Hot scoring foam to make a folding sleeping pad/pack frame.
Category Archives: Tips for the Backcountry
Neat Link on Making a Closed Cell Sleeping Pad into a Folding Version
Filed under Do It Yourself, Tips for the Backcountry
Climbing Protection, Weights of Passive vs Active
Old School cams (friends) matched with the same weight of passive pro. At least 1 of the passive nuts are similar in size to the cam opposite. In other words, you can double the size of your rack (if not the ease and speed of placement) with passive gear, especially tri-cams.
Cams vs nuts by weight
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Setting up a pyramid
Correct sequence for quick and easy Pyramid Tarp set up.
Zip and buckle door.
Stake out four corners in a perfect square.
unzip door and put up pole till fabric taut.
zipe and buckle door
add additional tie outs if needed for wind or snow.
Tall tent pole from two trek poles and 3 straps
Three straps are included with the pyramid tarps. With these you can make a long pole for setting up a pyramid tarp using two trekking or ski poles. Using adjustable trekking poles makes the tarp pole adjustable too.
two poles 3 straps
Strap thru wrist loops
Layout other straps
Buckle and tighten center strap around poles
Tighten all straps
Place tip protector on pole end
Tip end to protect tent fabric
Filed under alphamid, Do It Yourself, pyramid tarp, Tips for the Backcountry
Touring skins for skinny skis from old Telemark skins
Ever get the wax completely wrong when XC skiing? Or have to deal with breakable crust when touring?
Taking a beginner out and want them to have success on not so perfect snow or grooming?
I have a pair of old climbing skins from back when telemark skis were long and thin. By slitting them in
half and putting on new glue I have now two pair of skinny skins that will fit classic or skate skis.
After cutting I used a heat gun and a paint scraper to get the old glue off. Then put on new glue. Then I folded the front over 3 inches and insert a square ring of the right size to fit the ski tip (a loop of strong cord could also work in a pinch). The glue should hold it, but for extra safety a few stitches of thread made a nice backup.
Make some touring skins
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Filed under Do It Yourself, Tips for the Backcountry
How to replace a zipper slider
Usually the first part of a zipper to wear out is the slider. The metal wears away over time and no longer pushes the zipper teeth together. Replacing the slider is often a simple matter and takes only a blade or seam ripper and a needle and thread. If you have an Oware product with a worn out slider, contact me and I will send you a new slider for free. Here is a couple of videos on replacing a slider on a bug bivy.
Zip slider replacement a part 2
Bought old set of old school climbing pro
Interesting combination of Chouinard 1st 2nd and 3rd Gen Hexcentrics, some unnamed hexes, some Camp/Chouinard Excentrics and a few Eiger Hexes. Add these to my 80’s Hexes and Stoppers and I will be ready for “No Cams Climbing Day” (Once I replace the slings).
Old hexs.
Filed under Tips for the Backcountry
LInk to making mini containers from bottle and jar caps.
“What? You don’t save the plastic lids from bottles & jars? What were you thinking? Check the recycling. Now. How else to carry a few vitamins, or cough drops or whatever, without a whole lot of bulk or the risk that the tinfoil will open in your pocket?”
Filed under Do It Yourself, Tips for the Backcountry
Netting Tarps, more size options added.
Tarps with netting perimeter in 2, 3 and 5 person sizes. Popular with Outdoor Education groups.
Group and school pricing available (call)
Big Rock climb at Rocks of Sharon
Down coats, cold fingers, beautiful views north of Spokane.
Top of Big Rock
Filed under Tips for the Backcountry
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