More Fuel For The Debate I’m Sure
Posted on | June 27, 2009 | 11 Comments
Well over at our friends Backpackinglight.co.uk they have a couple of new podcasts up. The first is a holiday ideas one that you can find here, but the one that is probably of a lot more interest to readers of this blog is the ‘Lightweight LEJOG’ podcast. But then I could be totally wrong, and if I am let me know in the comments below. I don’t mind being corrected.
So what is this ‘Lightweight LEJOG’ podcast all about? Well Podcast Bob has the following description for it:
“In April 2009 John Cromarty set off from Lands End for John O’Groats over a high level route, using typical lightweight gear and knowledge. Here I chat to him about his trip, his gear and more importantly the reaction of many traditionalist walkers to what he was doing and if he was, in their eyes ’safe’. We also talk tarps, wood burners and Inov8s. Hopefully inspiration for you to try a Long Distance Path in this UK this year.”
Listen to Podcast or Right Click and Save As to download
While I’m talking about stuff to listen to I do hope folks are listening to the current series of Ramblings over on Radio 4. If you have missed the current series you can catch up here.
The current and last in series is described as “Clare Balding joins two polar explorers to walk in Scotland’s picturesque Wester Ross.”
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11 Responses to “More Fuel For The Debate I’m Sure”
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June 27th, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
Interesting podcast. Thanks for flagging it up. John’s route sounds very similar to the one I did back in 1978, with much the same attitude regarding wild camping and staying off roads. The new lightweight gear I used back then was Rohan clothing and Gore-Tex waterproofs (and there were people saying both were too light and unsuitable).
I had the same positive reaction when asking for places to camp too – including the back lawn of a pub!
June 27th, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
Ta for the tip, Darren. I’ve been having a discussion about how weight might impact upon safety over on my blog this week, and wow… it’s amazing the ideas that have come out!
June 27th, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
Enjoyed that podcast Darren. Shame he hurt himself tripping down an embankment. The wood stove idea appeals a lot. I need to look into them.
June 28th, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
thanks for the great comments.
Chris, funny how little some things change isn’t it.
PW, yep I know been following it.
Martin, they are fun stoves.
July 6th, 2009 @ 5:54 pm
Wood burners are fun, got a honey 09 stove. Just watch the fuel as you can fill the stove up with twigs and it will burn out in less than a minute while your back it turned. I found as a stove woodburners are something best enjoyed and best to sit and watch while you are cooking so you can feed it before it runs out of fuel
Chris – how light was your gear back then? Indeed did you even weigh it? There was a guy back in those days that appeared in the well known and well read periodical that appeared on the front cover with a karrimor tent that was about 1kg I believe. I was too young to remember but it made an anniversary issue once when I wasn’t too young. I think he was a guy being interviewed as he was doing an epic UK backpack using the latest gear. So as Darren says some things don’t change, you can still get a 1kg tent even now.
July 6th, 2009 @ 6:27 pm
TTG, the tent was Karrimor Marathon and it appeared on the cover of the first issue of TGO (or The Great Outdoors as it was back then). It was a single skin tent with no porch. I never had one but an old backpacking book I have gives the weight as 2lbs 4oz – so 1kg is about right.
I only have weights of some of the gear I used in 1978 on LEJOG – I have full lists for the Pacific Crest Trail in 1982 and the Continental Divide Trail in 1985.
On LEJOG I had a Berghaus Cyclops Serac pack weighing 41/2lbs and an Ultimate Tramp tent weighing 4lbs (a two skin ridge tent with an A pole at the front), a Trangia stove exactly the same as they are now, a Berghaus Gore-Tex jacket weighing 1lb 4oz and Scarpa Bronzo boots weighing 41/2lbs. It’s the last that makes me shudder now!
July 6th, 2009 @ 9:52 pm
TTG and Chris thanks for two great comments.
July 7th, 2009 @ 4:59 pm
Hey Chris!
I loved my Scarpa Bronzos! They lasted me years and years – seem to remember they had ‘three through soles’ – whatever that meant. You sort of rocked forward in them. I loved’em! I walked from the north to the south of Corsica in August of 1973 in them. Just pefick, they were!
July 7th, 2009 @ 7:06 pm
1973 !! You are old
I was at school back then. Those boots have a legendary reputation.
July 8th, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Alan, I remember the Bronzos as heavy and long lasting! One pair I had were resoled three times. The three “through soles” were two flat leather soles and a rubber sole above the Vibram outsole, as far as I can remember. There were no shaped footbeds in those days. I don’t remember the Bronzos with much affection however! I set off on the Pacific Crest Trail in Bronzos and had bad blisters and aching feet after the first two days. I then carried the boots for most of the next 500 miles and walked in New Balance running shoes. The Bronzos were much more comfortable in my pack!
July 8th, 2009 @ 10:25 am
These are fantastic comments, I have really enjoyed reading these and the trips down memory lane ^__^