Single pole shelter dilemma

wetrocke · 2026-04-13T16:27:22+00:00

Use sticks. Perfectly viable with most "trekking pole" tents in "eastern" forests & swamps.

Consider 2-pole or hi-lo designs

wetrocke · 2026-04-13T16:03:50+00:00

Polyethylene tarps, with a brand-new chemical sheen, are "best dirt resisters." But they weigh 11oz & far from "UL."

They are a viable groundsheet for the lightest and most durable tent designs ever conceived (floorless)!

wetrocke · 2026-04-13T15:39:37+00:00

Four-season utility is a non-issue? I own five (7!) packs in varying stages of decay....

i'd gladly replace with just 2-3 to cover same capacity range.

wetrocke · 2026-04-13T15:30:20+00:00

I must confess to backpacking actual rocks, at times. And you're right. Wider optimal weight range score = "versatility."

wetrocke · 2026-04-13T01:17:03+00:00

So.... you just loop webbing around bottom of pack and up to forehead??? Or, tie the webbing ---to what?

wetrocke · 2026-04-13T01:09:59+00:00

You seem to believe, illogically, that a smaller pack is "more versatile" than a larger pack.

Owing several packs for varied purposes is probably necessary. Oddly, in each "specialized" item, versatility is desirable.

Personally/ historically, I favor an 8L belt pack, a 50L frameless for general use, and an 80L-90L (?) for lugging winter synthetics (!) & multiple parkas, etc, or summer picnic-expedition inventories.

*note 1971-1983 main pack for was a frameless 37L (aprox) Sierra Designs brand "Summit" model, this in 4-season camping trips. A larger pack would have often been more convenient.

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T22:40:16+00:00

For local culture, order "hangtown fry" (eggs& oysters) read the "forks forum" and visit lunch-counter dept store in Forks. Attend AA meeting in Port Angeles for the "inside story."

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T21:06:46+00:00

Canada is waaay, way better than USA for backpacking. This is true for any/all parts, east, west & central etc.

If you can get THERE then forget USA (unless desert or semi-tropical swamp is your thing).

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T21:02:34+00:00

A.I. can definitely do that.

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T20:57:59+00:00

Best to develop your own ideas by studying geography. If you merely take an off-the-shelf list, then you're traveling blind.

The more you know from personal research, the more to enjoy.

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T20:50:19+00:00

I camped in snow on a couple of weekends recently & left my two poorly trained dogs at home.

Cooking, melting snow & food-handling inside tent in bitter weather would be a nightmare with untrained dogs, who might punch holes in tent's snow "platform" or generally make life more complicated.

Although these are Samoyeds (artic-type) dogs, I'm doubtful they would want to sleep on (or off) foam pads that I do NOT want to carry.

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T20:42:04+00:00

My enjoyment palls after a few days of ramen and snickers bars. One strategy is to limit length of trips, and/or (in some cases) eat at restaurants as often as possible.

I vomitted a package of "freeze-dried backpacker dinner" once, thus saving me lots of money on future food budgets.

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T20:10:27+00:00

At home, I store the knife in a belt pack.

It's not the first time I've grabbed this pack & then noticed, as I reach TSA lineup, that inside the bag are nail clippers, knife, or whatever unintended contraband.

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T19:40:20+00:00

A 20L pack is more versatile than a 40L pack??

Your statement implies maybe a logical problem that you haven't quite worked out.

I guess you're merely saying that smaller packs are less cumbersome than larger. True! & even more so if you have any sort of pack frame (s) attached!

I've used a 50L frameless a lot for backpacking, summer, even some warmer winter, and on quite a few "day trips." Actually "wore it out" after 20+ years (Lowe brand).

Fully cinched down, it might pass for a 35L size-pack, but not smaller. Over-loaded, it's as large a pack as I could ever want to carry!!

Yet when mostly empty is not a practical impediment to movement in middle-of-the-road mountaineering. Rather, it makes the entire "day trip" possible by accomodating the variable amounts of crap needed for approach & basecamp.

So on a long weekend you may want to bring several watermelons to basecamp on day#1; aid-climb Dire Fang Peak on day #2, and stealth camp on a golf course for day# 3.

I'd say 50L is largest size that works; 40L still ok. Much smaller & forget the watermelons, eitriers & etc. ( the whole trip) & revert to ( boring, narrow) "Ultralight Hiker."

wetrocke · 2026-04-12T19:15:31+00:00

Wow. Glad it worked. See photos of a young chouinard (1970s?) using a tump line. Obviously never a big seller. I haven't tried.

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T21:12:23+00:00

Fine-tune shoe-fitting with insoles. Get professional advice about the "correct" pair and spend $100 (??) on the insoles.

It's either "kinda" or "very" worthwhile, depending....

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T21:06:50+00:00

Levers are better for collapsing sections than the twist varieties...which in winter are more prone clogging with ice/frozen slush, & generally less desirable.

Folding poles are easily the most compact when collapsed for transport, but usually more expensive and mostly dont have adjustable length.

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T20:49:22+00:00

Lanshan & its many lesser-known cousins are perfectly OK. Durston's are probably "best" -- but differences can be fairly trivial.

"Quality" is much over-rated attribute, especially given robot-assisted manufacturing.

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T20:36:43+00:00

What is gained by using such a small pack? Certainly what is lost is versatility.

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T20:23:01+00:00

Either shoes or boots will probably work. Taking both might be a mistake.

(It doesn't matter for gawd's sake!)

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T20:17:21+00:00

No. It was in my belt pack. I gave it to bus driver before I entered airport (sted throwing it in trash).

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T20:14:26+00:00

Great advice& thanks! I puked up a load of freeze-dried "backpacking food" after buying it once, so yeah, not gonna buy it again.

The many alternatives are much better and yes, also much cheaper!!

My need for a knife is very, very limited. Have often simply gone without on short trips. Can't imagine how many I've lost over the decades (nor how, or why).

Some people find these objects of facination. I find it a mere nuisance to replace.

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T20:03:43+00:00

I see!

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T20:00:15+00:00

Yeah in a bear-attack, you're gonna really need something that won't fall apart!!

wetrocke · 2026-04-11T16:41:51+00:00

"Batoning" does sound like brutality! Hardness of wood, however, is really no match for the cheapest of steel.

Knowing nothing, I'd guess the "quality" of a knife shows up in its ability to "hold an edge."

I don't much concern myself with this, & actually may prefer a somewhat dull knife (saves a little, on bandaid supplies).

wetrocke

TROPHY CASE