This has ever been my advice: ‘When you come to a stream just step right in it. Don’t pussyfoot around trying to keep your feet dry. Ultimately you won’t succeed and you put yourself at risk of a fall, like the one above or this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZV-_fGIaDY You should avoid the risk of a serious […]
I found this image on Pinterest but could not find who to recognise/praise for it (my apologies to the clever inventor). I have been going to make one of these (see: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/tarp-bathtub-groundsheet/) out of Tyvek (will be soon for my new tent). I think it will be a simple matter to add some ‘pockets’ as
Day one was totally passive, involving a jet boat ride over the beautiful Lake Hauroko and then helter-skelter down the fast-running Wairaurahiri River to the sea. There we stayed overnight in lovely wilderness accommodation and prepared our packs for the big walk ahead. Our jet boat waiting. Lake Hauroko was like a mill-pond: Lake Hauroko
South Coast Track, Fiordland, NZ, Della’s Version: Read More »
If you don’t own a Gossamer gear pack but want to add an Air beam to another frameless pack for load transfer you could try this idea: http://www.zpacks.com/large_image.shtml?backpacks/options/sleeping_pad_l.jpg We added this system ourselves with some elastic to a pack (plus one Klymit Air beam) with spectacular results, not least being a dry back! Mountain Laurel
Now under $169.95 yet currently on Massdrop for $99 – snap one up! I did and I already have an Alpacka, which this is not, but it is much lighter and will get you across that difficult river which lies in your path – or many other uses: ‘The LiteWater Dinghy is a game changer.
Looking for an ultralight sewing project? Six Moon Designs have this excellent free pattern for a cat cut tarp complete with insect netting plus sewing instructions: https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/images/stories/pdf/Pattern_NightWing.pdf A number of others are available if you look for them, eg here: http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html PS: The ‘Jones Tent’ (approx 500 grams) is not named after me! PS: SMD
You may have noticed this photo in one of my recent posts about the South Coast Track: Della making stirling efforts to repair my backpack under trying conditions: overcast, rain, sandflies etc at the Waitutu Hut; a woman to die for: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/south-coast-track-fiordland-nz-waitutu-to-westies/ Now that we are home she has properly repaired my old backpack (http://www.zpacks.com/backpacks/zero.shtml)
They are the solution to tarp/tent problems. I have known about them for so long and done nothing. Well, yesterday I was having a problem getting my new project, a Tyvek octagon/decagon shelter to sit properly. I created the curve you see on the piece of plywood by hanging a piece of rope between two
On Massdrop this morning Big Sky’s Wisp one person tent @ 567 grams (300 grams in Cuben!) for US $159.99 & US$11.75 postage: http://bigskyproducts.com/big-sky-wisp-1p-trekking-pole-super-bivy-tent.aspx This has got to be good value, and must start to make you question why you might still be lugging around that perhaps 2 kg tent. There is even room in
Since we were there last year some new alternatives have emerged. On the way out we were able to follow a lovely dry even old hunter’s route along the coast to the crossing of the Crombie Stream, then walk up the ridge on its true right bank (facing downstream) and rejoin the South Coast track.
South Coast Track Fiordland NZ Wairaurahiri to Waitutu 2016: Read More »
