Monday, December 13, 2010 Got myself a new (to me) pack!

The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naïve and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched. He is not a bad citizen turning to crime...; he is a good citizen driven to despair.

-H. L. Mencken

Picked up an ILBE pack last night. That's one major piece of equipment down, a few more to go. Look for an article from me on tents and improvised shelter coming soon!

Thursday, December 9, 2010 Musing as Prescience to Dawn.

We owe ourselves more. Hell, even my sitting here, writing this, you reading, our relationship as brief and transient as it may be. It's a start. Let's get to widening the cracks we've been forced into until the hills ring with the thunder of fissures birthing the face of the new world. Our world, whatever we make of it.

Hope everyone's keepin' warm. Beautiful sunrise over Columbia. Later today: Articles other folks wrote and I throw at you in a nice neat stack, videos, politics, and maybe a recipe or two.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 Packs! Packs! Packs! or The First in a Series of Hopefully None-too-Boring Equipment Based Posts

My first focus in planning my cross-continent walk has been the pack I will be living out of fer the majority of a year. That seems like a decent place to start in my reckoning, and I've been assaulting myself with information on a plethora of packs, large, small, and ridiculous alike. 

Modern packs are amazing. In the mid to late 80's, almost everyone abandoned external, traditional frames fer much more structured, capable, and above all comfortable internal frame designs. Internal frames allow fer greater capacity, better weight distribution, increased load stability and capability, and generally decreased pack weight. I will be focusing on internal frame packs, though there are many people who prefer the fit and feel of externals to this day. In general, it's not a good idea at all to go completely frame-less.

Step One: Figure Out What You Need!

The first thing to consider when looking into a serious pack fer field travel, werk, or life, is size. How long will you be in back-country before you can restock yer supplies? Will you be able to comfortably carry those consumable supplies and any other equipment necessary? What is the expected climate? Cold weather gear is a great deal more cumbersome and heavier than hot weather gear. There is a current trend away from larger packs, what is known as ultra-light hiking. The theory behind this practice is that by reducing load and pack size along with it, we are able to move faster, over longer distances, decreasing our time between restocking to make up fer our decreased capacity in the field.

I personally see several flaws in this logic, though as always, I remain steadfastly in the camp of everyone having their own methods. The first flaw I see is that any pack should be comfortable. Fit is foremost, and there are many packs designed fer a massive capacity and load range while maintaining a surprising level of comfort. The versatility of being able to carry any load you or others may need you to seems you outweigh personal agility in almost every instance.  There is no such thing as being over prepared. That said, my second major misunderstanding with ultra-light hiking is that again, it bases its logic on another, more general hiking rule of thumb, in that anything you have in yer ruck should be essential to a worst case scenario situation over the time you'll be in country. To cut anything from this list adds an unnecessary degree of danger, which leads me to my third point. Ultra-light, as much as I respect it, seems to have an element of extremism to it. Yes, man was able to survive hikes and migrations with even less, but with modern innovation in pack design, it would be illogical to regress. So, fer my purposes, I'll be looking at packs towards the large to huge end of the spectrum.

Sizing: Now In Completely Random Units!

Backpacks are measured fer internal capacity in units of either liters (L) or cubic inches (in3) depending on country of origin, personal preference fer remembering, or, as I've seen in my research, totally at random. Most of the packs I've short-listed lie between 75 and 85 liters, or 4,500 and 5,200 in3. This is generally agreed on to be a decent size fer a week-long period, though some within this range are able to hold much, much more. The largest packs on the market generally top out at around 120L or about 6,337 in3. Enough fer the baby, the bathwater, and the kitchen sink, without a doubt!

Major Features

Other important features to consider in a pack are the access points, hydration system compatibility, what kind of lid it has, compression strapping, and hip-belt/suspension/quick release. Access points are crucial to maintaining organization and ease of loading/unloading yer pack as needed daily. Most decent packs have top openings with sand/snow "spindrift" collars, mid-level main-compartment side or front access, and either a completely separate sleep system compartment with its own access or quick-access to the bottom of the main compartment.  Many packs on the market today are also compatible out-of-the-box with a hydration system, usually composed of a bladder (1.5-3L), tubing routed through the pack, and a mouth piece which rests on the shoulder strap fer ease of use while the pack is on. This blows my mind, personally, but I'm easily amused. And a fan of not dehydrating. Am I right? 

Lids are another matter, entirely. Any decent pack has a removable lid, most of which serve as small day packs in their own right. A good solid, weather-proofed lid, preferably with top-compression straps to the rest of the pack, is a must. Extra storage, necessary protection, and a neat fanny pack. Two of these factors make a good lid a must.

Compression straps are exactly what they sound like. They make it easy to cinch the pack up, which not only stabilizes the load, making dangerous and annoying shifting during a hike less of an issue, but also draw in the weight of the load, redirecting and balancing it, which makes a world of difference in comfort of carry. These do not negate the benefit of "stuff sacks" with their own compression straps fer items like clothing and sleep systems/sacks.

Hip-belts are another necessity fer spending any real amount of time living out of a pack while on the move. After the compression straps draw the weight of a load in, the heavily padded oh-so-cushy hip belts on modern packs redistribute it over a wide surface area over your hips, keeping even a hulking pack properly situated fer maximum carrying comfort.

Military versus Civilian

Military surplus is a great way to save some cash, liberate some equipment, and get bomb-proof, high-capacity packs in the process. The general downside to this is that military packs are themselves generally much heavier than their civilian counter-parts, and also set up to allow fer the effective use of firearms. This means that the load is bottom heavy, and tapers toward the top of the pack, which many people find less comfortable than civilian packs with an opposing load theory. 

Excellent examples of military surplus rucks are the ILBE by Arcteryx/Propper International, the Gregory UM21, and the British Army's Bergen 120L Ruck. The UM21, with a capacity of 6,330 cubic inches is generally agreed on as the best out of the three listed, though weighing in at thirteen pounds, there is still some consideration to be made. The ILBE, while on the smaller side, at 75L, is a great middle-of the road tank of a ruck, capable of a 120 pound load.

While hitch-hiking in my younger years, I used a frame-less medium ALICE ruck. It was horrible on my back, neck, shoulders, knees, and feet. Following the logic river, it was just as bad or worse on my morale at times. Looking back makes me smile at my inexperience

There are also many great, economical packs offered privately by companies which have put in a great amount of research to maximize comfort, and minimize unloaded weight. The Osprey Aether 85, fer example with a spacious 5,200 cubic inches, weighs in at a mere four pound, fifteen ounces. Unfortunately, many examples of civilian packs have more durability issues than their mil-spec rivals, due to cuts in production cost, in spite of increases in retail cost. The most gritty, durable civilian packs include those by makers such as Kifaru, though the price tags associated place them easily outside the range of almost anyone.

There is definitely a lot to consider when looking fer the perfect pack fer you and yer situation, from a bug-out or emergency kit, to a thru-hike, to living in the field. As the current market goes, expect to pay between $80-$150 on a decent, durable pack. While it may seem like a steep price to pay fer a bag, the investment in quality gear will pay off time after time. Of course, if you find a way not to pay a damned dime fer a pack which suits you and yers just fine... well- Let me know!

As always, if you have any questions, or experience with any of these rucksacks, feel free to comment or e-mail me directly.  

Monday, December 6, 2010 Documentary Review: Collapse (2009) Kate Noble/Chris Smith/Michael Ruppert

This is Michael Ruppert, and he is saving lives. A retired LAPD officer who graduated at the top of his class, Michaels story is one full of near-prophetic deduction skills and constant benevolence toward his fellow man through the sharing of his information and conclusions. His newsletter, From the Wilderness is available online (www.fromthewilderness.com) and in print. It covers a wide array of vital topics and articles ranging from food sources to fuel, peak oil, and corporate conspiracy. He, "deals in conspiracy fact." He was one of the cops approached by the CIA during their funneling and distribution of drugs in South Central. He has been contacted by many high-ranking officials with warnings and threats, and has been shot at over his dissemination of the truth. He predicted 9/11, and was one of the first to connect the dots regarding the American governments role in the event. He Predicted the economic crash, and our current depression (let's be honest with each other, here, call a spade a spade.) He has a developed, solid, and complete view of our culture, its addictions and sicknesses, and possible methods of solution to avoid extinction, and survive the transition between our current world, and the one we have cause to create, better than and beyond this.

I had the luck of viewing a documentary made last year which serves as a sort of primer covering his life story, his activities and actions, and his point-blank, no-shit, straight forward break down of the world's predicaments.

If Michael Moore were developing his documentaries to their farthest extremes, still well within their most logical paths, and realized the weight of the links between his individual topics and pranks; and while I appreciate and revere pranksters as much as any man, even those to the degree of the Weatherman Underground,  he would have the same tired face as Michael Ruppert wears throughout most of this documentary. Ruppert understands. Ruppert, at some points, seems downright and honestly scared as hell. And why not? He's just like any of us, even more so than Moore, or others with the right idea and bank accounts capable of at least trying to solve problems by throwing money at them.

The man used to be a cop. He isn't rich, he's hardly famous, though he is gaining an understanding following, and he doesn't have anything to hide.

An ex-cop. A thirty-year veteran as a self-taught, self-produced journalist in a world which has forgotten the idea of true investigative media. Now he's my hero.

Here's a bit to chew on and whet yer appetite. Please, if you have a couple extra hours, watch this documentary through any available medium. Read some of his articles. Check out the newsletter's site. Donate. There is an eight-video series on YouTube which comprises the entire film, along with other interviews and speeches from Michael. His website, again, is www.fromthewilderness.com. He is an American hero and patriot in the truest sense.

Fun Foraging Facts!

Hope the weekend treated everyone well! I'm completely overloading with information, and have some great posts planned for this coming week. For now, a few fun foraging facts to start us off!

• Dandelions are edible, contrary to some popular belief. they are best harvested in April and May. The roots contain starches which help balance blood sugar, and they can even be dried and made into an energy drink! Dandelion also stimulates digestion. The entire plant can be used, though the larger leaves can be a bit bitter, especially raw. Dandelions are rich in many vitamins and minerals, including potassium, A, and C. They are also a great source of anti-oxidents, and can be cooked in just about any fashion imaginable.
• Cat-tails are also an abundantly growing food source. besides providing fuel for stating a fire with the dried spike-flowers, the roots can be baked or roasted, and the young white shoots and even flowering spikes can be chewed for nutritional starches and the fiber remainder spit out. A gel can also be made from the leaves which may have therapeutic value for sores, and pain reduction properties.
• Water Chestnuts, a non-native species to the United States, has also been extremely invasive on our ecosystems. When harvested from natural sources, they must be cooked to avoid exposure to intestinal parasites.
• Wild Onions and Garlic are abundant worldwide (and taste better than any frankenfood they can ship.)

Later: A review of a documentary everyone should watch with everyone they love, I get a hero, and how to find a pack for yerself!

Friday, December 3, 2010 Planning the Walk

Hey, everybody! Didn't think I forgot about you today, did you? I hope yer all well and in good spirits. The response even this early on has been amazing, and before things start to get crazy here, I'd like to thank you. I wouldn't be able to do what I do with out the outpouring of sentiment from all of you, and I hope you all know how much you mean to me. I can only hope to see each and every one of you on the farm when this stretch of the adventure is drawing to a close.

The past couple days have been spent gathering information on the trail I'll be taking west, the equipment I'll be utilizing, and logistics on things like mail-drops. Fer those of you interested in the details, or even attempting yer own thru-hike or Walk, what follows is the first draft of my equipment check list. I'll be posting specific articles on the bigger, more important pieces of equipment as I get them in, with pictures and reviews.  

The Ten Essentials

•  Navigation
• Sun Protection
• Insulation
• Illumination
• First Aid
• Fire
• Tools
• Nutrition
• Hydration
• Shelter

Pack

Tent

Ground Cloth/Footprint

Water

Water  Purification

Meals

Energy Snacks

Drink Mixes

Stove

Fuel

Mess Kit

Sleeping Bag

Stuff/Compression Sack

Flashlights

Whistle

Watch

Rope

Crank Radio

Harmonica

Field Guides

Tooth Brush

Camp Soap

Insect Repellent

Sunscreen

Toilet Paper

E-tool/Spade

Bandanas

Sunglasses

Rope

Duct Tape

Zip-ties

Sewing Kit

First Aid Kit

Spare Tent/Pack Parts

Lighters

 Kindling

Magnesium Fire Kit

Multi-tools/Leatherman

Clothes:

•      Boots
•      Sneakers
•      Sandals
•     Wicking T-Shirts
•      Fatigue Pants
•      Jacket
•      Flannels
•      Thermals
•      Polypro Sweater
•      Hat
•      Sun Hat
•      Wicking/Wool Socks
•      Boxers
•      Gaiters

Thursday, December 2, 2010 Mission Statement

Mission: Seek to raise awareness of sustainable lifestyles through education and participation in homesteading, permaculture, and strengthening of local and individual production, as alternatives to a consumption based culture. In addition, to raise funding and resources for the acquisition and start up of an entirely sustained and open educational farm.