Ultralight Backpacking Skills - A Three Day Test
On Lake Michigan, at the end of the Stonington Peninsula, there's a stretch of empty beach. Part of the Hiawatha National Forest, it's framed on either side by private property, with no easy access. To walk on the beach, however, is legal. Past the last cabin, the public land starts, and goes for six or seven miles. This is where I would test my ultralight backpacking skills and gear.
I hiked a few miles the first day and explored the woods, where I ate wild blueberries for an hour. Then I set up camp behind a small ridge on the beach. I collected dry grass along the edge of the forest, which made a nice mattress. I pitched my backpacking tarp fairly high, so the breeze would keep out the mosquitos. When camp was set, I went for a swim.
This area has many crayfish, which look and taste just like miniature lobsters. After swimming I caught a dozen under the rocks in shallow water, and carried them back to camp in a whipped-cream container I found. You never know what will wash up on a beach.
I boiled them with some cattail hearts and evening primrose roots, in my cheap three ounce pan. It made a good meal with the crackers I brought. (You remove the meat from the tail of the crayfish, after cooking.)
It was summer, so I hadn't brought a sleeping bag. At seventeen ounces, my bag wouldn't have added much to my packweight of eight pounds. I just wanted to try using a nylon sleeping bag liner I had recently sewn (5 ounces). I wore my clothes to bed, including a hat I made from the sleeve of an old thermal shirt (1 ounce). I slept well, and ate granola bars for breakfast.
Water was all around, so I only had a 16-ounce plastic pop bottle (1 ounce) and a few iodine tablets for purification. I took a good drink before I packed up.
I found fresh bear tracks on the beach. The bear had walked within 60 yards of where I slept. I had a freon horn (2 ounces) that I'd bought after reading that people have used it's high-decible shriek to scare off bears. I pulled it out. I followed the tracks for an hour, but only because I was going in that direction.
I had two old cabins to explore, another patch of berries I knew about, and a beach full things to check out. The strangest item that regularly washes up is light bulbs. I take them home to use them. After years of finding these, a sailor finally told me that they throw them off the ships to shoot at them in the water. I was finding the ones they missed.
The next day I headed back. The rain I expected never came, so I didn't get to test my garbage bag rainsuit (2 ounces), but I had used a similar one with success before. Overall, I was happy with my ultralight backpacking "test." Of course, you can get by with fragile clothing and gear when you're hiking an open beach. Oh, and I never did see the bear.
Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His advice and stories can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com
 Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:49:07 GMT Computer Chip to Monitor Teen Drivers - ABC News
ABC News - By LISA STARK, MATT HOSFORD and KATE BARRETT Car keys -- long perceived as the keys to teenagers' freedom -- may soon be the best way for parents to monitor their every move. Going Along on the Ride With Junior Ford: Key limits speed, stereo volume Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:16:34 GMT As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael Abramowitz The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for the first time criticized Sen. John McCain for his role in the "Keating Five" savings-and-loan scandal yesterday, saying the issue was fair game after a ... Video: AP Campaign Minute McCain ready for combat in 2nd presidential debate Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:17:08 GMT Three Europeans win the 2008 Nobel for medicine - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - By Lawrence K. Altman The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded Monday to three European scientists who discovered viruses behind two devastating illnesses, AIDS and cervical cancer. Aids and cervical cancer pioneers share Nobel award Nobel Prize to HPV Researcher Highlights Importance of Cervical ... Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:50:01 GMT Rays roll over White Sox, punch ticket to ALCS - Sports Network
Sports Network - Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - BJ Upton hit two solo homers, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, to clinch their first berth in an American League Championship Series in franchise history. White Sox eliminated from post-season with Game 4 loss to Rays Rays Finish Off White Sox to Reach ALCS Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:14:13 GMT China's Reputation On Product Safety Reaches a New Low - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Blaine Harden Even Burma -- where one of the world's most repressive and isolated military governments relies on trade with China -- has now warned its people to steer clear of all Chinese dairy products. Video: No Traces of Melamine in New Test of Milk Powder China vows overhaul of 'chaotic' milk industry Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:55:33 GMT Injury forces May-Treanor to sit out this 'Dancing' - USA Today
USA Today - By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY Two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor may be sidelined from ABC's Dancing With the Stars, but she says she won't let a leg injury suffered during rehearsals stop her from competing in beach volleyball. Misty May-Treanor drops out of ‘Dancing’ May-Treanor vows torn achilles won't end her volleyball career ... Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:09:39 GMT Plaxico Burress takes Giants to school with tired act - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - Plaxico Burress with his son after the Giants win Super Bowl 42. Burress will need to get his act together if the Giants are to repeat as champs. Burress Returns to Giants, With No Regrets Unapologetic Plaxico Burress returns to Giants Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:10:29 GMT Add RSS Feeds To My Web Pages |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... We've all heard about whalewatching from boats or shore, and... Read More Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena... Read More Important information about camping stoves...What type of camping, hiking, or... Read More Mt. Washington Valley Trails & Mt Washington - NHThe highest... Read More There's nothing that will quicken the interest of RVers like... Read More For the dedicated water sport enthusiast there can be no... Read More You would think that a cheap safari in Africa for... Read More Have you ever thought you might like to try a... Read More How to get discount lift tickets for popular ski resorts... Read More Visitors to Hawaii frequently see dolphins from shore or on... Read More Barnegat Light, NJ is the home to "Old Barney" a... Read More Isn't it time you stepped out of the concrete jungle... Read More A wonderful way to invest in your families' treasure trove... Read More Eulogised as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Cochin, Kerala's... Read More There were four of us on that first Tom Sawyer... Read More A canoe trip is a great way to appreciate Nature!A... Read More Drive along one of South Africa's scenic strips and you... Read More The Usamabara Mountains are very special mountains, often that tired... Read More A Botswana safari is an excellent trip to undertake because... Read More Costa Rica's mountainous topography and copious rainfall are both responsible... Read More Costa Rica is a small country - just 75 mi/120... Read More Have you ever had a backpacking trip that was a... Read More It is the downhill ski racing competition of the winter... Read More Malaria is endemic to most of the areas in Africa... Read More Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the... Read More
Adsense
websites
Dancing With Whales
Discover Eaton Canyon In Pasadena California
Camping Stove Performance: Ease of Use & What to Avoid
Hiking Trails Mt. Washington Valley NH - Trekking trails USA
RV Camping at Casinos
Whitewater Rafting Trip
Cheap Safari in Africa For $70 a Day - Heres How To Do It
Camping - Get Those Tents Up!
Discount Lift Tickets - Learn what Colorado Ski Resorts Do Not Want You to Know!
Three Places to Interact with Dolphins in Hawaii
Old Barney -- A Visit to Barnegat Light, New Jersey
Your Virgin Bushwalk
Great Family Camping Trips Make Excellent Traditions
Cochin - Cocktails of Cultures
Tom Sawyer Day - Floating Down The River
Canoe Trip with Nature
The Cast of Culture in South Africa
Bird Watching in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania
Botswana Safari Top Five National Parks and Game Reserves
Costa Rica White Water Rafting Trip
Costa Rica: Land of Natural Wonders
Ten Skills - A Backpacking List
Take a Hiking Pole on Your Next Hike
Malaria Prevention - Five Ways to Avoid Catching It on Safari
Shark Pictures Not The Real Thing
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Hiking from Your Own Home
Picture this. You are stuck at home knee deep in... Read More
PaintBall Gun Buying Tips
There are so many selections available when it comes to... Read More
Malaria Prevention - Five Ways to Avoid Catching It on Safari
Malaria is endemic to most of the areas in Africa... Read More
Trekking Poles And Walking Sticks
Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What about hiking... Read More
Sleeping Pads For Ultralight Backpackers
Ultralight backpackers want to give up weight, not comfort. Sleeping... Read More
Ultralight Backpacking Versus Traditional Backpacking
Contrary to what many think, ultralight backpacking is not just... Read More
The Kuan Yin Shrine, Bangkok ? the Goddess of Mercy on the Chao Phraya
The Kuan Yin Shrine in Bangkok is in an old... Read More
Solo Backpacking Tips
Solo backpacking means peace and quiet. No one to talk... Read More
Discount Lift Tickets - Learn what Colorado Ski Resorts Do Not Want You to Know!
How to get discount lift tickets for popular ski resorts... Read More
Lake Winnipesaukee ? The Smile of the Great Spirit
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest and one of the deepest... Read More
A Review of Popular River Rafting Trips and Services
Organized river rafting trips are a good idea for novices... Read More
Creative Camp Cooking
For most people, outdoor cooking is synonymous with barbeque, but... Read More
Amazing Trek Across TIbet!
Today Bookpleasures and Sketchandtravel are pleased to have as our... Read More
Spain´s Beaches - You´re Spoilt For Choice
Spain offers the visitor over 4,000 kms of coastline where... Read More
Hiking Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is the most popular park in... Read More
Holidays in Goa
Sun, Sand and Surf ? an apt description for Goa?... Read More
Solo Backpacking
Have you ever gone solo backpacking? If you have, you'll... Read More
RV Camping at Casinos
There's nothing that will quicken the interest of RVers like... Read More
Unforgettable Cape Cod Vacations: The National Seashore Gift
Take a captivating trip through the Cape Cod National Seashore... Read More
Things to Make Your Gap Year in Africa Easy!
The kind of things you pack when you go on... Read More
Too much to do in London!
No one can truly say... Read More
Discover Eaton Canyon In Pasadena California
Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena... Read More
Arrowhead Hunting and Rock Collecting
We weren't planning to go rock and arrowhead hunting in... Read More
Wal-Mart Camping And Other Free Places
"Do you know about Wal-Mart camping?" We didn't know, but... Read More
Be Sure to Buy the Best Discount Camping Gear Before Going on that Family Adventure
When you're on the Internet looking for discount camping gear,... Read More
Outdoors |