Rick Mc

September 28, 2007

TracMe Personal Locator Beacon

UPDATE: Check the comment by Kevin Stoltz. He is very negative on this device:

… how TERRIBLE this device is as an emergency rescue device. The ONLY positive thing is itâ€™s size. It is a low power radio beacon which means someone else has to initiate the search (whether or not youâ€™re actually in need of help). The TracMe is only useful once rescue parties get close. PLBs on the other hand are activated by the individual in distress and result in a distress signal (including location coordinates) being sent to satellites which in turn are relayed to the appropriate search and rescue organization. PLBs operate at 406MHz and have an extremely low false alarm rate.

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original post:

The Hiking Ideas – Wilderness Trailcraft blog is investigating methods of sending for help in case of emergency.

This is the first device small enough for me to seriously consider:

On Monday I posted a story about the Spot Satellite Messenger device and I got a comment from Kevin Stoltz from PLB Rentals. He helped differentiate the category of PLBs from other messenging devices by saying the PLBs have more transmitting power – therefore they are a better safety device.

He also mentioned to me to check out another device called TracMe.

So I did. Here is a shot of the TracMe and here’s what the TracMe website lists as the unique features of their device:

â€¢ Voice beacon – can be monitored by anyone on the existing radio emergency channel.

â€¢ Does not automatically instigate a search and rescue – about 98% of distress alerts detected from inadvertently activated beacons are false.

â€¢ Extremely small and light weight.

â€¢ Low cost – less than half the cost of existing beacons.

â€¢ Very low cost for the Search and Rescue (SAR) crews.

â€¢ A search can be performed with a single aircraft and one ground crew of 2 to 3 people.

â€¢ Will operate continuously for about 7 days – this gives the rescuers ample time to locate the beacon.

â€¢ Single use – once the unit has been activated, it can be deactivated but not reused.

â€¢ Shelf or storage life should be up to 10 years.

TracMe Personal Locator Beacon

– Hiking Ideas – Wilderness Trailcraft

September 27, 2007

Top bull

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Top bull, originally uploaded by busybeingborn.

Hiking photos traipsing right through the middle of an Elk rut. (By the look of the photos.)

“A big bull elk, with some of his progeny. Looks like one half of his antlers has been worn smooth by combat.”

From Tom Mangan’s personal blog, Busy Being Born: All day on the Marin coast.

These guys are more dangerous than bears, Tom. Be careful out there.

September 27, 2007

my long awaited hiking kayak – Alpacka Raft

For over 2yrs I’ve been researching inflatable and foldable kayaks I might carry for paddle hiking. Getting to good hiking routes by paddling across the lake rather than walking around.

It’s here. But it’s a raft. (Now to find the $800. Or a cheaper used one.)

Erin & Hig convinced me. They’re using Alpacka rafts on a 4 thousand mile charity journey from Seattle to Alaska.

more Alpacka Raft PHOTOS

Alpacka rafts come in three sizes: Small (Alpaca); Medium (Yukon Yak); Large (Denali Llama). I want the smallest, lightest, the Alpacka, likely with spray skirt.

Total weight is between 4-6lbs plus paddle. I can carry that!

Always follow the packrafting rule of “don’t float it if you can’t swim it”. These boats are incredibly tough for their weight, but they can still puncture if you are not careful. Good packrafters try to avoid hitting obstacles. (A patch kit is included.)

If interested, check out these links:

Alpacka Rafts – about

Interview – Alaska businesswoman Sheri Tingey, Alpaca Raft Inc.

Alpacka packrat – June ’07 Canoe & Kayak Magazine

packraft – Wikipedia

September 27, 2007September 22, 2009

my gear 2007 – besthike editor

Rick McCharles

After being drenched several days in series on the John Muir Trail by the remnants of Hurricane Dean, I finally got a chance to dry out my gear in the hot morning sun.

It gave me a chance to take photos of my current gear set. This is about as light as I have ever hiked on a multi-day trip. I used everything I carried on big trips in the Yukon and the JMT.

Sleeping system: MSR Hubba tent, down sleeping bag, silk sleeping bag liner, 3/4 length therm-a-rest, dry bag stuff sack “pillow”, headlamp.

Tent and sleeping bag are stored in a kayak dry bag with purge valve. (Heavy, but worth it, I think.)

Outdoor clothes: unlined nylon pants, wicking t-shirt, ultra lightweight wind jacket, Gortex jacket, long brim baseball cap.

Tent and camp clothes: fleece pants, shirt and “touque” (hat), down vest, tent socks.

indoor-clothes

Shoes and socks. I, as usual, took only 1 pair of shoes and 1 pair of outdoor socks. Ultimately this turned out to be a mistake. Due to the unusual, unexpected amount of rain I eventually got blisters. (Very rare for me.)

Hydration: Nalgene water bottle, extra soft drink water bottle, MSR water filter. (I would use chemicals next time.)

Food: Large bear vault, spoon, JetBoil stove, extra fuel canister. (Started with 7 days grub.)

Navigation / Entertainment: Topo maps, hiking guidebook, novel, iPod Nano (books on MP3), All-in-one Map Tool. I know, this is VERY HEAVY and could be reduced.

Defecation: Toilet paper, lighter, disinfectant gel, Camp Suds, paper soap.

Personal items in hip pack: Cash, Swiss Army Knife, sun screen, note pad, pen, Tylenol, mini-toothpaste, mini-toothbrush, mobile phone, etc. Camera and extra batteries.

fanny-pack

Finally, and importantly, bandanas and a Buff. Multi-purpose.

bandanas

Everything fits into my lightweight Virga backpack by Granite Gear.

Virga

I will make very few changes for my next long hike. This works for me.

Compare this with Caroline’s gear list for the PCT: As The Crow Flies blog.

September 26, 2007

4WheelBob – Kilimanjaro next?

I tried. I tried.

On White Mountain I tried to persuade wheelchair ~~hiker~~ climber 4WheelBob to buy a kayak.

KayakBob … I like the sound of that.

Yet Bob’s persisting in his dream of ascending the highest mountain in Africa. Bob was quoted on Marion’s blog:

“Iâ€™m not a real publicity hound by nature, so my challenge the rest of the year is to assert myself to Corporate America, hoping some businesses find some PR value in sponsoring my planned Kilimanjaro summit next summer.” …

Marion’s Blog: Kilimanjaro after White Mountain

(LL Bean should sponsor Bob. They’ve got PR problems with minorities. : )

So if you know anyone who would like to sponsor 4WheelBob, let him know.

He is strong. No one would bet against Bob on Kili.

4WheelBob – official website

4WheelBob – blog

Marangu route, Kilimanjaro – besthike information page

September 26, 2007

bag your poop on Mt. Whitney, California

UPDATE: Steve Sergeant posted a terrific Wildebeat audiocast on this last year – The Poop on Mount Whitney

Pack out what you pack in.

This is the age-old outdoor rule. And here, taking this decree to the extreme, is a good friend of mine who recently climbed Mt. Whitney in California.

I’ll let you guess what he’s packing out.

Photo of the Day (9/13/07) – Gadling

I hiked Whitney in 2006. Some of the pit toilets were still in place, though they stunk to high Heaven.

In 2007 you must bag it.

Pack-out kits are available at the InterAgency Visitors Center in Lone Pine, and at Crabtree Ranger Station. They are also available at many stores that sell hiking, backpacking and climbing equipment. You should also bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer. A kit will serve a person for 2 to 3 days.

Each kit contains two plastic bags for securely “double-bagging” your waste. The large inner bag contains a powder that absorbs liquids and turns into an odor-fighting gel. The outer zip-closure bag seals everything up for transport.

How to Use Pack-Out Kits

1. Find a secluded location.
2. Spread the large inner bag on the ground. Don’t spill the powder!
3. Crouch over the bag and relieve yourself. Dispose of toilet paper in the bag.
4. Tie a loose knot in the bag, and then seal it inside the zip-close outer bag.

Inyo National Forest

It’s no big deal. These pack-out kits work quite well.

Organize to hike Mt. Whitney, highest peak in the continental USA.

September 25, 2007

shapes hikers see in the clouds

One of the great joys of the outdoors is enjoying the changing skies.

From the pig with six legs to the Starship Enterprise – the amazing shapes people see in the clouds

Have you ever looked at a cloud and been convinced it looked exactly like a human face? Or a skateboarder? Or even the “Cloudship” Enterprise? Well, you’re not alone.

The Cloud Appreciation Society – which now boasts 8,000 members – has collected an extraordinary number of pictures of clouds from all around the world in a wide variety of different shapes.

From the pig with six legs to the Starship Enterprise – the amazing shapes people see in the clouds | the Daily Mail

Cloud Appreciation Society – photo gallery

September 25, 2007

MORE photos hiking Tombstone, Yukon

I already posted a trip report with my photos. And a trip video. A spaceman. And related posts.

Then trip leader Dave Hayley mails me a DVD with ALL the photos from our 7 hikers. (Here Dave was either eating Wasabi peas or shooting himself in the face with bear spray. Not sure.)

YEESH.

What could I do?

But browse our hundreds of pics, … and post another 86 HIGHLIGHT photos to flickr, including some personal favourites, some panoramas and even a few celebration shots in Dawson after the hike.

Some examples …

chopper into the mountains