Archive for July 2009

Ok, so in my haste to leave Travel Country and make the drive back home I made a big mistake. I'd joked with Brian that I wanted to make sure I didn't give anyone a free GPS by leaving mine in one of the packs. I had taken my own gear as I plan to carry in September to make sure it all fit properly. Well, while I was sure to grab my GPS and everything else, I missed the brand new Brunton 15TDCL compass that my mom bought me for my birthday. It was left behind in the right hip belt pocket on the Z55.

I had this nagging feeling about halfway home that I'd left something behind but it was raining hard and I just kept going. When I unloaded my gear at home I realized the compass wasn't there.

I called Monday morning and they were very helpful and found it right away. I gave them my address and asked if they could mail it to me since it's a 250-mi roundtrip for me. I told them to send it COD so they wouldn't have to pay shipping. When I got home Tuesday I was disappointed that not only was there no package in the mailbox but there wasn't a notice from the PO either that I had one to pick up.

I walked into the house and what to my wondering eyes did appear but a bright, shiny box that held my missing gear. The UPSd the compass to me at their expense! Talk about great customer service! I'm hooked. Travel Country has a loyal customer now!

Well, I finally picked up a new pack to replace the Pacific Crest Denali that was riding too low and killing my shoulders after a few miles. I headed to Altamonte Springs and Travel Country. I met with Brian to go over the packs and spent the next couple of hours with him going through three packs. First up was the Gregory Z55. I really liked it and loved that fact that it shaved a full pound off my pack weight. Next up was the Deuter ACT Lite 65 + 10. This was neck and neck with the Gregory and looks like what my PC was used to model. Feature for feature they're almost identical but the Deuter dropped almost a full pound weighing in at 3 lb 11 oz. The final contender was the Mountain Gear Koa. I couldn't put my finger on it but I didn't like it as much.

Brian was very patient and kept swapping weight back and forth between the Gregory and Deuter. I don't know how many times I walked around the store. :-) What was cool is that everyone on staff was very willing to help. Several of them would make suggestions or comment how one pack rode better than another as I walked by. It was a very long process but in the end I walked out with the Deuter. I think I'll be very happy. I can't wait to get some miles on it.



The Deuter has held up very well over several extended hikes. The torso adjustment makes it pretty simple to get a proper fit for a wide range of torso lengths. There is a small zippered pocket on the right hip belt that is handy for holding a compass, first aid kit, or other small objects.

This pack has three compartments: top, main body, bottom. I use the bottom section to store my shelter (hammock, undercover, etc.) If you need a larger body section the floor can be unzipped. The top section has three separate compartments. I use the small outer compartment for my phone, car keys, headlamp, and other items I want readily available. The larger compartment stores my tarp, rain gear, and other quick-access items. The third compartment is on the inside when you flip the top pouch over.

The body has a nice collar that allows you to stuff a little more in the pack. I find it useful when I have larger items during winter hikes. I've had no problem carrying my full load at 30-35 pounds. It's a very comfortable pack and I see it being my main pack for a very long time.

Ok, I finally had a chance to get the saws out that I got for my birthday. I had some 5" diameter lengths of pine to test them on and it was an eye-opener.

The first saw out the gate was the Sven. I was impressed with how well it cut. It took minimal effort to keep the saw going through the wood and made a nice, clean cut. I can't say I really had any problems at all with the Sven.





Now for the Sabrecut. I really like the concept of this saw and the size/weight. However, while it may have been an issue with technique I found it difficult to use. The chain would catch and pull the log up with it so I had to re-position it several times. It was also much more of a workout. My biceps were really feeling it after just a single cut. I really can't imagine getting to camp after hiking 8-10 hours and having to use this. Unfortunately I screwed up the timer but I'd estimate at least 5 min to cut the same size log.







At this point I'm thinking that the Sven is what I'll be taking on the Labor Day hike.

I also had a big disappointment last night. It would appear that my nearly new Snow Peak LiteMax stove no longer works. I tried using it while camping out in June and thought I had a problem with my fuel canister. Yesterday I got around to testing it again with another canister and it still didn't work. It's net letting any fuel out. My Giga works just fine. I guess I'll be shipping it back to REI. I'm not sure what to do. I don't want it to crap out on me on the trail.

Well, it's been a quiet lull for some time. I've been busy this summer with other things and haven't stepped foot on the trail since Feb. It's killing me. Fortunately, though, there's light at the end of the tunnel.

We're getting back into the planning stage for our next hike. The section I mentioned in March is going to happen. We'll be starting at Hogpen Gap and ending at Dicks Creek Gap. I just checked the trail guides and it looks like a weekend of strenuous, strenuous, and very strenuous. Should be fun. :-)

I think I'm going to try to head to Orlando and Travel Country this weekend. I desperately need to get a new pack that fits my torso. I don't want to kill my shoulders like I did the last trip. I'm also going to go back through my inventory to see what I haven't been using. I want to get the weight down as low as possible and hope to keep the "extras" to a minimum. I might even leave the camp chair at home. :-O

Well, that's it for now. I'll post more as the details get worked out.