ErnieW
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I want to backpack
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Post by ErnieW on Jun 6, 2024 9:44:23 GMT -8
You might find this interesting:
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Jun 6, 2024 9:47:39 GMT -8
The kids are 15, 13 and 11, two boys and a girl, the girl being the youngest. Kids vary widely (adults less so, e.g. you and your wife), but they're often the most excited and amenable, as they haven't developed any of the preferences or frailties us older folks have. Sleeping on rocks? Cool! Giving them food they like will definitely help their attitude - chocolate, nuts, berries, etc. Apples (sweet, wet, vitamins). Dried fruit if they're used to it - almost anything with sugar or salt. Take some of their favorite snacks if you can. Oreos count. Almost every time I see my grandson and we're outside he asks, "When are we going camping?" That's just one kid, but you get the idea. He slept in my very large backyard about a month ago and thought it was great - he did NOT want to go home with his dad and sleep in his bed. Other kids can be on the far opposite end of the spectrum, so you'll just have to figure that out. Hopefully you already have some idea of who will react in what way. Day hikes may be a good way to start for some. 1-3 hours, trees, creeks, waterfalls, frogs, birds, etc. Take their favorite snacks for rest stops and morale boosters. Pay attention to weather. Not many people, of any age, appreciate the heat/humidity combination. Good luck.
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swiftdream
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the Great Southwest Unbound
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Post by swiftdream on Jun 6, 2024 9:52:43 GMT -8
Another piece of advice for the canister fuel is shake it up before each use. That will ensure the two fuels mix and one doesn’t float and burn off first.
If I am cooking for more than two I’ll take a remote canister stove and a larger pot like Rebecca alludes to in her post. My bigger pot is a Snow Peak 2 liter. I like the Kovea Spider remote stove as it’s low and stable, one of the lighter remote stoves, packs very compact and though the burner is small it spreads the flame out the sides to cover the bottom of the pot better. That’s the stove we use for baking and it does everything else very nicely too. Your top stove is great for one or two and you can find a windscreen for it at Flat Cat Gear. That will only support mug size pots though. You can use a regular windscreen with the remote stove, foil type screens are the lightest. All my stoves use far less fuel with a windscreen so less to carry over longer trips.
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Bruce
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Post by Bruce on Jun 6, 2024 14:32:21 GMT -8
One last thought, when I was there last fall they still had warning sign up for the drive back to Chapel loop trail head that a high clearance vehicle is suggested. I saw that also. I don't have a 4x4 or anything, but am hoping a Honda Odyssey will ride high enough. Sits a lot higher than my cars.
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Bruce
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Post by Bruce on Jun 6, 2024 14:36:35 GMT -8
My first question is, what do you use as a barrier between the sleeper and the pad? If I was to make a switch myself, I'm picturing myself as I sleep, I'm not a big pajama guy, I would probably be in boxers laying on top of a very plastic feeling air mattress. Would it be best with a mattress/pad made out of a different material? Should one also pack along a sheet or some other kind of covering if their pad is of similar material? Do you simply tuck part of the quilt underneath? I'm probably overthinking the logistics here, but that's what's going through my mind. I really like the idea of a quilt, just trying to figure out all the ins and outs. I'm hoping someone with quilt experience can give me their thoughts on this aspect, this is an area I know very little about. I've seen some anecdotal bits here and there as I search, but hope to learn more before I make a move one way or the other. Thank you all, Bruce
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jazzmom
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a.k.a. TigerFan
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Post by jazzmom on Jun 6, 2024 15:02:15 GMT -8
My first question is, what do you use as a barrier between the sleeper and the pad? If I was to make a switch myself, I'm picturing myself as I sleep, I'm not a big pajama guy, I would probably be in boxers laying on top of a very plastic feeling air mattress. Would it be best with a mattress/pad made out of a different material? Should one also pack along a sheet or some other kind of covering if their pad is of similar material? Do you simply tuck part of the quilt underneath? I'm probably overthinking the logistics here, but that's what's going through my mind. I really like the idea of a quilt, just trying to figure out all the ins and outs. Most people take advantage of the weight-savings of a quilt over a sleeping bag and wouldn't use any kind of a bottom sheet. So, yes, I take the pad material into consideration and prefer a fabric-like material. Slick plastic ones are also too slippery and can be noisy. Overall, it's more weight-efficient to wear clothes to sleep than carry a bottom sheet that doesn't have any other use.
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trinity
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Post by trinity on Jun 6, 2024 18:55:25 GMT -8
I'm hoping someone with quilt experience can give me their thoughts on this aspect, this is an area I know very little about. This is a pretty informative recent video from Justin Outdoors: link. Quilts save a lot of weight, and I love them for warmer temps such as y'all will encounter, primarily because they are so much easier to vent. I have never, that I can recall, felt uncomfortable sleeping directly on a pad. Just be sure you get something wide enough for complete coverage (55" minimum), and get something with a pad attachment system. Learning to effectively seal out drafts takes some experience, but I wouldn't expect that to be a major issue in the low 50s. This should be ideal quilt conditions. As far as the stove goes, yes, it is very small and lightweight, truth be told I really expect only myself and my wife to possibly give it any use, I think the kids will opt for different meal options that they have a preference for which does not include heating. In that case, your stove should be fine. Be aware that this is a small stove that doesn't offer a great deal of stability (full disclosure, I have never actually used one of these stoves). I believe they are best for boiling water for one or two people. As swiftdream says, you can get an Ocelot windscreen from Flatcatgear, they are really great. In case you are not aware of this, it is generally not recommended to use a fully enclosed windscreen for canister-top stoves, the idea being that the screen will reflect heat from the burner back at the canister, possibly leading to explosive results. I'm not sure how realistic this concern actually is, but I prefer not to take my chances. - Just my opinion but I don't know that pads are as critical for women as it seems to be for the guys. Probably because we're typically smaller/lighter and don't displace as much air/volume, plus the displacement is more evenly spread out. I had never thought of that, but it makes sense. Although I will say that my wife no longer sleeps on anything thinner than an Exped Megamat.... If anything, I would think about the R-value (insulating capability) of the pad more, especially if you're considering a quilt. Yes, definitely. Even for those warm temps, I'd shoot for something with an r-value of at least 3.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 7, 2024 8:10:26 GMT -8
I think you got some good answers about the quilts—the ones we are talking about are specially made for backpacking and you can watch at video on their use on the websites, I believe (at, say, Enlightened Equipment). As for the question of skin-to-pad, I have always slept in long underwear when backpacking, for warmth and to keep the bag/quilt cleaner. This is only a problem in hot conditions, and I avoid heat an humidity when backpacking (when car-camping I do carry a bottom sheet for extra comfort, and if it’s going to be hot, a top sheet as often for much or all of the night that’s all I want). About the fuels: those liquid fuels you mention are for different kinds of stoves. Your stove uses isobutane, so that’s the kind of canister you have to get, of whatever brand. BTW, that looks like the twin brother of the FireMaple stove I used for several years, including with my 2L pot. It’s not great for fuel efficiency, but for a 2-night trip that doesn’t matter much. Mine did eventually seem to sort of wear out and no longer cooked clean, but until something goes wrong, that super light weight and price are unbeatable. And don’t listen to Jazzmom about pads! I have been getting ever-thicker pads since I was in my mid-20s and need all the padding I can get! She’s right about R-value, though, so do listen to her ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) .
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ErnieW
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I want to backpack
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Post by ErnieW on Jun 7, 2024 10:33:49 GMT -8
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