can be either leather workmen’s gloves or gardeners’ gloves.
Leather gloves being worn on Bidein (Section 8)
Headgear is invaluable for keeping you warm or cool so take a hat and something to protect you from the sun. Buffs are very versatile. Make sure your choice of headgear works well with your climbing helmet. You should consider taking sunglasses depending on the weather forecast but especially if it’s going to be sunny and there is still snow around.
Bivi gear
Sleeping bag
Most people prefer synthetic bags due to the possibility of them getting wet. However, down bags are lighter, pack smaller and hopefully you will be setting out with a good forecast (and probably only for one night) so it won’t be too disastrous should it get damp. Personally, I take a 1 season very light down bag and wear all my clothes in it happy to offset a slightly chilly night for a light pack over two days.
Bivi bag
I have only used Goretex bags and they work pretty well. I have seen people literally soaked with condensation when using bags made of other materials so Goretex is well worth the added cost. A zip top is preferable to the cheaper models with draw cords, which are harder to seal against the elements. Remember, bags can tear easily on rough ground so choose your bivi carefully and consider putting your sleeping mat on the ground under it.
Sleeping mat
Lots of people take Thermarest-type mats but these are very vulnerable to the sharp rocks of the Cuillin so care is needed with choosing your bivi site. Consider a closed cell foam mat cut down to two-thirds of its full size, so just long enough to stretch from hips to shoulders; the rope can be uncoiled and used for padding under your legs and your rucksack as a pillow.
Stove
Gas is the way to go. It’s clean, easy, quick and there are no worries about liquid fuel spills or leaks. Light is best but think about stability and wind resistance if going for the ultra-light models. Jetboil-type stoves are brilliant; not the lightest but completely self-contained with windshield, pot and cup etc all in one. Don’t rely on built in-igniters – always take another lighter or windproof matches.
Cutlery etc
A spoon or spork should suffice since you won’t be engaging in cordon bleu cooking. A largish cup can double as a bowl to eat from.
Water bottles
Consider taking extra bottles or a spare bladder so you can descend to a spring and take back plenty of water for the evening and next day.
Food and drinks
Preferences will vary according to personal taste but whatever you take, make sure you have tried it in the hills prior to your ridge attempt.
Trail food to eat during the day
Trail food should be kept easily accessible so it can be eaten little and often, perhaps in trouser or fleece pockets or a pouch on your hipsack belt. Here are some ideas to consider:
Fruit pastilles or jelly babies
Fig rolls (although these can be too dry in heatwave conditions)
Cereal bars (test them and opt for the more moist varieties)
Energy gels in small sachets (particularly useful for one day traverses)
Liquid for the day should also be readily available so Camelback-type bladders are ideal and enable you to drink without stopping. Fill bladders and bottles etc and drink your fill as high as possible on the approach. Remember, lots of teams give up due to running out of water/dehydration. Hydration tablets not only replace lost salts and sugars but the pleasant taste can encourage you to drink more and stay hydrated.
Evening meal, breakfast and lightweight cooking gear
Dinner
Boil-in-the-bag or dehydrated meals are very quick and easy to prepare, don’t mess up the pans and the water can double for a hot drink. On the downside, they are expensive and boil-in-the-bag meals are heavy.
A cheap, easy and light alternative is a packet of cous cous, slices of salami and a cup-a-soup. Quality chocolate for pudding followed by copious hot drinks of your choice constitutes a fairly palatable meal. Keep water handy so you can rehydrate without getting out of your bag at night. A small bottle of whisky or a hip flask can enhance morale no end.
Breakfast
Again, quick and simple is the key with breakfast. Instant porridge only requires boiling water and can be made in a cup – consider adding cranberries or sultanas to it as well. Drink as much as is available. Breakfast bars are good but some can be a bit dry.
Miscellaneous
Depending on the time of year, consider taking a head net and/or some sort of repellent like Smidge to counter the midges. Remember, they don’t fly if the wind is 4mph or more so exposed bivi sites on the ridge may be midge-free.
Besides midges, the other wildlife worry on the ridge is ticks, which may well latch onto you especially lower down on the walk in where deer are prevalent. Tick cards are worth their weight in gold to remove these stubborn blighters and are available from chemists.
Toiletries should be kept to a minimum – you shouldn’t really carry more than a toothbrush and a small container with enough toothpaste for the team, toilet paper, sunscreen (if the weather’s good) and lip salve.
Take a phone for emergency use and possibly to check the weather forecast on a multi-day traverse. Mobile phone reception is poor to non-existent in Glen Brittle, Elgol etc but pretty good when on the ridge itself. Check your particular network has coverage before you set off. You might find a small camera useful to record events (or you could rely on your phone).
Make sure there is no duplication of unnecessary gear between partners. It may sound excessive but to save weight and bulk consider taking things out of individual stuff sacks and containers. Thus, there is no need to keep a bivi bag in a stuff sack. Unless there is a forecast of heavy rain, don’t bother with a dry bag but use the bivi bag as a pack liner and bundle things inside it.
Navigation
Should you be lucky and have great weather with wall-to-wall visibility, you may well wonder what all the fuss is about. More likely, visibility will be less than ideal and you will immediately realise why people talk about the complexities of Cuillin navigation.
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