Another perfect day in Dolly Sods Wilderness

Another perfect day in Dolly Sods Wilderness
Taken just off the Red Creek Trail/Blackbird Knob Trail Junction

Saturday, February 19, 2011

SPoT 2 unit

Shoot, I almost forgot that I finally decided to replace my old Spot unit with one of the newer ones.
It is certainly smaller and more compact. In some road use, it seems to work much better than the older one. So far it has a 100% send rate, while the old one was more like 75 to 80%.
The new one actually does let you know how it is working: It has indicator lights to let you know if you actually have a GPS fix or not, whether the messages actually did send or not and you do not have sit and stare at 2 blinking lights for 20 minutes. So far, I like it.

UPDATE POST:
Okay, I have used the SPoT 2 unit on a road trip (March 21, 2011), once again with a 100% send rate. The trip covered lots of mountains, valleys, forest service roads, a rather remote campground and at the top of West Virginia (Spruce Knob). I am definitely liking this SPoT unit much better than the old one. I will continue this discussion later, on another post, after I have had an opportunity to take it on a hike, which I hope will be next weekend (first weekend in April)

Spring fever!

The warm weather has me thinking about Spring hiking. I hope to sneak out in March this year; I have never done a March B-pack trip. I hope to get at least 20 "bag nights" this year (defined as hiking at least 1 mile, setting up camp and exploring).

Today's gear project was to make a spinnaker stuff sack for the Backpackinglight Stealth Tarp. This was a good project to use up some scrap material. The sack weighs 8 grams including drawcord and mini cord lock.

I will be using a Gossamer Gear Gorilla pack for trips this year (size small). I am hoping that I can get all my gear and a 9 pound food bag in it for our annual Section Connection Appalachian Trail hike. I am shooting to keep my total pack weight (gear, food, fuel, water) for that first "stepping on the trail day" at around 20 pounds. If Ole Ma Nature is cooperative, I should be able to do it.

I am hoping to put together a picture or video review for the GG Gorilla pack and a few other gear items this year. Good hiking everyone!