In case anyone's wondering, I asked Jen and they're waiving the "no visiting the area" rule just for this raceOriginally Posted by drmorris
In case anyone's wondering, I asked Jen and they're waiving the "no visiting the area" rule just for this race
Good to know. My partner wondered if we should have entered under pseudonyms!
To all experienced OMMers out there...
I've done a lot of long events - BG, Fellsman, Lakes 100 etc.
I even did the OMM around 1994 when it was the KIMM, but I was very inexperienced then and I've not done an overnight camping event since.
I've just entered this year's OMM to do a proper navigation event and because it's in one of my favourite areas.
Question:
How minimalist can you get in terms of food, cooking and sleeping kit without it getting daft/dangerous?
Not sure I can answer in terms of 'daft' because that could mean anything. I think folk who set off with a 50L rucksac are daft but they sure are gonna be safe and comfy at the overnight.
In terms of staying safe, my partner & I did Elite last year and I think at the start of day 1 his rucsack was 3.1kg & mine was 3.2kg. Weather wasn't ridiculous but was consistently poor all day and we were fine on the hill. I also had a full change of dry clothes for overnight inc spare thermal, fleece and long tights, day 2 would have seen me wearing the spare thermal plus wet shorts/socks from day 1 if we hadn't retired due to injury in the morning.
If we'd had to stop on the course for any length of time (e.g. injury), i'd have had to put on spare kit to stay warm enough but surely that's the whole point of carrying minimum kit requirements?
Sacks used were modified Last Drops (10L).
I can't see anyting above 15L, certainly 20L being strictly necessary, and that would allow for more than ample spare warm kit plus a hell of a lot of food.
Chevin - thanks for that. The clothing info is very helpful.
I suppose I'd like to know how you get your sack down to 3.2kg...
Depends on how minimalist your kit is. We can just about get ours into two 20L sacks, but usually take a 20 and a 25. Outside the top runners, the vast majority of people have 20 or 25L sacks.
I'm sure you would
After a couple of events doing 'B' & carrying far too much kit, I realised my ambition was restricted by the weight I was having to carry, and it was also making my legs very sore on day 2 due to the extra impact on descents.
Gradually reduced amount of kit taken over next couple of years and then I spent a bit of cash on a lightweight tent & sleeping bag which made the biggest difference. Developed a fairly reliable menu which avoided carrying loads of unused grub, moved to fuel blocks (no stove + no gas = big space & weight saving). Experience also helped with carrying the right amount of kit for the conditions, before i'd been scared of getting cold overnight and taken far too much kit with me.
The simple answer is I generally now use everything I carry at some point in the race, with maybe a bar or 2 of day food left over as I still worry about not having enough if the course turns out to be a monster. And i've learnt how to pack it all into a really small rucksac!!
Re: Omm 2012
Final details arrived in post today. Was hoping for a brighter car sticker as my dark windows will conceal it - bah!
Need to work out how to fit everything into last drop 10l sac. If I take my 25l sac I'll only fill it to the brim! I think the weather will determine what I take.
Easy - make sure your partner takes a 35l bag
Don't give him any ideas! :w00t:Easy - make sure your partner takes a 35l bag
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