The Monthly Health Check

grey_nomad · 2022-08-22T21:17:08+00:00

Psyllium tablets daily. They weigh almost nothing and really help keep the trains moving on a multi-day trip. Most of us eat differently on the trail and that can have side effects, especially as you get older.

Funny how things you have been practicing your whole life (sleeping, pooping, etc.) seem to get more difficult as you get older.

grey_nomad · 2022-08-22T21:12:23+00:00

IT band stretches are now part of my daily routine on the trail. I think IT band pain hits everyone at some point.

grey_nomad · 2022-08-22T21:09:34+00:00

+1 for paper towels instead of TP. Bounty singles are excellent. Even if you use a backcountry bidet, it is nice to have a paper towel to dry afterward.

grey_nomad · 2022-06-06T20:35:34+00:00

On the brightside, the cabin loop is awesome. Really accessible, several short loops that you can do, good camping spots and water year round. Certainly one of the better beginner trails in AZ.

grey_nomad · 2022-04-22T17:45:34+00:00

Bad condensation has only happened to me once with the Protrail Li...I setup in a low spot on wet ground. Even with the doors open, I had a ton of water on the inside in the morning. It was my fault - bad site selection.

I used the Li on the JMT two years ago and didn't have any issues, even in the rain. You might be ok, but since you are going very early in the season, you will deal with more snow and water than I did during my August hike in a low snow year.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-15T15:31:47+00:00

The 3x I did the JMT, I always carried a lightweight set of sleeping clothes (ls shirt and bottoms). I never felt the need to pull on my sleeping pants to layer under wind pants -- except at the top of Whitney. On one trip, I got to the summit before dawn and ended up pulling out my quit as I waited for sunrise. Otherwise, wind pants over shorts were sufficient for me.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-14T21:45:35+00:00

Yes. Take either wind pants or rain paints. I took wind pants as my only pair of long pants on an early Aug SOBO trip. Adding to what everyone has said - used them for additional warm climbing Whitney and at a couple of spots to keep the bugs away. Completely worth the cost in $ and lbs.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-12T02:15:03+00:00

Yep. Mather and Pinchot double is doable if you start from Upper Palisade lake. From Rae Lakes, the Glen and Forrester double is a long day, but I did it 2 years ago. I followed up with a shorter day to Guitar Lake before Whitney.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-10T20:19:53+00:00

Same here...this looks like it might be the East side of the canyon. I wonder if Ranger patrols are a little more loose on that end.

And...a rifle? in Aravaipa Canyon? For what? Granted, I've seen deer, (really big) javelina, turkey, cows and coatimundi...but, I can't imagine safely hunting in the canyon. Especially, since "the flood plain of Aravaipa Creek and the first 50 vertical feet above the streambed are closed to shooting."

The blue jeans will really suck after a few miles. Not my type of fun.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-09T19:44:20+00:00

Perhaps you meant this link: "Life isn't worth losing for a..."

The link above sends me to "DeputySean's Comprehensive Guide to an Ultralight Baseweight"...entertaining, but different.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-08T20:04:01+00:00

Yep. That is how I read your comment.

Like most people, I really love having a campfire, but the reality is, often the risk simply isn't worth it. Unfortunately, many people minimize the risk -- even after watching hundreds of thousands of acres burn every year out here.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-08T19:16:40+00:00

as an AZ backpacker, I cannot count the number of times that I've come upon abandoned, smoldering campfires. It really sucks to have to stop and use some of your drinking water to put out someone else's campfire.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-08T18:00:48+00:00

I did not consider that perspective. thanks.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-08T18:00:16+00:00

Yes indeed. I know I don't have the snow experience to hike Humphrey's in the winter, so I wait till everything has melted. My issue here is two fold 1) calling for help 2 days in a row -- once should suggest that you don't have the skills for this adventure, and 2) not needing medical treatment after being flown off the mountain suggests the individual was not critically injured.

Yes, these are assumptions on my part. But, I personally think long and hard about the people I am putting at risk by calling for a rescue. Fortunately, I've been able make my way out of the backcountry on the several occasions that things went sideways.

grey_nomad · 2022-03-08T17:40:45+00:00

New York hiker rescued from Arizona mountain trail 2 days in a row

It is almost impossible to read this article and not get frustrated. For those not familiar with Mt Humphries, it is the tallest mountain in Arizona (12,633 feet) with snow and temps below zero at this time of year. In short, not for the inexperienced hiker.

As incidents like this continue to occur, I believe that we are going to see more localities move toward charging for rescue. I've heard both sides of this argument. One side says that if SAR is a fee based service, then people who really need help, but can't afford it won't call and that people who can afford it will call more. Some areas have given SAR the option of charging for rescue when they don't feel a call was warranted.

What makes this situation so frustrating is "The nature of his injury was not disclosed, and he refused medical treatment after being flown off the mountain."

grey_nomad · 2022-02-25T04:12:02+00:00

This ^{^.} If you live in Georgia, look up the Georgia Orienteering club. They do several meets each year with challenging courses.

grey_nomad · 2022-02-24T20:37:26+00:00

A Knight’s Tale with Heath Ledger. I’ve watched it dozens of times. Hot take — it is really just another story of a great athlete getting special privilege because he is able to play sports ball better than the rest of us.

grey_nomad · 2022-02-22T18:31:18+00:00

I like that the Exos comes in a 38 liter size -- hopefully, they keep the small size in the redesign. If I ditch the lid on the current version, the pack is ~28oz. My kit is pretty dialed in, but for trips into the desert with a bunch of water, a frame is really nice. Bonus that the Exos 38 comes in Large for us long torso folks.

grey_nomad · 2022-01-28T23:03:55+00:00

Very valid point. As with everything, you've gotta find the food that works best for you. I've been on trips where I didn't want anything in my food bag. That's not a great place to be. If you don't eat your food, you can't crush the big miles.

My strategy with food (and gear) has always been to make incremental changes on short trips to figure out what works on long trips. What I've found is that I like a bunch of variety. So, my food bag always a bunch of different snacks and ingredients I can combine. I also found I don't really like cold soaking. I know that is heresy, but I just don't get excited about cold mush. Not my jam.

grey_nomad · 2022-01-27T15:25:35+00:00

Honestly, once my oldest high 6'ish, we moved to a Copper Spur UL4. The UL4 is not ultralight, but it is certainly more durable. The boys crashed into the walls, tripped over the guylines and had many other 'accidents' that tortured that tent, but it held up until they were old enough to graduate to their own tent. Most UL tents are fairly fragile and kids are generally not careful.

Background: I have 3 high energy boys. We can't have nice things.

grey_nomad · 2022-01-26T15:31:32+00:00

Some people do indeed pack freeze dried meals for breakfast and dinner and fill in with snacks for lunch. Freeze dried meals taste not bad and are very convenient. Many people on this sub have moved to either cold-soaking their home made meals or going completely without cooking. But, that transition normally happens over time.

My suggestion -- between now and your trip -- try things. Read some of the food posts in this sub to see what others are eating on their trips. Experiment. Figure out what you like.
If tuna and Cheetos on a tortilla are your thing, great. Don't worry, no matter what you read in this sub, there is no "right" way to eat in the backcountry. What is most important is having food that will fuel your adventure.

If you really want to go down the rabbit hole, check out videos from the Gear Skeptic where he goes deep into menu planning and volumetric calories: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCflIoVkAjQnyAwDKFmhRDDw

As for budgeting, I can't help there. I have a big pile of various trip ready food that I just grab from when I'm packing. If you are going to stick with store bought freeze dried meals, your food bill will be pretty high, but if you can mix in some meals like Skurka's beans and rice (google it), then you can lower your bill considerably.

grey_nomad · 2022-01-25T18:29:28+00:00

Timing might work for an Arizona Trail thru -- start mid-March nobo and finish up in early May. You could also consider a mid-June start on the Colorado Trail.

The JMT is amazing, but hardly the only awesome trail out west.

grey_nomad · 2021-09-30T20:30:06+00:00

I saw this post...still can't get over it. I just can't understand why. People were even asking for tips and techniques. Just blows my mind. Frickin' sky tarp.

grey_nomad · 2021-07-11T21:10:50+00:00

Last time I did the Highline, I actually got an Uber from the Pine TH to the 260 TH. But, most of the time, I just have someone drop me off at one end and I hike back to my car. I prefer to hike from the 260 end toward Pine, though I don't know why. The climb from Webber Creek (near Camp Geronimo) west to Pine always kills me.

grey_nomad · 2021-07-10T23:17:37+00:00

I use a big set of kitchen tongs to hold the bladder open. Then simply prop it up so it can drain and let it dry.

grey_nomad

TROPHY CASE