Akto, an II

At the beginning of July, 2006, my Hilleberg Akto arrived. Last year I marked this with a post called: A Year With An Akto. So, what has happened in Year II? The only maintenance on the tent was the repair of a hole that appeared.

Kit

I pack the night before an early start, and find that laying my kit on the bed is a great aide memoir. I make piles of clothing to wear, carry and so-forth. Unlike what follows, which doesn't go into each nook and cranny of every pocket.

Footwear

My preference is still for the Scarpa ZG65 boots. I had swapped out the footbeds with the moulded superfeet. I use Nikwax cleaning products after brushing or washing off excess mud.

Recently I have tried the TNF Hedgehog XCR trail shoes, swapping out the laces with those from my old Inov8 Terrocs. I picked up some blisters in Dartmoor and tightened up the lace fittings on return, no problem walking in last week, but picked up 1 1/2 blisters on the return as I had forgot to change out of the Sealskinz socks I was using as camp shoes.

My favourite pair of socks are a black & grey pair labelled "Ultimax", and have a spare pair of socks in my kit. I find that the Air Force X-socks make my feet smell.

Pack

I am still using the Osprey Atmos as pack of choice. In fact, for overnights to longer, it is a comfortable pack that handles what I throw at it. I could shave some weight off by using a smaller pack for short trips, but I can't afford it and just tighten the straps on the pack.

I bought a new Camelbak hydration sack during the year, and now use the insulated one. I might be imagining that it keeps the cold water colder.

Poles are still the PacerPoles. They are good at doing the job, and I break them down after hikes, and sometimes at night too, to stop the mechanism seizing.

Kitchen

On my last two trips, I took the MiniBullDesign Blackfly 3 meths stove. I never liked the open fire meths stoves as they seemed too uncontrollable to me. This small stove uses two ends of a wick to boil enough cold water for a brew in about 10 minutes. Slower than my Primus Micron, but I can merely refill the fuel bottle at the end of a trip. I cannot do that with gas. After about 4 days, the size of a gas canister starts making it viable again.

The mug/bowl combo from GSI is great, and I've been using the folding spoon instead of the folding spork (photos). I still have food to sort, and haven't had a serious attempt at freezer bag cooking. I have a cupboard of supplies, and just grab what I need.

Bob kindly sent me an AquaGear water filter to test (and I've still got the write-up to complete). This lives in the side pocket of a pack, and I use it to drink at a packs-off stop. I also fill the hydration bag from it.

Sleep Kit

My bag is still the Cumulus Ultralight 350. It does the job. I can unzip it and use it as a duvet. I slide the Insul Mat Max Thermo Lite down the inside of the pack. It is full length and I didn't find it cold when out in the low temperature. Having failed to replace it with an Exped, I might try next year's Thermarest release.

After seeing an Ajungilak Air Pillow in use, I upgraded from rolling up clothing into and around a stuff sack. Mine now lives in a small waterproof Exped stuffsack.

From the washing line I have rigged from ties in my tent, I can hang a small torch, as well as the more Alpkit powerful headtorch (I've not used the e+lite since the meet at Brecon last year). My pack stays at the foot end of the tent, kitchen outside in the porch, and fragile things safely up at the head end.

Clothing

With Sunday's purchase, my base layer is all merino wool. Shreddies, long-johns and longsleeve t-shirt.

Beyond that, my trousers are Paramo, meaning I can leave the waterproof overtrousers at home. Above that is a TNF fleece, and Montane primoloft lined windshirt. Buff and maybe a bonnet live in the pockets, along with liner gloves and Garmin Geko 201. In the top of my pack is a Montane Quickfire waterproof jacket.

I replaced my 'Ultimate' hat with a cammo one from Mackays, and sprayed it a couple of times with Nikwax waterproofing. The brim keeps the sun and rain off, and it folds into my pocket.

Housekeeping

The first aid kit, toilet bag and lotion & potions make up most of the rest of the kit. The small containers that I got this year allowed me to take various items like germolene and soap in smaller bottles.

Hiking

Last year finished with illness outside Killin, the pain returned and I got little hiking done as I was concerned that whatever it was would return. A trip to the physiotherapist ruled out a hernia. I got some short walks in, and bagged no further Munros until late Spring. In early summer, I was signed off with cellulitis. As it was still itchy and swollen, I wanted to keep pressure off it, so used that as an excuse not to get much done before a trip to Dartmoor in the summer.

So, in the last year, despite illness, I have hiked 132km (80 miles), spent 7 nights in my Akto, and bagged 1 Munro. Not as good as I could have been, but my motivation has been hit by concerns about another bout of pains. The main lesson this has raised is, whatever you do, don't say you go hiking, as the medicos seem to jump on that as the causes of illness. For the pain in my side, it was caused by my rucksack. I tried to explain to the doc that the pains started in my flat, before I went near my pack. And the infection in my leg was due to a tick (there weren't any) or a midge (ditto).

Some pitches

And now, some pitches with the best all-round solo tent in existence. I store the fabric in its carry bag, and then put that inside an Exped compression bag. This lies across the rucksack, near the top. The peg bag and pole all fit into the supplied bag, and that goes inside the rucksack on the side opposite the hydration tube exit. When I pitch the tent, I make sure that no gust of wind can lift empty bags, so clip the compression bag to my rucksack, and put the empty tent bags into it as I am pitching the tent.

Happy trails.

Pole's Apart

The end of the measuring tape is from the end that went in to the securing end of the sleeve.

Showing where the breaks are in relation to the actual pole sections:

First break ("A") at 52cm from the end.

And in section.

Second break is 104.5cm from the end.

And in section.

Glenshee 190507

Creag Leacach

Glas Maol

Glenshee

Carn Ait

1735. Snap. Hmm. That pole shouldn't bend there. I've a repair kit.

Ah, there are 2 breaks.

Hmm. Pitched Akto as big bivvy bag while i get the repairs done.

I can't be bothered quitting as i can rig tent up between walking poles if necessary. Pitched at col to southwest of Creag Leacach.

Fibraplex Pole

I collected the custom-made Fibraplex pole from the Sorting Office this morning. I'm looking forward to a windy weekend to try it out.

By shortening the length of the pole sections, I should now be able to pack the pole in with the tent, and should (depending on other considerations) be able to pack the whole compressed Exped drybag across the length of the Atmos pack.

Fibraplex pole Hosted on Zooomr

postSUW

Since returning from the Southern Upland Way, I've spend the week compiling the YouTube feeds and catching up with emails and action on OutdoorsMagic. The only ongoing problem with my feet are the wee toes, and then only the itch as dead skin is replaced.

As you may have gathered, something as big for me as a 2 week through-hike, is going to lead to some changes in approach and gear.

• The large pack of unused waterproofs
• Bulky food
• Repowering mobile phone
• Length of tent pole sections

Called FastAndLight and ordered a pair of Montrail Namches. As the call was on Skype, I had a good chat with Craig, and ordered a more modern lighter waterproof jacket too. I'll be back for the trousers when the 2007 stock comes in at the end of May. He told me about a diet, and I ordered the book, "The Paleo Diet for Athletes" from Amazon, as I already had a couple of dehydrator recipe books on order.

I went with the previously mentioned Insul mat, and Stef/BG is adding it to his order. Also 'won' from eBay a new USB charge-head for my phone to replace the broken one. I noticed that GadgetsQuick sell a charge head for my phone that looks like it may fit the rotary charger that I had given away to a mate. She doesn't use it, and has will look it out (I may need to repay the tub of ice cream that was the original price).

The length of the Akto's tent pole sections, 440mm, prevents the pole/peg bag fitting anywhere else on the Osprey Atmos pack except in the main compartment. A smaller length will allow the pole/peg bag to stay in an outer pocket (i.e. one of the zipped 'side' pockets). The aim is to be able to pitch the tent quickly as soon as I stop, and that means not having to faff around with rummaging inside the main compartment.

After searching the OM forum, I went to Fibraplex.com and ordered their Akto poles, asking if they can shorten the section lengths. I'll see what happens.

I haven't been in a gear shop in 3 weeks.

Found the new WayMerks website, and emailed the creator to congratulate him on his idea, and tell him of the 3 empty kists.

Went to see the Aberdeen Students' Show "The Invasion of the Doric Snatchers" [link]. First one I've seen, and I was impressed at the professionalism of the production. A tail of superheroes and supervillains in Aberdeen, it was novel to see that the sidekick was the main character. Being mainly in Doric, it took me a couple of goes before I got the Lisa Lane name-gag. For example:

• Hello, you look nice, what's you're name?
• Lisa Lane
• Sorry for asking, I'll just go then.

Getting in the mood for Bellingham by listening to Bob's preview podcast.

Oh, emailed CamelBak about my invention. Doubt anything will come of it. I'm probably the last person in the world to figure this one out.

If anyone thinks this is overkill, well, I am looking forward to the summer, and another coast to coast (or maybe two).

Crying Rabbit

Stopped off at Sainsbury's on the way back from the PO Sorting Office this morning. Ostensibly to look for a dehydrator as they stock the Tchibo range. No joy, but found that they have the "Look what we found!" range of ready-real-meals. Sampling the venison sausages for breakfast, I wouldn't class it as a meal. As a large lad, I reckon it is more of a snack.

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Five's "The Gadget Show" tested mp3 covers for iPods. The Otterbox came out well. Details on their page. A bit lost on me, as I don't take my iPod out on the hills. I took the wee stick-mp3 player a couple of times, but prefer the solar-powered radio. Or a book. Or my own thoughts as I look over a stunning view, listening to the local wildlife. If you need to carry in a full opera company, you're not trying hard enough. But each to their own.

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Lower Pacerpole section definitely jammed, so I'll contact them to return for a repair. I don't know my own strength sometimes.

I'm off to crush a grape.

Gear 4: Gerber Revolt

Okay, so there's an argument about not taking a pocket knife out on the hills, but I find a pocket-knife useful. The portable toolkit of the Swiss Army knife has never appealed to me, so just have a wee blade instead. The od-ities pocket knife was showing its age (starting to wobble and not keeping an edge) so I decided to look for something better. Gerber is a 'named' brand, and the tanto shape of the Revolt caught my eye. Too many knives seem to be impractical these days - I don't know what the market is, but I don't see the point of knives where the hilt is an open frame.

Weight 91 grammes. Lanyard hole for fitting onto pocket emergency kit. It has a belt-clip, but I'll remove that.

Also, collected PacerPoles sections from Sorting Office today. On Tuesday, I sent the lower sections back to be released; on Thursday morning the PO tried to deliver the fixed poles back to me. Rapid service!

Gear 2: Pacerpoles

Just got an email from the nice people at Pacerpoles to say that the sections I'd mailed to them on Tuesday lunchtime, had been fixed and were back in the post to me. I'd over-tightened the lower sections and couldn't undo them. Must be the porridge in the mornings.

If you're not familiar with these poles, that's them leaning against the trig point on Glas Tulaichean, my 29th Munro. Here's the comments I wrote after coming back from my first trip out with them 2 weekends back:

~~~

Just back from 25 miles and 3 Munros in Cairngorm NP. PacerPoles were great.
Walking on flat, they help push (not pull) me along. But, they also did the same going uphill. Someone on an earlier thread described it like pushing on the arms of a chair to help you get out of the chair. I got the reference this weekend.
Also noticed that the poles work at a better angle on steeper slopes than 'conventional' poles.
I'm going to recolour the strings so I can tell quickly which pole is which without referring to the wee plastic inset.
I haven't used them for tarps or tent poles, so review doesn't include that use.
Oh, and the 'pistol grip' is great when tracking grouse exploding from the heather. Sorry, is it just me that does that?

~~~

{I'm trying a 3rd party editer to publish this entry, MS Windows Live Writer. Update: problem with posting graphics, so went back and added photo manually in BetaBlogger until I can look into FTP issue}