One thing I discovered on a camping/walking trip to Snowdonia with Kate back in the day was how my body doesn’t react well to midge bites.

As Kate and I were setting up our tent, I got bitten to death by swarms of them at the campsite. Every exposed inch of flesh was bitten and covered in itchy red blobs where they had fed on me.

Sprays sold by the campsite shop to ease the itching just did not provide any relief at all. The fact I had been bitten so many times all over meant just to cover the bites I needed multiple sprays! They weren’t cheap.

We eventually cut our weekend short with a visit to a local welsh doctors surgery where I was put on a course of steroids.

So you can imagine I started putting in measures to avoid this happening again. Such as getting a headnet, or buying clothes with built in insect repellent.

Now as I get ready to return to the hills I’ve been using Lifesystems Ex4 Anti Mosquito Clothing, Footwear And Outdoor Gear Treatment Spray to treat my clothing, shemagh, polar buffs, regular buffs, groundsheet, and tarp.

This has worked for me in the past and proved effective.

Whilst on the TGOC even with a tarp I wasn’t bothered by ticks. I put that down to my clothing, groundsheet, etc being treated with a fabric friendly bug treatment. Along with the use of bug spray/wipes.

The DD Hammocks DD Superlight tarp I have comes with four pegs, and some thin guy ropes. The guy ropes are perfect for me to make some loops with. That that can on the day when needed be used to make a prusik knot.

I’ve also made some smaller bungee cord loops to use on the attachment points of the tarp. I’ll attach these when needed using a larks head knot to give me a little give and take a bit of pressure of the attachment points in high winds.

The last thing I want to be thinking off in bad weather conditions is having to create these loops first. I want to be able to grab one and use it, getting the tarp up as quick as possible.

After watching one of the yank outdoors YouTubers I ordered an UCO Collapsible Cup for Hiking. I don’t know why? I liked the look of it. It does not collapse nearly as flat as the sea to summit collapsible mug I have (and can’t find at the current time). Mainly due to the hard plastic ring which is about half the height of the mug uncollapsed. How ever it’s more sturdy which I like.

I’m starting to feel more prepared for next weeks adventure.