Leo L---you're right about zippers. I've had them go out on packs and sleeping bags and on my nice expensive down parka. I was on a winter trip when my down bag zipper blew so I had to sew the...
Type: Posts; User: Tipi Walter; Keyword(s):
Leo L---you're right about zippers. I've had them go out on packs and sleeping bags and on my nice expensive down parka. I was on a winter trip when my down bag zipper blew so I had to sew the...
Number of bag nights determines gear longevity and is generally unrelated to whatever trail you're on or whether you're a thruhiker or a section hiker or just a regular backpacker. If you backpack...
And this---
https://christine-on-big-trip.blogspot.com/p/what-breaks-when-and-why.html
You should study Christine Thurmer's thoughts on the subject---
https://christine-on-big-trip.blogspot.com/p/gear-thoughts.html
Amazon, just go thru all the options.
I've seen this before but don't think the screws would stay in the sole. Or at least I'd lose a few here and there. Plus, microspikes are never used...
I also like my Icebreaker merino tops and include an Icebreaker balacalva too for warmth when moving. Icebreakers are heavy though and sometimes I'll use layered capilene instead---like Patagonia...
Finding a flat spot that will drain rain is sometimes a challenge as in a hard deluge many spots will gather water and either form Lake Effect or be subject to sheeting ground water mvt. I remember...
I went the Exped downmat route back in 2010 and while the warmest most comfy pad ever, I had a delamination blowout on the thing on Night 1 of a 19 day winter trip to Snowbird Creek. Many peopled...
I'm about finished with Thermy too tho my Exped experience ended badly. Maybe Exped has improved and Thermy has sunk.
I think it's my sour and judgmental attitude and worldview---the pad...
Here's my latest debacle with Thermarest---to start the New Year of 2024.
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My nice first generation Trail Pro Large pad developed the usual herniated blowout delam.
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I send these...
I finally upgrade my old Zamberlan Evo Lite boots size 10 to size 10.5 and will donate my old Zams to any museum willing to take them.
They've had the course and when new were a little tight with...
I'm incredibly minty and usually can open the nostrils of fellow hikers---in a good way. I eat jewelweed seed pods and now need microfiber towels to treat pesky night-time pee releases.
I ordered large sizes like 72x40 and will cut them at home for backpacking (cheaper in the long run).
Thanks for the input. I'm ordering 2 towels from Rain Leaf as above and 2 from PackTowel.
Question: What is the most absorbent fabric towel---and yet after wringing out the fastest drying??? Like a sponge.
I've noticed how much more difficult it is to pull winter trips as I age out of usefulness. Old bodies are more vulnerable to cold I guess.
Winter dayhiking vs winter backpacking are two vastly different subjects---so the question could be---How many backpack in the winter?
Around age 69 I started all my winter trips with a half dozen...
Well hung or in my belly.
It's a nice place for hiking with some stupendous hill climbs.
Pack weight is just a tiny part of backpacking. More important are meandering trails, creekside...
During my roadwalk a rolling hunter picked him up.
Blood red tent looks tasty.
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I leave North Fork camp and return to South Fork trail and set up camp next to Citico Creek (combination of North Fork and South Fork) and hunker in for a few days with a stray hunting dog.
...
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Late night bear chew toy with 8 small holes. I get up fast and see the bear running thru the woods.
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I carry silicone patches and McNett's silnet glue so the fix happens fast---top...
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King Quillen surveys his kingdom. (Note: John is a mountaineer and has climbed Mt Everest and Broad Peak and a dozen others).
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I leave the Quillen group and backtrack to Naked...
This trip happens in October/November 2023 and starts at Beech Gap on the TN/NC state line. Here's the route---
**Beech Gap to Bob Bald and Hangover Mt.
**Backtrack from Hangover Mt to Bob Bald....
As far as backpacking in NC and TN---I see and get stung mostly by yellow jackets aka ground hornets. Vicious when by their nests.
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Out in the woods yellow jackets usually but not always...