Saturday, July 31, 2010

Peace Is Every Step

This book, written by Thich Naht Hanh is a collection of short essays and meditation practices.
He also includes stories of interest from the early Vietaman war, his travels and how it pertains to the real peace movement of Buddism.

It focuses the reader on breathing mindfully and in doing so, restoring a since of peace to one's life.

Amazingly, this man was born in Vietnam in 1926 and became a Zen monk. He has a long list of accomplishments, including writing 75 books in English, French, and Vietnamese. Exiled in 1966 and living in France, he was in his native country during the early part of our war involvement.
He traveled to the United States working for peace, held retreats for Vietnam Veterans, and shows a deep understanding of the human condition. There is no anger shown here towards the U.S. which is remarkable because of the war we waged there so long.

The first section is about living mindfully. Taking each daily task, from washing dishes, to answering the phone in a simple, appreciative Zen way we are taught to breath slowly, mindfully in and out.

The second part is about transformation and healing. He acknowledges the anger many feel in our society, in families and communities.
Providing ways to admit and own our anger allows us to deal with and dispel it.

The third part teaches the interconnection of all things. Learning to look differently at paper, garbage, and sunshine so that we can see how all are interconnected will show us how to respect our earth, and preserve it for our children.

I find the short essays useful for daily reading. Zen teachings can help in survival techniques. It instructs us to feel the moment, to breathe and to calm oneself.
Panic is a destroyer, the forerunner of bad choices and bad outcomes.

The final essay is a story of The River. It starts as a fairy tale : Once upon a time.
The river began by being joyful, until it noticed the clouds above. Falling in love with them, she decided to chase them to posses them. Of course she couldn't, so constantly felt frustration. The tale progresses until, finally, after much discouragement, she realizes that what she had been looking for was already in herself; the clouds are nothing but water.
She achieved peace with this revelation.

The Zen teaching that Nhat Hanh concludes with is "There is nothing to chase after. We can go back to ourselves, enjoy our breathing, our smiling, ourselves, and our beautiful environment."

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Stuff Sack Demo

I made this demo after pitching this tarp in 5 different configurations. The camcorder is being held under my chin, so its not that great.

The Brooks-Range tarp came in a pouch with Velcro closure. The Velcro on the closure, and Velcro on the tarp got hung up. Also, the pouch is minimal but not very functional in the field. So, having a Brawny gear ditty bag of the same size on hand, I substituted and created this short video.

Its possible to stuff a tarp or tent in 20 seconds or less using this method. This really comes in handy when you're breaking camp in the rain, the shelter being the last thing to pack.

It also comes in handy when you're with a group and falling behind departure time. If you've had to stealth camp you'll want to use this technique at first light.

The five different pitches are on video at my YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/brawny03

There's a few unique pitches for larger tarps on my channel too.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Poles or No Poles

This set of hiking poles is mismatched. The paint is worn off, the tips are worn down.
They're a simple brand, but have seen many miles and adventures. They still contract and stay tight when extended. That's what matters to me.

For tarp supports, balance and testing for depth of water they are pretty handy.
Some hikers use only one. I tried that on the Colorado Trail. For 40 days, 468 miles, over passes and grassy valleys, I used just one hiking pole. I found myself switching hands, cause the one without a pole didn't really feel comfortable, and the blood pooled when allowed to just hang naturally.

I find hiking poles also help excavate "cat holes" instead of bringing a trowel. They can keep aggressive dogs at bay, useful when road walking into town.

Many of us have good upper body strength which becomes available to the hiker when poles are utilized. Cross country skier are very comfortable with poles and the action is second nature.

I personally don't care for the "shock absorbing" type. The clicking noise goes against my stealth nature. When extra noise is needed in bear country, I don't carry bells; I bungie a pint pot lid to the strap which automatically makes sufficient sound.

The wooden staff is useful on trails near home. Not contractable, they are hard to pack when traveling by plane. A non adjustable pole is more difficult to use for various tarp structures. Wooden staffs also weigh more than the aluminum conterpart.

However, a specially carved, decorated wooden staff makes a great souvineer.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Basic Day Hike Stuff

Pictured above are my basic day hike items. The closed cell pad in the forefront is cut to fit and offer structure for the black silnylon pack. I described this pack, which I made, in a previous post.

The closed cell pad offers many advantages to just sitting on the ground. It insulates when its cold or hot. It provides a clean dry spot, it can be used to lay lunch on, and it provides structure for a ruck sack.

I trimmed this pad from a full length pad that was given to me at Trail Days in Damascus in 2006. Gossamer Gear needed some work done on a sewing machine for a client. I had a sewing machine with me. Once I completed the work, they said" Pick out what you want ". I saw this ultralight full length pad, and chose it. Weighing about 6 ounces, a very good product. I trimmed it for two purposes. One for sleeping, and the one above for day hiking, or additional long distance use.

I bring sunscreen, a water bottle with electrical tape wound around it, and many times water purification so that I can treat water. My process is chlorine. One or two drops per liter is usually sufficient. When necessary, strain water through a bandanna to remove debris.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Don't Mess With Bison



A great article about tourists getting charged by animals in Yellowstone can be found at:

Don't Mess with Bison
They look tame enough, with slow, black eyes.
I worked in Yellowstone last summer. Those bison aren't slow. They can move very fast, and should never be underestimated.
I've seen them charge each other with no worries over fences, cars, picnic tables, or tourists.
Cameras have zoom lenses. There's a reason for that.



Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Log Works Too

I like using a log too, because it won't slip off as easily as it does a small rock.

Staking Alternatives

Sometimes you just can't get a stake in the ground. Sometimes a stake just won't hold. Maybe you ran out of stakes or lost them.

That's when this trick comes in handy. Take some of that elastic cord ( or even regular cordage will work) and loop it around a rock, log, picnic table leg, low branch.


Monday, July 19, 2010

Shoes for Bottle Holder

I like to take my shoes off during breaks. Especially breaks near a cool stream. This helps prevent feet from blistering, swelling and drys the socks as well.
In this photo, my water bottle is happily nestled in a shoe. I found this very useful when camping and backpacking because the bottle will not fall over.
If you have a hot drink, in an open cup, it also serves to insulate and preserve heat.

As you can also see, the water bottle is the 1.5 liter size and has electrical tape wound around it. I purchased bottled water just to obtain this large capacity bottle. It weighs just over an ounce, much less than a Nalgene. They are nearly indestructible. I've used this same bottle for nearly 7 years on backpacking and day hikes.
By carrying 2 of these, and one 1-liter bottle, I have 5 quarts capacity for about 6 ounces. Nalgenes weigh about 4 ounces each, so 5 quart capacity would weigh 20 ounces.
As you can see, this simple choice saves 14 ounces of pack weight, and a lot of money. If you lose one, simply by a beverage at a supermarket, and save the bottle.

This photo was taken in the Utah desert, in Zion National Park.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Home Made and Solar Powered

I found this page that gives directions on how to build a solar oven for under $5. I think I can find the parts at a thrift store even, making it cheaper. But, with the price of electricity and propane going up, $5 would be a good investment in getting off the grid.



http://www.solarcooker-at-cantinawest.com/build_a_simple_solar_cooker.html



It's fun making things, useful things. Once made, and the concepts understood, a person can tailor it to their needs.




Like this day pack: made of silnylon with one outer pocket for water bottles etc, it weighs only 4 ounces and suits me perfectly. There's no hip belt, but even with 5 pounds of gear, it feels very comfortable.

I like black because it blends into the environment and is opaque.

Basically, this pack is a large stuff sack with shoulder straps sewn into the drawcord casing at the top, and the bottom of the straps sewn into the side seams near the bottom. Incredibly simple, this pack can also be repaired on trail, or rolled up and stuffed in a carry on bag for airport travel. Once at the destination, it makes a great day pack.


My youtube channel has a demo on how to make stuff sacks.

http://youtube.com/user/brawny03

This fall I will begin a series of sewing videos to include this how to make this pack.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Elastic and Cordage



Some would call this bungee cord. Its nothing but elastic and simple cordage found at Wal Mart. I've tested its strength over many trails, in clothing, pack covers, and tarp set ups.

Extremely light yet strong, it can aid in setting up various configurations of tarps. It also comes in handy when setting up on platforms where wild camping is not allowed. Vermont is such a place, on the Appalachian Trail.

I always cut to length I need, and heat seal the ends with a match or lighter.

The crocheted cordage, last example was created for extreem conditions, and strapping sleeping pads to an external frame pack.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Removing a Tent Stake

Being in Zion, my Internet now has filters, so that I can no longer upload to Youtube. I hope to share short clips here until I return home to Georgia, where full videos will once again be created and uploaded.

The above short demonstration is my way to easily remove tent stakes from hard packed or frozen ground. This method does not put any stress on staking loops or the tent body. It also saves time and back strain.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The Gutter Nail Story

It rains a lot on the Appalachian Trail. Its not unusual to wake up to a wet tent, whether from frost, heavy dew, snow or rain. Condensation is common because its just humid on the east coast.

So, a common practice is to dry the shelter while taking a break during the day, before camping. That way, when you get to camp, your shelter is dry and the sleeping bag is less likely to pick up any moisture.

One day, hiking in Pennsylvania, I decided to take a lunch break just off trail, in the woods. I pulled out the gray silnylon tent, laid it over some branches to dry. The stake bag, gray also, lay below the tent fabric, in the weeds.

After eating, I checked the tent. It was dry, so I stuffed it, and looked around to be sure I had everything. Then, I hiked on.
Once I arrived in camp, I went to pitch the tent, but couldn't find my stakes. I went through everything. As an ultralighter, that didn't take long. I thought hard...when was the last time I saw them? Ah, when I dried the tent!

I used the AT shelter, and once I got to town, there were no gear shops, no Walmarts, nothing. I mentioned my delima to another hiker who suggested, " Just get to the hardware store and pick up some gutter nails". I wasn't even sure what they would look like, but the Ace Hardware man knew. I bought 5 and have used them ever since.

In winter, I always bring a regular stake, with a crooked head, so I can get them out of frozen ground.

I also try to use a bright blue stake bag.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Tent -Tarp Stakes



I have with me here in Zion three types of shelter stakes. From left to right: a skewer type, useful in sandy and loose soils.

A light weight steel straight: these came with my Eureka Spitfire Tent

And, the gutter nail, an ultralight option, first tried on my Appalachian Thru hike in 2002. We'll tell that story tomorrow.

Each stake has its benefits. The first one is better when you need a grip on the sandy or loose soil. Of course, another way of dealing with this is pound the stake at a 45 degree angle, and if necessary, place a rock over the stake's head.

The second stake is lighter, but should be pounded into the ground at an angle. Even if it seems pretty secure, I've noticed when the wind picks up, the motion of the staking loops responding to the movement of the shelter in the wind, can loosen stakes in sandy soils. If you have a non-free standing shelter, one that depends on the tension of the staking to keep it pitched, these are critical and must be secured before bedtime.

When placing a rock over a tent stake's head, take care. I once used a rock a bit too large, and tore a small hole in the fabric of the tent near the staking loop. I mended it with thread, and seam sealed it, but its a mistake that won't happen again.

The gutter nail is about 50 cents at local hardware stores. It is the lightest of all, and very packable. Used at a 45 degree angle, it won't bend where other stakes will. However, in icy or freezing conditions, they are hard to remove. Use a skewer stake to lift the head out of the ground, much like you would a can opener.

My video of the tepee on YouTube

http://youtube.com/user/brawny03

demonstrates how to remove a gutter nail from frozen ground.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

The Bee is a Good Sign

Rainmaker sent me this photo of our garden. Previous to coming out to Zion to work for the summer, I planted a small garden.
A mountain garden, the first in this location, I really didn't expect much. The soil must be prepared and built up. Plants must be allowed to flourish, even weeds if necessary, to build a "green manure". I wanted a natural, organic garden. Looks like I will have a lot to work with when I get back home.

This sunflower is doing pretty good. If it reaches maturity, edible seeds will result. I'm pretty happy just to see the bee there.
That means there will be pollination and the air is clean. I've read where bees are disappearing. Some growers have had to import bees to pollinate their crops.
I know hornets are not disappearing. Rainmaker also told me of a huge nest under the eve that needed removing.

Survival of the fittest is an ongoing thing in North East Georgia.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Brooks-Range Ultralight Tarp-First Impressions


I received this ultralight tarp yesterday and have looked it over. My first impressions are good. I see many possibilities for the multi-functional features sewn into the 20/20 denier "Intrepid "ripstop. The above photo shows the tarp in the 5.5 x 7.5 pouch it came in with a Velcro top closure. I admit, I switched it to a 5 x 9 ultralight silnylon ditty bag for easier stuffing.

The fabric itself feels very silky. For this reason, and the fact there is hook and loop (Velcro) sewn into the entire perimeter of the tarp, I can see it as a vapor barrier or bivy sack.


There are many warnings that come printed on sewn in labels. This is stuff an ultra lighter knows. Stuff about flammability, possibility of asphyxiation, and that bottom line it is ultralight and the product has limited life expectancy. This is very good information, and very important for anyone getting into ultralight backpacking. I applaud Brooks-Range for going the extra mile.


In this photo I tried to show the difference in fabric coating. One side is very shiny and the other side matte. I imagine the slicker side is more weather resistant. The matte side would feel better against the skin, if that application were used.















This last photo shows the centrally placed reinforced through-hole which allows one to set up with a hiking pole in the middle. I also see a way to suspend this tarp from a branch using this through-hole and "washer" from the underside. This would make the tarp even more spacious without need for a center pole. A person could also install a hanging loop. The through-hole is well protected so I don't anticipate any rain leakage here.

I look forward to field testing this tarp. Red is useful in hunting season, or emergency applications.

Check out http://brooks-range.com/ for this product, and many other mountaineering and backpacking products. There are sleds, sled-packages, and larger tarps.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Vasque Trail Runners, A Review

Last summer in Yellowstone I was bound and determined to find the ultimate trail shoe. I didn't care what it cost.

Finally, I found these Vasque. Not a high top, yet not a low either, it offers support and good tread with just the right amount of flex.

Personally, I also favor a dark colored shoe. The white, or heaven forbid baby blue or pink, trail shoe is not my style.
There's just too much tramping through mud, water and brush for anything else.

I did put an extra shoe insert in these due to the trauma my feet have been through in past years. For this reason, I always wear a thick sock when shoe shopping so that there is room for extra cushioning.
Also, I shop in the evening when my feet tend to be more swollen. This insures I don't end up with a too tight fit.

These Vasque are a lace up shoe, genuine leather upper. A year after purchase, they still have good tread, lining is still intact, and I anticipate much more use out of them.

My feet love these shoes. They are lightweight, yet sturdy.
Keep the feet happy and you can go places.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Gear Reviews to Start Soon

I've decided that periodic gear reviews are in order. Sometimes a person just doesn't know what company or product is actually living up to their advertisement. Nothing like real people giving real reviews to even up the playing field.

Check the Gear Review Page on this blog to see what products, and what dates they were written about. A brief description will be listed there, and more details on the blog itself.

If you'd like to contribute anything, as a guest to this blog, please e-mail me @ brawny03@yahoo.com

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Travels In The Greater Yellowstone

Written by Jack Turner, guide, mountaineer, fly fisherman, artist, naturalist, this book was both entertaining and informative.

Because I worked at Lake Yellowstone last summer, and visited the surrounding area, this wonderful book was even more meaningful. I recognized the places he mentioned, and feel a special connection.

Jack has lived in the area for over 30 years, so his love is very profound. He writes about the changes he's seen, and the implications if they continue.

His wife Dana, and dog Rio accompany him on some of his adventures chronicled in this book. Other adventures, along the Wyoming Range, into the Wind River Range, and fishing trips are taken with buddies. The conversations and astute observation make for very enjoyable reading.
One campfire reminisce " We turn our headlamps off and discuss the trajectories of our lives and those of old climbing friends.Some became alpine Horatio Algers, found religion, married, had children...Others remained deviant, not in the criminal sense, but at variance from the norm..Many died young in the mountains. Some went mad. Most migrated into ordinary middle-class lives, mired in Thoreau's quiet desperation."

Jack is not afraid or timid in his writing. On his Christmas at Old Faithful, he writes concerning the debate over winter travel in Yellowstone,
"My own view? Close the park every year for six months. Every critter and chunk of land deserves a rest from homo sapiens commercialis."

Jack advocates for perserving our lands, parks, and the necessary corridors between undeveloped areas for wildlife migration.

An extensive bibliography gives resources and further suggested reading for those interested in the many aspects of the Yellowstone experience.

I highly recommend this book.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

A Slow Burner



I am working on a slow burning stove, one capable of baking and simmering on backpacking trips. Years ago, Rainmaker and I at did a whole series of baking recipes for the Soda Can Stove




This stove will not need any attachments or special turning.

The above stove wouldn't stay lit. So, adding a few more holes, I came up with this one.




I tried it today, simply pouring in an ounce of Heet, lighting with a match, and waiting. It sort of coughed, sputtered, then gave forth good heat until all the fuel was burned.
I plan to work with this Slow Burner, making a demo and baking with it.
Right now I don't have any stats: burn time, fuel consumption, height for pot support.
The more holes a burner has the faster it burns. This model is all about slow simmering heat, the kind necessary to bake bread in the backpackers one pot.
Please check back for further developments.



Monday, July 5, 2010

Using a Watch for a Compass



I want to thank Peter, a reader who e-mailed me, for bringing this information to my attention.
So today, after practicing outside, I googled the concept of actually using a watch for a compass. This website provides more accurate details than I previously posted.


http://www.onebag.com/popups/wcompass.html
The gist of it is you take your analog watch and point the hour hand towards the sun. Then, you bisect the angle between the hour hand and the twelve o'clock and that line points south.
There will actually be two angles.The angle farthest away from the sun is north, the closer one is south. This works in northern hemisphere, without daylight savings time taken in account.

I'm always learning something.
Today I hiked the Narrows again and was able to watch a mother bird feeding her baby on a rock. All around this feathery bundle the river swirled. Seems she wanted to take flight. Her mom brought her a morsel, and she continued her baby dance on the rock. Pretty amazing.
I watched another bird skim the water, dip slightly and come up with something for another baby bird nestled in a rocky nest.

It was very early, the river was cold, but the rewards were worth it: no crowds and plenty of good filming.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Deer and the Common Man

I wrote about stalking deer (watching them closely) in my more philosophical blog

http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/



It reminded me of the story Hawkeye told Rainmaker and me when we shared an evening campsite on the Pacific Crest Trail.


We had climbed high onto the crest where there was no water. Below, a lovely river wound its way through the valley. As is the custom of
this 2, 658 mile trail from Mexico to Canada, one may cross water but very very seldom actually hike near it. "Always seeking the Crest" is it's motto.


Anyways, after scrounging for water from some intermittent drip on the side of a mountain while looking for a campsite, we finally cleared a spot of rocks and set up the tent. Rainmaker cooking by one tree, me by another, suddenly we hear profanity of interesting proportions. Coming up the trail, just out of view, a fellow long distance hiker.

Seeing us, he looked shocked, then happy. We all burst out laughing, and he set up camp.

Now Hawkeye is a tarp man. Lay down the tarp, set the gear around it, cover with tarp if it rains, much like a tortilla.

The conversation drifted around until we got to most feared creatures on the trail. Then Hawkeye told of the night he and a friend were camped just as we all were now: a couple in a tent, those two guys on their respective tarps. His friend had eaten supper, washed the pot, set it to the side.


Darkness fell, all slept. Until. Until a strange snorting, a pot being kicked, then a creature, turns out it was a deer, startled kicked back. The head of Hawkeye's friend was in the path of lashing hooves. Blood poured out, and the man was in grave danger.
Hawkeye asked the other people on site to watch over the injured man while he quickly hiked 6 miles for help. Rangers eventually came, and the man was evacuated.

After the story was told silence fell as we pondered the implications. Maybe the feds should require a Head Canister to protect us from deer.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

About Me

If you're wondering just what gives me the audacity, the "right" to post all this stuff on survival, or my gear choices, or basic world view, here's a couple links to give a bigger picture.

Its always a little weird putting it out there, but I'm a firm believer in the written word. This great invention allows us to share information without having to recreate or learn by trial and error. And the internet lets the written word be brought world wide in a compact and accessible manner. Gotta love it.

http://brawnyview.blogspot.com
is a blog I've had going for awhile. Its sort of point of view stuff, not necessarily practical hands on

Then there's the
http://www.youtube.com/user/brawny03
videos I've been doing for several years. Its great fun. I'm no photographer, though I'm getting better. My video on Backpacking Hobo Stove has gotten the most views, then the ones about setting up a 10 x 10 flat tarp in various configurations. There's some travel videos, too.

My homepage is at
http://trailquest.net/BRindex.html
and there's a list of trails, journals, gear lists, ultralight page, all kinds of stuff. That's been online sense 2000.

That's a lot of information, for what its worth.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Women Who Run With the Wolves

I picked up this book having heard good reviews from some girlfriends. One especially, being in an abusive marriage, found the chapter on the Handless Maiden, to be life changing. She filed for divorce.

The author, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph. D, uses myths and stories from ancient lore to teach and explain the wild woman.

Ok, this might sound weird, but its very well done. I found myself underlining, making notes in the margin, and rereading it several times.

The legends, myths, stories all have similar truths: a woman in a vulnerable stage of life, makes choices resulting in outcomes either good or bad. The wild woman, or woman who runs with the wolves, is the desired outcome. One who feels strong, secure, wise, free.

By analyzing the minute details of each story, she brings truths to light.

Sometimes it is quite intellectual, talking about "differential diagnosis", "psychoanalytic parameters", the "injured or disrupted wildish force in the psyche", but its a book well worth the effort of digesting.

She parallels the wolf and wild (independent) woman in convincing terms.

"A healthy woman is much like a wolf: robust, chock-full, strong life force, life-giving, territorially aware, inventive, loyal, roving. Yet, separation from the wildish nature causes a woman's personality to become meager, thin, ghostly, spectral."

A substancial book of nearly 500 pages, it both encourages us women to live with an instinctive nature and warns of giving in to distructive forces, especially capture and fear.

"Protect your creative life", Clarissa writes. "If you would avoid habre del alma, the straved soul, name the problem for what it is-and fix it. Practice your work every day. Then, let no thought , no man, no woman, no mate, no friend, no religion, no job, and no crabbed voice force you into a famine. If necessary, show your incisors."

I recommend this book for women who are looking to build or reclaim their sence of self.
It is a serious book for the Wild Woman.
and enlightening for someone at a crossroads in life, sniffing out the correct path.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Ideas for the M-Kit

Here's a list of some things to include in a Murphy kit, or M-Kit. I usually don't take all of this.
It depends on where I'm headed, and what my goals are. Paper and pencil are for taking or leaving notes.
Several kinds of pain reliever are for those with sensitivities. While Tylenol is hard on your liver with long term usage, Ibuprofen should be taken with food, never on an empty stomach.

  • toothbrush
  • toothpaste
  • dental floss
  • bandaides
  • needle
  • safety pins
  • cord elastic
  • tape
  • Imodium
  • Tylenol
  • ibuprofen
  • toilet paper
  • mirror
  • tweezers
  • razor (be sure it has a cover for the blade)
  • cotton balls
  • rubbing alcohol
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • salt
  • free flowing superglue
  • pencil /paper
  • tea bags/instant soup
  • cell phone