Backpacking

How to determine how long you have before the sun sets

Many skills when it comes to the outdoors are perishable. If you don’t practice those skills or use them regularly, you’ll lose your edge and that could cost your life depending on the situation. One of those simple skills is knowing how much daylight you have left before the sun sets. Nowadays we have technology to assist us with this. My Garmin Fenix 5 watch displays on the dial what time the sun sets each day. Pretty easy to just look down at my watch to see how much time I have left. But what if the battery dies midday?

Fortunately, there is an easy way to determine remaining daylight left with just your hands. This is a skill I picked up in the military and I still practice it from time to time and comparing that with my Garmin watch. Below is an easy to understand picture of how to measure remaining daylight with your hands. Check it out!

Why is this important?

Well if you’re out for just a simple day hike this could come in handy so that you can ensure you have enough time to get back to your vehicle, so you’re not navigating back in the dark. That could present a whole other set of issues. If you’re not prepared for an unexpected night out, then you better know how much time you have before it gets dark.

If you’re backpacking or camping then knowing this will allow you to make sure you have ample time to prep for the evening. This could be tasks such as setting up tents and hammocks or gathering supplies to get your fire going and keep it going into the night. Waiting until dusk to start these tasks will only compound the difficulty and increase your stress level. The time spent outdoors is meant to be enjoyable.

*Featured photo courtesy of Pixabay

Summer is almost here! Pick a Hammock for your next Adventure

When out in the backcountry, the hammock is one piece of gear I hear mentioned all the time while discussing ‘what’s new’ or I’m involved in a ‘is it worth it’ type of gear discussion. It generally starts with a backpacking trip and someone sets up their hammock. In a group, you will inevitably hear, “Man, I knew I should have brought mine” or “I’ve been wanting to get a hammock for a while now.”

Hammocks can be a great alternative to a tent, especially in the summertime. Although, it doesn’t need to be summer to enjoy the luxuries of a hammock. There are plenty of ultralight minimalists that use a hammock throughout the year. With a warm rated sleeping bag and the right accessories/weather barriers, you can use a hammock just about anywhere there is a place to set one up. If you live in an area with minimal trees, rock outcroppings work great and you just have to be a little more strategic with your location. If you live in the arctic tundra, well, you may be out of luck.

Things to consider when buying a hammock:

Is this to save weight?
Am I trying to sleep more comfortably?
Will I be using this year round or just during warmer weather?
Have I borrowed one and slept in it for a couple of nights before making the purchase? This is more important for the people who are purchasing a hammock because they think it will help them sleep better. For many, they will, but it’s better to be sure before you spend the money.

We had the chance to lounge around in some hammocks and get the down-low a few of our favorite models while at Summer Outdoor Retailer. Resident dirtbag Leo has a variety of models with him on his travels from Alaska to Argentina. We’ll have some full reviews of these items in the near future. Until then, check out videos below on each of our favorite models from the show.

There is a design for every type of hammock lounger or sleeper and any of these models will make a great gift for the holidays or for a birthday.

Lawson Hammocks – The Hammock that’s a tent. This is the hammock you want if you’re looking to completely replace your tent or want something with that is reasonably light, gives full weather coverage, and adds versatility. They are a small company that puts a ton of effort into their product. Get it here.

Kammok – Durability, strength, and accessories galore. Kammok has a crazy amount of variety and includes sleeping bags and tarps that integrate with their hammocks. From ultralight to comfort lounger, they produce the most variety we’ve seen. Get your Kammok hammock here.

Grand Trunk – The camouflage hammock (released later this fall). They’re switching all of their hammocks over to a double version. Why? Because who doesn’t want more room when they sleep? The Kryptec model is perfect for the soldier or hunter who is running solo and ultralight in a forested environment. Get your Grand Trunk gear here.

If you have experience with any of these brands or have a favorite model, please, tell us about it in the comments below, on Facebook, or through the Comms Check.

How to Survive Anything: Be prepared for an inbound hurricane

Hurricane season on the Atlantic coast usually runs from the beginning of June to the end of November. So far this season, we’ve been fortunate to only see on full scale hurricane and a hand full of tropical storms meander their way toward shore. However, as history has shown, it only takes one serious storm to cripple an entire region of the nation.

If you find yourself in a hurricane’s path, there are a few things you can do around the house to help minimize your risks while you wait out the storm, as well as to help better position you for success once the storm is over… But remember, the best thing you can do to prepare for a hurricane is to get clear of the storm well before it makes landfall.

Stock up on non-perishable foods well ahead of time
Cover windows with plywood (use wood screws, not nails)
Store loose gear indoors or tie it down
Survey your property for trees or tree limbs that look like they could come down. If possible, deal with them ahead of time. If not, avoid rooms in the house near those threats.
Make sure you know how to turn off the gas, electricity, and water in your home.
Put together some water storage
Shelter in an interior room, away from any windows.

Grab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag

Grab your gear and go. In the military, especially in Ranger School, you are taught and instructed to never have more than one item out of your ruck at a time. It was always entertaining to see some guy in the position next to me with both boots and socks off just as that fateful high pitched squeal of an artillery simulator kicked off. In school, you never wanted to be that guy.

As I’ve transitioned into civilian life, I still strive to never be the one that gets left behind because I didn’t have my gear in order. Many people have go-bags, medical kits, and emergency rations in their vehicles or homes, but neglect the fun stuff. There have been a couple of occasions throughout the years where I’ve missed out on a quick trip to the mountains or a last-minute adventure because I didn’t have my gear together. I vowed to never let that happen again.

The Adventure GO BAG

I previously kept two large Pelican Cases in the back of my truck for easy access to my gear on the go. This worked great for a while until I needed to transfer the gear to a friends vehicle or throw it on my back to pack into distant camp. I’ve since transitioned to three items for storing and transporting all my necessary adventure gear.

As the seasons change I will adjust the contents of my gear to the specific activities or sudden trips that may come up. Although most of the gear may change, the following is gear that never leaves my adventure go bag no matter the season:

First-aid kit
1″ roll of Gorilla Tape
50 feet of 550 cord
Knife
Fire starting gear
Headlamp with extra batteries
Tent
Pad
Stove with one small and one medium fuel canister.
LifeStraw
Bladder Filter
Extra Nalgene
Helmet – One helmet I can bike, ski, and climb in
GOR-TEX Jacket
Polartec Hoody
Lightweight synthetic-fill hoody
Weather resistant softshell pants
Base-layer, top, bottom, and t-shirt
Ranger panties
4 pairs of socks – I keep a mix of SmartWool, Darn Tough, Serket, and Wigwam. They all have different warmth, thickness, and a variety I like to choose from depending on the activity.
Lightweight synthetic gloves
Wool cap
Flip Flops – Have to keep happy feet after a long day on the trail or the mountains.

*A sleeping bag should never be stuffed for extended periods of time and is therefore omitted from this list. With everything else packed it only takes a minute to stuff the bag and go.

Gregory Stash Duffle 115L

My go to duffle is the Gregory Stash Duffle 115L. The 115 liters of space allow me to throw in everything I need and have it ready at a moments notice. Having one large heavy-duty duffle for storing gear is essential. Too large and you end-up keeping it packed with more gear than you will ever use. Too small and you run out of room for trips and events that involve multiple sports and activities.

When traveling there is enough room to keep my primary backpack, summit pack, the gear listed above, and any additional equipment. In the winter this includes a baseline of alpine climbing or skiing gear (minus skis of course). Summer and fall allowing me to throw in rock climbing, mountain biking, or other backpacking necessities – the extra weight is worth it.

The Stash has a full length zipper that allows for easy access to all items and makes stuffing in extra gear a breeze. The built-in shoulder straps with reinforced stitching make this duffle pretty darn comfortable if you need to haul in a large quantity of gear. I did just that on a recent “find the rock climbing spot that no-one has been to before” trip. What was thought to be just a few hundred meter hike turned into over an hour of searching and plenty of boulder hopping to reach the crag.

This duffle behaved more like a pack and was able to haul all the necessary climbing gear, food, and water for an evening at the crag.

Gregory Stash Duffle Specs

Big, large, huge, zippered opening to main compartment provides exceptional access to interior
Can be carried with padded backpack harness straps or with traditional duffel-style handle
Top of bag is padded for comfortable carry against back
Zippered exterior pocket with key clip
Compression straps on each end
4 tubular webbing grab handles
800 D Ballistic and 1680 D Ballistic Nylon main body materials
MSRP — $109, but can be found for less online.

Gregory Alpinisto 50L

I own a number of packs and still use them for very specific purposes and when I have ample time to plan and pack. For my grab and go pack I’ve transitioned to the Gregory Alpinisto 50 liter as my do-it-all adventure pack. Although intended for alpine climbing, this pack is capable of multi-day trips in a variety of conditions. From three and four-day backpacking trips, long day hikes, or alpine climbing in the Cascades, this pack checks all the boxes.

Multiple accessory pockets, modern ice tool attachments, and a designated crampon pocket make this pack a do-it-all gear hauler. The comfortable waistband, ergonomic back panel, and side or top openings make this pack not only comfortable, but easy to access. For shorter adventures or for a day at the crag, the pack can be synched down. The crampon pocket is the perfect size for a guidebook or water bottle when not carrying a pair of crampons.

The material is burley and has multiple reinforced stitching points. The gear loops on the waist belt aid in organizing climbing gear while wearing the pack. If you dabble in a variety of outdoor sports and activities this pack may suit your needs as well. The weight, comfort, versatility, and competitive price make this pack a perfect all-rounder.

Gregory Alpinisto 50L Specs

Stowable crampon pocket with puncture-resistant TPU panel
Stowable, adjustable ice axe attachments
Removable top lid, aluminum frame stay, HDPE framesheet, bivy pad, and hipbelt padding
Top-loading design with side zip access to main compartment
Removable lid pocket with occipital cutout and security pocket on underside
Single wand pocket
Hydration sleeve with locking zip hose port
A-frame ski carry slots with sled pull loops
Side compression straps with integrated ice axe retention
Rope strap and emergency haul loops
Expedition hipbelt with dual gear loops and ice clipper slots
High-visibility exterior and interior liner
Dual-layer HD nylon bottom panel
Sizes: xs – L
MSRP — $239, but can be found for less online.

CiloGear 20L WorkSack

Next to my pack and easily stuffed inside of my duffle is a CiloGear 20L WorkSack. If there is a better summit bag or pack for multi-pitch trad climbs, I haven’t found it. Based out of Portland, Oregon, these guys make every pack to order. Their small operation produces packs that are used and coveted by some of the best climbers and adventurers the world over. I know I’ve got this guy on my wish list.

When on a multi-day climb and you want to move fast to the summit and back, this is the pack to take. At only 330g (10 oz) this pack weighs next to nothing and packs down in into a larger pack until needed. I’ve used this pack on numerous occasions climbing throughout Oregon and California. On longer mountain biking days I used this pack with a hydration bladder and still had plenty of room for lunch, jacket, and other luxuries. The greatest benefit is how this pack rides on your back. It sits up high and between your shoulder blades. It doesn’t get in the way and makes access to a climbing harness a breeze.

CiloGear 20L WorkSack Specs

Weight – 330g
Material: Dimension Polyant VX07: 70d nylon ripstop laminated in a five ply sandwich with dacron X-Pac for rip resistance and structural stability. This fabric is 200 psi waterproof.
Colors: black, red, grey
Two side mesh pockets
Inner ninja pocket for keys and other small items
Inner sleeve that will fit a hydration bladder. I cut a section from an old foam pad to use as a bivy seat and it also protects my back from any hard or sharp objects.
MSRP — $69

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Overall, find what combination works for you. These are what I use today, but I may find something else that works better a week down the line. The most important thing is to always be prepared, have fun, and never miss out on an adventure again. Grab your gear and go. If you have an adventure go bag, let us know what you carry and why.

Check out this setup for more great adventure ready ideas.

How to Survive Anything: Make it through a tornado

There are a lot of things you can do to make sure you never find yourself directly in the path of a tornado, but despite our best efforts, sometimes we still find ourselves in some pretty crappy spots. So, while we may devote plenty of videos to getting out of dodge before something bad lands in your lap, it’s just as important to know how to survive if escaping ahead of time wasn’t an option.

So what do you do if you find yourself directly in the path of a tornado?

Hide out in a storm cellar if at all possible. If not possible, head for a basement.
If not possible, jump in a bathtub or something else that’s firmly secured to the ground. Place a mattress over you to protect yourself from falling debris.
If you are sheltering in a group, interlock your arms to ensure no one is pulled away.
Stay as low as you can
DON’T STICK YOUR HEAD OUT TO FILM ANYTHING FOR FACEBOOK
Don’t emerge just because the storm seems to have stopped. It may be the eye. Wait for the all clear on the radio or until the sounds of the storm have passed for several minutes.

Feature image courtesy of the NOAA Photo Library via the U.S. Air Force

How to Survive Anything: Making it through a flash flood

Like most natural disasters, a bit of preparation ahead of time can go a long way. If you know there’s a high flood risk in your area, start by heading for high ground or out of the path of the storm. If, however, evacuating isn’t an option, you run the chance of finding yourself squaring off with one of nature’s most prolific killers: water.

If it can make the Grand Canyon, it sure as hell can mess up your Sunday. Here’s what to do if you find yourself squaring off with a wall of water:

Dump whatever you’re carrying and book it for high ground.
If the water starts to rise around you, look for something to climb (like a tree) and get as high as possible.
If you find yourself swept up in the flood, you are in trouble. Try to orient yourself so your legs are out in front of you so you can use them to stop you from being bashed into any hard objects in your path.
Protect your upper body and head at all costs. You’re going to get hurt, but you can survive if you keep your head above water and your torso free of holes.
Try to steer clear of obstructions in your path. Getting out of the flood is a top priority, but you don’t want to end up pinned up against an obstruction in the effort. Your chances of being killed increase dramatically the more the flood hits you with debris.
Go with the current and work your way toward an edge until you’re in shallow enough water to escape.

Feature image courtesy of the National Parks Service