I’m from upstate NY where this is typical winter weather. A useful tip: have a bag you keep in your car all the time with extra emergency provisions, including dry clothes, fuel, food, flares, candles, extra batteries, tarp, blanket, first aid kit, matches and a shovel. You never know when you might need it. An ounce of prevention can make a huge difference in situations like this. I live in the UK now, which has more rugged roads and is not equipped with plows and services to contend with heavy snowfall, so your hardships were very real and aren’t comparable to those in countries where this is normal weather. Glad you all trudged through safely! So many people die each winter in terrain that would otherwise be a simple day trek. You all did a great job keeping calm.
Thank you Leslie. You must laugh when you see the havoc a bit of snow causes here! Especially if you live in the south. The first thing we did when we got back was seriously kit out the car , we could survive an apocalypse now lol. We’ve had a lot of stick about this trip and a few folk have basically accused us of lying about the snow depth etc. They obviously have no idea of drifting snow on high open ground, most have probably never ventured from behind their keyboards lol. It was one of the hardest trips we’ve had and although it is great to look back , we certainly don’t want a repeat. Thanks for your kind comments and how about some more uploads, you have a great voice 👍. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
If you're going into heavily forested areas, have a chain saw (if traveling in a vehicle) or a good hand saw if you're trecking. In the high country of Arizona, we do sometimes get lots of snow - the undeveloped roads are closed. I grew up in western NY (Jamestown) but I escaped. Never looked back,never regretting my decision. Winters were too damned cold.
Yep,... An ex Aussie in Pennsylvania here & it's all fun & games in the Winter ;) I keep blankets & emergency gear in the Jeep as well as water, chicken stock cubes & cooking gear plus some shelf stable meat sticks :)
I'm 56, love camping, even hiking to a degree as I have mobility problems, but try not to let it stop me. I love these videos, and like yourself, they give me so much enjoyment!
Im off corrour in Scotland for some munro bagging and a bothy night en-route to fort bill. At 65 im not as agile as i once was but these videos inspire me. Cheers
i love the simple acts of kindness and thoughtfulness of some people, leaving you firewood and things left behind to read/use etc. we need more of that
Thank you . There is another vid on our channel that shows a much easier route to the bothy albeit with a few river crossings which I would recommend over this one 👍
Your channel reminds me why i haven't had a TV for seven years,don't need one with films like you put out. As entertaining,beautiful and worryingly adventuresome as ever.Merry Yule to you Austin,Lucy and Marley.Happy and safe wanders for 2018.Andy.
Rameman TV sucks anymore . Actors are overpaid parts like the NFL . I don't bother with Hollyweirdos or pro sports . Rather watch camping , fishing and DIY video. But you tube is censoring a lot of people they deam politically incorrect. So I am about done with you tube . Go to UGETube .No censoring either side . Freedom of speech rules there .
Ahhhhh yes this is more like it, it’s real, your real, and I like that, thanks for taking me along I really enjoyed this, from the beauty to the map not reading Ha ! Most would leave that out, but your showing it as it really is, and it can be really dangerous, you worked as an amazing team, I’ve subscribed , your incredible and resourceful, and if you don’t mind me saying courageous, Old Owl 🦉 Alaya Norfolk.
Thank you. It was certainly a memorable one for sure . We were so worried about Marley but he just took it in his stride! He was probably wondering what all the fuss was about lol . Thanks again and take care x
Could be the snow. Or maybe just a trip down memory lane at Christmas? But we were compelled to watch again 6 years after watching for first time ever😊. Do hope everybody has had a lovely Christmas too. Thanks for your original filam too😮😊
Lol. Not sure about that .We did actually look at one of those for Lucy but they’re just too small, plus we have to drive for hours every trip so I didn’t fancy that in a Panda lol. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
I can see where you are coming from there. Storage is acceptable, if you fold down the rear seats. And there's only the two of you. They are not particularly uncomfortable, I have taken one to Italy in one trip, but they are a bit thirsty. Also, if that matters, very sluggish. Off-road performance is simply incomparable. They are still quite pricey, too, hold their value better than beemers. And need new cam belts at 75, or else a new motor at 76! All the best, take care and thanx for the vids.
Shelter, Food, Fuel. Never rush yourself to exhaustion. Snowshoes are nice for happy holidays, but no means necessary. Travel slow, preserve energy and dont panic(keep your mind in one place at a time, weird but works). Great video :) Greetings from Finland.
Well done for keeping a cool head (no pun intended) and making the correct decisions when you had to. Thank goodness you were prepared for the bothy being unavailable and took the tent. A riveting story. Glad you are all safe.
Watching this I remember that winter of 2017/18 very well. I was homeless at the time after a relationship break up and nervous breakdown. Even into the middle of March we were having periods of deep snow. One night I was out and ten inches fell with strong winds but some kind fella had given me a British army issue sleeping bag earlier that summer, built to withstand the elements up to -30 c. With that and a thin kiddie style sleeping bag inside it for a liner and a mylar blanket over just my shirt and a thin jumper (I knew that if I was over layered and began to start sweating I might later become at risk of hypothermia; and a fire was out of the question), I was actually incredibly comfortable inside some abandoned place.
Hi Mark . We recently decided to put vids up again and were going to video a trip we’ve just been on to Spain in the camper. Sadly we were robbed at a French aire and the b#stard got my Sony vlogging camera and microphone. We will put a vid up but it’s filmed on my old GoPro 4 . Needless to say it’ll be a little while until I sort out the funds for new camera . Keep an eye out for the Spain vid though (even if it is a bit shaky) 👍
Glad everyone made it safe and sound. Well done! Your commitment to Marley's well being stood out to me and is one of the reasons I have subscribed to your channel. You guys are awesome!
Thank you 👍. We were so annoyed with ourselves for putting Marley through all this but to be honest he absolutely breezed it compared to us lol. Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
Arabi Peterson....I absolutely agree with you. His love and care for Marley is outstanding, his calmness throughout all that craziness is admirable. Love these 2 and made me a faithful follower.
I've enjoyed this video as I'm living vicariously through you with my hip acting up, walking just a few years is painful. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to more after I have subscribed to your channel. From the States, Charleston SC be safe.
Wow I stumbled on to this video and had a blast following your trip. It was absolutely stunning and a bit scary. I live in the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee. U.S.A. thanks for the beautiful video.
What an outstanding little presentation and journey... keep up the wonderful work, and YES we all snuggled up to a hot cuppa whilst on the edge of our seats.
HIS WIFE NEVER COMPLAINED ONCE EVEN HAD GIGGLE IN THE TENT AMAZING WHAT AN ABSOLUTE BRAVE HEART SHE IS ONE TOUGH COOKIE WELL DONE !!!.THIS WAS SUPERB WATCHING MANY THANKS PS XX FOR WEE DOGGY
AWW BLESS YOU .BOTH I FELT MY HEART HURT WHEN MARLEYS PAW WAS SWOLLEN JUST LOVE HIM X SUCH AN .INSPARATIONAL COUPLE .IE GET OUTA YER COMFORT ZONE TO GET UTLTIMATE TRUE REAL BEAUTY OF OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET. SCOTLAND X
Thanks Dave , we wished we were tucked up in bed at the time but it doesn't seem so bad now from in front of the fire with a glass of red ! Cheers . Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Just come across this via the search algorithm as it is. I always keep three days of food and water in my crash out kit (Go bag) which stays in the under boot of my car. Even if I venture out on a camp I still keep it replenished just in case. Never know when it will be needed. Usual kit inc. Fire starters and fero rod, spirit burner and billie can. 8 litres of water and comprehensive first aid ruck, that sort of thing. Brilliant video loved the drama of your adventure. Marly was the star of course!
Seems like a good experience to me. Good decisions made, especially to stop instead of keep walking in the dark with that snowfall...wind chill is the big danger...but you were snug in a tent! Not much you could do about not getting updated weather warnings. Just goes to show that being prepared for anything is the best mindset. 99% of the time it will just be extra gear to carry...but when you need it that one time it's worth the shoulder ache! Great video. Don't leave Marley out of the next winter walk...he was having the time of his life lol!
Thank you 👍 it was one to remember for sure 🙄. We’d love for Marley to keep coming out but he’s 12 now and slowing down rapidly sadly ☹️. There’s still the summer though 👍. Cheers . Austin and Lucy .
Google Earth is great. You had already shown the sign for Claerwen Reservoir and as soon as you mentioned “the dam” I was able to locate exactly where you were at. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
It really is a great tool for this pastime. It gives a good idea of how isolated the bothy is as well. It really is a beautiful area . Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
I casually looked at UA-cam, and saw your latest episode in my feed.... Started to watch, and got as far as the staggeringly beautiful pull back shot of the Bothy in the snow, complete with ominous music... Hit the pause button.... Got big mug of tea and two mince pies, and really enjoyed this gripping story unfold... Beautifully filmed.... btw Marley is my favourite dog to appear on YT... Season greetings to all three of you.... :)
Thanks john , Marleys head barely fits through the door as it is lol. i was a bit nervous taking that shot but it was well worth it . Have a great Christmas and New Year and thanks for watching again. Cheers . Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Well ive only really got the one. Daughter aged 6.the other 2 are my semi adopted daughters in there 20s now. But apparently ya not meant to have a fave. my daughter will soon be making her youtube debut with me. Me and a mate are gonna have an attempt at our own channel. as any 2 bob Amateur Film maker can do it now apparently (none intended). But seriously, were gonna attempt a dad and kids general outdoor channel. i will let you know as soon as we film anything worthy of broadcast. have a good Christmas mate. Gary.
I’ve just rewatched this video. The last time I watched it was two year back when I was planning a trip to the same bothie. I applaud you as a friend & I did this trip in the summer of 2022 & struggled too. We ended up making camp on the fire road just after the woods after spending a good 6 hours hiking through the bogs on top of a four hour drive from London to the reservoir. I really enjoyed the three days we spent in this area and will revisit it. Great Video Sir.
Thank you . It really is a pig of a route this one . We’ve had loads of comments from folk that have struggled on this one and with the weather we had it was a recipe for disaster. As you say , it’s such a beautiful area we must revisit it this summer and yes the drive from just south of London is a long one and not really worth just the one night . We did another trip to the bothy and the walk in was so much better, as long as you don’t mind wet feet! Happy hiking 👍
Marley at 15:00 SO CUTE!!!! He is one lucky dog to have you guys! I stumbled upon this video while watching other bushcrafters and subscribed 30 seconds in.
So I'm watching this nearly two years after the fact but I'm still riveted to watching to the end! OMG! So glad you had the skill, the gear, the experience to make it through!
Thank you 👍. A bothy is usually an abandoned farm house or shepherds house that back packers use for shelter. The Mountain Bothies Association ( MBA) has loads of info on their site 👍
2 Feet Forward I actually went and looked it up. That sounds like a super cool set up! What a great way to save and use existing structures. Looks like fun to me! But I’m in the USA, so l have to watch you. Thanks!
WOW! What a watch, I was on the edge on seat all the way through it. It does prove a point mind, we are all looking at ways to minimize weight and only take the bare minimum but you never know when you may hit an emergency situation. Real pleased all 3 of you got back safely. Cheers Alan
Thanks Alan . That's a very good point. We didn't take enough extra food for us or Marley ( we left some at the bothy DOH !) and that was probably down to saving weight so lesson learned on that one .Cheers and Atb. Austin and Lucy.
How lovely--the night you arrived at the wild camp and went to get water. Your head lamp made the snow glisten like there were diamonds in it. I watched that several times because it was so beautiful to see.
Thank you👍 . It really was beautiful and even with the way it panned out it was one of our favourite and most memorable trips . Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
Haha , I know what you mean but to be fair there were 5ft drifts to make it through and it was wet and marshy below it . We’re just not used to it over here and especially being southerners , we hardly get snow but this was very unexpected and even caught the locals out. Cheers. A+L.
Just goes to show, you cannot ever underestimate Welsh weather! Great video and well done to you both, and your dog too. I hope all that watch and enjoy this video learn from it. Another new subscriber. Now I just have to watch all your other videos... ; )
Wow, just noticed this one. You were heading up the Afon Arban. That's all Wye water/catchment. It's a good hike up their - done it before but not in snow. But it gets better. You guys were challenged with every footstep. 2 feet forward and some more. Awesome guys. Mark
Hi there! Well after the way that Robin stuck with us i can believe it now . It's a nice thought anyway.We crushed up a bit of a dog biscuit for his company though. Cheers . Atb . Austin and Lucy.
i just subbed to you. feel free to sub back. i live in the national forest on mt hood. i do gear videos. real guns. airsoft. archery. hiking. camping. mushroom hunting. mre videos. nature. rafting. lakes. waterfalls. rivers. all kinds of mountain videos. peace.
I believe there is something about a Robin too. I reckon there are a lot of spirits down the local waterfalls as each visit you will find one hanging around... had it on my latest trip and I havent been there in years but mention it on my video. Glad to see you made out after that. What a sight it must have been to see the Clarwen.
Absolutely.When we returned to the bothy a few weeks ago we found the same Robin sitting on the windowsill staring through at us .We crumbled up some biscuits and he was only 10 inches from my hand . Another day and I reckon he would eat straight from my glove . Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
When me and my father got back from the hospital early one morning after my mother had died there was a robin in the house waiting for us. We both knew of the old wives tale regarding robins and lost loved ones probably because it was my mother who had told us the tale. It was a shock to see it there. My father caught the robin and held it in his hands. We looked at each other in full realisation of what it meant. With a tear in his eye, my father said that we need to let it go and set it free. The bird seemed calm in my father's hands. It was beautiful to see such a shy bird so lose up. I stroked its feathers and we both commented on how lucky we were to have had the chance to be so close to it. We said goodbye and off it flew. It was a strange and wonderful experience that I will never forget.
I stumbled across this video by chance, and I glad I did. Great drone shots and editing. You’re editing was excellent from the stand point of making me feel like I was in your struggle against the harsh elements.
One of the best woodsman skills is to evaluate your situation and make the best of it. You cared for everyone in your party and got them home. A couple of bad choices and it wouldn’t have been as happy an ending. Good show brother!
The importance of proper and maintained car for a trip like yours is very important. I have been in a situation where a day hike turned into a survival situation when we got hit by a heavy rainstorm and wind and we lost our way. By the time me and my friend got to our car it was well past midnight and the car did not start. No cellphone signal, no food, no proper clothing (long story) and no change to walk out of there. My buddy ended up with a pneumonia, I got away with a runny nose and bad cold.
Wow , it's not just us then . Since this trip we have a full back up kit in the car including snow chains so we , as you , won't be getting caught short again . It only happens once as they say. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
You would not believe the stories I have. But yes, being prepared always pays off! One simple mistake might lead to some bad situations. I carry at least a knife and some option to light fire wherever I go.
Great stuff ! I always take a tent when going to a bothy A&L.Its hard to explain to someone that hasn't done it how hard walking through deep snow is with a heavy pack on. Great drone shots and what an adventure. Weather forecast lol i was expecting strong winds and -20 on my last trip it turned out to be PERFECT winter conditions ! We're always learning mate. "Life without risk is a life not worth living " ATB well done you , Lucy and Marley.
Cheers Eddie . We were only saying a month ago how it was a good job that tent wasn't tested in Switzerland eh! I was pretty nervous as the wind was hitting it mind . I've since listened to a few pod cast for Sat night/Sun morning and it was forecasted to be worse but still not that bad . I won't leave the fm radio behind again thats for sure . It's all a learning curve but that was a bit steep for us lol.. Cheers and Atb. Austin and Marley.
I love watching these right before bed. Watching supper being coooked by a warm fire out in the middle of winter heaven. I put myself there and relax..... And pass out!
Thank you Daisy, we just don’t want to repeat it anytime soon! In fact I’m sat in a warm pub in front the fire after spending another snowy night on a mountain in North Wales . No dramas this time 👍 Have a happy New Year . Cheers. ATb. Austin and Lucy.
I find myself coming back to this video after a few years. It really is a great example of what can go wrong for campers..... even for those who are experienced! I noticed you have not uploaded for a few years. I hope you are healthy and fit and family are keeping well. Austin and Lucy, hope you read this message and someday upload again.
Thank you Pete. Yes we’re doing ok , although I am getting over a nasty bout of pneumonia at the moment but on the mend . Hope all is well with you and yours .I keep saying I’m going to start uploading again and even have a good few trips that we’ve filmed but just can’t seem to find the time to edit them . Then , on a recent van trip to Spain , I woke to find a dirty thief in the front of our van ! I dived at him but he grabbed Lucy’s handbag which had our passports in and the sod got my Sony vlogging camera 😡 so I haven’t been able to replace it since as funds won’t allow . Hopefully a GoPro 12 will give me the inspiration to start up again when I eventually get one , so watch this space 👍.
Wow. Another epic. Glad to see you back safe and sound. Used your best tools out there, your heads. Elan Valley is awesome. If we got snow like that in Dorset most people wouldn’t be able to cope. Beautiful but treat with great caution. Nice to see the new motor doing so well.
Thanks Gareth . I know what you mean , half that amount would have ground our area to a halt.i thought it was brilliant that a farmer had driven his tractor up there to the dam and cleared the trees as well and thank goodness we had the 4x4 , it did really well but i'll have chains next time just in case. That Valley area is stunning so we'll have to go back to that bothy again , on a dry day. . Cheers ,atb . Austin and Lucy.
Excellent honest and genuine video, love how you are so caring for your pup, your love for him is so obvious. I think you both handled this very serious situation really well, you didn't panic, you had a couple of cheap but very adequate tents just in case, and when "just in case" happened, you made the right decisions. My dear old Dad used to have a saying for situations like this, "It's a bit like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer, it feels fantastic when it's over!" All the best from Australia, cheers 😊
Oh I absolutely love watching your channel! I'm slowly making my way through all of your videos ❤️ You've really inspired me to get out and about, we have already been to Grwyne Fawr Bothy (we live in Wales!) but we are definitely going to go out for more adventures after watching your videos! Love to you all Austin, Lucy and of course Marley!
Thank you 👍. Lucky you, we plan to move to Wales eventually , we visit so much we may as well lol. Great to hear you visited Grwyne Fawr , did you stay the night? Atb. A+L.
I am English but have lived in Ontario for forty years, you guys did it right, you survived. After one winter in Canada I put the emergency kit in my car, and! I still have one. Happily only had to use it once. But really, Well done. You cannot trust weather forecasts so it is better to be prepared for the worst. By the way actually I believe I became a Canadian after working outside in -40c then going for a cold beer afterwards :) which actually tasted warm *L*
Haha , warm beer , it must have reminded you of England. We always take some red wine and when it’s cold we warm it a tiny bit. In minus temps it steams like mulled wine lol. Thanks very much and Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Well that was a real adventure.. so glad you got back home safely.. other than that some amazing footage.. and a lovely bothy in a very special location.. some good decision making.. you kept a cool head.. vital in them situations.. well done all 3.. ATB.. R&D :) :)
Thanks guys .Caught us out good and proper this R&D .We thought we'd have a nice walk in the snow, spend a pleasant evening in the bothy and be home for Sunday dinner . The bothy is in such a beautiful location we'll have to go back soon and there is endless dead firewood so we won't have to lug any in , perfect. Cheers guys .atb . A+L.
Wow wow wow. What a great adventure! Please forgive my ignorance on this because I'm in Texas, but why wouldn't you use snow to melt in a kettle before stream water? It seems like snow would have much less chance of contamination? So thankful for your discernment and experience. How could you increase that? Ever thought of a survival class or some sort of extreme weather class? Also, sounds smart to keep a few days of minimal rations in the truck. Just my opinion. Down here in Texas, it's a bit of the opposite. Food is abundant, but finding water is a skill that MUST be learned.
Thanks Chris. The stream water is really clear here with virtually no particles and as you know boiling is the only 100% sure way to pure water. We do melt the snow when on a mountain and we always carry a filter for dirtier water that we filter before boiling . The only thing with melting snow is it uses a lot more fuel per boil and we drink a heck of a lot of tea over here lol . We really should do a winter survival course but I guess we’re just a bit lazy. We live in the south of the uk and just don’t get any snow like they do further north and it’s a ten hour drive to the highlands and if it does snow our roads literally grind to a halt so all the ‘mountain’ roads just get shut 🙄. We really aren’t very good at dealing with snow over here lol. We now have enough supplies in our car to survive an apocalypse lol. Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
@@2FeetForward "We're not good in snow in the UK?" Please! I'm in Texas, there have been weather men/women that have been FIRED for announcing rain before it hit. When the average Texan has some rain hit his/her window, it is mass chaos and traffic jams.....total disaster. Google Maps is a spider web of red. And we don't get snow. We get ice. On occasion. Anyways....cheers, sir.
Sometimes nonhiking friends comment about how few miles I make on a winter day hike, even 1 mile per hour sometimes. Now I can show them your video and say, see! I'm not the only one. Yes, it is slow going in the winter for very obvious reasons.
Seasons greetings ! It really is hard work ! You can also tell your friends it took us over 17 hours walking to cover around 7 miles so you do pretty well ! Have a great 2019 . Austin and Lucy.
Thanks guys for keeping me sane during this lockdown. Going through all your videos and helping me to look forward to the return to sanity. I watch with my OS map open to follow route. You've given me some nice ideas for the oncoming year. Stay safe.
Bloody hell - what an adventure. Thanks very much for sharing this. Some real food for thought here. And I must say that was a stunningly shot video from start to finish. Amazing that such panic and terror can be found amoung such a beautiful landscape.
Great vid to look back on but must have been worrying at the time. Some sound decisions made though. Glad you got home safe and glad Marley enjoyed himself. I don’t take Elsa out much in winter, she likes her home comforts too much 😂 Some of the footage was stunning. Well done guys!!! 👍🏼
Thank you .Must admit we were worried of the amount of snow in the night and really relieved when we could see the end of the reservoir . Marley was fine but i don't think we'll risk the snow again with him , unless it falls while we're out he'll be enjoying his home comforts as well from now on. Cheers .atb . Austin and Lucy.
Thanks Kyle , that was the first time i've flown the drone in the snow and i must admit i was a bit nervous on the distant shots but was really pleased with the results. Cheers . Atb . Austin and Lucy.
Wow! A fantastic watch, well done. Beautiful scenes at the bothy site. And a real eye opener, you just never know how things can change dramatically. Glad you got back safely.
Thanks guys . It is such a spectacular place for that bothy ,so much so we'll be back soon .Hopefully in more relaxing circumstances lol.it really took us by surprise this one . Cheers .Atb Austin and Lucy.
Hi really good vid. I've just got back from here and took the exact same route although started at the bottom and not on the dam. I planned to stay two nights Xmas eve and Xmas. It's fair to say the going is horrific if you're expecting "paths" any semblance stops after the sheep fold area. And .. NO path as marked through the woods. Scared myself at that point. Mad rush to get to the fire road where I spent night one as it just got too dark. Got there 10 minutes after packing up in the morning. You left a little bit of chilli and one grain of rice on the wooden table. It was well tasty :-). Well done on getting through this route; it is brutal as it is without snow. Will you be investing in some yeti gators? I can recommend.
If you're going back in Jan I left 3/4 of a bottle of jagermeister and a full bottle of honey whiskey. Also some more food hung in a rubble sack from the ceiling. :-)
Hi Lewis . We really underestimated this walk , someone else said they'd done it recently and found it hard going as well. Were you the next person to stay after us then? if so , apologies for not leaving any wood . i'm glad you mentioned there are no paths , now we know it definitely wasn't us lol. 10 minutes away , that's sods law! At least you got a full day at the bothy though. Must admit the gators we had did well on the day but a couple of pairs of snowshoes might be in order. Cheers . Atb. Austin and Lucy.
2 Feet Forward yeah I was next in after you according to the book. No problem with the wood. I was fool enough to lug my own kindling and coal up with me. (Nothing like a bit of dead weight) . I sunk up to my knee several times on the way up, the yetis saved the day. If you do go back as you approach the woods where a path is supposed to be head left to the next "corner" there is a clearing in the woods as an access route with some fallen trees, but this is the easiest way through and shortest to the fire road. I can imagine the panic you felt going into those woods on that path as advertised especially with Marley. Because I did. I got a light dusting of snow today which was pretty.
Wow! what an adventure. You were just on the cusp of disaster. One more night, rescue mandatory, assuming your sleeping bags kept you warm enough. If you got wet and cold, it might have become recovery in lieu of rescue. Marley is a real trooper, as well as your brave mate. You did well as the protector.
When you looked out and saw the snow getting worse.. I would have stayed put for another day. Been there as a youth with the Scouts. We got caught just a few miles from town in a Cabin. We were winter camping but after the first night and most of us were litterally snowed inside our tents and it was getting worse. So our adults had us pull up camp and we all went into the lodge there and it had gas stoves and fire. The wind howled and blew and snow drifted 3 feet deep. Most of us had no idea that the place had emergency food stashed. It was good since we were there for 3 more days before the snow plows arrived to get us out..
Blimey , that was a proper scout adventure! Yes we should have stayed in hindsight but I’d left the route details with the kids and they know to raise the alarm if we don’t contact them 🙄. We also had some important work meetings so we had to try . Oh well , lesson learned and an emergency text : satellite thing is on order 👍. Cheers .
i have only just found your videos and they are awesome. i am glad the 3 of you made it back safe, what an adventure. i walked from the dam in good weather and found it hard going. well dome
Well done guys, u kept a cool head in unexpected conditions, glad u all made it back safe and sound, a good reminder not to underestimate Mother Nature, excellent video as always guys. TFS, ATB. Have a great Christmas.
I have seen a few of the "very unprepared" Winter trips and they ALL start with leaving WAY too Late, why on Earth don't you leave early in the morning so you can see what you're doing to set up?? I'll continue my thoughts as I watch more of this video, for me in Canada where we have 10 ft drifts every Winter and are used to it, do you over there ever use snowshoes, I realize snow now in Britain a few years ago was unheard of watching Nigella in her Christmas dress but now it seems you're back in "A Christmas Carol" good luck
We did set off early but as you saw in the video we had to backtrack and after getting the land rover driver off the bank we lost a good few ours. As for ‘very unprepared’ keep watching . The biggest mistake was leaving food at the bothy and not having emergency rations in the car. We were also on the way to a bothy so no ‘setting up ‘ needed?
please don't misunderstand me when I criticize this, I have never winter camped and if I EVER get to it will be 30 minutes from my home due to my health but I was a Wedding Musician for 20 years and I only had ONE shot at making a good impression for the Band who graciously just allowed me one wedding to play"sight ans sound unseen" I have so much gear that if I forgot ONE instrument my life and night would be a disaster. when wwe go to a Beach 1 hr away I have nightmares thinking of what we may need in food and drink and snacks as I am the food guy at New Year's EVE parties. I commend you for what you do and wish I had the guts to even try this and may someday. thanks for replying. good luck!!
Wow some of the best quality video I have seen on a wildcamp video that pull back at the start of the bothy. Glad you all got home safely. Keep the vid's coming.
Thanks Kevin . I was a bit nervous taking that shot i must admit , if i'd clipped a tree the drone would have landed in 3ft of snow and would be lost forever. Next stop Snowdonia in the Christmas break .Cheers . Atb . Austin and Lucy.
I just don't believe you two! How did you survive that?! You could at least have had the courtesy to both fall into exposure -induced comas until after the 25th. Then I wouldn't have to buy you both something for Christmas. Now I'm gonna' have to. Bah humbug! From your ever loving brother/brother-in-law.
Superb film - one of the best I have seen. This sort of adventuring is grim at the time, but they are the ones you remember the most. Glad that all was OK with everyone.
Austin mate, I watched this on the edge of my seat. My wife said what’s wrong. I said I’m worried for them both . This was the most gripping UA-cam video I’ve seen. We always prepare for the worst, but You guys got it with bells on. You have my upmost respect for dealing with the worst possible conditions ever and sorting it out . ATB pal darren
Thanks Darren . i knew as soon as i opened the bothy door we were in for a hard time .It's great now though , looking back on it from the sofa lol.We won't forget it in a hurry. Cheers .Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Thank you , definitely won't forget this one . It would seem that this area got hit especially badly . On our drive home we lost count of the cars dumped / stranded at the side of the road . We got away with it on this occasion. Cheers ,atb . Austin and Lucy.
I’m from upstate NY where this is typical winter weather. A useful tip: have a bag you keep in your car all the time with extra emergency provisions, including dry clothes, fuel, food, flares, candles, extra batteries, tarp, blanket, first aid kit, matches and a shovel. You never know when you might need it. An ounce of prevention can make a huge difference in situations like this. I live in the UK now, which has more rugged roads and is not equipped with plows and services to contend with heavy snowfall, so your hardships were very real and aren’t comparable to those in countries where this is normal weather. Glad you all trudged through safely! So many people die each winter in terrain that would otherwise be a simple day trek. You all did a great job keeping calm.
Thank you Leslie. You must laugh when you see the havoc a bit of snow causes here! Especially if you live in the south. The first thing we did when we got back was seriously kit out the car , we could survive an apocalypse now lol. We’ve had a lot of stick about this trip and a few folk have basically accused us of lying about the snow depth etc. They obviously have no idea of drifting snow on high open ground, most have probably never ventured from behind their keyboards lol. It was one of the hardest trips we’ve had and although it is great to look back , we certainly don’t want a repeat. Thanks for your kind comments and how about some more uploads, you have a great voice 👍. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
I live in Buffalo and you are right on! A little forethought goes a long way!
If you're going into heavily forested areas, have a chain saw (if traveling in a vehicle) or a good hand saw if you're trecking. In the high country of Arizona, we do sometimes get lots of snow - the undeveloped roads are closed. I grew up in western NY (Jamestown) but I escaped. Never looked back,never regretting my decision. Winters were too damned cold.
The weather in the UK is supposed to be horrendous this winter (2019), so your Emergency Bag is a have!
Yep,... An ex Aussie in Pennsylvania here & it's all fun & games in the Winter ;)
I keep blankets & emergency gear in the Jeep as well as water, chicken stock cubes & cooking gear plus some shelf stable meat sticks :)
I'm 58 and disabled now, i love living through your eyes doing what i used to do before my injuries.
Sorry to hear that but glad you're enjoying the videos 👍
I'm 56, love camping, even hiking to a degree as I have mobility problems, but try not to let it stop me. I love these videos, and like yourself, they give me so much enjoyment!
I’m 60 next, had three heart attacks a bleed to the brain, I’m going no matter what there’s always a way 🙏🏻👍 stay positive bless you
Happy memories sir and keep the remenising going 👍😀
Im off corrour in Scotland for some munro bagging and a bothy night en-route to fort bill. At 65 im not as agile as i once was but these videos inspire me. Cheers
i love the simple acts of kindness and thoughtfulness of some people, leaving you firewood and things left behind to read/use etc. we need more of that
Yes it’s a sort of rule of bothying 👍
i always come back to watch this
Very nice, inspired and going to see too now, 🙏🏻👍
Thank you . There is another vid on our channel that shows a much easier route to the bothy albeit with a few river crossings which I would recommend over this one 👍
Your channel reminds me why i haven't had a TV for seven years,don't need one with films like you put out. As entertaining,beautiful and worryingly adventuresome as ever.Merry Yule to you Austin,Lucy and Marley.Happy and safe wanders for 2018.Andy.
Thank you very much Andy! Have a great Christmas and New Year. Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Rameman
TV sucks anymore . Actors are overpaid parts like the NFL . I don't bother with Hollyweirdos or pro sports . Rather watch camping , fishing and DIY video. But you tube is censoring a lot of people they deam politically incorrect. So I am about done with you tube . Go to UGETube .No censoring either side . Freedom of speech rules there .
Rameman
EXACTLY!!!! Dumped TV over five years ago. Never looked back.
Videos like this is what it's all about!
Ahhhhh yes this is more like it, it’s real, your real, and I like that, thanks for taking me along I really enjoyed this, from the beauty to the map not reading Ha ! Most would leave that out, but your showing it as it really is, and it can be really dangerous, you worked as an amazing team, I’ve subscribed , your incredible and resourceful, and if you don’t mind me saying courageous, Old Owl 🦉 Alaya Norfolk.
Thank you. It was certainly a memorable one for sure . We were so worried about Marley but he just took it in his stride! He was probably wondering what all the fuss was about lol . Thanks again and take care x
Hope you three are all well! This is one of the best and most salutary YT videos about surviving snow. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much 👍
Could be the snow. Or maybe just a trip down memory lane at Christmas? But we were compelled to watch again 6 years after watching for first time ever😊. Do hope everybody has had a lovely Christmas too. Thanks for your original filam too😮😊
One word, and three symbols. Panda 4 x 4. The best car ever made, in the history of motoring.
Lol. Not sure about that .We did actually look at one of those for Lucy but they’re just too small, plus we have to drive for hours every trip so I didn’t fancy that in a Panda lol. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
I can see where you are coming from there. Storage is acceptable, if you fold down the rear seats. And there's only the two of you. They are not particularly uncomfortable, I have taken one to Italy in one trip, but they are a bit thirsty. Also, if that matters, very sluggish. Off-road performance is simply incomparable. They are still quite pricey, too, hold their value better than beemers. And need new cam belts at 75, or else a new motor at 76!
All the best, take care and thanx for the vids.
Great videos Marley such a cutie 😊 Good luck guys 😎😎
Thank you , Marley was a brilliant boy , we miss him loads . Cheers .
Shelter, Food, Fuel. Never rush yourself to exhaustion. Snowshoes are nice for happy holidays, but no means necessary. Travel slow, preserve energy and dont panic(keep your mind in one place at a time, weird but works). Great video :) Greetings from Finland.
Thank you and we couldn’t agree more 👍. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
Well done for keeping a cool head (no pun intended) and making the correct decisions when you had to. Thank goodness you were prepared for the bothy being unavailable and took the tent. A riveting story. Glad you are all safe.
Thank you very much 👍. Not to be repeated anytime soon we hope! Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
during these times of covid19, locked up in our homes, your videos give deep sense of joy.
Thank you very much. Stay safe.
And we get to see Marley I have re watched this one heaps
Watching this I remember that winter of 2017/18 very well. I was homeless at the time after a relationship break up and nervous breakdown. Even into the middle of March we were having periods of deep snow. One night I was out and ten inches fell with strong winds but some kind fella had given me a British army issue sleeping bag earlier that summer, built to withstand the elements up to -30 c. With that and a thin kiddie style sleeping bag inside it for a liner and a mylar blanket over just my shirt and a thin jumper (I knew that if I was over layered and began to start sweating I might later become at risk of hypothermia; and a fire was out of the question), I was actually incredibly comfortable inside some abandoned place.
Bloody hell you went through it. Sounds like you could teach a thing or two about keeping warm safely 👍
@@2FeetForward cheers fella. Keep the good vids flowing. :)
hi guy's were are you? not seen a new video for a long time, please update, loved your video's
Hi Mark . We recently decided to put vids up again and were going to video a trip we’ve just been on to Spain in the camper. Sadly we were robbed at a French aire and the b#stard got my Sony vlogging camera and microphone. We will put a vid up but it’s filmed on my old GoPro 4 . Needless to say it’ll be a little while until I sort out the funds for new camera . Keep an eye out for the Spain vid though (even if it is a bit shaky) 👍
Glad everyone made it safe and sound. Well done! Your commitment to Marley's well being stood out to me and is one of the reasons I have subscribed to your channel. You guys are awesome!
Thank you 👍. We were so annoyed with ourselves for putting Marley through all this but to be honest he absolutely breezed it compared to us lol. Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
Arabi Peterson....I absolutely agree with you. His love and care for Marley is outstanding, his calmness throughout all that craziness is admirable. Love these 2 and made me a faithful follower.
I love how you think about Marley. We are dog lovers too. Good job guys.
Thank you 👍
I've enjoyed this video as I'm living vicariously through you with my hip acting up, walking just a few years is painful. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to more after I have subscribed to your channel. From the States, Charleston SC be safe.
Hi Michael and thank you. Hope your hip improves soon! Cheers , ATb . Austin and Lucy
What a great video ... one of the best I seen for years
Thank you very much 👍
Wow I stumbled on to this video and had a blast following your trip. It was absolutely stunning and a bit scary. I live in the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee. U.S.A. thanks for the beautiful video.
Thank you Kim 👍. Wow , we’re jealous of where you live !
What an outstanding little presentation and journey...
keep up the wonderful work,
and YES we all snuggled up to a hot cuppa whilst on the edge of our seats.
Thank you👍 Hopefully this weekends camp will be a lot warmer lol. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
HIS WIFE NEVER COMPLAINED ONCE EVEN HAD GIGGLE IN THE TENT AMAZING WHAT AN ABSOLUTE BRAVE HEART SHE IS ONE TOUGH COOKIE WELL DONE !!!.THIS WAS SUPERB WATCHING MANY THANKS PS XX FOR WEE DOGGY
Thank you very much. My wife makes me proud every time! Marley says woof! 🐶
AWW BLESS YOU .BOTH I FELT MY HEART HURT WHEN MARLEYS PAW WAS SWOLLEN JUST LOVE HIM X SUCH AN .INSPARATIONAL COUPLE .IE GET OUTA YER COMFORT ZONE TO GET UTLTIMATE TRUE REAL BEAUTY OF OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET. SCOTLAND X
Lucy is amazing!!!
What an adventure! Glad you made it back safely and Marley too. Thank you for sharing a great video.
Thank you 👍. Stay safe.
Wow glad I’m tucked up in bed watching this, fab vid, and glad you’re all safe.
Thanks Dave , we wished we were tucked up in bed at the time but it doesn't seem so bad now from in front of the fire with a glass of red ! Cheers . Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Just come across this via the search algorithm as it is. I always keep three days of food and water in my crash out kit (Go bag) which stays in the under boot of my car. Even if I venture out on a camp I still keep it replenished just in case. Never know when it will be needed. Usual kit inc. Fire starters and fero rod, spirit burner and billie can. 8 litres of water and comprehensive first aid ruck, that sort of thing. Brilliant video loved the drama of your adventure. Marly was the star of course!
Thank you , we carry enough in the boot to survive an apocalypse now lol 👍
Seems like a good experience to me. Good decisions made, especially to stop instead of keep walking in the dark with that snowfall...wind chill is the big danger...but you were snug in a tent! Not much you could do about not getting updated weather warnings. Just goes to show that being prepared for anything is the best mindset. 99% of the time it will just be extra gear to carry...but when you need it that one time it's worth the shoulder ache!
Great video. Don't leave Marley out of the next winter walk...he was having the time of his life lol!
Thank you 👍 it was one to remember for sure 🙄. We’d love for Marley to keep coming out but he’s 12 now and slowing down rapidly sadly ☹️. There’s still the summer though 👍. Cheers . Austin and Lucy .
Google Earth is great. You had already shown the sign for Claerwen Reservoir and as soon as you mentioned “the dam” I was able to locate exactly where you were at. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
It really is a great tool for this pastime. It gives a good idea of how isolated the bothy is as well. It really is a beautiful area . Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
I casually looked at UA-cam, and saw your latest episode in my feed.... Started to watch, and got as far as the staggeringly beautiful pull back shot of the Bothy in the snow, complete with ominous music... Hit the pause button....
Got big mug of tea and two mince pies, and really enjoyed this gripping story unfold... Beautifully filmed.... btw Marley is my favourite dog to appear on YT... Season greetings to all three of you.... :)
Thanks john , Marleys head barely fits through the door as it is lol. i was a bit nervous taking that shot but it was well worth it . Have a great Christmas and New Year and thanks for watching again. Cheers . Atb. Austin and Lucy.
You cant have a fave Y T dog? thats like having a favourite child.
What?! is having a favourite child wrong 🤭 ? lol 😉
Well ive only really got the one. Daughter aged 6.the other 2 are my semi adopted daughters in there 20s now.
But apparently ya not meant to have a fave.
my daughter will soon be making her youtube debut with me. Me and a mate are gonna have an attempt at our own channel. as any 2 bob Amateur Film maker can do it now apparently (none intended).
But seriously, were gonna attempt a dad and kids general outdoor channel.
i will let you know as soon as we film anything worthy of broadcast.
have a good Christmas mate.
Gary.
Look forward to it . Have a great Christmas .Atb. Austin.
I’ve just rewatched this video. The last time I watched it was two year back when I was planning a trip to the same bothie.
I applaud you as a friend & I did this trip in the summer of 2022 & struggled too. We ended up making camp on the fire road just after the woods after spending a good 6 hours hiking through the bogs on top of a four hour drive from London to the reservoir.
I really enjoyed the three days we spent in this area and will revisit it.
Great Video Sir.
Thank you . It really is a pig of a route this one . We’ve had loads of comments from folk that have struggled on this one and with the weather we had it was a recipe for disaster. As you say , it’s such a beautiful area we must revisit it this summer and yes the drive from just south of London is a long one and not really worth just the one night . We did another trip to the bothy and the walk in was so much better, as long as you don’t mind wet feet! Happy hiking 👍
You guys - expert Hikers 🚶👍🌨️. I love you guys... Awesome and dangerous adventure 👍! Wow beautiful 🎥. PS. Good to be safe! Thanks for sharing 👍 ☺️.
Thanks Carlos . It was one to remember for sure.
.Atb.
Austin and Lucy
Wow amazing. The dog loves the snow ⛄️ thanks for the video. God bless u all.
Thank you 👍. Marley does love the snow and really didn’t struggle at all . He left that to us lol. Cheers. Austin and Lucy
Marley at 15:00 SO CUTE!!!! He is one lucky dog to have you guys! I stumbled upon this video while watching other bushcrafters and subscribed 30 seconds in.
Thank you Peggy . He used to be up before us but now he's the last out of bed lol.Cheers. Atb. Austin and Lucy.
So I'm watching this nearly two years after the fact but I'm still riveted to watching to the end! OMG! So glad you had the skill, the gear, the experience to make it through!
Oh, I meant to ask...what the heck is a bothy???? LOL!
Thank you 👍. A bothy is usually an abandoned farm house or shepherds house that back packers use for shelter. The Mountain Bothies Association ( MBA) has loads of info on their site 👍
2 Feet Forward I actually went and looked it up. That sounds like a super cool set up! What a great way to save and use existing structures. Looks like fun to me! But I’m in the USA, so l have to watch you. Thanks!
Best wild camp video I have seen on UA-cam in a LONG time! Liked/Subscribed.
Thank you 👍 Atb . Austin and Lucy.
Great video. Glad you were able to get out and didn’t have to eat Marley.👍
Lol, thanks 👍
WOW! What a watch, I was on the edge on seat all the way through it. It does prove a point mind, we are all looking at ways to minimize weight and only take the bare minimum but you never know when you may hit an emergency situation. Real pleased all 3 of you got back safely. Cheers Alan
Thanks Alan . That's a very good point. We didn't take enough extra food for us or Marley ( we left some at the bothy DOH !) and that was probably down to saving weight so lesson learned on that one .Cheers and Atb. Austin and Lucy.
How lovely--the night you arrived at the wild camp and went to get water. Your head lamp made the snow glisten like there were diamonds in it. I watched that several times because it was so beautiful to see.
Thank you👍 . It really was beautiful and even with the way it panned out it was one of our favourite and most memorable trips . Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
All the Brits commenting are amazed you guys survived, meanwhile all the Canadians are wondering when it's going to start snowing
Haha , I know what you mean but to be fair there were 5ft drifts to make it through and it was wet and marshy below it . We’re just not used to it over here and especially being southerners , we hardly get snow but this was very unexpected and even caught the locals out. Cheers. A+L.
Imagine what russians think)
Ok 🙄
Just having some fun. All in all looks pretty scary and you handled it well. Also got some beautiful scenery out there. Cheers.@@2FeetForward
I had exactly the same thought, I’m Swiss and I honestly don’t get this video. It’s well shot and all but... huh?
still a awesome video seen it a few times now
Cheers Derek 👍
The love and concern for your pup is admirable. You've certainly won my heart! I'm so glad you all made it home, thanks for sharing your adventure!
Thank you very much 👍🐶
Glad I was able to watch and not a news story. Great video and yes definitely lessons learned. God bless
Thank you . You and us both! Cheers . ATb. Austin and Lucy.
Just goes to show, you cannot ever underestimate Welsh weather! Great video and well done to you both, and your dog too. I hope all that watch and enjoy this video learn from it. Another new subscriber. Now I just have to watch all your other videos... ; )
Thank you .We sure learnt a few things. Plan for the worst from now on! Marley's always the hero of the day lol. Atb. Austin and Lucy.
welshboyoo7 i
Wow, just noticed this one. You were heading up the Afon Arban. That's all Wye water/catchment. It's a good hike up their - done it before but not in snow. But it gets better. You guys were challenged with every footstep. 2 feet forward and some more. Awesome guys. Mark
Thanks Mark , this was one to remember for sure . We went back again but in much better conditions , it’s such a beautiful place ! Cheers . A+L .
@@2FeetForward A pleasure. It had an edge to it this one. Yes, a great area. Me and Paul loved it to. Peace!
some say robins are the spirits of lost loved ones watching over us. great fun adventure. hello from mt hood oregon usa
Hi there! Well after the way that Robin stuck with us i can believe it now . It's a nice thought anyway.We crushed up a bit of a dog biscuit for his company though. Cheers . Atb . Austin and Lucy.
i just subbed to you. feel free to sub back. i live in the national forest on mt hood. i do gear videos. real guns. airsoft. archery. hiking. camping. mushroom hunting. mre videos. nature. rafting. lakes. waterfalls. rivers. all kinds of mountain videos. peace.
I believe there is something about a Robin too. I reckon there are a lot of spirits down the local waterfalls as each visit you will find one hanging around... had it on my latest trip and I havent been there in years but mention it on my video. Glad to see you made out after that. What a sight it must have been to see the Clarwen.
Absolutely.When we returned to the bothy a few weeks ago we found the same Robin sitting on the windowsill staring through at us .We crumbled up some biscuits and he was only 10 inches from my hand . Another day and I reckon he would eat straight from my glove . Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
When me and my father got back from the hospital early one morning after my mother had died there was a robin in the house waiting for us. We both knew of the old wives tale regarding robins and lost loved ones probably because it was my mother who had told us the tale. It was a shock to see it there. My father caught the robin and held it in his hands. We looked at each other in full realisation of what it meant. With a tear in his eye, my father said that we need to let it go and set it free. The bird seemed calm in my father's hands. It was beautiful to see such a shy bird so lose up. I stroked its feathers and we both commented on how lucky we were to have had the chance to be so close to it. We said goodbye and off it flew. It was a strange and wonderful experience that I will never forget.
What an absolute adventure.. was so glad to be able to join you guys. Loved watching this.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much 👍. Hopefully not to be repeated lol. Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
Always a proper adventure from you guys! Love, love, love your videos!
Thank you Laura , that's very kind of you .Cheers and Atb . Austin and Lucy.
im half asleep watching and i fully thought the dog walking behind you at 8;49 was a bloody bear my hearts racing🤣🤣🤣
I stumbled across this video by chance, and I glad I did. Great drone shots and editing. You’re editing was excellent from the stand point of making me feel like I was in your struggle against the harsh elements.
Thank you Craig 👍. Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
One of the best woodsman skills is to evaluate your situation and make the best of it. You cared for everyone in your party and got them home. A couple of bad choices and it wouldn’t have been as happy an ending. Good show brother!
Thank you very much . We certainly learned a few lessons on this one . Cheers . Austin.
The importance of proper and maintained car for a trip like yours is very important.
I have been in a situation where a day hike turned into a survival situation when we got hit by a heavy rainstorm and wind and we lost our way. By the time me and my friend got to our car it was well past midnight and the car did not start. No cellphone signal, no food, no proper clothing (long story) and no change to walk out of there.
My buddy ended up with a pneumonia, I got away with a runny nose and bad cold.
Wow , it's not just us then . Since this trip we have a full back up kit in the car including snow chains so we , as you , won't be getting caught short again . It only happens once as they say. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
You would not believe the stories I have. But yes, being prepared always pays off! One simple mistake might lead to some bad situations. I carry at least a knife and some option to light fire wherever I go.
Yah Did Good ! Very exciting. Thanks for sharing. ❤❤❤
Thank you 👍. Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
Great stuff !
I always take a tent when going to a bothy A&L.Its hard to explain to someone that hasn't done it how hard walking through deep snow is with a heavy pack on. Great drone shots and what an adventure. Weather forecast lol i was expecting strong winds and -20 on my last trip it turned out to be PERFECT winter conditions ! We're always learning mate.
"Life without risk is a life not worth living "
ATB well done you , Lucy and Marley.
Cheers Eddie . We were only saying a month ago how it was a good job that tent wasn't tested in Switzerland eh! I was pretty nervous as the wind was hitting it mind . I've since listened to a few pod cast for Sat night/Sun morning and it was forecasted to be worse but still not that bad . I won't leave the fm radio behind again thats for sure . It's all a learning curve but that was a bit steep for us lol.. Cheers and Atb. Austin and Marley.
Really enjoyed this video, amazed you all managed to stay so calm through it all.
Thank you 👍
That was the 1st real adventure I have ever watched on youtube"
Fantastic Video and thank goodness you made it !
Thanks Rudy , very kind of you. Atb . Austin and Lucy.
Brilliant Video
Thank you 👍
I love watching these right before bed. Watching supper being coooked by a warm fire out in the middle of winter heaven. I put myself there and relax..... And pass out!
Cheers Mike . Our videos are so good they put you to sleep lol. Atb. Austin and Lucy.
WOW !!! Beautiful footage and awesome story. Thanks for sharing and I am sooo pleased you guys fared well.
Thank you Daisy, we just don’t want to repeat it anytime soon! In fact I’m sat in a warm pub in front the fire after spending another snowy night on a mountain in North Wales . No dramas this time 👍 Have a happy New Year . Cheers. ATb. Austin and Lucy.
I find myself coming back to this video after a few years. It really is a great example of what can go wrong for campers..... even for those who are experienced! I noticed you have not uploaded for a few years. I hope you are healthy and fit and family are keeping well. Austin and Lucy, hope you read this message and someday upload again.
Thank you Pete. Yes we’re doing ok , although I am getting over a nasty bout of pneumonia at the moment but on the mend . Hope all is well with you and yours .I keep saying I’m going to start uploading again and even have a good few trips that we’ve filmed but just can’t seem to find the time to edit them . Then , on a recent van trip to Spain , I woke to find a dirty thief in the front of our van ! I dived at him but he grabbed Lucy’s handbag which had our passports in and the sod got my Sony vlogging camera 😡 so I haven’t been able to replace it since as funds won’t allow . Hopefully a GoPro 12 will give me the inspiration to start up again when I eventually get one , so watch this space 👍.
Wow. Another epic. Glad to see you back safe and sound. Used your best tools out there, your heads. Elan Valley is awesome. If we got snow like that in Dorset most people wouldn’t be able to cope. Beautiful but treat with great caution. Nice to see the new motor doing so well.
Thanks Gareth . I know what you mean , half that amount would have ground our area to a halt.i thought it was brilliant that a farmer had driven his tractor up there to the dam and cleared the trees as well and thank goodness we had the 4x4 , it did really well but i'll have chains next time just in case. That Valley area is stunning so we'll have to go back to that bothy again , on a dry day. . Cheers ,atb . Austin and Lucy.
This has to be my 10'th watch, I just can't stop watching this I just wish I was in the bothy it looks mint.
The bothy is awesome , our favourite so far 👍. Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Awesome video - thanks for sharing.
solid video. Glad you guys went prepared.
Cheers Eric , we'll be a little better prepared after this as well ! Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Excellent honest and genuine video, love how you are so caring for your pup, your love for him is so obvious. I think you both handled this very serious situation really well, you didn't panic, you had a couple of cheap but very adequate tents just in case, and when "just in case" happened, you made the right decisions. My dear old Dad used to have a saying for situations like this, "It's a bit like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer, it feels fantastic when it's over!" All the best from Australia, cheers 😊
Haha very well put 👍 and thank you 👍
Oh I absolutely love watching your channel! I'm slowly making my way through all of your videos ❤️ You've really inspired me to get out and about, we have already been to Grwyne Fawr Bothy (we live in Wales!) but we are definitely going to go out for more adventures after watching your videos! Love to you all Austin, Lucy and of course Marley!
Thank you 👍. Lucky you, we plan to move to Wales eventually , we visit so much we may as well lol. Great to hear you visited Grwyne Fawr , did you stay the night? Atb. A+L.
I am English but have lived in Ontario for forty years, you guys did it right, you survived. After one winter in Canada I put the emergency kit in my car, and! I still have one. Happily only had to use it once. But really, Well done. You cannot trust weather forecasts so it is better to be prepared for the worst. By the way actually I believe I became a Canadian after working outside in -40c then going for a cold beer afterwards :) which actually tasted warm *L*
Haha , warm beer , it must have reminded you of England. We always take some red wine and when it’s cold we warm it a tiny bit. In minus temps it steams like mulled wine lol. Thanks very much and Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Well that was a real adventure.. so glad you got back home safely.. other than that some amazing footage.. and a lovely bothy in a very special location.. some good decision making.. you kept a cool head.. vital in them situations.. well done all 3.. ATB.. R&D :) :)
Thanks guys .Caught us out good and proper this R&D .We thought we'd have a nice walk in the snow, spend a pleasant evening in the bothy and be home for Sunday dinner . The bothy is in such a beautiful location we'll have to go back soon and there is endless dead firewood so we won't have to lug any in , perfect. Cheers guys .atb . A+L.
Brilliant video, guys. Really enjoyed this.
Thank you 👍
Wow wow wow. What a great adventure! Please forgive my ignorance on this because I'm in Texas, but why wouldn't you use snow to melt in a kettle before stream water? It seems like snow would have much less chance of contamination?
So thankful for your discernment and experience. How could you increase that? Ever thought of a survival class or some sort of extreme weather class? Also, sounds smart to keep a few days of minimal rations in the truck. Just my opinion. Down here in Texas, it's a bit of the opposite. Food is abundant, but finding water is a skill that MUST be learned.
Thanks Chris. The stream water is really clear here with virtually no particles and as you know boiling is the only 100% sure way to pure water. We do melt the snow when on a mountain and we always carry a filter for dirtier water that we filter before boiling . The only thing with melting snow is it uses a lot more fuel per boil and we drink a heck of a lot of tea over here lol . We really should do a winter survival course but I guess we’re just a bit lazy. We live in the south of the uk and just don’t get any snow like they do further north and it’s a ten hour drive to the highlands and if it does snow our roads literally grind to a halt so all the ‘mountain’ roads just get shut 🙄. We really aren’t very good at dealing with snow over here lol. We now have enough supplies in our car to survive an apocalypse lol. Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
@@2FeetForward "We're not good in snow in the UK?" Please! I'm in Texas, there have been weather men/women that have been FIRED for announcing rain before it hit. When the average Texan has some rain hit his/her window, it is mass chaos and traffic jams.....total disaster. Google Maps is a spider web of red. And we don't get snow. We get ice. On occasion. Anyways....cheers, sir.
Takes a lot of snow to fill a kettle.
Great video.Enjoyed it a lot.Look forward for the next one...
Thank you 👍
Sometimes nonhiking friends comment about how few miles I make on a winter day hike, even 1 mile per hour sometimes. Now I can show them your video and say, see! I'm not the only one. Yes, it is slow going in the winter for very obvious reasons.
Seasons greetings ! It really is hard work ! You can also tell your friends it took us over 17 hours walking to cover around 7 miles so you do pretty well ! Have a great 2019 . Austin and Lucy.
Thanks guys for keeping me sane during this lockdown. Going through all your videos and helping me to look forward to the return to sanity. I watch with my OS map open to follow route. You've given me some nice ideas for the oncoming year. Stay safe.
Thank you Ric , glad you’re enjoying them 👍. Stay safe.
winter trips need extra food and supplies always because you never know whats going to happen.
You're not wrong Paul. Lessons learned on this one.Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
Exactly
Strictly , the same as other seasons.
Bloody hell - what an adventure. Thanks very much for sharing this. Some real food for thought here. And I must say that was a stunningly shot video from start to finish. Amazing that such panic and terror can be found amoung such a beautiful landscape.
Thanks very much . It took us by surprise the way the snow came down . Learned a thing or two on this one for sure .Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
Great vid to look back on but must have been worrying at the time. Some sound decisions made though. Glad you got home safe and glad Marley enjoyed himself. I don’t take Elsa out much in winter, she likes her home comforts too much 😂
Some of the footage was stunning. Well done guys!!! 👍🏼
Thank you .Must admit we were worried of the amount of snow in the night and really relieved when we could see the end of the reservoir . Marley was fine but i don't think we'll risk the snow again with him , unless it falls while we're out he'll be enjoying his home comforts as well from now on. Cheers .atb . Austin and Lucy.
What a fantastic little adventure you 3 have had! Those pictures above and around the bothy are just amazing! :)
Thanks Kyle , that was the first time i've flown the drone in the snow and i must admit i was a bit nervous on the distant shots but was really pleased with the results. Cheers . Atb . Austin and Lucy.
Glad you got off safe!
Thank you 👍.Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
Wow! A fantastic watch, well done. Beautiful scenes at the bothy site. And a real eye opener, you just never know how things can change dramatically. Glad you got back safely.
Thanks guys . It is such a spectacular place for that bothy ,so much so we'll be back soon .Hopefully in more relaxing circumstances lol.it really took us by surprise this one . Cheers .Atb Austin and Lucy.
Hi really good vid. I've just got back from here and took the exact same route although started at the bottom and not on the dam. I planned to stay two nights Xmas eve and Xmas. It's fair to say the going is horrific if you're expecting "paths" any semblance stops after the sheep fold area. And .. NO path as marked through the woods. Scared myself at that point. Mad rush to get to the fire road where I spent night one as it just got too dark. Got there 10 minutes after packing up in the morning. You left a little bit of chilli and one grain of rice on the wooden table. It was well tasty :-). Well done on getting through this route; it is brutal as it is without snow. Will you be investing in some yeti gators? I can recommend.
If you're going back in Jan I left 3/4 of a bottle of jagermeister and a full bottle of honey whiskey. Also some more food hung in a rubble sack from the ceiling. :-)
Hi Lewis . We really underestimated this walk , someone else said they'd done it recently and found it hard going as well. Were you the next person to stay after us then? if so , apologies for not leaving any wood . i'm glad you mentioned there are no paths , now we know it definitely wasn't us lol. 10 minutes away , that's sods law! At least you got a full day at the bothy though. Must admit the gators we had did well on the day but a couple of pairs of snowshoes might be in order. Cheers . Atb. Austin and Lucy.
2 Feet Forward yeah I was next in after you according to the book. No problem with the wood. I was fool enough to lug my own kindling and coal up with me. (Nothing like a bit of dead weight) . I sunk up to my knee several times on the way up, the yetis saved the day. If you do go back as you approach the woods where a path is supposed to be head left to the next "corner" there is a clearing in the woods as an access route with some fallen trees, but this is the easiest way through and shortest to the fire road. I can imagine the panic you felt going into those woods on that path as advertised especially with Marley. Because I did. I got a light dusting of snow today which was pretty.
Wow! what an adventure. You were just on the cusp of disaster. One more night, rescue mandatory, assuming your sleeping bags kept you warm enough. If you got wet and cold, it might have become recovery in lieu of rescue. Marley is a real trooper, as well as your brave mate. You did well as the protector.
Thank you . Luckily the kit we carry did us proud but as you say, it could have been so much worse . Lesson learned. 👍
When you looked out and saw the snow getting worse.. I would have stayed put for another day. Been there as a youth with the Scouts. We got caught just a few miles from town in a Cabin. We were winter camping but after the first night and most of us were litterally snowed inside our tents and it was getting worse. So our adults had us pull up camp and we all went into the lodge there and it had gas stoves and fire. The wind howled and blew and snow drifted 3 feet deep. Most of us had no idea that the place had emergency food stashed. It was good since we were there for 3 more days before the snow plows arrived to get us out..
Blimey , that was a proper scout adventure! Yes we should have stayed in hindsight but I’d left the route details with the kids and they know to raise the alarm if we don’t contact them 🙄. We also had some important work meetings so we had to try . Oh well , lesson learned and an emergency text : satellite thing is on order 👍. Cheers .
i have only just found your videos and they are awesome. i am glad the 3 of you made it back safe, what an adventure. i walked from the dam in good weather and found it hard going. well dome
Thanks 👍. We underestimated that walk in , it really is a hard one 🙄. Cheers. Austin and Lucy.
A truly American meal. Chile and Rice.
Oh yes , it's a staple for us when we're camping and perfect on a cold night.👍
Well done guys, u kept a cool head in unexpected conditions, glad u all made it back safe and sound, a good reminder not to underestimate Mother Nature, excellent video as always guys. TFS, ATB. Have a great Christmas.
Thanks Micheal . We got caught out for sure on this one . Many lessons learned ! Have a great Christmas and New Year . Atb. Austin and Lucy.
I have seen a few of the "very unprepared" Winter trips and they ALL start with leaving WAY too Late, why on Earth don't you leave early in the morning so you can see what you're doing to set up?? I'll continue my thoughts as I watch more of this video, for me in Canada where we have 10 ft drifts every Winter and are used to it, do you over there ever use snowshoes, I realize snow now in Britain a few years ago was unheard of watching Nigella in her Christmas dress but now it seems you're back in "A Christmas Carol" good luck
We did set off early but as you saw in the video we had to backtrack and after getting the land rover driver off the bank we lost a good few ours. As for ‘very unprepared’ keep watching . The biggest mistake was leaving food at the bothy and not having emergency rations in the car. We were also on the way to a bothy so no ‘setting up ‘ needed?
please don't misunderstand me when I criticize this, I have never winter camped and if I EVER get to it will be 30 minutes from my home due to my health but I was a Wedding Musician for 20 years and I only had ONE shot at making a good impression for the Band who graciously just allowed me one wedding to play"sight ans sound unseen" I have so much gear that if I forgot ONE instrument my life and night would be a disaster. when wwe go to a Beach 1 hr away I have nightmares thinking of what we may need in food and drink and snacks as I am the food guy at New Year's EVE parties. I commend you for what you do and wish I had the guts to even try this and may someday. thanks for replying. good luck!!
Thank you Norm 👍. Atb. Austin and Lucy.
Wow some of the best quality video I have seen on a wildcamp video that pull back at the start of the bothy. Glad you all got home safely. Keep the vid's coming.
Thanks Kevin . I was a bit nervous taking that shot i must admit , if i'd clipped a tree the drone would have landed in 3ft of snow and would be lost forever. Next stop Snowdonia in the Christmas break .Cheers . Atb . Austin and Lucy.
Bugger me I thought you kept saying till we find the body...
And it was Bothy durrrr how slow am I
Ant p teacher uk
Lol. You’re not the first, my southern accent again I’m afraid . Atb. A+L.
Makes two of us 😂😂😂
As a American I found the accent hilarious. I do wish my American trials had Bothys not just shelters.
From Seattle Washington,USA.
What better place than the uk for a who done it. 😉
At 17:00, over your right shoulder. What is the orange box attached to larger black box below it?
The orange box is a fire blanket above and old void ( maybe an old type of oven ) which just holds candles now 👍
I just don't believe you two! How did you survive that?!
You could at least have had the courtesy to both fall into exposure -induced comas until after the 25th. Then I wouldn't have to buy you both something for Christmas. Now I'm gonna' have to. Bah humbug!
From your ever loving brother/brother-in-law.
Haha , you can buy me a bag of common sense please 🤪
this popped up on my feed, still amazing! and now it has 415K views!
Hi Lezley , thank you . I know it’s shocking how many views this one got ! Hope you’re well , cheers , Austin and Lucy .
Never fear Alvin is here,Hey guys enjoyed the video looking forward to more my name is Alvin I'm from the states in Illinois,Take care guys, Alvin
Hi there Alvin , glad you enjoyed it! Cheers . Atb. Austin and Lucy.
What a tremendous video you have shared with subscribers. The perseverance from you three was thrilling to watch. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much Larry 👍. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
I started to panic in the woods on the way to the bothy. Marley was a sight for sore eyes.
quite a adventure... pleased you were lucky when you got to the car or it woulda been a long night.
Thank you , hopefully not to be repeated 🙏
The robin following you was wonderful. Thank goodness you are all ok!
Thank you , he was keeping an eye on us for sure !
Amazing video. A golden rule is to always have seven days food and don't trust weather forecasts and as posted below, leave extra blankets in the car.
Thank you. Yes , after this one we have all the bases covered now 👍
Thank you for sharing. Very important information for us all.
Thanks Mike 👍. Cheers. A+L.
Superb film - one of the best I have seen. This sort of adventuring is grim at the time, but they are the ones you remember the most. Glad that all was OK with everyone.
Thank you . yes , looking back it seems so much easier now but these ones make the best memories. Cheers . Austin and Lucy.
Austin mate, I watched this on the edge of my seat. My wife said what’s wrong. I said I’m worried for them both . This was the most gripping UA-cam video I’ve seen. We always prepare for the worst, but You guys got it with bells on. You have my upmost respect for dealing with the worst possible conditions ever and sorting it out . ATB pal darren
Thanks Darren . i knew as soon as i opened the bothy door we were in for a hard time .It's great now though , looking back on it from the sofa lol.We won't forget it in a hurry. Cheers .Atb. Austin and Lucy.
That’s a trip you wontforget in a hurry. Exciting watching. You wouldn’t have known it snowed here at all. Well done. X
Thank you , definitely won't forget this one . It would seem that this area got hit especially badly . On our drive home we lost count of the cars dumped / stranded at the side of the road . We got away with it on this occasion. Cheers ,atb . Austin and Lucy.