A COLD UK winter wild camp in the snow and ice | Black Mountains in Wales | Freezing night camping
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2024
- Walking and camping in the Black Mountains in Wales, this was a cold one! We're at the end of winter now, but snow and ice featured heavily on my first walk up to Waun Fach, with temperatures plummeting in the night.
I tried out a new sleep mat on this camp, which helped to keep the cold out. Stunning sunset and some starry skies in the night on top of Waun Fach - the highest mountain in the Black Mountains range. I hope you enjoy coming along on this one.
Links to my equipment can be found below.
Thanks for watching, and let me know in the comments if you have any questions.
James.
My Instagram: / joinmeoutdoors
Link to my Buy Me A Coffee page:
www.buymeacoffee.com/joinmeou...
Kit list:
Tent: Terra Nova Southern Cross 1: www.terra-nova.co.uk/aff/Join...
Don't forget to trade your old tent in to get a 30% discount on your new Terra Nova tent, or use my discount code OUTDOORS20 at checkout for 20% off all full-price items!
Flextailgear Tiny Pump 2X: shrsl.com/49x0c
Flextailgear Mushroom lampshade: shrsl.com/49x0f
Flextailgear Zero pillow: shrsl.com/49x0g
Discount code: FLEXTAIL15
Sleep mat 1: Thermarest NeoAir XTherm - amzn.to/42IE3db
Sleep mat 2: Vango ThermaTrek
Sleeping bag: Rab Ascent 900 - amzn.to/44UbkDC
Stove: MSR Windburner - amzn.to/3nSBndI
Rucksack: Osprey Atmos AG 65 - amzn.to/3nWH3mT
Camera: GoPro Hero 9 Black - amzn.to/3Ml6hF4
Chapters
0:00 Intro
3:07 Vango Thermatrek mat preview
10:00 Crunchy views of the Brecon Beacons and Dragon's Back
11:00 Getting to the top
13:50 Pitching the tent
16:02 Vango Thermatrek mat
20:49 Temperatures falling
22:07 Night sky time lapse
24:22 Talking through my sleep system
26:54 Packing up
DISCLAIMER: My video description text contains affiliate links, which will earn me a small commission (at no cost to you) if you use them.
#camping #wildcamping #backpacking
Hi. LIKE. LIKE. CAMPING.
Brilliant mate! Definitely get your spikes sorted as they make for a much more enjoyable hike in and out ☺️
Stay safe and well,
Adge
Thanks Adge. I'm now almost motivated to buy some spikes just so I get less grief in the comments! 🤣😉 They're on the ever-growing list lol ATB, James.
i like A Cold UK winter wild camp in the snow and ice
Join the club! Those crisp mornings are well worth getting out for 👌 Thanks for watching! James.
Game changer for freezing feet is waterproof socks I find.
I do see people using them every now and then. Do you find them comfortable enough to walk in? I imagine the waterproof membrane must have a pretty short lifespan when they're being worn by backpackers who are covering 10++ miles per outing.
Helluva shout about frozen car key batteries!
Yeah, it's a genuine problem! I'd love a little insulated bag for my electronics - might have to get one on the wish list...
Anything purchased from Taunton Leisure also has extra ooo-arrr value.
Haha absolutely - particularly when I live close to their branch in Taunton itself! 😄
Stunning views, looks like a great camp! Thanks for sharing 😁
Thank you Chris, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😀
Amazing nightlapse as always 💪
Cheers buddy. The moon was bright!!
Nice one yet again, James...liking the hints about car keys ... would never have thought of that. I'm glad that you managed to rescue your meal... Well done..
Thank you, John. Yes I had to replace the fob battery when I got home after that previous outing! You can get insulated bags to help keep electrical things warm - just another thing on the list of things 😂 I may have had some Welsh grass garnish in that pasta...
Enjoyed. The night time lapse was brilliant. Gordon
Thanks Gordon. I enjoyed pulling the time lapse off the camera and seeing all the frozen grass details! James.
@@joinmeoutdoors I think you’ve told me before that we have the same GoPro (9?) but I need to figure out how to do the night lapse thing - love seeing the moon wander across the sky.
@@whenigotothemountains1203 Yep that's right, that's the same as mine. It's really satisfying when a night time lapse comes out well. Get experimenting! 👍 James.
Another great video mate. The views looked awesome. Enjoyed that one.. must admit I did chuckle when you slipped 😂
Haha cheers Ash. Typical that I was filming when that happened 😂 This is another set of mountains you can come and explore, now that you're venturing North of Plymouth 😉 James.
@@joinmeoutdoors definitely mate. My little camping trio group have scafell pike lined up for may and hopefully snowdon for April. Looked amazing, the colour of the sky against the white of the snow 👌
Now you're talking! You've found your gang 🙏🏻
@@joinmeoutdoors have indeed.. may have bought a new tent too 😬
Oooh what have you gone for??
Great and interesting video 🙂👍
Thank you Stig. It was a beautiful camp 😊❄️
Fantastic video James, truly awesome views. Really enjoyed it, keep them coming
Thanks a lot, Dan. They were awesome views all day long up there! Another good performance from the SC1 😉 James.
Awesome cinematography. Those views are otherworldly, and right on our doorstep. Bravo James.
Thanks a lot, Stuart. I would've loved to capture it all with the drone but I really don't think it could handle the temps! But yep, really not far for us to travel at all. I'd recommend a trip over there 👍
I would have salvaged the pasta too 😂
Couldn't let a good meal go to waste!!
Great vid James stunning views !
Looks amazing ! Great night shots
Cheers Graham
Thanks Graham! I'm glad I can share views like those through CZcams, and I'm glad you enjoyed watching them 👍 ATB, James.
Nice work
Thank you 🙏
Another good looking and interesting video. What a stunning landscape.
I've got a Z-Lite closed cell knock off like your Vango and I think you're meant to use them silver side up, colour side down (as it reflects your body heat back to you). Not sure if it makes much difference which way up it is though really.
@@thewildcampolians Thanks a lot. It was just beautiful up there.
Yes, someone else said commented about that, and I fully agree. Not really sure what I was thinking (probably sidetracked by the cold and being hungry). I think I've read claims of 15% improvement with the aluminium coating, which I probably wouldn't feel, but every little helps 👍 Thanks for the comment! James.
I've never slept in conditions like that though so I have learned a lot from your video. Especially layering you need to keep warm and safe overnight. Great camping spot with incredible views as well. If I'm going for a sub zero camp it's made me think about energy (gas/batteries).
@@thewildcampolians Yeah TBH I needed all those layers on before I got into my bag. I expected to need to take some off as I warmed up, but that ended up not being the case. If anything, I could probably do with an even warmer sleeping bag once temps hit -5 or below, judging by this camp. Cold gas is a problem much below 1 or 2 degrees, and the canister temperature starts dropping even further as soon as you begin to use it 👍
Great Camp that one James, proper snowy camp! 👍🏻
And here’s me thinking I slept on the cold side, you got more layers on than an onion…😂
Thanks Scoot! Haha yep, I do seem to sleep colder than a lot of other campers. The layers seemed excessive when I was packing (and judging by the comments, others think they were excessive too), but as I ended up wearing every single one, I'm quite comfortable with my decision to pack them all! 🤣
You certainly captured it all very well, James and for a wild camp in such conditions, that's a fair walk up from the car. When I realised it was Waun Fach - the land that swallowed a trig pillar - I feared for the worst... But glad to see you survived the night! ;-) Frozen boots, eh? Well, a great experience and thanks for sharing.
Hello Olly! Haha yep, I managed not to vanish into the bog...this time 😱 I remember your walk up there in very different conditions - no frozen boots on that day. Thanks for watching and for the comment 😊 James.
@@joinmeoutdoors I was reading a bit about Microspikes earlier. One Scottish blogger reckons they're not that great and you lose traction very quickly... I'm thinking of getting my own, just in case it's still snowing up in Snowdonia. But looking at cheaper pairs, as I'll probably rarely wear them.
I bought some things called Yaktrax a few years ago. Very cheap. I think they had balls rather than spikes but I've still not tried them! 😳😄
@@WalksWithOlly Hmm I wonder why that is? It stands to reason that they should improve grip, provided that they are held tightly on your shoes/boots and don't break. £60 is quite a lot really, isn't it? That said, I'm a strong supporter of "buy right, buy once", and it's not like we'll only use a good pair of spikes once or twice over the next 40 years 🤔 It can be hard to convince ourselves to make those purchases that come in over about £20 though!!
The new mat you bought, I have one and cut the bottom three panels of, big part goes under sleep mat and the smaller bit I use as a sit mat. Works well.
That's a great idea, Simon. Saves carrying the additional weight of a dedicated sit mat. How are your lumps and bumps ageing in time? 🤣 Is the mat flattening out, or maintaining its shape/thickness?
@Join Me Outdoors its not bad and I am not small either. Ideal in the woods to protect from thorns, never without it.
That's good to know, thanks, and yes that extra puncture protection has to give a bit of peace of mind 👌
@Join Me Outdoors Mark one end and try and remember to rotate the mat to ensure one end is not always fully loaded with torso weight, makes it last longer.
Great scenes and conditions for it. I wonder if we'll get any more cold weather this year?
Finally a day that followed the forecasts to the letter! It looks like it's staying cold for a bit still. Just you watch - as soon as I buy some microspikes it'll warm up by 15 degrees 🤣
Great video, I'm very much a fair weather wild camper but would love to try a cold one. I love Wales
There's a lot of sense in being a fair weather camper! If you're comfortable with (and equipped to go) camping in cold weather, it can be a really rewarding experience with all the extra challenges and different scenery! Thanks for your comment 🙏🏻 James.
Wowza mate this one looked mega cold but know u have all the right gear and are experienced. Class video mate loved it 👏 👌
Yeah it was a cold one, even without any real wind. This would have been a good night for that Biigloo bag I reckon! Cheers Simon. Hope I'll be able to watch another one from you before too long 👍 ATB, James.
Nice one James. I suggest 3 improvements. A pair of sunglasses to protect yer pork pies from uv, Kahtoola micro spikes and a stepladder. The stepladder is I case you have to do repairs to your Windburner😂ps I use my poo spade for clearing snow. No joke!
Thanks for your valuable insights as ever, Pete 😂 Stepladder aside (why I oughta... 🤣), those are good suggestions. I nearly bought a pair of tinted ski goggles when I picked up the foam mat on the morning of this camp, in case I was faced by sleet the following day. It felt impulsive and rushed, so I didn't, but nothing but blinding snow for 24 hours did take its toll on my eyes. Poo spade probably would be good for hacking through ice! 👍 Full of good ideas 💡
The southern cross looks great in the snow, I’ve ordered the 2 but seems to be taking a while to arrive. Need to try myself that choc pud. Great video mate.
Yeah it is a bit of a looker. Hopefully your SC2 will get through to you soon 🤞 I'd have the choc pud every night if I could 😂 Thanks Rick 🙏🏻
Those type of sleeping bags are designed to be used with minimal clothing on and as close to skin as possible. I only ever wear thermal long-johns and a top with socks and at worst a little fleece in those conditions. They will not work as they should do when you are not letting the body heat out. But trial and error i guess and as you said you sleep cold. Cracking vids anyway 👍👍
Hi Steven. I'm glad you're enjoying my videos. Thanks for watching, and for your comment. One or two other people made a similar comment about me wearing clothes in my sleeping bag - bit of a debate-sparker I think! My conclusion is that provided I'm not wearing so many clothes that the sleeping bag becomes such a tight fit around me that the insulation is getting compressed, any added insulation will only help to keep me warm. I'd guess I'd struggle to do the zip up on the bag at that point, which isn't an issue I've faced. A warmer sleeping bag would be good, though actually - I found myself needing those extra layers for walking around anyway, so would a warmer sleeping bag actually just add unnecessary weight and bulk? All part of the process of trying and learning I suppose! 😊 James.
FairPlay lad , looked amazing. 🇮🇪👌
Thanks. These adventures always end far too quickly! James 👍
Interesting to see just how many layers a cold sleeper had to wear to keep warm in a bag with a comfort rating of -18C with a decent closed-cell may and Xtherm underneath him. And that at a temperature at most 6 degrees warmer than the bag's rating. Mmm.
I think a big factor involved in that was that I allowed my body temperature to drop a long way before getting in out of the cold. I was definitely glad I'd taken all those warm layers with me!
@@joinmeoutdoors I'm sure that didn't help. They say it's much easier to stay warm than get warm.
@@weeringjohnny Yes absolutely, and I often give that advice in my videos! Got caught out a bit this time, but was fine as soon as I was in the bag 👍 Thanks for watching. James.
Watched both of your recent cold weather camps. Have you tried an insulated sleeve for your bladder? Can’t hurt might help.
Hi Matt. I've had an insulated sleeve kit on my wish list for quite a while now, just haven't got round to buying one. I think it could be quite handy but I also know it can only keep Jack Frost away for so long. Like you say though, it can't hurt. Someone also commented on my previous video to say that blowing the water back down the tube after each sip will prevent the drinking tube from freezing, which is a great shout! Thanks, James.
vango sleeping pad
I replied to your original comment with a link to the Vango foam mat 👍
Decent outing James. It is good up Waun Fach - I've camped in May On Pen Y Gadair Fawr and it started snowing. That was a surprise. You were prepared for this one though that's for sure. Layers layers layers. Good to hear it worked out. As for the approach in - fantastic, frozen grasses and all. Well, good going. Mark
Thanks, Mark. As soon as the snow starts to all, everything somehow begins to feel magical doesn't it? The frozen landscape was just beautiful. More of the same next year hopefully! ATB, James.
@@joinmeoutdoors A pleasure James. Yeah, it is a magical winter universe. I've been injured so couldn't get out this year and had to contend with looking at the mountains from outside in winter. Hopefully next year, like you, it'll be good. Peace all weekend.
I'm sorry to hear that. Injuries can be a real downer, but it sounds like you'll be bouncing back before too long. Happy Easter 😊
@@joinmeoutdoors That's OK James. It's been a right bugger. Yeah, I've already been out for a test walk (if interested on my channel - a mid wales jaunt) - turned out well. Peace.
That's a good sign 😊 I'll have to give that a watch 👍
Great video! Be careful with your sports bottle - they’re notorious for leaking!
Thanks Ste! I normally make sure I don't get the water too hot, but went a bit overboard this time and made the bottle overly soft. Might be time for a bottle that's better suited to higher temps 👍 James.
@@joinmeoutdoors I just mean leaking in general, but yeah. Even a platypus style bag would be fine - put a cap on it (Coke lids fit mine). Obviously couldn’t have the water too hot in that though because it’s so thin.
I always give it a good squeeze beforehand to make sure it's okay, but I do think a more solid bottle with a screw cap would do a better job 🙂
Nalgene bottle finally ordered. All these things I think of whenever I arrive at camp but never get round to doing...then everyone comments about them in my videos and it makes me take action 😂👍
@@joinmeoutdoors Niiiice!
your camping bag must be extremely heavy going up those hills
It is quite heavy in winter, but I hardly ever walk up big hills without a pack on my back these days, so I'm used to it! 😁
Thanks for the great video. I was wandering how much condensation you had in your tent after your nights sleep
Four season tents typically encounter more condensation than three season tents, mainly because the flysheet comes all the way down to the ground and reduces air flow (which makes them warmer in very cold temperatures). The Southern Cross has a vent at each end of the tent, plus I normally unzip the top of the door a bit to keep air circulating. By doing this, I find the condensation levels to be absolutely fine, and possibly slightly better than my Hilleberg Soulo.
Rhanks for the reply
My pleasure.
Nice video I was in the same area a few weeks ago in severe high winds, am wondering if you can double pole the cross blue pole sleeve if needed?
Thanks David. Cracking weather on this one! I reckon double-poling the SC1 could be possible, if a little awkward. What tent were you using for your windy camp?
@@joinmeoutdoors I was using a Lazer 1 I didn't expect it to last the night but pitched end on into the wind in an exposed position it survived unscathed much to my surprise . I was close to being blown over several times but as I had walked a long way and getting dark after a late start decided to camp after descending a short way.
The lazers are a bit fiddly to put up in windy conditions the southern cross looks similar to an old Vaudi tent I used to have having the poles on the outside makes a lot of sense and much easier and quicker to pitch especially in the short days of winter when you're not certain of finding a good pitch.
That sounds like an unsettling night. Fair play to the tent to making it through till the morning! You're right about the SC1 - it is extremely quick to pitch. I camped on the shoulder of Waun Fach on Friday night in my Hilleberg Soulo, and with all it's flapping even in gentle winds, found myself wishing I'd taken the Southern Cross!
I managed to lose my old comment and my new comment, whilst trying to merge them... anyway, got out there this weekend, it was a lot different to your trip!
Haha must be a glitch in the CZcams matrix! It must have been about 35°C warmer for you at the weekend than it was for me on my trip up there 😂 I hope you enjoyed it!
Do you have a link to the sleeping pad you bought trying to find it
Yes, this is where I bought mine from: www.tauntonleisure.com/sleep-equipment-accessories/sleeping-mats/vango-thermatrek-mat--orange__17276?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=SMRTHERMAO07Z06&gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRjMxUobFd3XD9e9qvshe15tQ8DiJqGH8lurAM1oK09nDXTpq40l9NxoCAkIQAvD_BwE
Great video, what shoes do you wear for a trip like this? Like I do winter camping in Canada so I have insulated shoes that go down to about -25 or so. Are you just using ng regular boots in the snow?
Thank you Grant. Your boots sound really good! My dad has some Meindl boots like that, with thick insulated soles. But yes, I'm just using very ordinary walking shoes that needed replacing months ago. The soles are almost completely worn out, the stitching has failed in several places and two of the lace eyelets have broken through. I wasn't going to let that stop me from getting out, but I can't wait to find a suitable pair of replacements! I don't think I could get by in Canadian winter temps with these though!
@@joinmeoutdoors oh same, I'm just getting back into it this year. A day of activity outside isn't too bad with the right gear and continuous movement but I've been not going below -10 with my trips yet just because it's gets very cold then. I think you've got a good set up for these temps though!
I'd recommend taking a look at some insulated shoes for next season maybe too. Doesn't need to be anything fancy but even shoes with 3M thinsulate help quite a bit with the heat leach from the snow.
Yes it's when you stop moving that heat loss can be a big issue, isn't it? It's rare for us to see -10°C here in thr southern half of the UK, so it's hard to justify another pair of (expensive) walking shoes/boots purely for subzero conditions. Maybe I'm just tight with my money 😂
Hi,can you connect the footprint like the inner,so the tent is all in one and you don’t have to put the footprint down separately.
Hi Darren. Yes you can. I uploaded a video about that here czcams.com/video/j9TBWFDpfuQ/video.html
The closed cell pads are great but put the silver side up it will radiate your body heat back up.the decathlon mats are a bit more substantial but the r value is 2 and there only 20 quid.
Hi Craig. Thanks for that. Over the years I've read comments from some people saying that the silver side reflects heat up, and others saying that it reflects the cold back down. I'm inclined to agree with you and think it probably should be silver side up! 👍 Decathlon offer some really good value stuff don't they. ATB, James.
@@joinmeoutdoors ye it's something to do with radiant heat and the silver side it doesn't send the cold back down the foam just blocks it and the silver reflects it back to you
I'll remember next time, but if I get too hot I'll know who to blame 🤣
@@joinmeoutdoors 🤣🤣 it's easier to vent than it is to warm up
Haha absolutely 😁
45th and missed the premier🤷♂️🥹
Whoops! I won't remove you yet, don't worry 😘
@@joinmeoutdoors I am ashamed of myself!
@@BulldogBadger 😂 You are forgiven 😘