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A chilly morning at the camp in Glen Affric
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Glen Affric is one of my favourite glens and I hadn’t been there for
over a year, which is far too long, so I decided to make a visit my first
spring trip of the year. I started the walk on a sunny day along the Kintail-Affric
Way in the woods above Loch Affric, an easy stroll on a forest track with good
views over the trees to the hills.
Leaving the woods behind I walked up the open upper glen and camped near
the river Affric, a fine site with spacious views. That evening I sat watching
the sun set over the mountains, glowing gold in the last light. As the sky
darkened stars appeared and the temperature quickly dropped. Dew formed on the
tent and soon froze. There was no wind.
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A frosty starry night
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By dawn the tent was crackling with frost inside and out. The hills were
in mist, soon dispersed by the sun and the sky was clear when I set off on the
track up to the Bealach Coire Ghaidheil.
One reason for taking this route was to explore a path marked on the map
that made a rising traverse across the hillside from the bealach then stopped abruptly
not far below the summit of Mam Sodhail. I couldn’t remember ever taking this
path before and I wondered how clear it was and if it really did just stop part
way across the hillside. It turned out to be more dramatic than I expected. The
path is narrow but easy to follow - I don’t think many people come this way as
it’s not an obvious route – and towards the end it runs along the edge of steep
crags with excellent views of Mam Sodhail and Carn Eighe, the two highest
summits north of the Great Glen.
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Carn Eighe and Mam Sodhail from the path from the Bealach Coire Ghaidheil
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The path did just stop too but from its end it was an easy short walk up
grassy slopes to the ridge above and then on to Mam Sodhail and its massive
cairn, built by the Ordnance Survey in 1848. The wind was strong and cold on
the summit. The views were excellent though distant hills were hazy.
My plan had been to take a path down into Coire Coulavie but the top of
this was blocked by a large steep snowbank. Attempting to descend this without
ice axe or crampons seemed unwise so instead I took the long ridge over Mullach
Cadha Rainich to Sgurr na Lapaich. This is a splendid walk and gave better
views than I’d have had in the corrie anyway.
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The ridge to Sgurr na Lapaich
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As the wind was fierce on the ridge I descended from Sgurr na Lapaich
before camping. An intricate rough narrow path winds a way down through little
crags on the steep south-east ridge of the hill to a flat boggy area where I
had to continue a fair way before finding anywhere dry to camp. Here on the
edge of the woods I was sheltered a little from the strengthening wind. The sky
was clouding over and that night there was no dew or condensation. In the
morning it was just a short walk through the trees to my car.
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Camp below Sgurr na Lapaich
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Planning & Preparation
The forecast was for sunny and windy weather the first two days with a
frost at night then clouding over with rain on the third day. As usual for
spring trips in the Scottish Highlands this suggested a bit warmer sleeping bag
and clothing than in summer but not full winter kit.
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Glen Affric & Beinn Fhada
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As the weather had been hot for the past week I suspected there’d be
little snow left so I didn’t take ice axe or crampons. As it was I had to
change my route once due to a steep snowbank. The dry weather also suggested
the ground would be fairly dry so I chose non-waterproof footwear, reckoning comfort
from good breathability preventing sweaty feet would be more important than
keeping out water. My feet did get damp once, in the bogs below Sgurr na
Lapaich near the end of the second day.
I planned on low level camps due to the likelihood of strong winds up
high, though I still took a tent with good wind resistance.
As I intended climbing at least one Munro with the full pack and I knew
the ascents in the area were steep I wanted to keep the weight as low as
possible so where there were choices I went for the lighter option.
EQUIPMENT
Atom Packs The Mo VX60 935g (M) £285
****1/2 best buy
- Likes: ultralight, pockets, tough fabric, comfort
- Dislikes: expensive
- Capacity: 60 litres
- Materials Body: EPX200 200g/m2 recycled 200 denier face fabric, 45-degree cross ply, recycled 70 denier backing fabric. Back: 500D textured nylon. Side pockets: 210D Robic Extreema. Front pocket Dyneema Mesh.
- Closure: rollover with stud and buckle fastenings
- Back System: framesheet with 12mm alloy bar, shaped 8mm closed cell foam panel
- Hipbelt padded: adjustable
- Pockets: 2 open side, front mesh, base mesh, 2 mesh shoulder strap
- Features: front and side elastic
- Sizes: 4 length, 5 hipbelt
- Load capacity: 19kg
- www.atompacks.co.uk
The Mo 60
is the larger version of the Mo 50 I gave Best Buy to in 2021. The extra
capacity is the only difference between the two packs. For this spring
backpacking trip the 60 litres were welcome as I had bulkier clothing and
sleeping bag than I’d carry in summer.
The back
system is comfortable and stable with the frame transferring the weight to the
wide hipbelt well. The body-hugging style does lead to a damp back on warm
days, as I found on the walk down Glen Affric, but I don’t mind this as I’d
rather have good stability. The latter was very useful for balance on the steep
rough descent from Sgurr na Lapaich.
The pack
is well-made from tough materials and feels very robust. There are plenty of
pockets for items needed during the day, though none of these are waterproof so
drybags are needed in wet weather. I added the Atom Packs optional hipbelt
pocket (28 grams, £20) for access to small items while wearing the pack. There
are also long adjustable shockcords on the side and back for attaching extra
gear. I used these for carrying the bulky closed-cell foam Multimat.
I can’t
fault the Mo 60. It is expensive though.
Atom Packs The Roo VX bum bag 105g (L)
£39.50 ****1/2 Recommended
- Likes: volume, water-resistant zip, made
from offcuts
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Dislikes: expensive
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Capacity: 2.5 litres
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Materials: VX21
210D nylon/polyester/PET film
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Features: Lycra stretch front pocket, YKK
Aquaguard zip, nylon strap
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www.atompacks.co.uk
This little bum bag
held various items I wanted quick access to such as smartphone, mini
binoculars, sunglasses (on and off many times) and more. The first day I wore
it as a waist pack but it didn’t feel that comfortable. I guess I could get
used to it like this but for the next two days I wore it as a sling, which I
preferred.
It’s made from
offcuts from pack manufacture and has a waterproof zip and a mesh pocket on the
front. I used the latter for my phone. There’s a key clip and a small
compartment inside the bag. The long strap is adjustable but not removable.
For both
backpacking and travelling (I used it for phone, keys and wallet in cafes on
the drive to and from Glen Affric) this is an excellent little bag.
Mountain Laurel Designs SoloMid XL
575g (outer) $275/£218*
(outer) ****1/2 Best Buy
*price conversion correct in early May
- Likes: lightweight, spacious,
headroom
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Dislikes: only available from USA
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Design: pyramid
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Material: silpoly
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Pitching: flysheet first
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Fabric: 20D silpoly,
hydrostatic head 5,000+mm
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Pole: trekking pole
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Dimensions: 280 x 142cm, max. height
140cm
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https://mountainlaureldesigns.com
This tent was
my Best Buy in June’s Solo Tents review due to the low weight, roominess,
headroom, storm resistance, and ease of pitching. It’s made from silicone
polyester rather than silicone nylon which has the advantage of not stretching
when wet. This was a boon the first night of the trip as by dawn the tent was
soaked with dew and condensation. Silnylon would have sagged. The silpoly didn’t.
By dawn the dew
had frozen. This soon melted once the sun rose, and the tent dried very
quickly. Silpoly is meant to absorb less moisture than silnylon.
The SoloMid is
easy and fast to pitch, not that there was any hurry on this trip. I didn’t
attach guylines to the four tie-outs on the sides, though I had them with me, and
the tent resisted the gusty wind on the second night fine. Just one trekking
pole is needed.
I enjoyed the
space inside and the wide door, which I never closed so when I work during the
night I could gaze at the stars. I just used a groundsheet inside as it was too
early in the year for midges. In summer I’d want a mesh inner tent.
Therm-A-Rest Parsec 20F/-6C 865g
(Reg) £415 ****1/2
Recommended
- Likes:
lightweight, warm, comfortable, recycled fabric
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Dislikes:
expensive
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Fill: 800 fill Nikwax
Hydrophobic Down
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Shell: Recycled nylon
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Construction: box wall baffles, heat mapped zoned
insulation, quilt
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Zip: full-length
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Sizes: Small, Regular, Long
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Rating comfort 0°C, comfort
limit -6°C
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www.thermarest.com
With the likelihood
of frosty nights I wanted a bag that would keep me warm a few degrees below
freezing. The Parsec 20F seemed a good choice and so it proved the first night
when the temperature fell to -2°C. I slept warm without even closing the hood.
The Parsec is
designed to attach to a sleeping pad and has two stretchy straps on the
underside. I find doing this restrictive as it prevents me sitting up in the
bag so I didn’t use the straps. This wasn’t a problem as there’s enough room to
move around inside. The base has less insulation than the top but stayed under
me both nights. If I’d felt too hot I’d have turned the bag upside down so the
base was on top.
The down is
hydrophobic and the foot of the bag did get a little damp the first morning
when I pushed it against the wet tent fabric. It dried quickly.
The shell fabric is
very soft and I found the Parsec really comfortable and ideal for the
conditions. It’s an excellent lightweight sleeping bag but it is expensive.
Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT
455g (Reg) £260 ****
- Likes: lightweight, warm, very comfortable
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Dislikes: very expensive
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Type: air bed
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Materials: nylon with reflective inner coating
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Dimensions 183 x 51cms
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Thickness 7.6cms
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R-Value 7.3
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www.thermarest.com
The latest
version of the XTherm sleeping pad is thicker, warmer, much less noisy and a
touch lighter in weight than the original version. It’s thick and comfortable
and reasonably light and compact given the warmth. It made for a very
comfortable night’s sleep though I didn’t need such a warm mat on this trip.
With an R-rating of 7.3 this is a mat for the coldest winter nights as it
should be warm down to -32°C, which is lower than the coldest night ever in the
UK. Therm-A-Rest says it has the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any sleeping
pad. This warmth perhaps justifies the very high price. For most UK camping a
lighter mat like the XLite would be fine.
The low
weight and high warmth come from its internal construction which has two layers
of triangular baffles plus reflective material. The baffles also help the pad
keep its shaped when inflated.
The XTherm
is quick and easy to inflate and deflate. I found it most comfortable if I
didn’t inflate it fully as then I could sink a little into it and was in no
danger of rolling off.
Multimat
Superlite 8 171g £27.50 ****1/2 Recommended
- Likes ultralight, inexpensive, durable,
warm
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Dislikes very bulky, not very soft
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Type closed cell foam
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Materials cross-linked Plastazote
polyolefin foam
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Dimensions 180 x 50cm
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Thickness 8mm
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Rating -70°C
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www.multimat.uk.com
Given the warmth of the XTherm I
didn’t need this closed cell foam pad for sleeping on. However it was useful
for protecting against the cold, damp and hardness when sitting outside the
tent and during the day as a sitmat. As it can’t be punctured I’d rather use a
closed cell foam mat for this than a mat like the XTherm. There’s no need to
check the ground for anything sharp. The mat can just be chucked on the ground.
The Superlite mat is very light but
it’s also bulky so I strapped it on the outside of the pack, which was
convenient for quick access anyway. The foam is quite tough so I wasn’t
bothered about it being scraped on rocks or vegetation. I wouldn’t carry an
inflatable mat like this.
Primus Express 75g £40 **** Recommended
- Likes: ultralight,
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Dislikes: needs windshield
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Type: canister-top stove
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Fuel: gas canisters
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Dimensions: 115mm/90mm
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Burner Diameter: 35mm
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Power: 2600W
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https://primusequipment.com
The Express stove is a simple gas
burner that’s very light and compact. It folds flat and takes up little room in
the pack. I selected it for this trip as I hadn’t used it in a while and wanted
to remind myself how it performs. I used it with the Evernew and MSR 900ml and
600ml pots that have been favourites for decades and which have a combined
weight of 229 grams plus a foil windscreen weighing 53 grams. Primus says the
narrow flame is good for wind resistance but in more than a gentle breeze the
windscreen is needed.
The Express doesn’t have a piezo
igniter, though one is available as a standalone extra, which I don’t mind as
I’ve broken many of them and so always carry a Light My Fire FireSteel to light
the stove.
The pot supports lock into place
firmly and could hold big pots. However the flame is narrow and concentrated
and so best used with smaller pots.
The Express isn’t as powerful as
some gas stoves but still boiled water fast enough for me, including on the
frosty morning after being left in the porch all night. It simmers well too.
Inov-8 Rocfly G390 818g
(9) £175 *****
Best Buy
- Likes: lightweight,
durable, good grip, wide fit
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Dislikes: nothing
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Uppers mesh with overlays
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Sole Graphene-Grip
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Sizes men 6-14, women 3-8.5
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www.inov-8.com
With the forecast for warm weather breathability seemed more important
for footwear than water-resistance so I wore these boots from Inov-8. Whilst
they do have a higher ankle than trail shoes they are actually more like a
beefed-up version of the latter than like a hiking boot.
The boots have one feature that makes them very comfortable –
Graphene-infused foam in the midsole. This is meant to deliver greater energy return
than other midsole materials. It’s certainly soft and comfortable on hard
ground, like the forest road I followed on the first day. Graphene is also
found in the outsole which should mean excellent durability. I found the grip
fine on the wide variety of terrain I crossed on the trip.
The uppers are made from breathable knitted mesh with a tough rand to
protect against abrasion. Breathability is excellent and my feet never felt too
hot or sweaty. Drying time is good too. I did get the boots wet at the end of
the second day on boggy ground. They dried very quickly during the short walk
the following morning.
The Rocfly G390 boots have a wide fit, which is just right for my wide
feet. They’re very light too and ideal for three-season backpacking.
*Note: currently on sale on the Inov-8 website. It looks as though this non-Gore-tex version is being discontinued, which would be a great shame.
Falke TK1 Adventure Wool Trekking Socks 95g (42-43) £29
***** Best Buy
- Materials: 70% merino wool/30% polyamide
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Length: calf
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www.falke.com
I’ve had these
socks for a few years but hadn’t worn them much until last winter. After
wearing them on many trips I’m impressed. They’re soft, comfortable and warm.
They come with shaped left and right feet. I’m never sure how much difference
this makes but these socks certainly fit closely with no bunching or loose
fabric. And they’ve kept their shape after many washings and when worn for
three days at a time, as on this trip. They wick moisture fast and combined well
with the Inov-8 boots so I never had sweaty feet. Near the end of the second
day they did get damp in the bogs below Sgurr na Lapaich but still felt warm
and comfortable. They dried quickly the next day.
Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Hoodie
315g (L) £220
**** Recommended
- Likes light, warm
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Dislikes non-adjustable hood
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Fill 85% recycled VerticalX
SuperStrand polyester
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Shell ripstop nylon
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Front full-length zip
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Hood stretch rim
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Cuffs stretch
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Hem stretch
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Pockets zipped hand
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Sizes men S-XXL, women XS-XL
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www.outdoorresearch.com
Since I first used
it in spring last year this lightweight insulated jacket has become a
favourite. In sub-zero weather I’ve worn it while walking, on trips in milder
weather like this one I’ve worn it in camp. On this occasion it was just right
for keeping me warm at the first frosty camp.
It’s filled with an
85% recycled synthetic insulation that mimics the shape of down clusters and
has a lattice structure to keep its shape. This fill is very soft and
compresses easily so the jacket is comfortable to wear and packs down small for
carrying. The jacket has distinctive discontinuous quilting that is also said
to make compressing the jacket easier and which also reduces the amount of
stitching.
The jacket has
roomy handwarmer pockets. These are cut off by a pack hipbelt and I did wish
this wasn’t the case when walking in the jacket in winter. On this trip it
didn’t matter. The non-adjustable hood does blow back in a strong wind if worn
on its own as its quite loose but worn over a hat it stays on.
Overall this is one
of the best insulated jackets I’ve tried. It’s very comfortable and has
excellent warmth for the weight.
EDZ Merino Wool
Plaid Flannel Shirt 365g (L) £110 ****1/2 Best Buy
- Likes temperature range, comfort,
wind-resistance
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Dislikes pockets could be bigger
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Fabric: merino wool
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Pockets: 2 buttoned
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Cuffs: buttons
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Sizes: S-XL
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www.edz.co.uk
Like the
Outdoor Research SuperStrand jacket I first tried this shirt in spring 2022 and
like that jacket it has since become a favourite and an excellent alternative
to a lightweight fleece. I’m particularly impressed with the wind-resistance of
the close-woven fabric. This is just enough to keep out the wind on days with
above freezing temperatures. It was the only outer layer I wore while walking
on this trip and the wind was quite strong and cold at times. The only other
walkers I saw on Mam Sodhail were both wearing waterproof jackets.
The fabric
is also very breathable so when the sun came out and the wind dropped I didn’t
overheat. It’s more comfortable over a wider range of temperatures than a
fleece. The thin, soft wool doesn’t itch and feels comfortable next to the
skin. On this trip I wore it over a thin short-sleeved base layer. On winter
days I’ve worn it as a base layer.
The shirt
has buttoned front, cuffs and pockets. With cold fingers the small buttonholes
are a little awkward to use and could do with being a bit larger. Bigger
pockets would be nice too as they won’t hold a smartphone. Overall though this
is an excellent shirt.
This feature first appeared in The Great Outdoors last year.
