Whoo Hoo....new gear!

“gonna be seeing a lot of these in the next few years...”

“I just got some Vasque Sundowners in the mail today.I'm stoked because I've never had a pair and I've never heard one single person say anything but praise for them!”

“omg... well i wish you the best and this is subjective stuff but i am betting you haven't followed a lot of the discussion about vasque these last two years on tt. save the reciept, understand the return policy, and use it if they start to fall apart. don't be shy. in my experience the red wing shoe company (yes, it's them) do a good job on returns. i returned mine to redwing, got new boots under warranty, and then returned the new boots to rei ... because i just couldn't do to rei what vasque did to me. they were good to go out of the box, however... very comfortable... just started to come apart after one light season of hiking. i switched to asolo and never looked back nor have had any regrets sense. i'll never buy vasque again.”

“ok so this is the part where i say that i know it's schitty of me to piss on someone's parade. sorry dude. i honestly hope they work out for ya.”

“30m BlueWater Dominator 9.4 X 60 DD rope. @ 55 grams per meter it's one of the lighest certified single and half ropes i could find. i bought a short... 1/2 a 60m rope... for light belays, simulclimbing/rolling belays, etc. i think i paid like 72 bucks for it shipped! brand new the whole rope (2x the length) is like two-hundo-fifty!
last edited: 6/03/08 6:51:03 AM”

“I drove to MEC to get replacements for my Nalgenes. The Nalgene ones haven't arrived yet so I got a silnylon tarp in case I want to tery kayak camping with my ID bivy sack.”

“nice rope Yogi - those are smooth feeding, soft handling ropes.”

“i am thinking of getting the full 60m... on sale for 181 at bent gate.”

“ok, i am no longer thinking about it... at $181 this was too good a price to pass up. i hope to god my wife doesn't find out.”

“dang that is a good price, free shipping too right? I went in there and bought some shoes last fall - really nice folks at Bent Gate, it's a smallish, family owned place.”

“what ever will you do with all that rope Yogi?!

- and trying to hide your rope from your wife... something's up there. LOL!”

“i buy quite a few things from bent gate. it's a great shop. yeah, free shipping.

what will i do with that rope?!?!?

catch your a** when you fall sucka!”

“LOL! prolly... I f'n hope so at least! Ha!”

“Gotta bunch of girl gear for my daughter yesterday. Mountainsmith Scarlet pack. Some other stuff is due to arrive any day.”

“Wat up Jack? How are things with you?”

“Doin' good Mr. Knee. In my welding class right now. Hope all's well with you and your's.”

“Good to hear! Yes, we are doing well!”

“You gonna make it to the gorge this month?”

“Come on Mr. Knee, you know you wanna. Still haven't gotten to hike w/ you, ever.”

“Anyone know of a good waterproof, hypoallergenic foundation? Getting baptized tomorrow and I need to cover up the track marks under my eyes.”

“Bumblebees look like overweight kids in TNF jackets. Which is why when I see one I reflexively clutch my lunch money and call my mom.”

“I got an underquilt for my hammock. A real one. Not some cheesy bed quilt that I had to make do with.”

“sweet rev!

a classic case where invention was the mother of necessity...

(chuckle)”

“Yep, I bought another pack that I probably don't need, but wanted.

I think I've got a pack fetish for sure. Like my wife does with shoes and purses.

I had an older model Circuit Pack, (2006) and liked it, but had sold it, on my quest for going even more lightweight with my gear.

Anyway, after seeing and reading about CDT Yo-Yo Hiker "The Onion" in Backpacker magazine, I got the bug to get another Circuit.

The upgrades made to the pack are nice too, mainly a full mesh back panel, and the repositioned (higher)shoulder load lifter straps. I love the 4 way adjustable hip-belt too!

I emailed Brian at ULA just to ask him how many packs the Onion needed on his CDT Yo-Yo and he said that he had started with a Mtn. Smith Ghost pack that failed at about the 3/4 mark on his Northbound hike.
He then switched to the ULA Circuit, and completed the hike north, and then south back to Mexico.
Brian also mentioned to me that some Thru-Hikers have put 4,000 miles on their packs.

Should last me a lifetime, being I'm lucky to average 200 miles per year.
last edited: 6/06/08 4:52:25 PM”

“He makes an awfully nice pack doesn't he?”

“He makes an awfully nice pack doesn't he?”
Sassafras
9:04:44 PM
6/06/08

Yes he sure does Sass. Tried it on last night lightly loaded and initial fit feels good.

I had used my first Circuit pack when I hiked the Pix.Rox. Lake Shore trail and it carried well and was just large enough for all my food and gear. (Cool weather trip)
This was for a 5 day trip, but I could have squeezed 2 more days worth of food into it too, so this pack could handle a week long trip too.”

“Woooo Hoooo...I got a bike!!!!!

Nothin fancy....nothin expensive.....( cause it will probably be stolen in less than a year....)
..a Highland by Huffy...and a new seat just for women, a speedometer, bottle cage, & a handlebar bag...wooo hoooo!!!
...now lets talk bike racks.....
...any suggestions???...
..I don't think I could reach racks for my Yakima rack...& they are expensive...
...& lets talk how to secure it....
any suggestions about locks????
...it looks like all they would have to do is cut the straps on a trunk bike rack....
...any helmet suggestions???
...anyway, this is the first bike I have rode in over 15 years....( I used to have a Puegeot(sp?) and rode alot...even in 50 mile events...) last time I rode I ran over a 5 yr old...he was fine...( he stopped in front of me) bloodied my elbows & knees...had to limp home & pick out stones...so I was a little scared to get on again...
highlights are for those who don't like my rambling...lol..”

“my new rope got here yesterday. sweet! so very light... like climbing on a thread.”

“Bike racks: I just have a one that straps on the back, holds two bikes, easy to use. I have an overhead roof rack but not the bike adapter. can't seem to justify it since I usually just ride my bike out my front door.
Security, a strap on rack isn't going to be any good, any which way. A roof rack with lock mechanism would be the only way I would leave my bikes for any extended period of time. You can just use a cable lock to lock them to a strap on rack for quick jaunts into a restaurant or wherever but I just usually don;t plan on using the strap on rack for long term storage. I;m never really worried about anyone stealing the rack...

Helmet. Get the best you can afford that fits you well. You'll want one that has a base of the skull support in the back to keep your helmet from moving forward and helping to lock the helmet in place. Also, a visor is a nice attachment for helping shield your eyes from the sun and rain. Generally, the more vents and lighter=the more expensive. Giro is good brand.”

“Yogisan....woooo hooo.....who ya gonna tie up???

Roseymonster...thanks for the input!!!”

“i ain't got anyone willing to let me tie them up but if i did i could make a sporting effort of it with this rope!”

“Got a sweet fathers day score. Sass and the kid bought me a jetboil with the coffee press. Cant wait to try it out.”

“I got a ursack... I got a ursack.... I got a ursack....

I am doing a happy dance. happy happy happy”

“This is a man that REALLY loves his sack!”

“I'm quitting my job and leaving them short-handed, but they got me a Jet Boil as a parting gift. It's the deluxe kit with a frying pan, spatula and optional coffee press.

How cool is that?”

“Got my new Backpacker Oven in May just got back from a trip to Mt. Whitney. we Baked Pizza and cookies. Made Pizza at the top of Mt. Whitney from scratch it was great. Check it out at Backpackeroven.com.”

“over 2 lbs!”

“ignore yomamasan. he's a gram weenie”

“He doesn't eat while he's out. Just sport beans and gummy bears. He doesn't even need a stove. :)”

“hey! i resemble that remark!”

“I have assumed claim to my wife's old gear driven thread injector. While it may not in and of itself qualify as "new gear" it is making all sorts of new gear possible. I am putting the finishing touchs on a hammock for her in hopes of actually getting her to hang out with me in the woods. I am starting another hammock for myself because I think the design is really neat and hammocks are like tents, in that, if you have one, you always can find a reason for needing another one as well.”

“2 lbs. for the damn stove and what does all that food from scratch weigh too?

heck no!

I'm going to have to agree with yogisan.”

“bannocks cooked on a green stick. that's how a backpacker bakes.


last edited: 7/31/08 8:32:34 AM”

“Okay, this is not backpacking gear, but eventually, I may be able to use it create sock yarn to make knitted some wool socks....so it counts... sort-of....

I got a spinning wheel this week!!

(on the trail, I can use a drop spindle, if I ever get the desire to spin pine needles into cloth. LOL)”

“This is not for the guy who is a gram counter its for the family or couple who wants to go have fun in the backcountry and eat like they are at home. Not just freeze dried stuff.”

“MY BANNOCKS PHOTO TURNED INTO A RED X!!!

why would anyone want to go on a backpacking trip and then eat like they are at home? what's the point? eat like you are on a backpacking trip... which of course does not automatically mean freeze dried stuff. some of the most creative trail chefs i know make amazing use of lightweight ingredients that keep well in a pack and when properly combined (using minimal fuel and a simple stove) produce food BETTER than what i can get at home.
last edited: 7/31/08 5:09:01 PM”

“speaking of new gear i got a new pair of sporthill pants. woo hoo! (yeah, i know... big whoop... well they are nice pants!)”

“Today I ordered a new sleeping bag, a Montbell U.L. Super Stretch #1, 15 deg hugger. Anyone here use this bag? I really don't need it, but what the heck. Hopefully my wife won't kill me before I get to use it.”

“mildbill,

I need that bag!!, or something like it. I have long been pondering which nice and light down sleeping bag(s) I would replace my old TNF Cats Meow and Blizzard bags with. I thought a WM Antelope would be the perfect replacement, but I have also looked hard at the Montbell bags. Please let me know how it works for you.”

“I'm working on my house and my buddy is completely renovating (beginning with sawing the beams and gutting) the kitchen in his century+ farm house.

Anyhoo, yesterday was (another) rainy day and I couldn't work out of doors and he needed some pantry inserts. He called and asked if I would like to drive to Ottawa (2 hours each way) and get what he wanted at Lee Valley.

Now, boys and girls - mostly boys - you have not livewd till you have entered Lee Valley - www.leevalley.com. Click on the link and you will understand that doing the miles to worship at the Lee Valley door is like the trip to Freeport, Maine to visit LL Bean and to Sydney, Nebraska to grovel before the original Cabela's.

It's like a pilgrimage.

Now, I had nothing to buy right now, but I saw something I had fallen in love with over thirty years ago, but never bought.

I never bought one for some very good reasons that I immediately pushed far back into my sub-conscious.

I allowed my reptile bgrain to assume control and pulled out my brand new platinum AMEX card and bought a Kelly Kettle for only CAD 85$ with tax.

www.kellykettle.com.

Da Debil made me do it.”