By way of update from the field, my buddy and I took off for a walk and wild camp on the South Downs this weekend. Aside from the walking (brutal), weather (well, you must remember?) and the views (magnificent), the camping was excellent, and a real cinch.
We both had lightweight dark green tents, thermorest mats, 2-3 season bags, which with all the other bits and pieces took us to about 10kg each. With a full 2 litres of water, we were up to 12kg, which is about as much as I’d (as a weedy cyclist) want to carry over any distance.
The camping was trivially easy, and we weren’t the only ones at it. Aside from the people we couldn’t see, two guys were on top of Firle Beacon in a bright orange tent, which looked like it was well established at 6.30 when we passed. Two camper vans (posh, new-ish) were all set up at the bottom of Bostal Hill, and judging by the general merriment and wine bottles levels, they weren’t going anywhere before dawn. After seeing these set-ups, we felt much more relaxed, figuring that if a ranger was about he’d make an evening’s work of those two before getting to us.
We ducked off the SDW just before Alfriston and into a valley where we couldn’t see the path. Finding the level at the bottom, we kicked sheep turds and thistles around for a bit, got pitched up and served dinner (pastie, jam sandwiches, Bacardi, jelly babies). We retired when the stars came out.
We hadn’t seen anyone in the two hours between setting up camp and going to bed, so the chances of being disturbed in the night seemed very unlikely. I was mostly anxious about snuffling nocturnal animals picking up on the smell of our breakfast. Or attack by ants. I had a fairly appalling night’s sleep, which I think was down to being a bit too hot and straining at every sound.
The morning was easy with a 5.30 start. We used the stove to make coffee, which we were a bit nervous about, but it didn’t leave any singes or a mark. The downside of being in a valley is that the sun hits later than at the top of a hill, so we had to pack up our tents wet. I’d brought a 2mx3m tarp with me as an improvised footprint, which was a godsend when unfolded in providing a dry surface for folding and packing.
All told, it was bloody brilliant. I think eating cold food was very sensible. The hassle, damage, extra weight and worry about a fire/BBQ wouldn’t have been worth it. Next time I think I’d think a bit more carefully about the packing up in the morning dew and maybe pick somewhere with a bit of early sun/wind. Definitely doing it again.
