MrCousins’ ExpeditionTopTips
Plan, plan, plan
Menuplan. Layoutallyourgear. Practicepackingyourrucksack. Practiceputtingupyourtent.
Tryputtingeverythinginyourrucksackandthenplayaroundwiththe strapstoadjustthefitting.Seewhatismostcomfortable.
On expedition, carbs are king…
Carbsarekingbutfocuson theslowreleasingcarbsor mediumGIfoods.
Mostofourenergyon expeditioncomesfrom eatinglotsofcarbohydrate. Complexcarbssuchas wholegrainpasta,brown riceandoats(porridge)are excellentsourcesofslow releasingcarbs. Avoidrelyingonsimplecarbs suchassomeproteinbars, chocolatecrepesandenergy drinks.
Youwillneedproteintohelprepairthecellsinthemusclesthatyou haveusedduringtheday.Ifyouarevegetarian,wherewillyougetyour proteinfrom?
Sweetsaregreatforsharingwithfriendsandwillhelpkeepspiritshigh.
Pleasedon’tbringnutsonexpedition
Packing a rucksack
Ignoremuchoftheadviceyouwillfindonline.
2goldenrules
1.Itemsyoudon’tneedduringthedayatthebottom.
2.Itemsyoudoneedduringthedayatthetop.
Verybottom-sleepingbag(ifinownsack,seenextpage). Bottom-spareclothes,food,toiletries.
Middle–tent,stove,gas,sleepingbag(ifstuffinginbinbag). Top–Firstaidkit,packedlunch,toiletingsupplies.
Lidpockets–waterproofs,snacks,hat,gloves.
Sidepockets–water(ifnotusingwaterbladder). Hipbelt–snacks.
Theonlyitemallowedontheoutsideofyourrucksackisafoamsleeping mat.Thismustbewaterproofedbygoinginarubblesack.
most online advice!
Ignore
Packing your sleeping bag
Atightlystuffedsleepingbagcanbealargeandinflexibleshape.Try looselyputtingitontooneofyourbinbags.Youwillthenbeableto stuffitintoallthelittleemptynooksandcranniesinyourrucksackand itwilltakeuplessspace.
Roll don’t fold
Rollyourclothestightlybeforepacking.Thisisamoreefficientwayto packandwillsaveyouspaceinyourrucksack.
your kit dry
Keep
Usevarioussizesofdrybagstokeepyourkitdry. ThesefromSportsDirectcostbetween£4and£12dependingonsize. Don’twanttobuydrybagsbutyoucangettoasupermarket?Youcan usetoughbinbagsandfoodclipsinstead.Justmakesureyouhave squeezedorrolledalltheairout!
Keep a track of where you are
Keepingatrackofwhereyouareandtickingoffwhatiscomingupon yourwalkwillhelpyouavoid“navigationallymisplacing”yourselves.
Thiswillalsoallowyoutoengagewiththelandscapearoundyouand increaseyourenjoymentoftheexpedition.
Workcollaborativelyasateam,helpingandsupportingeachotherwith navigationdecisions.
Wear a waterproof to keep warm
Waterproofcoatsarealsowindresistant.Poponeonwhenincampto keepthewindoffofyouandtohelpyoukeepwarmintheearlymorning andevening.
Sleep in a t-shirt
Don’tbringseparatepyjamasoryourfavouriteonesietosleepin,wear thefollowingdayst-shirtorbaselayertobed.Youwillalsobekept warmerbywearingawalkingbaselayerthancottonpyjamas.
Puttingsomeclothesintoastuffsackisagoodwaytocreateacamp pillow.
Iflookingtobuyasleepingbag,syntheticinsulationismorepracticalas itmatterslessifitgetswet(anditislikelyto)whereasdowninsulation stopsworkingwhenwetandisexpensiveandinconvenienttoclean.
Personal hygiene
Asabareminimumyouwillneedtocarryinyourrucksackatoothbrush, toothpaste,handsanitiserandatoiletingpack.
Toiletingpacktoincludewipesorloo paper,dogpoobags,ziplockbags,trowel andteabags.
Ateabagplacedinyourtoiletwastebag helpsneutralise‘aroma’untilyoucan disposeofitcorrectly.
Youmayalsowanttotakedeodorantandasmalltrekormicrofibre towel.
You don’t have to pay full price when you shop
Thereareloadsofplaceswhereyoucangetdiscounts.Many independentstoreswillgiveadiscountifasked. Discounts
membersget10%backoneverypurchase. 15%off
Budget
Trespass–Walton(closing?),Staines.
MountainWarehouse–Richmond,Windsor,Chiswick,Putney, Wimbledon.
Decathlon–Ealing,Wandsworth.
SportsDirect–Kingston,Walton,Feltham,Staines,Isleworth, Wandsworth,Putney,Hounslow,Richmond,Kew,Ealing
General
Alpkit–Kingston
WeyFarmOutdoors–Ottershaw
CotswoldOutdoor–Kingston,Chiswick,Windsor
GoOutdoors–Kingston Blacks-Wimbledon sportpursuit.com
conscious suppliers
Suppliers
Boot Fitting
Chancesareyourfeetaregoingtogetwetsoagoodfewpairsofsocks andproperfittingpairofbootscanmakeallthedifference.Theydon’t havetobeatopendpremiumbrand,buttheydoneedtobe comfortable.
CotswoldOutdoor–Kingston GoOutdoors–Kingston WeyFarmOutdoors–Ottershaw SurreyTrek&Run-Shere
Further reading
https://lehs.sharepoint.com/sites/leh-seniorpupils/DofE
FoodBlogs
https://www.dofehero.com/blog/complete-guide-to-food-on-dofe https://www.theordinaryadventurer.com/advice/dofe-food-ideas/ https://www.dofe.org/shopping/expedition-kit/expedition-food/
Generalhikingblogs
https://awomanafoot.com/ https://eatsleepwild.com/
And the final tip is… …popoverforachat.
MyofficecanbefoundinTheGatewaynexttothePEofficeandIam onhandtohelpyouwithyourDofEawardandtoansweranyquestions orconcernsyoumayhave.
Notes
