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GR5: Gawn…

Walker's Haute Route - 07-211-small

Well, we’ve told everyone we’re going (family, friends, accountants), switched off the water, emptied and propped-open the fridge/freezer, switched off the electricity, left keys with our neighbours, left voicemail messages saying we’re not likely to be checking our voicemail… etc… etc…

We’ve also left some spare bits of kit with Rachel (who’s joining us for the first fortnight so we’d better not need them then!). Things like a backup pair of trousers (that’s another story!) and the old Terrocs. Though we’ve got to know the folks at Outside Hathersage well enough that they said they’d be happy to post new Terrocs to us Poste Restante in France.

I’ve not had time to write up a couple of entries that will have to wait till we return (like the trousers thing and the chargers we’re using). But since I didn’t finish the Iceland write-up until this April I’m not worried!

Although I’ve not had a chance to test it as yet – this Spot page should apparently show you where we are (“Tracking the Yeti in its southerly migration” as LB refers to it).

Have a nice summer all – we’re certainly aiming to!

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Dry Bags Always Need Checking

Ulrika - Sweden Summer 2009-42-small

I’ve just leak tested the five dry bags we’re taking on the GR5 and three had leaks.

Most of them are by no means old either.

To my surprise, by far the worse leaks were in the “tougher” Exped sacks and not in the little silnylon Sea To Summit bags.

Even pin-hole leaks can let in surprising amounts of water I’ve discovered – and some of the ones I found were pretty big.

Here’s a quick HOWTO:

  • Have a pen ready to circle any leaks and a towel to dry the outside.
  • Turn inside out (you’ll want to make any repairs on the inside of the bag).
  • Fill with no more than about four litres of water, even in big bags (any more and the silnylon bags could rupture).
  • Dry with a towel so you can spot the leaks.
  • Roll the bag around so that each section of bag is at the bottom of the water inside them (to get the most pressure).
  • Pay particular attention to seams.
  • Dry and repair with Mcnett Seam Grip or Mcnett Silgrip

Only four days to go… Whoohoo!