David,

I don't think you fully understand your new roll as Mr Lambert and Mr Sloman's carer. It might be a good idea to have a word with their old carer Mr Walker.

Ian C.

I always endeavour to adopt the Walker / Lambert approach to pack weight, just shrug (when NOT wearing it, obvs) and say "que sera sera - whatever 'twill be 'twill be".

But THEN ... well ... I have those luggage scales just sitting there in the hall and it's soooooo tempting just to load up and see. Out of idle curiosity, you understand ...

Back in 2000 when I tackled the Great Outdoors Challenge for the first time, my pack weight was about 22kg. But then I was young then (a mere child of 32!) and I couldn't afford shedloads of ultra-lightweight gear.

A ruthless process of getting rid of everything (except emergency gear ... ) that I've faithfully carried year on year without ever actually using has got me down in recent yours to somewhere round the 14-15 kilo mark. I've nearly finished putting everything in the pack again, and I could swear that it's feeling lighter than in previous years.

What have I forgotten to pack???

So, just packed it.
All up, with food for 3½ days 11kg.
And I chucked some extra stuff in :-O