Surviving a Gruelling Wild Camp: Alone on Calf Crag + Grasmere

As you can guess from the title, this was a difficult one.
My intention to wild camp on Calf Crag was seen through, however at the cost of a terrifying night.
I don't discuss this in this video, but this event as well as the traumatic event I DO discuss combined actually put me off wild camping for a couple months. That, and the awful weather.
Please be kind in the comments as the event I discuss still weighs heavily on me and the outcome, the *work incident*, ended up worsening my mental health.
If you want to know more, I discuss this in depth in my coming up video around Hawkshead & Borrowdale (I'm not sure what I'm naming it yet, but it's in that one. I have a Chamonix video that takes place between then which I may upload before that one, but I don't know yet).
Anyway, be safe when wild camping, especially alone! This was certainly a lesson for me, and despite the fear and intense challenge, it's genuinely made me stronger. :)
(October 2022)
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Thank you to everyone watching, I appreciate each and every one of you!
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Also, my brother and I hiked Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for Mind, we got 55 miles in before we were forced to cut it short due to food poisoning from an Inn we stayed in! We're better now, and will continue the walk this year (2023) so if you’d like to donate and support us I’ll add the link below! It’d mean so much, and for a good cause!
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[@MarkSweeting_]

Saved to my watch list for later. Subbed

[@nicklemming2556]

I've been in a similar situation, chucking it down with rain in buckets and the winds threatening to lift the tent up and send it flying off with me inside it. Didn't even have a friendly sheep to keep me company either!

[@Orenjen]

It’s so scary! I would love to mountain wild camp again, but I haven’t been since this 😂

[@SirPrancelot1]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing your adventure!

[@bryher5594]

As always great video, I just watched your previous Grasmere camp yesterday, quite a difference this time from the idyllic sunshine you got last time. As you say in your video, its part of it, the less favourable weather - also I think the Lakes look their best in the rain. Looking forward to seeing your future Wainwrights bagging trips. Also wanted to say, I hope you are healing ok from the spiking. It happened to me nearly 15years ago and yea it really does mess you up, it actually stopped me drinking completely which ironically ended up being beneficial. But yea its quite a process to heal from, however at risk of sounding too cliché it does get easier over time.

[@Orenjen]

The lakes are definitely very atmospheric in the rain, and thank you, I’m still dealing with it now 7 months on to the date, I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to put it behind me. I’m so sorry you’ve had a similar experience, it’s horrific and no one should be put through it. ♥️

[@aaronjames0587]

place is beautiful even when the weather is terrible! looking forward to watching you keep bagging them Wainwright's

[@Delgrey]

Loved the video Jen. Keep up the great work and looking forward to Watching more of these! 🎥🥾🎪

[@Bluemerleoutdoors]

How I not come across your channel until now lol well looks like I have alot of catching up on videos

[@Orenjen]

So sweet!et me know what you think of the others! ♥️

[@summittaedae2323]

Well that’s me done two of your videos today. Really well put together. I can highly recommend delta pegs for soft ground and high winds. Happy hiking. Slainte Mhath 🥃

[@Orenjen]

Thank you! And yes, I’ve heard deltas are awesome I’ll definitely look into getting some!

[@margaretolover3316]

Wow, what an adventure. I was holding my breath as you were coming down of the hill on those rocky wet paths and willing you not to fall. I do find using walking poles a big help especially when backpacking but I know not everyone likes them. The pod at the Youth Hostel looked amazing, definitely going to book to stay in one of them. Happy hiking 🙂

[@Orenjen]

Aw thank you! Yes I’m definitely looking into getting some poles, I’d love a good lightweight pair but they can be so expensive, so I’m saving up. I so recommend any of the YHA locations in the lakes, I’ve stayed at a few and they’re all so good with good value for money (I’m not affiliated with them and promoting them or anything 😂)

[@margaretolover3316]

@@Orenjen yes I've been fortunate to have a life membership for 30+ years with them and now retired and able to do volunteer work which is great fun. Always stayed in hostels or camped never a pod 🤔 .

[@stubloggs6358]

No point in rushing when you are surrounded by the beautiful fells(even in poor weather).....never seen a sheep carcass picked clean to the bone like that(and i've seen a lot). Looks like you were using the naturehike cloud up, always try and pitch the lowest end of a tent into the wind(I guess you know that and on the tops the direction can change at the drop of a hat), yes i agree it always seems worse when you are actually inside the tent but when you are alone its still scary(even in less wind). Good to have phone-chargers etc and being able to speak to family/friends for re-assurance and to let them know exactly where you are(just in case)..........anyway you coped and will be prepared for future experience(''every days a school day''). Glad to see you taking it steady coming down and talking on cam seems to work for you 😊. Cannot even comprehend getting ''spiked'', what kind of person would even think of doing that, must have been a very disturbing experience, not just for you but your family/friends who witnessed it...........I have the same attitude to hospital etc but you really should have gotten checked out.............hope you can get completely over that episode. Bit of a result at the YHA in Grasmere, such a lovely place, recently booked a fortnight in the lake-district and the prices have increased 30% on last year(cottages,apartments,hotels, not sure about YHA's)............enjoyed your adventure and look forward to that hawkeshead/borrowdale video.................stay safe...ATB......Stu/Wendy....👍👌.

[@Orenjen]

Yes it is the Naturehike Cloud Up 2, it’s brilliant! And proved to be sturdy 😂 And yeah I always bring one or two power banks with me depending on the length of my trip, and I keep find my iPhone on for loved ones and give them my route beforehand as well as my What3Words location once I’ve pitched. I’ve heard too many horror stories to not take all these precautions! Being spiked is one of the worst things that’s ever happened to me. I can’t understand what thought process someone has to have in order to decide that spiking an innocent person is a good idea. Looking back I should’ve probably gone to hospital, but in the mindset I was in at the time, it felt like a nightmare. And I love the YHA, I became a member for like £20 a year and it’s so worth it if you go frequently as it gives you money off your stays! Thank you for your comment, and I’m glad you enjoyed the video!

[@stubloggs6358]

@@Orenjen Appreciate the reply, had been thinking of getting the Cloud-up 2 but first I must sell my Vango banshee 200 and the Scafell 200 to fund it lol....Take care...ATB...Stu...😊

[@SirPrancelot1]

Shocking to hear about how your drink was spiked. These twisted people must be so cunning to spike drinks without anyone spotting them and brazen as well with so many pubs having CCTV now. Glad that you were with people who could help you. A few years ago I was told about a man who was cabin crew who went to a bar or night club on a stopover abroad. Completely out of character he was involved in a violent incident but had no recollection of it next day. He was going to be prosecuted but fortunately somebody told him to get a blood test. This showed that his drink had been spiked and he was not charged or fired by his airline.

[@Orenjen]

Thank you, and wow that’s crazy! It takes an evil person to spike someone. I’m glad he got a blood test, as I’m scared of needles & hospitals I did no such thing, but I really wish that I did now.

[@SirPrancelot1]

@@Orenjen Sorry to hear about your fear of needles. I think you were better off with Cameron. A&E is such a nightmare now, especially at the weekend. I would hope that they could take a sample of blood quickly in circumstances like yours, even if the result takes a while to come through. The symptoms you got are shocking. I thought that Rohipnol, the date rape drug, just knocked a person out and they woke up feeling bad the next day with no memory of the previous evening but the symptoms you got are far worse.

[@Orenjen]

@@SirPrancelot1 yeah it was awful. And the last time Cameron & I were in A&E, we were there for just under 13 hours for something that was quite serious! We arrived around 8pm and left around 8am the next day and had to go straight to work, it was awful.

[@SirPrancelot1]

@@Orenjen OMG this is so depressing! Unfortunately it seems to be the norm these days. Stay well! Look forward to your next video. The Lake District is such a beautiful place. Something special about it.

[@antje8303]

I have the exact same tent and been in a few storms with it before but just last weekend, we unexpectadly got 80+ km/h wind gusts...after one particuarly brutal one, my tent got flipped over! I completely rolled to the side, and the poles snapped! Luckily I was with a friend who managed to get me out of it and helped me put the tent back together...but that was really scary. Im glad though that I experienced it with someone else around !

[@Orenjen]

Oh my god that’s terrifying! Glad you were with someone like you said, I can’t imagine what I would’ve done if that happened to me 😨

[@antje8303]

@@Orenjen I found holding on to the poles from the inside quiet useful, just as a tip ;) Until that happened, I always had a weird blind faith or naivety in that tent and would just hide in my sleeping bag and wait it out. So cool, you´re wild camping by yourself! Ive only done it 3 times by now and am still not quite comfortable, so its really helpful to see what you go through as well! Thanks for sharing it!!