Gear and Other Bits and Bobs

Kit and other Bits and Pieces These next few pages describe the kit that I used on this year's Challenge. This is my kit list; just bear in mind there were two of us sharing the load!

The list isn't a a true reflection of weight carried as it excludes both food and water. I made three advance food drops this year, sending parcels to Fort Augustus, Glen Truim and Braemar campsites. This system is very reliable and well-worth doing. For most of the walk the most we carried was three days of food, with one spare meal. At Braemar we picked up food for five days, the most we carried. we didn't need five days food, of course, but I like to plan for every eventuality, potential change of route, etc.

There are no weights here (as yet). I'll put up a proper kit list with weights shortly.

Finally, please note that these are not a recommendation for everyone to follow. This is my list. It comprises of gear that I've used many times before and that I'm comfortable with. Walking with a second person also influences what you take.

My base weight was pretty low, although not super light weight.

If any of this kit catches your imagination, then by all means try it out. But do it well in advance of the Challenge itself.

The Challenge is not the place to start experimenting for the first time. You may think that the ascent and distance figures are quite acceptable and within your capabilities. And they probably will be. But Scotland is hard in other ways, not least the way it often provides you with four or five days of walking through peat bogs. Scottish peat bogs can exist at any height and can have forty five degree inclines!