We made the Adirondack Daily Enterprise for our presentation on the Thelon River.
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Bonus Item – Smartphone or Google Nexus 7 Tablet SCORE 18 MSRP: ~$200 http://www.google.com/nexus/#/7 NOTE: This is the last in my series of The Baker’s Dozen of Outdoor Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos from Worthless to Essential. For a table of the rankings and links to the entire list CLICK HERE. I appreciate your comments. Keep them coming. Thanks for following along. Jack Okay, some of you may think I’m crazy but I’m going to experiment and take my smart phone (I have an android-based phone) or my Google Nexus 7 (a 7 inch android-based tablet) on my next trip. Why would I bring a smart phone or tablet on a trip? There is no phone service where I travel so why take a phone? The battery won’t last very long without needing a charge. Here’s why; Apps! Imagine having a bird guide with bird calls or a star map allowing you to figure out what’s what in the night sky by geo-location, and so much more. Even without a phone or data connection you can have a world of resources with you like a wildflower guide with color pictures or a video of how to tie that important knot that you haven’t been able to master. It would be like having all your nature guides with you except that not only would you have the text and color photos but you could have video and audio. You wouldn't have to walk by a flower without learning what it was. You wouldn't have to listen to a bird call without know what bird it was. I’m taking my Google Nexus 7 on my next trip and I’ll let you know how it works. Here’s a list of a few apps I might bring with me. Keep in mind that I have only used the Google Sky Map. I do not have any experience with the others. Let me know what your favorite outdoor apps are. (The links are for the Android version of these apps but iPhone versions of these apps exist as well.)
Item 1 Map & Compass SCORE 25 MSRP: ~$24.00 Map of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area:· http://www.amazon.com/Boundary-Waters-Canoe-Area-Wilderness/dp/1597754137/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1349232380&sr=8-2&keywords=bwca+maps Compass http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=silva+compass&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS452US452&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=713&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=281223987299714260&sa=X&ei=b6drUPKKFeLs0gGU44A4&ved=0CGkQ8wIwBA What! How can a map and compass be the number one item? Well, they met all my criteria. I used them every day. (Well the map anyway.) The map was always with me in the canoe. Although the GPS was usually on I referred to the map more often than I did the GPS. The map and compass perform flawlessly. They are light, compact, and durable thanks to the maps’ being made of waterproof tear-resistant material. They were essential for our safety, more reliable than a GPS, and having a map to read every day is most enjoyable. I might go without a GPS but I would never go without a map and compass. Tomorrow I share the bonus item. The one item I did not bring but I might on my next trip. Stay Tuned. FINAL EVALUATION: A good map and compass are the perfect items. Of the items on my list they are arguably the only essential ones. Don't leave home without them! To see item 2 click HERE To see the evaluation criteria click HERE Item 2 – SteriPEN Classic - The Baker’s Dozen of Outdoor Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos from Worthless to Essential SCORE 24 MSRP: $69.95 http://www.steripen.com/classic-filter According the the SteriPEN website, "SteriPEN products use ultraviolet (UV) light technology to purify water, destroying more than 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses and protozoan cysts such as giardia and cryptosporidia. The method has now been used for over one hundred years, and is currently used to purify drinking water by some of the largest cities in the world, including Seattle, New York (scheduled soon), Tempe, AZ and many others in North America, Europe and Asia. Ultra Violet light is also used by leading bottled water manufacturers to purify their source water." I've had this SteriPen for a number of years but had only used it sporadically. I didn't need it on my 2010 wilderness trip to northern Canada because up by the Arctic Circle you don’t need to treat your water. In the BWCA however it is the recommended practice and I choose to use the SteriPEN and was glad I did. I like this model because it takes readily available AA batteries. My NiMh rechargeable batteries lasted nearly two-weeks of treating over a gallon of water a day. I had heard stories of Steri-PENs not being dependable but we had no problems and I would recommend this as the most convenient method of treating water that I've ever used. The only negative aspect is that it is a fairly delicate item and needs to be given special care. I don't know if it would hold up to the rugged use an outdoor program might give it. What's your experience? FINAL EVALUATION: Excellent! This meets all the criteria for a great backcountry product. To see item 3 click HERE To see the evaluation criteria click HERE Item 3 – Hand Sanitizer - The Baker’s Dozen of Outdoor Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos from Worthless to Essential SCORE 24 MSRP: $1 Okay, this isn’t really a gadget but this is the first trip that I brought hand sanitizer that was clipped to our cooking gear bag. It was so convenient! If hands are visibly dirty then you need to wash them with soap and water but otherwise hand sanitizer does the job. Since keeping your hands clean is one of the most We kept the hand sanitizer handy by clipping it to our cook gear bag critical factors in preventing backcountry illness, having hand sanitizer handy is a no brainer. FINAL EVALUATION: Hard to beat! Inexpensive, used every day, helps keep us healthy. What more can you ask for? To see item 4 click HERE To see the evaluation criteria click HERE On a cold November day I hiked up St. Regis Mountain with a couple of friends, Rich and Bill. The forecast was for clear skies through early afternoon and below freezing temperatures all day. A 9:00 AM start seemed right to let the temperatures rise a little and to still get up top before the clouds drifted in. Being back on Standard Time also meant that a late start would not be too wise. It had been snowing above 2000’ for a few days, so we knew there would be ice and snow on the trail. I’m old school when it comes to being prepared in the woods. We all brought the usual stuff. Food, water, a couple extra layers, map, compass, flashlight, first aid, emergency kit, etc…, you get the picture. We also brought traction devices for the ice we knew would be on the trail. Rich had heavy duty STABILicers, Bill and I had instep crampons. The crampons work well, but they are cumbersome to put on and take some getting used to. I am planning to buy a pair of Microspikes this season; they have excellent reviews. I believe that at this time of year it is irresponsible and down right dangerous to hike on icy trails without some type of traction device. The safety concerns are obvious, but there are also environmental considerations. Without these devices hikers need to detour around icy spots. This causes damage to plants and soils on the edges of the trail and widens the path. Icy trail conditions On our way up we were passed by a couple of trail runners; two women in their 20s. They were in good shape and were headed back down long before we reached the summit. While I admired their ability to accomplish this feat, I couldn’t help but notice that they were not very well prepared to be in the backcountry under the conditions of the day. One of the runners had a small belt pack and the other didn’t appear to have anything extra. I wondered if they had traction devices. One slip on the icy trail and they would be in serious trouble, as the cold temperatures would quickly take over their light running cloths if their activity level decreased. Hypothermia would certainly set in if the unexpected happened. Likely other trail runners would disagree with me and possibly rationalize their actions, but I felt that this was a dangerous situation. When our group reached the summit we had it all to ourselves. Although it was a bit overcast we could see for miles. We bundled up, had some lunch and enjoyed the view. The entire Canoe Area lay at our feet, with Upper Saranac Lake leading our eyes south to the Western High Peaks, slightly to the east we could see the whole Great Range and due east was beautiful Whiteface Mountain totally cloaked in brilliant white. We hiked around the top to get views to the north and west. Only from the top of the fire tower can you get a 360 degree view and it is closed to the public until it can be rehabilitated and made safe again. Mandatory group shot After spending all the time we wanted on the top, we strapped on our foot gear and headed down. I appreciate the support of hiking poles on the downhill run and with the ice they really came in handy. By the time we reached the site of the former fire observer’s cabin it was time to take the crampons off. Not long afterwards we spotted a large area that had been scraped up, with the saplings in the circle all rubbed up. The Whitetail rut must be on. This will make the hunters happy. By the way, I rarely get concerned about hiking during hunting season. I usually wear some red or orange clothing and of course I don’t wear anything white. All the hunters I know are responsible people and are very safety conscious. Back at the trailhead, there was time for a celebratory beverage and some final banter before heading home to a warm fire and a cup of hot tea. It was a wonderful day to be in the woods and on the top of a mountain with good friends. Don’t let the cold weather keep you from getting out there or you’ll miss the joy. Be safe and have fun.
With the globe facing out Item 4 – Nokero Dome Light - The Baker’s Dozen of Outdoor Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos from Worthless to Essential SCORE 23 MSRP: $20 Link to Nokero website If the Bungee Dealee Bob is the best new low-tech gadget then the Nokero Dome light is the best new high-tech gadget. This dome light has 4 LED bulbs with a small dome globe that is solar powered. It is incredibly light in weight at less than 4 oz! It is powered by a replaceable NiMh battery. The battery is charged by the solar panel and gives you up to 6 hours of light on one charge. While it will never be mistaken for a Coleman lantern in terms of the amount of light produced it provides plenty of light to play cards, read a book, or cook a late dinner. I charged it about every other day and never ran out of light. I have only one complaint. It needs to be beefed up a bit. The rubber cover on the switch split before the end of the trip. It doesn't affect its performance but it makes it no longer waterproof. A protective packing container would be nice also. With the solar panel facing out An interesting tidbit from the Nokero website, "Nokero (short for No Kerosene) designs products for the 1.3 billion people without access to reliable electricity. Today many of these people spend upwards of 30% of their daily income on kerosene based fuels to burn in makeshift lanterns and lamps. This not only deprives families of hard earned money it poses a real and serious health hazard through the release of toxic fumes and the high occurrence of burns caused by the accidental knock over of lamps." Oh, and one other thing. Don't be fooled when you get one and it doesn't appear to work. It only works when it is dark out or the solar panel is covered. When I first got it I thought it didn't work. I ended up watching a You Tube video and learned this trick. FINAL EVALUATION: Awesome! A big leap forward in technology and saving weight To see item 5 click HERE To see the evaluation criteria click HERE Item 5 – Bungee Dealee Bob - The Baker’s Dozen of Outdoor Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos from Worthless to Essential SCORE 23 MSRP: $2.50 http://www.oldscoutoutdoorproducts.com/about.html I learned about these things from Doug. These little gadgets of a doubled over 18 inch length of 1/8” diameter bungee cord with a toggle are so handy and inexpensive you will never want to go on another outing without a bunch of them. These allow you to quickly and safely secure paddles, fishing rods, ropes and other loose items. I use them everywhere, in the canoe, on my backpack, at home, in the car. If you need to fasten or secure something this is the item you need. FINAL EVALUATION: Essential - This is the best low-tech invention I've seen in years. To see item 6 click HERE To see the evaluation criteria click HERE Item 6 – Leatherman Pulse* SCORE 21 MSRP: $50 http://www.leatherman.com/product/Pulse There are a lot of good multi-purpose tools out there but I’m partial to Leatherman the original American made multi-purpose tool. I bought the Pulse because it has locking tools that makes them extra safe. There are number of current models with locking blades. My Leatherman is something I used every day for numerous purposes. It is kind of heavy for a knife but it is oh so versatile. I wouldn't consider going on a trip without it. Oh, and if you’re considering buying a cheap knock off, before you do, be sure to watch the movie 127 Hours. FINAL EVALUATION: Indispensable! Heavy for a knife but so much more than a knife. To see item 7 click HERE To see the evaluation criteria click HERE * This is a discontinued model but there are lots of good ones to choose from Item 7 – GPS-Garmin 62s -The Baker’s Dozen of Outdoor Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos from Worthless to essential SCORE 19 MSRP: $449.88 https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=63801 I consider the Garmin 60 series including the 62 series the best backcountry all purpose GPS devices made. I had a GPS Map 60cs for years and used it so much the words on the buttons wore off. I used it for canoeing, hiking, hunting, and even driving and I found it dependable and reliable. I only have a couple of criticisms of it. One is that there is quite a learning curve in order to be able to take advantage of everything it can do. The other is that after seven years (not very long when you’re my age but a century in the technology industry) when I had a minor problem that I knew would be an easy repair, I was told by Garmin that it was too old and they don’t service them anymore. I found a local electronics store to make the repair for me. I eventually purchased the Garmin 62s and have been very happy with it. While a GPS is no replacement for the need for every wilderness traveler to have expertise with both topo maps and compass I feel GPSs definitely have their place. I use them a number of ways. A GPS should not replace the map it should complement your map. A map provides the big picture the GPS provides the micro picture. As an outdoor instructor I require learners to master map and compass skills before spending considerable time with a GPS. On the other hand if I didn't teach students how to use a GPS I’d be negligent. Like any technology it should be a tool. I know many people are against GPS technology on principle. I can appreciate that. People used to feel the same way about calculators versus slide rules. I love to have a GPS confirm what I think I already know. When I’m hunting I’m more likely to go to new areas adjacent to the wild areas I hunt in because I’m know that finding my way back will not be a hassle. Keep in mind that I have forty years of map and compass experience and I’m confident that I’d find my way back without the GPS but the GPS just makes it easier when I enter new country. When canoeing big lakes or running a river where it is essential that I find a specific non-descript location along the river a GPS makes life a whole lot easier. Who wants to accidentally go down the wrong bay four miles before they find out it is the wrong bay? Who wants to miss a critical spot on the river and realize it a mile upstream? Even experts make these mistakes occasionally. I also love to keep the GPS turned on to keep a “track” of our trip. That is the GPS route that you can print out when you get home and keep as a souvenir. I have a 3-ring binder of many of the trips I've taken that includes a map with the track printed on it and the screen capture of the GPS providing the moving time, non-moving time, total time, and distance traveled. It provides a great memento as well as resource. FINAL EVALUATION: I love it! It doesn't take the place of a map and compass but I rarely go into the woods without it. To see item 8 click HERE To see the evaluation criteria click HERE |
Jack Drury
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