3 Nights Alone in the Wild - A Spring Adventure

​I had planned to film my 100th Video among the high peaks of the Carneddau, but was greeted by no camping signs, barbed wire and endless red plastic traffic cones. It looked more like roadworks on the M1 than a mountain valley, so I got back in my car and took myself off to the Rhinogs, where it feels like home

The Rhinogs was where I nervously set out for my first ever multi-night trip, 2 years ago. So the perfect place for my 100th video

Day 1

I arrived late in the day, with a redundant paper map of the Carneddau 🫠 and no plan. I decided on day one to just try and make it up to Llyn Morwynion at around 400m, and wow was it beautiful. I scrambled up a stream gorge to the lake, not long before the sun set over the bigger mountains in the distance. The stars shone and reflected in the lake. It dropped to below freezing but I stayed snug in my lil nook

I took the MSR Hubba NX for this one as I wanted to be a bit lighter. I'd not used it for over a year since the poles snapped in high winds at Cnicht. I remain cautious of this tent but it was great for this nice still weekend.. barely a breeze so no bother on this occasion

Gear List

This gear list contains affiliate links. This means that WildBeare makes a small commission from any sales made via these links, at no extra cost to yourself - a great way to support the channel. Thank you
 
SHELTER
Tent MSR Hubba NX https://amzn.to/3u6VJOa - I made a lil viddy having a closer look at this tent, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/uDRGc0mHyac and here’s the trip where it broke in the wind: https://youtu.be/w1TEsudoy-o
MSR 1 Person Universal Tent Footprint https://amzn.to/3qB7ECN
 
TREKKING POLES
Fizan Compact 158g https://amzn.to/3ETBs6T

​SLEEP SYSTEM
Sleeping Bag Leviathan OEX 900 https://amzn.to/3CEQriw
Sleep Mat Neoair Thermarest Xtherm Max https://amzn.to/3uSjiLt
Trekology Aluft Delux Pillow https://amzn.to/3xwuhM1
Highlander Reflective Mat https://amzn.to/3OxQ2mv
Alpkit Kloke Lightweight Bivi Bag
 
RUCKSACK & PACKING
Deuter Aircontact 60+10L SL Women’s Rucksack https://amzn.to/3MqRvcW
Decathlon 10L Waist Bag
Exped Dry Bags https://amzn.to/33OmrDu
Nylofume Pack Liner - https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk
 
SIT MAT
Cheapo one https://amzn.to/3yP22u8
 
GPS / NAVIGATION / PLB
Garmin Inreach Mini https://amzn.to/3sVBi9f
Garmin Backpack Tether https://amzn.to/3sTRibM
Phone https://amzn.to/3An5PQ7
 
FIELD REPAIRS
Tenacious Tape https://amzn.to/2PmjxOq
Duct Tape (I wrap it around my trekking pole) https://amzn.to/3qPKFEF
DD Superlight Guy Rope 16m (spare cordage) https://amzn.to/3hlefRW
 
COOKING
Hiking Stove https://amzn.to/3cM173q
Colemans Gas https://amzn.to/3rsp6bW
Jetboil Gas 230g https://amzn.to/3z5qV5L
Folding Gas Canister Stand https://amzn.to/3GLhHh4
Toaks 900ml Titanium Pot https://amzn.to/3j5Mwot
X Bands https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk
Opinel Pocket Knife No.6 https://amzn.to/3ad0HAo
Tito Titanium Spoon https://amzn.to/3xgwcqi
Lil pots https://amzn.to/3FG5fi8
ZipLock Bags https://amzn.to/3oST07r
Microfibre Cloths https://amzn.to/3rHZYyf
Bag for rubbish
 
WATER & HYDRATION
LifeStraw 650m Filter Squeeze Bottle https://amzn.to/3TSeDVe
Folding Trail Running Cup (10g) Decathlon
Milton Sterilising Tablets (for cleaning at home) https://amzn.to/3W4tLR5
 
TOILETRIES & PERSONAL CARE
Tissue
Baby wipes
Hand sanitiser
Trowel https://amzn.to/3etBVz9
Hair band
Lip balm

 
MED KIT
Pain relief
Antihistamine
Plasters & blister plasters
Torniquet (only use with knowledge of how to use safely)
Wound Dressing & Small Bandage
Alcohol Wipes
 
TICK, MOZZIE & MIDGE PREVENTION
Lifesystems Ex4 (tick treatment for outer clothing coming into contact with long grass etc) https://amzn.to/38XozuB
Rose Geranium Oil https://amzn.to/3jY4YwJ
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil https://amzn.to/3rzROdq
Tick Removal Tool https://amzn.to/3rHfkFp
 
CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR
Boots Regatta Bainsford https://amzn.to/3jufjj0
Spare Bootlaces
Waterproofs:
OMM Women’s Halo Pants https://amzn.to/3FBI9Ja + Jacket https://amzn.to/3MimZCc
 
Hiking Clothes:
Grey Workout Leggings Primark
Merino Thermal Under-Trousers Decathlon
Merino Mix Vest Decathlon
Fleece Decathlon
Synthetic Hoodie https://amzn.to/3wQfPPu
Down Puffy - Decathlon
 
ELECTRONICS
24,000 mAh Anker Power Bank https://amzn.to/3K6XmWF
Headtorch – Decathlon Bivouac USB (100 lumen)
Light - Goal Zero https://amzn.to/32RI1pR
Thermometer https://amzn.to/3TMdw9n
Microfibre Cloth for drying hands & electronics in wet weather https://amzn.to/3rHZYyf
 
RIVER CROSSING / SWIMMING
Spare set of undies
Water Shoes https://amzn.to/3HaxXY7
💧 Back at home between trips, consider washing your swim clothes and swim shoes in products that are kinder to the water. I’m currently using Tru Earth https://amzn.to/40n1YMZ
 
HEAT
Ocoopa Electronic Hand Warmer https://amzn.to/3BDyels
Hot Hands https://amzn.to/3q1iiTp
 
FILMING
Camera – Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/3t4VamJ
Ulanzi Wide Angle & Macro Lens https://amzn.to/3CC6Jaq
ZV1 Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3tYOnPA
Sony Lavalier Mic https://amzn.to/3OOtvlC
128GB SD Card https://amzn.to/3tckuY8
Ring Light Clips https://amzn.to/2MZjCGK
Basic Tripod https://amzn.to/3nxGg7p
Mini Ball Heads https://amzn.to/32Zb87n
Rain Cover https://amzn.to/3VctprU
 
x2 GoPro 10’s https://amzn.to/3T9CDUB
Wind Shields https://amzn.to/3TesuWA
Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3ww70Lf
Selfie Stick https://amzn.to/3zRjDTh
Rucksack Mount https://amzn.to/32Ojy4M
128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v
Gorrillapod Flexible Mini Tripod https://amzn.to/3u9Tb3j
 
SAM the drone:
DJI Mavic Mini Drone Fly More Combo https://amzn.to/3rvF0SZ
+ an old iphone to control it – my phone is not compatible
128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v
 
COMPUTER & EDITING
Editing Program – Davinci (Free)
Sony Headphones https://amzn.to/3yds75R
Mouse https://amzn.to/3yjY24t
Dell PC https://amzn.to/3CAp3mX
Seagate 10TB External Hard Drive https://amzn.to/3MnK4Vj

Day 2

I woke early to a pair of geese flumping around outside my tent, making a right racket. The morning was beautiful, just below freezing, and steam rose from the lake as I watched the sunlight spill over the rocky outcrops behind me

Still without a plan, I decided to have a go at Rhinog Fach as I'd never been to that area before. So I made my way from my camp spot at Llyn Morwynion, up over the Roman Steps, through Bwlch Drws-Ardudwy; the valley between Rhinog Fach & Fawr

Arriving at the path that would lead me up Fach, I stepped into unfamiliar territory and followed a rough way up to the most gorgeous lake

Llyn Hywel sits up at 533m, between the summits of Rhinog Fach and Y Llethr. I've seen it many times before from neighbouring Rhinog Fawr, and always thought it looked so pretty and precarious. Like a blue jewel balancing there between two peaks, ready to slide right off the mountain

It was just as wonderful up close. The peaks reflected in the water and I lingered here for 2 hours, had my lunch, attempted to dry my boots and socks a little in the sun. I looked to the summit of Rhinog Fach and wondered if I'd be able to reach it

Setting off from the lake, I crossed a rockfall and made it up to 600m on the south ridge before that familiar feeling hit me.. feeling like I'm going to slide, feeling like I want to lay on the ground, feeling slightly nauseous

So, I descended down, past Llyn Hywel, to a tiny shallow lake - Llyn Cwmhosan. It was warmer here, so I had my first lil cold dip of the year. The water was 9°C and felt pretty fresh! It was so invigorating and felt amazing to have some mountain water on my skin again

I took some time sitting on a rock and watching the world lazily go by. The geese would fly over, splash about on the lake and then fly off again. Not a soul was to be seen here (well, no human souls at least)

The clouds came in and I pitched up and snuggled down for a cosy night. I was full of gratitude for the days experiences, the warmth of the sun after a long winter, and wondered what tomorrow would hold

​
Day 3

I woke on the third day to wind and rain on the tent after a blissful deep 8-9 hours of sleep and had a lazy breakfast of 3-day old, flattened pain au chocolat (which was still extraordinarily delicious)

The geese joined me again on the lake - Llyn Cwmhosan, bobbing around and having a fun time. I felt like we'd become a small part of each others lives over the last few days, and bid a fond farewell to them on the way back down to the valley

There's a slightly steep section on the way down that I don't like, especially in the slippery wetness. I slid down sections on my butt and headed a few km north east, into the forest

The forest was green and fresh. More sheltered down here, the light rain was pleasant and refreshing, and I wandered amongst the trees, stopping for lunch and cooking my noodles in water from the stream

I stopped at Pistyl Gwyn, passed over the Roman Steps in the clag and set up camp for the night in a tangly, mossy little woodland. The mist hung in the air and the place felt so atmospheric, almost magical. Here I found a new addition to the family - Dave! He's settled in nicely at home with Gordon, Cyril & Steve

I woke on Day 4 with the dawn and made my way back to where I started, passing the geese again and stopping to take in the views at Llyn Cwm Bychan

I'm so thankful that I can come out here and once again become a part of this natural world. My soul is so at peace here