The countdown has really begun – we have just 10 sleeps to go!  January has absolutely flown by – trying to get back into the groove of work, training and family life after the excitement of Christmas.

But now my thoughts have really started focusing on the kit list…what is essential, what can I live without?!  We are very fortunate to have the benefit of the Ascenders hindsight and top tips, so top of my list is now an empty 2 litre bottle – a much needed accessory during the night if you don’t want to leave your tent to visit the portaloo!  Another recommendation was some lemon juice for the breakfast pancakes…a little bit of extra flavour goes a long way.

The cold nights still concern me, so I have opted to hire a 5 season sleeping bag, together with super warm summit mitts to stop my fingers from freezing and some special camp booties to keep my toes toasty!

The next challenge will be to make sure it all fits in my bag!