Whoo Hoo....new gear!

“I'm ordering the First Need water purifier to-day for my daughter at Christmas (it's what she asked for).”

“First Need? She asked for that brand specifically? No accounting for taste I guess but I found it extremely awkward to use.”

“I had nothing but problems with my first Need and the company was very unsympathetic.

But hey, a kid should get what she wants.”

“Katadyn Pro Hiker....”

“She's used a few, both her mother's and her ex-boyfirend's. She couldn't believe the performance of the First Need when we did Algonquin. She has quite a bit of gear, but lost a lot with the break-up and has asked me to get her gear for Christmas, et c.

Everybody bad talks the First Need, but I have yet to see anything perform better. It's still the only EPA approved purifier - others have claimed it and had to retract - can you say Hepatitis A?”

“I never had any problems with the performance of my First Need. I just found it very awkward. I switched to the Hiker because I was unable to get the cannisters for my First Need. The Hiker is, imho, easier to use, smaller and lighter. One nice thing about the First Need is that you can field backwash it. It's a good system, just not my choice any more, which means absolutely nothing as far as anyone else is concerned.”

“First Need says that but when I had one clog in the field, the backwash system didn't do squat and on top of it, the housing cracked and started leaking. When was the last time you heard of anyone getting Hep from a water source in north america?”

“The only problems I've ever had with our first need have been operator error (it's true, I mess stuff up all the time). If I keep the instructions with it I'm just fine. It's heavy but it works great.”

“I had Hep A twice when I was a kid.

I bought my First Need in 1987 and it finally clogged in 2 002. I felt I had had good use and just bought another canister and it was clogged. It thought that maybe everyone was right, but then (stoopid) decided to remove the 80's style pre-filters and voilà, problem solved. Unfortunately I had already thrown out the old one.

The new canister screw right onto my Nalgenes and is much easier to use. Johnnywalker fastened a surgical tube to his intake and doesn't even bend over to pump water into his bottle.”

“The only time I've seen one used in the field was the time I saw Sass and birch use the one they own.

What a wreck that was.

I've used a Pur Guide for many years without any problems. Even on IR, it was more than enough. Unless feel like you're a puss unless you lug around a level three for level two, or one purposes, then go with something else.”

“filters... how quaint...”

“bad, Jimmy san...:D”

“i got my petzl speed trolley in the mail the other day. very nice... very nice. i also got my csi anti-shear device. with a few other pieces of gear i'll be set to rig a super-nice zip-line this weekend. it remains to be seen if we actually do it but if we do it won't be for a lack of gear.”

“Does a trolley help you troll?

BTW, sounds like you're feeling better. Did you every try that Zicam?”

“haha... a tandem pulley





it won't help you troll but it will help you roll! they make a model that has a lubed axle which is a slower ride. this one has ball berings and is rated up to 45 mph... woo hoo! that would be one hell of a ride!

i was on the upswing and didn't get to the store to get that med, but i plan to give it a shot next time i feel the cold symptoms coming on. i think that's the best time to start taking it. thanks for the suggestion, however, and i did take it to heart. yes, i am feeling lots better. still hacking up goop in the am and blowing snot when i run, but much better. there, now that was a pretty description. yummie!”

“oh that photo i posted was cool because it showed both the speed pulley (trolley) and the anti-shear device that i bought! so you can see the precise rigging i have in mind. wow!”

“Very cool Jimmy, zip lines ROCK.

Setup one like this...


This one is over the manistee river, we had our bikes with us as we zipped down...

45mph, thats crazy fast!
last edited: 11/12/07 3:00:36 AM”

“that's top speed (max for the device)... i don't know that i plan to ever zip that fast! we are going to set one up in rrg this weekend if we have time, but we have a lot of climbing on the agenda and may not get to this. also, we lack a static rope of any significant length and my dynamic ropes would all strech too much. we'll see.”

“grab a 100' ft cotton clothesline from wally world on your way to the gorge. That should be long enuf. :?)”

“that would send us on our way... prolly to the hospital or pearly gates...”

“I picked up the Fist NEEd and the Thermorest at the PO in Chateaugay, NY. I was pleased to see that both are US made.

I still think FN's the best.”

“Insulmat chair
Insulmat inflatable pad (Campmor label) for my daughter
(3) Thermarest pillows
Down booties.”

“Cool, DH.

We're shopping for proper winter gear for Laurel.”

“Western Mountaineering 850 fill down jacket.

my winter world is now complete.”

“I bought a new tire for $91 this weekend. It was needed for my return home from camping and hiking in Ocala NF this past weekend and, hopefully, will help me in many more backpacking/hiking trips.”

“Lets see....got the GSI Teapot, some great deals on fleece stuff and some tent stakes...at REI.”

“I bought a pair of Columbia brand snow pants for $30.00 american at TJ Maxx in Port Huron Michigan..They were on sale from $100.00 and considering there about a $130.00 CDN I think I did alright.Aim to try them out this weekend with a little camping.”

“I'm so sorry you had to go in to Port Huron, Paddles. ;)

My mom's side of the family is from there. Most of them haven't escaped.”

“I just got the BA zero bag ordered off of steep and cheap.”

“Whatcha think about it? Mine should be here tomorrow.”

“I'm so sorry you had to go in to Port Huron, Paddles.

Port Huron isn`t that bad...I`ve seen a lot worse....Of course it`d be better if it wasn`t for all those blasted yankees,you`d think they owned the place or something !...(big grin)

Actually the worst part is getting best your custom officers ...........honestly where do they find these people ?”

“I can say the same for customs officers on your side of the river. ;)”

“The pad it came with is crap. I plan to use my other BA Air Core pad with it.

Seems nice for what we paid. True test will be how it handles the temp. Don't know when I may get a chance to use it next.”

“True test will be how it handles the temp. Don't know when I may get a chance to use it next.”
Wounded Knee

BLASPHEMY!!! You can't buy a piece of gear like that and NOT go test it poste haste!

what the hell are you thinking!”

“F U Roam!

It is a zero rated bag so I would need to travel very north to find temps this low. With all the global warming #&%!$, I don't think it is ever going to get this cold again near me.


and yes, I am flipping you off right now!
last edited: 11/27/07 2:08:59 PM”

“I keep looking at that BA Pomer Hoit and wondering why it costs so much more, weighs the same, has higher loft down and ours has the same rating. I'm going to look it over really good, measure loft and the like then decide.”

“These packed the hell out of this bag. I unpacked it and it looked flat. I just packed it away in the storage sack they included and it fit perfectly. It actually lofted up nicely. My rei 20 bag has about the same loft as this one.”

“That's encouraging since it's one sided loft. A 20° bag is usually about 6". If this thing has that much then it sounds good. I know when I left my BA Zirkel loft up I was disappointed since my homemade quilt had more loft. I've yet to be in it down to 20 and I sleep cold so I've started getting picky about bags. This was too good a deal to not give it a try. $7 shipping isn't exactly a gamble.”

“I think you will be happy with it. I wish they did not have full length zippers on these bags. It adds extra weight.”

“I like the 1/2 or 3/4 zip too.”

“I have a lightweight spring/fall bag that is 1/2 zip. Can't think of the maker, however it employes the same theory that the down on the bottom is a waste if you was using a pad. I know it is the wicked fast light and it weighs something like 12 ounces”

“Cool.

It does suck to buy a pad that's not needed though.

I have the insulated Insulmat. If I couple that with the Moon Hill it probably won't get me to 0. As long as I can get close to 10° then I'll be happy with it.”

“My Dynafit 4 buckle AT boots are at the Chateaugay, NY, post office. I'm picking them up to-morrow.

Now I have just about everything.

Backcountry and lift service ski-ing:

G3 'Baron' skis (www.genuineguidegear.com)

Silvretta '500' AT bindings

Gabel 'Quota 8 000m' 3 section poles

and now the boots.

Thank you, Santa.”

“WK, You'd probably be wise to use both pads if you'll really be down below twenty degrees at night. The Insulmat and BA air pads don't cut it alone in the true cold. Does exped make a down filled mummy shaped pad?

My summer BA has a half zip. I hate it. I'd rather have a full zip anyday. Gotta be able to hang the foot out. Now in a winter bag and half would suffice.”

“Unfortunately, exped does not make a down-filled mummy style pad. I have the downmat 7-short and have been trying to come up with a good way to incorporate that with the BA moon hill (without cold feet)”

“I use my 20 now when temps hit 10 and above. I sleep like a furnace. I got the 0 for the really cold nights.”

“My InsulMat works fine under 20 degrees with a 15 degree bag.”

“Does your twenty degree bag have insulation on the bottom or rely on your pad?

I don't sleep cold per se, but I do feel the cold seep through the insulmat. But, it was 15° and it's a 3 season mat.”

“the 20 has insulation on the bottom.

The BA bag has a nice draft collar along the bottom which I am sure helps keep out the chilly air.”

“Yeah, the draft tubes work well (I own two bags built the same way), but what I'm trying to say is that w/out the fill on the bottom of your bag, and temps below 20°, you'll feel the cold through an insulmat. A ridgerest type pad is needed in addition, so you may want to use both the pad that came with the bag and the insulmat. But, you'll find out for yourself.”