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Greetings! We're back with another Community Spotlight story, and this time we're heading to the North York Moors with Mark and his friend Rob, also known as Bushman Smithy.
They're both outdoor guys based in North Yorkshire. If you're wondering which one is Mark, he's the one wearing the trilby hat! They're passionate about hiking, camping, bushcraft, and exploring, and they're also two genuinely friendly, helpful, and professional guys. If you'd like to follow more of their adventures, feel free to check out their pages and follow along.
For this trip, Mark and Rob set out for a hike to the Wain Stones on the North York Moors. The plan was fairly straightforward: climb to the famous jagged rock formations, follow paths that stretch back to prehistoric times, and spend the night on the moors.
However, the trip turned out quite differently. Their route was nearly twice as long as expected, their original campsite had already been claimed, and they ended up spending the night with nothing but a poncho for shelter. But it also gave Mark one of the best sunrises he's ever seen.
Sounds like an adventure worth following? Let's take a look at how it unfolded.
The Ancient Paths Up Hasty Bank
Following Ancient Paths Up Hasty Bank
The trip started with a steep climb up Hasty Bank towards the Wain Stones.
"The route kicked off with a punishing, steep climb straight up Hasty Bank to reach the iconic jagged rock formations of the Wainstones," Mark told us.
They reached the summit around lunchtime, and after making their way up, it was time for a well-earned meal.
"We cooked up some well-earned hot dogs and onions on the titanium cooking plate, one of my most used and cherished items."
Melker had a similar thought when he shared his experience with our camping plates — they're pretty easy to fry food on without it sticking.
With lunch sorted and the views opening up around them, everything seemed to be going according to plan.
Then the route got a little more complicated.
Mark and Rob's Lunch
A Short Hike That Turned Into Something Much Bigger
The plan was to continue on to the next summit and eventually make their way back to camp.
"We thought it would be another similar hike to the next summit," Mark said. "Well fed, we pushed deeper into the backcountry. It turned out to be a long, brutal, and incredibly difficult trek."
Two more peaks and roughly 760 meters (2,500 feet) of elevation gain and loss later, what started as a single-summit hike had turned into something much bigger.
Along the way, they stopped at Falconer's Viewpoint, took a moment to drink some water, explored a prehistoric Howe burial mound, and discovered a hidden stone cave.
Those unexpected detours are often what make a trip memorable. But by the time dusk was approaching, there was only one thing left to do: make their way back towards the Wain Stones and find somewhere to camp.
The Falconer's Viewpoint
The Campsite That Wasn't There Anymore
When they finally reached the area where they'd planned to spend the night, they discovered an unexpected problem.
"Bushman and I headed back up toward the crags to set up camp for a well-earned rest. But as we neared the summit, we spotted tents from a distance. It became clear that our original camping spot had been taken!"
So they started looking for another option.
"We scouted the rugged terrain and located an incredibly secluded, hidden spot to pitch our gear just off the main peak, completely cut off from the crowds."
With a new campsite found, they used their lightweight setups and titanium tent pegs to secure their shelter in the rugged terrain.
Sometimes the backup plan turns out to be the better one.
Mark's Campsite
A Night With Nothing But A Poncho Shelter
For the night, Mark decided to strip his setup down to the absolute minimum.
"I stripped my kit down to the absolute bare minimum, using nothing but my poncho shelter. It was a brutal test of minimal gear as the strong, biting mountain winds battered the ridge all night."
That shelter was the OneTigris Tentsformer, paired with a Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping mat, a Helikon-Tex Swagman Roll used as a sleeping bag, and a lightweight Decathlon bug net for his sleeping setup.
A poncho shelter isn't exactly the first thing most people would choose when the wind picks up on an exposed ridge. But Mark was there to test the limits of his lightweight setup.
Thankfully, there was still a good reason to look forward to dinner.
"Bushman cooked up an absolute masterpiece of a campfire curry with rice for tea. This was all done with the titanium multi-fuel stove and 3-piece cookware set, which I was really impressed with — it had everything needed in such a small and light package."
After such a long day on the trail, a hot meal and a drink can change everything.
They even made an attempt at some boulder parkour on the giant rocks nearby, but heavy rainfall quickly turned the wet stones into a slip hazard. They decided it was better to head back to shelter.
Probably the right call.
Mark and Rob's Dinner
A Brutal Wind And A Sunrise Worth It
Despite the wind, the exposure, and his minimal shelter, Mark said he slept surprisingly well.
"I slept incredibly well under the stars and woke up to one of the most spectacular, fiery sunrises I have ever witnessed on the moors."
After everything the previous day had thrown at them, it sounds like the kind of morning that makes the difficult parts feel worthwhile.
With their route already completed, the walk back to the vehicle was much shorter than the previous day's hike. Mark had carried his lightweight setup in a Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor 25–40L pack, and after such a long day, getting it off his back was a welcome feeling.
"Getting back to the van, taking off our backpack was a great feeling."
Mark was driving on the way home, and there was one final reward waiting for them.
"Rob treated me to a full English breakfast, which we stopped off at a pub for, on the way home. We were in need of the nourishment after our trip, and it was a great opportunity to unpack all the things we had experienced on our journey."
Looking back, Mark had no complaints about how the trip turned out.
"I couldn't ask for better companions on this journey. Both Rob and the excellent gear from SilverAnt made this trip special and stress-free."
If you'd like to see the full adventure, you can watch Mark's videos on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@gonzowildcamping
A Fiery Sunrise
Every Adventure Has A Story
Every adventure has a story, just like Mark's.
What started as a straightforward hike to the Wain Stones turned into something much bigger. There were steep climbs, unexpected detours, a campsite that had already been claimed, heavy rain, strong winds, and a night spent under a poncho shelter.
Along the way, Mark and Rob relied on a lightweight mix of gear. From cooking hot dogs and onions on the summit to preparing a proper curry on a windswept ridge, the gear became part of the adventure rather than simply something packed along for the ride.
That's what makes a real outdoor trip different from looking at gear on a shelf. You don't always know what the weather will bring, how far you'll actually walk, or whether your planned campsite will still be available when you arrive.
Sometimes, you simply have to adapt.
For us, that's what makes Mark's story worth sharing. The gear wasn't the main part of the adventure, but it was there when the route became longer, the weather turned, plans changed, and it was finally time to enjoy a hot meal.
The best way to understand outdoor gear is to see where you take it, how you use it, and how it performs when things don't go exactly as planned.
And sometimes, those unexpected moments are the ones you remember most.
Rob - the bushman
More Stories From The Community
Lastly, this is why we enjoy sharing Community Spotlight stories.
Everyone has their own way of enjoying the outdoors. Some spend weekends hiking through the mountains, others prefer quiet nights around a campfire, while some head out with a small pack and see where the trail takes them.
There isn't one right way to enjoy the outdoors. What matters is getting outside, having an experience, and coming home with a story to tell.
Mark's trip is just one of the many stories we've had the chance to hear from our community. We hope these stories inspire you to discover new places, try different ways of camping, and enjoy your own adventures.
If you'd like to hear more stories from other outdoor guys, feel free to save this page and check back with us. We'll keep sharing more Community Spotlight stories along the way.
https://silverantoutdoors.com/blogs/the-silverant-blog?category=community-spotlight
If you've got a trip you'd like to share, some honest gear feedback, or a route you're particularly proud of, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a message — you might be featured next.
To your next adventure,
Steve