DanO

I am surprised with the non answers, anyone I can ask out there? or I will have to go for it and see what happens, can get mighty thirsty. Dan

Two questions, One I have this stove. http://www.backcountry.com/store/SNO0023/Snow-Peak-GigaPower-BF-Stove.html#reviews I understand even if your canister is very cold you can just tip the canister upside down and the gas would run down hill and you can still use the stove in cold weather. Sounds good in theory has anyone used a stove like this in cold weather? I understand that this stove is made to do this. The second question, how much gas or many canisters one would need per day , per person? Lets say one drinks at least 3 liters up to 6 liters a day. Thanks Dan

Took our atko out again, we got two cheap blue pads from Wall Mart and took two regular pads and fitted up the blue pads and cut the blue pads in a triangle shape. So the whole floor of atko is covered from side to side, to max the sleeping area. I would not call it spacious but it works fine for us a couple. It takes a little more effort to pack the triangle shaped blue pads on the back of her backpack. Have not tested this tent in a hard rain with me and her, may have some water come in if we are touching tent sides. Don't know yet, no problems in light rain. I opened up totally the end ventilation flaps and the top ventilation opening and had NO condensation over night with very little wind this weekend. A true DOUBLE WALL four season tent for two that weighs at 3lbs 8 ounces! That is hard to beat. Plan to use it when weight counts and need four season, like maybe Rainer. Soulo looks to be a great tent. I like free standing as well, I think it would be better choice if you plan to be in extreme weather higher up. I plan to be in more mixed conditions. Tunnel tents in general do well in high winds. Snow loads will be much better in a Soulo. Nice tents all. Dan

Two cents worth. I hate bivy sacks with a passion, I hate them enough that I would rather carry a one man tent and wrap it around myself if I can't get it to set up. Check out this tent. http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=38&p_id=2322296 You can check it out at pro mountain sports. Unless I knew for sure I couldn't set up a tent, I would not take a bivy. This tent is about the same weight as many bivi sacks. Most would consider being in a bivy in winter, personally I would rather be in a good quality three season tent. After you go out in your bivy a few times, a light one man tent looks a lot better. weight a issue? check this out. http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=36 Just need two trekking poles , 23oz weight and both tents are reasonably priced, I think this tent could go into many bivy spots due to it's design. Two cents worth done... Hope this helps.

Question answered on another thread. Thanks Dan

Well, after all the trouble I picked up a Akto, the weight a little more than I want. I am going to slowly put it on a diet, carbon poles and so on. Shoot for 3lbs carry weight. Me and GF went to below sulfide glacier on Shuksan this weekend, snow camped and it worked great for the two of us. A little tight for non couples, but it could be done for emergency, for a couple it is a decent choice for a night or two. I think it really roomy for one, even the vestibule was large enough for both of our gear. The key is to use foam pads and put one set up inside the triangle section on one side of the tent, we will make a special pad system to fit the bottom shape of the tent. It won't work with a couple with inflatable pads. The triangle section is good to place knees or hips of the person on that side. It rained, nothing got in, mild weather, so no real test yet, but I noticed that the water didn't seem to get in where we touch the walls, along the wall next to the vestibule one can touch the wall during a rain storm safely for sure. We was able to get both our heads on the uphill side of the slope and was fairly comfortable. We did get a fair amount of condensation, I am still trying to get the ventilation system right. This is a very warm tent and built for true 4 season use. GF got sick so bailed out on peak. I am happy because of the multi use this shelter will give me.(pulled this photo off the web, not our tent.) Pro mountain sports will let you set it up and check it out in store if interested, if they have one in stock, I took the last one they had at this time. They also have a one man Montbell tent I liked very much in stock not on website, it's a 3 season tent. Lower weight tent/tarp, 2.2lb to 2.6lb

Go to the local health store buy Castor Oil and a wool wrap. Wrap it every day for around a hour, Use the wrap, oil and plastic saren wrap. It itself won't cure the problem but it will help a lot. It is a old time arthritis remedy that really works. Also, knowing that you will climb on it injured do this before you go out and it will help. Sort of lubricates the area before hand.

Rainbow, looks good but in the tree line not above. Did consider it. I have the double seedhouse SL tent for two people, a light tent and I like it. Though it is a little small, it works OK for me and my GF. I notice though it lets water in when getting in and out and after a long hard rain with two people you slowly get wet from sleeping bags and other stuff touching the walls. Seedhouse SL is a tough little tent and does very well, I like it but want something different for solo, a different design. Me and GF went and checked out the Hubba at REI, they don't have Hubba HP at the store. You can get two people in it, if one or both are small and are very friendly, going head to toe. Also two guys in a emergency. Same size as the Hubba HP. So I am pretty sure I will try the Hubba HP. It looks good to cook in and hang out in, during bad weather. It is made for fall and spring use for mixed weather. I personally don't favor single wall tents, I would rather have a double wall if the weight is similar. With the new material for double wall tents the weight is really getting down, so old school double wall may become new school again for light weight. Shall see how tough it is?

OK, since this is a thread to help someone select a shoe, I think someone could do worse than these, I got a pair recently and so far so good. http://www.promountainsports.com/graphics/5-10-camp-four.jpg Sold at Pro mountain sports and not at REI http://www.promountainsports.com/boots.shtml I have no connection to any store except as a customer. REI has a couple of suitable shoes, they should have a much better selection. Other than these any well made shoe made for the purpose of scrambling or approach should be a good choice. If not this then hiking shoes but I personally doubt that hiking shoes are as good when actually scrambling on 3rd to low 5th class. Women should check out shoes made for women, if they can find them. Although if the above shoe fits etc, etc it should work well with both sexs. fini,

Ok, I give up, Here you go. Probably will be like walking on greased monkey snot on razor wire, but what the hey, it will be exciting!!

Well, Proof I cannot give, so it is time to compile the numbers. It seems to be good sense to use proper equipment in every other area , such as no cotton clothes, shelter, good jacket, map and so on. John Muir went out with a old over coat and a loaf of bread and who knows what kind of shoes and lived to a old age. I doubt few of us would do that. I think if I was telling a good friend or a love one on what shoes to buy I would be careful.

The Scarpa Zen is a high quality approach shoe? This is the "proper" footwear for scrambling, right? Look I tried to go out before with regular tennis shoes, I had good quality but normal tennis shoes and they was total crap scrambling and low 5th class, I could do it but it was not smart. By the way, since I started this, I have a small rant, Me and my GF went to REI in Seattle and in Bellingham and they have almost no selection for scrambling and approach shoes. To put it very bluntly I think they have a responsiblity to carry these types of shoes in a decent selection. Of course others could have good reason to dispute my opinion. But I think of all the people who go in there and buy footwear with intention of scrambling 3rd class. There is a difference between sticky rubber approach and scrambling shoes than regular hiking shoes or boots. Of course most of us here can do just fine with mountaineering boots. Still, I think as big as REI is especially at the flagship store they can do better.

I am a little dubious that wet fabric can breath? I think it could be waterproof, and not breath with wet fabric. Will check on it some more, seems to be a popular choice. Thanks

http://www.rab.uk.com/products_shelter_summitex.html * Mountaineering shelter, specifically designed and featured for cold and snowy mountain environments. * Internally pitched Easton poles * Two sealed 'donut link' tie in points * Rear snow collection drawcord porthole * Two internal pockets, glow in the dark zip pullers * Shock quencher guys * 10000mm laminated nylon waterproof bathtub base * This shelter is not designed for UK backpacking in wet conditions Thanks for the help, but I don't think Event tents are really that great for the pacific northwest unless in dead of winter and or always above snow line. I most likely will be long times of rain or wet snow. Also I really want to get below 3 pounds if at all possible. Any have experience with the Hubba HP? http://www.msrgear.com/tents/hubbahp.asp

Well, I said lots of accidents could be traced to worn out or non appropriate shoes. I do know of two incidents by hearsay where someone fell while using either worn out and/or regular sneakers rather than shoes made for scrambling. As you can imagine it would be a sensitive subject to say the subject got hurt etc because they fell using not using the best footware possible. In any case I brought the subject up, this is my opinion and if one decides to save money on shoes to buy the cool jacket etc I personally think that is a bad choice. Finally this is something stated more for the new person out there. Not for the old hand who makes his choices and takes his or her chances etc with their experience. Lastly this whole thing is really more for hikers where these incidents mostly happen(to my indirect knowledge, no proof).

I would caution anyone new out there that there is a big difference between regular tennis shoes and shoes made for climbing. The tennis like shoes which are made for climbing have a different construction and usually have a much more sticky rubber on the soles, especially the 5.10 brand of approach hiking/climbing shoe. Don't go cheap on your approach/hiking tennis shoe, go cheap other places if you need to. Personally I think the 5.10 approach shoes have the most sticky rubber. In any case find a shoe made for scrambling, approach, and low 5th class. Don't buy a regular tennis shoe of any type or make. This is my opinion. Lot of accidents could be traced to cheap shoes or worn out shoes.

Would consider the one shot but a little concerned about the epic fabric, I most likely can be in a long cold hard rain. I found this tent and it may be the ticket? Not many reviews out there. msr hubba Hp http://www.trailspace.com/gear/msr/hubba-hp/review/13763/ It seems to be made for moderate alpine use because of the fabric body. The weight is down also, will do more searching. Thanks

Hello, I need to get a solo alpine tent, I want something sub 3 pounds better to be 2.5lb and under. I want something that could go into a bivy spot if needed on a peak top. IE, hang tent poles over the edge and/or a end or two over a edge , uneven ground and so on. Want something to handle moderate snowfall, can take some sagging for weight savings. Some wind, etc, I am considering the solo tents here. http://www.rei.com/category/4500666 The Ol Tarptent http://www.tarptent.com/rainbow.html Terra Nova Laser Competition http://www.promountainsports.com/tents.shtml Will consider any other tent. Maybe I want too much? Have to go over 3 pounds? Don't want to take on full on winter conditions up high, but want to survive a storm in the spring or fall. Thanks.

Just a short note, Over training should be avoided, but a hard training athlete needs more nutrition as well as more calores. Sadly common American food has poor nutrition, I do juicing, eat organic and do supplements. Be careful with supplements you can over do them, watch your kidneys when using protein powders. Be careful with Herbals as well. One example, common non organic Produce has pesticides, the soil is long used and often depleted of nutrients. It is common sense that a hard working athlete needs more of everything to recover. But at the same time don't overwork your organs, such as kidneys and liver. Hope this helps, there is a world of alternative information out there. Dan

Campmor has a good deal on down jackets, I had one, but found when wet no good, so don't use it, should work fine in dry areas-as you know.

Hello, I did Excelsior peak this weekend, thought I was in sorta shape but it is kicking my calves like crazy. I have been doing flatland hiking since this is what close to home and it didn't prepare me for uphill at all. I wish I had Excelsior close to home, would be one heck of a regular workout. I remember Anatolia Boukreev writing that he trained for climbing by doing two 4000 meter peaks a week when he lived in central Asia. So I wonder what kind of workouts being done out there? It seems to me that to really train you need a steep uphill for several thousand feet and carry a pack? I am not interested in running. Thanks Dan

Here is the rainbow tarp with a alpine setup. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/reviews/display_reviews?forum_thread_id=2368&cat=Shelters%20%2D%20Single%20Wall%20Tents&cid=16

Recently ran across these tarptents. Check them out. http://www.tarptent.com/products.html

I would check out, La sportiva, NEPAL EVO GTX, TRANGO EXTREME EVO GTX , ETC in fact the whole La sportiva line of boots. For double boots I would look at http://www.sportiva.com/products/prod/232 http://www.summitpostgear.com/gear/921/nuptse-mountaineering-boot.html I have no experience with these double boots but they look like the boot for me. I like La sportiva because they fit my foot like a tennis shoe, of course this is foot dependent, I do use a arch support with them, this takes up some room inside the boot so if you need to do the same bring arch supports with you when trying them on. As good as my boots are they have no built in arch support. Dan

I think if you can only get one pair now, get good leather boots or fabric boots. They are the best for overall climbing, winter and summer. If you going winter climbing get the insulated type. I went on a 35 mile hike/climb with La sportiva, NEPAL EVO GTX, came out with a small blister on one toe. Believe me I save money when I can but not with boots. As for plastics, only for extreem cold would I use them, why? I prefer nimble feet to clumsy feet, your life is in your feet literly. I have climbed in really cold conditions and yes your feet can get cold, I have climbed with these boots down to -20F , keep moving and use chemical toe warmers. With all that said, new gear is coming out all the time so who knows what wonder boot they may have next? Try on everything you can for a good amount of time, go to several stores (new boots cost too much to make a goof), find a boot that feels like a tennis shoe with weights. Don't look at the price tag. Save money elsewhere. Dan