29 May 2006: Howdy all, apologies for falling terribly behind in my email. I'm still working through the backlog but one question keeps coming up - where to find Cream of Rice? This link into Amazon.com might not last long, but you can go into their Gourmet Foods section and search for "cream of rice" when the link goes stale.
Earlier this month I was able to sneak in a great Grand Canyon trip (Mary on South Kaibab there) with friends Ardith, Mary, Bob and Jeff - thanks guys! Hope we can do more of 'em. Saw a momma mountain goat with youngins along North Kaibab, and a lazy rattlesnake coming up Bright Angel Trail above Indian Garden. My backcountry time has been scarce so far this year, but I've got a few escapes up my sleeve. Until then I'll need to live vicariously through all your reports.
07 Jan 2006: Happy New Year everyone! I've been dodging a number of life's curve balls the past few months, pardon the absence. Plenty of new stuff to cover though, which I promise to do after I get back from some weekend sunshine.
Foot-based travelers unite! My friend Mary is raising money for her Breast Cancer Walk, a 3-Day 60-mile (97km) urban trek and fundraiser for breast cancer research and treatment. If you're interested please consider surfing over for a US tax-deductible contribution. Even $5 or $10 helps. Thanks! And yes I've contributed too. :-) (Printable PDF form here if you prefer a copy for your records.)
Two bits of great news from Ursack. First, Tom switched to using Vectran to overcome the shortage of Kevlar so supply issues are resolved. Second, effective 27 Oct 2005, the new Ursack Hybrid bear bag has been conditionally approved by SIBBG. The Ursack Hybrid is a regular Ursack with an aluminum liner (which still has some compressability). Total weight is 20 ozs for 650 ci (0.56 kg for 10.7 liters). Not as light as a "pure" Ursack, but for High Sierra travel it's nice to know you can get that much storage (and a little compressibility) for under 1.5 lbs / 0.6 kilos.
I'll have my Bear Can page updated with the new info by the end of the weekend. More to follow! Sunshine calls!
01 Sep 2005: Just got back from a solo 112-mile loop through Kings Canyon National Park. Entered/exited via Bishop Pass and included my favorite section of the JMT (Mather and Pinchot Passes), plus Paradise Valley (gorgeous) and Granite Basin/Granite Lake. Trip report to follow after I catch up on a few things. And yes I brought the camera so expect a few dozen of the 200+ photos as well. :-) It was nice to break out the tarp-and-bug-bivy combo again. Slept under the stars all but one night though, weather was perfect. Stepping off at the trailhead I was just over 22lbs/10kg including food, fuel, BearVault Solo bear can, and even a favorite book but not water (yes I resupplied halfway through). Never had to carry more than a liter of water at a time, gotta love the High Sierras!
Important Tyvek note - Reader and longtime backpacker Jeff reports that his piece of Tyvek ended up a frayed annoying giant debris-trapping spider web during his 80-mile trip. As best he can figure it may be due to washing the Tyvek, he put a little detergent in but we don't know if that was a factor or not. So if you're washing your "hard" Tyvek to soften it up, best beware. Or you can order the soft Tyvek (see my Tyvek page which I've just updated to reflect Jeff's experience).
09 Aug 2005: It's now 1am but I've finally finished updating my Gear List and Detailed Weights pages. Yes, you can expect flocks of soaring pigs to cross the sky any moment. :-)
Also Jas (aka "Chilli Bistro") has put together a trip report of our High Sierra Trail trek, with a little extra background and perspective for those of you looking to wander the route (or just escape your cubicle for a few minutes). I'm fond of "The Blair Witch Deer" photo myself. :-) Thanks Jas!
06 Aug 2005: I've put together a list of shelters that I like. Just something to use as a starting point, plus a chance for me to experiment with HTML tables. I'm slow but I'm persistent. ;-) Metric weights included. I also updated a few pages: Common Items and Ultralight Solutions, Bear-Resistant Containers, Tents vs. Ultralight, and Food. More updates to follow!
19 Jul 2005: Just finished putting together some photos and rough notes of our High Sierra Trail trek. Enjoy!
18 Jul 2005: Nothing like 7 days of backpacking with great friends across the High Sierra Trail to take the edge off of a busy year! Just got back, tales to follow. Pictures turned out good so I'll have some of those to share as well. We met some wonderful folks and had many an adventure.
Anyone heading to the Sierras should note that the mosquitos were epic, nay biblical, in some spots. According to the local area papers it's the worst 'skeeter hatch in 10 years. That 1.0 oz mosquito head-net will be worth more than your sleeping bag! Though Alaska/Minnesota/Canadian residents probably won't be fazed. ;-)
Also if you're headed to the Sierras before the end of July, consider the water crossings to be... interesting. Heavy snows have given way to fast water. Most were just tricky but a few were downright fiendish. Know your stuff and be prepared if you blow it. Very significant snow melt, we were fortunate to be in the right place and right time to save a fellow who was dragged down. Watch yourselves out there, and don't forget your hiking poles. A river crosser's best friends.
To see the complete update history and running narratives, visit the Updates Archive.
