Camping in the Brecon Beacons in February
Discussion
I am going camping in the Brecon Beacons this coming weekend, the weather forecast is looking pretty terrible.
I have never camped in any season other than summer so not sure what to expect, but I keep thinking "How bad can it be?" Dangerous I know...
Am I mad for even thinking of going, or is it just going to be a case of man up and get on with it?
Also does anybody have any tips for camping in winter, or any tips for staying sane when its 4am and -5?
Any advice appreciated!
I have never camped in any season other than summer so not sure what to expect, but I keep thinking "How bad can it be?" Dangerous I know...
Am I mad for even thinking of going, or is it just going to be a case of man up and get on with it?
Also does anybody have any tips for camping in winter, or any tips for staying sane when its 4am and -5?
Any advice appreciated!
Did similar a sometime ago for a rally somewhere near Devil's Bridge. Can't remember exactly what month but probably late Feb/March. I had a Vango Nitestar (synthetic) sleeping bag that was supposedly 4 season but I took another larger sleeping bag and slept in the Vango bag inside the larger bag. Probably had some thermals on too. Was warm enough for a couple of nights in my dome tent. Kept the amount of time I was actually in the tent to a minimum though, spent the evenings in the car or pub.
Was pretty cold from what I remember
Was pretty cold from what I remember
Should be OK if you have a good sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of -5C and sleep in your thermals and socks..
Take a good sleeping mat and a stove for hot chocolate before bed and coffee & bacon in the morning.
If I was back in Coventry, I'd lend you my expedition bag - But it might be too warm
Take a good sleeping mat and a stove for hot chocolate before bed and coffee & bacon in the morning.
If I was back in Coventry, I'd lend you my expedition bag - But it might be too warm
Edited by Lotus Notes on Tuesday 24th February 17:37
Not a good idea if you do not know what you are doing or ill prepared.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/mountai...
Never ignore the weather.
What can go wrong.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/mountai...
Never ignore the weather.
What can go wrong.
The tent I am taking is a vango banshee 200 or 300 can't remember which, I have a 3 season sleeping bag and obviously will take plenty of layers, waterproof coat and trousers etc. I'm not sure what facilities are nearby.
@jmorgan: I have been checking that weather forecast regularly, it's the current forecast so will change before Friday, still very unnerving though...
@jmorgan: I have been checking that weather forecast regularly, it's the current forecast so will change before Friday, still very unnerving though...
Kj159 said:
The tent I am taking is a vango banshee 200 or 300 can't remember which, I have a 3 season sleeping bag and obviously will take plenty of layers, waterproof coat and trousers etc. I'm not sure what facilities are nearby.
@jmorgan: I have been checking that weather forecast regularly, it's the current forecast so will change before Friday, still very unnerving though...
You know that 3 season tag? Guess which season it is now @jmorgan: I have been checking that weather forecast regularly, it's the current forecast so will change before Friday, still very unnerving though...
If you are not playing silly buggers and backpacking, take lots of stuff to go under you, and some duvets to go over you, plus big comfy pyjamas, and whisky.
jmorgan said:
Yeah, three seasons, been there, froze to death. Not good. And it was not the coldest it could get. I was skint at the time hence the "what can go wrong" from me at the time.
Any way around it? Like bringing quilts and blankets for under and over the sleeping bag? I'm verging on skint too, which probably goes some way to explain my "how bad can it be?" mentality I have camped sub zero temps a few times - once when 14 with a mate halfway up Snowdon... Its still the most miserable night I can remember, But have learnt a lot since then.
Top priority is getting as far off the ground as you can, using as many layers as you can between the ground and your bag, A matt will not suffice, the ground will suck the heat right out of your body and you won't be able to get it back.
On a budget I would go with - as many thin layers as you can sleep in, sleeping bag, small thin self inflating mattress (cheap) then I have used the foil backed bubble wrap that goes behind radiators under the mattress ( foil side up) then your foam mat.
Retain your heat! easy to take stuff off if your too warm - s
t to open a bag and put cold clothes on because your cold.....And don't get any of your sleeping gear wet at all cost, eat well and you'll be fine.
Top priority is getting as far off the ground as you can, using as many layers as you can between the ground and your bag, A matt will not suffice, the ground will suck the heat right out of your body and you won't be able to get it back.
On a budget I would go with - as many thin layers as you can sleep in, sleeping bag, small thin self inflating mattress (cheap) then I have used the foil backed bubble wrap that goes behind radiators under the mattress ( foil side up) then your foam mat.
Retain your heat! easy to take stuff off if your too warm - s
t to open a bag and put cold clothes on because your cold.....And don't get any of your sleeping gear wet at all cost, eat well and you'll be fine.BE VERY CAREFUL if you light a stove to keep warm, and there is insufficient ventilation, this can kill.
A lot of thin layers are better than a few thick ones.
Your finger tips and toes will probably be the most vulnerable.
If you are well prepared you'll have great fun.
If not...................
A lot of thin layers are better than a few thick ones.
Your finger tips and toes will probably be the most vulnerable.
If you are well prepared you'll have great fun.
If not...................
My tips,
Ive winter camped on numerous occasion, remember a couple of years ago when everyone got snowed in, I was camping on the North Yorkshire Moors & I got a great sleep all week.
Night time is your biggest challenge when it will get the coldest, so get thermals for sleeping in, before bed have a shower and get changed make sure your properly clean and dry before getting in your bag. Take a duvet with you, extra layers is key if you have 2 sleeping bags take both, but a decent tog duvet will/should suffice. Make sure you wear a hat and snood will be worth it too & maybe gloves too. try resist the urge to sleep in too many clothes, you need to have layers to put on in the morning to stay warm. Make sure you have something under you that insulates you from the cold ground, your an experience camper so im sure you know this already.
Don't sleep under anything that doesn't breath (foil/space blankets etc), moisture is the enemy, you sweat you die is the old saying.
If your campsite doesn't allow fires, then take a BBQ with you and use it to get warm and cook on etc
In winter especially in the UK is always worth having redundancy on your clothing, 2 of everything, so if your hat gets soaked you have something else to cover your head/ears.
Use a tarp to sit/cook/lounge under if you have a small tent(it always rains in the uk) 1 side attached to your tent other to a cheap walking pole and when ever you sit down have insulation between you and the ground.
Ive winter camped on numerous occasion, remember a couple of years ago when everyone got snowed in, I was camping on the North Yorkshire Moors & I got a great sleep all week.
Night time is your biggest challenge when it will get the coldest, so get thermals for sleeping in, before bed have a shower and get changed make sure your properly clean and dry before getting in your bag. Take a duvet with you, extra layers is key if you have 2 sleeping bags take both, but a decent tog duvet will/should suffice. Make sure you wear a hat and snood will be worth it too & maybe gloves too. try resist the urge to sleep in too many clothes, you need to have layers to put on in the morning to stay warm. Make sure you have something under you that insulates you from the cold ground, your an experience camper so im sure you know this already.
Don't sleep under anything that doesn't breath (foil/space blankets etc), moisture is the enemy, you sweat you die is the old saying.
If your campsite doesn't allow fires, then take a BBQ with you and use it to get warm and cook on etc
In winter especially in the UK is always worth having redundancy on your clothing, 2 of everything, so if your hat gets soaked you have something else to cover your head/ears.
Use a tarp to sit/cook/lounge under if you have a small tent(it always rains in the uk) 1 side attached to your tent other to a cheap walking pole and when ever you sit down have insulation between you and the ground.
Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 25th February 11:48
Kj159 said:
We are driving to a campsite not far from pen-y-fan, nothing has been booked yet so if the weather takes a catastrophic turn for the worse, we can always head somewhere else. The person I am going with has had to book time off work so pulling out now isn't really an option
Could you not just stay in a B&B?I think you have to think about the people that will risk their lives to try to rescue you. How close to that are you? Off the beaten track by a lot or in a camp site next to the motor?
I appreciate that accidents happen, but bad prep and not understanding the conditions are not a good way to explain ones self.
I appreciate that accidents happen, but bad prep and not understanding the conditions are not a good way to explain ones self.
Foliage said:
If your campsite doesn't allow fires, then take a BBQ with you and use it to get warm and cook on etc
In winter especially in the UK is always worth having redundancy on your clothing, 2 of everything, so if your hat gets soaked you have something else to cover your head/ears.
The campsite does allow fires, I wouldn't be going if it didn't, so keeping warm before we get into our tents shouldn't e too difficult, it's just the clear cold night on Friday and a day of on and off rain on Saturday that could be an issueIn winter especially in the UK is always worth having redundancy on your clothing, 2 of everything, so if your hat gets soaked you have something else to cover your head/ears.
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