How do you pitch an Ultimate Equipment Packer 77 Tent

Q. I have a Ultimate Packer 77 tent but am unsure how to pitch it correctly, especially the 2 ropes inside the flysheet from the top of the poles. Can anyone help?

Paul Hutchinson, Leeds

A. Thank you Howie for the pitching guide for the Ultimate Packer. It could be a little tricky to put up in wind- the last time I used mine was almost 25 years ago- backpacking a section of the SW Coastpath. A powerful storm at Godrevy Lighthouse shook the tent all night and we had little sleep, but the tent stood. I bought my Packer in 1977 to walk the Pennine Way. It was between that and a Robert Saunders. The version I bought had Velcro straps rather than pole sleeves. My sister borrowed it afterwards and the inner fabric started to thin in patches so I returned the tent and received the updated version. Do you have any information/advice on proofing please? Stephen Guile

Stephen Guile, London

A. Always managed pretty easy: Start with outer: Back first (point into any wind): plant pole and peg one bungee. Go to front; assemble poles; insert 'top' into sleeve; insert 'curly-corners' ...remember to use leather tongue; insert both legs; peg one bungee at front (I never have zip done up at this stage (easier to get in, in hurry, or put bags out of rain quicker...but always fasten clip at bottom of zip) TENT NOW IN PLACE EXCEPT IN STRONGEST WINDS. Peg remaining bungees from back towards front keeping shape regular. If you need to, secure guys (back; front; side in that order). Inner: Start at back: Hook top into ring; peg base; move backwards (towards the front) and hook side strings on way past. Hook top corners into loop of 'curly-corners'. Peg base. Jobs a good-un. Enjoy! Mine's still good; (bought in Nottingham while at Uni in late 70's). Howie

Howie Moore, Scarborough

A. Wild Camping and The Law in England, Scotland and Wales.

Tents cannot be pitched just anywhere because every piece of Britain is owned by some individual or some organisation and according to the strict letter of the law permission must be obtained prior to pitching tent and camping.

In practice however, this is often impractical and wild camping is usually tolerated in the more remote areas - typically, more than half a day's walk from an official campsite or other accommodation providing you:

Keep groups small
Camp as unobtrusively as possible
Leave camp as you found it
Remove all litter (even other people's)
Carry out everything you carried in
Carry out tampons and sanitary towels (burying them doesn't work as animals dig them up again)
Choose a dry pitch rather than digging drainage ditches around a tent or moving boulders
Toilet duties should be performed 30m (100ft) from water and the results buried using a trowel
At all time, help preserve the environment
And if you are in any doubt about what you're doing, find out more

In Scotland, the current access legislation (which came into effect in early 2005) is explicit about your right to wild camp on hill land. However, there are exceptions. Since March 2011 you are not permitted to wild camp between Dryman and Rowardennan on the shore of Loch Lomond. See Loch Lomond Wild Camping Ban for more information.

There appears to be an exception to this with respect to camping in Dartmoor National Park where the right to wild camping is actually enshrined in the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act, 1949 amendment Dartmoor Commons Act, 1985 - see Wild Camping in the UK for more details.

For the definitive answer with respect to wild camping in Scotland see the answer supplied by the Scottish Natural Heritage

For a few (tongue in cheek) tips on wild camping see Some Wild Camping Tips.

NB. go4awalk.com cannot offer any advice on suitable locations for wild camping - but click here for walks from exisiting campsites.

Hope this helps

Mike (Editor)

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