The joy of packing

[Guest]

Yeah, I too enjoy packing up all the bits and pieces; organizing and eliminating, trying to decide where something ought to go to be most handy.

Maybe that's one of the reasons I enjoy camping so much; it provides a reason to get engaged and plan or be prepared to suffer a little bit.

Rob, I am appreciating the retirement time to work on gear projects and detail packing.

I had the High Intensity tape out yesterday; putting some on the stems of a companion’s boat that will overhang the rear roof rack, and while I was at it I used up the rest of the roll on other items.

I was at an old-school military surplus store a week ago and found some 12” aluminum triangle tent and tarp stake on the cheap. They are of course heavier than plastic sand stakes (6 of them weigh just over a pound), but they are pretty much unbreakable and the V shape nestles into much more a compact package than 6 plastic sand stakes.

Having time enough to play I added a 2” cord loop to each one, and a small square of reflective tape at the tops (both sides) to help eliminate night tripping hazard. I still had some tape left and wrapped some around the tarp poles both high and low. With some reflective line the tarp would look like the Vegas Strip at night.

I need at least one serious stake for securing the boat on sandbars, something faster and easier than digging in a deadman. The local hardware had corkscrew dog run stakes for $2 apiece.
http://www.truevalue.com/product/16-Inch-x-8mm-Corkscrew-Type-Stake/12880.uts?keyword=corkscrew%20stake

I cut off the circular leash attachment so the spiral could be screwed fully 16” into the ground and made a tubing cap to cover the pointy end in storeg. That 1” piece of tubing would be hard to keep track of, so I ran a piece of reflective bungee through it as a keeper.

I’m on a mission to eliminate tripping hazards in camp.

Had an interesting accident the other day; was getting down some camping gear from a high shelf, as I've done many times before, when the step stool I was using flipped.

Anyway: the only reason I bring it up is that I'm now re-considering those day to day tasks I do all the time and just seeing if I can find a flaw in how I do them and what would be a safer way. Probably you're way too smart to do something as foolish.

I use step ladders frequently in the shop, and need to use one to tie off belly lines on the van roof racks. I twice fell off the type with tubular legs when the ground was soft and one leg suddenly plunged into the dirt. I would attribute the second time to being dumb, foolish and slow to learn my lessons.

I use one of these now.

http://us.wernerco.com/view/Products/Climbing-Equipment/Stepladders/SSA00/SSA03

Rock solid rigid, giant front feet over the weight bearing steps, wide top platform that is standable and 375lb capacity. It’s worth $40 not to pitch off a stepladder again.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I forgot my step stool had a step in the middle. I stepped off the top step after tying my boat, eliminated the middle step and fell on the ground...

Picked myself up and got in the truck and promptly backed over the ladder. As I do need a ladder, that is also on the spreadsheet. I think I need two hands to count the number of times I have had to buy a stepladder before getting to the put in. Never again do I want to hunt at Canadian Tire for a decent stepladder.

 

[Guest]

got in the truck and promptly backed over the ladder.

I’m sure you’ve seen those stepladders that fit over a vehicle’s tires. I don’t want to imagine the amount of damage I would eventually but undoubtedly inflict on the van while driving away with one of those still attached.

 

[Guest]

Backed over the ladder. LOL! I did that to my very first cell phone. It was the size of a WW2 walkie talkie. There are days I’d love to do that again.
On my job, I work everyday on ladders of some size or another. I’m too lazy to bring my collection of ladders out of my shed to reach canoe and vehicle roof, so I instead stand on the top of the vehicle tires. My feet fit inside the wheel wells just fine. Balance is a bit tricky at times. I look like I’m being rude with our vehicles, but the neighbours are used to me by now.

 

[Robin]

Well, I'm all packed, the last minute items list is next to the coffee pot. Heading out early tomorrow for 7 days at Flagstaff Lake in Maine. I called a local ranger and he wasn't sure if the ice was out...got my fire permits but the fire danger is high, bringing my wall tent and wood stove in case the weather or temps chill me too much. Hope to catch some native Brook Trout, but I'm hesitant to stray too far from shore with the water temps just over freezing.
Should be fun, see ya in a week or so, pictures to follow of course....

 

[yellowcanoe]

Rangeley is listed as another week or so.. Still fun to paddle if you can. The definition of ice out in Maine is when you can paddle from one end of the lake to the other..not necessarily exactly where you want to go. So there could be a big floe in the middle and ice is said to be "out". Of course you don't want to be pinned if the floe shifts, so there are risks.

Moosehead is mostly open.

See y'all too. I am headed down to paddle the Current, North Fork in Missouri and Buffalo in Arkansas. We will probably pass Robin going the other way somewhere in Massachusetts!

 

[Guest]

Packing list oddities

Packing list oddities

I’ve worked my way through the packing list. Twice, from top to bottom, making sure everything was crossed off.

There are some things I haven’t brought on a trip in years but can’t seem to delete.

The snowmobile suit is one. Hip waders. The bear bells are the oldest unused item on the list, but I still have a couple and they are sentimental.

Even though it’s on the list the things I am most likely to forget or overlook is vehicle/travel stuff, especially when I’m focused on tripping gear; tools, thermos, cassette tapes/CDs, road atlas & maps, field guides and other such.

What's your list oddities?