Category Archives: Mail Call with Sintax77

Mail Call – Thoughts on Snow Trench Trip, Campfires on Snow, Peril on the Trail, Saw Battle!

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Tips, tricks and discussion on various Backpacking, Hiking & Camping topics.

Topics Discussed / Gear Seen

        • Why were we still cold if we had a fire going on our recent Snow Trench Camping trip?
        • Other thoughts on campfires directly on deep snow, camp fire size, balancing fire tending with other camping chores, etc.
        • Josh recommends a Military Surplus Army Bivvy Bag
        • Our tarp type choice and usage on the Snow Trench Trip.
        • Science Time! What temperature does whiskey freeze at?
        • Longer backpacking trip videos vs shorter multi-part vids
        • Viewer Lance M. sent a shiny new camp saw, the Silky F180 for testing!

      • Viewer Steve sent his favorite saw, the Bahco Laplander on a previous Mail Call episode.  Sounds like a saw battle to me!
      • Testing out various accessories for the Dutchware Chameleon Hammock System.
      • Sintax77 T-Shirts – Limited run Sintax77 “Cheeseburger Time” shirts are in the works and will be announced soon. 🙂
      • Congrats to viewer Scott for hunting down the northern lights on a recent Iceland Trip!
      • Z-Bird recently paid a visit to the Pinnacle in PA, where Mike and I camped on a fall backpacking trip many moons ago.
      • Viewer TheSkyttis used to own a SOL Escape Bivvy, like the ones we used on our recent Snow Trench Camping video, but eventually switched to a V3 Trifecta Thermal Bivvy by ‘2 Go Systems’.
      • Viewer Mike is getting ready for a backpacking trip on the Pinhoti trail in Alabama.
      • Viewers Sean and Kelly sent me a book called ‘Where You’ll Find Me‘ about Kate Matrosova, who perished on the Presidential Range during a winter ascent in 2015.
      • Another book I really enjoyed – ‘Not Without Peril‘, about the many tragedies of the White Mountains.
      • Rather listen to these books on the way to the trailhead?
        Use this link to get two free audio books on Audible

    • Packit Gourmet is awesome! They make some of my favorite backpacking foods.
    • More thoughts on the tragedy of Kate Matrosova on Madison Col.
    • Check out Steve’s YouTube Channel, Explorers of the Wild
    • Brian sent some Aqua Clips for testing. They help hold your water bottle on the trail.
    • Bivvy Bags as an emergency survival item, vs  “regular” camping, bivvy tents, etc.
    • Testing out my new H16 Wave USB rechargeable headlamp in sub-zero temps.

Mail Call – My First Solo Backpacking Trip , MilSurp Gear, New Camping Saw

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Tips, tricks and discussion on various Backpacking, Hiking & Camping topics.

Topics Discussed / Gear Seen

    • My very first solo backpacking / camping trip.
    • Hurricane Irene’s effect on the White Mountains back in 2011.
    • Military Surplus gear for backpacking and hiking. My experiences, pros and cons, etc.
    • Link to the bushcraft channel I referenced, ReallyBigMonkey1
    • Maybe I should do an old-school military surplus only camping trip some time?
    • Speaking of old-school – Dan’s been watching for 6 years now.
    • Shout out to the person who sent me a big ol’ box of cool knives and gear for future trips.
    • Backpackers should hug a hunter.
    • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is pretty cool.
    • So is the National Wild Turkey Federation.
    • I totally forgot that Mike once broke a defenseless Gomboy Silky saw years ago.
    • Viewer Steve is the man – he sent me a brand new Bahco Laplander saw to replace our recently broken Coleman folding saw.
    • Mystery box from Nomadik.
    • Checking out the Olight H16 Wave Headlamp with hands free on and off function.
    • A hater brings up a great topic! – Hit that bell button for upload notifications!

Mail Call – Sleeping Bags, Knives & Spam

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Tips, tricks and discussion on various Backpacking, Hiking & Camping topics.

Topics Discussed / Gear Seen

    • Don’t want letters read on Mail Call? No problem, just write “not for video” on the back of the envelope.  🙂
    • Some stickers from Larry at Mobiltec Camper Restoration 
    • The time that Mike and I drove 30 hours to the Colorado Rockies.
    • I should go backpacking in Michigan.
    • My next solo backpacking trip.
    • Vicarious backpacking.
    • Utah Backpacking in Canyonlands National Park.
    • I need to camp in the desert again!
    • Sleeping sideways in a hammock.
    • We’re going back to Colorado for a backpacking / camping trip.
    • Midson likes Mail Call.
    • My recent Facebook Live event on Katadyn’s FB Page.

  • Potential Monthly Podcast on YouTube Live?
  • Jolly Hiker Awards me a the ‘Jolly Hiker 2018 Hiker Prize’.
  • A fresh new pocket knife from Bear & Son Cutlery http://bearandsoncutlery.com/
  • Carol can’t get past voodoo dolls. https://karmakeepers.net/
  • My new matching right & left sleeping bags from Animato.
  • Sleeping Pads and Sleeping Bags
  • My Coleman Folding Saw finally broke.
  • Gomboy Silky saws seem to be highly recommended as a camping saw.
  • HydraPak water bags causing taste issues with the Katadyn BeFree water filter?
  • Catch All Sleeve as an alternative to the Dutchware Winter Sock?
  • Spam, Spam, Spam.  🙂
  • Spam + Hiking = Awesome
  • I never knew there were so many different versions of Spam – Chorizo Spam, Jalepeno Spam, and Tocino Spam, and Cheese Spam, oh my!
  • Hiking with your dog.
  • My viewers are amazing.
  • Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Mail Call – Camping Stove Types & Fuel Options, Mid Layers for Winter, Where’s Sara?!

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In this episode, we go deep on the subject of Camping & Backpacking Stoves. Stove Models, Fuel Types, Winds Screens and more with a heavy emphasis on Cold Weather Winter Camping Stoves as well. http://www.sintax77.com

Topics Discussed / Gear Seen

  • Facebook Live Event! hang out with me live on Katadyn’s FB Page – Thursday 2/15/17 at 1pm
  • One solo winter backpacking trip down (PA Appalachian Trail), one to go (White Mountains snow camping).
  • Am I coming back to the southwest for some desert camping?
  • Mid layer clothing for winter backpacking.
  • Military Surplus Micro Fleece Jackets
  • Packable down jackets (down jacket seen – Montbell UL Down Parka)
  • Camping Stove Choices for 3-season and Winter Backpacking, colder temps etc.
  • Camping Stove fuel choices.
  • My new stove – Optimus Polaris Optifuel
  • Where’s Sara?!

Links for staying updated on the Facebook Live Event

Sintax77 on Twitter
Sintax77 on Facebook

Mail Call – Angry Bushcrafters, Drip-lines, Chameleon Sidecar, UL Flashlight, Novice Camping

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Tips, tricks and discussion on various Backpacking, Hiking & Camping topics.

Topics Discussed / Gear Seen

  • Sleeping Pads for Winter Camping? (I double up two summer ones)
  • Big Agnes Q-Core SL Sleeping Pad (inflatable)  I used it on the ground at -25F by itself.  …not a great idea. I had a pretty cold butt, but I lived 🙂
  • Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite Sleeping Pad (foam) I’ll be stacking this with the Q-Core on my upcoming New Hampshire winter trip.
  • How to get started with your first overnight backpacking / camping trip.
  • “Mickey Mouse Boots” – military surplus boots for extreme cold weather and snow.
  • Bushcraft is cool, but like many niche hobbies, it can cultivate some arrogant attitudes. Emphasis on some, but it’s out there. And no, I’m not even necessarily talking about Joshua’s comment. His was relatively mild but a good segue for discussion.
  • Fires starting / campfires on camping trips.
  • Survival skills (great to have) vs just having fun in the woods (great to have as well).
  • Winter sled camping is a ton of fun.

Mail Call – Winter Camping Glove Strategy, Camp Saw Options & Astro Photography

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Topical discussion on various Backpacking, Camping, Hiking & Travel topics.

Topics Discussed / Links to Items Seen on this Episode

  • Hiking the Florida Trail?
  • White Water Rafting Trips?
  • My previous canoe camping trip experience.
  • Some fresh threads from Lucid Skis up in Maine
  • Thoughts on winter gloves for camping and backpacking trips.
  • Sealskinz Ultra Grip water proof gloves
  • Camera that Sara used for the northern lights pics in our recent Iceland video.
  • Panasonic GM1 Camera (no longer in production, I scored Sara’s on Ebay)
  • Venus Laowa 7.5mm F2.0 ultra wide angle lens.
  • Mittens / Overmits for camping.
  • Discussion on camping saws for backpacking trips.
  • Canadian Shield Pocket Chainsaw recommended by viewer
  • Coleman Folding Saw
  • Finding Flight Deals
  • How we came about going to Iceland (twice)
  • A huge thank you to Dwayne for the Xmas gift box.
  • How to make easy and amazing trail pizza, with packable ingredients.
  • MSR Flex Skillet for ultralight backpacking camp cooking.
  • There’s noting like a post-hike burger.
  • I need to do a solo winter backpacking trip somewhere within drving distance of the Mid-Atlantic. Any suggestions?