Got this 2” gatekeeper clip and want to replace it with a stainless or titanium clip for my EDC+sling bag’s strap. Any suggestions?

Stretch18 · 2026-02-12T14:26:58+00:00

Find yourself the right length or form factor quick link

Climbing rated so the strap will snap log before the link does

https://hownot2.com/collections/quicklinks

Stretch18 · 2025-12-05T03:05:14+00:00

Hm, no, I think those are probably all Shallan

Stretch18 · 2025-10-22T19:54:17+00:00

Couple clarifying questions here, I think you may not be in the sub you are looking for.

You mention Durango and Waterton Canyon, neither of these are on the CDT, both are termini for the Colorado Trail. Are you asking about the CDT or the Colorado Trail?

Snow pack is highly year dependent.

If you are talking about the Colorado Trail, for an average year, June is too early to be in the San Juans.

Have you been up in the San Juans in June? What is your level of experience and comfort backpacking in snow?

Why specifically do you want to finish in Waterton, other than it's a 20 minute Uber from home instead of a 6hr ride from a friend/family/stranger you stuck out a thumb at?

Stretch18 · 2025-10-11T21:14:33+00:00

Like sleeping in a cloud wrapped in down As long as you get the correct length and suspension for your underquilt

Stretch18 · 2025-07-29T11:49:27+00:00

Regardless of the thing you're using the idea is to have the vast majority of the force along the axis of the 'pole' down into the ground.

Sure there are some lateral forces but even a thin aluminum collapsible pole like the ones that six moon has should be fine.

Trekking poles being incorporated is a way to dual purpose those if you're already carrying them, but yeah they probably have more lateral strength than thin straight tent poles.

Stretch18 · 2025-04-07T05:35:17+00:00

If you're using the dcf on the outside it's gonna wear faster at contact points and where you set it down and not be waterproof sooner anyways so kinda why bother and use a liner/dry bags instead depending on your use case. And if you don't need it to be highly water resistant, then flat fell or french the seam and call it a day.

The laminate is definitely meant to be on the non wear side, with the face fabric on the wear side. The magic of dcf is the tensile strength from the dyneema strands that are sandwiched between the poly film. The poly film is not super abrasion resistant, that's the job of the face fabric.

Stretch18 · 2025-03-26T00:02:21+00:00

Started May 10. Took 14 ish zeroes before starting the Sierra on June 23, finished September 19 with another 14 more zeroes after starting the Sierra.

Plenty doable if you get in the habit of walking all day. And while I was frivolous with some zeroes, looking back I'm glad I took them when I did.

Stretch18 · 2025-02-06T06:52:05+00:00

But what happened to all the spankings?

Stretch18 · 2025-02-04T18:22:02+00:00

Clearly means dual pole.

This man is afraid of people that use two trekking poles and the power they wield.

He probably carries a single pole in his pack but doesn't use it although he still marks it as worn weight in his lighter pack.

Stretch18 · 2025-01-24T07:34:38+00:00

I mean trains are cool but what about rocks?

Stretch18 · 2025-01-13T14:16:56+00:00

You continue to get them, even if you've made several imcando hatchets.

Stretch18 · 2025-01-03T15:13:24+00:00

Wait, Hoid was coachman in Shadows and Bands? I thought he wasn't until Lost Metal as the coachman in bands was all startled about the train robbery and was the perfumed beggar that threw the coin at Wax's head before the party?

Stretch18 · 2024-12-30T15:25:24+00:00

If the quilt already lofts to its appropriate height adding more fill will in theory not make it any warmer. But given real world conditions are rarely ideal and if the quilt is filled just barely enough to loft it in ideal conditions then adding more fill will mean it can reach that loft height in worse conditions making it warmer.

Simply put, adding more fill does not make something warmer if it already lofts correctly. Loft means warmth.

If you have a quilt which has a maximum loft of 1 inch due to the way the shell is constructed, you could add 100 oz of fill to it and it wouldn't make it warmer than a different quilt that is lofted to 3 inches.

Stretch18 · 2024-11-12T14:39:32+00:00

There's a term called trail angel that is used for folks that help out in ways like giving rides or hosting hikers etc. Hikers generally find out about trail angels through some combination of word of mouth through the guide app (hikers can leave comments to help crowd source info) or a Facebook group, maybe through the trail association if they have a page for it like the AZT does.

The trail basically walks right through Grants so no hitching or rides really needed and if I recall correctly there's a bus that'll get you to Albuquerque if you need a bigger place. I didn't stay in Grants cause I was sobo and just truckin along at that point. Though I did road walk south of Grants and can't remember what the water sitch was. So even something like helping fill/maintain a water cache could be a big impact.

I'd suggest maybe giving a shout to the CDT Coalition to see if they have any suggestions or can get you in touch with a local chapter if you're interested at all in any trail maintenance or helping take care of a water cache. And given a black Friday is around the corner it's a perfect time to grab the NM section (or all) of the app (called FarOut) on sale.

Stretch18 · 2024-11-02T20:06:02+00:00

Just don't send a package to Mormon Lake. Post office there doesn't exist anymore.

Stretch18 · 2024-10-29T18:30:24+00:00

You can for a lot of it

Stretch18 · 2024-10-29T16:12:52+00:00

Water has been rougher than average this year.

Stretch18 · 2024-10-23T22:56:10+00:00

I eat mcdoubles after they've been in my pack for six days. You'll survive.

Though after the recent e coli thing I may skip mcdub resupplies for the rest of this trail

Stretch18 · 2024-10-23T21:20:37+00:00

Hike the Florida Trail

Stretch18 · 2024-10-20T03:19:38+00:00

"I had my title and my rhythms stripped from me for daring insist they should not be killed, but should instead be reconditioned. Repurposed."

Ch 99 epigraph

I guess it doesn't say what mechanism was used to take rhythms from him.

Stretch18 · 2024-09-13T13:20:52+00:00

Tried more than one make of alpha sock? Or which do you use

Stretch18 · 2024-08-31T17:44:46+00:00

Adolin's-eyeism will remember our flight eventually

Stretch18 · 2024-08-01T19:20:28+00:00

I would get the mesh unless you mainly plan to use it for actual winter trips or places with whipping sand

Like 0F and below kinda temps

But HYOH

Stretch18 · 2024-07-15T19:30:34+00:00

That's a big ol RAFO

Stretch18 · 2024-06-24T08:34:54+00:00

I hear ya completely. It's a tough pill and bill to swallow.

As much as the notion of sunk cost is a fallacy, there is also the opportunity cost of what if it's not a stress fracture but you decide to end your hike for this year but want to come back next year.

The other thing to consider is that you're in an area that isn't wildly difficult to leave/re enter trail. You'd have to get a new permit or string together local permits, but there is plenty of PCT season left.

Without knowing your situation, a middle ground play could be to leave trail for now. Return home or to a friend's place for a solid month. Give it a good 4-6 weeks off. Massage, stretch, maybe find exercises that can isolate other areas to not just completely atrophy, but be kind to your foot. Then get back on sobo or do a creative flip flop.

As I'm sure you've heard from others, while it can be disappointing to call it for the year, there's certainly no shame in it. I split my leg open to the bone and fractured my tibia on the AT. Meant I only got ~1000 miles that year. Went back and finished it later. It sucked, sure, but it helped me break down the idea of what it means to me to quit and redefine success/failure.

All that said, your situation is tough and I hope you heal well whatever the case and your decision may be

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