View Full Version : Loch Ken
GrizzlyAdams
07-01-2009, 01:12
I've had a couple of meetings in England this week, and between them had the great pleasure of spending a night hanging with some Bushcraft UK folks, a couple of whom (tripitaka and Gailainne) are also members here at HF. I came to know tripitaka a while ago when I shared some Amsteel blue and SMC rings I had with him. Stuff like that is hard to get in the UK.
The location was Loch Ken, in Southern Scotland. The campsite was on the Loch itself, a short distance from a parking area. This was car camping at its best. The locals came very well equipped! Gailainne brought a Kelly Kettle and seen in action it is very impressive.
I came with what you see below...my full kit in a GoLite Ion. I'd brought along 1 extra length of 5' webbing, and two 6' lengths of extra suspension line. I needed it all to get my hammock hung around the available trees!
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/3/lk-1_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=6304&c=18)
Here's Trev and Gailainne marking time on the beach.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/3/lk-2_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=6305&c=18)
Gailainne is using a DD hammock, on the ground. The number of trees available for hammocks was very limited. tripitaka had a Blackbird under a HH hex tarp just out of sight of the picture. Trev doesn't hang and was on the beach around the corner behind the tree he's leaning against. My hammock was a bit further down the way.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/3/lk-3_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=6306&c=18)
The DD appears to be quite a rugged piece of kit. The midges in Scotland are notorious, and the DD netting is up to the task. We mostly had breezes that kept the buggers away though.
Trev is a joinsman (carpenter who specializes in joining pieces of wood, e.g. doors and windows) and brought a canoe he'd fashioned himself. It is a brilliant piece of work.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/3/lk-5_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=6307&c=18)
There are AMERICAN crayfish throughout the Loch, like most Americans in the UK, considered to be a nuisance. Seems they were introduced to be farm breed but some of the nasties escaped. Here tripitaka and Gailainne are catching them.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/3/lk-4_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=6308&c=18)
Gailainne put a piece of shrimp on a line, dropped the line in the water, a crayfish would grab the shrimp with his pinchers, and then they'd scoop him up. That was the theory anyway. They caught two that way, then later Trev and tripitaka went out in the canoe, discovered that the crayfish climb up and cling to the bottom of lily pads, and came back with a harvest of a dozen or so. Here's a big one just before going for a swim in a pot of boiling water.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/files/4/2/3/lk-6_thumb.jpg (http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=6309&c=18)
tripitaka was a gracious host; I had a great time meeting up with him, meeting Gailainne and Trev as well. tripitaka also gave me some pointers on stealth hangs in the English Lake District, a topic I'll reserve for another report.
Grizz
STOCKHOLM-SYNDROME
07-01-2009, 02:45
HI GrizzlyAdams -
You would not believe that when I was groing up we used to go camping and swim in that exact Loch Ken .
Small world .We used to hike up the six miles from our village and set up camp next to the Loch .
There is an old arched metal disused railway bridge near by and when we were kids , we used to jump of of it into the water , I know that was pretty stupid :scared:, but then we were only 10 at the time , thinking we were invinsible .
That area of the GALLOWAY HILLS has amazing views .
Scotland is a very picturesk country , and most of the time you have the countryside to yourself .
To the west of you is the GALLOWAY FOREST PARK which is full of all kinds of deer , ospreys, hawks ,even eagles , and boy are they big !!!
The only two busy areas for hiking are the SOUTHERN UPLAND WAY , and THE WEST HIGHLAND WAY ,any where else should be quiet and peacefull .
The only big problem is the midges , they will just keep at you from morning till dusk .
They are persistant little buggers !!!!!!!!!
Dave .................
headchange4u
07-01-2009, 08:00
I am sooooo jealous Grizz. Looks like to had a great trip.
angrysparrow
07-01-2009, 08:03
Thanks for sharing, Grizz.
Is this the first 'international' HF hang?
SmokeHouse
07-01-2009, 08:09
very nice,,, thats an awesome canoe... Thanks
Cannibal
07-01-2009, 09:09
Nice pics! Any fog off the Loch?
GrizzlyAdams
07-01-2009, 14:08
hey Stockholm-Syndrome, that's really neat. There was what might have been an old railroad bridge a half mile or so south of where we were camping (which was itself about half a mile south of Drumrash. This is more the middle of the Loch, not the southern end though.
Cannibal---I didn't see fog on this loch, but stay tuned for a trip report on my subsequent hiking in the Lake District....
Grizz
mmmm crayfish. I too am jealous.
Gailainne
07-01-2009, 14:15
Very good to meet you too Grizz :D
It was a very relaxed weekend, with some interesting wildlife to study.
Red Kites, rare in Scotland, but they were flying directly over the camp, on the Sunday morning we even saw one taking a frog back across the Loch to we presume fledglings, at one point on Saturday we had 5 Red Kites and 2 Honey Buzzards(perhaps) soaring on thermals across the Loch, amazing sight.
The Loch, no fog
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/Gailainne/Loch%20Ken%20June09/IMG_1543.jpg
The railway viaduct which splits the Loch
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/Gailainne/Loch%20Ken%20June09/IMG_1544.jpg
Trev at ease in his very impressive canoe
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/Gailainne/Loch%20Ken%20June09/IMG_1565.jpg
All too soon it was time to pack up
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/Gailainne/Loch%20Ken%20June09/IMG_1563.jpg
BTW The reason I took to the ground is; Trip had one of the only 2 sets of trees that could be used for hammocks, and as I knew Grizz would be bringing his Bridge, I gallantly left them to him, sounds good no ?
That DD was my first hammock, its been on a few adventures with me, and its bomb proof, using it as a bivi caused no concerns.
Last but not least Grizz not only allowed me to photograph his Bridge and suspension system, he let me have a lie in it, very, very comfortable, and not at all tippy, which I must admit I found with the Jacks Bridge.
The foot end, very nice detail on the noseeum, should keep even the dreaded Scottish midge at bay :cool:
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/Gailainne/Loch%20Ken%20June09/IMG_1566.jpg
Outcome is the DIY bug has bit again, I've been sourcing various material and cord, to try and make a Grizz clone, to that end Grizz I hope you are open to a "few" Pm's on dimensions and such ?
Regards
Stephen
GrizzlyAdams
07-01-2009, 14:38
...
BTW The reason I took to the ground is; Trip had one of the only 2 sets of trees that could be used for hammocks, and as I knew Grizz would be bringing his Bridge, I gallantly left them to him, sounds good no ?
and here I was thinking it was so you could be near the fire and the Foster's <grin>
Last but not least Grizz not only allowed me to photograph his Bridge and suspension system, he let me have a lie in it, very, very comfortable, and not at all tippy, which I must admit I found with the Jacks Bridge.
The foot end, very nice detail on the noseeum, should keep even the dreaded Scottish midge at bay :cool:
...
Outcome is the DIY bug has bit again, I've been sourcing various material and cord, to try and make a Grizz clone, to that end Grizz I hope you are open to a "few" Pm's on dimensions and such ?
Regards
Stephen
PM away, happy to help. Perhaps I ought to write this one up too...I was sorta waiting until I was sure the mossie net design was up to the task. I know now that it is...I was swarmed with midges at Haweswater and the net did what it needed to do...KEEP THEM OUT. A "Trial By Fire" such as I have rarely encountered before.
I haven't worked out just why yet, but having significantly different spreader bar lengths and correspondingly differently sized suspension triangles noticeably reduced tippiness over previous of my hammocks that were symmetric.
Grizz
Gailainne
07-01-2009, 15:02
...I was swarmed with midges at Haweswater and the net did what it needed to do...KEEP THEM OUT. A "Trial By Fire" such as I have rarely encountered before.
Glad to hear it, although between the 2, I would prefer to be swarmed by English midges any day, the Scottish ones don't take prisoners, although unfortunately the English also suffer from Mosquitoes, which I wouldn't wish on anybody.
I haven't worked out just why yet, but having significantly different spreader bar lengths and correspondingly differently sized suspension triangles noticeably reduced tippiness over previous of my hammocks that were symmetric.
Grizz
I have read up on TeeDees articles, but also some others, including yourself who have went in slightly different directions, I just need to make one DIY Bridge first to see where I want to go from there. You and I's stature and weight seemed very similar, certainly your Bridge fitted :boggle: and felt very comfortable, so it seems logical to start from there, especially as you guys have put in so much effort and wonderful mathematical threads :lol:
Interesting point about the different sized suspension triangles, as I told you at Loch Ken, the tippyness was something I just couldn't handle with the Jacks Bridge, I got seasick in it seemed seconds, but that probably was me not setting it up properly, <shrug>.
I apologise in advance for the bombardment of PM's you are about to receive :o
PS I'm ignoring the comment about the Fosters, since you drank most of it :tongueup:
Cheers
Stephen
Gailainne
07-01-2009, 15:07
I haven't worked out just why yet, but having significantly different spreader bar lengths and correspondingly differently sized suspension triangles noticeably reduced tippiness over previous of my hammocks that were symmetric.
I had a think about that, and it may be as simple as the harmonics of the hammock ends being different enough to perhaps not cancel each other out but interfere with each other, lessening the swing, rather than exacerbating it.
Stephen
Whooooo Southern Scotland!
M-m-m-m- .... some crawfish and grits would be so palatable on the shores of a Loch.
Glad for you Grizz and for you being our American Ambassador of Hammock Arts.
Gailainne
07-01-2009, 16:43
Shug et al, its amazing the number of questions that you wished you had asked Grizz afterwards :o, even on the way home I was thinking I wished I'd asked about.....(so many things), and taken more photos.
The crayfish are a serious problem on the Loch, with no natural predators here, although I think the local wildlife, ie Otters and escaped Mink (another American nuisance) have taken a liking to them, we saw enough evidence of predation, claws mostly.
The brown trout in the loch are suffering badly, and so is the fishing, local hotels etc up the food chain, not good.
There were signs up saying that a serious licensed trapping session was about to start to hopefully bring them under control, no way will they eradicate them without poisoning the Loch.
They do make good eating though :D, not sure about the grits, perhaps a home made Tartar sauce :cool:
Stephen
slowhike
07-01-2009, 17:26
Shug et al, its amazing the number of questions that you wished you had asked Grizz afterwards :o, even on the way home I was thinking I wished I'd asked about.....(so many things), and taken more photos.
The crayfish are a serious problem on the Loch, with no natural predators here, although I think the local wildlife, ie Otters and escaped Mink (another American nuisance) have taken a liking to them, we saw enough evidence of predation, claws mostly.
The brown trout in the loch are suffering badly, and so is the fishing, local hotels etc up the food chain, not good.
There were signs up saying that a serious licensed trapping session was about to start to hopefully bring them under control, no way will they eradicate them without poisoning the Loch.
They do make good eating though :D, not sure about the grits, perhaps a home made Tartar sauce :cool:
Stephen
Yep, after a camp out I always think of things I should have asked or tried. For instance, I could kick myself for not asking Griz if I could try out his latest bridge hammock at this years Mt Rogers hang.
I hear a lot about critters that have found their way (with the help of humans) to America & are now a nuisance, but I've never give thought to people taking wildlife from America to places were they didn't need to be.
Instead of counting on other critters to get rid of them, maybe you could make sure everyone knows how good they are to eat.
People are pretty good at over fishing & reducing the population sometimes<G>.
Beautiful place!!! And pretty cool that Griz was able to hook up w/ you guys across the big pond!!!