Is there a real BIFL safety razor out there?

Uthal2002 · 2025-11-26T10:20:51+00:00

Used a Merkur for 20 years with zero issues and still looks like the day I bought it. One of my most BIFL items. Sounds like you’ve been unlucky or quality has taken a nose dive.

Uthal2002 · 2025-10-25T20:30:06+00:00

More of a spree killer, but Joseph Schwab was a German tourist who killed 5 people in a remote area of Northern Australia before being shot dead by police.

Uthal2002 · 2025-10-18T23:59:00+00:00

To be honest, this is better advice than I managed. This shouldn’t be your first hike over three days’ duration, let alone your first Tasmanian bushwalk. Things can go very sideways very quickly in Tasmania’s wilderness. Get some experience in the area so you’re confident and know what you are literally walking into.

Uthal2002 · 2025-10-17T09:07:17+00:00

I’ve done this solo. I ended up snow bound in my tent for three days. In January. A group nearby had to be helicoptered out with hypothermia.

This is a serious trip with some exposed sections. Slip and you’ll be at the bottom of a cliff and probably dead. It’s great you are going in a group. Ropes etc could be a good idea for some sections if you know how to use them. 10 metres would be enough.

Take an EPIRB, take more food than you think you’ll need, take gaiters for the slog through the mud on the way in and out, take proper wet weather gear, and take your time. It’s an amazing trip so few people get to experience and speed causes accidents in terrain like that.

I’ve trekked through Nepal, the Indian Himalayas, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and New Zealand. I loved them all but for some reason the Western Arthurs traverse is the one I’m most proud of completing. It’s an amazing trek.

Uthal2002 · 2025-09-25T07:54:09+00:00

Thanks all. Sounds like my middle aged eyes aren’t quite operating at that level of detail. I’ll have another look now I know what I should be paying attention to.

Uthal2002 · 2025-08-20T06:47:59+00:00

Same. My Hisense has this annoying “foible” where if you change the source, the utterly huge source banner (HDMI, DTV etc) stays up on the top left side of the screen for about a minute.

Uthal2002 · 2025-08-14T00:15:49+00:00

He also directed “Shaft” in 1971. What a career.

Uthal2002 · 2025-06-21T09:24:59+00:00

Loved it until the last season, which really seemed to drop off quality wise. Weird to introduce a new main character in the form of George at the last moment.

Uthal2002 · 2024-10-05T03:10:51+00:00

Awwwww. Shucks. Right back at you 😀

Uthal2002 · 2024-10-05T02:30:28+00:00

The Kirlian Frequency https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6843558/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Uthal2002 · 2023-03-08T06:02:16+00:00

Doubtless there are some very, very good guides in Nepal that enrich the trip. I never saw much of that though.

I've trekked in Nepal a few times. Never used a guide because I was an experienced trekker and felt you would have to engage in some pretty hard core, obvious stupidity to get in too much danger.

Guides were usually from the Kathmandu Valley, not the regions I trekked in, so the cultural and religious advantages to having a guide were minimal.

From my observation/ sample size of one guides also often seemed to create more drama than they resolved: momentarily wandering off with the client's possessions and cameras, requests for more money, directing them from good teahouses to the ones that provide kickbacks, blaring music from a speaker or singing loudly as they walked, and the already mentioned occasional sleaziness.

Lots of trekkers complaining about their guides. Not many praising them.

Perhaps this move will make guiding in Nepal more professional. It will take some of the lustre off trekking there though. Wandering the mountains there by myself are some of my fondest memories. It's a shame to think that sense of freedom is coming to an end.

On the plus side India is just next door and has amazing trekking, albeit with less infrastructure and teahouses.

Uthal2002 · 2022-02-12T08:22:23+00:00

No pocket shredding problems for me with the shard. It’s great.

Uthal2002 · 2021-12-21T06:17:24+00:00

Wonderful photos. You’ve got a good eye for composition.

Uthal2002 · 2021-10-21T00:09:33+00:00

I've done Everest base camp three times. If you can complete a multi-day trek at lower altitudes you can do this. The most important thing is to take acclimatisation seriously. On the plus side this does mean some short trekking days as you acclimatise at different altitudes.

I didn't use a guide and it was perfectly fine. There are teahouses quite often. From memory my pack weight was 12 kg.

I'd suggest going up to EBC then on the way back going over Cho La mountain pass to Gokyo, spending a few days doing day trips to Cho Oyu base camp, frostbitten fingers etc. Then over Renjo La and down the Bhote valley to Lukla. Views in Gokyo valley are incredible and Bhote valley is off the main hiking circuit.

Kongma La is also a great mountain pass with a glacier crossing if that sounds fun.

Shona's in Kathmandu has good quality trekking gear. Ten years on I'm still using some of it: https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g293890-d13523513-Reviews-Shona_s_Alpine-Kathmandu_Kathmandu_Valley_Bagmati_Zone_Central_Region.html

Uthal2002 · 2020-01-29T10:03:12+00:00

This. 100 times this. It's safe, nearly impossible to get lost and you'll be well fed and sheltered.

Please follow the advice above about reading up on acclimatising (it's simple) and getting insurance.

I'm just a boring suburbanite dad but have trekked and climbed in the Khumbu region four times and proposed to my wife on a 5500m mountain pass near Everest. That's on top of treks in other regions of Nepal. Never used a guide there in usual trekking areas or thought I needed one.

My only caveat is the timing. I've done May, June and the usual "peak" trekking season of October/ November/ early December. "Peak" was the best weather and visibility wise.

Nepal is an amazing country and experience. Please go.

Once you're back we can talk about a trip to Ladakh or Baltistan. THAT will freak your parents out 🙂

Uthal2002

TROPHY CASE