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

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Sintax77

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

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Sintax77

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

Topics Discussed / Gear Seen

Drip Lines for hammock camping.
Olight S1 Mini Baton 600 Lumen LED Flashlight
My two upcoming solo winter backpacking trips.
HangTime Hook upgrades
Dutchware Gear Winter Vented Sock with Zipper
Outdoor Vitals MummyPod Hammock Insulation Sleep System
Using the MummyPod on my upcoming winter White Mountains trip to try and sleep one night on the ground using a bivy sack in sleeping bag config, and one night in a hammock in a pea-pod setup.
Chameleon Sidecar Accessory for the Dutchware Gear Chameleon Hammock System
Carol Update

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.

Tips & Gear for a Mt Washington Winter Ascent | Severe Weather Hiking

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Sintax77

Tips, Gear Used, & Things I Could Have Done Differently while Climbing Mt Washington in Winter.

Primary Winter Ascent Gear Shown

EMS Longtrail 70 Backpack (used to carry my base camp gear – you may not need a pack this big if doing a single day summit attempt)
Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe
Clothing – Make sure to have to ability to cover every square inch of exposed skin. Extreme wind speeds and sub-freezing temps are a recipe for permanent skin damage or even lost fingers and toes (gangrene, frost bite etc). Bring coverage. Bring spares.
Seirus Innovation Cold Weather Face Mask
EMS Packable Pack
CAMP Stalker Universal Crampons (Strap-On Crampons)
Rope – Rothco General Purpose Utility Rope 3/8″
Ski Goggles – Bolle Mojo Snow Goggles (Shiny Black, Lemon)
Spot Gen3 Locator – GPS Emergency Locator Device

My Preferred map for Mt Washington Hikes: AMC Map: Presidential Range: White Mountains Trail Map

Other Gear Seen / Discussed

Camp stool I’m sitting on – Byer of Main Tri Lite Stool
ULA Ohm 2.0 Backpack
Winter Hiking / Trekking Poles – Black Diamond Distance FLZ Z-Poles
Gloves I’m wearing (great everyday glove that I would also bring to Mt Washington) – Sealskinz Waterproof Gripper Glove
Hammock Gear Cuben Hex Tarp (Dyneema Fiber Tarp)
Dutchware Netless Hammock
Dutchware Winter Vented Sock
Hammock Gear Burrow 0° Top Quilt
Hammock Gear Incubator 0° Underquilt
Garmont GTX Snow Winter Hiking Boots
Kahtoola Microspikes lightweight traction device

Opening Music: Beethoven – Coriolan Overture, Op. 62, 1807

Stock Footage: Various Public Domain pieces from the U.S. War Department, circa WWII.

Deep Winter Hammock Camping System

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Sintax77

A look at my Cold Weather Winter Hammock Camping Setup for Backpacking Trips that have Potential for Sub-Zero Temperatures.

Deep Winter Hammock Camping System Components

Dutchware Gear Winter Vented Sock, 11.25 oz
Hammock Gear Cuben Fiber Hex Tarp, 5.75 oz (aka Dyneema Fiber Tarp)
Dutch Argon 1.6 Netless Hammock 10′, 10 oz
Hammock Gear Incubator 0° Underquilt, 25.35 oz
Hammock Gear Burrow 0° Top Quilt Wide, 26.4 oz (I went with the wide version for better coverage on tent trips where I may sleep on the ground. If you only plan to use yours in a hammock, you can probably do a standard width model)
Structural Ridge Line
Camo Polyester Tree Straps 12′, 4.9 oz
Aluminum Cinch Buckles, 2 oz
Climbing Grade Carabiners Rated 1,000lb+, 1.5 oz for the pair (In the video I’m using Dutchware biners that came with my Chameleon Hammock, but I also use Black Diamond Neutrino carabiners

Total Hammock System Weight: 1.75 lbs (793 grams)
Total Insulation System Weight: 3.25 lbs (1.47 kilos)
Shelter System Weight (tarp plus all lines & adjustment hardware): 8.75 oz

Deep Winter Hammock Camping System Grand Total Weight: 5.55 lbs (2.52 kilos)

Other Gear Seen

Dutchware Chameleon Hammock System
Dutchware Summer Sock
Dutch Whoopie Hooks Suspension System
Kammock Python Straps
Not shown, but Dutch has a similar looped nylon suspension system as well called the Spider Chain
Dutch Titanium Cinch Buckles
Dutch Clips
Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite Sleeping Pad
Klymit Inertia X-Frame Sleeping Pad
Kelty Cosmic Down 0 Degree Sleeping Bag

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

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Sintax77

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
- Sky Scanner
- ITA Flight Matrix
- Google Flight Search Map
- *There are phone app versions for these flight search engines, but using the desktop versions when possible is far more powerful.
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?

Tips & Gear for aking your Dog Backpacking Hiking & Camping

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Sintax77

Tips, Gear & our Experiences with getting a puppy / Dog into Backpacking, Hiking & Camping.

Topics Discussed

Dog training for trips, daily walks as a puppy etc.
Age to start hiking with a dog?
Trip planning and strategies your dog’s first backpacking trip.
Differences in trail selection, water sources, etc.
Hiking dog food – nutrition, packing options, need for increased consumption.
Usage of dog backpacks for hiking.
Sleeping arrangements, leashes and leads for around camp and on the trail.
Some discussion on each of our dog’s camping trips so far.
Items that we bring for our dog camping trips (see below)

Dog Backpacking Gear / Items Seen

- OutdoorMaster Bungee Dog Leash
- One Tigris Dog Pack – Canvas Dog Backpack
- Fleece Dog Jacket
- Dog-Gone Dish – Collapsible Travel Pet Dish
- Trail Buddy Treats – Freeze Dried Dog Treats for Hiking
- Coghlan Bear Bell
- Nite Ize Nite Dawg LED Dog Collar Cover
- Kevlar 2.2 Tree Straps from Dutchware Gear, used as an ultralight dog leash / lead around camp.
- Weight rated / climbing grade carabiner (don’t trust your dog with the cheap key chain grade ones).
- 2T’s Hammock Chair with Dutchware Whoopie Hook system – used as a mini dog hammock.