Calling all hillwalkers - what do you carry in your bag?

[roisin]

Some conflict here in the Roisin household.

I come from a family where you bring everything in case of emergency. My dad would always have a bivvy bag, extra clothes, full waterproofs, whistle, complete first aid kit, etc.

Dh insists if you check the weather forecast carefully you actually need to take very little with you.

So for a day walking in the lakes, say 5-6 hours - including climbing to considerable heights, and in a quieter/off the tourist track area. What would you take in your bags as a minimum? (Boys are 9 and 10, so are used to carrying their own packs.)

oh, I hope I didn't scare you

We've seen them out on more than one occasion though and it does make you think.

Yes, the MT rescue teams are all volunteers as well so you don't want them out risking their necks due to your lack of preparedness!

I know a few MR people, and we met a guy out with a search dog in Elterwater last month. But he was just out for a walk, not searching iyswim.

I've never actually seen a team out looking. I guess that's probably because we tend to stay short/low level if the forecast's not great, and we also tend to set off early morning. Most of those rescues on the map seem to be late afternoon/evening or night-time!

'cragfast'. I'm going to have to file that one away for future reference. We call it 'cliffed out'.

I'm with expat on this, and I do a lot of hiking, mountaineering and climbing. Always have the ten essentials on me if out with DS, plus tihn insulating woolen baselayers for DS and myslef, gloves and hat, and lots of food.

Have had some bad experiences in the mountains despite being experienced and looking at weather forecasts. Fog can descend in a matter of minutes.

Lots of chocolate and other high energy food is essential with kids I find. I also take a few metres of rope and DS's harness, just incase I need him to be attached to me, but now that he's 5 it's probably unnecesary, and obviously isn't relevant to your boys lol.

Can you get this Gu here?

The chocolate one is the 'best'. They're not the nicest tasting, but they're lightweight and excellent as a spare source of energy rather than carrying extra food.

Not come across GU before but have consumed many of www.simplyrun.co.uk/khxc/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=prodshow&ref=honeystingergelchoc&sid=iu113r5n4 3767s358871267adokwpd3w these]] in my time!

these

that looks like it does the job just the same!

again, not something i'd want to dine on, but it does in a pinch, doesn't take up too much space and is lightweight.

prefer the Go Gel though, it tastes a bit better. Good stuff to have lurking in the bottom of your rucksack for emergencies.

dh has just come back in and we've had a chat.

He is going to pick up a whistle and a survival bag tomorrow

lol at the overseas pair, sitting at 6pm in August (so not even dusk!), terrified of the local wildlife!

Those sheep can be vicious!

lol expat, I had visions of you with Gu chocolate souffles with rasberry coulis with you

Kendale Mint Cake.....sets your teeth on edge, but great for an instant pick-me-up.

DH helped out with a rescue on Skye once.....and he and his mates got a ride in the helicopter for their trouble. I think it's the most excited he's ever been about anything!

Glad to hear it!

Even when I'm in adventure races it is compulsory for us all to have a bivvi bag, whistle, compass, map, torch, first aid kit and high energy food with us. In fact, even when I did the rat race through Central London we had to have this kit with us! Better safe then sorry, and you can't foresee what accidents may happen.

lol at expat eating little GU chocolate pots halfway up the side of a mountain

Ah, thanks for that, OMDB! I'm ready to start hillwalking again, but will be joining the local rambling club first to earn my stripes and meet some like-minded folks.

PMSL at this website, daisy! These folks know how to do laconic!

'Sometimes you go up one mountain and climb another.'

Guilty as charged back in teh day when I was young and green .

Had chosen a very nice day, however, and set off at about 6AM, so fortunately my mistake escaped the radar of mountain rescue.

Gu is rank!

Trust me.

It sat at the bottom of the rucksack and only came out when things had gone just a wee bit tardy .

If I go up in the fells I take extra layers and waterproofs because in winter it's fucking cold and you can't piss about up there.

In the summer, I just take a light waterproof.

My dad goes for the whole hog - whistle, silver blanket, head torch etc.

I also fell run and obvisouly you have to travel light. I alwayus make sure I have money, phone and waterproof though as I once came down into the wrong valley in the mist and would have been screwed if I had not been able to call a friend and keep warm while waiting.

I tend to take everything as well. I was once with a friend who broke his leg near the top of Scarfell and Moutain Rescue were some time coming. Even though it was summer and weatehr was nice we were glad of bivvy bag as it starts getting cold very quick when you're still a long time and its evening.

On a nice day I would take - lightweight waterprrof, windproof or thin fleece, bivvy bag, headtorch, food, water, map, compass, mobile phone.