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Blindfolded & Abandoned 100km from Home. Can I make it back on foot? I finally finished my first feature length film 🍿 of my first long distance hike! On the 5th of June 2024, I was blindfolded & left stranded 100km from home, as the crow flies, at a location unknown to me that I'd picked out blindly from a hat. @AshOutdoorsUK drove me out & left me there, alone with my nerves to find out where I was, and begin the long trek home I had my tent, a bivi and supplies on my back – not light gear as it was unseasonably cool. I also had 2 days of food and 2L of water to start me off My map showed me that I would need to walk 124km, and cross 3 entire counties Even if I could make it just a third of the way, it would be the furthest I had ever walked in my little life by far. Little did I know, this adventure along our English rights of way would basically be an obstacle course, including a cow chase, a soaked sleeping bag, an angry guard dog, bivi camping next to a road, about a million overgrown footpaths, ditch jumping, ridiculous stinging nettles, fights with hedgerows.. I'd anticipated the physical challenge of hauling up to 20kg of gear and water for miles & miles and I'd been training for months to prepare my body & correct a few ailments. What I didn't anticipate was how much of a mental game it would be.. ..to be stranded so far from home, alone, with so far to go and such a weight to carry. I find that the discomfort & fear are the first things to fade from memory. I already miss this adventure so much 🥲 There were no mountains, no waterfalls. Just a very real experience of England, my home country. A more understated beauty, a bit rough around the edges, with wonderful people along the way This project has been a huge part of my life for months now. It's been such a thrill to bring my crazy lil idea to life and document it. I've laughed & cried. It's been created from my blood, sweat and tears, literally haha. I'm so excited to finally share it with you guys :D Thank you so much to everyone I met along the way. I could not have got as far as I did without the kindness of strangers 💚 New to STRANDED? Here's how it goes: My good friend Ash chooses a variety of potential starting locations from a 100km radius circle from Ivinghoe Beacon (home) I pick out one of those locations, blindly from a hat I'm blindfolded and driven out to the unknown starting location that I've picked out I'm abandoned there alone, still blindfolded, with my camping & filming gear I attempt to make it back home on foot, filming my escapades along the way The 100km radius circle..  Google Maps: https://www.google.co.uk/maps (no affiliation) Gear List
Stranded 1 took place in June - but with unseasonably cool nights dropping down to 6°C. Because of this, unfortunately I wasn't able to take my real lightweight summer camping gear, and was considerably heavier than what I would have liked This gear list contains amazon 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 You can also see lots of my gear in my Amazon Gear Shop :) *I choose not to be sponsored, affiliated with any particular brands, and have not accepted any of this gear as a gift. Every piece of gear that I’m using is something that I have chosen to buy for myself – my opinions on it and experiences with it are completely impartial GPS / NAVIGATION / PLB / EMERGENCY I tracked my progress with Strava Pro (no affiliation) I used OS Maps Premium (no affiliation) to navigate & automatically plot me a route home Phone https://amzn.to/3An5PQ7 Waterproof Phone Case https://amzn.to/3K7956B Personal Alarm https://amzn.to/3UYLiLm Garmin Inreach Mini https://amzn.to/3sVBi9f (in case of losing phone signal) Compass TENT Tent Lanshan Pro 1 3FUL https://amzn.to/45QOr3Q + Footprint Seam Seal https://amzn.to/39MXlY1 Double Hook Apparatus https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk Swedish Dishcloth for condensation 7g https://amzn.to/3vt3W4E Small DCF Tarp https://WildSkyGear.co.uk TREKKING POLES Fizan Compact https://amzn.to/3ggE1Gj SLEEP SYSTEM Sleeping Bag Leviathan OEX 900 https://amzn.to/3CEQriw Sleep Mat Thermarest XLite https://amzn.to/3L8r4Ym Trekology Aluft Delux Pillow https://amzn.to/3xwuhM1 Light AF Mat https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk Alpkit Kloke Bivi Bag https://amzn.to/3rb1nCK (seams are now busted) RUCKSACK & PACKING Deuter Aircontact 60+10L SL Women’s Rucksack https://amzn.to/3MqRvcW DCF Zip Pouches & Dry Bags https://WildSkyGear.co.uk COMPACT UMBRELLA https://amzn.to/44O8EHQ WATER & HYDRATION Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter (just in case – didn’t use) https://amzn.to/4bERwqe Oasis Purification Tablets https://amzn.to/3cSkszU Cup (10g) Decathlon CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR Boots Peter Storm Caldbeck https://amzn.to/3JtYPFp Scholl Liquiflex Insoles https://amzn.to/3QjoX9z Grangers Natural Beeswax for Boots https://amzn.to/44bT0Ft Sealskinz Waterproof Warm Weather Ankle Socks https://amzn.to/4agqdT7 Fine Merino Socks https://amzn.to/3F66vvp Knee length socks (bug protection for my legs) Hiking Clothes: Regatta Burlow Long Sleeve https://amzn.to/4a41D7e Shorts https://amzn.to/4a8Bwfk Shirt – Patagonia (100g) Clothes for Camp: Down Puffy Decathlon Foam Flip Flops Waterproofs: OMM Women’s Halo Jacket https://amzn.to/3MimZCc SIT MAT Cheapo one https://amzn.to/3yP22u8 FIELD REPAIRS Tenacious Tape https://amzn.to/2PmjxOq COOKING Stove https://amzn.to/3cM173q Gas 230g https://amzn.to/3z5qV5L Stand https://amzn.to/3GLhHh4 Toaks 900ml Titanium Pot https://amzn.to/3j5Mwot Lighter XBands https://amzn.to/43SVFE8 Black Microfibre cloth https://amzn.to/47ltZIq Opinel Pocket Knife No.5 https://amzn.to/45P33RH Tito Titanium Spoon https://amzn.to/3xgwcqi Bag for rubbish MED KIT Pain relief Antihistamine Plasters Blister plasters https://amzn.to/3qvrzHA Torniquet (only use with knowledge of how to use safely) Wound Dressing Small Bandage https://amzn.to/401pHUI Alcohol Wipes JOINT SUPPORTS for my hypermobility Knee https://amzn.to/3WaJxN2 Ankles https://amzn.to/4b8uN5C TOILETRIES & PERSONAL CARE Tissue Baby wipes Hand sanitiser Trowel https://amzn.to/3etBVz9 Brush https://amzn.to/3QIUumd Hair bands Lip balm Talc Toothpaste Tiny mirror Mini Tweezers Tiny Pots https://amzn.to/3aJytgC Toothbrush https://amzn.to/2LqwgxY Sleep Mask https://amzn.to/3tD2lUs Ear Plugs https://amzn.to/40swCVh Cheap Sunglasses https://amzn.to/3q5wSwR TICK, MOZZIE & MIDGE PREVENTION Lifesystems Ex4 (tick treatment for outer clothing coming into contact with long grass etc) https://amzn.to/38XozuB Head Bug Net https://amzn.to/3J0OAZf ELECTRONICS 20,100 mAh Anker Power Bank https://amzn.to/3jqTQr2 Headtorch Petzl Bindi (200 Lumen) https://amzn.to/3wl9DlM FILMED WITH.. Camera Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/3t4VamJ Ulanzi Wide Angle & Macro Lens https://amzn.to/3CC6Jaq ZV1 Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3tYOnPA Rode Lav Mic https://amzn.to/44Qte8M Lav Mic Wind Muffs & Clips https://amzn.to/3TkNQUJ 128GB SD Card https://amzn.to/3tckuY8 Tripod https://amzn.to/3nxGg7p Mini Ball Head Smallrig https://amzn.to/3UYGBlD 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 Suction Mount (for windscreen) https://amzn.to/4dI6EoB Selfie Stick https://amzn.to/3zRjDTh Rucksack Mount https://amzn.to/32Ojy4M 128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v Gorrillapod Tripod https://amzn.to/3u9Tb3j SAM the drone: DJI Mavic Mini Drone https://amzn.to/3rvF0SZ + an old iphone to control it – my phone not compatible 128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v EDITED WITH.. Editing Program – Davinci Resolve Studio Headphones Sony MDR-7506 PC Vibox VIII https://amzn.to/3WaIUTG Studio Speakers https://amzn.to/4f2FOIs Monitor LG Ultrafine 32” https://amzn.to/3H6lXsg Seagate 12TB External Hard Drive https://amzn.to/42cSW7U XP Pen Graphic Drawing Tablet https://amzn.to/479ghZE Music in this Video
Thank you to these amazing artists for producing such beautiful music - it is such an important part of my videos and a joy to help me tell my lil adventure stories.. Letting Go – Almost Barely Time – Aves Every Part of Me (instrumental) – BASHAM Let It Out – Ben Fox Air on the G String – Carmel Quartet Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Carmel Quartet String Quintet in E Major Op 11 No.5 – Carmel Quartet Flower Duet (Lakmé) – Hawkins War Zone – IamDayLight Toujours – Idokay What Floor – Idokay My Home – Louis Island My Home (instrumental) – Louis Island Runa Away with Me – Louis Island With Odins Help – Matthias Förster Human – Rex Banner Side Hustle – SLPSTRM Edge of Possibility – Spearfisher October 3rd – ZISO Black Water (instrumental) – Loving Caliber Hidden Beyond – Aiyo Skywards – Aiyo O, It Feels So Good – Par Hagstrom Por Otra Mujer (instrumental) – Lawd Ito Skyward Bound – Victor Lundberg Adventure is Calling – Vens Adams Space Journey - Hartzmann All from Epidemic Sound, Artlist & Uppbeat with license Thank You
I couldn't have attempted this one without help. A huuuge THANK YOU to.. Every kind stranger who stopped to chat, refilled my water, offered me food and drink, or advised me as to where the next shop or pub might be The wonderful staff and locals of.. Brinklow Fish Bar • Brinklow Easy Greek • Rugby Braunston Village Community Cafe • Braunston Maltsters Country Inn • Badby New Inn • Abthorpe The Shoulder of Mutton • Little Horwood (No affiliation with any, they're just great. Great people, great food and so helpful too) Ash of Ash Outdoors UK - for creating the start locations and the blind draw, agreeing to drop me off, picking me up after, always being there on the end of the phone and believing that I could do this when I didn't believe in myself Friends & family - for cheering me on and keeping tabs on me, even though you thought it was nuts Nick of Get Wild, an environmentalist who was also filming a time-lapse on a certain hill and gave me tea and a biscuit, thanks, it was so lovely to meet you MSK Doc H.M. for advising me which muscles to strengthen and which to lengthen. With your advice, over the months prior I was able to correct my hip impingement and adductor tendonitis. I wouldn't have been able to even attempt this without your expert guidance (GP on the other hand just told me to 'stop hiking'.. helpful) Most of all, thanks so much Wild Ones for coming along on this adventure with me. If it weren't for you guys watching, I wouldn't be able to take the time to do this mad stuff in the first place. You allow me to live my weird lil dreams. Thank you 💚 Ooh yes, and links to the cow articles I was looking at (these are just what came up when I searched the subject, there’s lots of info out there if you’re interested): 🐄https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/killer-cows-named-uks-most-30956262 🐄https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/killer-cows-the-one-tonne-menace-bringing-fear-to-the-footpath-ppw6tg92k 🐄https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cows-officially-the-most-deadly-large-animals-in-britain-a6727266.html Thank you all |
