Re: speaking of nut cases......

>There exists an excellent critical review of Ray Jardine book "beyond
>backpacking" at www.backpackinglight.com/index/article.asp?did=103.
>The author takes a critical look at some of the wild claims made by
>Jardine such as miles you can hike given your pack weight, use your
>inner positive energy vibrations (like Neddie Flanders) to repell
>bugs, trekking pole accumulated weight, total loft loss of sleeping
>bags, ability to see at night and other such nonsense.

Attitude can affect all sorts of things...


>What studies/emperical data does he base these claims?

That would be a good question for him; I always thought that stuff 
came from first-hand experience. Have you read the book? I never got 
the impression that he was interested in using scientific 
reductionism to validate his experiences.


>To claim he is an engineer is like a chiropractor touting he is a Doctor.

Why do you say that? I think his NASA business cards said "engineer." 
In the real world degrees are irrelevant.


-- 
Mark