I’ll be climbing coast-to-coast all via Scotland in just a few weeks for the third time contained in the annual TGO Draw back. This typically is a non-competitive occasion the place backpackers, known as Challengers, have 15 days to hike from the west coast to the east coast. To make factors attention-grabbing, all folks defines the route they need to hike, with the objective of climbing as many mountains as they could or seeing as many sights as attainable alongside among the best methods. The objective is to not end prior to it is important to, nonetheless to pack in as many experiences because it’s attainable you will between the beginning and the tip.
I’ll be beginning in Oban on the west coast and may likely be climbing to Montrose on the east coast, following a further southerly route than on my earlier crossings to expertise some new areas of the nation. I’ll preserve in two inns alongside my route, two campgrounds, and spend eleven nights wild tenting alongside among the best methods.
Route Plan
My route is 202 miles (326 km) extended and has lots of dramatic ridge walks, excessive peak climbs, and miles of off-trail journey which is likely to be all challenges that I profit from. I’ll be climbing it solo as quickly as additional, which I did the primary time I hiked all via Scotland in 2010, and I’m moderately trying ahead to that. I’m certain I’ll run into completely totally different Challengers as we crisscross the countryside, significantly in week two when folks’s routes start to converge on the east coast open air of Montrose, the place all folks has to signal out and formally end.
Gear File Abstract
This gear itemizing comes out at barely beneath 15 lbs which is 1-2 lbs heavier than what I carry throughout the US contained in the spring, summer time season season, and fall. I’ve discovered on earlier journeys to Scotland you presumably can expertise all 4 seasons in a day, so I’ve added only a bit bit further clothes and insulation for these occasions when the native climate is crap. Scotland is likely to be fairly laborious on gear and it’s fairly highly effective to interchange optimistic gadgets inside an reasonably priced timeframe throughout the event that they break or get destroyed, like socks and underwear. Been there. Accomplished that. This isn’t my first rodeo
Packing
I plan to convey my trusty Zpacks Arc Haul 60 on account of I’ve discovered that I would like carrying a ventilated backpack with a suspended mesh as soon as extra panel. Whereas the Arc haul is made with Terribly, which is waterproof, I nonetheless line the inside with a water-resistant stuff sack, the 42L Exped Schnozzel, which serves double obligation as my sleeping pad inflation sack. I furthermore use a Hyperlight Mountain Gear Shoulder Pocket to carry my iPhone, which serves as my GPS and digital digicam.
The biggest and heaviest load I’ll have to hold will likely be popping out of Blair Atholl after the half-way diploma of my journey, after I’ll be carrying 7 days of meals and my full pack weight will likely be about 30 kilos. That’s merely manageable by the Arc Haul, nonetheless being meals, I’ll shortly eat all of it one of the best ways all the way in which right down to a further manageable weight prior to I get into the rougher nation close to the tip 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 contemplate to take a DCF Durston X-Mid-Expert 1, nonetheless I made a decision I wanted a tent that was going to be simpler to pitch in Scotland’s windy native climate, considerably on account of I need to do just a few excessive camps on mountain summits. It takes only a bit effort to safe an X-Mid-Expert-1 in excessive wind and I made a decision I wanted a tent that didn’t require as relatively so much babysitting.
This was a tough choice to make on account of I truly like utilizing the X-Mid contained in the Northeastern US and ponder it my go-to backpacking tent. I obtained proper right here to this conclusion by working within the route of pitching the X-Mid-Expert 1 in New Hampshire and Vermont in 30+ mph wind, orienting a nook into the wind, utilizing further guylines, and 12 stakes. I merely wasn’t wowed by the tip end result.There’s furthermore the difficulty that the X-Mid-Expert 1 is a single-wall tent, which has its drawbacks (inside condensation) in very damp Scotland.
I furthermore strongly thought-about bringing my double wall, silpoly X-Mid-1 instead, nonetheless in the long run, I made a decision I’d moderately have a tent with relatively so much decrease profile partitions, with a smaller pitching footprint, and one which typically is a double wall tent. The plain selection 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 up the load down.
The Notch Li isn’t an excellent reply on account of it has carbon fiber struts that make it unattainable to pack horizontally in some backpacks, together with the Arc Haul. Nonetheless I can lash it to the side of my backpack since I don’t want each side bottle pockets in Scotland to hold water, on account of it’s so considerable.
I’ve used the remainder of my sleep system in Scotland beforehand when climbing the Cape Wrath Path in 2019, and it’s totally fitted to Might situations. The Feathered Mates Tanager is a 20 diploma hoodless sleeping bag that weighs lower than most quilts. I enhance with a down hoody and the mixture retains me toasty.
Workplace
The workplace is the brains of this operation and encompasses navigation, communications, footage, lighting, and vitality. I’m a compass particular particular person at coronary coronary coronary heart and much need to make use of 1 to look at a bearing than an app. One in every of many good factors about Scotland is that the present declination is just -1.15 ranges, so that you just don’t should translate between magnetic north and true north over quick distances. Likelihood is you will merely diploma your compass and begin strolling.
Whereas I used the OS Maps app to plan my route and would possibly use it for on-the-ground navigation, you will want to carry paper maps in Scotland in case your cellphone dies in some other case you run out of vitality. It’s a very unpopulated place and likewise you need to be self-sufficient if the shit hits the fan. The UK’s paper maps, known as OS LandRanger Maps (1:50,000), are cumbersome and type of a ache contained in the ass to hold. Nonetheless they’re very top quality and a considerable quantity of pleasing to make the most of with a compass. I’m trying ahead to this side of the journey very relatively so much. That talked about, they add over a pound to my pack weight.
I carry a Garmin inReach Mini2, so my family members can monitor my progress on a web-based primarily based map, which they profit from doing on my longer hikes. I primarily ship preset messages, nonetheless with the power to converse with advert hoc typed messages is maybe useful. I preserve the monitoring perform off to protect battery life. They’ve an in depth plan of my route which they may current to mountain rescue if I am going lacking or have fallen unconscious and may’t verify in.
Though I exploit them sparingly, all of my digital gadgets use vitality. That is the explanation I upgraded to a Nitecore NB20000 mAh vitality financial institution for this hike. I don’t have many metropolis stops the place I can recharge an have an effect on financial institution, so I wanted the additional performance. I furthermore acquired myself an space UK Fast Charging unit to recharge the power financial institution, moderately than fussing with a worldwide adapter. It’s pretty a bit lighter weight too.
Kitchen and Water
I’ll be bringing the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Fluctuate. The Pocket Rocket Deluxe is a sturdy and wind-resistant isobutane differ that’s applicable with all screw-on canisters. I’ve a neighborhood pal who’s assembly me in Oban with gasoline canisters since I can’t convey them on the airplane.
Scotland has a standing as having clear water, nonetheless I’ve all the time filtered mine. Plenty of the countryside is given over to elevating livestock, be it deer, cows, or sheep. I’ve seen ineffective deer in streams in spring, killed by the winter, so I’d merely assume filter the water I drink from them.
I’ll be utilizing the Platypus QuickDraw filter with delicate Platy Bottles for batch and bulk water filtration Water is so plentiful you hardly ever want to preserve relatively so much. I’ll furthermore 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 compulsory, nonetheless it’s an outdated conduct.
I’ll even be carrying a 32 ozUltralite Nalgene bottle so I can drink scorching tea whereas I eat breakfast out of my cookpot. I need to drink fairly a number of tea contained in the morning! Espresso’s a problem to make, nonetheless tea is simple.
Clothes Carried
Suppose wind, rain, some snow up excessive, and hypothermia situations. I’ve furthermore packed in only a bit redundancy, like further pairs of socks and underwear, since I’ve discovered from prior journeys that these are very highly effective to interchange everytime you blow them out contained in the distant a part of Scotland. Like unattainable. The remainder of my garments are a fairly common load for climbing in moist and windy mountainous terrain, much like the Appalachian Path or New England, with lots of skinny layers that could possibly be blended in fairly a number of methods.
Lyme illness has flip into an exact draw again in Scotland up to now decade and it pays to be further cautious about it. Only a few of my clothes is Insect Defend handled, which is an industrial utility of an insecticide known as Permethrin, which is secure to make the most of on clothes. The remaining, I’ll spray or soak with Sawyer Permethrin shortly prior to leaving to fly to Scotland. When you apply it your self, it’s solely setting pleasant for about 6 weeks.
A windshirt or windbreaker is necessary for Scotland since it’s so windy, and I’ll be utilizing the Enlightened Devices Copperfield on account of it has an adjustable hood. Non-adjustable hoods flap loudly, maddeningly so, and are to be averted in my expertise. I’m furthermore bringing a Cocoon Polarguard Vest which is one amongst my oldest climbing clothes, occurring 15 years outdated, as an full of life insulation piece. I’ve been utilizing it pretty a bit this earlier winter, beneath a windshirt or shell, and it supplies lots of further heat with little or no further weight.
First Help Instruments
I pack my first assist instruments in a Hyperlight Mountain Gear Pack Pod which makes it straightforward to hunt out what I want. They make good toiletry baggage for enterprise journeys too!
I’ve been packing further first assist provides this earlier yr than ever, partly on account of I’ve been predominant some hikes for a neighborhood climbing membership and it’s required. That’s rubbed off on my private instruments, which has grown to eight oz. It accommodates pre-cut strips of Leukotape caught to launch paper, Band-aid Hydro-seal bandages, the an identical outdated assortment of medicine and potions, a tick-removal instruments, security pins, an assortment of bandaids, N95 masks, and nitrile gloves. The latter so I may also help others who want help with out contracting one issue nasty.
Clothes Worn
I’ll be carrying 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 completely totally different bugs. I’ve been carrying climbing garments like this for over 15 years and stayed Lyme-free all by.
It’s furthermore worth explaining my footwear choice – mesh La Sportiva Wildcat Path Runners. Scotland is so moist and it is important to ford so many streams and rivers, that many hikers positioned on mesh path runners on account of they drain shortly and supply good traction. I don’t even hassle to take my sneakers off in Scotland as soon as I’ve to ford a stream: I merely stroll appropriate by way of. The draw once more of that is that the stream grit is awfully abrasive to socks. Nonetheless carrying Darn Extremely efficient socks is an setting pleasant option to mitigate the difficulty on account of they’re thick, sturdy, and may stand as so much as excessive abuse.
Backpacking in Scotland 101: The temporary and soiled
I’ve backpacked twice all via Scotland beforehand and spent a substantial time interval dwelling contained in the nation, so I do know the ropes, though it wouldn’t be an journey if there weren’t surprises. Correct proper right here’s a fast and soiled synopsis of climbing situations contained in the nation everytime you aspire to hike one amongst its many long-distance trails or take part contained in the annual TGO Draw back. That is terribly summarized.
- Scotland is moist. It rains pretty a bit. There are pretty only 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 relatively so much ingesting water
- Scotland is windy. There are just some timber. The vegetation consists largely of heather and grasses. The wind and rain is maybe nasty to stroll in. Rain gear isn’t optionally accessible.
- The native climate will get milder in Might as you head east.
- Temperatures is maybe all through in Might. It’s often above freezing, though not by relatively so much. Good hypothermia native climate, as they’re saying.
- Scotland has many paths. Few are maintained. Signage is maybe sparse.
- Public entry approved pointers allow you to walk and camp wherever, even on personal land. This makes it attainable to hike cross-country routes by way of seldom-traveled areas.
- 90% of the land is owned by giant personal estates. The estates elevate herds of deer as a money “crop” and host wanting events for individuals who should rating a trophy. Numerous this land is fenced, nonetheless there are gates and varieties to cross by way of them. Among the many many fences are electrical which isn’t so good.
- Scotland has mountains. Numerous mountains with valleys, lakes, and rivers in between.
- Scotland is also very sparsely populated. There are just some resupply elements within the occasion you depart the bigger cities.
- There usually are not any giant animals to concern. Likelihood is you will sleep collectively collectively together with your meals and put collectively dinner in your tent.
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