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Sprinkling Tarn and Styhead Tarn 7th /8th and 9th September 2018.

Madriverrob

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So Guys

Al and I had decided to get a wild camp in ( how wild we were yet to find out !) before the end of the summer . I collected Al from home and off we set to Seathwaite in the Lake district . Wild camping , although illegal in UK is tolerated in the Lake District National Park provided their guidance is followed ,

Wild camping.

We arrived mid afternoon and left the car on the roadside by Seathwaite Farm . The walk in starts at the farm and follows the track up Grains Gill to Stockley Bridge , a quick left turn and follow the ever increasing gradient .



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Our usual ultralight approach was paying dividends with me only needing to stop and rest every 100meteres or so , Sprinkling Tarn is reached eventually after a number of false summits at 550m altitude ( GRID NY 227091).There's great views of Great Gable and Great End as you make your way to the tarns. The return route also passes the impressive Taylor Gill Force waterfall which is one of the highest falls in the national park. So we arrive at Sprinkling Tarn around tea time and pick our spot .

After setting up and brew its time to take in our surroundings, have a whiskey and chill .
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On waking up Saturday morning the weather was somewhat inclement ( today was the worst forecast of the weekend ) so we decided on a lie in to see if things improved , Al tried a little spinning but I decided to watch from the comfort of my sleeping bag followed by a nap :sleepy:.

Around Lunchtime things started to clear a little and we decided to pack up and shift location to Styhead Tarn Styhead (420m altitude, NY 221099).
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We had arrived at Styhead Tarn around 2pm and the atmospherics were building ( something bad was going to happen ) , The sky was leaden , the clouds were moving fast and the sky dark and foreboding , I'm no meteorologist but I think a storm was brewing :alert:.

We enjoyed the location as best we could but I think we both knew it was gonna get challenging quite soon , we checked out tent pegs ( the location was shallow and rocky ground ) and stowed our gear as best we could . A group of three lads appeared from the mist and set up nearby but other than that there was a distict lad of people on the hill ( did they know something we didn't !? :evileye:

A hasty evening meal was had and a few slugs of whiskey and it was early to bed around 8.30 as the weather deteriorated further..................
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On waking up Saturday morning the weather was somewhat inclement ( today was the worst forecast of the weekend ) so we decided on a lie in to see if things improved , Al tried a little spinning but I decided to watch from the comfort of my sleeping bag followed by a nap :sleepy:.

Around Lunchtime things started to clear a little and we decided to pack up and shift location to Styhead Tarn Styhead (420m altitude, NY 221099).
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great photos boys, shame about the weather but we've all been there
 
What followed is by far and away the worst night I have ever spent in a tent :snug: The winds were strong and the rain driving ,my powers of description don't allow me to convey how bad it was . I don't think we slept more than a few hours and there were times I was holding onto my 4 season Mountain Equipment Dragonfly tent ! Al was in his Seek Outside BT Tipi and I can only imagine how the wind was ripping through that !

At around 3am I heard a shout from Al , his centre pole extension for the tent had bent under the sheer power of the wind and rain , he was in danger of losing his tent . He had had the foresight to pack most of his kit and had prepared himself for the worst ( I'm sure he will elaborate on this in due course ).

He hastily dragged his sleeping mat and bag across as I made room for him , he collapsed the Tipi under control and weighted it down hoping it would survive the storm .

We spent the next four hours huddled in my tent ( in a manly survival way ;)) waiting for the storm to abate . I have recorded the wind on my phone and will try to attach later to give context . I am not prone to exaggeration , you need to hear it !

As Dawn broke , the weather remained horrific , we decided to gird our loins , pack up and make a run for it ............
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The walk out was challenging , the gill had burst its banks and was covering the track , luckily it was only 1 and a half kilometres back to the car and to be honest was a better prospect that staying in location , Al's Tipi had survived the night without damage and my Dragon fly and kept us both safe . The lads who had camped nearby had also surrendered and were seen following us of the hill .

The Gills on the way back were impressive but I didn't bother getting my phone out to take pictures sadly.
 
Still haven't found my lead, it is here I know, just that much gear drying out, as Rob says a very wet and windy experience although a good one, The Lakes in all their glory if shroud covered most of the time, a test video now that Rob took in his tent, many thanks to him for putting me up for the night.

Test

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Hi Al and Rob :)

Cracking pictures and a blistering report too.
What amazing backdrops......stunning scenery.

Riding out that storm must have been very exciting..........and raised the pulse a tad:D

Nice one guys thanks for sharing:thumbsup:
 
The storm was a worry, Rob had seen someone on the tops at some point during the night and I saw what I believe was Mountain rescue helicopter but Rob didn't see or hear it so it may not have been ? visibility wasn't great so to walk out if needed would have been very difficult in the dark, not to mention dangerous, we did the right thing in waiting it out for sure, all in though a very good trip in some different to usual surroundings, a few lessons learnt about kit...............again, what does waterproof actually mean :D ? my boots, overtrousers and jacket all wet through, I was like a drowned rat by the time we got to the car :)
 
Spot on lads:thumbsup: definitely made the right choice by the sounds of it :D nice pictures:thumbsup: yous both have a story to tell now:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Nice write up, sounds like it was quite a memorable experience. I’m sure it’ll be something you’ll both reminisce about for many years to come :)
 
The storm was a worry, Rob had seen someone on the tops at some point during the night and I saw what I believe was Mountain rescue helicopter but Rob didn't see or hear it so it may not have been ? visibility wasn't great so to walk out if needed would have been very difficult in the dark, not to mention dangerous, we did the right thing in waiting it out for sure, all in though a very good trip in some different to usual surroundings, a few lessons learnt about kit...............again, what does waterproof actually mean :D ? my boots, overtrousers and jacket all wet through, I was like a drowned rat by the time we got to the car :)


@Bopdude

Hi Al :thumbsup:

Sorry to hear you had a few kit issues on the trip...................we all have them from time to time:thumbsup:

What do you feel let you down the most.....and why?
Will, you change/upgrade any kit as a result of your findings mate?

Be good to read your thoughts.........may help others out too:thumbsup:
 
@Bopdude

Hi Al :thumbsup:

Sorry to hear you had a few kit issues on the trip...................we all have them from time to time:thumbsup:

What do you feel let you down the most.....and why?
Will, you change/upgrade any kit as a result of your findings mate?

Be good to read your thoughts.........may help others out too:thumbsup:

Morning Bill...................

In order.

Not the tent but the tent pole, but to be fair the trekking pole extender was home made, a lump of 12mm ali tube with 2.5mm wall iirc, it was that that bent and then snapped, if that had been more substantial then it maybe would have lasted, a purpose made pole would be best I think.

Tent pegs, while they did the job ( just ) worth upgrading to something more substantial.

This was the worst weather that the tent has ever been in, previous to going it was getting sold on so that's gone to a good home now ;) now to look for another tent 3 / 4 season.

Waterproofs, a lot of research and a new wardrobe coming soon, mine just did not cut the mustard including footwear.

In short, the kit has normally performed ok but this was weather beyond wet and windy BUT we will go again so the next kit has to withstand another possible onslaught on par with it.

What will I buy ?

Tent, 2 man double skinned ( probably ) but 3 - 4 season

Clothing, top ? bottom, looking at a rain kilt

Boots ?

Also, and this goes against the UL packing that I'm trying to get to but, a backup of a backup re ignition sources, the only Bic I took wasn't playing ball, and 2 modes of cooking, gas and meths for me I think.
 
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