Picture of Nigel on top of Helvellyn
Lightweight Camping Equipment is for those of you who like me, are starting to get on in years, or, are perhaps younger and fitter who want to move more quickly when on the hill. As it says above the top picture, it was taken on top of Helvellyn. But there’s more to the story.
I work in a local school and help out with the students wanting to go on Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions. I help train them and in May 2010 became an accredited assessor right up to Gold level. Three years ago we were in the Lake District with both Silver and Gold expeditions. I had volunteered to wild camp at Grisedale Tarn to be there when the Golds were there one night and Silvers the following night. I was dropped off by another member of staff who commented that my rucksack looked to be heavy. I agreed that it was and was asked why it should weigh so much, did I have water in it? Yes, I’ve got two litres of water and three of a nice Australian red. Well, I was going to be up there two nights! When the Golds arrived at the check point by the road we all set off up to the tarn. As they had been walking a couple of days and I was fresh, I started to leave them behind. When I got to the camping area near the stream that comes out of that small lake I had first pick of sites. I chose one that was big enough for my Vango Tempest 200 that my daughters had bought me for my birthday. My pitch was sited so that the youngsters would have enough room to gaggle together when they arrived.
Here’s a picture looking over the tent towards Deepdale.
I had my tent up and a brew on as the youngsters arrived. I wandered round with my tea as I watched them getting settled in and starting to cook their evening meal. I went back to my tent, got out a glass and took a sip of that red as I set up my stove and started cooking my army boil in the bag Lancashire Hotpot. Once the stove was on, I stood looking at the scenery enjoying my glass of wine. I was even able to get a signal on my mobile and phone my wife at home so that I could tell her what I was doing. Phone conversation over, I noticed that my water was boiling. I tested the contents of the foil pouch and found them to be hot enough. I sat on a rock near my tent, ate my meal, drank my wine and admired the scenery. Life doesn’t get much better than that.
The following morning it was heaving it down with rain when I woke up and put a brew on. I went the stream, washed and shaved and made some tea after taking my boil in the bag breakfast out of the pan. I ate in my tent where it was dry, did the little washing up I had produced and went to see how the troops were doing. They had everything under control so I got back in the dry. It was about 8:30 when they were ready to leave and I was on my second breakfast when Richard said they were going. I poked my head out to confirm that it was raining and bid them a fond farewell.
It stopped raining not long after the Gold group had left and I decided to go for a stroll and take some pictures before going to the top of Helvellyn to meet the Silvers as they came through. I just had a small 20 litre rucksack with my wet weather hear, some water and a pack of rice pudding with me as I intended to replenish before going to the top. However it was not to be. I was on the upper ridge when I got a phone call asking if I could be at the top for one ‘o’ clock. No problem, I was nearly there so meandered along to where the stone wall forms a cross from protection from the weather. For a July day, it was bitter up there. I sat down away form the wind but put my pullover on. Then my waterproofs and I eventually ended up getting into my bivi bag as I got colder. I thought a few calories might help and so I ate the rice pudding. Very tasty. The weather grew a bit brighter so I got up and started walking up and down the pathways on the mountain top. I was up here six hours before the one and only group came through. I got one of them to take the picture of me before I legged it back down the hill to get some food inside me. And some red wine.
I suppose I had better write a bit about Lightweight Camping Equipment as that is what the site is about. The old Vango Tempest 200 weighed about six pounds and has just about enough room for two people as long as they are friendly. There’s plenty of room for just me. It is very easy to pitch. With the two main hoops and little extra one at the front in place and four pegs in the ground it will stay up very well if there is not much weather. The inner can either be put in once the outer is up, or, it can already be attached and just drop down from the outer. As you can see from the pictures, I guyed my tent because it was a bit breezy and it rained at times. The tent is well made for the price and has never let any water in, from above. I did get wet once when we had to pitch in some wetlands and it rained turning the swamp into a puddle. Overall I would give Vango’s tunnel tents a thumbs up.
