I got a comment on my recent liquid bandaid post from the author of HikerHell.blogspot.com and went to his site to investigate. His site talks about mishaps and deaths involving hikers and backpackers with the idea of helping others avoid trail tragedies. Says Hiker Hell’s blogger:
A must in every ultralight backpack is some form of first aid. I usually take duct tape (you can use to make a liquid in a 1.5 ounce and 2 3/4 inch high bottle (heavy compared with Bandaids) that you brush on: NEW SKIN LIQUID BANDAGE BOTTLE. In less than a minute the New Skin […]
I head off soon for a backpack in the Granite Chief Wilderness near Lake Tahoe. With some snow still on the trail and nights at 8,500 feet expected to dip into the 30’s, a hand warmer isn’t such an odd suggestion as an added comfort for very little weight. As a kid, I had a […]
Corn feeds us and fuels us. Now, utensils are being made of it. My wife, Gerry, found a set of six Italian-made, corn-based spoon/forks (sporks) that last six uses and then completely compost in 45-60 days. Less than one ounce each. At about 65 cents each (6 for $3.99) a package. Order from Karla@hausfortuna.com.
Be light. […]
Pulling off your hiking shoes or boots to cross water is literally a pain. A pain in foot and toes. One solution: Crocs Beach Clog Sandals.
I jettisoned my heavy boots years ago, in favor of waterproof tennis shoes. But any water crossing more than a few inches deep requires you to unlace and walk […]
I was just reading about Tom Mangan of Two-Heel Drive’s too-close-for-comfort brush with a rattlesnake. Take his tips to heart. Just today, I was working on a story for a hospital publication about snake bites and spoke to the mom of an 18-month-old who was bitten in September by a “baby rattler.” It took 17 […]
Kudos to the editors at Backpacker Magazine who once again have created a must-have annual gear guide. This year, they review 621 packs, 483 boots, 363 tents, 480 sleeping bags and more. As a gearhead and ultralight backpacking hawk, it’s nice to have so much of what’s available out there listed in one place.
In […]
The February issue of Backpacker Magazine has its editors racing home to see who was fastest to pack an ultralight backpack — for a weekend — with food. Kristin Hostetter came in first at 9 minutes. What caught my eye was Rocky Mountain Editor Steve Howe dilemma of what to take for layers and […]
Some of you will rejoice in saying, “Of course not. We can winter camp!” The hardy souls who love the quiet, pristine winter landscape get to backpack year around. But me, I’m a fair weather lightweight-ultralight backpacker. And not afraid to admit it.
On California’s north coast there are plenty of options for getaways […]
I just finished Eric Blehm’s book, The Last Season, a recounting of the fate of Randy Morgenson, the legendary ranger who disappeared in the mid-1990’s in Kings Canyon National Park. He grew up in Yosemite, where he’s father served as his role model: photographer, hiker, bird watcher, docent, lover of all wild things. Ansel Adams […]
