So you’re out in the woods hiking alone, and you want to cook some Ramen.
Dang, you forgot your matches. And your lighter. But you’ve got a condom and some water. Think you can start a fire?
This guy can.
Alpacka lightweight raft
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I think I need this for pioneering a new route on Vancouver Island.
The Alpacka packraft rolls up to about the size of a 3-person tent and weighs only 4 pounds. Add the Alpacka deck for 11-ounces more and you can motor through rapids in the inflatable bathtub.
It’s a pretty cool little boat, but it’ll set you back almost $800. It’s a lot of money, but apparently it’s more than just a pool toy—the little boat is popular for long backpacking trips and gaining access to unclimbed ranges.
Thanks Rocky!
puncture-resistant Therm-a-Rest
If you use a Therm-a-Rest long enough, you invariably wake up one night on a deflated mat. If it’s a slow leak, you’ll re-inflate it every two hours when your violent shivers wake you up. Then you’ll probably forget to patch it when you get back home making your next trip just as much fun.
But now Therm-a-Rest is selling ToughSkin mats with a layer of foam between the air pocket and face fabric that blocks thorns and broken beer bottles from poking through. What took so long?
Backcountry.com: The Goat » Puncture-Resistant Sleeping Mats – Rocky Thompson
On the same topic, I heard an excellent audiocast interview with Greg Garrigues, GM of award winning Pacific Outdoor Equipment. (Who knew mat technology was so sophisticated!)
Greg is quite knowledgeable about the materials and technology that goes into making comfortable sleeping mats. And he explains the season, gender, size, and genre-of-user specific features that are available in the Pacific Outdoor Equipment line of sleeping mats.
I’m still using the ExPed 7.
New Zealand hiking patches
Back in the 1970s I collected patches from my travels. Sewed them on to my old backpack travelling Europe.
Patches are back. At least in New Zealand. They make an ideal retro Great Walk souvenir.
The patches are inspired by New Zealand’s wonderful natural landscape and unique fauna and flora. Focusing on the National Parks, the patches feature iconic images ranging from alpine wilderness and volcanic mountain to rugged coastline; rainforest to montane forest and tussock grassland; glaciers, cascading rivers and serene lakes.
what’s the best backpack for a dog?
“Can I take my dog on this hike?”
That’s the critical question for many.
As an increasing number of trails disallow dogs overnight in the backcountry, it’s becomes a more important question.
One of the best hkes we know that allows dogs overnight is Paria Canyon in Utah. If you can recommend others, please leave a comment below this post.
Also leave a comment if you have a recommendation on a dog backpack. There’s some good buzz on the internet about the Kyjen models available from about US$20.
The Quick Releaseâ„¢ Dog BackPacks will give your dog maximum comfort and convenience when hiking with you. The backpack is designed with an adjustable harness and removable pack. Large storage pockets hold food, water and other gear. Made with extra-strong nylon for durability. Quick Release Dog BackPacks feature the “quick release” leash holder for use when approaching other hikers, dogs, or wildlife. Available in four sizes to fit most dogs.
Check also — HikeWithYourDog.com
do you carry an MP3 player on the trail?
I’m often embarrassed to admit I do.
But look at this. Crow is up front with her electronic dependence.
For the upcoming PCT trip I’m bringing the iriver T10 2gb MP3 player with fm radio. It weighs 1.7 ounces 48 grams without battery. It has a little clip to clip it on to anything or clip it on to the neck lanyard it comes with.
… one AA battery; the battery is supposed to last 45 hours. I put a lithium battery in it because it is lighter and last longer then a regular battery, so I’m thinking maybe it will last 100 hours on one battery.
If I super compress my files, I think I can get 100 hours of stuff on it. It also records, so a person could record their thoughts along the way with the built in microphone.
… I have ordered a pair of Sony MDR-ED21LP Fontopia In-The-Ear Headphones …
… Last summer, my son downloaded, for me, 300 hours of “This American Lifeâ€, a NPR radio documentary show. Sadly I have listened to all 300 hours—twice. But that would have made great listening, on the trail.
For music on the trail, I find folk, country and show tunes the most effective hiking music, with most stuff by Johnny Cash being about the most perfect hiking tempo.
As The Crow Flies» Blog Archive » Radios and mp3 players for the long distance hiker.
I’ve carried a Rio Cali for years, finally losing it atop the highest mountain in Tasmania.
After some research I opted for an iPod Nano. The proprietary battery is a problem — but I plan to get the portable charger, as well.
Another planned add-on is the Griffin iTalk microphone.
I mostly listen to audio podcasts (BBC, CBC, NPR, TWIT, etc.) as well as books on MP3.
I only listen on the trail when I REALLY need it. But in the tent at night the MP3 is a Godsend.
What about you? Do you carry an MP3? What do you listen to?
Leave a comment below.
Scott Williamson Yo-Yo-ing the PCT, twice
Recommended – A great audio podcast was posted by BackpackingLight.com.
Scott Williamson is best known for his thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail. He has walked the trail nine times in its entirety, including a Yo-Yo from Mexico to Canada and back – twice.
… topics from his 191-day Yo-Yo of the PCT in 2006, including the psychological challenge of touching the Canadian border and having to turn around and go back; on-trail surgery for septic blood poisoning; the use of ultralight footwear (by Inov8) for long-distance hiking; and more.
Scott is featured in an upcoming film about long distance hiking on the PCT entitled Tell It On the Mountain.
Podcast: Scott Williamson and Yo-Yo-ing the Pacific Crest Trail @ Backpacking Light
That same page hosts a trailer of the soon-to-be-released film.
movie – Tell It On The Mountain (official website)
Scott Williamson – official website
Scott and his new bride will be doing the PCT the summer of 2007. Congratulations and good luck!
gear – Brunton Optimus Nova Multi Fuel stove
When I first traveled overseas to hike I took an MSR Whisperlite International Liquid-Fuel Stove. Everyone did in the 1990s. It was really the only option.
And I didn’t forget the MSR WhisperLite and Whisper Lite Int. Expedition Stove Service Kit. I NEEDED it.
The WhisperLite was dirty and unreliable. (Is it any better now?)
I finally gave mine away after the time it turned into a Molotov cocktail in my hand. I threw it like a grenade.
In 2007 I’m trying to use the much acclaimed JETBOIL system though not without some problems.
I go to the trouble of finding and transporting canisters.
Next time I need a multi-fuel stove I’m leaning towards the Brunton Optimus. Especially after reading this endorsement on the Walking the Wall blog from China:
Our stove is a Brunton Optimus Nova Multi-fuel Expedition Stove, and it is a miraculous piece of equipment. I (Brendan) have been through more stoves in the last 20 years than I care to count, and I have never had a liquid-fuel stove that remotely compares. I still marvel at the thing every day. I just can’t stop. …
As anyone who has used liquid-fuel stoves knows, they tend to clog. A lot. Most liquid-fuel stoves sold in Western countries burn white gas, which burns hot and is squeaky clean compared to fuels that are availabe in developing countries like diesel, petrol or kerosene. And still they clog.
In six months of continuous use, in temperatures from 40° Celsius to -20°, our stove has never clogged seriously. It rarely requires cleaning. And this is using regular old petrol, a filthy, inefficient fuel for camping-stove purposes.
Brunton Optimus Nova Multi Fuel Expedition Stove
Leave a comment if you have an opinion on the Optimus or any other multi-fuel stove.
10 day vehicle survival kit – $25
Jeffrey Yago posted a good reminder for outdoor enthusiasts.
Be ready in case of accident in the wilds. Or, more likely, in the event you are called on to help someone less experienced in the wild.
You MIGHT question his math, however.
It seems like every winter there are news stories of people getting stranded for weeks in bad weather while driving through the many remote areas of our country. In fact, this past winter, our nation held its breath waiting for news of James Kim and his family who got lost traveling the snowy roads of Josephine County in Oregon …
While his wife and daughters, who stayed with their vehicle, were eventually found alive, he succumbed to the cold as he hiked through snow looking for help for his family. And there are also many cases of people trapped for days in their vehicles after skidding over a bridge embankment, even though they were only a few hundred feet from a busy highway.
(via Lifehacker)
gear – Pacific Outdoor ECO THERMO 6 sleeping pad
Hiking is one of the most environmentally friendly activities.
But we can do even better.
Backpacker magazine chose the Pacific Outdoor ECO THERMO 6 sleeping pad as an Editor’s Choice Gear award winner for 2007 in the GREEN category.
A sleeping pad alone won’t save us from climate change. But when a small company pioneers green-manufacturing techniques, uses sustainable materials in a unique way, and offers consumers a feel-good choice, it’s a big step in the right direction, one that we hope other manufacturers follow. Not to mention, this is one damn comfortable pad.
Click PLAY or watch the video on YouTube.
More videos from Backpacker Magazine. Kudos for posting videos on YouTube, by the way.
This looks like a worthy competitor to the ExPed sleeping pad.
(via the always entertaining GOblog)
besthike.com 