Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

There are a couple that will fit it. Klymit makes one, and I use the Big Agnes Pumphouse dry bag (old version). The soft nozzle on the end has an elastic draw string that holds snug to those push/turn valves and the other end has a big opening for grabbing lots of air. Also doubles as a roll-top dry bag when you twist the pump nozzle end a few times and double it over and secure it with the shock cord.

 

The dual purpose of these drybags is what is great. I recently discovered the Klymit one but it is only for inflating the pads, no other use. So having a place to store my pads or to use the bags while backpacking is a win win. I did see exped bags sold on Amazon from various sellers which is what caused me to pose the question about where the best/cheapest place to pick one of these up is. Thanks for the replies.

 

Yeah the online one is awesome too, I was referring to the retail ones
Nice score on the trail shoes

 

I like the RxBars.

 

Well, I survived my rim to rim Grand Canyon trip last week. What a great trip and what a difference good equipment makes. Wound up with nine in our group. Lots of equipment that I used for the first time. The most obvious upgrade was with my backpack. I bought an Aether 60. I’m really glad I didn’t buy a bigger capacity pack. It forced me to pack smaller, which in turn meant I packed lighter. Having a pack that fit like it was supposed to was great.

I used my North Face Cat’s Meow sleeping bag for the first time. It was in the low 30s on the north rim the first night and I was warm and comfy. A few days later, in the canyon, I was almost a little too warm, but overall, very comfortable.

I also used my REI Flash inflatable bed mat, which was a key component to being comfortable. I weigh 235 and the mat gave me plenty of support. And finally, I got to try out my new Cascade Mointain Tech carbon fiber trekking poles. As I mentioned, I’m no lightweight, and I was afraid the little plastic clamps would allow the poles to slip, but I didn’t have a single incident, and I leaned on them pretty hard.

 

Yadda Yadda Yadda about the gear.......
How was your trip?

Just kidding, glad you (Had a good time?) were there.

Ken in NC

 

FYI Massdrop currently has NeoAir XTherm's for $139

 

Yeah that's a smoking deal on an amazing pad, actually.

 

I already have one, probably going to pick up a second at that price. They are seriously fantastic pads.

 

Trip was great. Marvelous scenery, lots of wildlife, and really good weather. Very enjoyable. Having done the south rim down and back last year, I was anxious to see what the north rim trails were like. And they were tough...the first day down to Cottonwood in particular. You drop a lot of altitude in those first 7 Miles. My hips and knees really took a beating. But it kind of evens out when you head back up. You begin to use a different set of muscles and nice you get warmed up it was pretty good going...except now I was having to climb. I’m glad I wasn’t climbing up the North Kaibab Trail. If you’ve not done the rim to rim, you should definitely put it on your bucket list.

 

Waiting for some pics!

 

First day...about a half mile into the 7 mile hike. You can see the trail we’ll be descending on the right side of the canyon.

 

Second day before we got to “The Box.”

 

Third day. You can see the “Devil’s Corkscrew” the we’d been hiking up.

 

Last day. Looking up at “Jacob’s Ladder” that we still have to climb.

 

So, without getting partisan, what are your thoughts on the proposed increase to National Park entrance fees?

https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/10-24-2017-fee-changes-proposal.htm

The basics:

• Under the proposal, peak-season entrance fees would be established at 17 national parks. The peak season for each park would be defined as its busiest contiguous five-month period of visitation.

• The proposed new fee structure would be implemented at Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Denali, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Olympic, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion National Parks with peak season starting on May 1, 2018; in Acadia, Mount Rainier, Rocky Mountain, and Shenandoah National Parks with peak season starting on June 1, 2018; and in Joshua Tree National Park as soon as practicable in 2018.

• If implemented, estimates suggest that the peak-season price structure could increase national park revenue by $70 million per year. That is a 34 percent increase over the $200 million collected in Fiscal Year 2016. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, 80% of an entrance fee remains in the park where it is collected. The other 20% is spent on projects in other national parks.

• During the peak season at each park, the entrance fee would be $70 per private, non-commercial vehicle, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per person on bike or foot. A park-specific annual pass for any of the 17 parks would be available for $75.

• The cost of the annual America the Beautiful- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which provides entrance to all federal lands, including parks for a one-year period, would remain $80. Entrance fees are not charged to visitors under 16 years of age or holders of Senior, Military, Access, Volunteer, or Every Kid in a Park (EKIP) passes. The majority of national parks will remain free to enter; only 118 of 417 park sites charge an entrance fee, and the current proposal only raises fees at 17 fee-charging parks

Submit your thoughts here:

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/proposedpeakseasonfeerates

 

Go search my recent comments in other threads.

 

There are other threads on this site?

 

Would there be any interest in an MSR windburner Group buy?

 

Possibly. It's about the only stove I don't have in my collection yet