Outdoor Gear

“Clik Clak” Stove

I have been using the meths burner from my Vargo Triad stove with my Crusader stove. They work well in this combination and it allows me to use cleaner meths fuel with the Crusader unit. I’d like to have a meths burner permanently stored in the Crusader case and was planning to make a drink can stove – but whilst walking last week I had an idea for an alternative meths burner.

A while back we had been given a small tin of mints as a business freebie and I thought it might make a good burner.

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The lid design gives holes for the meths vapour to get out of the tin.

Time to experiment.

I filled the Clik Clak tin to just under the rolled lip – the tin is not as big as the Triad burner so I wanted to maximise the burn time – and then carefully clicked the lid on.

I put the tin and the primer meths (about 3mm deep) into the Crusader Stove fuel bowl, lit it, and put 250ml of water on to heat in the Crusader Mug with my metal lid.

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It did work, the water just reached the rolling boil before the fuel ran out. The next test is to try it outdoors, rather than in the still air conditions indoors.

For my latest lightweight cooking gear set up – click here.

“Clik Clak” Stove Read More »

Craigellachie Nature Reserve Again

Yet another bright frozen day, with a light dusting of overnight snow – a good day to go to the high ridge of the Craigellachie Nature Reserve.

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Lunch on the top

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When I first got up to the summit there was hardly any breeze and it was a great place for lunch overlooking the Cairngorm range. Whilst I was having my soup it started to snow, I watched it coming up the valley towards me.

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This is the second day of wearing my new Explorer Trek boots. The tread gives a sure grip on both wet rocks and icy paths. They are very comfortable, warm, waterproof, and give good, high ankle support. They are large boots but they are still lightweight. It looks like they are a good buy and I am looking forward to wearing them for many miles.

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Miles on the boots so far 14.

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Carnforth pt 3

I had planned to return by following the coast path, however when I got there the path was flooded and too soft to walk on, so I decided to follow the canal path back towards Pine Lakes. Here is bridge 129a, carrying the motorway.

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Not as quaint as the other bridges.

Unfortunately the path I wanted to follow did not exist.

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As the light was starting go I decided it would be better to take the road way back – there is a very good path along the main road from Carnforth to Pine Lakes. You need to be careful crossing the roads at the roundabout at the resort, and when getting around the tree which has recently fallen over blocking the path!

The walk today was on paths where it was not suitable to get my stove out to cook my lunch, so I took my flask for a hot drinks and had crackers and tinned mackrel. I had something new to drink today – Diana got me some Chai Latte sachets – just add hot water.

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I like Indian tea and make it when possible with sweetened condensed milk. I keep at least one Indian tea bag in my hiking brew kit but use extra dried milk and brown sugar when I make it when walking. The sachets were very convenient and tasted excellent so I will be getting more of these for future trips.

Carnforth pt 3 Read More »

Lancashire Coastal Way pt 2

The Lancashire Coastal Way passes very close to Pine Lakes so as the day was sunny but cold – and to avoid the hill walkers in the Lakes – I chose to walk out to the coast.

There was a suitable path right outside the resort gates so I did not need to use the car.

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Warton Crag

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Lunch Stop

I found a great place for lunch – hot chicken noodles, maple syrup granola bar and fresh coffee – with a view.

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I used my Source 1l roll up water bottle, that Jeremy got me for Christmas, for the first time today. It fitted well into one of the grab pockets on my pack, but it was a bit “squeezy” when I came pour water from it. The result was some spillage over the stove, my trousers etc – it will need a bit more care when in use compared to my Platypus roll up bottle.

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