Winter Wild Camping In Heavy SNOW! - Testing The Southern Cross 1!

A trip up the Campsie Hills in Scotland winter camping the highest peak!
On this little adventure Me and Monty headed off into an area that we have never visited before. We climbed a peak called Earls Seat at 578 METRES! The camp started off calm until it got dark and at 8pm the snow finally started. Throughout the night it continued getting deep and building up on the flysheet.
In the morning we woke to stronger winds and the snow eventually began to melt even on the higher grounds. Wind speed were consistently hitting 30mph. Overall a good camp on a tough wee hill!
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Tent Used On This Trip - Terra Nova Southern Cross 1
My Camping Gear!
My Main Tents!
Hilleberg Soulo
Hilleberg Enan
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1
MSR Elixir 1
Wild Country Helm 1
Naturehike Cloud Peak 2
Sleeping Bags
Thermarest Hyperion -6 (Summer Bag)
Rab Ascent 900 (Winter Bag)
Makalu Light Down (Simond) (Mild Winter)
Snugpak Travelpak 2 '(Car Camp)
Sleeping Mats
Thermarest Neoair Uberlite
Thermarest Neoair XTherm
Stoves
Jetboil Zip
Soto Windmaster
Backpacks
Osprey Talon 22
Osprey Talon 33
Osprey Talon 44
Osprey Exos 48
Osprey Kestrel 68
Location Rating System!
9-10/10 = Elite Category
8-9/10 = Very Good Category
7-8/10 = Good Category
5-7/10 = Average Category
3-5/10 = Below Average Category
0-3/10 = Basically just avoid this place

[@GazTheExplorer]

Hi everyone, This trip was enjoyable and it was nice to see some snow on a camping trip again. Just a normal vlog for myself but if you're here for some snow footage then the snow starts 17 minutes into the video! Thanks Gaz

[@Kev_Russ]

Nice one lads. Looked a cauld yin. 🥶 Nice wee hills they weegie Hills 😉

[@GazTheExplorer]

The cold was bearable until the wind came in the morning. This snow camp was good but a shame most of the action was in the dark. Nice wee hills indeed Kevin hopefully be back again this winter. ATB Gaz

[@173oceola]

Wish I was there.

[@GazTheExplorer]

It was a good place for a camp Todd. I can see why you wished you were there pal, ATB Gaz

[@Ed30675]

Enjoyed and subscribed... Looking forward to others you have made...thanks for posting..

[@nettleoutdoors]

I really like the look of this tent, just wished it had the wee storage door that the Helm 1 has, i love that feature. Great video thanks for sharing

[@GazTheExplorer]

Completely agree with what you said there. I own the Helm 1 and the extra storage is always very useful. There is a lot Terra Nova could change with the Southern Cross tents and I do hope they bring a new and improved version out. Thanks for watching, ATB Gaz

[@gmac7947]

Once again ❤thanks so much for taking us along🌎🏕⛰brilliant team

[@GazTheExplorer]

Thanks so much, Always a pleasure sharing the films pal. Enjoyed this trip with my good camping mate. ATB Gaz

[@justmyopiniontoday7548]

Just an interesting trip I enjoyed being carried along. Thx for posting. JMO

[@GazTheExplorer]

Thanks JMO This was an interesting trip in a new area. Also learnt a lot about the tent too. Hopefully be back there again at the end of this year. ATB Gaz

[@justmyopiniontoday7548]

@@GazTheExplorer Both the starav 200 and Southern Cross 1 are tents which I have seriously considered so I did take note of your observations on them. But truth to tell I have added extra guylines to the WC Helm Compact 1 and would now have trouble justifying another tent. Respects. JMO.

[@billbryan8943]

Hi, Gaz. Very interesting to see you're preferring this tent to the Soulo nowadays. And hello to Monty. Good to see you out and about, mate!

[@GazTheExplorer]

Thanks Bill, The Southern Cross 1 is perfect for most wild camps in the UK and it’s easy to pitch and take down. I know the Soulo would be better in stronger winds and snow load but I think for most wild camps the Southern Cross 1 is the tent I will use. Just happy I’ve finally found a tent that I really like for the hills now. ATB Gaz

[@ceanmohrlass]

Great video! Hillside views are so deceptive I can see here how steep that walk was, makes my knees ache watching y'all! Thank you for sharing!

[@GazTheExplorer]

Yeah this hill was a steep one to be fair and a long slog too. It’s an area I’ve wanted to visit for a while now so glad I finally decided to visit it. The descent was straightforward and quick but the climb was something else. ATB Gaz

[@scottward1001]

Fantastic video mate thanks 🥶🥶🥶

[@GazTheExplorer]

Thanks Scott, Cold night for sure but always warm inside the tent. ATB Gaz

[@stealthandysteath1069]

Lol mate, winter camping is never easy, we like to think it.. Thanks for sharing 🔥👍

[@GazTheExplorer]

Cheers Andy, I’ve always said as long as the weather comes in after the tent is pitched then you’re usually okay. Glad we got some views of the area on the hike up. Packing the tent down in the wind was no problem too. Enjoyable camp away. ATB Gaz

[@stealthandysteath1069]

@@GazTheExplorer lol sometimes I an mi mate, don't time it right 😂😂. Last time we went out. Weather man said.. 9c with a light wind. Get this - 8 with no wind, but the star's mate. Bloody lovely mate. Didn't take any winter gear. My feet we're freezing.

[@lomino6478]

Thoroughly enjoyed that Gaz, great to see your perspective of yours and Monty's trip 👍

[@GazTheExplorer]

Thanks Ian, Just good to get a Monty and Gaz camp done again. Plenty more to come and looking forward to better summit camps on bigger peaks. ATB Gaz

[@MrSparkies]

Wow, that looked challenging and cold too. Another nice video Gaz.

[@GazTheExplorer]

Cheers Martyn, The biggest challenge was getting out the sleeping bag in the morning known I had to pack two tents down in strong wind. Great getting the tent up before it started snowing. Overall an enjoyable overnight trip. ATB Gaz

[@suszh8981]

Another brilliant vid Gaz, I do like it when you get the two different perspectives of the same trip, though as I think I commented on Monty's vid, that looked bloody freezing and you sounded quite blocked up with a cold...not a good combination. So thanks again for taking us with you on your trip.

[@GazTheExplorer]

Thanks Susz, It was cold in the evening but warmer in the morning. The hardest bit was dealing with the wind in the morning. I’ve always struggled with the nose on trips. Broke my nose on a few occasions in my younger days so paying for it now especially on these winter trips. ATB Gaz

[@murchiesmountains2820]

Nice one Gaz 😁..My local hills camped up there a few times..I use Dumgoyne to train..It’s super steep..Hard start going towards Earls. Seat…Great workout. Cheers Robert

[@GazTheExplorer]

Cheers Robert, Not a bad area to have for walking on your doorstep. I’m sure Monty sometimes does Meikle Bin to keep his walking fitness up. I enjoy steep hills to gain height quickly. Was impressed with Dumgoyne from the roadside. ATB Gaz

[@murchiesmountains2820]

@@GazTheExplorer Nice one Gaz 😁👍

[@leemorrison55]

Great stuff Gaz Good to see the big fella back out with you too. Keep it up 👍🏻👌🏻

[@GazTheExplorer]

Thanks Lee, It’s been good getting Big Monty back into the camping again. After I started finding the motivation back in January I knew I would eventually encourage Monty to come back. ATB Gaz

[@Welshadventures]

Awesome video new sub here

[@GazTheExplorer]

Thanks for watching and subscribing. Much appreciated bud ATB Gaz

[@adge_ventures4915]

I think most tents bar the geodesics are pretty susceptible to side winds Gaz. The issue there is you'll be looking at 3kg plus for a decent one 😂 Looked a steep mother to begin with but always worth it 😊 Adge.

[@GazTheExplorer]

Bang on with your comments Adge. After being in Monty’s Vango mountain f10 in strong winds and then going back to the Southern Cross 1 for this trip I noticed significant differences in the wind. Very steep on the approach from the roadside but the higher parts are fairly easy going. Good wee trip away for sure. ATB Gaz

[@ronniemathieson17]

Nice one Gaz. I remember a few years back going up over Dumgoyne in lovely warm sunny weather. By the time we made the Earls Seat it was almost a whiteout. Scottish weather eh? 😀

[@GazTheExplorer]

Love the changeable Scottish weather when camping. It always makes it interesting. Me and Monty were both surprised when all the snow had melted on the lower slopes on the descent in the morning. I was happy to see my tent do well in the wind too. Thanks for watching, ATB Gaz

[@beebeb3524]

Does the wind not wake you up many times a night? That noise would put me right off sleeping. Also still can't understand a word Monty says but glad he is there. Enjoyable video, the snowy vista is really appealing, but I'm happy to view it here instead of freezing my bones off to see it.

[@GazTheExplorer]

I usually take earplugs for windy or wet nights but I did forget them for this specific trip. I think sometimes I can be really tired after a hike in so usually I’ll sleep through wind and rain no problem. ATB Gaz

[@bernardscott1783]

Which tent matey.??

[@michaelsargeant5923]

I have a saitaris wish is a great for 2 people who are tent bound. Ever thought of doing that

[@GazTheExplorer]

Montys Vango mountain F10 is sometimes good if the two of us want to go in the same tent to pass time but we don’t own a larger tent such as the Saitaris. ATB Gaz

[@michaelsargeant5923]

Looking forward If it ever happens

[@mustang-hovercraft]

Good one Gaz, chilly tho up there, what with the wind & snow! 🏔🥶🥶 I had a look at the price of that tent, and nearly had a coronary! Would you say the cost is justified, over other tents with significantly lower price tags, like Monty's Starav? Do you really get what you pay for in this instance? Looking forward to the next one 👍

[@GazTheExplorer]

It does cost a fair amount to be fair but I personally think for its strength and how lightweight it is for a 4 season tent does make it worth the cost. I took the gamble with it last year and knew if I never liked it I would sell it on. There are issues I’ve noticed with it but there are plenty of positives. I do prefer it over the Hilleberg Soulo at the moment as well. I probably would tell most people to buy a cheaper tent like the Starav because it would do for most people. Thanks for watching ATB Gaz