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Mara Factor | 1 Jan 2003 01:20
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Re: Re: Winter Camping - What Worked, What Didn't

Hi David,

I think I'm a *somebody*.  ;-)

The closed cell pad works better on top of the open cell pad (Thermarest).  
When your body heats up the cells in the closed cell pad, that air is 
trapped and can't get pushed aside easily.  When you heat up the Thermarest, 
the air can move around inside the pad and allow the cooler air from areas 
away from your body to invade the warmer open cells that you've just spent 
crucial calories bringing to body temperature.

If you're ever out on a cold night and feel cold with the closed cell on the 
botton, just switch.  It doesn't take long to feel the difference.

I tend to prefer my cushier pad on top when it's warm enough so there have 
been a couple of marginal nights when I've pushed it, only to get up in the 
middle of the night to switch pads.  The change in comfort level is 
significant.

Been there.  Done that.  Brrrr!

Happy New Year!  (and a strangely warm one for Boston compared to recent 
years)

Mara

>From: "dspellman2002 <dspellman2002@...>" Date: Tue, 31 Dec
2002 
>23:15:01 -0000
...
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Craig Morton | 1 Jan 2003 02:09

Bridgedale Socks (Mara)

Mara:

I read your review of the Bridgedale AT Boot Plus socks. Thanks for taking
the time to do that testing and for sharing the results. I am wondering if
the AT Boot Plus is the best choice for three season ultralight backpacking.
That sock is a heavy weight whereas The Trekker and Light Hiker models are
middle weight and the Trail and Weekender models are classified as light
weight. When I read the descriptions of all these it becomes somewhat
confusing especially since the weights are relative to each other and I have
no start point to rely upon, having never seen any of them. Can you shed
light on model selection with trail running shoes used as the common
denominator?

Thanks.

Craig

 
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Gregory A. Benkert | 1 Jan 2003 02:23

Organizing your pack (was "I"-shaped duffle| Moonbow GearSkin)

It took me probably 500 miles this past year to finally be happy with the organization of my pack.  But once I
got it worked out, I found that I didn't have problems getting to things.  I used a G4, but the principles are
the same with any toploading pack.  Here's how I did things...

First in went a trash compactor bag that I used as a liner (I think I'm going to find a large silnylon stuff sack
to use instead of this).  Trash compactor bags are a bit more sturdy than regular garbage bags.

Into the trash compactor bag first went my sleeping bag and then my clothes.  My clothes were all in a silnylon
stuff sack.  I folded and packed my clothes in the stuff sack in such a way so that the sack laid horizontal and
relatively flat on top of my sleeping bag.  Then I folded over the trash compactor bag to protect all this.

The next layer was more vertical.  On one side I put my camp shoes which were in a silnylon stuff sack to keep
other things clean.  On the other sided was my rain jacket and pants in a silnylon stuff sack.  Again folded
sort of long and flat and then placed vertically in the pack.  If I thought I might need some other clothes
like a hat or gloves during the day I would also put them in with my rain gear instead of further down in my
pack.  If it was really cold during the day, I would keep my fleece somewhere up top, but usually my rain
jacket was sufficient to slip on during breaks.

In between my shoes and my rain gear went my cookset and on top of that I carried a mesh bag with all my
miscellaneous things in it (first aid kit, tp, headlamp, etc.).  Most everything in the mesh bag was packed
in quart size baggies to protect them.

The camp shoes, mesh bag and rain gear formed a roughly even layer across which I put my food bag (also a
silnylon stuff sack).

So, my food bag was on top and readily accessible (Very Important!).  And by simply pulling out my food bag I
could easily get to my rain gear, mesh bag, cooking set and camp shoes (which I also used to ford streams and
rivers although we didn't have to do much of that this past year.)  And all of this was reasonably protected
if a bit of rain got in.
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brian_goatqaz123 | 1 Jan 2003 05:18
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Golite Land\Earth packs?!?

Where can u buy the silly packs??? I cant find ANYWHERE online to 
purchase or even find information online about them. They arnt even 
listed on the GoLite website?? What gives?? Were they discontinued??

Brian

 
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Ron Martino | 1 Jan 2003 06:24

Re: Golite Land\Earth packs?!?

"brian_goatqaz123 " wrote:
> 
> Where can u buy the silly packs??? I cant find ANYWHERE online to
> purchase or even find information online about them. They arnt even
> listed on the GoLite website?? What gives?? Were they discontinued??
> 
> Brian

	There were problems with the initial production run, and GoLite pulled
them because the packs did not meet their standards.

	Ron
--

-- 

It is our attitude toward free thought and free expression that will
determine our fate. There must be no limit on the range of temperate
discussion, no limits on thought. No subject must be taboo. No censor
must preside at our assemblies. 
	William O. Douglas 

yumitori(AT)montana(DOT)com

 
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Mara Factor | 1 Jan 2003 14:42
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Re: Bridgedale Socks (Mara)

Believe me Craig.  If I didn't need the extra thickness to help take up 
space in my shoes (even AAs have too much volume), I would be using thinner 
socks.  But, as I need the thickness to take up the space, I've done all my 
hiking, regardless of footwear, in thick socks.

In case this helps, the AT Boot Plus sock is approximately equivalent to the 
Thorlo Backpacker (formerly Trekker).  I also have a similar pair of 
Smartwools (itchy!) but I don't know what their name is and the web site is 
inaccessible to me as I don't have flash installed on this ancient computer.

So, if you have a more normal foot than I do, I would definitely explore the 
thinner socks (Light Hikers, maybe?) to see what works for you.  Just 
remember, if you were fitted for a pair of shoes with a thick sock, don't 
expect them to work with thin socks.  Try on you shoes with the socks you 
intend to wear with them.

I'm not at all sure if the features I like in the AT Boot Plus sock are a 
function of the materials used, in the percentages used, the knitting used, 
the weave (which is tighter in Bridgedales than most other manufacturers), 
or what?  As soon as you look at different socks, you introduce or change 
the variables.

Also, just an FYI...  Bridgedale uses the name AT Boot for a sock that is 
very different than the Plus version.  If you're specifically interested in 
Merino wool, check your sock contents before you buy.

The lightest socks they seem to offer have no wool whatsoever in them and 
many have some cotton content.

I wish I could give you a review of some of these, but I've only ever used
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Ken Shigley | 1 Jan 2003 15:17
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Re: Digest Number 3407

I'm an overweight, out of shape, sedentary, 51-year-old dad who has made plans
to accompany my son's Boy Scout troop to Philmont in June.  On a training hike
on the AT after Christmas I found I was physically unable to keep up with the
group,  while carrying the same pack and gear with which I could easily hike
20 miles a day 25 years ago.  On the second day the troop had to camp three
miles short of the day's destination.  I bailed out, and they made up the lost
time to finish the planned 30 miles.

Clearly I need to lose 25 pounds each from my body and 25 pounds from my pack,
and get in shape.  I'm finding a lot of good resources on ultralight
backpacking gear.

Can anyone who has been in similar circumstances offer insight, advice or
encouragement about the process of getting in shape in time to keep up with a
bunch of teenagers on a 60-mile trek in June?

Ken Shigley
Atlanta

Ken Shigley
Shigley Law Firm, LLC
3166 Mathieson Drive, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone 404.364.1999
Fax 404.364.0880
kshigley@...
http://AtlantaInjuryLawyer.com

 
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starnescr | 1 Jan 2003 16:05

Re: Digest Number 3407

Hi Ken

You are not alone in both catagories. The pack weight will be the 
easy part. The body can be more stubborn. I would recomend some type 
of arobic exercize 5 or 6 times a week with maybe 2 weight trainning 
days thrown in. And since it is winter time a way to do it indoors 
is a plus. I like the elepitical type trainers as they seem to be 
easier on the knees. However to get ready for the trails and pack 
you will need to try to get in some trail miles as the Philmont date 
approaches. I would try for 3 miles several times a week but if your 
like most folks jpb, family, and other responsibilities can make 
this hard. But it is also an investment into your future health. One 
last thing: Dont get hung up on body weight. Being in fair cardio 
shape is more important and while they go hand in hand I know 
several people who are what I would consider fat who can play 
basketball longer than I can.  They are in better cardio shape. 

I dont have the URLs handy but there are several good packing list 
from members of this board. Most of these folks have a home page 
with gear list plus tons of other good advice on reducing your 
load.  Try John O's, David Lightningbolt, Brawney's, Flying Brians, 
Kenneth Knight, ect...

And fianaly, Welcome to the list.

Coy Boy  

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "Ken 
Shigley"<kshigley@...> wrote:
> I'm an overweight, out of shape, sedentary, 51-year-old dad who
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Mark Strong | 1 Jan 2003 16:58
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RE: choices for hiking poles


Regan,

You've gotten great advice so far and I would echo the try before you buy
sentiment. I have twist lock poles and that has been my one frustration with
them so far. Someone else mentioned that you should consider using them with
wet, cold hands and that is exactly the downside to twist lock poles.

If you really tighten the twist lock so they won't collapse accidentally and
its cold and rainy, unlocking the poles can be challenging (think pot
gripper). So I would recommend that you try the flip lock type which seems
to be less common than the twist lock variety.

Mark
>From: rhw1214@...
>Reply-To: BackpackingLight@...
>To: BackpackingLight@...
>Subject: [BackpackingLight] choices for hiking poles
>Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2002 16:19:32 EST
>
>i am new to hiking poles but want to get some.  i have never used them in
>the
>past so i really do not know a thing about it.  what are the differences?
>are there lighter ones?  what does it mean when it says its a womans pole?
>advice?
>thanks--regan--
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
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wfc5525 | 1 Jan 2003 16:59
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Re: Getting in Shape and Losing Weight

In a message dated 1/1/03 8:18:21 AM Central Standard Time, 
kshigley@... writes:

> I'm an overweight, out of shape, sedentary, 51-year-old dad who has made 
> plans
> to accompany my son's Boy Scout troop to Philmont in June.  On a training 
> hike
> on the AT after Christmas I found I was physically unable to keep up with 
> the
> group,  while carrying the same pack and gear with which I could easily 
> hike
> 20 miles a day 25 years ago.  On the second day the troop had to camp three
> miles short of the day's destination.  I bailed out, and they made up the 
> lost
> time to finish the planned 30 miles.  
> 
> 

Ken,

I'm 48 and have continued to run/bike/swim etc. over the years.  So I've 
never had to make the "comeback" you face.  What you have to do is real 
simple, yet you will no doubt find it the most difficult thing you have ever 
attempted to do.  This will probably come off as "preaching" but here goes:

1)  Approach it very gradually --  Hopefully you will be immune to injuries 
but I know that I am not.  Over the years I have made many, many mistakes in 
terms of picking up mileage too fast and getting injured, resulting sometimes 
in months of downtime to let a tendon or muscle injury heal.   If you do too 
much too fast, by February you could have a pulled hamstring that will not
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Gmane