A Wild Campsite

I’ve just returned from four days in the Brecon Beacons, working with Marlborough College on a life skills week for 180 fourteen year old students. My small part in this enormous logistical exercise was to run two 2-day hill walking expeditions for twelve of them at a time.

We were wild camping in remote mountain campsites with no facilities so we had a carry all of our equipment in our rucksacks. Despite being given a packing list, many of the students failed to being essential items or brought inappropriate items and learnt the hard way from their mistakes or laziness. There is nothing like experiential learning to drive the message home!

I was asked many times over the course of the trip ‘What’s in your bag then?’ and so I thought I’d share the contents of my rucksack here, so you can see what I need to survive 48 hours in the hills.

Camp Equipment

• 52l Rucksack
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Inflatable Mat
• Head Torch

Spare/Camp Clothes

• Thermal Longjohns
• Puffy Jacket
• Spare Thick Socks

Clothing

• Thin Gloves
• Warm Mitts
• Fleece Balaclava
• Fleece Headband
• Pertex Windshirt
• Thin Fleece
• Softshell Jacket
• Waterproof Jacket
• Waterproof Trousers

Cooking and Eating

• Gas Stove
• Aluminium Windshield
• Gas Canister
• Plastic Spoon
• Insulated Mug
• Pan and Handle
• Lighter and Matches
• Sponge/Scrubber
• 1l Water Bottle

Miscellaneous

• Map
• Compass with Whistle
• OHP Marker (for writing on maps)
• Sharp Knife
• Sunscreen
• Sun Glasses
• Insect Repellent
• First Aid Kit
• Drybag with Phone and Wallet
• 2 Walking Poles

In addition I would be wearing Boots, Thick Socks, Underwear, Lightweight Trousers and a Wicking Top.