[at-l] Ultralight Backpacking

[lbooher at pure.net (Leslie Booher)]

Lately, I've been wondering why someone hasn't:

invented a pack cover with a section map printed onto the material
injected soap and/or deoderant into socks and shirt pits  (the real wash and 
wear)
invented "spakes"...spoons which can be used as tent stakes
combined the concept of a water bladders with a trail pillow

I used to do that.  I would use one of those blue fabric water holders with the plastic lining and the wine box spouts.  When it was bedtime, I would just blow some air into it and use it for a pillow.  I think they were even billed as having that as a use.  If there was still water in it, it would slosh around during the night.  <G>  I hadn't thought about that in ages.  Usually, I just stuff clothes into one of the empty stuff sacks and use that.  

built a sleeping pad onto a sleeping bag

There is a brand that does this.  Actually, I think there's a long slot where you slide the pad right into it, so that you don't keep falling off the pad in the night.  

sewn storage bags onto everything
combined bivy, sleeping pad and sleeping bag (the bivy down bag!)
used the tubing of an external frame backpack to hold water
attached solar collectors to the top of backpacks (for non-AT hikers) You obviously missed that recent thread.  <G>
used the tubing of an external backpack to store batteries Is it a large enough diameter to do this?
developed a combination duffle/pack cover!
added another item to our Murder on the AT thread.

I've been thinking on just that thing.  I was trying to work it around Felix's memory, like "The Vision on the Summit", but that doesn't quite express the meaning of his little vignette.  Besides, it would have to be the title of the last chapter, and I wasn't sure that we were there yet.  How about "Thinking of Mrs. Purdlebaugh "?  

Yes, I have enjoyed the Murder on the AT Thread.  

Mark