Startin my winter projects

I have started my winter gear making projects. I have made two Caldera Clone windscreens; one for my Fosters Can and one for the Heinie pot; they weigh 1 ounce each. I am also gathering materials and tools to make a couple of supercat alcohol stoves. The windscreens turned out pretty well, but the proof is in the using, which I will do as soon as I can fire up the stove outside. Must do the first couple of burns with the new windscreens outside, as the aluminum flashing has a coating on it that will smoke and burn the first few times (I will use a wire brush to brush off the coating after it has softened up).

I will take a few pictures of the windscreens soon and post some test data on the supercat stoves that I make.
I love stove projects! They make winter at least a useful time.

Review of Ribzwear front pack

I ordered a size small (400 cubic inch) Ribz wear front pack on Saturday and received it in good condition on Wednesday. It came packed in a plastic bag via US priorty mail. The pack was received in good condition with its hang tag. There were no instructions for fitting, but it was pretty intuitive to adjust; so this was not a problem. There is plenty of room, and plenty of pockets to organize gear. Used the pack for a cool weather day hike over rather rugged, but rarely steep terrain. I pretty much forgot I was carrying this pack. It is very comfortable, fit well under my day pack (a Golite Peak pack) and gave great access to snacks, camera, gloves, etc. The pack might prove to be a bit hot during the summer, but I think I shall like this pack very much. It should work well for hiking out of a base camp. I purchased it to use with my Luxury Lite pack and it should work well with this pack. I think I should be able to carry a 1/2 liter platy or two with comfort also. Overall, I am very happy with the initial use of this pack and would recommend to others.
As you will notice from the above picture, the pack is riding very well and is hardly noticeable.

Last hike of the year

My friend and I had a wonderful hike in the Roaring Plains West Wilderness in my home state of West Virginia. The day was cool, but comfortable. We had awesome views pretty much the entire day. There is no other place I would have wanted to be today!

Jeep update

Well, I am really liking my new Jeep Patriot. Drives sweet, good visibility. It is familiar enough to my old Caliber to be comfortable, but different enough to be fun.
Gas mileage for this past week was 27 1/2 MPG. Not too bad considering I idle for 10 to 15 minutes in Morgantown Traffic and my drive home is all UP!

It sounds like I might get to test the 4WD this winter, since the long-range forecast for winter is "messy"; kinda like last year.

New wheels!

Finally made up the old mind that it was time to help the economy and buy a new vehicle.
Decided on a nicely equipped Jeep Patriot in inferno red pearl coat. It sizzles! I also decided to try this really cool option called an automatic transmission. This is so cool, it actually shifts gears for you; why didn't someone think of this before now :)

So far I am really liking it. It is familiar enough to be comfortable, but different enough to be fun.
I hope the 4WD makes getting to work a bit easier. I decided to take my Dad's advice and "but what you want", since this will, in all likelihood, be my last new vehicle, as early retirement is starting to take precedence in my thinking and planning.
I hope everyone is having a really nice autumn and I hope we all have a mild winter this year.

AT Hike 2010 - Shenandoah National Park

Day 1 - Start Rockfish Gap; destination is Calf Mountain Shelter. We started at around noon with the rather steep hike up from Rockfish Gap. Packs are way too heavy since we are carrying about 3+ liters of water each as the water source at the shelter is listed as dry. Due to my own negligence at taking care of my body, I did a crash and burn at the top of McCormick Gap. Face plant on a rock! Had a hell of a bump on my forehead and drove my glasses back into my eye orbits. Still did not have enough since to eat and drink anything. STUPID! I was hitting the wall bad on the climb out of Beagle Gap, but the shelter side trail was a welcome site. Oh, and there was water in the spring! Carried 10 pounds of water that I did not have to carry. Two SoBo thrus at the shelter: Ghost pirate and Quick step.

Day 2 - Calf Mtn Shelter to BlackRock Hut. We decided that with the water situation, we would hike down to the Moormans River and take it around to the hut. This made for a 1500 foot elevation loss and gain, but it was worth it to carry lighter packs and have enough water. We missed the high ridgeline scenery, but the river side walk was nice. The Moormans river is the main supply for the city of Charlottesville, VA. The river was very low. We did about 12.5 miles today. The climb from Blackrock Gap up to the Shelter side trail sucked! We had the shelter to ourselves. Very nice evening.

Day 3 - Black rock hut to Loft Mountain Campground (about 6 miles). Low mileage day and a rather easy hike with only a few moderate climbs. We arrived at the campground around 12:30. We visited the campstore, then headed the mile down to the Wayside for FOOD! We then hiked back up to the campstore, did laundry, took showers and resupplied for the next couple of days. We then headed for the campground. The ranger dudes hooked us up with a very nice site that had a sunset view. They let us set up 3 tents on one site (limit is usually 2 tents). Awesome!

Day 4 - Loft Mtn Campground to Pinefield hut. A bit more difficult day, but still low mileage. We did carry water up from the Ivy Creek Maintainance area spring. This spring was flowing very nicely! We did see a naked hiker today. What a not so nice surprise. Kelly was not feeling well today and not sure if she could continue. She took some pain reliever (heavy duty stuff) and we continued to the hut. We pulled in at Pinefield hut around 3 pm. Thunder started around 20 after 3. We did received some much needed rain. It was a pretty good storm! We caught water off the shelter roof. I did get to meet the fabled Mother Goose (she has done 3 or 4 thruhikes and is the first woman to do a yoyo hike - Maine to Georga and the turn around and walk back to Maine). She is around 70ish and had just done a 20 mile day. Very nice woman! Wish we could have talked to her some more.

Day 5 - Pinefield Hut to Hightop Hut (8 miles). More uphill and we carried water for 5 miles from the Simmons Gap Ranger station. There was some water at the spring, but you had to dip it out without scooping up salamander larvae. We were the only 3 at the shelter. We decided to get up at 0400 and start our hike around 06oo. Nice day

Day 6 - Hightop Hut to Lewis Mountain Campground (11.5 miles) . Started our hiking day at 0550 by head lamp. Started off with about 4 miles downhill to Swifts Run Gap; we then started mostly up for the next 7 1/2 miles. Not too bad though. We are finally starting to hit our stride. Kelly fell at the South River Picnic area and banged up her knee. Bill did a break a way and started speed hiking to Lewis Mountain Campground, since it is Friday and campsites go early. Kelly and I followed. Bill arrived at the campground at 1238; Kelly and I arrived at about 2 pm. We snagged two sites. Showers, laundry and Yuengling! Some of Kelly's friends came up around 8:30 pm with burgers and more beer. I hit the sack around 10ish. I slept very well.

Day 7 - Lewis Mountain Campground to Milam Gap (6 miles). Our last day. We tagged Bear Fence Mountain very quickly. I am just now starting to feel really good physically. We hit the car around 1 pm. This was a nice day, and I just want to keep going.

Summary: Section hiking is difficult. You start with a lot of aches and pains, finally start to hit your stride and head toward decent shape, then your hike is over until next year. Just once in my life, I want to see what thruhiker condition feels like. I want to spend 4 to 6 weeks just hiking. It must feel awesome to have your body function as the Human body was meant to function.

Time to hike!

Tomorrow (9/19) is the first day of our Shenandoah N. P. finish up hike.
Decided to use my Mountainsmith Muse pack since it will handle the way too heavy load I will have to shoulder. Pretty much all natural water sources along the AT in the southern section of Shenandoah N.P. are dried up. This means carrying about 7 to 9 pounds of water weight in addition to everything else.

I decided to use the Big Agness Fly Creek UL1 tent since it does offer more more privacy. I am sure I will regret the extra pound of weight tomorrow.
If the two springs north of Calf Mtn Shelter (the spring at the shelter is dry) do not have water, we have decided to drop off the Appalachian Trail and head down the South Fork of the Moormans River fire road to then hike along the river and the Moormans River Trail and then head back up to the AT via the North Fork of the Moormans river fire road. At one time, this was the route of the AT and it is actually about 1 1/2 mile shorter than staying on the ridgeline. Of course shorter does not mean easier or faster. We will have to carry water to all of the shelters we will stay at. Day 3 will put us at the Loft Mountain Campground: FOOD!, shower, laundry and resupply. At least we do not have to carry food for the 6 days we will be hiking.

Trip report to follow.