Base Camp

The waterproof case that the matches come in I recently aquired a box of UCO stormproof matches that I was planning on using for lighting solid fuel tablets and for other camping fires. Since then I have used them to light solid fuel tablets. I have also tested the water-proofness of them. They worked great and I figured out that as long as there is enough of the orange portion of the match left, the match can't be put out by water or wind. After being dunked underwater, the match does sputter but it still is lit. The case that the matches come in is very protective and is waterproof. The case comes with 25 matches and 3 strikers. The case fits 25 matches, give or take. These are the right choice is you want to definitely make a fire. These matches are the most reliable method of ignition I have found so far because they don't go out until, at the very least, the orange portion of the match is burned through. Both regular matches and regular lighters go out easily with wind...

    I was recently thinking that I wanted to build something. I thought for awhile about what that something would be and eventually settled on a sled. I decided to build a sled because I have never been that satisfied by the store-bought models and thought I could make something better. I believe that I can build a sled that goes faster, lasts longer, and is possibly more comfortable than the store bought models. I am using downhill skis for the base of my sled because I know that they have very little resistance and people using them can go quite fast*. The top of my sled will be either some boards or a bench-press or similar cushion if I can find one. This post will cover my plan for the sled, the materials I am using, and what I have done so far for the project.       If you build or replicate this, be careful when using it. In the words of BrutalEfficiency  ^ on instructables:  "How do you brake? You don't. Brakes were invented by cowards. ...

The headlamp I have use this headlamp on multiple occasions, when camping and not camping. The new Black Diamond Storm headlamp works very well and I am pleased with its performance. The light is very powerful at a max of 250 lumens of white light. The minimum amount of light is 4 lumens. There are also red, green, lock, and close-up light options. The range is 80-2 meters. Another very useful feature on this headlamp is that is IP67 rated. This means that it is water and dust proof. It also means that the headlamp can be used up to 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes. This was useful recently because it was snowing out and I had to keep going inside then out again to bring gear into a cabin. The snow melted into water when I went inside and accumulated again once I got back outside. The headlamp worked fine the entire time and the water/snow/cold did not affect the headlamp at all. The only problem was that the snow reduced the range that the headlamp could light, but that would...

The sleeping mat inflated and on the ground Intro and Specs:      The Sea to Summit UltraLight Sleeping Mat is a inflatable sleeping mat made for backpacking. This mat is generally used in conjunction with a sleeping bag. A sleeping mat is used to insulate the person sleeping on it from the ground. This particular mat is made by the Australian company Sea to Summit. The company makes high quality products for hiking, backpacking, camping, and other outdoor activities. I got this sleeping mat because it's really compact and more compact than most of the other kinds of sleeping mats. The packed size of this sleeping pad is 3 by 8 inches or 7.5 by 20 centimeters. The sleeping pad has an R value (Amount of insulation) of only 0.7 This is fine during the summer but it may be better to use in conjunction with another, more insulating sleeping pad during the winter. On the other hand, If you are willing to spend more money for a better insulated sleeping mat, you can g...

The Multi Tool when it's folded The Gerber Multitool I have is a great tool that I carry almost everywhere. I have needed it many times to fix many different things including a euphonium, tent, open boxes, and more. This multitool has a pair of pliers, knife, 3 screwdrivers, a bottle opener, can opener, a file, and wire cutters. The tools I have used most are the pliers and the knife. Every tool on this multitool is locking. This includes the pliers. This multitool fits well in a pocket and is very versatile. Despite being slightly heavy, the usefulness outweighs the weight. All-in-all, this is a great tool that is inexpensive and useful.

The Talon 22 In this picture the hip belt is folded at the bottom of the pack        The Talon 22 is a 22 liter pack that is made by the company Osprey. There is also a version of this pack made specifically for women. That version is called the Tempest 20 and is 20 liters.  The Talon 22 is a versatile pack that can be used for hiking, biking, climbing, and anything else you would need a medium-sized backpack for (ie: school, commuting, travel, skiing, etc.).         The Talon 22 is loaded with useful features that are great for any of the previously mentioned activities. These features include: A gear loop and elastic loop to hold a(n) ice axe(s) or other tool, a bike helmet attachment point, a separate pocket for a hydration reservoir in case your water leaks, large hip-belt pockets, a trekking pole holder, and a large front stretch pocket. These features are in addition to the basic features any good pack has such as 2 side...

The ATC XP is a device used to belay* a climber when climbing top rope and lead. The ATC XP can also be used to rappell. I have used the belay device almost every time I have climbed and it has never failed to work well. I have lended the ATC XP to people who are belaying for me and the belay device has always caught me if I fall. When this device catches me, there is not a sudden jerk when I reach the bottom of my fall. This is partially because of the stretch in the rope and partially because of the belay device. The grooves on the right of the picture of the belay device are there to help the belay device create more friction on the rope. All in all, the ATC XP is an affordable belay device that works great for its price. *Belay means to be in a position to catch a person who is climbing should they fall, hopefully using a belay device.

     I recently purchased this harness and used it at EVO Rock and Fitness. This harness is meant for mountaineering and ice climbing but it works fine when sport climbing as well. While I was using the harness, I climbed a few top-rope climbing routes with grades from 5.6 to 5.11 and boulder problems* from VO to V4. The harness was less constricting and allowed for a wider range of motion than all of the other harnesses I have used in the past. Even though people usually remove their harness before bouldering, I decided that because this harness did not restrict my range of movement that I would leave it on. There was no difference between bouldering with this harness on and bouldering with this harness off. There are also many other cool features on this harness. The gear loops for hanging climbing gear (Quickdraws, carabiners, slings, cams, bolts, extra rope, etc.) are filled with hard plastic in the front of the harness so that it is easy to reach your climbing gear. ...

One of the most common ways of measuring the grade of a climb is the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS).      There are five classes in the Yosemite Decimal System. The class is number before the decimal. Class 1 is like walking down the street. If you fall you were either pushed or were not paying attention. Class 2 is like walking up a hiking trail, rocky beach, or sloping hill. If you fall you might hurt yourself but not seriously. Class 3 is equivalent to scrambling up large boulders using your hands to help you get up. If you fall you might break a bone. Class 4 is when you are using your hands and feet to ascend. It is recommended to use a rope and safety equipment because if you fall from a large height you will sustain serious injuries. Class 5 is what is generally thought of as rock climbing. It is required to have a rope, safety equipment, and other climbing gear. You are using technical maneuvers with your hands and feet. If you fall, you are dead or very seriousl...

Even if you have gone camping many times before (Like me) you should listen to these tips (I didn't and was very cold last weekend). 1. Make sure ALL your gear fits you. I hadn't used my cold weather sleeping bag in about a year before I used it this weekend. It was too small and my shoulders didn't fit in the sleeping bag. 2. DO NOT USE a survival blanket (Like the one I reviewed) unless you are really in a survival situation. I did and my sleeping bag was very wet for the entire weekend. 3. Bring microspikes or a similar kind of crampon. I actually remembered these on my trip and almost everyone else on the trip didn't. I was able to walk on the ground (A huge sheet of ice) without slipping. 4. Have a mummy bag style sleeping bag for winter camping. These are a lot better for winter because they have a hood to go over your eyes. If you go camping a lot you will generally have 2 types of sleeping bags, a mummy bag for cold weather and a different one for warm summ...