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 […]
A few months back I wrote a review of Hydro Photo, Inc’s new SteriPEN Adventurer water purification system — innovative ultralight backpacking technology that uses ultraviolet light to give you a liter of virus and cryptosporium-free water with a single 2 1/2 - minute dose. My comments were based on my positive experience with earlier […]
The basic goal of ultralight backpacking is to go light, fast and far in total comfort with the least amount of effort … be one with the pack … Maximize your enjoyment and reduce the possibility of injury. Ray Jardine, the father of ultralight backpacking, assembled a pack under 10 pounds to comfortably trek the […]
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 […]
Wind swept dunes separate Manchester State Beach on California’s North Coast from one of the longest and most beautiful beaches anywhere. Now, it is slated to close under California’s pitiful budget cutting proposal. I’ve been told that California State Parks represent 1/2 of 1 per cent of the entire state budget, yet they continue to […]
Every year my wife, Gerry, wants to know what I want for Christmas. When it comes to ultralight backpacking gear, I have no real needs, but lots of wants. Here are some ideas for you. Some are stocking stuffers, others a bigger investment. All of them I have used for know someone who has used […]
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 […]
Last week I returned from a short, lightweight backpack to Mt. Eddy (9,025 feet), a great viewing spot for Mt. Shasta.
A mile north of the City of Weed, California, on I-5, you take Edgewood Drive, follow it to Stewart Springs Road and you end up at Parks Creek Trailhead (13 mile drive on paved […]
This is not a list of hikes, but rather a few notes about the book 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California I bought as a birthday present for backpacking companion Wild Bill. Hopefully, he won’t read this because he doesn’t get the book until later this week.
I’ll bet I’ve purchased more than a dozen such […]
