Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

thanks and what a shame... but will do and looking forward to the few days out there!

 

Damn, is ABQ that bad? I stayed there in August but it was in Uptown so prob not a good representation.

 

The Sandias are beautiful and can't go wrong with most hikes up in there!

Haha yeah Uptown is not the best representation... It's pretty bad here, crime sucks, 2nd highest in the nation for car thefts, and so on. But you wouldn't really notice it if you are visiting, only if you are (un)lucky haha

 

That's funny because I was there for 3.5 weeks on a business trip in April/May and had heard about the crime but hadnt seen anything. Luckily just had a rental and didnt keept much in it. I also stayed up on the border or Rio Rancho so i was outside ABQ but when i went into town you could tell it was sketch. I love NM though! Gotta hit Sandia Peak. It snowed a few inches while o was there but i rented a 4wd Silverado for my trip so i drove up during the storm and it was epic!

 

It's sad how bad it has gotten here. But like @WildLand said the la luz is very popular and should have some great scenery

 

I picked this up a couple weeks back on a Massdrop deal. Vargo came out with a smaller titanium BOT, solving the handle issue by putting one on this slightly shorter model (same diameter as the original BOT). It still fits a 100g fuel canister, stove, spork, lighter, and I also added a scrubby pad and small bottle of soap. Complete kit, with a threaded lid. No stuff sack needed to keep the contents inside and the lid on. Plus, you can pre-soak your next meal in it so all you have to do when you get to camp is warm it up. I use the scotch-brite scrubby as my pot handle holder. Cap flips over as the pot lid, and also doubles as a small drinking cup.

 

Brian is a smart man. Always engineering shit.

 

Looking for a decent crampon that will hold up in mixed terrain? I have a pair of Kahtoola KTS Crampons that are aluminum. I really like them because they are lightweight, stay on and fit my boots really well. I took them out recently and wore down the points pretty bad. The steel version should last significantly longer I would think? Or should I look into something with replaceable parts? Just curious what other peoples experience with crampons are? I go through a lot of rocks and at $150 for a pair it gets expensive!

http://kahtoola.com/product/kts-aluminum-hiking-crampon/

 

I know nothing about crampons, but why can't you take a grinder to the dull points and sharpen them?

 

I will with the current set I have, but they are about 40% gone already and have 4 outings on them in 6 days. I know the Chromoly with last longer, but the teeth look thin, not sure if I could fold them over coming down hill on rocks? The aluminum is softer, but they are shorter and thicker. I don't have much experience with crampons either just a few other times on a glacier.

Here's the terrain I'm in, its not ideal to pull them on and off and its a good mix of icy slopes and rocky ridges

 

You should't have any trouble with the steel ones, but please sharpen with a small mill file. The grinder can overheat the small points ruining the temper and they'll never stay sharp.

 

Steel. Look at Black Diamond or basic ones from CAMP. Ice fall climbing crampons are going to be different than hiking/scrambling ones, in particulat the angle of the front points. Usually only the ice climbing ones have replacable parts. edit: and if you are wandering about in that type of terrain, i sure hope you have taken the time for avalanche training, and are going with partners of equal training skills so you can rely on each other.

 

A neighbor just asked me if I can use a Coleman two burner, guess who got a new stove?

 

Score!

 

nothing says Christmas like free camping gear

 

Take some acetone to that magic marker and it will be like new. Great score.

 

Write over it with a white board marker and wipe off

 

That could work. Most of those only have methanol and/or isopropyl in them as a solvent which may not cut the marker (depending on the marker). Whatever decent solvent onhand

 

Alcohol will clean it. Unless it's the permanent version.

 

I does work. I use it all the time.