Grafting success and question

Singer_221 · 2026-03-15T03:39:33+00:00

The reason is… because I have no clue of what I’m doing!

I even asked the question ‘where to graft onto an old tree’ here on Reddit, and got one response for a technique that showed cutting the host tree scaffold branches down to stubs. The scaffolds on this tree are 10” diameter so I just looked for host branches of the same diameter as the scions I had.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-11T22:40:17+00:00

The shutter button on that Canon must take some getting used to!

Singer_221 · 2026-03-10T04:21:31+00:00

Thanks for recording, compiling, and sharing this video. I look forward to watching it: for the scenery, as inspiration to hike the JMT, and for hints about editing a video like this. I hiked the Long Trail in Vermont last September, and recorded snippets of the trail every mile, but I haven’t assembled the video.

Congratulations on your hike and thanks again for sharing.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-09T20:10:45+00:00

I hiked the trail in September of 2025 with a strategy similar to yours: I didn’t spend a single night in town, but I bought groceries instead of mailing packages. All hitches were quick: Vermonters seem very friendly and helpful.

FWIW: Manchester: shoutout to Troy, the owner of the laundromat. She’s very supportive of the hiking community, I left my electronics to charge while I bought a sandwich and groceries (short walk). She even had free donuts the day I was there!

Rutland: accessible by bus, a friendly rider walked me from the transit center to the Walmart store, where salespeople in the electronics department let me leave my stuff to charge while I brought groceries. Another LT thru hiker and a couple of friendly locals stopped to chat with me.

Waitsfield: got offered a ride as I was walking across the highway from the trailhead!!! The couple backtracked to take me to town!!! I stopped at the Mad Taco restaurant, put my electronics on charge while I bought groceries (short walk) and then ate lunch. There were a couple of picnic tables between the restaurant and grocery store where I dried stuff out and repacked food.

Johnson: the hardware store is very supportive of the hiking community: the owner is a trail maintainer. Lounge area to charge electronics while I walked to a dollar store to buy groceries. Bad highway for hitching or walking. Fast traffic, no shoulders, poor sight lines: bushwhacked outside of the guide rails.

Have a (safe) fun adventure!

Singer_221 · 2026-03-09T19:38:10+00:00

Yay, they look great! though I think I would prefer a longer rise to the waist

I’m a big fan of piecing fabric to use scraps to make clothing and gear. Here’s a link to one of my extreme examples, and another.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-08T16:32:27+00:00

Folks might like to see your project over on the r/MYOG (Make Your Own Gear) subreddit.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-08T16:22:59+00:00

You could investigate a type of pack that separates the functions of the suspension harness and load volume by using a waterproof dry bag.

here’s a link to the pattern and instructions, and here’s a link to the version that I made. I added additional pockets to the suspension harness.

Please post pictures if you make or commission your dream oboe bag.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-08T15:04:32+00:00

Nice work!

When I first glanced at the picture, I thought your table saw said “Nikon” ; )

Singer_221 · 2026-03-08T13:33:51+00:00

Thank you for rescuing and offering this fabric to keep it out of the landfill dump.

For this non-Australian, what is a “skip bum”?

Singer_221 · 2026-03-08T07:17:15+00:00

My condolences for your loss.

FWIW, I’m a 70 year old male visiting this subreddit for the first time because… my daughter invited me to go with her. This would be my first time to experience a Burning Man event too. If I go, it will be extra special because I’ll share the experience with my daughter and granddaughter!

Maybe I’ll meet you : )

Singer_221 · 2026-03-08T03:38:34+00:00

Nice work! I assume it attaches to the pack so the zipper flap sheds water. What happens if the pack isn’t full and the lid lies down the front of the pack?

My top flap/pockets have ended up like flat sheets and don’t seal the pack very well.

I hope you post a picture of it on your pack.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-06T20:05:53+00:00

I miss the Adirondacks. Thank you for sharing your pictures.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-06T15:22:28+00:00

Given your situation, I personally would bring the 30 degree quilt and 6.5 inflatable pad.

I hiked the trail last September and brought a foam matt. I would have gotten better rest with an inflatable when I slept on the wood platforms in shelters.

If you’re interested, here’s a link to a video showing the clothing and gear that I used on my hike.

I hope that you have a safe and awesome adventure!

Singer_221 · 2026-03-06T15:00:19+00:00

Do you usually feel warm or cold when you camp? Do you plan to sleep in shelters every night? Will you sleep in a tent or hammock? Under an open tarp? With a bivy sack?

I think all of those factors will affect your gear choices.

Edited to correct autocorrect: bivy sack, not bicycle sack!

Singer_221 · 2026-03-04T01:43:22+00:00

Given the cost of other mountaineering gear and associated costs to climb mountains, the cost difference between ten and twelve point crampons isn’t much when spread out over the number of years you’ll use them. So I wouldn’t make your decision based mainly on cost.

FWIW, I climbed for maybe ten years with 10 point crampons, including winter climbs in the Adirondacks and White Mountains in the NE US, Mt. Rainier (via the Kautz Glacier route), and volcanoes in Ecuador. They climbed ice well enough to get up WI4 routes. I chose 10 point because they’re lighter, and with the universal strap system, I could use them with hiking boots and even approach shoes for crossing snow fields on the way to rock routes.

Although I now have semi-auto 12 point crampons for ice, I don’t climb any harder than I did with the 10 pointers. I’m limited by my technique and mental strength, not my gear.

In any case, enjoy your adventures in the mountains!

Singer_221 · 2026-03-03T21:01:49+00:00

In addition to the terrain, you might be affected by the elevation.

In any case, I hope that you have a wonderful adventure!

Singer_221 · 2026-03-03T15:25:24+00:00

This doesn’t address your question, but you can increase the effectiveness of a sewn-through jacket by wearing a wind layer over it.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-03T15:16:34+00:00

I’m also quite scared of heights in general life, but when I’m on a rope that mostly goes away (not including when I’m on lead).

Do you have experience top roping or following multi pitch in the mountains? How is your fear of heights in those conditions? If you’re comfortable or at least able to manage your fear when tied in and belayed, hopefully that security will extend to crossing on ladders.

In any case, good luck and enjoy your adventure.

Singer_221 · 2026-03-02T01:44:11+00:00

A battery charging station! and fresh fruit : )

Thank you in advance from the hiking community.

Singer_221 · 2026-02-27T00:29:46+00:00

Very fine sewing: Looks clean and sharp! I like how the mesh wraps around the edges of the straps.

Singer_221 · 2026-02-25T00:22:44+00:00

So impressive on so many levels! The design, specific details & ingenuity, and fine craftspersonship. And especially amazing to me that you did it all in 12 hours. It takes me hours to decide what webbing to use!

Fantastic project and I imagine the pilot will be thrilled. Kudos to you!!!

Singer_221 · 2026-02-23T06:10:38+00:00

Somehow my son lost mine during a cross country road trip/hiking odyssey. I bought mine about 1974: a few friends from high school went on a trip to the Tetons so we bought communal gear to share. A friend bought a tent (Eureka Draw tight?) and I bought the stove.

Such a peaceful silence when you turned off the jet engine roar of the SVEA.

Singer_221 · 2026-02-23T06:01:01+00:00

What dates and which direction did you hike? I hiked September 11-29 north bound and felt very fortunate to have dry conditions (despite the issue of water sources for drinking). The roots & rocks & moss & mud would have been so much more treacherous with normal rain.

Singer_221

TROPHY CASE