A PBS comedy show named The Red Green Show put two dorky guys in charge of the Possum Lodge somewhere north in Canada. With nothing to do and plenty of time for fix-it-up projects, the duo cooked up some bewildering gadgets, mostly affixed with plenty Duct Tape. In any case, Red Green used to say, “If the women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.” So it is true on the trail: If there’s anything you should be ready for, it’s the unplanned. Anything that can go wrong mid-hike usually will go wrong mid-hike (or sooner). Ergo, we’re going to tell you here how you too can be handy rather than handsome, for it’s the former over the latter that usually keeps campers and backpackers warm at night.
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September 8th, 2009 | Tags: backpack repair kit, hike repair list | Category: gear | Leave a comment
Hiking, like other endurance pursuits, uses lots of energy and requires a thoughtful diet to keep you healthy and strong throughout a day, multi-day or overnight extended trek. Eating all those empty calories (as we call them these days) only bogs your muscles down with refuse and internal detritus. Like a gym workout or a marathon race, it’s important to think about what you eat and drink before, during and after your ramble with Mother Nature. If you want to come out on top and feeling great to boot, be sure to keep certain good-for-you caloric foods in mind.
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September 8th, 2009 | Tags: hiking food, hiking nutrition, hiking snacks | Category: gear | Leave a comment
Backpacking can be fun for those who have trepidation or are new to the sport –Yes, even with a fully loaded 30-40 lbs pack on your back. Though weightlifting your belongings for eight sweaty hours on end doesn’t sound that appealing at first, it can be quite enjoyable as long as the backpack you’re using fits like the proverbial glove—the two most important backpack tips are hoisting (how to properly get in and out of your backpack) and hanging (how the backpack hangs or fits you). We’ll start with the former and assume that you’ve gotten a backpack that has both the proper torso length and the proper hip belt for your frame.
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September 8th, 2009 | Tags: backpack fit, backpack hoist, fitting a backpack | Category: gear, skills | Leave a comment
