krasota
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Posts posted by krasota
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I'm watching a couple caches for the found/activity email pings. I want to visit these caches on a trip next week, but I'm likely to forget if I don't have something smacking me upside the virtual head to remind me.
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I think cheap poles can help you realize the need for a quality pole and that's a perfectly acceptable thing to do while you save up money for higher quality. That's what I'm doing. That said, I'd consider that Lexi pole sort of mid-range and might consider buying it. The $150 poles just aren't part of my world.
I'd consider paying that much for two, if I really liked the pole and had a birthday coming up.I have some inexpensive coleman trekking poles. And the twist locks rarely hold for an entire hike/walk unless I really crank them up (and I'm afraid I'll crack the plastic bits if I do that). I do double check them every so often because I use them when hiking with a toddler on my back. I've yet to fall or injure either one of us.
I use the rubber feet mostly, but the carbide tips and snow baskets have been indispensable with our recent snowfalls and icy streets.
If I were buying today, I'd be looking at a pole with good reviews and I'd want to hold it in my hand first, so I'd probably visit the local outdoor sports stores and hold a variety of brands. Grips can be pretty personal and they're not one-size fits all (maybe it's because I have smaller hands). I use mine in town or on rocky terrain often, so I do like to have the angled rubber walking tips. Sometimes they're included, sometimes sold separately.
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My husband loves it. He loves the thrill of the hunt, he likes virtuals and earthcaches, he enjoys getting out and about. We hike and go on long walks on a regular basis, anyway, so it's nice to add something else, especially if it puts us on a path we might've not otherwise taken. And he likes that we finally have a use for all the knickknacks and trinkets I've hoarded over the years.
But the real reason he loves geocaching has to do with library/information science. He's fascinated with how folks are using GIS to interact with each other and their local environment. If I have to move so that he can pursue a PhD, at least I still have my GPS and can go out wherever we end up, eh?
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Found near the Blue Ridge Pkwy in NC.
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I take my moka pot, but I car camp.
As for coffee, I buy a local brand (Trager Bros) with a rich, velvety espresso roast. Now, I'm not so hardcore into my coffee that I carry a ceramic grinder, so I grind the beans before I leave, but I'm thinking that a nice, hand-held ceramic grinder might be in order on longer trips.
I'm out of my preferred bean at home right now and haven't felt up to braving the snow to go out and replenish my supply, so I've been coarsely grinding a different roast (kept on hand for company, nice in a french press) and using it in a filter and funnel. Not perfect, but drinkable with cream.
If I were backpacking, I'd probably pack tea, instead. And cocoa nibs & espresso beans for munching.
No point going through withdrawal for a weekend in the woods. -
Whiskey will follow us anywhere.
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Not yet, though I've been tested quite a few times.
I did have a dog who tested positive for exposure. He died of kidney failure, likely Lyme nephritis.
And we end up finding tons of ticks every time we go to south Jersey. My folks-in-law live in a house which backs up to a wetland. Gorgeous views, but the dog picks up tons of ticks. They're usually dead by the time we find them (frontline).
I'm hoping the cold snap we just had here in VA was long enough to affect the tick and mosquito populations. I'm not holding my breath, though.
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My 2.5yo toddler loves it. Treasure hunting makes hikes more fun, he says.
And while they're still young and easily entertained by shapes, try hunting benchmarks.
He's trying to climb into the Deuter now (big ol' framepack), but I told him it's an Ergo kind of day (above freezing).
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Actually it is just a wrap, I had to sew because I didn't have a piece of cloth that was 15 ft long! So I cut an old queen sized sheet into thirds, then took two of the thirds and sewed them together end to end to make a single long 16 ft long by 30" wide cloth, and then got the instructions of a couple of positions to tie it from the internet.
So far I have had great luck with the hip carry and a front carry. But like you said, this may become a new addiction. There are lots of different kinds of wraps out there. Maybe eventually I will get a couple of rings and try ring carriers.
I highly recommend Sling Rings. I ordered a sampler pack of aluminum rings from them. Lightweight, gorgeous, and they'll hold (http://slingrings.com/testing.php). I used a ring sling until I couldn't handle a one-shoulder carry anymore. It's not ideal for long walks, but it's great for popping in and out while shopping or moving about the house.
TheBabyWearer is a great forum for babywearing of all types. And I think they have a sale/trade board. I bought my woven wrap locally, used. And there are lots of videos for different carries on youtube. I'm still getting used to the wrap.
And hey, anything that keeps the kid happy and close to you while you're enjoying the world is great. My son can walk fairly far for a wee guy, but I like to go even farther. I often have the ergo or a wrap with us in case he gets tired after the first or second mile. We try to go out every day, though I'm a bit skittish when it's below freezing *and* windy.
Oh, and you may have already figured this out, but I find that a decent trail shoe is ideal for urban babywearing. Regular walking shoes let my ankles roll under the extra weight and that's not a good thing (a bad sprain makes babywearing difficult). The trade off is that a lot of trail shoes have less cushioning beneath the insole (I have custom orthoses), which can make asphalt rather uncomfortable.
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I'm planning a trip to South Dakota this August to see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. The plan is to go primitive, just what I can carry on my back. Does anyone know where I can pitch my tent without having to pay $25 to $35 and make reservations?
We tent camped in Custer State Park in Sept 2005. We were in the Grace Coolidge campground, the tent only loop, and didn't have reservations (though Sept and August differ in popularity, I'm sure). It appears to be about $16/night. That loop had toilets, but you had to walk across the road and down into the other loop for showers, which was fine.
We enjoyed the spot. There was a nearby creek and some raptors enjoyed perching on the nearby trees and rocks. It was fairly central to the things we wanted to do. Don't miss the Needles highway, but drive it when it's not foggy.
Wind Cave is also not too far. We were traveling with our dog, so we skipped that. And if you'll be out there for awhile, the Badlands aren't that far, either.
There may be backcountry camping available in the area, but since we were car camping with a dog and I was pregnant, we didn't explore those options.
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A simple piece of cloth can be quite versatile. And I like wraps.
What did you sew? Mei Tai? A wrap with a seam? Pouch? You may have discovered a new addiction.
I mentioned the more structured carriers because you indicated interest in hiking/camping. If you're not carrying gear, though, simpler is often better!
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After finding a couple benchmarks, my toddler has added one more level to his toddler-environment-obsession. It's not enough to inspect every crack in the sidewalk, possible bug, or leaf. We now have to observe and identify any shapes he spies.
As he gets older, I'm sure we'll integrate a lot of science, history, and geometry into our hunts. And who knows what else--that's the nice thing about this type of immersion/integrative learning--it can really branch out a long way. Right now, it's all about the simple things. We name trees and flowers and animals and tracks. And stars, when we're out at night. We talk about how things work, how things grow. We talk about picking up litter and why we don't toss our own down. He's only two--he has a lifetime to pick his interests. For now, we just keep up a running dialogue.
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I wound up getting a Chicco baby backpack from Babies R Us because I needed something fast and it was the only thing in any retail store nearby that looked worth anything around here. I wanted to go on a hiking trip but I realized that the Snuggli was broke! One of the clips for clipping it on me is broken.
I really liked him riding on the front though as he was warmer. I would put the Snugli on, then put my coat on over the Snugli, then put him in the Snugli, then zip my coat up around both of us. He stayed nice and toasty like this, in the backpack carrier, I think he gets cold. So I either have to hold off doing any hiking until spring when the weather warms, of figure out some way to fix the Snugli at least do a patch job to get us buy until spring.
Also, he doesn't seem to like the Chicco, even though he looks really comfortable in it. I went for a mile hike and the second half of the hike he just started crying and crying and I don't really know why. I regret buying it now.
Your other option is to return the Chicco and find something he finds comfier. For the time being, a good soft structured carrier (Ergo and Beco are just two of the more popular brands) or even a mei tai might work better. You could make a babywearing coat or poncho for back carries.
For cool, but not cold weather:
http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/poncho.html
For colder:
http://drmomma.blogspot.com/2009/11/babywe...alteration.html
I've not seen the chicco in person, but does he *sit* in it or dangle? If he dangles, he just won't be comfortable. And if he does sit, he might need stirrups to keep his feet comfy.
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Can you get both hands in the log? How about some of the grippy mat stuff (you know, looks like little bubbles of go) or a rubber pad and some elbow grease? If the ice isn't thick (just frozen condensation), it should start budging once you have a better grip. Otherwise, an MRE heater sounds like a great idea. I doubt hand warmers would get warm enough.
And did you try begging? Asking nicely? I find that talking to inanimate objects makes them much more amenable to cooperating with my devious motives.
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So I was out walking in the peaks (I do not have GPS), and I'm keeping an eye out for some caches that I might spot on the offchance, searching even. And I found litter in some strange places!
Seriously, who the hell leaves a full lipsill up at the top of a rock face right at the back of a small crevice.
Lypsyl's hard to find where I am. I order it in bulk. I can tell you how I lose it--I wear my toddler on my back and the tube of lypsyl sometimes works its way out of my pocket when I'm shifting the waistbelt around or crouching to take a photo. As for how it got back there, perhaps a curious bird stashed it?
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For quick trips where I don't need to haul anything extra, I just use the Ergo. My son is 2.5y and right around 25lbs. We sometimes use a woven wrap, as well. The Ergo is our daily use carrier, though, and is always within arm's reach. It's easy to use with our frequent bus rides, too. I can leave him in and stand, or take him out and sit. There are a variety of soft structured carriers (SSCs) like the Ergo.
If I need to haul anything or if I need to wear more winter clothing than a fleece (and if he needs snowpants and a heavy coat), we use a framepack. We have the Deuter KidComfort III, which has an integrated sunhood, some gear pockets, and a pocket for a hydration bladder. I can get it on by myself and it has a "kick" stand. I do use trekking poles with this, especially on wet or uneven terrain.
I sometimes use trekking poles with the Ergo--mountains, uneven terrain, or snowy/icy conditions.
If you can find local vendors of the different brands, try them on. And fiddle around with the straps, make sure the pack actually fits you.
I thought the Deuter fit me just fine and ordered it. And then I struggled with finding the right spot for a year. Finally, I was out two weeks ago and suddenly realized a different set of strap adjusters. I rethreaded two straps and it suddenly fits perfectly.
I've been working on a babywearing coat for over a year now. I figure I'll finish it about the time he's too heavy to wear. It would allow us to use the Ergo underneath and conserve body heat.
I'd consider paying that much for two, if I really liked the pole and had a birthday coming up.
No point going through withdrawal for a weekend in the woods.
iPod touch and geocaching.
in How do I...?
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I hit command-P, then mail as PDF. I use the email app on my iPod Touch with gmail and just check the mail before I leave wifi. Sometimes it's buggy, but it generally works well.