Pennine Way Preparations Part 2 - The Kit

 Wow. I have spent hours and hours researching kit and trying to get my weight down as low as possible and my bag is still way too heavy! Just packed everything in and it weighs a mammoth 14.8kg! This is just touching the 20% rule (You should only carry up to 20% of your body weight) and I know it is too heavy for me to manage if I want to cover more than 6 miles a day....

To be real this weight is not much different from any other trip I have done, in fact it may be the lightest yet. I didn't weigh previous packs. I think maybe because I am older and generally more achy I will struggle with it more this time though. I am trying to think of ways I could reduce my pack weight without compromising too much on comfort.....

After looking through all my gear I have managed to take out a few things, I have decided I don't need my flask, I can manage with a coffee in the morning and then have water during the day, I can stop and buy a coffee in towns. My main saving is with food- I have decided that I only need to carry three days worth,  and as I eat it the weight will reduce! I have also taken out my thermal top, extra lantern (my head torch will suffice) and the sit mat. I did take out my camp shoes but then put them back in! All of this has saved me 1 kilo. This puts my base weight (weight of pack minus the consumables) at approx 8.5 kg.

Food before the cull! I now have three dinners, two lunches and four breakfasts (I have put porridge in ziploc bag to save space)

My pack now weighs 13.8kg, 1kg less might not sound a lot but I can feel the difference, it puts me the right side of the 20% rule, and knowing that as I drink water and eat food the pack will reduce is making me feel better. Ideally I need to reduce this further- not much I can do at this stage but take extra painkillers!

Here is my final list with weights in grams, I don't think I am missing anything and if I am then tough, nothing else is going in this pack now!

Pennine Way Preparations Part 1- Route Planning

 I have wanted to hike the Pennine Way for a long time, I almost did it a few years ago in April but unfortunately that year we had late snow and decided to do a closer trail (St Kenelms Way) which we could complete as day hikes thanks to 'Dad's Taxi'.

It has been 3 years since I completed the Coast to Coast walk, which means 3 years since I began writing a blog about it and never got round to finishing it and publishing! For various reasons, life has been pretty difficult in that time and I haven't been able to complete much of anything. The Pennine Way is my opportunity to reset the clock, take some time out and hopefully figure out what I want to do.

I began seriously considering getting out and completing the Way during lockdown. I had been working pretty crazy hours and caring for my Dad who has mixed type dementia, and suddenly it stopped. After I had my mini breakdown (which I think was coming lockdown or not) I realised that I needed to make some changes. So far I have changed my working hours- down to 'not much', got a live in carer for Dad and have begun to tidy up my home (I hate clutter but am also incredibly disorganised). This has freed up some brain space so that I can really start to think about how I want to make a living; enter two weeks of thinking time!

I was not intending to write all that but I'll leave it in- it gives you some context to my journey! 

My preparations began with purchasing two Harvey maps (North and South) and the Trailblazer Guide - I tend to use Trailblazer as they are updated regularly and I like the hand drawn maps- feels more personal. Using these I came up with a rough itinerary.

I then started looking at possible camping spots, I knew right from the start that I wanted to included some wild camping in there as I missed my opportunity on the Coast to Coast and I feel ready to give it a go now. Also, with the coronavirus there are some campsites not open or not accepting tents so I will have go wild. 

I then went through the route using OS maps and blogs to come up with more options to allow for short or longer days as required. I don't want to get stuck in a schedule and am quite happy to take the chance of campsites being full as it seems possible to walk the entire route wild camping. While researching I also stumbled across a Pennine Way walkers group on Facebook which I think will be invaluable for up to the minute information. I have done a more detailed spreadsheet with landmarks, campsites, restock points etc which I will share in a blog once I have completed and refined it. I have planned mainly campsites as I don't know how I'll get on with wild camping- if I love it I can adjust the plan easily.

I intended to just set out and 'wing it' initially but for two reasons this didn't happen; first, with the coronavirus pandemic I needed to know it would be possible to camp in campsites if necessary (it is, with the exception of the first night) and second, I love planning!!

I am looking forward to writing up my adventure- procrastination allowing!

Next: Preparation Part 2 - The Kit!