I’ll be mountaineering coast-to-coast throughout Scotland in a number of weeks for the third time within the annual TGO Problem. This can be a non-competitive occasion the place backpackers, referred to as Challengers, have 15 days to hike from the west coast to the east coast. To make issues fascinating, everybody defines the route they need to hike, with the objective of climbing as many mountains as they will or seeing as many sights as doable alongside the way in which. The objective is to not end earlier than it’s important to, however to pack in as many experiences as you may between the beginning and the top.
I’ll be beginning in Oban on the west coast and will probably be mountaineering to Montrose on the east coast, following a extra southerly route than on my earlier crossings to expertise some new areas of the nation. I’ll keep in two inns alongside my route, two campgrounds, and spend eleven nights wild tenting alongside the way in which.
Route Plan
My route is 202 miles (326 km) lengthy and has a number of dramatic ridge walks, excessive peak climbs, and miles of off-trail journey that are all challenges that I get pleasure from. I’ll be mountaineering it solo once more, which I did the primary time I hiked throughout Scotland in 2010, and I’m moderately wanting ahead to that. I’m certain I’ll run into different Challengers as we crisscross the countryside, notably in week two when folks’s routes start to converge on the east coast outdoors of Montrose, the place everybody has to signal out and formally end.
Gear Listing Abstract
This gear listing comes out at just below 15 lbs which is 1-2 lbs heavier than what I carry in the USA within the spring, summer season, and fall. I’ve discovered on previous journeys to Scotland that you may expertise all 4 seasons in a day, so I’ve added somewhat bit extra clothes and insulation for these occasions when the climate is crap. Scotland can also be fairly arduous on gear and it’s fairly troublesome to switch sure objects inside an inexpensive timeframe in the event that they break or get destroyed, like socks and underwear. Been there. Executed that. This isn’t my first rodeo
Packing
I plan to convey my trusty Zpacks Arc Haul 60 as a result of I’ve discovered that I favor sporting a ventilated backpack with a suspended mesh again panel. Whereas the Arc haul is made with Extremely, which is waterproof, I nonetheless line the inside with a water-proof stuff sack, the 42L Exped Schnozzel, which serves double responsibility as my sleeping pad inflation sack. I additionally use a Hyperlight Mountain Gear Shoulder Pocket to carry my iPhone, which serves as my GPS and digicam.
The most important and heaviest load I’ll have to hold will probably be popping out of Blair Atholl after the half-way level of my journey, once I’ll be carrying 7 days of meals and my whole pack weight will probably be about 30 kilos. That’s simply manageable by the Arc Haul, however being meals, I’ll rapidly eat it right down to a extra manageable weight earlier than I get into the rougher nation close to the top of my route.
Home and Sleep System
I’m bringing the Tartpent Notch Li which is made with Dyneema DCF on this journey. I’d initially deliberate to take a DCF Durston X-Mid-Professional 1, however I made a decision I wished a tent that was going to be simpler to pitch in Scotland’s windy climate, particularly as a result of I need to do a number of excessive camps on mountain summits. It takes somewhat effort to safe an X-Mid-Professional-1 in excessive wind and I made a decision I wished a tent that didn’t require as a lot babysitting.
This was a troublesome choice to make as a result of I like utilizing the X-Mid within the Northeastern US and contemplate it my go-to backpacking tent. I got here to this conclusion by working towards pitching the X-Mid-Professional 1 in New Hampshire and Vermont in 30+ mph wind, orienting a nook into the wind, utilizing further guylines, and 12 stakes. I simply wasn’t wowed by the consequence.There’s additionally the problem that the X-Mid-Professional 1 is a single-wall tent, which has its drawbacks (inner condensation) in very damp Scotland.
I additionally strongly thought of bringing my double wall, silpoly X-Mid-1 as a substitute, however in the long run, I made a decision I’d moderately have a tent with a lot decrease profile partitions, with a smaller pitching footprint, and one which can also be a double wall tent. The apparent alternative was the Tarptent Notch, which is a shelter I’ve owned beforehand. Then to chop weight and since I didn’t have the time to seam seal it, I made a decision I’d get the Tarptent Notch Li which is made with Dyneema DCF (and seam-taped) and to maintain the load down.
The Notch Li isn’t an ideal resolution as a result of it has carbon fiber struts that make it unattainable to pack horizontally in some backpacks, together with the Arc Haul. However I can lash it to the aspect of my backpack since I don’t want each aspect bottle pockets in Scotland to hold water, because it’s so considerable.
I’ve used the remainder of my sleep system in Scotland beforehand when mountaineering the Cape Wrath Path in 2019, and it’s completely suited to Could circumstances. The Feathered Mates Tanager is a 20 diploma hoodless sleeping bag that weighs lower than most quilts. I increase with a down hoody and the mixture retains me toasty.
Workplace
The workplace is the brains of this operation and encompasses navigation, communications, images, lighting, and energy. I’m a compass particular person at coronary heart and much favor to make use of one to comply with a bearing than an app. One of many good issues about Scotland is that the present declination is barely -1.15 levels, so that you don’t need to translate between magnetic north and true north over brief distances. You possibly can simply level your compass and begin strolling.
Whereas I used the OS Maps app to plan my route and can use it for on-the-ground navigation, it is very important carry paper maps in Scotland in case your cellphone dies otherwise you run out of energy. It’s a very unpopulated place and also you need to be self-sufficient if the shit hits the fan. The UK’s paper maps, referred to as OS LandRanger Maps (1:50,000), are cumbersome and form of a ache within the ass to hold. However they’re very top quality and a great deal of enjoyable to make use of with a compass. I’m wanting ahead to this side of the journey very a lot. That mentioned, they add over a pound to my pack weight.
I carry a Garmin inReach Mini2, so my family members can monitor my progress on an internet map, which they get pleasure from doing on my longer hikes. I primarily ship preset messages, however being able to speak with advert hoc typed messages might be useful. I hold the monitoring operate off to protect battery life. They’ve an in depth plan of my route which they may give to mountain rescue if I’m going lacking or have fallen unconscious and may’t test in.
Regardless that I exploit them sparingly, all of my digital gadgets use energy. This is the reason I upgraded to a Nitecore NB20000 mAh energy financial institution for this hike. I don’t have many city stops the place I can recharge an influence financial institution, so I wished the additional capability. I additionally acquired myself a local UK Fast Charging unit to recharge the ability financial institution, moderately than fussing with a world adapter. It’s lots lighter weight too.
Kitchen and Water
I’ll be bringing the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Range. The Pocket Rocket Deluxe is a robust and wind-resistant isobutane range that’s appropriate with all screw-on canisters. I’ve an area good friend who’s assembly me in Oban with fuel canisters since I can’t convey them on the airplane.
Scotland has a fame as having clear water, however I’ve at all times filtered mine. Many of the countryside is given over to elevating livestock, be it deer, cows, or sheep. I’ve seen lifeless deer in streams in spring, killed by the winter, so I’d simply assume filter the water I drink from them.
I’ll be utilizing the Platypus QuickDraw filter with gentle Platy Bottles for batch and bulk water filtration Water is so plentiful you not often want to hold a lot. I’ll additionally convey Katadyn MicroPur chlorine dioxide tablets as backup in case my filter craps out and to purify bigger batches in a single day. This isn’t strictly needed, nevertheless it’s an previous behavior.
I’ll even be carrying a 32 ouncesUltralite Nalgene bottle so I can drink sizzling tea whereas I eat breakfast out of my cookpot. I wish to drink a number of tea within the morning! Espresso’s a problem to make, however tea is straightforward.
Clothes Carried
Suppose wind, rain, some snow up excessive, and hypothermia circumstances. I’ve additionally packed in somewhat redundancy, like further pairs of socks and underwear, since I’ve discovered from prior journeys that these are very troublesome to switch for those who blow them out within the distant a part of Scotland. Like unattainable. The remainder of my garments are a fairly customary load for mountaineering in moist and windy mountainous terrain, just like the Appalachian Path or New England, with a lot of skinny layers that may be mixed in several methods.
Lyme illness has turn out to be an actual drawback in Scotland prior to now decade and it pays to be further cautious about it. A few of my clothes is Insect Defend handled, which is an industrial utility of an insecticide referred to as Permethrin, which is protected to make use of on clothes. The remainder, I’ll spray or soak with Sawyer Permethrin shortly earlier than leaving to fly to Scotland. Should you apply it your self, it’s solely efficient for about 6 weeks.
A windshirt or windbreaker is important for Scotland since it’s so windy, and I’ll be utilizing the Enlightened Gear Copperfield because it has an adjustable hood. Non-adjustable hoods flap loudly, maddeningly so, and are to be prevented in my expertise. I’m additionally bringing a Cocoon Polarguard Vest which is certainly one of my oldest mountaineering clothes, happening 15 years previous, as an lively insulation piece. I’ve been utilizing it lots this previous winter, underneath a windshirt or shell, and it offers a lot of further heat with little or no further weight.
First Support Package
I pack my first support equipment in a Hyperlight Mountain Gear Pack Pod which makes it straightforward to search out what I would like. They make nice toiletry luggage for enterprise journeys too!
I’ve been packing extra first support provides this previous yr than ever, partially as a result of I’ve been main some hikes for an area mountaineering membership and it’s required. That’s rubbed off on my private equipment, which has grown to eight oz. It contains pre-cut strips of Leukotape caught to launch paper, Band-aid Hydro-seal bandages, the standard assortment of capsules and potions, a tick-removal equipment, security pins, an assortment of bandaids, N95 masks, and nitrile gloves. The latter so I may help others who want help with out contracting one thing nasty.
Clothes Worn
I’ll be sporting pants, socks, shirts, gaiters, fingerless gloves, and a hat which have been handled with Insect Defend or Permethrin, which is an insecticide that kills ticks and different bugs. I’ve been sporting mountaineering garments like this for over 15 years and stayed Lyme-free all through.
It’s additionally value explaining my footwear choice – mesh La Sportiva Wildcat Path Runners. Scotland is so moist and it’s important to ford so many streams and rivers, that many hikers put on mesh path runners as a result of they drain rapidly and supply good traction. I don’t even trouble to take my sneakers off in Scotland when I’ve to ford a stream: I simply stroll proper by. The draw back of that is that the stream grit is very abrasive to socks. However sporting Darn Powerful socks is an effective solution to mitigate the problem as a result of they’re thick, sturdy, and may stand as much as excessive abuse.
Backpacking in Scotland 101: The fast and soiled
I’ve backpacked twice throughout Scotland beforehand and spent a substantial period of time residing within the nation, so I do know the ropes, though it wouldn’t be an journey if there weren’t surprises. Right here’s a fast and soiled synopsis of mountaineering circumstances within the nation for those who aspire to hike certainly one of its many long-distance trails or take part within the annual TGO Problem. That is extremely summarized.
- Scotland is moist. It rains lots. There are quite a few stream crossings, far too many to take your sneakers off each time.
- The abundance of water means you don’t have to hold a lot consuming water
- Scotland is windy. There are only a few bushes. The vegetation consists largely of heather and grasses. The wind and rain might be nasty to stroll in. Rain gear isn’t non-obligatory.
- The climate will get milder in Could as you head east.
- Temperatures might be in all places in Could. It’s normally above freezing, though not by a lot. Good hypothermia climate, as they are saying.
- Scotland has many paths. Few are maintained. Signage might be sparse.
- Public entry legal guidelines allow you to stroll and camp wherever, even on non-public land. This makes it doable to hike cross-country routes by seldom-traveled areas.
- 90% of the land is owned by giant non-public estates. The estates elevate herds of deer as a money “crop” and host looking events for individuals who need to rating a trophy. A lot of this land is fenced, however there are gates and kinds to cross by them. A few of the fences are electrical which isn’t so good.
- Scotland has mountains. Numerous mountains with valleys, lakes, and rivers in between.
- Scotland may be very sparsely populated. There are only a few resupply factors once you go away the bigger cities.
- There aren’t any giant animals to concern. You possibly can sleep along with your meals and prepare dinner in your tent.
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