[at-l] Three for One

[pmags@yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

Since I am in digest mode, and feeling rather
tired/lazy this morning, I am going to post a three
for one e-mail. The main advantage is that it is much
easier to delete any e-mails from me this morning. :-)

#1: The Silly  - Irish Frugality

Yes, it a little known fact that the Magnanti were
actually called MacNanti. They are a dark haired,
olive complected group of Irish from(very) southern 
Ireland.  Though members of the MacNanti clan have
been known to enjoy a Guinness; instead of potatoes,
for some odd reason, they grew up with pasta as the
starch of choice. Odd group of Irish those MacNanti.

#2:  The Practical - Inexpensive = Heavy.

Weary was nice enough to make a generous comment about
my advice. Thanks!  One nitpick I have to make though
is that inexpensive does not always equal heavy.  The
very expensive Gore-tex jackets weigh quite a bit more
(and are overkill for three-season hiking IMHO) than a
coated nylon jacket, Frog Toggs, etc. The GTX jacket
is also  much more expensive.  A fleece hat bought at
clearence weighs the same as a fleece hat bought at
full price. Ditto for gloves, underwear, etc bought at
discount from Sierra Trading Post.

One area where cheap does equal heavy is a sleeping
bag. I strongly suggest to get the best bag you can
afford. Buy a Feathered Friend or Western
Mountaineering bag, and not only is it lighter, but
the quality is noticeably higher, too. 

I did recently splurge on a brand name jacket
(gasp!..a Marmot Driclime windshirt. Type of jacket
popular in Europe, 100 wt fleece with a highly water
resistant and wind repellent shell. It is now my shell
and insulation weighing in 10oz. Thanks to the George
Bush bribe..er tax rebate), but even with a fleece and
a coated nylon jacket, my base pack weight was approx.
 15 lbs. Use an aluminum pot, foam pad, frameless
rucksack and homemade stove. Spent quite a bit less
for that setup than for more traditional (and heavier)
equipment.

Again, up until recently, my one truly big ticket item
was the sleeping bag. 

#3 - The Fun!  - Full Moon Fonduing

Last night was a full moon. So how better to celebrate
a full moon than to do a night hike? And how better to
celebrate a night hike than chocolate fonduing? 

Yesiree. Went on a shortish hike last night of a
little under three miles and up to just over 10k feet.
It was only cool as opposed to the cold of this past
weekend.  The moon was so bright, did not even need my
headlamp.  And I must say, strawberries and chocolate
at ten thousand feet are quite good. Nice clear night
sitting where the Rocky mtns begin. Could see the
Boulder in the valley about 20 miles away, and look
west to see the really big peaks. All in all, not a
bad way to spend an evening. Even if I need tootpicks
to keep my eyes propped open this morning. Ahem. :-)


Now I am looking forward to the rainy and cold weather
I remember so well back in New England! :O


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The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau

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