Category: gear

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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 it’s size. It is a low power radio beacon which means someone else has to initiate the search (whether or not you’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:

tracme.jpgOn 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:

• Voice beacon – can be monitored by anyone on the existing radio emergency channel.

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

• Extremely small and light weight.

• Low cost – less than half the cost of existing beacons.

• Very low cost for the Search and Rescue (SAR) crews.

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

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

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

• Shelf or storage life should be up to 10 years.

TracMe Personal Locator Beacon

– Hiking Ideas – Wilderness Trailcraft

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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.

sleeping-system

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

kayak-bag

kayak-bag.jpg

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

outdoor-clothes

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.)

shoes

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

hydration

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

bearvault

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.

books-ipod

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

defecation

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.

virga.jpg

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

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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-8-30-07.jpg

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.

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humour – African American Boycott of L.L. Bean Enters 80th Year

Perhaps LL Bean should advertise on this blog after all. They are going to need some good will after this spoof newscast.

The CEO of L.L. Bean pleads with black leaders to forgive his company for whatever it’s done to cause this decades-long boycott.

Click PLAY or watch it on The Onion News Network.
African American Boycott of L.L. Bean Enters 80th Year

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GEAR – Leatherman lightweight multitool – Skeletool

Joel “Boing Boing Gadgets” Johnson has just posted this Leatherman Skeletool, a full-featured Leatherman tool whose every non-essential surface has been swiss-cheesed with holes to lighten its weight to a mere five ounces. It costs $72 — or you can go lighter with a carbon-fiber model for $96.

I miss my multitool days — after losing half a dozen to the TSA, I had to give up a years-long habit of always carrying one. Since there, there must have been one billion moments where I wished I had my pliers, knife, and hoof-pick still attached to my hip.

Leatherman Skeletool lightweight multitool — Boing Boing Gadgets

leatherman-skeletool.jpg

Thanks Warren.

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best hiking shoes EVER

I’ve been wearing Dunham Waffles for most of the past 10 years.

Then Dunham was bought by New Balance. The status of my favourite shoes is now in limbo.

For this season I bought the #1 Trail Shoe as chosen by Outside Magazine from Amazon.

As a back-up, I bought some cheap New Balance® 603 Country Walkers which fit surprisingly well (since New Balance offers shoes in wide sizes). Turned out I LOVED the inexpensive walking shoes using them on major hikes in Yukon and the Sierra Nevadas.

I am buying 3 more pairs for the future, I like them so much.

Men's New Balance® 603 Country Walkers Brown

Men’s New Balance® 603 Country Walkers

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Jetboil vs MSR vs Primus stoves

I have been quite happy with my Jetboil stove, after learning the quirks.

Last year Ryan Jordan on the Backpacking Light Magazine podcast did a detailed review of the Jetboil and two copycat competitors.

stoves.jpg

When you next comparison shop for a new camping stove, be sure to include those three on your list.

“Backpacking Light Trends (Audio Program): Integrated Canister Stove Systems,” by Ryan Jordan. BackpackingLight.com (ISSN 1537-0364).

Leave a comment if you have a recommendation.

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All-in-one Map Tool review

It’s very rare for me to add any item to my “base” hiking kit. (It’s too heavy already.)

The new essential must be very valuable. Or very light.

The All-in-one Map Tool is both. I carry it with my map and compass.

th_maptool.jpg

Bob Moseley from Brooks-Range Mountaineering Equipment Co. asked me to test this award winning product.

I took it with me on a solo kayak hiking trip out of Bamfield, British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. Since the weather was good, I was able to paddle directly to the Deer Island group, the closest to town.

bamfield-map.jpg

It was a great, relaxing trip. I saw bear, seals, sea lions and nearly stepped on a baby puffin.

Normally mornings on this, the “Shipwreck Coast” are fogged in. On a previous trip to the nearby Broken Group Islands we were a number of times confused in the fog. It’s essential to know where you are on the map, have an exact compass bearing, and a good estimate of your speed and distance to the next island.

The All-in-one Map Tool is ideal in this situation as it has 6 different, easy-to-read map scale rulers to help estimate distance.

586269879_7a1bc34cf1.jpg

More photos from this trip – flickr

Sadly I had atypically excellent weather and did not need to do any dead reckoning in the morning.

So I’ll take it heli-hiking into the Tombstone Mountains in the Yukon in August. Certainly I should have a good chance to get lost there, having to rely on Topo, compass and map tool for survival.

All-in-one Map Tool – US$18 – Brooks Range Mountaineering Equipment Co.

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review – Jetboil coffee maker

Some were underwhelmed with my “preferred coffee system”.

jet-boil.jpgPerhaps I need to step up.

Since I’m already using the JetBoil stove / pot combo, I’ll pick up a JetBoil coffee press based on this good review:

Here’s the basics of how the Jetboil French Press works.

1. Get some water and fill up the cup
2. Light up the micro burner
3. Boil the water
4. Scoop in the coffee
5. Stir the coffee into the boiling water
6. Press it on down
7. Drink some amazing coffee on the side of the mountain you’re currently on.

Review: Jetboil French Press Hiking and Camping Personal Coffee Maker | Single Serve Coffee – SingleServeCoffee.com

jet-boil-coffee.jpg

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PCT – Mountain Hardwear Sponsorship?

Just so you know, Mountain Hardwear, if you kit me out completely, I’ll be happy to do the PCT and report back on the extended field test.

From the Mountain Hardwear blog:

Our industry professionals have compiled a list of recommended gear which should get you through the Pacific Crest Trail in high spirits. …

* Sleeping Bag/Bivy
* Tent
* Baselayer
* Shells
* Backpacks
* Gaiters
What gear should I bring on the Pacific Crest Trail?

If they deny me that sponsorship, I’ll need to try their Mission Project Challenge (video). Post my trip report on their Mission Project blog.

mission-project.jpg

How do you like my chances?