Just finished chatting to our Bob on the phone. As always there were lots of completely useless things to talk about, but some interesting ones at that.

First off, backpackinglight.co.uk are improving the website. You can see the first fruits of this online at the moment but the work isn’t finished yet. Apparently much of it is ‘beneath the hood’ but should give us a better service. But the website already looks better.

Secondly, there was a gear angle (of course). Bob was out last night — camping on the hills so that you could have the benefit of his first hand experience. He was very taken by a new tent from Vaude I think it was, a solo tent weighing 1 kilogram which Bob thought was far superior to the Laser Competition. I didn’t quite catch the model name but no doubt Bob will appear to fill out the details.

And then there were the podcasts. I think it is safe to say that we are creaking towards something of a new season and — I believe — the first of the new season approaches. We did discuss various tactics for Challenge podcasting, especially as there might only be me doing it. I think our various tactics mean that will have something to share with you after May — so you can all stop badgering me about it now!

(Of course, if you’re one of the people that run the other way in case I badger you. Sorry, but we have our public you know …)

A few times today I’ve mentioned Colin’s new adventure in relation to him giving up his place on the TGO Challenge (to me of course!) However, the real story is Colin’s adventure and so I thought I should devote a bit more time to this. I’m hoping — over the next few weeks — Colin will be able to come and hear and write some guest posts, about his planning and preparation. There will also — of course — be a podcast interview at some point.

Colin is a lucky fellow. He’s also very modest. Colin’s employer (for good reasons) has realised that there is nothing for Colin to do for some time and so — knowing of Colin’s fondness for trekking— suggested to him that he might like to take 8 weeks in which to trek. I shan’t comment on that except to say that Colin may or may not choose to elaborate on this. But anyhow he has a wonderful opportunity.

A few days ago excited text messages began to appear. If you had eight weeks, starting inApril, where would you choose to go? This is not really that easy. For example, most high mountain ranges in Europe are not open then. we swapped ideas about the SW Coastal Path and other home-grown option. But then it occurred to me that Colin might be able to tackle the Arizona Trail in this time. The only person I know who has done this is Chris Townsend — and he wrote a very good book about it! Quick as a flash Colin was on to Chris who set to work encouraging Colin. And before we knew it Colin had booked the flights was entering planning phase.

I must admit to being very jealous. This looks like a wonderful trail to take. It is a bit more developed than when Chris tackled it, but not much. Big chunks of it are not yet finished!

Needless to say, Colin is very excited by it all. I shall be giving him blog access here in the hope that he can capture some of the excitement of the planning phase. However, I shall strive to relay some of the planning excitement here over the coming weeks.

This is a long trek in quite challenging weather; Colin will be tackling this later in the year than Chris, so it will be hotter and more hostile. Will Colin be going lightweight? Of course he will! He has already designed a heavy load version of the skins backpack, knocked up a prototype last weekend and will be testing this weekend. Most nights he will be sleeping under open skies in his bivy and when he needs a shelter he will be taking his home made 2010 tarp.

Did I say Colin was a lucky chap? Anyhow, here are some resources to get into the groove so that we can all send out good vibes to Colin in his planning phase.

I talked to Chris Townsend about his Arizona trip a couple of years ago. This was produced as an Outdoor Station Podcast but it does have all kinds of music on it, so I have made a clean version available here. This is Chris and I talking about the book the Arizona Trail as well as the journey. It was conducted over the phone lines which is never really that satisfactory and it takes us a while to get going — but it is well worth a listen.

The blog review of Crossing Arizona, by Chris Townsend is here.

The Arizona Trail Association website is here.

And the audio interview can be heard (or downloaded) here:

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

UK residents of a certain age will remember Blue Peter. The programme used to specialise on reports that allowed us to follow major expeditions. Perhaps, we can capture some of this here? We’ll see if Colin can talk to us a little about preparation. And maybe, we can get the odd report back while he is on the trail.

It will be a great trip. Have a mentioned that I am very jealous?

How does an ultralight hiker keep his hands and feet warm, especially when he is walking right through a Scottish winter?
For his latest feature, Colin Ibbotson, is contemplating his fingers and toes!

Extremeties

Colin promises more soon:

The skins project has ballooned but will be finished in the next few weeks. My TGO pack will weigh in at 80g! Waterproof trousers are well tested and ready for the final build. Just started testing a Paramo style jacket that should be under 400g which I hope to have that finished for the Challenge. Next years projects will be the completion of the waterproofs and I’ve just designed a new type of sleeping bag/quilt specifically for side/front sleepers so another busy year!

Can’t wait!

Thanks to Sally and John “The Squire” Dodwell for hosting a lovely reunion evening on Saturday.

Back Row: Chris Yapp, Ron Reynolds, Brian Hill, Bob Phillips and Andy Howell
Front Row: John Dodwell, Kate Foley, Caburn Chamberlain, Sally Dodwell, Rose Cartwright and Bob Cartwright

Yes, this is Caburn coming to dinner (he did have an exuse, e cycled …)

Tony and Sandra missed the group shot.

Ron and Bob

The Good Squire

Cartwright in the style he expects as a norm …

Chris Yapp

Such dedication to the photo cause …

Today marks a new era in UK lightweight backpacking. It is the day when the latest US trend finally take root in the UK. What am I talking about? Packrafting.

Packrafts are (relatively) lightweight, inflatable, personal boat/dinghy thingies. The idea is that you can carry them in your pack and then use them for navigating rivers and difficult waterways.

Both Colin Ibbotson and Phil Turner have now got their packrafts and this weekend they are off to the Cairngorms to play with them. Yes I know it’s cold out there but there’s no accounting for taste! Colin’s idea is to ‘drift’ down the Spey and back to the coast where he is based.

This morning I’ve had a little trickle of emails — Colin is running late and had forgotten Phil’s mobile number. But he also tells me that he still has no valve for the raft! No doubt there is some Ibbo-designed bit of improvisation designed to keep the thing afloat. And, he tells me, the water is really cold.

I have demanded a full report with photos. I think we all need to know what all of this is about.

Here is a little video that gives you the idea!

Alpacka Packrafts — the Scout (Colin and Phil’ model)

One cleaning out my inbox today I found an email from Colin from the wonderful Stockport Walking Group. Colin was clearly responding to my blog announcing Bob and Andy’s return to Pembrokeshire. There was a question of Bob trying to catch our tea. I commented — thinking of previous experiences — that I’d probably die of hunger.

Colin sent me this photo, to prove to Bob just what can be caught in an hour. This little lot was caught off Peel Harbour on the Isle of Man!

There you go Bob. Some challenge

It was so hot this poor calf was having to take shelter!

A pair of Duomids in the Highlands!

A real man’s lunch — nan, sausage and cheese from a tube!

You can never accuse Cameron McNeish of being slow off the mark. Following my review of the Sutherland Trail book though the post has come the DVD of the original TV programme, plus the TGO Challenge DVD and one of the Wild Walk series. I won’t get around to watching these until later in the week but reviews will follow asap.

There was an interesting programme on BB4 last night, Nick Crane (the Map Man) looking at the life of Dr. Munro the man who started off this whole bagging thing. Actually, it was probably the good Doctor Robertson that started the bagging. Robertson seemed to be bonkers, but then most bagger are!

You can see it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mwgyq

Thanks to Des for the link.

Well worth watching.

Another new Scandinavian blog has been launched that is worth having a look at. It also has one of the slickest names, for those of you who like the work of Milan Kundera.

To start, Gustav Boström has focussed on the Bushbuddy stove with a series of really very helpful posts, including one on using the stove above the tree line. But the blog will not just be about stoves.

“How light can we go without being crushed by the heavyweight reality? Thoughts on lightweight backpacking and software engineering”

Gustav promises thoughtful quality rather than regularity so it might be worth linking to his XML feed.

http://thebearablelightness.blogspot.com/