Abdabz

I have been travelling to the same area of Wester Ross in Scotland all my life and now at 31 am about to embark on a 22mile cross wilderness walk through some of the most stunning countryside in the UK. This will be in March...
To do this I am hiring a guide and have told them that whilst I am no mountaineer, I am reasonably fit...
Question is how fit do I need to be? The walk climbs up to 2400 feet, is completely off road with some landrover track to follow early on and at the end, but the rest is peaty paths...
What kind of training should I do to relieve the burden? I currently run a few miles a week, cycle appx 20miles a week and do ad-hoc weight lifting... Do I really need to start doing massive weekend walking regimes to prevent blisters etc?
Also how much do I need to spend on walking boots as a one off? This is the only equipment I cannot hire for the expedition... Should they be a size bigger than my normal shoes in order to fit 2 pairs of socks (1 thin and 1 think pair)???
Any information would be useful so I dont need airlifting after 16miles!!!
Thanks
P

SiPie

That's like my daily walk to work

Southern softie

Get on with it.....and you should be home in time for lunch

..on a more serious note, bathe your feet in metholated spirits for 2 weeks prior to your walk and make sure any walking boots are well worn in.......you'll be fine.

DarkStar66

I'm not an expert mountaineer but I've done a lot of walking in Austria.

If you are going to buy some walking boots you better do it soon because they will need walking in. DO NOT go for your hike with boots that aren't walked in as you'll be in agony after a couple of hours. I'd recommend you go to a proper walking equipment shop like Field and Trek or Blacks with the socks you are planning to wear on the walk. The assistants should be able to advise you properly but be prepared to spend over £100 for a good pair of water tight boots.

As for walking practice, walking machines in Gyms are OK but cannot replicate walking on squashy, uneven ground. The best thing is to do some local walks in your new boots, maybe find out if you can join a ramblers group.

Abdabz

Cool... I will wear in the boots... No worries there...Off to Rivington Pike I go this Sunday I'll try and feet a good quality pair in the sales otherwise the boots will cost more than the guide, in which case he can give me a piggyback
For those who know the area it is from Dundonnel via Carnmore to Poolewe...
P

hedgehog

If you are on tracks/paths then 22 miles is just about do-able in a day but at that time of year it could go either way and there is a lot of ascent in there even if the peaks aren't very high. If you get a strong wind into your face it can literally slow you to a crawl. Either way I don't know that I would take someone to do 22 miles, even on tracks, if they had no clear idea of what it was like to walk that distance. Even if you don't feel up to doing a little 22 mile test trip on the hill you should at least pick some reasonable hills and get yourself doing 5 or 6 miles at a good pace. When I walked a lot I used to keep myself ticking over by doing a 5 mile loop locally. I aimed for just over the hour to do it, certainly no more than 1:10 and the area, while never getting very high, had lots of climbs and descents. It kept the legs and heart going.

If you come off the paths into the bog and heather then, depending on the ground, you can literally be looking at taking an hour to cover what looks like a mile on the map.

In terms of boots, well a lot of people favour the unlined leather ones but I would honestly say that the goretex lined ones are hard to beat. On a wet day the leather ones will leak no matter how good they are. On the other hand if you are knocking out 20+ mile days you are likely to be soaking wet no matter what you wear. Get a good pair plus good socks that suit your feet and take some plasters with you in case you do get a blister, usually slapping a plaster on it will keep you going with no huge discomfort even if the worst does happen.

I guess that as you are used to the area you will be aware what the weather can be like in March but worth keeping in mind.

To be honest it doesn't sound like a whole bundle of laughs to me, a bit too much hard work, but I think you need to train up a little bit before setting out.

ChrisB

22 miles in a day shouldn't be a problem. I did a charity walk in November and clocked 8 hours, 6 minutes for 25 miles. I'd expect somebody like Ozzy to batter my time though.

Boot choice is a personal perference. I've got Gore-Tex (a GTX) lined fabric and unlined leather boots. Yes, a GTX boot will keep your feet dry (I was standing in streams helping people coming off Kinder Scout on New Years Day and my feet were bone dry). However whilst GTX is breathable, you can still end up with wet feet from sweat. At the end of my 25 miles my socks were soaked. Somewhat down to your body - some people run hot, some run cold.

I bought my GTX lined boots in the Lakes and did 15 miles + for the next two days in them. A well fitted boot shouldn't need massive amounts of breaking in (if any) IMHO. Go to a specialist outdoor shop that has well trained and experienced staff to offer advice. I would suggest buying boots by fit and comfort, not by price, style or colour. That said, you shouldn't need to spend over £100. Shopping in the afternoon is best as you feet swell up during the day but don't go five minutes before the shop shuts. For my last pair, I spent an hour trying different volume adjustors and lacing patterns before buying.

I wear a thin inner and a thick outer sock, but can't say I've ever bathed my feet in meth's!

Abdabz

Nice one guys. I know the terrain well and have mountain biked 11 miles into that wilderness once before but kept on rough tracks... The weather dictates that its an open booking with the guide so we can assess what day is best nearer the time.
Im considering doing it for charity as many of my mates think Im barmy and wont go through with it, but once you're out there there's no way out, but to carry on.
I will get some practice in over the coming weeks and will buy the boots on Saturday afternoon... They are providing Gaiters (sp) which I gather further waterproof and support the foot/ankle...
Once I've done it I'll pop some piccies up of the area - but none of my feet

ChrisB

Gaiters just keep mud and crud out of the top of your boots, they don't give any extra support (well certainly not the models I've ever seen)

ozzy

No big deal and should be easy for anyone fairly fit and with some determination to keep going. As long as your get your legs used to the endurance, keep hydrated and fueled along the way you should be fine. I'd have offered my guiding skills FOC just to get out in the open air again

There's nothing that can simulate walking uphill other than doing it. Biking will work your legs and (along with your running) give you some good CV fitness to cope with the climbs. Do some regular walks up some local hills to get used to it.

If I was doing it myself, I'd take the following kit:-

Walking boots (I prefer waterproofed leather ones ala Zamberlan)
Gaiters (gortex ones)
Couple pair of socks (just in case 1 pair get wet) - I also like using the 1000-mile socks
Compeed Blister kit (I survived 4 weeks blister-free in Alaska with these)
Quick drying trousers (North Face or something similar and comfortable)
Quick drying base layer top (Helly Hanson, Berghaus X-static, etc..)
Warm fleece (at least 200 weight if it looks cold)
Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof Over-trousers

If the weather looks pretty cold, then add an extra layer like some leggings and an extra lightweight fleece or even a lightweight puffy jacket so you can add layers to keep warm. I always carry my lightweight Rab puffy in my bag just in case.

BTW gaiters on stop cr@p getting into your boots and keep your lower legs dry when walking through long wet grass and ****. They don't provide any support.

A 40l rucsac should keep all your kit unless you plan to camp out overnight and carry extra water/food.

The biggest weight you should carry is your water - don't scrimp on it, but I'm sure your guide will make sure you can pick up plenty of fresh drinking water en route. That should at least minimise all the stuff you have to lug up the hills

Good luck,
Stefan

corradoboy

Echo what the others have said. Goretex boots are a must. I recommend Brasher, especially the ones with the calfskin lining which I have. The dual layer socks are good, but if you don't use them then use two layers. One a thin clingy manmade layer which will wick sweat away from your feet, and the next an insulative layer with a high man-made content to allow any wicked moisture to evaporate and so escape through the Goretex membrane of the boot. The same principal applies to body wear. A man-made thin tight fitting longsleeve t-shirt under a micro-fleece top, with a 200+ weight fleece which can be easily removed. Again this will allow moisture to be transmitted away from the body and evaporated out through the Goretex of your outer jacket. I regularly do 15+ miles in all weathers, from freezing to driving hard rain, and am always dry as a bone afterwards.

ChrisB

A wicking base layer is a good start but I'd turn into a mobile sauna with two layers on top of that, especially if one is a 200 weight fleece.

It's all down to individual bodies, so it's a case of try-it and see.

Abdabz

Cool... All helpful stuff folks...Thanks! Ozzy, feel free to join in if you're up that way between the 5th and 11th March...
Im buying the boots on Sat and using them properly for the first time on a 10miler on Sunday - so I'll suss out the sock thing from there, taking on board all comments
I've been overegging the running lately and thus having a few minor shin splint problems, but will do the walking on soft ground and build up over the coming weeks gradually (while easing up on running as there shouldnt be much call for it up there unless I p155 a deer off ) so as not to damage anything before I go...

hedgehog

I was never keen on waterproof overtrousers and was never happy with any of the solutions. Then, many years back, I got a pair of what were basically waterproof jeans designed for American wildfowlers. They were cammo which looks a bit odd I suppose but were fantastic and dead comfortable, I would even wear them on dry days. Unfortunately they are reaching retirement and I can't find anything close to being as comfortable, the replacements I have bought are from a similar (hunting/shooting) source but are a bit too warm for walking any great distance in mild weather. Still worthwhile to get rid of the over trousers though.

For water I carry one of those filter bottle things by someone called Katadyn. It is pretty light when empty and in most of the places I walk/fish you could drink the loch or burn water anyhow but it gives another layer of security more than anything. Quite costly at about £40 as I recall but worth it for me.

I still think that 22 miles out there in March sounds a bit too much like hard work to me, go in May/June make a week of it and fish for trout in all the lochs. That sounds like a lot more fun :-)

Brit_in_Japan

Pretty much endorse all of the above. Get boots asap and wear them in properly before the big hike. There is no better way to get hill fit than walking in the hills. I'd advise making sure that for any training days out you take a rucksack which is heavier than the one you'll take for the big day out.

(BTW, is it Knoydart you're going to???)

As for boots it depends on the terrain you are likely to use them on, not just on this walk but on future walks too. Places like the Cuillin can be very tough on boots and I've seen material type boots ripped horribly up there. New leather boots, properly waxed will keep you dry. Bear in mind however that a walk in that area at that time of year might leave you with wet feet whatever you wear on them. Jumping across streams in spate can be dnagerous and you might need to ford them by just wading through. Better to make sure you feet will be warm whether wet or not.

Is this 22 mile hike to be done in one go or are you overnighting at a bothy to make a weekend of it? If overnighting then carry some spare dry socks to make your evening more comfortable whilst you try and dry out infron of the fire.

Regards trousers I have found that some made by Paramo here to be the best I've ever used. Waterproof, always comfortable and always warm (in horizontal rainfall, high winds, snow, temperatures way below zero etc) and quick drying. You wear nothing underneath them so don't have to bother about taking them on/off as conditions change. They also have full length side zips to allow you to cool down if you get too hot. I swear by them now, best trouser garment I've ever owned (and I've had Gore-tex over trousers etc).

Have a good trip.

ozzy

When I'm walking I usually just wear a base layer under my jacket or windproof fleece (depending on the weather). You need multiple layers for when you stop to hydrate/eat or if the weather turns really nasty and you need to seek some shelter. You know yourself just how quickly you get cold once you stop hiking. I always go prepared for the worst, even if 80% of my gear never comes out my rucsac

My Rab over trousers are very good at breathing. I've even worn them with just some shorts underneath when it's been a bit warm, but very wet.

If it's dry but cold, I'll wear my Buffalo jacket. Haven't found anything that comes close to being as warm even in severe wind chills

Ken 275

Sound advice guys; it's put me back in the mood for a good yomp. A couple of tips though : make sure that the boots have a stitched in tongue as the terrain will be very wet at this time of year in Wester Ross which is one of my favourite locales. Also, I know they are passion killers, but a good pair or two of long-johns or tights are very handy and tend to be worthwhile.

Good luck in your trek.

Ken