Camping Adventures

Trip Report: Early June Camp

This post covers my camp setup from a trip at the start of June, situated within the woods at Wellow Park near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire.

For this outing, I used the Snugpak Ionosphere. It offers excellent ventilation, making it ideal for summer months. To complement the tent, I utilized the Helikon-Tex Supertarp Small in PL Woodland camo. This tarp is perfect for keeping pack size minimal, and it integrates well with the Ionosphere by providing an extra layer of protection for the entrance, which is otherwise fairly exposed to the elements.

On this particular trip, the rain started around 1600. I didn't reach my campsite until 2000, but luckily, the canopy was dense enough to protect me while setting up. Later in the evening, the rain intensified significantly, but I was comfortable and dry inside the tent with my dog, Toby.

For this trek, I carried the Savotta Jääkäri M (30-litre pack), with a Savotta Hatka attached for an additional 12 litres of storage. I used this external space to house my tent and tarp. While I know it’s generally better for pack balance to keep heavier items closer to your back, I knew rain was likely and wanted to keep my wet gear separated from the interior of my pack. After cinching everything down, the weight distribution didn't make any noticeable difference to my centre of gravity.

My sleep system consisted of the Carinthia Tropen in Multicam paired with a Sea To Summit Comfort Blend Travel Liner, which provided more than enough warmth for this time of year.

The rain finally stopped around 0600 the following morning. I broke camp shortly after and was on the move by 0830. To give you an idea of the distances, I had hiked roughly 17 miles to reach the site, and the return leg the next day was a 22-mile trek all the way home.

The specific area of Wellow Park where I set up was difficult to access; the paths were heavily overgrown with brambles, and there was no sign of human foot traffic for a long time. I had positioned the camp near the edge of the woods.

Getting out of the woods was quick, but once I hit the open fields, the problems began. I was wearing waterproof boots, but my trousers were not waterproof. The grass in the field had grown to the point where it was reaching my hips—which, at 188cm tall, gives you an idea of just how long it was.

Because of the heavy rain the night before, moving through that tall grass was essentially like walking through water. My trousers were instantly drenched. While that was manageable, the real issue was that the water channeled directly into the tops of my boots, completely filling them.

I stopped to empty the water out, only to walk another mile and find myself in yet another overgrown field, where the process repeated. The result was macerated, soft feet, which led to significant pain and blisters. The lesson learned here is simple: if I know I’m going to be walking through long grass after rain—or even just through morning dew—I need to ensure I’m carrying gaiters or waterproof socks.