While I was out hiking on the PCT this summer, I met a woman who was carrying some diversions with her. She carried knitting, a book, and some crosswords.
A book always seems too heavy to carry and I don’t know how to knit, but a crossword puzzle ripped out of a newspaper seems like it would be a light diversion to have when a storm keeps you in your tent or you just feel like hanging out for a day. It would also make a good emergency fire starting material.
Where to pack your wet tent.
Lining my pack with a clear plastic bag not only keeps my stuff dry when it rains, it keeps my wet stuff separate from my dry stuff. When my tent is wet, I slide it down in my pack on the outside of my packliner thus keeping it from soaking my other stuff.
If the sun comes out while I’m hiking, I stop, spread everything out, and let it sit in the sun for 20-30 minutes and dry out.
No guests.
After preparing my cabin for guests, they called and canceled. I didn’t really mind, except that they were going to take me to the little store so I could fill up my propane tanks. In anticipation of this, I carted six tanks all the way down my big hill to the spot I had shoveled off for them to park. Now I have to haul all those tanks back up the hill.
A simple outhouse.
The rare event of having company is happening today. In case they object to using the five gallon bucket on the porch, I thought I should prepare the guest bathroom for them. I broke trail out to my outbox and brushed the snow off of it. It’s a gaily painted plywood box with a toilet seat bolted to it. It sits over a hole. Unlike a lot of outhouses this one is no trouble to move when the hole is full.
Travel warnings and money belts.
The year I went to Java and Bali all Western nations where warning their people not to go there. While I was there, the State dept. issued a warning that they had good reason to believe that there was a plan to start killing westerners after Ramadan. The state department warnings always seem to be overly cautious. If you believed everything, they said, you would never go anywhere. Still it’s good to read the warnings and advice. http://travel.state.gov/
Because the situation was considered shaky there, I never left my room without my plane ticket, passport, visa card, money and travelers checks. I kept it all in a money
belt worn against my skin around my lower waist in the area that is covered by my pants. Worn against my lower back it was quite comfortable, unobtrusive, and didn’t create bulky lines. I even slept with it on sometimes. The money belt that I used was the Eagle Creek – Deluxe Security Belt. It has two pockets; one big enough to hold plane tickets. It has soft fabric that lies against your back. There are lots of these like this one. I haven’t tried others but the Rick Steves Silk Money Belt
is made of silk, has a lot of good reviews on Amazon, and has a plastic pocket for your passport which would be nice because moisture from sweat is an issue. Whatever you buy, I would recommend that you make sure it is big enough to hold a plane ticket.
I have tried the ones that you wear around you neck and they create a big bulge under my shirt and a big ugly string hanging around my neck; I wouldn’t recommend them.
Note: I never revealed my money belt when out in public. I carried a pouch for all the stuff that I knew I would need that day. It had a strap and a wide belt loop, so I could secure it across my shoulder and loop it through my backpack’s hip belt for added security. If I did need something out of my money belt, I would duck into a restroom and take it out there.
How to load and unload your kayak by yourself.
Before I would buy my fiberglass Necky Looksha, I wanted to see if I would be able to put it on and take it off my roof rack by myself. I could, but just barely. After a day of paddling, however, I found it really hard, so I devised this method that makes loading and unloading easy for the lone paddler.
1. Put a bath mat on back of your vehicle where your kayak will touch it: so that it won’t scratch your car ( the rubber on the back is so it won’t slide of your roof.)
2. Put a V-shaped kayak foam block on each of your roof rack rails.
3. Attach wheeled kayak cart to the back of your kayak.
4. Lift front of kayak up on roof.
5. Go to back of kayak, lift up letting the front of the kayak rest in the V of the foam block, and push on.
6. Leave the wheels attached so they are ready for you to unload again.
Some considerations when shopping for a sun hat.
I feel a sun hat is essential. My sun hat is the Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat . I have been wearing one, everyday, for 9 years. This is why I think it’s the perfect sun hat:
1. Full sun protection. This hat offers full sun protection yet with the sun cape instead of a brim in back, I can leave my hat on and lean back in a bus or train seat without knocking it off. If you have a high pack, you may find that a hat with a full brim will get knocked off by your pack hitting it in the back, make sure your hat will work with your pack.
2. Chin strap. When the winds kick up if you don’t have a chin strap your hat will blow off your head and off a cliff. I keep the chin strap hidden up in the hat until needed because I don’t like the way a chin strap looks. If your hat doesn’t have a chin strap you can secure it to you with two alligator clips with a string between them; I have seen them for sale at kayaking stores.
3. Packable. Needs to be able to be rolled up or stuffed in a pack. If it’s not packable, it will be a mess before very long.
4. Washable. I probably washed my first one 50 times and would probably still be wearing it, had I not left it in a restaurant one day.
5. Adjustable — important so I can make it bigger when I want to wear my fleece balaclava under it.
6. Floats— important if you kayak or boat.
Versatile. I have worn this hat when I worked on a paving crew, hiking, kayaking, wood cutting, back country skiing, travel, and general living and it has worked well for me.
Remove the label. It comes with the manufactures label on the outside of it; remove it for a much better looking hat. The first Sunday Afternoon Adventure hat I bought came with the name tag sewed on; I removed it with a seam ripper. On the second hat, the tag was sewn into a seam of the hat; I cut the name tag off. Why, does someone go to the trouble of designing a great hat and then screw up the whole effect by putting their name on the outside of it?
Style tip: There is no need to wear this hat with the brim always turned down. When you don’t need maximum sun protection, turn the brim up a bit, for a more dashing style.
Related post: How to keep your hat from blowing away.
Watches for hiking and travel.
Before starting my PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) hike, I was given a Suunto compass/altimeter watch. I didn’t feel like I needed one, but I brought it with me. It turned out to be one of my favorite pieces of gear. Combined with the data book, that would list all the altitudes, I found it easy to figure out where I was. I also had opportunities to use the compass. Periodically, I would set the declination on it. The declination of every section is listed in the guidebook. A watch is also helpful for using “dead reckoning” to figure out where you are, (example: I have been walking 2 hours; I usually walk at 2.5 miles an hour so I must be…)
The compass watches’ batteries are only good for about a year, and I have had terrible luck in changing the batteries. I would recommend going to a jeweler to have it done. That said even still, my Suunto started leaking after about a year. My next one was a High Gear. It stopped working after about a year too; I changed the battery but it still didn’t work.
Yesterday, I ordered this Casio PAW1200 Pathfinder Atomic Solar Triple Sensor watch, which is a solar powered altimeter/compass watch. Because the battery will never need changing, I’m hoping this one will last. It also sets it’s self by an atomic clock. Even if it doesn’t see any light for 5 months it’s supposed to keep working. My Casio data bank was always a good and dependable watch and I’m hoping this one will last as well.
You’ll want to set the declination and altitude. To find out what the declination is for where you are or where you are going, visit: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/geomag/jsp/struts/calcDeclination To find out what the altitude is for where you are, download Google Earth and type in your address. If I come to a place with a elevation sign and it doesn’t jive with my watch I reset the altitude.
For international travel, I used to carry a Casio data bank; it would hold all my important numbers and phone numbers. The calculator was essential for figuring out what things cost in dollars. In addition, it listed the current time in cities around the world. I also liked that the light on it, was bright enough to light my way through a dorm of people sleeping, down some stairs, and into a bathroom that was built with large boulders protruding into it.
Update:Â I called Casio and asked how to set the declination on it and the woman said, “the what?” and then read the manual that I had just read 3 times that didn’t say anything about how to check the declination. She said that she thought that you couldn’t do it, I said that that is crazy to sell a compass watch at that price and not even be able to set the declination. Then she said that the watch specialist would call me back but so far, no call.
Barking shelter rat.
On the AT, as I got to a shelter, just before dark on a rainy day, someone inside yelled “we’re full“. I said, “I’ll just get some water and hike on then”. I filled up with water, put on my pack, and as I walked past the shelter, with all the beady little eyes of the LED headlamps looking back at me, one of the hikers, a guy that looked to be about 50, started to bark.
My arduous journey with a propane tank.
Today, I put an empty propane tank in my backpack, strapped on my snowshoes and headed down through state land to the little store to get if filled. A full 5 gallon propane tank only weighs 37lbs and the whole trip wasn’t more than 5 miles but the tank didn’t ride very well in my pack; it poked me in the spine the whole way and the snow was deep.
Clothes bag.
I wear nylon hiking pants and a nylon, long sleeve, button up shirt, when hiking. In my clothes bag I usually carry the following:
Set of “paper” rain gear. Right now, I’m carrying Drop Stoppers the top and bottom together weigh 10.5 ounces (311 grams). I like the jacket because it is long, and has pockets but I don’t like the pants because without a drawstring waist they get pushed down lower and lower by my pack and the cuffs don’t have elastic on them so they drag in the mud. I like Frogg Toggs because they look better, which is nice if you are trying to be seated at a restaurant while your hiking clothes are washing. They are also fuzzy which I like because they make nice pajamas and are comfortable for hanging out in. Frogg Toggs are a little heavier, a little more durable, and better looking. The also cost a lot more and take longer to dry out. The pants have elastic at the cuffs and side zips and a drawstring waist. They weigh 14 ounces for top and bottom combined. I have carried the O2 jacket, which is light and worked well too. To repair a rip in “paper” rain gear use clear packing tape.
Marmot dri-clime windbreaker. A nylon windbreaker with a light micro-fleece liner. It weighs 10 ounces (283 grams). I like this jacket; it works for varying temperatures and is quick drying. This jacket has the manufacturer’s name plastered across the front of it. I took a sharpie and went over it to make it less noticeable. I really don’t like to have names on my clothes so if I find something like it without a name on it; it will be replaced. If you are are on a tight budget this item could be replaced with either a light wind breaker or light fleece top from a discount store like Target or Walmart or a thrift store.
Feathered Friends down vest. It weighs 11 oz (311 grams). When I bought this, 6 years ago, it was the lightest around, now you can get a whole down jacket from Western Mountaineering for the same 11 oz. or the down vest for only 5 oz (141 grams). For budget minded you can probably find a poly filled nylon vest at the discount stores for 10 dollars even less at the thrift store.
Fleece hood/balaclava – This can be worn as a neck warmer, a hat, headband, a hood, or full balaclava. Extremely versatile and it doesn’t fall off when I’m sleeping. If your head and heart are kept warm, the rest of your body will follow. These come in different colors, from different manufacturers, in case you don’t want to look like a Ninja. This winter, Walmart was selling these for 4 dollars.
Fleece glo-mits I have carried glo-mitts for all my hikes. I like glo-mitts because I don’t have to take off my gloves to do things like light my stove and cook dinner. I think it’s the wind block fabric that makes these so slow to dry, but they keep my hands warm even when wet. Not all glo-mitts come with the thumb flap; I find the thumb flap to be essential. Wallmart sells ones like these in the hunting section for something like 4 dollars.
Extra socks- pair of neoprene socks- since I wear sandals when I hike; I wear these when it is cold or snowy. I also often carry an extra pair of hiking socks, as well.
The one ounce hiking rain skirt: Cut the bottom out of at cinch strap garbage bag, put it on and tie around your waist. It will keep you dry and offers great ventilation. Just scrunch up your pant legs to the knee so they don’t wick water and put on your hiking skirt. It’s also nice to have on when you want to sit down and take a break but everything is wet. When in camp, if you hang your food, you can use the hiking skirt as a rain cover for your food bag. Just get the regular garbage bags, not the heavy-duty contractor’s bags: some of them weigh 5 ounces apiece.
This selection of clothing will keep me warm, comfortable, and dry most of the time. Even when it is below zero (-18C) here, when I go out for my walk, just these clothes keep me warm. I have gone much lighter but this is what I find will sustain me through a long hike with varying temperatures comfortably.
About color. After I have been on the trail for a while, I get tired of seeing nothing but brown, green and black. Frogg Toggs used to come in red. I found them cheery to put on. Something colorful is nice to have if you are going to be on the trail for a long time.
My clothes bag makes a nice pillow. If I’m wearing most of my clothes to bed, I augment my clothes bag with the stuff sacks from my sleeping bag and tent, plastic bag pack liner and anything else I can find to make a pillow.
Cold morning in the cabin
Most mornings I wake up when my cabin drops to 36 degrees F (2 C) but this morning I slept in till it was 26 F (-3 C). To start my fire I crumble up some newspaper, throw some wood and bark on it, give it a squirt of lamp oil and light it. This morning the lamp oil was frozen but the fire started just fine without it. The basin of water I use to wash my hands was even iced over.
Some considerations when shopping for Hiking Pants
Here is what I look for when shopping for a pair of hiking pants:
Pockets. A zippered pocket for holding money and ID is nice to have. Big pockets are important to me. I need them to hold guidebook pages, maps, and snacks. If the back pockets are high, you can’t access them while you are hiking. The all time best backpacking pockets I had were on a pair of Mountain Hardwear pants. These deep, back pockets could hold tons of stuff, yet when I sat on them; it didn’t bother me or the stuff in my pocket. I also never lost anything out of them. I could easily access them while hiking without removing my pack. They gave the pants nice clean lines instead of the bulky thigh enhancing pockets most hiking pants have. I think they may have changed that design on their pants but I have seen it on others.
Quick drying. My hiking pants are always nylon.
Draw string cuff, so that I can easily and securely keep my pants scrunched up at my knees. Velcro doesn’t work, it will get all muddy and won’t stick and then the pant legs drag in the mud and wick moisture up to the rest of the pants making them all wet. Mountain Hardwear had or maybe still has a good hidden drawstring system.
A nylon web belt is good, as I often lose weight on the trail. Mountain Hardwear’s belts always eventually came out and I could never get them back in the holes. I like a belt with a long enough tail that I never need to unbuckle the belt to take off my pants.
Chamois crotch. Mountain hardware use to line the crotch of its pants with chamois. Very nice feature.
Light color. I like light brown/tan. Dark pants can get very hot in the sun. Some light colored hiking pants are so thin that they turn translucent when wet; very bad feature if you ever hike without underwear.
Tip: To create a cone of death around me, at least as far as bugs are concerned, last summer, before I went hiking I soaked my clothes in Sawyer soak system. It lasts for six washings and gives you the same protection as the “bug off� clothes.
cold, hungry, deer outside my window.
