black of night using nothing more than a compass and pace counting (although it can help), but you should at least be able to use a map adequately enough to know where you are and where you’re going, and actually take a map. And you don’t need specialist equipment to enjoy a few nights out on the hills, but you do need the appropriate kit, even if it’s not the expensive kind.
But more importantly you need to know how to use it, and how to dress accordingly.

Every year Mountain Rescue Teams throughout Britain are called out hundreds of times to rescue people that have either had an unfortunate accident that could not have been avoided, or more often than not to help misguided individuls and groups that have ventured out completely unprepared for what they are about to face.
The truth is, that despite the incredible beauty of the hills and mountains they are relentlessly dangerous places to be. From loose rocks and steep narrow paths, to boggy areas that can suck you in, and water hazards that can potentially sweep you away. And that’s not even to mention the drops and edges that are so easy to fall off if you’re not very careful. These are just a few of the many dangers that await any walker, no matter how experienced you are. Even experienced campers can succumb to the creeping death that is hypothermia.

And then there is the greatest danger of all…..ingnorance!
Failing to check the weather before heading out is one of the biggest and most common mistakes, that and underestimating the prevailing conditions, and then failing to prepare for them by not taking the appropriate clothing to cope with the changeable nature of mountain weather.

Lack of food and drink comes high on the list as well, the number of people who manage to return from a hike cold and hungry, or hot and dehydrated because they have failed to adequately consider the requirements of exerting so much energy while hiking with a load, being far too high for reason.

Not adequately understanding the route taken and any hazards along the way, not knowing if there are any bail out points along the route if things don’t go your way, or having a plan in case you get caught in a whitout are all things that can lead to a disastrous outcome if you’re unlucky.

And then there is the guy that started all of this rant, you know, the one that wants to find a tent that will keep him safe and sound in stormy weather at the top of a large hill/mountain during his first wildcamp. He’s the one that overestimates his own abilities and that of his kit, thinking that having the kit is what will keep him alive. All the gear and no idea!!

Kit does not replace wit.

As I said before, you don’t have to be a survival expert to successfully enjoy camping out somewhere remote, but a bit of knowledge goes a long way. Let me give you an example.
A hilleberg tent designed specifically for robust conditions if pitched poorly, or in just the wrong location, can fail and let you down just like any other tent can. However, a cheap £65 tent can easily be adapted to withstand much harsher conditions than it was designed for if you know how to do it, and if you give consideration to where you pitch up.

I’ve seen expensive storm tents collapse in only relatively bad weather because of piss poor pitching, and dirt cheap tents stand up unscathed in 50mph gusts because it was pitched with double guys and additional peg points using tarp clips to attach to the fly.
A little knowledge can go a long way towards keeping you safe.

Again, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A SURVIVAL EXPERT!!
But you do need to at least have some knowledge of your limitations, abilities, conditions and kit. In short you need common sense. And this applies equally whether you’re an old hand of forty years, or just starting out on your adventures.

Go out, go safe, and enjoy.

Rant over.

Now what should I take?

So one of the most frequently asked questions is see being posted on several platforms is “I want to go wildcamping, what kit do I need?”.

Well, as with most things there are essential items, and there luxury or desirable items.

First lets look at the essential ones.

Obviously you’re going to need some form of shelter, and that means either a tent, a bivvy, or a tarp. If you’re just getting started then I would heartily recommend a tent, it’s far more friendly in it’s use.

Tents are relatively easy to pitch and will give you plenty of room (depending on the individual tent), far more than a bivvy would, which is essentially a fabric coffin. However, both will give you adequate shelter from the elements, just in slightly different ways. A tarp is just that, a tarpaulin that you can configure to create a shelter, but if you’re starting out then I would not recommend this method unless you’re already familiar with setting up shelters, which if you are then you’re probably already wildcamping and need not read any further.

Next up is your sleep kit. This consists of a mat of some kind and a bag or a duvet to sleep in or under. There’s another post here about this very subject that covers the types of kit available and the pros and cons of each one in more detail. Take a look at that once you’ve finished here.

You’re going to need a bag/rucksack of some kind to carry everything you need. There’s a lot of choice available so one of them will suit your needs.

Tent, sleep kit, and rucksack. These are collectively called the ‘big three’, the three items that will cost you the most, but you’re not really going to go anywhere without them.

Next on the list of essential items is a cook set, something to either cook on or heat water for dehydrated food and hot drinks.

A first aid kit, even a very basic one can be a lifesaver when needed. As can a lifesaver bivvy, a plastic bag that you can crawl into if the shit really hits the fan. A silver foil thermal blanket is also a must.

Another essential is a poo kit, there’s another post here that deals with that one in more detail. Again, have a read of that and come back when you’re ready. Something to carry your water, and at the very least some puritabs to sterilise water from a natural source. Although a decent filter is now part of my essential kit. Again, there’s another post about that here as well.

Whatever food you need for your trip.

Some form of navigation method. Personally I never go without a map and compass, but many just rely on a phone or other device, which is not really a good idea if you think about it. Always have a backup is my philosophy.

Your clothing should be appropriate to the walk and conditions you will be experiencing while out. If it’s raining take a rain jacket, if it’s cold wear layers, if it’s going to be sunny take a hat etc etc. It’s that simple and obvious really.

To sum up your essential kit in list form:

Tent/Bivvy, Sleep kit, Rucksack, First aid kit, Emergency bivvy, Emergency foil blanket, Poo kit, Water carrier, Water purification, Food, Navigation method, Appropriate clothing for the trip.

These are the things I will never go anywhere on a wild camp without, not unless things have gone very wrong indeeed.

Now to the luxury and desirable items, and you can decide which are luxury and which are desirable for yourself.

A powerbank for recharging your phone etc. Spare or extra clothes. Extra treats such as chocolate etc. Pillow. In fact absolutely anything else you like!!

This is a bit of a cop out I know, but to be honest I could spend all day making a list of everything you could take with you if you wanted to. Basically, if you take all of the items in the essential list, in whatever form they come, you won’t go too far wrong. And in time you’ll learn for yourself what extras to take that make life in a tent just that little bit nicer.

Personally, I have a plastic collapsible bottle that was designed to take a whole bottle of wine, so I decant a good red into it and take that too. For me, there’s nothing quite so nice as finding a good pitch with a good view and watching the last of the sun drop beneath the horizon with a mug of red to accompany my evening meal.

I ask you, what could be better than that?