From October 2023 until March 2024 I did very little walking owing to a chest infection so my progress on My Virtual Mission PCT was miminal bordering on the static! Now it is 1st April I have 93 days to complete the reminder of the My Virtual Mission PCT! This means I need to average 9.54 miles every day. The Pace Maker is at 2,063.7 miles which is 83% of the PCT and it says: “You are 465 miles behind. Let’s do this, Christopher.” Periodically My Virtual Mission sends me a postcard and here it is:
“The next 15 miles (24km) were quite uneventful travelling either on the ridgeline or just below until I arrived atop a crest with views of Cliff Lake in the large valley below and Campbell Lake beyond. Another 5mi (8km) along, I come across Sky High Valley below, with three lakes near each other: Upper and Lower Sky High Lakes and Frying Pan Lake. Looking north from up here, I can see the striking white rocks of Marble Mountain above the treelines.
As the PCT reaches the junction with Marble Mountain Trail, it veers to the right. It descends into Little Marble Valley and then over white rocky terrain extending above the mountain cliffs. Marble Mountain sits within the Marble Mountain Wilderness. Besides the usual mix of oak, fir, pines and hemlock, at 225,114 acres, the wilderness has a whopping 89 lakes. Wildlife such as bears and deer are plentiful. The PCT crosses the entire wilderness for 32mi (51km).
Marble Mountain is located in the heart of the Klamath Mountains, and its bright white cliffs made of glacially polished granite are a sight to behold. Although the highest peak is the nearby Black Marble Mountain at 7,429ft (2,264m), what makes Marble Mountain’s peak interesting is its “long, curving escarpment with numerous points along the rim”. It is broken into two segments separated by Marble Gap near the centre. The mountain has a gradual slope to the east, where the PCT traverses it across Marble Valley. However, on the western side are sheer cliffs with Rainy Creek and Elk Creek at the base.
After Marble Mountain, the trail passes Paradise Lake with Kings Castle Peak behind it, then across Big Ridge, down into Cliff Valley and alongside Grider Creek till Klamath River, where the trail skirts around the river bend and terminates this section in Seiad Valley at an elevation of 1,388ft (423m).
Flowing for 257 miles (414km), the Klamath River travels through Oregon and Northern California and empties in the Pacific Ocean. It is the second largest river in California by discharge. It begins in the high desert and flows through the Cascades and Klamath Mountains before reaching the sea. Inhabited by Native Americans for 7000 years, the river’s fish migration of salmon, steelhead and trout was their food source. With the Europeans arriving in the 1820s, the Native Americans were, within a few decades, forced into reservations. Soon after the gold rush began, the river became polluted with the influx of miners. Steamboats operated in the upper basin until the railroads arrived, when the area turned agricultural, and dams were built to provide irrigation and hydroelectricity. Today, the river is a recreational area that continues to provide agricultural water.
Seiad Valley is a small community of 350 residents and only a mere 15 miles (24km) south of the Oregon border. I will take a load off at the historic Wildwood Tavern and Lodge. Opened in 1929 as a one-story building and bar, it was sold, bought and remodelled many times across the decades, except for the 24ft (7.3m) bar that has been lovingly preserved for the last 90 years. Today it continues to serve passing travellers.”
Now to move forward get the job done and meet the deadline so I can receive My Virtual Mission’s PCT medal.
On 17th September 2023 I completed Country Walking magazine’s #walk1000miles challenge. In unison with this challenge in January 2023 I decided to start the #Myvirtualmission Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). On the last day of December I have completed 1,423.5 miles on the PCT. The last three months of 2023 I wasn’t well with chest infections which led to five weeks off work. Now I am on the way to recovery and I am keen to complete the PCT before the deadline of the end of June 2024. So, every day during the first six months of 2024 I need to complete at least 5.8 miles per day! Back to 2023 and periodically #Myvirtualmission provides a postcard from the PCT and what follows comes from this sent via e-mail on the last day of 2023.
A mile (1.6km) after crossing North Yuba River, the trail, through a series of tight switchbacks, sharply gains 1,400ft (426m) and continues to climb as it rounds the flanks of Sierra Buttes Peaks some 2,000ft (610m) above the town of Sierra City.
Travelling along the ridgeline, I’m taken by the vast views, especially the large Gold Lake flanked by Deer Lake and Long Lake to the east of the trail and a little further along the lovely peaks of Mount Elwell and Mount Washington.
As I reach McRae Ridge (elevation 7,200ft/2,194m), I leave Tahoe National Forest behind and enter Plumas National Forest. The forest was established in 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Within its boundaries is Bucks Lake Wilderness. Named after a primary watershed, Rio de las Plumas (translating as Feather River), the forest has a land area of 1,146,000 acres, of which 127,000 acres are old-growth, mostly mixed conifers. Due to extensive logging during the gold rush era into modern times, much of the original timberland has disappeared.
Descending into a valley to 6,000ft (1,829m), the trail skirts around the foot of Beartrap Mountain, then around the two closely located Mounts Stafford and Etna, across Bunker Hill Ridge to swing around Pilot Peak and then continues with a long, gradual descent to Grass Valley Bald Mountain and Little Grass Valley Reservoir below. The reservoir, accessed via the Bald Mountain trail, is an artificial lake created when the dam was completed in 1961. Used as a recreational area, the lake is 2mi (3.2km) long, one mile (1.6km) wide and 65ft (20m) deep. Its shoreline is 14.5mi (23.3km).
Travelling through woodland across a ridgeline, the trail further descends to 3,000ft (914m) alongside Onion Valley Creek, where the trail crosses Middle Fork Feather River via a bridge. A major river, Middle Fork, is nearly 100mi (160km) long, of which just over three-quarters is designated National Wild and Scenic River. A remote and rugged landscape with huge boulders, cliffs and waterfalls, it is seldom visited due to the difficulty of navigating the terrain and river.
The trail travels up and down in the forest, across Bear Creek and onwards to Bucks Lake and Bucks Lake Wilderness. Encompassing 21,000 acres, the Wilderness was established in 1984. The Wilderness is filled with conifers, oaks and red firs, with lakes to the east and small meadows to the west. Its elevation is from 2,000ft (610m) in the Feather River Canyon to 7,017ft (2,139m) at Spanish Peak. The lake is a result of damming Bucks Creek in 1928.
Passing Spanish Peaks on the right, the trail travels along a steep escarpment with views of Silver Lake below, onto Mount Pleasant, then Three Lakes to the left before a long and gradual descent to 2,400ft (731m) at Feather River near Belden.
At its main stem, Feather River is 73mi (117km) long and is a major tributary of the Sacramento River. Starting at Lake Oroville, the River is joined by its four branches: South, Middle, North and West Branch Feather Rivers. During the 19th century, the river and its forks were a centre for gold mining. Today, it provides water to the state and hydroelectricity generation.
Mid February and suffering with a chest infection for the second time in 2022 and again on a course of antibiotics. So, instead of walking I decided to stay at home over the weekend and try to recover in time for the working week ahead. This provided me with time to have some adventure activity thoughts.
My thoughts for this article were prompted by an Outdoors Magic e-mail and an item in their Gear News section: ‘The North Face’s Highest Spec Collection Yet?’ Intrigued I clicked on the image to find out more. Then I landed on the site’s article entitled ‘The North Face Advanced Mountain Kit – Deep Dive’ with the leading sub heading reading: “We headed out to the Alps for the unveiling of The North Face’s most impressive alpine climbing system yet – the Advanced Mountain Kit, a six-layer system for extreme mountaineering.” OK, I was well and truly hooked so I did my own deep dive.
Rethinking the layering system
There is nothing new with using layers as a way for the human body to interact with ambient temperature despite what adventure journalists and companies frequently tell us that this is not the case. My late Mum educated me in this aspect but in those days using a range of clothes to cope with whatever the weather was up to wasn’t known as the layering system. Fortunately, my Mum didn’t have to think about clothing us to cope with 8000m peaks as this elevation wasn’t included in our destination to go to school or on the way to the local shops. However, there are outdoor gear manufacturers that need to supply a layering system to cope with this altitude and the corresponding climatic conditions. In rethinking the layering system relating to 8000m peak mountaineering The North Face (TNF) have developed the Advanced Mountain Kit (AMK). The AMK is a six-layer system for extreme mountaineering based on the fast and light needs of current elite mountaineers getting to and when in the 8000m environment. This is an interesting modern take on the layering system and features five TNF proprietary technologies: DotKnit, FutureFleece, 50/50Down, FutureLight and CloudDown. Although these combine in a unique integrated layering system to push the limits of human potential they have all been seen before in the broader TNF Summit Series.
For further details on the Advanced Mountain Kit see the following websites:
Looking at the AMK I can see a few clothing layers that have a cross over to lightweight ultra challenges and thru-hiking in demanding adventure environments. As well as the clothing system I was very interested in the AMK Spectre 55L pack. It is lightweight, weighing just 822g, and an uncomplicated design, but is it worth the heavyweight £585 price tag? More on this later.
Regarding clothing in the L3 category there are alternatives in the extended TNF Summit Series. The North Face L3 5050 Hooded Down Jacket is one such example and at £470 represents good value when compared with the closest garment in the AMK range the L3 5050 Pullover at £630. TNF’s Summit Down Jacket is another alternative and is priced at a seemly reasonable £310! This item perhaps has more flexibility when used in lower altitudes most of us will be likely involved in! See link below for further details on this jacket:
Please note hooded down jackets by other manufacturers are available.
OK, so does using clothing and equipment designed to be used in 8000m mountainous environments seem like a sledge hammer to crack a nut if used elsewhere? Perhaps, but it depends how tough the nut is to be cracked. Have you tried to open a coconut with a nutcracker designed to crack open walnuts? Recently a well known author laments using a lightweight waterproof jacket in winter whilst on an adventure trail in Scotland. Basically it didn’t work and at the time completing this particular journey the winter was a very mild one without the usual climatic conditions associated with this route. This is a case for using gear more appropriate to the conditions expected and environment encountered and not going with inappropriate alternatives more suited to three season conditions. Gear flexibility is one thing but at times that ‘sledgehammer’ approach is a strategy worth considering hence I will be taking a closer look at the AMK when I am rethinking my layering system.
It’s more than a jacket
Relating to clothing flexibility I was thinking about why do I have so many jackets. The reason for this is that no one jacket in my arsenal could cope with the temperature range and weather conditions I walk in. At times I could be wearing three different jackets at once and this is just for walking in local low level countryside where the highest elevation doesn’t even reach 100m! The layering system coming up again! No doubt that jackets are a vital part of any clothing/layering system and few days after I had this thought I came across this article on the TNF Journal about jackets:
“A jacket is more than just a jacket when it’s lined with memories. When it protects you. When it makes the difference between a good and a bad experience.”
I can certainly relate to this statement and each of my current jackets, and indeed those from the past, are lined with my memories. At times the protection wasn’t what I expected especially with so called waterproof jackets and this produced negative experiences with me being damp or at worse wet and cold! Thankfully, most of the jackets offered the protection required which led to positive experiences. One of the most versatile jackets I have is the Marmot Ether Driclime Hoody which has been used as an outer layer but it is equally at home as a mid layer when needed. This jacket, which has a hood, is comprised of a windproof outer shell and a micro fleece inner. Its thermal properties are similar to a mid weight fleece but it is much lighter and can compress down when I need to pack it in the rucksack when I am not wearing it. A mid weight fleece jacket when folded up as tightly as possible would take up most of the space in my 26L Black Diamond RPM rucksack.
Versatile athlete, versatile gear
Another article from the TNF Journal follows on from the above discussion relates to versatility both as an athlete and regarding gear:
“And a versatile athlete, needs versatile gear. That’s multi-functional yet simple and, above all, reliable.”
Not sure that I consider myself to be a versatile athlete but I can see the need for gear that is versatile. Whether I am doing local park walks, exploring rural countryside from my front door, challenge walks or thru-hikes whatever I have purchased needed to be used across all these activities. Therefore, agree with the multi-functional aspects and the need for simplicity and reliability. For clothing there are additional factors I take into consideration: light in weight; compact; and can be easily compressed to reduce volume when packed.
Having discussed my most versatile jacket I will now move onto one of my most versatile items of equipment this being the Black Diamond RMP 26L rucksack which has been in my procession for well over ten years. Remembering publicity blurb issued around 2007 this stated that the 570g RPM features a highly compressible, ergonomic design to move with you, whether you’re climbing or trail running. Personally, I have never used this pack for either of these two activities but I have for exploring local countryside and on challenge/ultra walks of varying distances from 16 to 54 miles. In August 2019 I selected this pack for my two day Thru-hike along the 46 miles Llangollen Canal. This was my last Thru-hike before Covid-19 took hold. My overnight was at the Red Lion, a former coaching inn, which not only offered bed and breakfast but evening meals were also available. Choosing this accommodation type precluded my need to carry a tent, sleeping bag, stove and a bath towel! Yep, I did need to carry additional clothing for the second day’s walk, clothing for sleeping in, extra food and personal stuff for washing etc.. but the pack managed to take all this on board without compromising on carrying comfort.
Considerations regarding expedition packs
Still on topic for carrying comfort and after my previous investigation into the TNF AMK Spectre 55L pack I was thinking about expedition packs. However, current rucksacks in this category seem to have extras that I don’t feel I need which add weight and over complicate the design. Looking at expedition packs I have used in the last 40 years two come into my mind and I must have really liked using them because I they are still in my procession. My Lowe Alpine Systems Cerro Torre SL (Slim Line) 50L + 15L (1.9kg) was an amazing expedition backpack with a superb carry system and the capacity was just right with the lightweight kit I had built up during the early-1990’s. Going back further in time my rather basic and uncomplicated Karrimor Lofoten 50L (950g) was a typical expedition rucksack design from the mid-1970’s. The TNF AMK Spectre 55L (822g) seems to blend the best elements from both the Cerro Torre and Lofoten in an ultra modern fuss free design so perhaps the hefty price point is not so bad if you get what you want.
The Cerro Torre I used extensively whilst leading students on mountain expeditions in Snowdonia from 1991 to 2000 and was the rucksack I used when I did my successful Mountain Leader assessment in 1993. Carrying 33lbs in the mountainous Snowdonia environment was relatively easy assisted by an impressive padded hip belt, adjustable back system, Parallax frame and superbly padded shoulder straps. This compared with the basic carrying system on the Lofoten which was unadjustable and featured a cotton duck covered open cell foam padded back panel, and the ‘hip belt’ was merely a removable 50mm webbing waist strap which wasn’t supplied but had to be purchased as an optional extra. However, I used this pack on my Peakland Way Thru-hike in May 1983. This was a fast and light venture where I completed this 100 miles route in four-days. John N. Merrill, the originator of the route, devised this to be untaken in eight-days. Nowadays, taking 50% less time on a route would be considered fastpacking! In the Karrimor Lofoten rucksack I packed a Fjällräven Hunter single skin tent weighing 1.4kg, Blacks Tromso down sleeping bag 1.1kg (my earliest specialist equipment purchase) and a Trangia 27K stove and cook set (820g) amongst other stuff. One of my camps on this trip was a wild weather night on Swine’s Back Ridge on the Kinder Scout plateau [1]. Me with my 1970’s equipment survived not only that night on the Derbyshire moors but the entire journey and indeed we are all still here today. Personally, I am seriously thinking about doing the Peakland Way in 2023 as a 40th year anniversary celebration using the same equipment as my 1983 journey. This time perhaps I will do the trip in the recommended eight-days.
On an expedition rucksack the ability to reduce or extend capacity are excellent features. When starting out on an expedition you have consumables packed which requires the ability to extend capacity and as they gradually eaten the volume decreases. To increase capacity my mid-green Lofoten 50L had leather side patches to locate straps and I used these to secure my bright yellow Karrimat. These leather patches also had holes to enable pockets with clips to be secured which increased capacity by 5L. These were offered as optional extras and although I considered them at the time I never bought them. Moving onto the more modern Lowe Alpine Systems Cerro Torre SL 50L + 15L this features side compression straps and these are found on the ultra modern TNF AMK Spectre 55L the latter with the ability to crossover the straps in an X format. These compression straps have three functions when cinched tight they reduce pack volume and prevent movement of stored gear and they can be used to secure items on the outside of the packs thereby increasing capacity. Another system utilised for extending volume on these two models is via an extending lid. So, are compression straps and an extending lid two more reasons for selecting the TNF AMK Spectre 55L as my next rucksack purchase? Maybe but in the mix for the decision making process will be the very light 822g weight for a 55L rucksack. So, we will see and as they say stay tuned and watch this space.
Day 1: Llangollen to Ellesmere 33.25km 20.66 miles
My lift arrived on the dot and Richard, a close relative, drove me to the amazing Horseshoe Falls, the true start of the Llangollen Canal. Here there is a car park and toilet facilities. Richard made sure that I viewed the spectacular falls before we both made our way to the canal towpath and I made a note of my start time 9:04am.
Horseshoe Falls – the start of the Llangollen Canal
He walked with me until we arrived in Llangollen and said that I would be arriving at the Trevor Basin around lunch time and this has plenty of places to grab something to eat. Then he bid me well and headed back to the Horseshoe Falls car park. So far I had the Llangollen Canal almost to myself but this was to change rather suddenly as I crossed the bridge over the Trevor Basin I now realised I was in a honeypot!
Trevor Basin
Had I arrived to early for lunch as it was 11:20am? Well I couldn’t resist the tempting food on offer nearby the Canal and River Trust’s Visitor Centre and by the time I got my food it was 11:33am. The hot dog, followed by a slice of Cherry Bakewell all washed down with a hot chocolate was the fuel I needed to venture on.
Lunch Time: the first course – The hot dogCherry Bakewell and a Hot Chocolate – now fully fuelled
Whilst I was here I chatted with a family who were from New Zealand. The mum asked how I knew they were New Zealander’s and not Australian’s? Perhaps the reason I “guessed” correctly was that the daughter was wearing a New Zealand rugby shirt and I didn’t think any Aussie would wear one. As a navigator one develops an acute sense of observation skills and these can be transferable to other areas. Now what awaits is the crossing of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. I had done this once before and I never forgot that experience and this is the reason why the New Zealander’s were here. Luckily for me the tow path side has a railing to offer a barrier of sorts but this does nothing to overcome the sense of walking on air. Never mind the trills from a ride at either Legoland or Alton Towers crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is like nothing else one would do in their lifetime. Completed in 1805, this truly amazing structure is 121ft high at its centre and strides 1,007ft over the River Dee. As I made my first step onto the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct I whispered to myself: “I am a hillwalker and a mountain leader, I can do this”. OK this is only a short distance but it can carry a similar exhilaration as completing the Snowdon Horseshoe and it is shared with ordinary day trippers.
Canal boat crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Now I was at the other end and still couldn’t believe what I had just accomplished before 12 noon. I paused at the Dedication Stone to Thomas Telford.
Thomas Telford dedication stone
From an aqueduct that had a feeling of walking on a tight rope I was heading to two tunnels.
The Whitehouse Tunnel 174m
The first was I arrived at 12:51pm was the Whitehouse Tunnel with a length of 174m and this was the precursor to the Chirk Tunnel whose length is 421m which I arrived at 13:16pm. The first one you can just see the end but before entering the Chirk Tunnel I took out my Petzl head torch. This was a strange experience as a canal barges was chugging along with a massive headlight blazing brightly. Where else can one one experience metaphorically traverse an arête at one moment and then travel though total darkness within a couple of hours?
The Chirk Tunnel421m
Finally, daylight after exiting the Chirk Tunnel and then 10 minutes later I had arrived at the Chirk Aqueduct.
The Chirk Aqueduct
This one feels safer and although doesn’t offer an aerial experience the views are just as fascinating. At 13:30pm I arrive at the ‘Welcome to England’ sign and around 10 miles into my 46 miles journey. Now the canal took on a familiar feel the openness had been replaced with tree lined banks and the trippers had disappeared and I once again was alone. It was now approaching 3pm and I was around the 13 miles point. Just before St. Martin’s Bridge which carried the number 13W I noticed a few buildings on my side of the canal and this was the Ushers Tea and Coffee Shop. Feeling peckish I investigated and once I found the way in ordered some food and drink.
A snack at the Ushers Tea and Coffee Shop Bridge 13W
A couple of canoeists where also taking a break. Ushers was established in the mid-nineteenth century as a bakery and still supplies bread in the shop. Replenished it wasn’t to long before I arrived at the first locks on the Llangollen Canal, the New Marton Locks comprising of a Top and a Bottom set of locks and now I was at the 14 miles point.
New Marton Locks – The first set of locks I encountered
Coming up to 5pm and I noticed a sign post for the Shropshire Way and before to long I was at the Frankton Junction and just over 17 miles into my journey and I bumped into an Australian. He asked me did I know what was happening in the cricket and I replied that no doubt England were loosing against Australia after a poor showing yesterday. He replied that England had found someone who can bowl and that I would be surprised at the result. Continuing on I reached the ‘Welcome to Ellesmere‘ sign at 18:13pm. My journey today wasn’t over yet and at the end of the Ellesmere Arm I turned on Google Maps to get me to my accommodation at the Red Lion where I arrived at 18:30pm.
A 46 miles journey through time in the present time
Background and Ideas
In August 2019 I would be spending a few long weekends in Nantwich and on one of these I thought it would be a good idea to complete a long distance trail in Cheshire. The route that immediately came into my mind was the Sandstone Trail. This being 34 miles in distance it was possible to complete in an extended day or I had the option over two days. This walk follows the sandstone ridges running north–south from Frodsham in central Cheshire to Whitchurch just over the Shropshire border and was created in 1974 and extended in the 1990s. Unfortunately, the logistics to get to the start and the pick up at the finish wasn’t feasible so I put this idea on hold. The search continued and I found an alternative, the 40 miles Weaver Way. This also runs south-north and instead of using the undulating sandstone ridge this utilises fairly level terrain and incorporates some of the canal towpath network in the area. The official start is in Audlem and finishes in Frodsham. Again as with the Sandstone Trail logistics were an issue and so The Weaver Way was also put on hold.
Weaver Way sign post on the Shropshire Union Canal
The Decision
Over the second weekend in August 2019 I was in Nantwich and for some reason, and if by destiny, an old Nicolson’s Canal Book published in the early 1970‘s was laying on a table and I started to read it. On Saturday night with my relatives we discussed canals and they actually used this very copy of this book for canal holidays in the past. One such holiday that they all remember with much fondness was when they were canal boat cruising on the Llangollen Canal. An exiting moment for some, and scary, for others was when they crossed over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. After this discussion I took a closer look at the Llangollen Canal in Nicolson’s book and decided this was a definite possibility. However, at 46 miles I would need an overnight stop and the travel logistics would be one way only. This would depend if I started at Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen or Nantwich with the former being preferable.
A Test Wander
On the Sunday after a few discussions one of my relatives said that they would drop me off at Audlem on Monday morning so I could walk a section of the Shropshire Union Canal to the Nantwich Aqueduct to get a feel of the towpaths in this area. By coincidence I would be following the first 6 miles of The Weaver Way. When I reached the aqueduct it would be a 10/15 minutes pleasant walk back to base which meant I wouldn’t need to arrange a pick up time. Monday came and I got dropped off at Audlem. The weather was warm enough for shorts and I carried a rucksack with minimal gear. I hadn’t gone far when I noticed a mile post which said six miles to Nantwich. There were mile posts at each mile so they proved to be a useful countdown markers to Nantwich. The tow path was well kept and I maintained a steady pace of 2.8 mph.The walk seemed to be over far to quickly and I decided to stop my watch when I arrived at the River Weaver bridge in Nantwich town centre. Total distance was 6.6 miles and with this experience under my belt it provided me with ideas on what I really needed to take.
Mile post Shropshire Union Canal
Preparation
After the test wander I realised I didn’t need to add any more stuff to what I already had. The only three areas to sought out now was the food I needed to carry on my Llangollen Canal walk, arrange transport to the Horseshoe Falls and find out where I was going to stay overnight. For food I didn’t need anything special, one of my relatives said they would take me to the start which left the last piece in the organisation jigsaw puzzle the accommodation. Whilst I liked the idea of camping there were no official camping sites near the canal. One advertised as a camping site was near Whitchurch but it turned out they didn’t accept tents! There are only a few towns close by the canal and one that caught my eye was Ellesmere which was around the half way point. Eventually I selected The Red Lion which is a 16th century Coaching Inn. I phoned them direct and they had a room which included breakfast for £35 and I booked there and then. Now just the kit to sort out for the activity, prepare list so not to forget anything and then pack ready for tomorrow. I decided not to bother with a compass and the maps required I photographed on my iPhone from Nicolson’s guide book. The latter was not only to save weight but leaving the book behind I could send a WhatsApp to my wife with the bridge or lock number and by consulting the map in the book she would know exactly where I was located.
Clothing and Equipment
To be worn on day 1: Craghoppers lightweight trousers with Touch Stone web belt, Marmot Wallace polo shirt, Lacoste underpants, Brooks Cascadia 14 2E training shoes and Asics Crew socks. To be worn on day 2: as day 1 but Marmot polo shirt replaced by CMP polo shirt with clean Lacoste underpants and Asics Crew socks replaced those worn on day 1.
Items to be carried: Black Diamond RPM rucksack 26L; Montane Minimus waterproof jacket; Hi Gear Floppy Sun Hat; SeaToSummit Ultra Sil Nano Dry Sack 20L; Patagonia lightweight windproof jacket; Marmot Driclime Ether Hoody; Rohan waterproof overtrousers; Karrimor Stizmat; Petzl head torch and Nivea Sun roll-on sunscreen 50ml. Stored in Trekmates 1L red dry bag: Silk scarf; Patagonia Stretch Synchilla fleece hat and Lightweight thermal gloves. Stored in Trekmates First aid dry bag green: pack of Kleenex tissues; B5 Panthenol ointment 30g; Lowe Alpine Systems U-shaped zip bag containing, LED Lenser P5E torch, Savlon antiseptic cream and first aid kit pouch containing: Swiss Card, Lifesystems Tick Remover Card, antiseptic wipes, two non-adherent dressings, assorted plasters and assorted Compeed blister pads. Toiletries stored in zip lock clear plastic bag: small bottle of hair shampoo; small bottle of soap; small container of talcum powder; plastic comb; tooth brush; Ventolin inhaler and Inhaler. Wallet thinned out and only taking essential cards and cash to save weight. Spare clothes and sleep wear contained in red nylon drawstring bag: CMP blue polo shirt; Lacoste blue underpants; Asics Crew socks. Arc’teryx T-shirt and Patagonia Capilene underpants used as sleep wear. Electricial: iPhone SE; Anker Portable charger with mess case and iPhone cable all stored in mini sealed plastic bag. Zip lock food packets X 2 each containing: Higates chocolate flapjack 75g X 2; Cadburys Brunch bar choc chip 32g X2; Alpen Light Cherry Bakewell bar; Alpen Light Double Chocolate bar and Nature Valley Crunchy oats and honey 42g. Drink stored in two plastic 600ml bottles re-filled on overnight stop.
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