All the gear...
The Cape Wrath Trail in winter clearly requires the right gear.
I’m fortunate in that I’ve built up most of the following over many years, although I’ve had to get a few new bits for the trip.
The weather could be weeks of unrelenting rain, snow, fog and probably a mixture of all three. So here’s a list of the kit I’m going to be using:
Camping
Hilleberg Akto Tent - Light, bombproof. This little beauty has given me years of good service. Now discontinued but I’ve seen a few on eBay. The Terra Nova Laser also seems a popular high mountain 4 season tent.
Rhino pegs - Highly recommended!
Ph Designs Minim Sleeping bag - rated to -10 but I have used it comfortably down to -15 with clothes and a silk liner
Thermarest 3/4 length - 15 years and still going strong! Alpkit do some cheap, but quality alternatives (the same goes for their down sleeping bags)
Rucksack
Lowe Alpine TFX Expedition 75+20 - Heavy, but a proper expedition sack - you could fit a small horse in this baby
Clothing
Paramo Aspira Smock - In Scotland you need something you can rely on. Maybe too hot for summer, also dries very quickly, can’t recommend enough
Paramo Aspira Salopettes - Best.Trousers.Ever
Mammut Base jump pants
Taranaki merino base layer (top and long johns)
Buffalo Mountain Shirt
Trusty Norgee fleece “left over” from TA days
Thousand mile socks - Never given me a blister yet
SealSkinz warterproof undersocks
Berghaus Yeti Extrem full boot gaiters - Bought from army surplus years ago and used once - should come in handy for the bogs
Karrimor leather boots - Bought for a song in Ambleside and still going strong
Paramo Balaclava
Rab Power Stretch Gloves
PH Designs mitts
Cooking
Jetboil stove and 2 x spare canisters - A big departure for me, I have finally retired the trusty Trangia from solo trips
Food
British and American vac pac army rations (Wayfarer style) - heavy but tasty, you look forward to eating it at the end of a hard day.Would probably grit my teeth and use freeze dried next time due to weight
Plus the unusual selection of munchies for breakfast and lunch: Soreen loaf, nuts, Mars bars, beef jerky etc. Stoat porridge bars are a revelation!
Other
SPOT emergency rescue beacon - See other posts
Silva compass & spare
Canon Powershot G9 camera
Basic first aid kit
Water purifying tablets
Mini toilet trowel
Platypus 3L hydration system
1L Sigg water bottle
Waterproof matches
Exped dry bags
Kahtoola lightweight crampons
Camp Corsa - Lightweight ice axe - one of those “better to have with you than to regret not having” items
Leki retractable trek pole - Alpkit also do good cheap poles
Garmin Etrex H - Basic GPS for emergency grid references
iPod - For the journeys
A good book for those long nights - Tom Wolfe A Man in full
Diary - for keeping route notes
