[at-l] Ultralight Backpacking

[spiriteagle99 at hotmail.com (Jim and/or Ginny Owen)]

Mark Nickerson wrote:
>
>Lately, I've been wondering why someone hasn't:
>
>invented a pack cover with a section map printed onto the material

How about the bandannas sold by Tinman, ALDHA and (I believe) ATC that have 
AT sections printed on them?  Not sure why you'd want a pack like that - it 
would be hard to read while you're wearing the pack - and even harder to 
read when it was stuffed into the pack <G>

>injected soap and/or deoderant into socks and shirt pits  (the real wash 
>and wear)

LOL!! Interesting idea - but --- have you ever washed your socks with too 
much soap and then hiked in the rain?  The trail of bubbles is entertaining.

>invented "spakes"...spoons which can be used as tent stakes
>

Another interesting idea although given some of the places I've had to drive 
tent stakes I'm not sure I'd want to put that stake in my mouth afterward.

>combined the concept of a water bladders with a trail pillow
>

Uh-huh - try the REI watersak.  I've known thruhikers who carried two of 
them - one for water and the other for a pillow.

>built a sleeping pad onto a sleeping bag
>

Stephenson does this - if they're still in business.  Haven't looked at 
their stuff for a while.

>sewn storage bags onto everything
>

How about an external pack frame with no pack bag - just put everything into 
stuff sacks and lash them to the frame?  Haven't seen one of those in years.

>combined bivy, sleeping pad and sleeping bag (the bivy down bag!)
>

Go find Big John - he used to sell a combo pack, tent, pad and bag.   URL - 
http://www.moonbowgear.com/

>used the tubing of an external frame backpack to hold water
>

Now - that's a new one.  Patent it.  Quickly.

>attached solar collectors to the top of backpacks (for non-AT hikers)
>

Hmmm - for what?  GPS?  Cell phone?  Ipod?  You may want to meet Bun-bun  - 
or not.  (http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/bun-bun.html).  <g>

>used the tubing of an external backpack to store batteries Is it a large 
>enough diameter to do this?

Battery leakage could be a problem - although AA batteries "might" fit.  Try 
it.

>developed a combination duffle/pack cover!
>
>added another item to our Murder on the AT thread.
>

Walk softly,
Jim

http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/