Re: Stepping outside the box

I don't hike further or faster, if anything I hike shorter and 
slower..aging I guess.  I don't like hikes with long goals; I 
consider myself a slug of a hiker and packpacker.  But I still like a 
lighter pack.  With Ray I'm sure he wanted a better mouse trap to 
reduce the stress of long hikes.

The bonus for me, is that it reduces the stress of shorter, slower 
hikes as well.  I should mention I am fortunate to have areas close 
to my home that gives me almost instant backcountry without very much 
effort.  My enjoyment comes, not from the miles covered, but just 
being in the "wilderness."  

But where I am is also mountainous, and sometimes a bit steep; god 
bless the ultra-light movement.  Even Colin Fletcher had his 
moments.  I went out and bought a Gregory pack, just like my hero.  
What a mistake that was, I didn't realize Gregory specializes in 
heavy packs...lol.  I have used it about two times.  Can't figure out 
why he liked it so much.  Now my tastes are more simplistic - back to 
the Trangia Alcohol Stove et.al.  I lust for a Henry Shire tarp/tent, 
and light pack, and a lighter sleeping bag than my North Face down 
Ultra light which I love, but it isn't ultra-light.

So just as I copied Colin Fletcher, I tried some of Ray's ideas.  I 
guess I don't have the right vibes, but tarps and bugs and me don't 
mix so I nixed tarping by itself, now I want the high breds with 
mosquito netting.  I bought the Mountain Hardwear Bat Ray, only to 
discover Mountain Hardwear greatly exagerated how light the BaT Ray 
is, but I liked it (even though it is a tad to complex to set up).  
But Henry Shire has reduce the weight and complexity of his tarp high 
breds, so Henry I'm coming your way real soon.

And I am a bit old fartish.  I don't understand walking sticks, 
however with some arthritis knocking at my door, I might be headed in 
that direction, who knows.  Never could figure out why people wanted 
to carry an extra thing; so my vote with Ray on that issue.

I worried about boiling time with alcohol stoves until I had an 
epiphany - what else is there to do out there in the great outdoors, 
so what if I have to wait an extra fifteen minutes for everything to 
be ready.  My vote went to alcohol stoves.  I might try the ultra-
light titanium blow torch thing ma jigs, but who knows; the last 
think I need is another stove.

But I do know when I hike off the established trail, the going gets a 
little rougher, and I have to deal with more unkowns, but the fun of 
being in unused territory is always enjoyable.  And so the ultra-
lighters will make some crazy claims, some of them might even be 
true - FOR THEIR AREA - and that's half the fun of ultra-light 
pathfinding, discovering what's crazy and what isn't.

--- In BackpackingLight-F5Bj5G+ccuY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Shane Steinkamp" 
<shane@xxxx> wrote:
> > > 
> If anything, I want to hike slower.  Rather than
> bore everyone with it, if you're interested you can read my 
philosophy on
> weight here:
> 
> 
<http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/hiking/sections/philosophy/weight00
1.htm>
> 
> Shane