Hi Gang!:
Im suprised in finding out just "how prepared" people
are for the letterbox hikes they take! Most items on
peoples list probably serve them well, so please
nobody take me wrong on this posting, you use what you
want to use. When I started backpacking, lo those many
years ago, the catch phrase of the organization was
"BE PREPARED," that was drilled into my head over and
over, so on my first trip I brought everything on the
list... I mean everything! But through the process of
trial and error, I soon learned how to cut things from
the list, saving space, and more importantly saving
weight.
Just like different seasons require dofferent items
I believe different hikes require different equipment.
When I find myself gettine bit by the letterboxing bug
I grab my "MOUNTAINSMITH ENGINEERING" TOUR fanny
pack... available from your local EMS or other
sporting goods store, in that pack usually is....
1.Personal Logbook
2.Personal Stamp
3.Ink Pad
4.Pen(s) Blue and Black
5. Compass, with a reflective back.... why carry a
mirror when your compass can do two things for you?
6.Letterbox repair kit...rubbermaid container, ink
pad, et al.
7.Headlamp... keeps my hands free when it gets dark. I
used to do ALOT of night hiking...
8. SMALL, I mean, SMALL first aid kit. I'm not going
to perform surgery out there am I?
9. Water Bottles.
10. Bug Repellant.
Now out of those 10 items the things I usually carry
would be 1-4. I just take them out of my bag take the
satmp and stick it in a little niche in my ink pad and
then rubber band them to my logbook. Now I have a
small package to fit into my pants! On the clues that
contain 0-3or 4 compass bearings I wont take my
compass, I can discern the direction using the sun.
Last time I checked, moss may not grow on the north
side of trees but the sun still moves east to west.
Any more than 4 bearings and I will take my compass.
I guess my point is, I just don't like to carry a lot
of extraneous wieght around, besides the 60 pounds of
my own extra flesh, why carry more? I'm going out to
get a letterbox, but more importantly I am going out
to enjoy the scenery which prompted some one to put
that box there! I have seen many things which I never
knew existed, even in places I had been to before!
But in any case, I hope all your ventures are Boxious!
Chip
=====
"Careful with that Axe, Eugene!"
P. Floyd 1967
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What's in your pack? And why?
4 messages in this thread |
Started on 2001-07-10
Re: [LbNA] What's in your pack? And why?
From: chip goss (kancamangusdabull@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2001-07-10 07:42:40 UTC-07:00
Re: [LbNA] What's in your pack? And why?
From: (mohmers@aol.com) |
Date: 2001-07-10 11:36:44 UTC-04:00
In a message dated 7/10/01 7:51:57 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
kancamangusdabull@yahoo.com writes:
<<
5. Compass, with a reflective back.... why carry a
mirror when your compass can do two things for you? >>
Yep....my son choose his new compass based on that very idea. :o)
kancamangusdabull@yahoo.com writes:
<<
5. Compass, with a reflective back.... why carry a
mirror when your compass can do two things for you? >>
Yep....my son choose his new compass based on that very idea. :o)
Re: [LbNA] compasses (was What's in your pack? And why?)
From: Randy Hall (randy@mapsurfer.com) |
Date: 2001-07-10 18:07:18 UTC-04:00
> On the clues that contain 0-3or 4 compass bearings
> I wont take my compass, I can discern the direction
> using the sun. Last time I checked, moss may not
> grow on the north side of trees but the sun still
> moves east to west.
One of my clues has a bearing of 5.5 degrees. I would
recommend bringing a compass for that one, even if you
think you can hit it with unaided navigation. I've
seen other clues where precise compass work is useful,
although I'll admit most of the time I just run into
the area and look for the obvious feature with unaided
navigation.
As for the question asking for a compass recommendation,
Brunton, Silva, and Suunto are all good brands. Do not
cheap out on a compass, would be my recommendation --
you don't want a bubble after 6 months, expecially if
you plan to use it at high altitudes, where even good
compasses can develop bubbles.
I would also recommend a baseplate-style compass for
letterboxing, as it is the easiest, I think, for newbies
to learn to use for letterboxing clues.
There is a how to use a compass url on my faq, and here
is a good on-line store that sells and has more information
about compasses than anyone would ever prolly need:
http://www.thecompassstore.com/
Good luck :-)
=====
"Set the controls for the heart of the sun" :-)
Re: [LbNA] compasses (was What's in your pack? And why?)
From: chip goss (kancamangusdabull@yahoo.com) |
Date: 2001-07-10 15:33:08 UTC-07:00
Randy,
Mapsurfer boxes are THE REASON god invented
compasses.. most clues do not even come close to the
complexity empolyed by you.... it's a compliment... I
would never attempt one of your boxes without
thoroughly researching it and carrying a GOOD compass.
((EUGENE)<-- careful with that axe)) CHIP
=====
"Careful with that Axe, Eugene!"
P. Floyd 1967
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Mapsurfer boxes are THE REASON god invented
compasses.. most clues do not even come close to the
complexity empolyed by you.... it's a compliment... I
would never attempt one of your boxes without
thoroughly researching it and carrying a GOOD compass.
((EUGENE)<-- careful with that axe)) CHIP
=====
"Careful with that Axe, Eugene!"
P. Floyd 1967
__________________________________________________
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Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
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