Ultimate Camping Thread

ah... interesting. good to know... not going to bother down here (black bears). up in montana where we go sometimes however, there are definitely grizzlies. saw 6 on our last trip (mostly in Glacier park).

 

yes asek is in and has been tested lol

amazing deal, but the rims crack me up

i seen a lot of foxes a cyotes. tons of deer and raccons and possoms. even a few bob cats but i dont live in bear country and i dont go into it often.

 

I see plenty of bears when out during the summer and fall months. Generally you don't have to worry. Its all about being prepared. Not necessarily having a firearm, but being confortable enough to know the best thing isn't just to jump and run! Black bears will usually leave you alone unless they have cubs... Even then as long as your not a threat they are more than likely to leave you on your way.

I worked in forestry as during my summers out of high school and university, mapping areas for logging. First while I was always nervous when I saw a pile of bear dung or tracks. After a bit I found it was an absence of sign that was cause for concern. Lots of black bear sign means less likely to be grizzley.

They are a different animal all together. They KNOW they can kick your ass. Stumble on a food stash, watch out... stumble on a mom and cubs, watch out...
Still they are generally not out just to get you so unprovoked and given a wide berth your likely fine. That said if im in an area and see sign or an actual griz, i'll usually leave that area alone for a while.

As for bear mace.. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Just a little bit in the breeze had me coughing for hours. We've all heard stories of the guy who used it and then absent mindedly scratched his balls... OUCH!

 

haha yeah i had a nasty rash on my skin for a few weeks when it blew back on me. definitely sucked a lot!

I have had an encounter with bears a few times. First time was in Canada... black bear with her 4 cubs. Luckily we were in the car then. The second time was a little too close for comfort. I was mountain biking in Montana and ended up taking a wrong turn at some point...thus getting myself lost... finally back tracked to where I needed to be but was so exhausted from being on the elevation and up and down mountains... I would take a 5 minute break and get a weird feeling like something was watching me... hairs would stand straight up on my neck.... once I finally got to the trailhead where I entered, 2 girls had gone in after I came out and not even 5 minutes later they came running out screaming "Grizzly Bear!!!!".... sure enough... this bear was right there....

I saw tons of Grizzlies in Glacier and Yellowstone. I have yet to see black bears near me but they have been spotted a few times.

 

oh and i would rather come across a black bear than a grizz anyday

 

x2

 

off topic i know but incase yall aint hear TW has a youtube account that members can get on a post vids up in. Check green room for login info

 

So the weakest link to my gear has always been my cooking system ( Pots, Stove, Utensils, Etc. )

So today I pulled the trigger on a few items to help me out!

Delta Pod Stove http://www.moontrail.com/snow-peak-gp-deltapod.php

Brunton Vapor Non-Stick Cookset http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/...-Anodized-Non-Stick-Aluminum-3-Piece-Set.html

To_Go Ware Bamboo Utensils http://www.to-goware.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=63




They will be delivered just in time for a back pack trip in NC!!

 

I'm doing a one-nighter this weekend I'll finally be testing my new pack. After doing a kind of dry run with it on a car camping trip, I was worried that 65L was kind of small. It was stuffed and heavy. But, I nit-picked my gear this time and it has plenty of room and is only about 18lbs not counting food or water (btw I'm using a blue walmart tarp for a shelter and a fleece sleeping bag).

I've been looking at tents lately and sometimes they give two weights, a trail weight or minimum weight and a packed weight. What's the difference?

 

awesome! post up a review after you use them!

I use one of those walmart tarps as well haha. The different weights are for trail weight, that is just tent, fly and poles. packed weight is all of the components (stakes, bag, tent, poles, fly, guy lines, instructions, etc.)

 

Oh ok. So I guess actual weight will be between those two depending on how much weight you're trying to cut down. I was thinking about going the cheap route and getting a coleman hooligan, but then I found out its 7 or 8 pounds! So now I'm thinking about a spitfire 2.

 

the spitfire is nice! I have found most coleman stuff is incredibly heavy. as a matter of fact, I don't have anything coleman in my camping arsenal

 

Which knife should I go with. Sog seal pup or gerber lmf 2

 

I would not suggest either if your practical and will use this more for function rather than suggesting your manhood is HUGE. Here is why, for the price you can get the same steel, same functions, and 1/3 less weight by going with the gerber prodigy. Or you can pick up a benchmade rant for even less, get even better steel and have a dpt that will take some crazy use with no issues. My favorite by far though is my falkniven, the steel is amazing, the design is functional beyond most I have ever used, and its crazy light. You can pick them up imported for 150 with a decent carry set up and molle access.

 

Got my Merrell Moab boots today! Super comfy and light!

 

I like them, I went with the Vasquez's though since they were believe it or not a cheaper price.

 

Yeah i tried a few of those on... none of them were cheaper though.

 

Yeah found the rare discount in campmor in nj. I had to get them,wish I could have used them today its been raining since noon though.

 

I found those Merrells online for $90. paid 110 after tax.. I figured after shipping and everything i might as well buy them in the store. We don't really have any Campmor shops or REI shops around my area which sucks.