Blogging the TGO Challenge 2015

All on my own on St Cyrus Beach 9.45 am Wednesday 20 March 2015

This was my third TGO Challenge.  In previous years I have written blog posts about my experiences, describing my day-by-day journey across Scotland.  In common with several other Challenger bloggers I am going to try a different approach this year, and do some thematic posts. I have no idea how they will turn out, but first thoughts are that I will do a post about each of the following:

Route - Strathcarron to Johnshaven (planned) or St Cyrus (actual), with one or two specifics that might help others who follow any sections of this, such as OS grid references for deer gates, wonky bridges, non-existent paths,new motorways to the wind turbines, etc.

Wining, dining and sleeping – wild camps, pubs, cafes and the like

Fellow challengers – get your libel lawyers ready folks,   although I may anonymise these comments by using initials so that readers cannot possibly work out who they are. You know, things like "Professor IS", "Croydon Mick" or some such. 

Gear used and abused

Personal reflections

So, the next post will feature my route. Probably.

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Grand Gear Sale

I am selling off an eclectic mix of gear which I no longer need. Some is hardly used, whilst some is years old.  Prices of items available range from £2 to £85! It is all accurately described below, and the reasons for sale are included.  If you are interested in purchasing, or if you have any queries please contact me via the contact form on this blog or via Twitter (@Fellbound).

I will be donating 10% of all profits to Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.

Summary of items (details below)
Lightwave Ultrahike 60 litres pack - current model, used four days SOLD

Karrimor Hot 45 Rucksack (an oldie but goodie)
Berghaus Freeflow Day Pack (a moderate oldie) SOLD

Vaude Triset 15 Day Pack (brand new, with labels) SOLD

Osprey Chest Pack / Bum Bag (used once)  SOLD

Everlight Ultralight Titanium Pot (hardly used) SOLD

Primus 3279 Gravity II EF remote cylinder gas stove (used on one trip)
Caldera Cone and meths burner (hardly used) SOLD

Titanium knife, fork, spoon set (used one trip) SOLD

Dehydrated meals  SOLD

Sealskinz Socks (used once) SOLD

Sealskinz Gloves (used once)
Lifeventure Treking Towel (brand new) SOLD
Selection of dry bags


Detail

Lightwave Ultrahike Pack  SOLD
Backlength M3 (ie long for taller folk up to height 6ft 2inches)
60 litre capacity
Weight approx 1.25kg

This is a superb pack, highy rated by Chris Townsend who, I think, used it on his Scottish Watershed walk.  Many of the seams are taped or welded so it's got much better water resistance than many packs on the market.  It has an excellent back system and has a good size lid pocket (claimed to be waterproof by manufacturer although I would never rely on such claims), two treking pole/ice axe loops, side mesh pockets and side compression system.

Purchased at the start of 2014, I have only used this pack for four days and it is in excellent condition. So why am I selling? At just over 6 ft 3inches I am too tall for the hip belt to sit perfectly on my hips and I have replaced it with a custom made longer pack.

I paid about £140 for this and given the newness / condition / lack of use I would accept £85 plus p and p. (I'm checking best way of sending this and will discuss with potential purchaser).

Karrimor Hot 45 Rucksack 



Buy yourself some history!  This is a basic, medium volume, one compartment, heavy duty sack with a good sized lid pocket.  I used to use it to carry my climbing gear to the crag back in the 1990s. It's not been out of a garage or the loft for the last 15 years. Whilst old it is still very serviceable. Some deterioration to the lamination on the internal closure collar. Back slightly dirty.

£15 + p and p (estimated £10, to be confirmed).

Berghaus Freeflow 35+8 Day Pack SOLD



An older model Freeflow day pack. Whilst it is a few years old (7/8?) now, it is in very good condition and hasn't been used for the last 3 or 4 years.

£15 + £5 p and p.


Vaude Triset 15 Day Pack SOLD

 
This is brand new, still with label attached. A nice little summer day pack that would also be suitable for outings in town or as a school bag. Unneeded gift.

£12.00 + £5.00 p and p.

Osprey Chest Bag  SOLD

 

This can be used as either a bum bag or small chest pack.  It's designed to fit to Osprey packs but I believe it would fit many other makes (eg it fits the Lightwave pack advertised above). Comprises one subdivided, zipped main compartment and an outer mesh pocket.  Smallish capacity - will take things like your snacks, compass, hat or gloves. I only used it once as, quite frankly, I decided I didn't like a chest bag.

£5.00 + £3.00 p and p.

Evernew Ultralight Titanium Pot   SOLD
1.3 litres capacity, Evernew model: ECA-253


Evernew pots are widely regarded as the bees knees! This has only been used a couple of times.  I'm selling it as I usually use a smaller Evernew pot.  This one is big enough for two people but at approx.135 gr is still light enough for one.  Comes with the Evernew mesh stuff sack. Very slight, normal discolouration to base from its use with a meths burner.

New these cost £58.99.  I will accept £30 + £3.00 p and p.



Primus 3279 Gravity II EF Gas Stove
With piezo ignition


A stable gas stove, with a pre-heating coil.  Relatively light (stove weighs c270 gr) for a remote cylinder stove, with stuff sack. It's only been used a couple of times.  I bought for cold weather backpacking but do not do enough of this to justify its retention as I have other stoves.

New they cost about £60.  Will accept £25 + £3.00 p and p.

Trail Designs Caldera Cone and 12-10 Alcohol (Meths) Stove  SOLD

Suitable for Evernew 0.9 litre (ECA-252) pot or Vargo 0.9 litre
Comes with instructions, caddy, meths measuring cup and meths holder (meths NOT included).

The Caldera Cone is regarded as one of the most efficient ways of using a meths stove, combining a pot stand and excellent wind shield. The burner and cone weigh about 60 gr. I have a titanium version of this cone and so no longer need this one.
 

Price new is about £39. Selling for £10 + £3.00 p and p.

Lifeventure Titanium Knife Fork and Spoon Set SOLD
In a carrying pouch.

Used once on a teenager's D of E Expedition and surplus to requirements.
£2.00 + £3.00 p and p.
 

Dehydrated Meals SOLD

As pictured. Both best before some time in 2017. Personally, I'd rather eat dog vomit, but we all have different tastes :-)

These would retail at about £11.00 for both.  Selling both meals together for £2.00 + £3.00 p and p. 

Sealskinz Socks (Used once) SOLD

Large (?) size. They fit about shoe size 9 to 11.

I wore once and hated them. Others swear by them.

(£2.00 + £3.00 p and p).

Sealskinz Gloves (Used once)
XL, medium warmth rating.
They didn't work for me but, as with Sealskinz socks, some swear by them.

£5.00 + £3.00 p and p.

Lifeventure Giant Trek Towel (brand new, unused) SOLD

Unwanted gift. Never used. With stuff sack. In a tasteful shade of dog shit brown. But hey, it still works as a towel!

£4.00 + £3.00 p and p.

Three Dry Bags
Three fairly heavy duty, black dry bags. Two by Trekmates (sized XL and L).  One further heavy duty bag by unknown manufacturer (approx 50X30cm). All unneeded and almost unused. Would be good for lining day sacks, for backpacking (subject to weight) or simply for storing gear.

£4.00 for all three + £3.00 p and p.

TGO Challenge 2015 Gear

 

Not on my gear list - but the Tipsy Laird at Kingussie features on my route plan

Well it's a bit disappointing.  Are this year's TGO Challengers being less anal than in previous years? Either I have missed them or there has been a remarkable absence of gear lists being published on the Internet Thingy Me Bob.

Well I can still stick my head up my backside and put a spreadsheet together so here is my offering.  I have just about finalised what I am taking, but there are one or two possible changes that I will decide upon at the very last moment when the likely weather may be slightly clearer.  The middle column headed "additional weight" shows the impact these changes would make on my base weight.

I will almost certainly go with a pack and shelter that I have used on the Challenge in previous years, both of which have performed brilliantly, although they do add additional weight.  The Scarp 1 is a superb shelter; the ULA Catalyst is an extremely comfortable carry and has bags of room so packing up each morning is that much easier, especially when it's peeing down.

It will be my third Challenge and I seem to have managed to reduce my base weight by 1 kg per year.

TGOC 2015 Kit list
Item	Pack (grams)	Additional Weight (grams)	Worn/Non-Pack (grams)
Pack
ULA Catalyst + Lowe Alpine Pack Cover	1530
Z Packs Arc Blast		-940
Z Packs CF Pack Liner	54
Shelter and Sleeping
Scarp 1	1455
Z Packs Duplex		-770
Tent pegs	250
Tent J Cloth	12
Sleeping Bag Z Packs 20 Degree	660
Silk Sleeping Bag Liner		116
Sleep Socks - Down Socks	60
Rab Meco Long Johns	148
Rohan Ultralite trousers instead of above		68
Exped Pillow	76
Neo Air X lite (large)	448
Tyvek small footprint	100
Cook set:	410
MSR Micro rocket, windshield, canister stand
Evernew 0.9 litre pot
Evernew 0.4 litre mug
Long spoon (Titanium)
Lighter and Petzl Sparker
Classic Swiss Army Knife
Water Purifying Tabs
J Cloth
Water Kit in cf stuff sack:	181
Water Container Platypus 2 litre
Water Container Platypus 1 litre
Sawyer Water Filter + medium pouch
Health and Hygiene
First Aid Kit:-	290
First Aid Kit Dry Bag
Elasticated knee bandage
Tick remover
Safety Pins
Scissors
Sudacreme
Plasters and compeed
Wound Dressings
Micropore tape
Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Imodium
Hay fever tablets
Gehwol Foot Cream
Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel
Sunscreen (add if good forecast!)	0
Wash Kit in Exped Dry Bag:-	358
Zip Lock Bag
Toothbrush and Paste
Comb
Dr Bronner's
Deodorant
Towel - Lightload Mini *3
Contact lenses
Toilet Roll
Hand Sanitizer
Lighter
Ear plugs
Tissues
Reading glasses in case	107
Navigation
Silva Compass	40
Ortilieb map case + Map			80
Ortilieb A4 Case + Map printouts + 2 maps	340
Galaxy 3 Smartphone / GPS			156
Spare Batteries for phone	78
Phone Case			60
Phone Charger	45
Repair kit in cf bag:-	63
Dyneema Cord
Duck Tape
Batteries *3 (watch and headtorch)
Neoair Puncture Kit
Shock Cord
Tenacious Tape / cf tape
Accessories:-
Multimat foam sit mat	42
Whistle	15
Headtorch - Petzl e lite	30
Midge head net	50
P Bottle	62
Notebook and pen			52
Watch - Suunto Core			64
Camera - Lumix DMC TZ60 + case and spare battery			400
Wallet	100
Rail tickets	10
Pacer Poles - Alloy			650
Clothes
Trail Shoes Inov8 Terroc 330s			820
Gaiters - Integral design e-vent			68
Pants Helly Hansen Boxers (2 pairs)	88		88
X Socks Exped (2 pairs)	62		62
Trousers - Montane Terra			357
Hi Tec Zuuc Shoes	450
Rohan Merino Shirt			286
Paramo Katmai Shirt	250
Hagloffs thin zip up fleece			365
Montane Prism Gillet			284
Berghaus Fleece Beenie			42
Buff	38
Windshirt - Montane Litespeed			204
Liner socks - Rohan	25
PhD Minimus Down Jacket + Hood	478
ME Gloves			60
Silk Liner Gloves - Lowe   Alpine	30
Waterproof Overmitts			41
Z Packs Challenger Jacket	180
Berghaus Paclite Jacket		350
Berghaus Paclite Overtrousers	250
Total Base Carried	8865	-1176
Total Worn			4139
Food, Drink and Fuel
Gas	380
Food for two and a half days	1500
Dehydrated main meals *2
Soups*2
Tea bags*12
Drink choc*2
Condensed milk - tube
Instant porridge*2
Cereal bars*7
Chocolate*lots
Primula and wraps
Plastic Food Bags
Hip Flask + contents	400
0.5 litre water bottle	520
Total Food and Water	2800
Total Pack Weight	11665		4139