A Sleeping Bag Trail Story

4:43 PM | Labels: , , ,

All this talk about sleeping bags brings to mind a couple of stories.

Preparing to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, I bought a Junior, or youth synthetic bag, rated 20 degrees. It fit, a snug fit. I would get in it, bend my knees, zip it up and stretch out. Tight. It fit my newly divorced-budget at the time, and I determined not to let that stop me.

The first season, 825 miles from Sonora Pass to Crater Lake, the bag did wonderful. Wonderful enough to take this bag, weighing just two pounds out in the spring to finish up the Pacific Crest Trail. I would be out for 5 months, and it never occurred to me that it was fairly trashed, and had lost most of its loft already.
While hiking through the desert I didn't notice any issues. But once into the High Sierras, I was freezing every night. This was early June, there was still snow banks at 10,000 feet.
I was using my Packless system, so determined to buy something at the next trail town, Kennedy Meadows, and strap it to the pack.
Within a few days we arrived at Kennedy Meadows, and I bought an old army blanket from the owner of the store there. I cut it down with my razor (5 gram) knife, sewed it into a mummy bag liner and carried it along with the sleeping bag.
The moral of the story? One way or another you will get a good sleeping bag.
My hiking partner sent me my fleece liner so that I could ditch the heavy, over 2 pound army blanket. With this combination, I finished in Canada on September 17th.
You can read my trail journals which are linked on my home page at:
http://www.trailquest.net/BRindex.html

I have all my gear lists for the trails as well, too numerous to list here.

Happy shopping.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Comments(0)
Posted by Unknown

How to Buy a Sleeping Bag

5:00 PM | Labels: , ,

I watched Oprah the other day as they prepared to go camping in Yosemite.
It was hard to image she had never gone camping in her life. Ever.
So, in preparation, off she and Gail go to REI to buy stuff. The camera crew comes as well, and they look at tents (they end up with a state of the art pop up camper) and then they look at sleeping bags.
Now I know the show was not really instructional, but more an entertainment and message to blacks: get out more!
Nothing was said about down versus synthetic bags, men or women's sizing, temperature ratings, or care of this major purchase. Of course, Oprah can afford anything she wants, and it appears she and Gail both chose by color only. The sleeping bags looked very fluffy, so I'm guessing an upper end power fill goose down bag rated about 10 degrees. I believe Oprah's was a Big Agnes. I don't recall them mentioning Gail's brand name.
Anyways, I thought I'd offer a little insight into my experiences buying bags.
First off, get one that fits, more like a glove than an over sized sweatshirt. The body must heat all the air space in the bag so the closer the fit the less air space being warmed. I prefer a mummy style bag over a rectangular bag for this reason.
If its too tight, you'll be cramped and end up stiff in the morning.
I always suggest a 30 degree bag for general use. A twenty degree bag is over kill for late spring into fall weather. A forty degree bag means bringing warm clothing in all but low elevations summer camping.
Most bag ratings are optimistic. Many people, women in particular, say they sleep cold.
Sure, a bedtime snack of nuts and jerky will help you sleep warm because of the extra calories, but having a thirty degree bag makes sense.
If you decide to go winter camping, take a fleece liner for your bag, or invest in an ultralight quilt for a topper. I've used a 40 degree synthetic quilt (weighing 16 ounces) over my 30 degree down bag (weighing 24 ounces) for winter camping with great results.
When choosing a bag, spend a little extra money for a high quality bag. You can and should wash it after a lot of use, to restore the loft. Body oils penetrate the bag lining which causes the feathers to clump, which makes the down shift and cause cold spots.
Both synthetic and down bags benefit from washing after several years. Wash in mild detergent, being sure to get all the soap out. A front loading wash machine works great. Then, put a clean tennis shoe in the dry with the bag and tumble to near dry. Follow manufacturers recommendations.
I've always followed the four layers rule for protecting my sleeping bag from moisture like rain and snow when backpacking. Line your stuff bag with a plastic bag. Stuff the sleeping bag into this, twist the plastic bag shut, then close the stuff sack completely. Place into the pack, preferably not at the bottom, and use a good pack cover.
Protect your sleeping bag as you do your life. It is your main defense against hypothermia.
If you follow the 4-Layers rule above, the decision to buy synthetic or power down fill (800-850) will be based upon:
1-Economics. A superior bag will cost several hundred dollars, but will last many long trails. A good synthetic bag can be had for just over a hundred.
2-Weight. Ultralight backpackers will opt for power fill because not only is the weight incredibly low, it packs down so it can fit in a smaller pack, saving additional weight on the pack itself. If you pack it tight, remember to immediately pull it from the stuff sack when ever possible to restore loft. Shake it out, hang it up.
3-Location. Some fear getting a down bag wet, making it "useless", listening to the adage that a synthetic bag is warm when wet. Not true. A damp down bag will dry with body heat. So, on the wet Appalachian Trail people think synthetic, and on the Pacific Crest Trail they're more inclined to down. Once I changed from synethetic to down, I never went back. Again 4 layers.
4-Color. I always chose earth colors because of the stealth and safety factor.
A sleeping bag is one of the greatest investments you'll make in outdoor gear selection. Try it on if you can before purchasing, and be prepared for sticker shock. Remember, with proper care, they will last a long time.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Comments(0)
Posted by Unknown

Olive Oil Works Wonders

11:17 AM | Labels: , ,


I was researching Olive Oil Benefits and among other sites, ran across this one:
http://www.grandmas-wisdom.com/index.html
I haven't found a photo of Grandma yet, but read about some home remedies and also olive oil. One interesting remedy used on Grandpa was raisins soaked in gin for arthritis knee pain. Eat 9 raisins every day, and the swelling went down. Interesting, and worth a try.
I use olive oil for a skin moisturizer, hair conditioner, and cooking. Usually canola oil is in my pantry for saute and baking. Olive oil is great for making salad dressing with apple vinegar and spices. I carry a small bottle of olive oil for baking on the trail with the slow burner soda can stove. It adds welcome calories, flavor, and what chefs call good "mouth feel".
Other benifits of extra virgin olive oil are that it keeps my curly hair from getting frizzy in humid weather, adds body to cheap lotions, and makes a great all around skin moisturizer.
Today I read that it prevents tumors from growing in mice exposed to UV Rays.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil isn't the cheapest oil in the cooking aisle. But as a beauty secret, its very inexpensive. Compare the prices of hair and skin products and see how far a 32 ounce bottle of olive oil compares.
I love a product that can be used in many ways and is environment friendly.
Natures gift to us, no chemicals, no cancer causing additives, olive oil has been used around the globe.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Comments(0)
Posted by Unknown

Eureka Spit Fire Ultralight Tent-gear review

9:14 AM | Labels: , ,

This sub 3 pound double wall tent is easy to pitch. Even though 10 stakes are included with the package, it really only needs 6. The other 4 are for serious winds, or spares. The fly is silverish gray, the floor is brown, good stealth colors.
I am impressed with the workmanship, extra features like gear pockets, top fly vent,access zipper to close that vent from inside the tent, extra stakes, and serious straps and buckles to last as long as the heavier 70 denier fabric would.

The side entrance is my favorite tenting design. Also, this particular design makes it a quick pitch: stake out the foot and head ends (one stake each), then get out the shock corded poles, prepare by alligning to form arches, put each end into its proper gromet at base, and clip the body of the tent into place.
Its spacious for me, at 5 foot 2.If you're over 6 foot 2 inches, it could be a little snug.
Next, unroll the fly, and making sure the zipper door is on the same side (and upside right) as the tent body, place on top. The cool buckles allow you to clip this right on at the staking loops in 4 places, then stake out the vestibule. So far I've used only 4 stakes. But, just in case it gets windy, I put in two more at shoulder level.

Stowing my LED light and watch in the side gear pocket was cool. During the night I could easily find either. I slept warm and comfortable and had no condensation.

The Spitfire did perfectly in the rain, although I had to get out and re-anchor the foot stake. If that pulls out, the foot bed falls inward. Next time the ground is that soft, I'll place a rock on top the stake.

Dropping the tent in the rain is not hard.
First, take the stakes out, allowing the poles to fall down. Then, reaching under the fly (leave the fly on top to protect the body of the tent from getting soaked) I unhook the clips and pull the poles out. After collapsing the poles, I place them in the plastic bag. Then, beginning at the head end, I roll the whole tent as one, keeping the body covered by the fly, folding under so it was the same length as the poles. This keeps the water from pooling, and the whole outfit could fit neatly into the tent bag.


I am quite happy with this double wall tent, and feel that for warmth, weight to space ratio, condensation control, packablity and value it can't be beat. The various construction details shows they thought of nearly everything. I am going to add a small staking loop to the bottom of the large side of the door fly, so that I can stake it out seperately , providing a small covered vestibule. Otherwise, it either rolls up all the way, to provide maximum ventilation, or is zippered completly shut. Adding this one more staking point gives that large door one more position for gear protection in light drizzle, etc.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Comments(0)
Posted by Unknown

The Gift of Fear-A Book Review

12:45 PM | Labels: , ,

I watched the episode on Oprah a few years back that featured the author, Gavin deBecker, and his exceptional work The Gift of Fear.
His book was published in 1997, and tells many true stories which demonstrate his principles. This is a book dealing with personal relationships as well as management.
One of the most surprising theories is that our intuition warns us well in advance of any violence. Unlike wild animals, humans will try to dismiss these warnings, especially if acting upon them would be construed as impolite. I obtained a copy of the book, which I highly recommend, and incorporated his findings into my strategies for surviving on the road and in strange or new locations.
I looked up this book at Wikipedia to see what they posted, and copied these 7 Pre-Incident Indicators, to give you a taste of the good advice and lessons in this book. No doubt many people can look back on their lives and remember when these indicators were present before a bad turn of events.
"PINS (Pre-Incident Indicators)
1-Forced Teaming. This is when a person tries to pretend that he has something in common with a person and that they are in the same predicament when that isn't really true.
2-Charm and Niceness. This is being polite and friendly to a person in order to manipulate him or her.
3-Too many details. If a person is lying they will add excessive details to make themselves sound more credible.
4-Typecasting. An insult to get a person who would otherwise ignore one to talk to one.
5-Loan Sharking. Giving unsolicited help and expecting favors in return.
6-The Unsolicited Promise. A promise to leave someone alone when none was asked for, this usually means they won't leave the person alone.
7-Discounting the Word “No”. Refusing to accept rejection.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gift_of_Fear

Gavin deBecker works with individuals as well as corporations. His website is
https://www.gavindebecker.com/

I believe as society faces worsening challenges, we must protect ourselves by predicting and preventing personal injuries.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Comments(0)
Posted by Unknown

New Hobo Gear Page

7:04 AM | Labels: , , ,

has a new page added, The Hobo Series. On that page I have embedded five different videos I have made for my

http://www.youtube.com/user/brawny03
My first project was an ultralight wood burning stove made from a tin can.I used simple tools: a hammer, a regular screw driver, and some heavy work gloves.
When I completed the stove, I found it only weighed 3.5 ounces. When I used it on the Foothills Trail, I did not need to bring fuel, a pot support, or windscreen. This was a good trade off in terms of weight.






Because it did rain a little, I had to select my fuel from branches that were off the ground. Once the fire is going, it is easy to maintain indefinitely. This is really handy for folks that love endless piping hot cups of coffee, and a simple campfire which takes little fuel.

You can keep this stove system in a plastic bag which is then placed into a ditty bag. I found it to be very useful.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Comments(0)
Posted by Unknown

First Influences-Tom Brown the Tracker

10:23 AM | Labels: , , , ,

I can remember growing up reading Tom Brown's The Tracker.
His influence is still felt today when I'm breaking new trail, trying to retrace my steps, or watching for trail sign. I take deep breaths and recognize the human smells of feces before I even near the trail head. A human camped here a day or two ago. The smell would dissipate in this dry air quickly.
I remember reading how he would get into the mind of the creature he was tracking, would watch for variations in depth or spacing of tracks. When I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail we could tell by the tracks how heavy the load must be of the person ahead of us. A small deep footprint would indicate a heavy load. A long stride would indicate in a hurry. Long thin lines would indicate they are letting the poles drag and drinking water, or perhaps, reading their guide book.
Sometimes, at trail intersections, the meandering prints would indicate the same bewilderment I was feeling when the guide book was nebulous in its description of the way forward.
I loved reading about Tom Browns early adventures with his boyhood friend who also learned not to fear the elements. It is important to adapt with alertness to our invironment, avoiding fear and panic.
Tom wrote about stalking deer, moving only when they were feeding. This is a long painstaking adventure. One must never be in a hurry to achieve such skills. Its easy to give up when things don't go well. Our society teaches immediate gratification and one must look at the big picture often to avoid discouragement.
Tom Brown has written other books and has an outdoor skills school. I've met folks who attended his schools and find that fascinating.
This last week I have been bushwacking and connecting two favorite spots in this corner of my neck of the forest. Its interesting because of all the ridges and "hallars", abandoned logging roads, creeks and blowdowns. At one point I came upon a rock duct I'd built weeks ago which showed I'd emerged from the gully much further east than I'd expected to. I pulled out my pensil and paper, made notes, drew references on the map, then continued. The trail made a horseshoe, mission accomplished. I now have a loop trail which connects the points I love to visit.
Each day I walk this brand new loop trail, I see slight impressions from my bushwacking, and think again of Tom Brown, the Tracker. It would take a dedicated survivalist to see my trail signs, which is my goal as well. Never walk over the same place too many times unless you want to be easy to follow.

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
Comments(0)
Posted by Unknown
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)