The ultimate bug net.

cabin2-113-1.jpgI have this idea: make a big bag out of no see um netting with elastic, lycra binding, or a draw cord at one end. Then throw the big bag over my umbrella when I’m hiking and secure it around my waist for the ultimate head net. At night, I could sleep under it, when the weather is nice but the bugs aren’t. Good idea?

SimBLISSity.net  sells something like this that weighs 4 oz.  (113 grams)  The Inner Peace bug free haven

The guy at the library.

Yesterday I went to the library to get some tax forms printed out. I was sitting at the computer terminal. At the terminal beside me, I hear, “Look, you better call me or I will tell your wife where you slept last night.” I looked over at the guy sitting next to me, he pulls out his phone, looks at it, and then puts it back in his pocket. About 2 minutes later the same thing happens.

Sawyers water purifier continues to tempt me.

Over at the Yahoo pct2007 group, the Sawyer water filter continues to get converts. One of the group posted these pictures of it. The person also put a slit filter and a carbon filter inline. It looks like a really great thing… but I have already bought 4 packages of Aqua Mira so probably for this trip– Aqua Mira it will be.

Update:  I bought it and so far have not gotten it to work.  Read my review here

Trail wisdom from Mr. Snyder’s class.

The year I thru-hiked the PCT, on the trail for the first 500 miles or so, about every 20-30 miles, under a rock, was a laminated letter from a kid in Mr. Snyder’s class. The letters offered words of encouragement and told us about challenges that the kids had overcome. One letter said, “The pain in your feet is just the doubt in your head.”

People on the grid are loud.

cabin2-081.jpg

Today I heard a live band playing that sounded like it was right outside of my door. I hiked all over my land trying to find the hippie festival that I imagined had set up camp at my place. The nearest people to me with electricity are 2 miles away; I can’t believe that the sound would carry up the hill that well. I’m not kidding you, I heard the words of the songs, I heard the band say “Thank you, very much” while I was sitting in my cabin. Man, it had to be loud at their place.

To do list for the long distance hiker.

  1. Start carrying weight in your pack on your walks.
  2. Get started on cutting next winters fire wood.
  3. Do taxes
  4. Pay property taxes
  5. Decide on a date–buy a ticket to get there
  6. Make gear list of everything that goes into your pack and it‘s weight. Obsess over everything, no mater how small or light
  7. Order guide books
  8. Get any permits you might need.
  9. Order any new gear you might need.
  10. Set up re-supply schedule for guide books, socks, sunscreen, pain-relievers, supplements, etc.
  11. Wash that stinking down sleeping bag and down vest you have been sleeping in all winter
  12. Turn off all money sucking utilities and subscriptions – Netflix, Internet, telephone.
  13. Forward mail
  14. Change auto insurance over to storage rate.
  15. Soak clothing in Sawyers insect repellent soak