New Year's Winter Wild Camp | -10C and Three Days on Ben Macdui, Cairn Gorm and Carn a'Mhaim
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- čas přidán 3. 01. 2024
- We're back!
2023 was a full on year for us. We both had surgery, we got a puppy, moved house and a whole bunch of life in between. This video has been in the edit for a full year, but it was such a good adventure it still feels right to share it. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as we did, a very wintry round of 3 Munro's in the Cairngorms, with air temperatures getting down to -10C and beautiful sunsets and sunrises over the sub-artic plateau.
For this fast and light adventure, Ben used the Hanchor TUFA 38L pack and Megs is using the Hyperlight Mountain Gear Southwest 2400. We took the Hilleberg Allak 2. We packed our Grivel Airtech New Matic Evo crampons and Camp Corsa Nanotech Ice Axes.
Remember to THINK WINTER if you're heading into the hills this festive season. The days are short and conditions under foot are likely to be slow and difficult. Give yourself time, bail out options and be prepared! Conditions over ambitions.
Join us as we talk lightweight gear, hiking, camping and all things outdoors in a stunning Scottish setting.
Some of the gear we used:
Soto Windmaster Stove: amzn.to/317i7x4
Evernew 1.5ltr Waterbag: amzn.to/3FO3L3Q
Evernew Titanium Cup: amzn.to/31n4z1g
Titanium Lifeventure Long Handled Spoon: amzn.to/3rBld7O
Nitecore NB10000 Battery Pack: amzn.to/3pv1QL9
Petzl Swift Headtorch: amzn.to/3rx8UcR
Petzl E + Lite Headtorch: amzn.to/3dgNVCK
This list is not exhaustive! If you have any questions about the gear we used, drop us a comment, we'd love to chat 🙏🏼 Alternatively, check out one of our 'What's in my Pack?!' videos on the channel.
If you like the look of any of the gear we talked about in the video, you can purchase it for yourself, using the Amazon using the links above. It won’t cost you anymore, but we’ll get a little something back if you use our affiliate links.
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Thanks so much for watching, don't forget to like, subscribe and let us know what you think in the comments below.
See you out there.
You guys have put all the seasonal Utube 'snow' chasers to bed. You really know your stuff, big respect to you both.
Thanks for watching Michael, glad you enjoyed it! Winter is definitely our favourite season in the hills, we lucked out with the conditions on this trip. Next time we’re taking snow shoes though 😂
What a superb find your channel has been. Beautiful
Thank you for the lovely comment! Glad you’re enjoying our adventures 🙏🏼☺️
Awesome camp that, in stunning conditions. Great to see the Allak in the mountains. Just realised I hadn’t subscribed to you guys. Now I have. ATB 🏴⛰️⛺️👍🙏🏻
Cheers buddy, appreciate it!!! ❤️🙌🏼🏴
That’s was outstanding…. Perfect wi there conditions. 🙌🏻 enjoyed that. Great work. ATB. Craig
Glad you enjoyed it!! Appreciate you watching Craig 😊
Thank you for sharing - what an inspiring trip (especially to those of us that live in southern England 😬)
Glad you enjoyed it! Appreciate you watching 🙌🏼❤️
First video I’ve seen of yours, new subscriber here now!! Loved this content
Yay! Thank you! Welcome to the channel 🙌🏼❤️
I can't get enough of that golden sky behind blue-gray clouds and mountains. What a gorgeous video.
Subscribed.
The colours are unreal aren’t they!! Thanks for watching!! ❤️
Unreal 🙌👏👏
Was such a beautiful route 🙌🏼🙏🏼 thanks for watching
Unreal
Was such a memorable trip! 😍
I follow a few wild campers solo summiter is 1 of them the footage was incredible the remoteness was emerging with nature 1 of the best video footage I have watched of wildcamping if not the best be proud😊😊😊
Thanks so much for the kind words, glad you enjoyed the video and appreciate you watching along! Is that Go Summit Solo you follow? Great channel too, always out and about in the hills 🙂
@OutdoorIntrigue no its the solo summiter he does some amazing drone footage and similar quality to yourself
Ahh of course, I know who you mean! I think he hikes and camps a lot with Go Summit Solo, nice one 🙂
Excellent thank you for sharing. 👌
Our pleasure! Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏼
Looks like you guys know what you are doing which is a good thing. That terrain in those conditions looks pretty lethal. Beautiful for sure.
Thanks so much watching! 🙏🏼
We spend a decent amount of time out in the hills in these conditions so felt confident in the route and our abilities. You’re right though, it can be dangerous if you’re ill prepared or something goes wrong! Was an amazing trip out 😍
Brilliant adventure guys. Good to see you both back oot. Gorms looked magic like 😎👌 Day 2 sunset & 3 sunrise 😍 A cold one mind you. 🥶 A great, start to 2024. Happy New Year.
Thanks Kev, Happy New Year to you too 🥳 feels good to be back and feeling creative. We lucked out with the weather, was chilly but the wind wasn’t too bad until the final day and the views were incredible 😍 here’s to more in 2024 🥂
Holy macaroni 😂 ticketed me that great video and new subscriber here ATB Craig
Thanks for watching Craig, glad you enjoyed it! Nothing quite like a good winter sunset to bring out all the interesting phrases 😂
It's great to see you guys back, we've missed you!!!
Thanks Max! It’s good to be back and feeling creative 🥳 looking forward to Ruadh making a cameo appearance in our videos too 😆
That view. 22:40 was 🔥
That moment was incredible! What a view from bed 😍 thanks for watching 🙏🏼
Great video and the condions and light that second day was amazing 👍❄️🙂
It turned into such a great day! Started out in a massive cloud, but when the clag lifted the light and views were unreal 😍 thanks for watching! 🙏🏼
A great video. Pretty fantastic conditions and lovely to be so remote with those views. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for the kind words, appreciate you watching! We really lucked out with the conditions, was a beautiful wild camp 😍
Beautiful film, fantastic views; a real pleasure to watch. Thanks!
Thanks so much, appreciate the kind words and you watching along 🙏🏼
Great video guys. The red Allak looks great against the white back drop. Looked like a fun couple of days. Love those conditions too.
Really appreciate you watching! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏼 the conditions were incredible, we lucked out 😍 gotta love a red Allak in conditions like this too, works so well for photos and video ⛺️
Great video guys!
I’m hoping to get up there this weekend and watched this and a few others to get an idea of what it’s like. Any and all tips welcome!
Enjoy your next adventure 🙌🏻
Hi guys, firstly it’s brilliant to see you back out, it’s been far too long. Secondly, wow what a trip, just simply stunning views, thank you ever so much for sharing your adventure with us all, totally mega.
All the very best
Dave 😀🥾⛰🏴🏴❄️
Thanks Dave, it feels good to be back and being creative again! 2023 was a BUSY year, looking forward to more time out in the hills and less life events in 2024 😆 this trip was incredible, there’s nothing quite like the Cairngorms in winter for good snow 😍 really appreciate you watching, glad you enjoyed it!
Great to see you back posting on CZcams again guys! Awesome video as always!
Thanks so much! Appreciate you watching along and commenting. Feels good to be back 🙌🏼
Wow the best winter hill camp I've seen well done you too hopefully not have to wait too long for your next video happy new year atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍🍺
Thanks so much for the kind words, Jimmy! Was a great trip, the Cairngorms really put on a decent show for us 😍 we’ve got another trip from the Corrour Munro’s in the edit currently, hopefully have that one up soon 👀
@@OutdoorIntrigue look forward to watching 😎😎👍👍
Great to see you back, made my day ❤️
Thanks so much Gordon! Feels good to be back and feeling creative again. Appreciate you watching 🙏🏼
Nice video great trip
Thanks Tony, appreciate you watching and commenting! 🙏🏼
Just subscribed and I'm so glad I did, breathtakingly beautiful scenery one word WOW 👌 👏 ❤🫶
Thank you so much and welcome to the channel!! 🙌🏼
Epic. I have to bag some winter Munros especially the Cairngorms.
Couldn’t recommend it enough! Cairngorms in winter are like nowhere else in the U.K. 😍 thanks for watching 🙏🏼
My first time watching one of your videos, and the best part is that you show more of the getting there than the other UK wild campers I watch. Some of those spots you guys really could have used snowshoes! Here in NW Maine near the Canadian border they’re not an option LOL. I’m hoping that within a couple weeks we’ll have enough snow to strap mine on and test some gear on local peaks, I’m getting back into winter backpacking after about 25 years so it’s almost like starting from scratch.
Glad you found us and enjoyed the vid! Always think people must enjoy more of the journey and scenery than us chatting nonsense, try to find a balance between the two 😂 we definitely could’ve had snow shoes, we were so jealous of the folk we saw out on skis gliding past us whilst we post-holed up and down and up and down 😆 I bet you get some great snow up that way, the conditions must be great. It’s crazy isn’t it, some stuff will be muscle memory though and come flooding back the moment you’re out there. Appreciate you watching and commenting, look forward to hearing how your winter adventures go! 🙏🏼
Amazing video! Thanks for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 🙏🏼
Happy New Year! Wishing you peace, good health and good fortune. May your journeys be safe, comfortable and bring you joy. Cheers for sharing your insights and having the fortitude and tolerance to endure Nature’s tooth and claw. Happy Trails!
Happy New Year to you too! What a lovely message, thanks for watching along, we appreciate it 🙏🏼 was certainly a memorable trip, will remember it for a long time to come!
Well what do you say to that..that's some proper snow right there..cracking conditions too you don't get that too often do ya..
Hope you guys have had a great Xmas & atb for the new-year.
I just may be up that way end of nxt week me & a friend have been looking at doing a two nighter around Ben Mcdui & Cairngorm so 🤞
I'm also up at Glenmoore lodge too the following wknd so I'm hoping for some great conditions.
Great vid stay safe & tfs..Andy..
Happy New Year Andy! Great timing for a trip to the Cairngorms, the conditions over east are incredible at the moment. Hopefully they hold out for you 🤞🏼 we really lucked out with this one, no wind (for the most part), great views, and good snow 🙌🏼 all the best for 2024, looking forward to seeing more of your trips this year. Meg’s & Ben
Wow....😎😎Stunning conditions you guys got.The trek down Macdui to Carn a Mhain and back up was awesome.Really amazing footage.Well done guys.😃👏👏
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!! We really lucked out with the weather, the second day started out a bit questionably but the views were unreal when the fog started lifting 😍 the snow depth made that 8km out and back so much harder, but was well worth it in the end 🥳
I bet it was fun trying to dig your catholes in that snow. Never mind doing the business. Could get a tad frost bitten down below. Rather you than me, as they say.
Anyway, thanks for sharing. Nice to see you guys back and out-and-about.
Haha! Yeah that’s an always the least fun part of a winter wild camp 🥲
Thanks for watching, appreciate you commenting! Feels good to be back 🙌🏼
There used to be a glacier going down into Loch Etchachan not far from the summit of MacDhuibh, I haven’t been up there for twenty years so no sure if it’s still there. Of course it can’t be seen in winter 😁 thanks for the video 👍🏴
Get up there again 🙌🏼 Do you mean a frozen lock? I’m interested as I don’t think there have been any glaciers in the U.K. for about 11 thousand years.
@@OutdoorIntrigue I’ve seen several in Scotland, nearly all in the Cairngorms. I don’t think they are permanent but last for many years depending on the summer weather. I have photos from the month of September of the ice flow down the west side of MacDhuibh, into Loch Etchachan
That’s incredible, I’d love to see a picture if you fancy sending one!!
Very much a beginner camper here, i hope to one day be brave enough to take on something like this! 😅
Great video, subscribed!
Amazing, great to have you here and thanks for watching along! Winter has its challenges but it’s also super rewarding. Let us know if you have any questions about wild camping, happy to help if we can ☺️
Great vid, noticed her sleeping bag zip is broken, may I recommend a keyring usually works well as a new zip ring.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it! Ahh I see what you mean, it looks broken, but the fabric pull is just tucked inside the bag 🙂 great tip though
Woww
Our thoughts exactly! Thanks for watching 🙏🏼
Good to see you back.that ticked all the boxes.great filming,what is the camera you use please.i,ll have to watch this on the TV later,on the phone at the moment.cheers guys.
Thanks Gary! It’s good to be back and feeling inspired / creative again 🥳 we just use our iPhones these days, filming in 4k at 30fps. We do have a Rode Video Micro mic to (try) and eliminate wind noise and a little cheap mini tripod for sceanic shots. I (Megs) have a 12 Pro and Bens got a 13 Pro - hopefully it looks good on the big screen! Appreciate you watching and commenting 🙏🏼
What an epic adventure! Looking to get up the cairngorms this winter! ❤
Subscribed!
The Cairngorms in winter are like nothing else in the U.K., such a special place! Have a great time 🙌🏼 thanks for watching and subscribing too 🥳
wow, you are back, I have missed you.
Hope you are both well again.
What sort of puppy ?.
Happy New Year Michael! 2023 was a full on year, glad to be back and feeling creative again 🥳 We got a working cocker spaniel, he’s called Ruadh and he’s almost 1 year old! 🐶
@@OutdoorIntrigue Nice, Happy new year to you both as well. This has definitely cheered me up after a full day on the computer. I introduced my son to your videos at xmas, as he wants to start winter wild camping.
Oh amazing! Let us know how he gets on and where he goes, winter can be tough but it’s so rewarding. Looking forward to hearing all about it 🙂
Wow! Incredible video guys. I have just subscribed. I am looking to do a winter camp, can you tell me what you use to pin your tent down in the snow?
Thanks for the sub! We use a mixture of MSR blizzard stakes and MSR cyclone stakes 😊
Very unsafe conditions to be venturing out in. The Scottish hills take no prisoners and if you run into problems, Mountain Rescue have to risk their lives to save your lives.
Venturing into the hills in any season carries risks and dangers if you don’t have the skills or experience to deal with them. If you don’t feel comfortable going out in winter, that’s fine, stick to the conditions you feel confident in, no shame here. That doesn’t mean other people can’t enjoy or be safe in winter though.
@@OutdoorIntrigue The only thing that was unsafe here was the vegan baby bell. That has to be some sort of crime 😂
@@milco8755😂😂
@@OutdoorIntrigue If look at the STV news today my point highlights the realism of the Cairngorm mountains rescue missions. 10 hour rescue mission. No matter what your skill set is, the winter conditions are such that it is a higher risk of climbers getting into horrendous situations . The video you have uploaded shows such tough conditions which places the rescue team under dangerous and potential life threatening circumstances.
I must’ve missed the part of this trip where we had to call Mountain Rescue to save us..
In all seriousness, we’ve spent time hiking and chatting with multiple folk on Mountain Rescue teams across the Highlands (Cairngorms included). They never tell people not to enjoy the hills, even in winter. They do ask that if you plan on heading out, that you’re prepared, with the right equipment and with the skills and knowledge of how to use them. If you don’t have that, don’t risk it.
Hey guys great to join you on another adventure after so long. Your winter camping content in particular is always amazing. Those conditions looked awesome albeit very energy sapping! What sleeping pads were you using on this camp? I’m presuming you also are using gps for route finding? Cheers.
Thanks so much for watching and following along again! Feels great to be back making content 🥳 it was such a memorable trip, the views were unreal. We both used the Nemo Tensor Alpine’s for this one, we were using the Thermarest NeoAir X-Lites but they aren’t as comfy when you’re in the tent for long winter hours. We are indeed using GPS, we have a lot of redundancy and back ups, but primarily use the Outdoor Active app 🙂
👍
🙏🏼🙏🏼
Hi mate, just a question regarding the backpacks, is the lightweight worth it and does the pack still work well on the shoulders without a frame?
Hey pal! The HMG has two aluminium stays that help transfer weight to the hips and the Hanchor Tufa has a removable foam pad that helps gives some support without an actual frame. They’re both comfy up to about 15kg but after that you’d probably want something with more structure 🙂
What boots do you use? Second night same spot or different ?
24 minutes in is that added wind noise or waa it blowing a hoolie difficult to tell as some add it for effect
I hope to get up that way later January
We’re both using the La Sportiva Aequillibrium ST’s in this, great lightweight winter boots, would highly recommend. Second night was a different spot, but in the end not all that far apart, could’ve left the tent up and saved some weight on the descent and ascent 😂 the wind noise has been cleaned up a bit, but it was feckin windy on the last day and it’s pretty representative of what it was like (minus all the microphone clipping) - hence no talking as the vocals were completely washed out. Was definitely googles weather with all the spin drift getting thrown about. Sounds great - hopefully the conditions are good for you, let us know where you end up going 🙂
@OutdoorIntrigue ah fab to hear I'll just follow Chris Townsend and see where he takes us. Not sure we'd get to BenM but one day maybe. Bit of a story there. Aequlibrium eh haha funny that I literally just got a pair of LTs . Can you get microspikes on yours ? I'm a 43 and they fit but tight. Got kahtoola crampons too. Which crampons do you use and like recommend?
An outdoors legend! He’ll see you right, I’m sure you’ll have a blast. Oh very nice, I haven’t tried getting the Kahtoola KTS over them, but imagine they’d fit as they’re a bit more adjustable. The stretchy rubber ones would be a struggle I think. We use the Grivel Air Tech Evo with the Aequillibriums, they’re pretty lightweight and provide a lot of confidence
Can I ask what sleeping bags you use?
I (Megs) have been using the Marmot Phase 20 for a good few years, I don’t think they make it anymore, but it’s a great bag. Rated down to -6C with a limit of -12C, haven’t ever needed anything warmer especially with two bodies in the tent and the odd addition of a puffy in cold spots. Ben used the Rab Mythic 600 on this trip, but probably wouldn’t recommend it for these temps. He was pushing the limit of lightweight vs comfort and slept in most of his clothes. His preferred winter bag these days is the Western Mountaineering Apache MF. We both use the Nemo Tensor Alpine mats which also contribute heavily to how warm we are 🙂
Can I ask how you navigate during this trip? Online map apps, or paper maps?
We largely use GPS, we have a lot of redundancy though (2x phones and watches with routes downloaded offline, emergency PLB, fully charged power banks each and compasses) and back up options in case something fails.
What trousers are you wearing for winter hikes?
Thanks for watching! Ben’s wearing the Arc’Teryx Gamma LT soft shell trousers with either the Rab PolarTec Pro or Arcterxy Rho LT base layers under and has waterproof trousers with just in case they’re needed 🙏🏼
@@OutdoorIntriguethe polar tec pro is that for in camp more than walking
Depends how cold it is, we usually don’t take spares, so for this trip it was for hiking and at camp
@OutdoorIntrigue thanks
Excuse million questions
Getting intrigued by all this cold stuff 😆
Happy to answer and help where we can!
Have you used Paramo trousers and jackets
We have in the past, but not recently. Main issue was weight and the fact that they’re insulated. We both run hot and like to add / shed layers when we need too and the Paramo waterproofs are all insulated. Definitely great kit though and would work for us in lower output activities for sure.
@OutdoorIntrigue ah ok yeah makes sense. I've got some old dead bird softshell with patches on instep they polartec Lord knows what type so long ago but amazingly I lost bit of weight and actually fit them again. They might be gamma but not sure the polartec might be the type that blocks 98% wind. I went mad back in the day even before CZcams days buying dead bird so has fallen apart unfortunately from age not use the bonding . I've got Paramo I'll try it. Yeah I probably run cold or cooler but never been in those conditions. Do you put a layer on if stop or keep stops minimal
Paramo is great quality stuff so might be perfect for you. We do take stops but they tend to be minimal (depends on the objective though) when we stop we usually add a puffy top layer to keep warm.
Vegan cheese😂
Yeah its not that great most of time 😂 although I’m not sure you can tell with a BabyBel
*_Hello... when you walk in a vast snow field it produces a very beautiful panorama, but isn't it cold to do activities during the snow season, sorry because in my country there is no snow, except at the peak of Carstenz Papua which has a height above 4 thousand... in From Indonesia....._* 👣👣🏔🏕👌👍
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it. It’s definitely cold, but when you have the right kit for the trip you stay warm most of the time and can warm yourself up again if you do get chilly. We’ve also lived in Scotland for 4 years now and spend a lot of time camping and hiking in the snow, so we’re acclimatised to it 🙂 we’d both struggle to hike and camp in the heat in Indonesia that’s for sure!
@@OutdoorIntrigue Yes, that's right, but you should try to come and have an adventure in Indonesia, have you ever been to Indonesia?.... 👌👍🤝🙏
@@GAPTCHANNEL7no we have never been, it must be amazing!
@@OutdoorIntrigue