Another Backpacking Excursion Coming Up!
We will be in the same part of the country, just a different area - March 6-8. Last trip (October 08) was to the southern part of Dolly Sods in the Monongahela National Forest, WV. This time we will be in the northern part of Dolly Sods.
If you go back and read my post on the last trip you will get a sense of the ruggedness of the area and the challenges I faced. I don't think the northern part will be as rugged, but we have a whole new set of challenges upon us - snow. I would bet the temperatures will be even colder also.
However, I am prepared. I have a nice down sleeping bag this time around - TNF Superlight, 600 fill down rated to 0deg. I also made a fleece liner for it for some extra warmth and to help keep it cleaner longer. This will be the trial run for it! I also have a nice down coat now - a Mountain Hardware Sub Zero SL Parka (the longer one with the snap on hood, not the shorter jacket with the zip on hood). I have been wearing the coat since I got it so I am well accustomed to the warmth it provides - superior to any coat I have ever had! That combined with the light weight and compressibility will make it a blessing to have for this trip. If it is mega cold I can sleep in the coat also.
I also got a set of trekking poles. Mine are Black Diamond Elliptic something or other (not the round shafts, they are elliptical for more front to back strength/stiffness). After the last trip and how handy using a walking stick was I don't think I would want to attempt a trek like this without a quality set of trekking poles. I am really anxious to give these a workout. I am sure they will add a whole new dimension of endurance, stability, and safety (not to mention lowering the risk of long-term problems) to my physical beating.
One item I still don't have is a decent tent. Most likely I will be using the same tent I used the last time. With my new sleeping bag I should be fine temperature wise. I may close up one end of the tarp, or both, that I use as a fly to keep the wind and snow out.
I am experimenting with some fire supplies. I built a couple pressure jet alcohol pop can stoves. I may bring one along. Also, I got an idea off the Backpacker.com forums for using cotton balls soaked with hot vaseline as fire starters. I made up a couple of these - what a mess! I wonder how well they will work? The post I read mentioned stuffing the soaked cotton balls in to a plastic straw and then flame welding the ends shut. This keeps the vaseline from getting on anything and is a pretty indestructable apperatus (compared to a film can where the lid can pop off, a zip loc bag that can tear or pop open, etc). It was a real pain getting the soaked cotton balls in to the straw, but I managed. If they work as well as the people on the forums say then it should be worth the work!
If you check out the Google Maps satellite image of the area (and zoom in a bit) you will notice that it is a little more open - more plains and hills than woods and steep drop offs. Note the ski resort to the lower left and the line towards the right. If you draw a line straight across (and if you zoom in a bit Blackbird Knob trail is highlighted) we will be along and to the north of that line.
I will be taking my radio along with me again. This time, if I get a chance with the open plains, how I am feeling, and the weather, I will try some Pedestrian Mobile operating. For those that are unfamiliar with the term, it is hiking and talking on the radio at the same time - in reference to HF, or shortwave (the term is rarely, if ever, used with a walkie talkie). It requires an HF radio (my FT-857D is ideal for this with the remote face plate), a battery, an antenna, and a counterpoise ("ground" wire). The antenna will be a variation of a Buddistick. I am not quite sure how I will set it up, but it will use a 10m hamstick antenna in there somewhere for a mast and a whip (whip on top of the buddipole coil and fiberglass hamstick base, maybe one of the arms or two for some more efficiency below that?). As for mounting, I haven't figured that out just yet but I have a couple ideas. The rest of the guys already know I'm nutts when it comes to radios, so strapping an antenna to the pack should make for a few good pictures, laughs, and hopefully some contacts I can log!
I am really looking forward to the trip. From pictures we have seen of the northern part (the snow shoeing, trekking through the fall foliage, overlooks, etc) we are in for a real treat! It will be nice to get out and put the typical activities aside and enjoy the air, the scenery, the walking, and just "escape." It will be physically demanding, but I am prepared.
If you go back and read my post on the last trip you will get a sense of the ruggedness of the area and the challenges I faced. I don't think the northern part will be as rugged, but we have a whole new set of challenges upon us - snow. I would bet the temperatures will be even colder also.
However, I am prepared. I have a nice down sleeping bag this time around - TNF Superlight, 600 fill down rated to 0deg. I also made a fleece liner for it for some extra warmth and to help keep it cleaner longer. This will be the trial run for it! I also have a nice down coat now - a Mountain Hardware Sub Zero SL Parka (the longer one with the snap on hood, not the shorter jacket with the zip on hood). I have been wearing the coat since I got it so I am well accustomed to the warmth it provides - superior to any coat I have ever had! That combined with the light weight and compressibility will make it a blessing to have for this trip. If it is mega cold I can sleep in the coat also.
I also got a set of trekking poles. Mine are Black Diamond Elliptic something or other (not the round shafts, they are elliptical for more front to back strength/stiffness). After the last trip and how handy using a walking stick was I don't think I would want to attempt a trek like this without a quality set of trekking poles. I am really anxious to give these a workout. I am sure they will add a whole new dimension of endurance, stability, and safety (not to mention lowering the risk of long-term problems) to my physical beating.
One item I still don't have is a decent tent. Most likely I will be using the same tent I used the last time. With my new sleeping bag I should be fine temperature wise. I may close up one end of the tarp, or both, that I use as a fly to keep the wind and snow out.
I am experimenting with some fire supplies. I built a couple pressure jet alcohol pop can stoves. I may bring one along. Also, I got an idea off the Backpacker.com forums for using cotton balls soaked with hot vaseline as fire starters. I made up a couple of these - what a mess! I wonder how well they will work? The post I read mentioned stuffing the soaked cotton balls in to a plastic straw and then flame welding the ends shut. This keeps the vaseline from getting on anything and is a pretty indestructable apperatus (compared to a film can where the lid can pop off, a zip loc bag that can tear or pop open, etc). It was a real pain getting the soaked cotton balls in to the straw, but I managed. If they work as well as the people on the forums say then it should be worth the work!
If you check out the Google Maps satellite image of the area (and zoom in a bit) you will notice that it is a little more open - more plains and hills than woods and steep drop offs. Note the ski resort to the lower left and the line towards the right. If you draw a line straight across (and if you zoom in a bit Blackbird Knob trail is highlighted) we will be along and to the north of that line.
I will be taking my radio along with me again. This time, if I get a chance with the open plains, how I am feeling, and the weather, I will try some Pedestrian Mobile operating. For those that are unfamiliar with the term, it is hiking and talking on the radio at the same time - in reference to HF, or shortwave (the term is rarely, if ever, used with a walkie talkie). It requires an HF radio (my FT-857D is ideal for this with the remote face plate), a battery, an antenna, and a counterpoise ("ground" wire). The antenna will be a variation of a Buddistick. I am not quite sure how I will set it up, but it will use a 10m hamstick antenna in there somewhere for a mast and a whip (whip on top of the buddipole coil and fiberglass hamstick base, maybe one of the arms or two for some more efficiency below that?). As for mounting, I haven't figured that out just yet but I have a couple ideas. The rest of the guys already know I'm nutts when it comes to radios, so strapping an antenna to the pack should make for a few good pictures, laughs, and hopefully some contacts I can log!
I am really looking forward to the trip. From pictures we have seen of the northern part (the snow shoeing, trekking through the fall foliage, overlooks, etc) we are in for a real treat! It will be nice to get out and put the typical activities aside and enjoy the air, the scenery, the walking, and just "escape." It will be physically demanding, but I am prepared.
posted by Steve at
12:36 AM
1 Comments
