2024: 10 nights on Seatallan G/LD-025

On Wednesday Night (news years day) I spent my first night of 2025 on Seatallan. The conditions were pretty poor on the walk to the summit at about 5pm - driving snow and 30 mph gusts. I setup my Hilleberg tent in “winter node” with two poles inserted in the pole sleeve to add rigidity (its designed to accommodate double poles). Things soon settled down and I enjoyed a great night with some excellent contacts. Conditions were rather cold, with a reported windchill between -15 C and -20 C at times.

During 2024 I spent 10 nights (in total) camping on Seatallan, although on a couple of occasions I had to drop down a hundred meters of so to camp at Greendale tarn due to strong winds.

My favourite occasions have been in the autumn and winter, when the walk up to the summit has been in the dark and fog, with the comfort of a warm tent ahead of me. Summer and spring have also been fun, but somehow I prefer the dark nights! Some of the summer nights were the most windy, and I have used my winter tent for most of these summit camps all through the year - the Lanshan 2 was only used on a couple of occasions.

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2/1/2025 at about 0900hrs

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2/1/2025 at about 0900hrs

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Wet and windy on 6/7 December 2024

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Relaxed conditions 8/9 November 2024

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Foggy but calm 25/26 October 2024

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Perfect conditions 27/28 September 2024

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Sunny and warm 6/7 September 2024

During August I was out camping aand cycle touring in Galloway, so missed a clear month of Seatallan!

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Two telescopic poles in fine summer conditions 12/13 July 2024

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Easy camping with Scafell range behind 5/6 July 2024

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31 May / 1 June Watching baloons go by

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Watching the sunset 31 May 2024

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May 25/26 2024 - mixing it up with a night spent at Greendale tarn

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Camp pudding - Haribo and warm custard - delicious

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17/18 May 2024

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12/13 April 2024 Sheltering behind a boulder around 100m below the summit after string winds drove me down towards Greendale Tarn

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26/27 March another summit attempt abandoned, with camping at Greendale tarn around 100m below the summit (summit is in background)

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Excellent Matthew! I’m just not sure about the haribo and custard.

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haha Well done Matt! Might get you to drag me up there later in the year! Wont be an overnight for me, but be great fun!

73, Alan

Nice report @M0MZB !

Very impressed as it was a cold one ! I could see you were on Seatallan with CW spots on my way up high street from Kentmere but I didn’t get high enough fast enough to find you on 2m !

I beleive that was an Aurora evening but only very briefly - were able to see it ?

73 - Tim G5OLD

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…thanks for your report. Haribo and warm custard - recipe

Geoff vk3sq.

Haribo and custard @M0MZB ? you’re a monster :slight_smile:

The snow and clouds cleared by about 7pm and I kept poking my head out the tent all through the night, looking for aurora. But I saw nothing…was really hoping i would see something, but maybe next time.

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I cooked it for my lad when we were out camping once, and it has now become a regular pudding when out I can tell you, it gives a massive boost in energy levels.

I’ve also been using a lot of British army MREs along with the flameless ration heaters. They are quite good for single nights out, but the ration pouches are a bit heavy for multi nights.

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2025 SOTA challenge suggestion…‘Camp pudding’

Contestants need to video themselves preparing a pud. The recipe is supplied to the SOTA pud Sub committee who recreate the dish and taste test. The winner is announced on ATV from a summit near the winner.

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I have experimented with different coloured Haribo previously. Using green ones (with the white foam base) is particularly effective. In the photo below I have added the Haribo after the custard, but I now find it better to add the custard on top of a large handful of Haribo.

Avoid mixing the custard after adding to the Haribo.

I have also sometimes added a little granola alongside the Haribo in order to make a breakfast dish.

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Fantastic achievement Matthew. Combining radio with overnighters!

Let’s hope your local council won’t read this; they may reclassify your shelter as a 2nd home after the 10 overnight stays, and with it, making you pay additional council tax charges…

Had to do a 2nd take; has a sort of medical look to it.

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You’re a very sick man and you need therapy! :rofl:

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Over the years I reckon I’ve tried turning just about every camping staple into a dessert, but having never heard of Haribo I’ve missed out on that one.

Most staple camping carb-sources make an effective mazamorra (don’t know the English word - the class of dishes that encompasses rice-pudding, sago, tapioca style desserts) when slow-simmered with some sugar and milk powder. Rice, couscous, lentils, oats, the cinnamon+icing sugar+flour mix we use for possum lure - all have been a great success when desparate for anything sweet nearing the end of a multi-day trip. The one ingredient that has repeatedly defeated me is potato flakes. A sweet milky potato-flake dessert really ought to work. Especially with a bit of jam or honey for flavour. But over and over it has turned out … disappointing!

Incidentally the possum-lure mix also makes good sweet dampers.

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Hope you leave the strychnine out :rofl:

I was enjoying the photos but now I feel sick.

Placenta Broth. Not convinced it will feature on the Tesco shelves anytime soon.