Honister wild camp.March 2020

After one of the worse February's i can remember it was good to see a message pop up from Darron Linney,him and Max were up for a trip and did i fancy meeting up with them 

Its a drive right up thought the Lakes for me to get to Honister so i was away early, but as i had made good time i stopped on the roadside as i passed Derwent water,it looked to be the start to a nice day 

I waited for them on the last big lay-by/park area on the way up to Honister mine and after a short wait they arrived.Darren was full of a heavy cold,lent to him by one of his grandkids....Max was bursting to get out on the hills 

It was a still day as we climbed up past the mine works and then across to Dubbs hut,a quick look inside and Darren noticed that this hut had been visited,like all the others,by the guy who visited them all fitting a hook for coats to the back of the door

As we climbed a bit higher the wind picked up a bit and the temp dropped a little..been a while since ive worn Paramo but was very impressed with my new Velez jacket,wearing only a 165 merino Rab baselayer under it all wknd 

Our wanderings took us over Haystacks and then the steep pull up to High crag

The wind started to catch us more now but only in the 20's but had a bit of bite,the skies played with us sometimes showing hints of blue,then a little sun and then back to grey...but it stayed dry 

We had a good signal on the ridge so i checked the forecast,sadly as  was already forecast  the wind was going to get much stronger and the rain was to return again 

With the forecast not looking nice we cut the walk a bit short and looked for a place to pitch avoiding the worse of the big winds that were due in 

We found a spot to camp just where the faint path finishes on the left of this pic,on the West side of Red pike,which we hoped would allow us to at least catch a sunset 

Sadly just after we returned to our shelters with water for camp the clag came in,i left my door open but the cloud just came in,then teased a view then closed it down again 

Id brought my Duo XL along but the biting cold wind had me pitching it quickly and throwing up the inner, rushing to get a brew on

The highlight of the evening was a new flavour meal id bought from Basecamp foods this one a Real Turmat  Pulled pork and rice

Although more expensive than most other FD meals out there i have to say this was delicious,so much so i was soon scraping out the corners 

Darrons cold had wiped him out but he didnt miss much i had a walk around camp at 9 pm as the rain had cleared and we could see out to distnace lights but clouds hid the starrs.During the night the wind really picked up with lashing rain as we packed up and left we were subject to constant 30 with gusts to 50 mph .....fast and careful  packing and we headed for the valley floor 

After checking the forcast again later we decided to just head back to the cars,a shame but the forcast showed no let up,we decided against heading back via Dubbs hut due to the wind 

Even on the long slog back up Honister pass we were stopped a few times by big strong gusts rushing down the hill at us, a brew and cake at the cafe we dropped the last bit down to our cars...till next time Darron 

Thanks for looking all,safe travels Peter

If you play the video please select at least 720 or 1020 in the small cog wheel at top of vid ,for best quailty 

Norway/Sweden,with 2 Trailstars.Day 6 & 7 Sept 2019

Day six started with bright sunshine but a cold wind,behind us we could see some weather which would catch us later in the day.After packing in the luxury of the hut,we swept it out emptied the fire and set off 

It was a colder this morning when we set off,hovering around 3c,but the views again made up for it

We knew we had a river to cross North of the hut and after inspecting the first spot we decided to head a bit further on where it looked wider

Lee 

The water was lower but wider here and a bit cool but we were soon across and pressed on a little faster to pump the water out of our trail shoes

The landscape here was very rocky with little places to pitch two shelters,so we were happy we had stayed at the hut,even if doing so had lost us half a day of travel

The path came and went crossing the many small streams from one side to the other as we slowely climbed upwards,a good section of this was above the 1000m line 



A late 2 nd breakfast allowed us to spy the weather that was now starting to catch up on us,it caught us just as we reached the top of the pass with a mixture of rain and sleet,thankfully the wind was mostly to our backs along here

There was a small emergency use hut at Stuor-Karpel so we got in out of the rain and had a brew a flick through the log book showed a good friend had visited this place the year before, Mr Matt Holland 

Even though the weather wasnt the nicest it was a beautiful landscape to stroll across 

The weather set in wet and windy as the temperature dropped again,thougths of a warm brew and food pushing us on to find a pitch for the night .With most of the ground already wet and the wind strengthening each spot we spied seemed unsuitable then just shy of Gatterjavri lake,where we had started just over a week ago, we found a place for the night

As we got our shelters pitched the rain turned to sleet as cold fingers sought out firm ground for each peg point.Shelter up I set my stove going in the corner as I pitched my inner and got my matt and sleeping bag set up

A nice hot drink returned heat to cold fingers as i watched the sleet race across the shelter entrance 



By luck I had one of my favorite meals left for tea as the sleet pelted down and the wind tested my pegging …..thanks again to Basecamp foods for the great selection of great tasting meals 

                                                                DAY 7

Then sadly it was our last day, there was a noticeable change in the weather and it was much coolers was up early and snapped pictures away, only slightysuprised that it had snowed on the hills just above us 

The ground all around camp id say is often wet but the night and day before rain had made sure it was as i rubbed warmth into my fingers as snapped pic after picture 

This river which i think is called Dossagevággi  ? seems to mark the border between these tow stunning countries of Norway and Sweden

 

So with breakfast eaten we packed up for the last time and followed a path back to Gátterjávri lake

A lovely path then took us back towards the train station 

The sun came out and warmed us as we strolled theist few miles down to Katterjåck,a short walk up the road put us back at the station and the train back to Kiruna,another stunning walk in the stunning wilderness 

....as we had an extra day to kill i spent the days walking around the town looking at how they were digging under and lifting the houses to relocate them so that the mine can be extended !

Few pics i took from around the town

Grabbed this screen shot from web cam, on the day we flew home, just missed the snow !

                                    Two pics over the town showing how much snow was just a day behind us finishing !

                     None freeze dried meal 

They like there old cars 

Till i return again ......  sodding Covid