Into the wild, with a tent

I've camped for as long as I can remember. All our family holidays were in tents, then there was Scout camps ands weekend camping with my mates. I remember spending two nights in a 'cave' near Ponsonby tarn when I was about 13. The 'cave' is just a slab of rock straddling rocks at its back and side to form a roof, the front end is open so all you need are a few carefully positioned branches and you can make a great den.

I've camped in all weathers, and seasons, one of the most memorable was with Sid one January when we camped at Sprinkling tarn, my watch stopped and Sid never wore a watch so we had no idea what time it was. I woke up some time in the middle of the night convinced it was time to get up! Hairy Dave my brother was meeting us the next morning to go ice climbing, when he finally turned up I asked 'what time do you call this?' he answered 'no idea I haven't got my watch on! Anyway we climbed all day oblivious to the time.

Another 'expedition' was to Allt Coire Gabhail - the lost valley, in Glen Coe we got there in the middle of the night after a 5 hour drive straight from work. Put our tents up in the snow, then the rain started. We woke up to find the tent was now in a stream and all the snow had gone and it was blowing a gale. So we packed up, and drove home! 10 hours driving for a 5 hour sleep in a wet tent.




Knoydart (Scotland) with Andrew & Bob

 



Angle tarn with Andrew

 

 Middle fell with Jack the dog




Pillar near Robinsons Cairn