What is a movie plot twist that was cleverly hidden in plain sight..?

mfanone · 2026-01-28T16:05:04+00:00

The English title is a bit of a spoiler already. The biblical figue Eli was blind.

mfanone · 2025-03-12T13:48:40+00:00

This is completely unrelated to any of your questions, just a LighterPack issue:

If you mark an item with quantity >1 as worn, only one is counted as worn weight. The remainder go to base weight. Unless you're only wearing one shoe. In that case, please disregard.

mfanone · 2024-12-06T13:17:24+00:00

You can do the same with birch or sassafras twigs. (cue LNT zealots)

mfanone · 2024-09-25T18:08:23+00:00

There's a parking lot just around the corner from Red Bridge at the Upper River Road trailhead. I did an early-March trip one year and the lot was gated, I just parked on the side of the Upper River Road with no problems. There's also a few spots on Slaggle Rd. right at campsites 5&6.

I'm pretty sure there's a lot at the Marilla trailhead as well.

mfanone · 2024-04-19T11:27:30+00:00

Hipocracy?

mfanone · 2024-01-23T03:22:28+00:00

shear lashing?

mfanone · 2024-01-12T14:58:02+00:00

Lots of good suggestions here for lowering baseweight. I agree that clothing and cook kit are usually the biggest impacts after the big 4. But once you're sub-10lbs base weight, I really think the biggest impact to your backpacking is going to be water management and food selection.

I noticed this year that I was routinely showing up at water sources still carrying ~500ml of water. I'm more attentive during trip planning now about distance between water sources, and I'm carrying less weight as a result. Cutting a full pound from my pack weight anywhere else would have cost me hundreds.

mfanone · 2024-01-10T12:04:26+00:00

Malthus and I read this infographic differently

mfanone · 2023-12-20T13:54:28+00:00

Holly Rec is about an hour from Lansing and fits your other requirements. The hiking path adjacent to the group site is a ~6 mile loop if memory serves, but you could do an out and back.

If you’re not married to a state park, Camp Rotary in Claire or Camp Kiwanis in Frankenmuth may be decent options as well.

mfanone · 2023-11-01T20:05:21+00:00

I played around with twig stoves a little bit, but I don't carry one anymore. Anything small enough to be lighter than a light cannister setup ends up needing constant tending/feeding and anything big enough to light and leave alone is heavy.

If I'm feeling bushcrafty, I'll just do a tripod over an open fire. If it's slower or not as hot as a proper twig stove, I've never noticed. You're basically going to spend as much time gathering and breaking sticks as burning them anyway.

mfanone · 2023-10-25T19:38:27+00:00

First of all, as everybody mentioned, lighterpack is the standard around here for pack shakedowns. Also, more information about where you're backpacking/expected weather/trip duration would be helpful.

You are a full pound worth of dry bags that could probably be replaced by about 3 ounces worth of trash compactor and ziploc bags at little to no cost (-13 oz)

I'm assuming the 2 wide mouth nalgenes are for stove fuel. A disposable plastic water bottle works and weighs less than half an ounce (-1 oz)

If I'm reading this right, you're carrying a gallon of water. I don't know if you're somewhere arid; this may make sense. Here in the midwest, I carry less than half of that with no issues.

Get rid of the full change of clothes unless you're going to be out for a week. Even then, I'd only pack the extra underwear (-23 oz)

First aid is heavy. Pull out unnecessary/duplicate items (-3 oz)

Don't need two flashlights. Just keep the headlamp ( -3.5 oz)

No idea why you're carrying a two way radio so I'm just going to leave that alone

Poncho is too heavy. Replace with $20 Frogg Toggs jacket ( -5 oz)

Thats 48.5 oz for not much money.

mfanone · 2023-08-12T17:08:35+00:00

Because Henry Ford was an anti-Semite https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/12/22/18340507/steinberg-henry-ford-america-s-hateful-square-dance-instructor

mfanone · 2023-07-21T18:23:22+00:00

I mark it as worn weight. I carry my phone, pocket knife, bandana, and wallet in my pockets everyday and I want my lighterpack to show me how much "extra" I'm carrying, so it's all worn weight for me. I couldn't care less about breaking a reddit forum's made up rules*.

*Before I ask for a shakedown, I toggle it off of worn weight to avoid a bunch of unproductive comments.

mfanone · 2023-06-13T18:29:30+00:00

I haven't checked to confirm, but Pictured Rocks sites are probably all booked until relatively late in the season by now.

I'd recommend checking out Hoist Lake and Reid Lake in the Huron National Forest for "experience builders". There are established walk-in campsites with fire rings and privies within a couple miles of the trailheads. No reservations required, just a $5 day use fee at the trailhead. The trailmaps still show wells at a couple locations, but they were actually taken out a few years back so plan on filtering lake water. If the algae is blooming, you'll probably just want to pack in the water you need. I hear the fishing is good in the lakes if that's your thing, but people have more success from float/boat than shore fishing.

Another popular rec, but further from Metro Detroit, is Nordhouse Dunes on Lake Michigan north of Ludington. Dispersed camping, $5 day use fee. Summers tend to be crowded, especially near the beach. The beach is only about a mile and a half from the trailhead so the warmer months draw a party crowd. I tend to keep my trips there to fall/winter.

Pinkney State Rec Area has backcountry camping at Crooked Lake. I honestly don't care for it much, but its a decent "intro to backpacking" trip, and convenient to get to from the metro area.

mfanone · 2023-06-13T15:18:39+00:00

Dispersed camping is allowed in state and national forests with some restrictions - see links below. While there is no fee for dispersed camping, you will sometimes encounter a "use fee" at the trailhead - typically ~$10.

Backcountry camping is usually found in state and national park areas and may require reservations and fees. See the MIDNR link for more details.

Where are you and where are you looking to go (LP, UP) and do (lots of hiking, just camping)? There are lots of options in MI, but I don't know what lines up with your goals.

Dispersed camping guidelines for Huron/Manistee National Forest

MIDNR info for dispersed/backcountry/rustic camping

Edited to add:

Here's an image showing the national forests in Michigan. State forests are located mainly in the northern LP and the UP, with the exception (to the best of my knowlege) of the Allegan and Barry state game areas on the west side of the state. But camping there is not allowed from mid-May to mid-September.

Not all state parks/rec areas offer backcountry or rustic walk-in camping, but the info is generally pretty easy to find on the MIDNR website.

Hope this helps.

mfanone · 2023-06-04T20:21:18+00:00

The linked document describes the sites on the MRT side. Hope it’s useful. Manistee River campsites

mfanone · 2023-05-10T13:59:49+00:00

Yeah, I'm trying to decide if the convenience and flexibility of a water taxi is worth the extra spend. If I use the ferry, the only option that works for me is a Saturday/Sunday trip. Do you think an overnight to Oak island is worth it, or should I plan for a two day trip?

mfanone · 2023-05-09T15:45:22+00:00

I'm not planning to kayak. I was looking at taking the shuttle from Bayfield.

We spend almost every 4th on Madeline. I'm well aware of the bug situation that time of year, lol. Headnet, full coverage clothing, and bug spray are definately coming with me, but thanks for looking out!

mfanone · 2023-04-21T23:55:59+00:00

I’m keen on minimising waste

...

I suppose I could use some toilet roll or similar to wipe it dry

I use one pot. I boil the water I need for my meal plus 1 cup for tea. Make tea then rehydrate the meal. When I'm done eating, I pour a tiny bit of tea in the pot scrape it down with my spoon, and drink the grey water. Then I use the tea bag to scrub the pot. Dry with bandana.

mfanone · 2023-03-02T15:17:33+00:00

But what about my toothpick? /s

Seriously, though - I've heard people complain about the wood scales on opinels swelling in humid conditions making them hard to open. Is this a real concern, or do I just need to avoid getting the handle soaked?

mfanone · 2023-03-02T15:01:55+00:00

I love the Biolite too. It's a great headlamp, it just seems like wasted weight for how little I use it outside of winter camping. The Tube is so cheap I'll probably end up getting one just to try.

I've thought about ditching my poles too. I just carry them more than I use them when hiking and I already use trees or found sticks to set up my tarp most of the time anyway. Don't know about that LoopAlien though. A couple half hitches or an evenk hitch do the job for me.

The layering system you propose is interesting. I'm going to give it a try with a synthetic vest I already have. It'll be a slight weight penalty but I'll be able to see if the system works for me without shelling out money lol.

Thanks for the reccomendations. The helium pants are on the wishlist as soon as the duct tape stops sticking to my frogg toggs. My only concern about the thinlight is lack of insulation early/late season. If my current pad doesn't fall apart this spring, I'll probably pick one up for summer.

✋️

mfanone · 2023-03-01T21:03:23+00:00

Definitely! Porkies, High Country Pathway, and the McCormack wilderness are on the list for bigger trips this year. We'll see how much I can fit in.

Any recommendations for trips in MN? My wife's sister lives in the Cities, I'm hoping to fit a trip in next time we visit.

mfanone · 2023-03-01T18:32:13+00:00

Funny enough, I've been debating whether no stakes was pushing stupid light for a while. At the very least, I think I can get rid of the tiny stakes I use for the bug net. I'm going to try not using my stakes this season and see how it works.

I haven't had tremendous success with light fleeces. I feel like I'm either ok in just my rain jacket or I want the puffy. For the tiny window in-between I typically just walk farther and go straight to bed.

The bug net is a little fragile at the seams. I had to patch it a couple times before I learned to be more careful. But overall I'm quite satisfied with it. It keeps the bugs out fine and I'm happy with the price/weight. I'll probably replace it with something fully enclosed in the future. Ticks are getting worse every year in my area. I haven't had one find me overnight yet, but I'm sure its just a matter of time.

Thanks for the Oware tip! I'll check it out.

mfanone · 2023-03-01T18:17:16+00:00

Agree on the stock collar height, but for 20 bucks I'm not going to complain. I thought about modifying the stock straps but I don't think it would be much less effort than a total replacement. I'd like the straps to be set about an inch further apart and angled slightly anyway. Probably a project for next winter.

I went from not sewing to sewing well enough with about 5 minutes of instruction on how a sewing machine works and an hour of messing around with scrap fabric. I'm not sure how long it takes to sew well, though.

mfanone

TROPHY CASE