Grotto Falls | Family Day Hike

My family and I recently spent a long weekend over Spring break to get away to the Great Smoky Mountains. We had decided to combine a couple of interesting short day hikes in the Smokys with some fun at an indoor water park in the town of Sevierville, TN.



We picked short day hikes that were "kid friendly" so that our two children, Jack and Maggie, would be able to complete them without being exhausted and have enough energy to have some fun and observe interesting things along the way. I had a simple criteria for picking hikes: Keep the entire loop under three miles, make them medium to moderate effort/elevation, and must include interesting scenic or historical features along the trail route.



Grotto Falls | Trillium Gap Trail
The hike up to Grotto Falls is one of the nicest little trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, not much more than a mile in each direction. As the trail sign (above) indicates, it’s a part of the longer Trillium Gap Trail which continues on up to Mt. LeConte the park's third highest peak.



We entered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, via traffic light #8 (yes they're numbered!) and took Airport Road just under a mile to the park gate. After about another 2 miles we turned on to the one-way Cherokee Orchard Loop which connected us to the parking lot and trail head to Grotto Falls.

As I had mentioned, we picked the Grotto Falls trail because of its moderate to mild elevation and that's exactly what we found when we go there. For the most part, the trail was a gentle climb up to Grotto Falls along a wide, well-traveled path.



As we continued along the trail we encountered several small creeks that we had to cross without the aid of any bridges. This turned out to be a perfect opportunity to show Jack and Maggie how well my Inov-8 Roclite 320s expel water after getting soaked, but I had to make sure thy didn't try to do the same thing and end up with soggy little feet. That would be miserable, for everyone.

At about 1.2 miles we started to hear the sounds of roaring water and as we turned the corner the beautiful cascade of Grotto Falls came into view. Both Jack and Maggie thought it was pretty cool and well worth the "agonizing" hike to the top - their words not mine.

The Falls
The distinctive feature of Grotto Falls is that it's the only waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that a you can actually walk behind. The 25-foot high waterfall provided us with a cool, shady, and rather moist retreat from the day's heat. The Smoky Mountains guide book had told us to be on the look out for salamanders near the falls, as it is the perfect environment for them, but we never saw any.



Despite a small creek crossing accident on the way up and some bumps and bruises, the Grotto Falls hike was a beautiful and fun hike with my family. My kids both had a blast and were full of question on the way up to the falls and also on the way back. It never fails to amaze me at how inquisitive children's minds are - I love it!



I've learned that small, frequent hiking activities that my kids are able to complete are the perfect way to encourage them to do more and actually want to be outside more often. I'm very fortunate that both my kids prefer to be out on the trail than indoors, but I also do my best to encourage them to get outside and join in with my passion for the outdoors.

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The Loudest Whistle in the World?

I was recently contacted by Howard Wright, CEO of All Weather Safety Whistle Co. and inventor of the Storm Whistle regarding my safety whistles decibel testing blog post. He had enjoyed the whistle comparison and tests and was so confident about his whistle being the loudest in the world, he offered to send me some to test. By the way, he invented the Storm Whistle at age 14 on a dare from a friend - that's pretty cool!

The Storm® All-Weather Safety Whistle is the loudest whistle on the market. It's unique patented design allows it to be heard under water, up to 50 feet, because the sounding chamber forces all water to be purged when the whistle is blown. Made in the USA. It's perfect for divers, lifeguards, and for recreation! Creates a clear, high frequency sound, with a power rating over 75% greater than other referee and safety whistles.

Even just after letting my daughter, Maggie, quickly test the whistles in our back yard I can definitely vouch for how freaking loud they are, but I can't give you an accurate decibel comparison or overall ranking compared to the other whistles until I get the decibel meter back from my friend.



So heads up to those of you who left a comment suggesting that I take a look at the Storm Whistle. I have a bright orange original Storm Whistle and a new Windstorm Whistle to test very soon. This test may require the use of ear plugs! Does anyone already own one of these, if so what do you think of it? It's pretty big.

Disclosure: The All Weather Safety Whistle Co. provided Brian's Backpacking Blog with a complementary Windstorm Whistles to review.

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Reminder: 4 Days Left - Kupilka Giveaway!

I wanted to remind you all to submit your Kupilka Starter Kit giveaway entries. The deadline to enter is April 30th, 2011. Please refer to the full rules here for this gear giveaway.

I've received about 21 entries to date, so your chances of winning are still really good. Here's a good example of a complete entry from Patrick Gosnell in North Carolina.

Send your answers in an email with a photo of your full cooking set up to be eligible for the giveaway. If your post is good enough to be published on this blog I will give you two extra entries for a total of three chances to win. All submissions must be received before April 30th, 2011. I'm willing to ship the Kupilka package anywhere, so everyone is eligible for this one!

Once all of the eligible submissions have been collected, I will use Random.org, to select a winner and announce it on this blog. If you have any questions or concerns about this giveaway, please leave a comment below.

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Ultralight Fly Fishing Box

I've been on a bit of a Tenkara kick lately, every since receiving my new Iwana rod and other pieces of Tenkara fishing gear from Daniel at TenkaraUSA just a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately for me there aren't any specialized fly fishing stores near where I live in North Carolina, unless someone knows of any? About the only place I can physically drive to and look at gear is my local BassPro store which has a dedicated fly fishing section, but it's old school, snobby, predictable, and the gear is kinda bulky.

Of course I could order all manner of nifty pieces of gear online and I probably will, but that doesn't satisfy my hunger for instant gratification. So, being the geeky gear junkie that I am, I decided to start making some of my own lightweight Tenkara gear - starting with a fly fishing box.



I knew that I wanted to make a small fly box to hold a handful of dry flies and maybe my Tenkara line and a spool of tippet, but that's about all. I went to my local Walmart and bought a small Plano fishing tackle for $1.50. It was definitely small enough and at that price I didn't much care if I screwed it up or not.



Next was to do a little hacking on the fixed compartment dividers. I decided to remove all but one dividing wall of the box so that I would be left with only two compartments - one large and one small. It was purely a personal preference. Using a pair of tin snips and a sharp utility knife I removed the sections of dividers that I didn't want. This took up the majority of the time and rightly so, I didn't want to lose a finger.



Once the box had been hacked to leave just the two compartments that I wanted, I decided to spray paint the bottom section to make it opaque and give it a little more of a custom look. I used a can of dark green Krylon spray paint that I had lying around in my garage from a previous geocaching project. Krylon paint is designed to bond with plastic really well and thin coats dry in about 10 minutes.

After 2-3 coats of spray paint and leaving the bottom section to thoroughly dry I installed a few pieces of carefully trimmed high-density foam (thanks Patrick) and my first little Tenkara project was done. All I needed to do was to add my spool of tippet, my Tenkara line, and a few spare dry flies. Sweet!

• Total cost: Under $2.00
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Total weight: 1.5oz / 42g (minus lines and flies)

After taking the photos I changed the way I placed my flies into the foam, but other than that the fly box is good to go. I even had room for a small pair of line nippers next to the Tenkara spools in the large compartment - perfect.

Have you done and fishing related MYOG hacks? What do you think of my little project? Please leave a comment below.

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Kupilka Giveaway Entry - Patrick Gosnell

More great submissions have been coming in to the Complete Kupilka Starter Kit Giveaway. If you haven't put together your response yet or aren't sure how to respond, take a look at Patrick's submission below which is a great example of a complete response. Patrick also gets two extra entries (three in total) for having his submission posted to Brian's Backpacking Blog.



Patrick P. Gosnell - North Carolina

1. How long have you been backpacking and what got you started?
   I have only been backpacking for a little over a year. I did a lot camping (boy scouts and such) when I was younger. Honestly, the main thing that got me into backpacking was my family. This may sound mushy and my not be “post worthy”, but I feel a really strong need to develop something that would allow my family and I to have greater common ground and greater opportunity to function and fellowship as family. Something we could all in enjoy. This is an area that I felt that I lacked in. I never had a dad to do these types of things with me. So, I this is what I chose to do and we love it and it works. I know it’s mushy, but it’s the truth. A desire to spend more time with my family got me into backpacking/camping/hiking.
   
   
2. Describe where you currently are in the "going lighter" process. Are you just getting started or at the point where you're down to shaving of individual grams here and there? What are some of the restrictions you've encountered to going even lighter?
   Yes, I have been bitten by the UL bug. I am very new to a lot of this. I spend a lot of time reading different blogs and watching different videos and a resounding theme that kept popping up was ULBP. I didn’t really understand it until I loaded my Kelty Lakota 4000 and it weighed about 45 pounds. Fortunately, the items that I had already purchased were somewhat UL anyway (Kelty Light Year UL Sleeping bags, etc.) My first change (which I have learned should have been my last), was my backpack. I purchased the ULA Circuit. Cookware? Started out with “Army Surplus” gear that could have sunk the Titanic. I am in the process now of testing my Brunton Raptor canister stove vs. my White Box Stove. I have learned that I don’t want to have to guess at how much fuel I have left in my tanks and the WBS is way lighter. Also, I bought the GSI Pinnacle Dualist and have since swapped it out for the GSI Halulite Kettle paired with my WBS and an REI Titanium folding spoon. Another thing I ran into was that I always packed way too much clothing. So I am researching different clothes right now to see what doesn’t get wet as fast or what will dry faster if I get wet, instead of carrying 2-3 extra pair of pants. My Stansport air mattress is another one I am looking at. Researching lighter ones. Some are just too costly at this point.
   
   
3. What type of shelter do you currently use? Please include the make and model and a little bit about how you settled on the choice you have made. For example, what other shelters have you tried?
   Well, I have several. REI Kingdom 6: This is mainly for the family. It weighs over 23 pounds. All the positive reviews sold me on this one. Kelty Yellowstone 4: This is mainly for my wife and I. I thought it could be a good backpacking tent before I got educated. I still use it car camping. Kelty Grand Mesa 2: I have two of these. This is what I currently use for backpacking. First, I love Kelty. I liked the weight up until recently when I began running out of areas to shave weight in. It’s 3.5 lbs, which isn’t horrible, but I think I could go lighter. I was looking at the bivy system. Still have not made my mind up their yet. Still not 100% educated on all my options.
   
   
4. Where are you located geographically and what type of terrain and weather do you normally encounter on your backpacking trips?
   I am located at 36° 5' 44" N / 79° 26' 17" W (Burlington, NC). Almost directly in the middle of the state. I typically backpack/camping in the NC mountains, Cherokee, Pilot Mt. Hanging Rock, my homestead in Liberty, NC and am planning a 3 day, 25 mile hike in the Nantahala Forest. I generally like spring and fall. Have not brought myself to backpack in the snow yet.
   
   
5. How long in duration is a typical backpacking trip for you? One night, two nights, or more?
   Usually 2-3 nights. I have done some 1 nighters. Most recent was this past weekend. But that was only due to sickness. I am trying to moderate my hikes in time and length. I am trying to work my way up to long stays and further hikes. Just not there yet.
   
   
6. What best describes your method of cooking? Do you mostly re-hydrate freeze-dried foods (i.e. just boil water), reheat actual food, or do "real" cooking/simmering?
   I am still a newby. So, I am trying different things. I have mostly used re-hy foods (until a friend told me it wasn’t good for my high blood pressure. Thanks Brian!). Again, still an area that I am learning in. I have done noodles, sandwiches, canned food (which I learned really fast that it just weighs too much).
   
   
7. What make and model of stove do you currently use and why? What stoves have you tried in the past and what made you stop using them?
   I have the Brunton Raptor, a Coleman canister stove and of the hailed White Box Stove. The Coleman is just too big and weighs too much. It works, but not for UL. The Raptor is still a good one. Very compact, just can’t trust the igniter. Just don’t like carrying the MSR canister and having to guess at my fuel level and having stacks of half full or quarter full tanks at home. At this point, I am resting on the WBS. It is compact. I can control the fuel usage and it’s fun to use. A little bit slower than the Raptor or any canister stove as far as that goes.
   
   
8. What type of fuel do you use and why? Alcohol, Esbit tabs, liquid fuel, gas canisters, wood?
   Unfortunately, some of my answers are not original. I use HEET in the yellow bottle. Why? Because everyone said it was the best.
   
   
9. Have you tried wood burning stoves? If so, what are you thoughts on the soot that they create? Do you care about the soot, or is that an acceptable trade off for a readily available fuel source?
   I would love to try one. Just because it sounds pretty cool. You wouldn’t ever have to worry about fuel. I have never used one to cook with, so I can’t comment on the soot. However, I did burn wood for heat growing up and could see where that would pose an issue. I don’t want black soot all over my gear…Soot = more cleaning.
   
   
10. What type of cookware (pot or cup) do you use? Do you carry more than one cooking container?
    Only because I am new and a goober, I do carry two. GSI Pinnacle Dualist (My wife and I) with the Brunton Raptor/MSR Canister. GSI Kettle Halulite (Comes with cup, bowl, spoon) I swapped the GSI “Foon” for the REI Titanium folding spork. It is just barley long enough to get to the bottom of a de-hy bag if you squeeze the food at the bottom to the top with your hand..

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5.11 Tactical TDU Webbing Belt

It's probably not the sexiest piece of gear that I carry on a regular basis, but I like to wear a belt with me whenever I go backpacking. The 5.11 TDU Tactical belt is my current favorite. It's simple, superbly made, extremely rugged, and highly functional. It may not be the lightest weight belt on the market, but at 4.3 oz (123g) I hardly even notice that I'm wearing it.

Quick Specs:

• Non-metallic, low profile air-port friendly plastic buckle
• Heavy duty nylon webbing
• Triple stitched folds
• Colors: Black (019) Coyote Brown (120) TDU Green (190)
• Seven sizes from small to 4XL
• Great as an optional gear tie-down
• Large (59552) is 48 inches long

I've been wearing my 5.11 Tactical TDU green webbing belt on all of my backpacking and hiking trips since last summer and in all that time I have never had any issues with it. I'm amazed that it really isn't showing any signs of wear at all, not even on the plastic buckle which I was originally concerned about. I have the 1.75 inch wide model in size large (#59552) which measures 48 inches in length.



For such a simple looking belt, the designers at 5.11 have put an awful lot of thought into it. For example; the high-impact plastic buckle has several sections of knurling in exactly the right place for where your fingers need additional purchase when taking the belt on and off, or when you need to adjust it. There is a small thumb stud on the inside edge of the buckle that helps you lift the buckle to adjust or loosen it, even when wearing winter gloves.

The last two inches of the tail end of the belt are rigid. I can't tell if the tail has been dipped in some sort of resin to make it stiff or whether or not it has been pressed between heated plates to melt it - either way it provides just the right amount of stiffness to make threading the end of the bet through the buckle extremely easy. An awesome detail.



All of the stiching on the TDU belt is of the highest quality and triple stitched for strength. The webbing material is easy to clean too which I have had to do more than once. I've also used my TDU belt as a makeshift luggage strap on more than one occasion and it got the job done. I can't say that about any of my other belts. I like the idea of it being able to perform double duty in a pinch.



It also coordinates beautifully with my watch and compass. Who doesn't want to look good on the trail? The bottom line is that I would highly recommend this belt to anyone who has been looking for something a little more rugged and reliable. Mine came free (bonus) as part of a limited-time promotion with a pair of tactical pants that I had purchased, but at $15 it's still a great deal. I'm thinking of picking up another one exactly like this but in black.

Do you wear a belt when backpacking or hiking and have you ever had to use it for something else in an emergency? Please leave a comment.

Disclosure: The author owns this product and paid for it using their own funds.

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Kupilka Starter Kit Giveaway: Ends April 30

I wanted to remind you all to submit your Kupilka Starter Kit giveaway entries. The deadline to enter is April 30th, 2011. Please refer to the full rules here for this gear giveaway.

I've received about 8 entries to date, so your chances of winning are still really good. Here's a good example of a complete entry from Brendan Jones in New Zealand.

Send your answers in an email with a photo of your full cooking set up to be eligible for the giveaway. If your post is good enough to be published on this blog I will give you two extra entries for a total of three chances to win. All submissions must be received before April 30th, 2011. I'm willing to ship the Kupilka package anywhere, so everyone is eligible for this one!

Once all of the eligible submissions have been collected, I will use Random.org, to select a winner and announce it on this blog. If you have any questions or concerns about this giveaway, please leave a comment below.

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Reader Poll: Do you carry a compass?

I've written several posts recently about how to use a compass and how even to navigate effectively without a compass. It got me wondering, how many of us carry a compass on a regular basis? I thought I'd conduct a unscientific reader poll to see. Do you always carry a compass with you, only take one for longer trips or multi-day hikes, or do you generally not bother taking one at all - if so why? Please leave a comment below.

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Kupilka Giveaway Entry - Brendan Jones

I've been getting some great submissions to the Complete Kupilka Starter Kit Giveaway. If you haven't put together your response yet or aren't sure how to respond, take a look at Brendan's submission below which is a great example of a complete response. Brendan also gets two extra entries (three in total) for having his submission posted to Brian's Backpacking Blog. Great stuff Brendan, thanks for taking the time to respond and for sharing!



Brendan Jones - New Zealand

My name is Brendan, I live in New Zealand. Being a small island nation with a fault line running pretty much the length of the country, we have the odd bit of volcanic and seismic action, lots of mountains, lakes and rivers and even more primo hiking tracks with a fantastic hut system. I was born in amongst some of our highest peaks in a place called Twizel, a very small town in the middle of our South Island

1. How long have you been backpacking and what got you started?
   It is very hard to say how long and what got me into backpacking really, I think it is just in the blood. In saying that, it has only been in the last few years that I have been trying to lighten my load, but I'm too hard core about it.
   
   
2. Describe where you currently are in the "going lighter" process. Are you just getting started or at the point where you're down to shaving of individual grams here and there? What are some of the restrictions you've encountered to going even lighter?
   The going lighter process, I believe is ongoing, not just for me but probably everybody. Not only because you gain more experience every time you go out, and talking to like minded people, but the advances in designs and materials sure keep things ticking over. We can get five seasons in one day in this neck of the woods, and with a lot of our terrain being rougher than most with a lot of lightly or unmarked routes, sometimes I think I carry more than is needed, 'just in case'. SAR get called out too often over here because people under-estimate the terrain and conditions. Most of my gear suits my needs, but I am always looking for that lighter/better item. At the moment, number one priority is my rain jacket (currently around 500g) with my dream jacket (on paper) being an OMM Cypher Rain Jacket, at around 300g. The main restriction to going lighter for me, is access to a lot of brands and the cost of getting products sent to this side of the world. You cant just sneak into a shop and try something out because no one brings the good/light stuff in.
   
   
3. What type of shelter do you currently use? Please include the make and model and a little bit about how you settled on the choice you have made. For example, what other shelters have you tried?
   I currently have a couple of options in the shelter department, but it depends on where and what I'm doing. I have an MRS Hubba which I have had for some years. It came about because my wife went on holiday to Australia while I walked the Milford Track and well, she spent more money than me so I tried to make up for it, the Hubba being the result. Come to think of it, I'll need to be buying some more stuff. Because of the hut network we have in the back country, I also have an MLD Monk tarp and MLD Superlight bivy to use just in case the huts are full, or if there is a chainsaw type snorer in the house. Because this is a "just in case" option, it needed to be light and small although I will be looking to replace the Hubba and Monk with a HMG Echo1 sometime soon. I have used some tunnel type tents in the past, but I like how you can adjust the height of the tarp to suit your needs.
   
   
4. Where are you located geographically and what type of terrain and weather do you normally encounter on your backpacking trips?
   I was born and live in New Zealand, and the terrain can change as quickly as the weather, from sun to snow in an hour, from almost desert to rain forest in an hour. But I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.
   
   
5. How long in duration is a typical backpacking trip for you? One night, two nights, or more?
   Because of family, work and money, most of my/our trips are unfortunately on the shorter side, usually 1-3 nights. I'm always dreaming of something bigger, like the whole length of New Zealand.
   
   
6. What best describes your method of cooking? Do you mostly re-hydrate freeze-dried foods (i.e. just boil water), reheat actual food, or do "real" cooking/simmering?
   All 'cooking' is done via the just add water method. While my wife and I were doing the Rakiura Track (it was our wedding anniversary) I whipped up a special freeze dried desert treat of fruit salad trifle and custard. Mmm. Maybe we were just really hungry.
   
   
7. What make and model of stove do you currently use and why? What stoves have you tried in the past and what made you stop using them?
   I use a Primus Micron Ti stove to do some of my water heating. Its light enough for me, its clean burning, its quick to boil around 600ml, and packs into my pot along with the gas canister. I have tried a couple of Coleman brand stoves in the past. One was too fiddly, the other too large, more suited to car camping. I have been experimenting with alcohol (which I really like) and have a small collection of stoves including a Trangia, Gram Weenie Pro, the stove from Trail Designs as well as a home made model (now in the bin) and recently got my hands on a Sidewinder cone, so will be testing out my fire lighting skills. These could be good light options for me, as some of the huts on our popular 'tourist trails' have gas supplied, so carrying your own gas seems overkill to me.
   
   
8. What type of fuel do you use and why? Alcohol, Esbit tabs, liquid fuel, gas canisters, wood?
   Gas and alcohol are the two I use at the moment, but I am working on the other options. Wish me luck.
   
   
9. Have you tried wood burning stoves? If so, what are you thoughts on the soot that they create? Do you care about the soot, or is that an acceptable trade off for a readily available fuel source?
   I haven't really tried the wood burning option yet, but don't really see the soot being an issue. Unlike some, I don't mind getting my hands dirty... but my gear (other than the pot), that's a different story. I always use a plastic bag for my cookware storage.
   
   
10. What type of cookware (pot or cup) do you use? Do you carry more than one cooking container?
    If I'm heading away for a couple of days, or just a day walk, its an Evernew Ti pot that will be in my pack, although I also have a Snowpeak 600. Everything I need to make a cuppa or instant miso soup can fit inside. Sometimes I use the Ti 600 tea pot with the Primus gas cooker, sometimes the Ti 600 low profile pot with the sidewinder and alcohol. I only carry one cook pot, and I know its a bit neanderthal, but use a cut down Platypus bottle as a mixing bowl if I'm doing some kind of instant mash side dish to go with my main. I could really do with that Kupilka starter kit.

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Suunto M-9 Wrist Compass

For the past few months I've been testing the Suunto M-9 wrist compass to see how well it performs out and about on the trails. I was attracted to the M-9 wrist compass because of its size and weight in addition to the fact that it's a wrist compass that I can wear and always have handy. I'll admit that I was initially a little bit skeptical about the strength of the plastic and effectiveness of such a diminutive sized compass, but have come to really love and rely on my M-9 so much so that I wear it on my right wrist as part of my standard backpacking kit.

Specs and Features:

• Liquid-filled compass
• Sapphire jeweled bearing for accuracy
• Entire card surface is luminous and glows brightly in the dark
• Serrated bezel ring turns easily (even wearing gloves) with a ratcheting mechanism
• Can be read from the top or from the side
• Upper sighting notches improve direction setting
• Side reading window for effective use when attached to the wrist
• Comes with a convenient black Velcro wrist strap
• Measures 1.6 x 0.6 x 1.9 inches (W x H x D)
• Weighs a mere 1.2 ounces
• Is backed by Suunto's lifetime warranty!

Generally speaking, if you need to carry a compass with you, bigger is better. The reason is quite obvious, the accuracy and capability gets better if you have a large stable platform and sight. This has proven to be true time and time again with smaller button compasses or watch strap compasses that I have tried, nearly all of which were too small to be really effective. The M-9 is the exception to the rule.

Despite having some concerns about the strength and durability of the M-9's black plastic housing, specifically the strap lugs, the compass has functioned flawlessly on every trip so far. I was also skeptical of how effective the M-9 would be after several consecutive days of being bumped and thrashed around while attached to my wrist. The short answer is, it didn't seem to be an issue!

The liquid filled case helps with accuracy and settling time (the time it takes for a compass needle or card to stop moving), as the M-9 settles very quickly in 1-1.5 seconds based on my tests. The liquid also helps to support the graduated card (dial) of the M-9 and absorb slight movements of the wrist when trying to take an accurate reading with the compass.



Sighting Notches:
On the top edge of the M-9 are two small sighting notches. These can be used for accurate direction sighting when reading the M-9 from the side window (as shown above). You use the sighting notches by aligning them with the card pointer that is located in the top center of the side window. Using them just like the sights on the barrel of a gun (only upside down) you align the card pointer needle in the center of the two sighting notches to set your direction of travel. As with a base plate compass, you then can use the "snap a line" method to navigate.

Wrists Strap:
About the only thing I didn't like about the M-9 was the black vlecro strap that it came with. Not only did it feel cheap and a little flimsy, but it was far too long to work on my wrist (#fail). I have a medium sized (7.5inch) wrist, but the M-9 wrist strap had the Velcro placed so far along the length of the strap that it didn't meet up when I wrapped it around my wrist. And trimming it shorter wouldn't have helped.

I was going to throw the black Velcro away, but ended up using it as a luggage strap to wrap around my Z-lite sleeping pad. The lugs of the M-9 are 20mm wide, so I used a spare NATO watch strap that I had lying around as a replacement and have been very happy with it ever since.

Summary:
A compass is a relatively simple device yet it's amazing how many I have seen fail out on the trail because of loss of magnetism,  inaccurate markings, or poor construction quality. The Suunto M-9 has proven me wrong in many ways. It is a very lightweight, reliable, and effective compass despite its size. I would happily recommend the M-9 as a primary or backup compass to anyone considering purchasing one. I am still carrying my Silva Polaris base plate compass in my pants pocket as my primary device, but I have found that I am taking it out less and less after wearing the M-9.

Related Compass Posts:

• Using a compass - the basics
• Navigating without a compass: Part 1 - Using the Stars
• Navigating without a compass: Part 2 - Using Your Watch
• Navigating without a compass: Part 3 - Using a Shadow Stick

What type of compass do you use? Have you tried any wrist compasses? Please leave a comment below.

Disclosure: The author owns this product and paid for it using their own funds.

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Hiking Boots for Dogs?

My trusty trail partner, Coco, likes her backpacking gear as much as the next well dressed doggy. This is her wearing her Kelty Chuckwagon backpack that she is very well accustomed to. So much so that she gets excited at the slightest sight of it in my gear closet. It's a great doggy pack with dual expandable saddlebags that can hold a lot of her "stuff" and at the same time stay balanced and comfortable - I base the last part on tail wagging alone!



I've noticed a lot of other dogs out and about on the trails that been wearing doggy hiking boots to protect their feet. When I've approached the owners to inquire as to the reasons why they felt them necessary and the benefits and I usually get very similar answers. Many owners say that their dogs feet get badly cut up or scraped on longer hikes and it can be painful for them, especially if they are mostly indoor dogs during the week.

Even though my chocolate lab, Coco, likes to be outdoors almost as much as I do, my day job means that throughout the week she is inside with me in my home office. According to the other dog owners I have crossed paths with, this can cause her paws to become slightly 'delicate' and susceptible to injury on longer backpacking trips.



So, as weird as they look, I'm considering getting her royal dogness some boots for on the trail. I'm currently doing research on hiking boots for dogs in order to determine what style and brand to test on Coco first. As with regular (human) hiking shoes, there are a lot of options and styles to consider.  If you have any experience using hiking shoes/boots with your dog, I'd definitely appreciate any recommendations, considerations, or feedback you have to offer. Please leave a comment below.

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Reader Poll: Home-Made Gear?

I like to make a lot of my own gear, like the Cuben Fiber stuff sack shown above. It saves me money for one thing, but it also tends to give me a much better understanding and appreciation of how something is made and how it functions. I not talking about hacking, tweaking, or modifying an existing product, I mean making something from scratch.

So, am I the exception to the norm or are we all out there, busy tinkering with materials and making our own gear to use? What pieces of gear have you made in the past and how did they turn out? Please leave a comment below.

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Why Do You Go Backpacking?

I'm actually quite serious. What is it that drives you to get outside and go backpacking? I'm asking because a recent email submission from Joe B. got me thinking about the real reason why I got started with backpacking in the first place. Quite simply, it was because I like being outdoors.

I like the solitude of backpacking alone and I like hiking with my loved ones and friends. I enjoy looking at nature, taking in the views, studying the myriad of plants and flowers. I feel relaxed and recharged when I'm out on the trail. For all of these reasons, and more, I started backpacking.



Backpacking was the mechanism that enabled me to go outside. It got me where I wanted to go and to the places I wanted to see. It was a means to an end. Lately however, I've felt that I've lost sight of the original reason why I started backpacking and that I need to focus far less on the gear that I carry with me, and think more about what it is that I want to do when I get to where I want to be. Joe summed it up perfectly in his email; "I'm not enjoying the walk if I'm thinking about my pack list spreadsheet".

Is this a result of spending too much time obsessing about reducing the weight of my pack and shaving ounces off my gear? When is enough, enough? Have you experienced anything like this yourself?

Please leave a comment below.

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Complete Kupilka Starter Kit Giveaway

There was a lot of interest in my previous Kupilka 21 cup giveaway. So much so that Sport-Hansa kindly provided me with a bunch of other Kupilka goodies as giveaway prizes to say thank you for your support. I've decided to make this one huge giveaway instead of lots of smaller ones, so one lucky reader will win the entire package shown above!

I made the last Kupilka giveaway really easy to enter, just help spread the word about my blog and you had several ways to qualify for the drawing. This time there's going to be a little more effort required, because the prize is much bigger.

The Kupilka Goodies
As I said, I will be giving away all of the Kupilka items that you see in the photo above. These are all brand new and unused. Visit the Kupilka website for a full list of products and locations that sell Kupilka. The giveaway package includes the following items:

• Kupilka 21 (cup)
• Kupilka 55 (soup bowl)
• Kupilka 44 (platter)
• Kupilka cutlery set

To enter, you will need to send me an email with the following answers and send it to blog(at)briangreen.net along with a photo (no smaller than 500px wide) of your current cooking set arranged so that I can clearly see all the individual components. You will have until April 30th to submit your entry. Make sure that you include all of your answers in the email itself and not as a separate attachment or document. Any submissions that don't follow these guidelines will be disqualified. I also reserve the right to reject any unsuitable submissions at my discretion.

Extra Chances to Win
I am hoping to get enough eligible submissions to be able to post them on Brian's Backpacking Blog in the coming weeks with the intent that everyone will benefit from seeing different types of cooking setups and reading about what has worked and what hasn't. So, as a little extra motivation to put together a complete submission, if your answers and photo are published on Brian's Backpacking Blog you'll get an additional two entries into the Kupilka giveaway, giving you three chances to win.

The Questions
Please respond to each with at least a few sentences, but please don't go crazy. You may include additional digital photos if you think it helps explain your submission. Please only include your original photos, I will not accept product catalog photos or images taken from company websites.

1. How long have you been backpacking and what got you started?
2. Describe where you currently are in the "going lighter" process. Are you just getting started or at the point where you're down to shaving of individual grams here and there? What are some of the restrictions you've encountered to going even lighter?
3. What type of shelter do you currently use? Please include the make and model and a little bit about how you settled on the choice you have made. For example, what other shelters have you tried?
4. Where are you located geographically and what type of terrain and weather do you normally encounter on your backpacking trips?
5. How long in duration is a typical backpacking trip for you? One night, two nights, or more?
6. What best describes your method of cooking? Do you mostly re-hydrate freeze-dried foods (i.e. just boil water), reheat actual food, or do "real" cooking/simmering?
7. What make and model of stove do you currently use and why? What stoves have you tried in the past and what made you stop using them?
8. What type of fuel do you use and why? Alcohol, Esbit tabs, liquid fuel, gas canisters, wood?
9. Have you tried wood burning stoves? If so, what are you thoughts on the soot that they create? Do you care about the soot, or is that an acceptable trade off for a readily available fuel source?
10. What type of cookware (pot or cup) do you use? Do you carry more than one cooking container?

Summary
Send your answers in an email with a photo of your full cooking set up to be eligible for the giveaway. If your post is good enough to be published on this blog I will give you two extra entries for a total of three chances to win. All submissions must be received before April 30th, 2011. I'm willing to ship the Kupilka package anywhere, so everyone is eligible for this one!

Once all of the eligible submissions have been collected, I will use Random.org, to select a winner and announce it on this blog. If you have any questions or concerns about this giveaway, please leave a comment below.

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Trail Breakfast - Archer Farms Granola

Just a quick post to let you all know about a cool 'food find' as Sarah would say. My wife just picked up a bunch of individual serving size packets of Archer Farms granola breakfast cereals at our local Target store. They were on sale at 50% off ($0.48) each. That's a great price for a ready-made and nutritional trail breakfast. I don't know if this is as good as my home-made hot granola, but I'll let you know.

Bonus: They come in a sturdy foil bag that has a flat bottom to let the packets stand upright. So when you're on the trail all you need to do is snip off the top, add some powdered milk and pour in the desired amount of hot water, leave stand for a minute and enjoy!



Each package is a full serving, unlike other dehydrated meal packets that actually have 2 servings per pouch. So this makes it super easy to deal with on the trail. Has anyone else tried Archer Farms granola or any other pre-pacakged granola cereals?

Please leave a comment below.

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Powdered Peanut Butter - PB2

One of my favorite snacks and food ingredients is now better than ever - it's a lightweight powder! Check out Bell Plantation's PB2 powdered peanut butter products.Their unique process removes over 85% of the fat from the peanuts. The oil is squeezed out of roasted peanuts and what remains is their famous powdered peanut butter – all natural with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives.

When you mix water or a favorite drink with PB2 you get the same consistency as full-fat peanut butter, with all the roasted peanut flavor, but 85% less fat calories.

Ingredients: Roasted peanuts, sugar, and salt.
Serving size: 2 Tablespoons (12 grams)
Servings per container: 15
(Value and (%) Daily Value)

• Calories: 45
• Calories from fat: 13
• Total fat: 1.5g (2%)
• Saturated fat: 0g (0%)
• Trans fat: <0.01g
• Cholesterol: <0.01mg (0%)
• Sodium: 94mg (4%)
• Total carbohydrates: 5g (2%)
• Dietary fiber: 2g (8%)
• Sugars: 1g
• Protein: 5g
• Vitamin A: <1%
• Vitamin C: 0%
• Calcium: <1%
• Iron: 0%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. 

On the Trail:

• Mix 2 tablespoons (12g / 45cal) of PB2 with 1 tablespoon of water and stir until smooth.
• Can be mixed directly with jelly or jam for a PB2 and jelly sandwich.
• Dip fruit directly into powder.

I can think of so many great uses for a powdered version of peanut butter. It's also much easier to pack and carry now. Has anyone used this or any other brands of powdered peanut butter?

Please leave a comment below.

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