Monthly Archives: January 2016

PopUpBackpacker Most Popular Posts of 2015

I started this blog in July of 2012. That first 6 months was really about learning how to do this. In 2013 I uploaded a lot of content. 2014 had a lot of backpacking and camping trip reports, and 2015 didn’t see a lot of activity on my part — I was too distracted with work.

Given that, 2015 saw a traffic increase of 63% over 2014. Where do these folks come from?

  • Over 90% from search engines (i.e. Google, Yahoo, etc.).
  • Almost 3% came from Facebook. I have no idea where or how, since I don’t belong to or use Facebook — ah heck, I HATE the concept of Facbook
  • A little over 2% came from www.backpackinglight.com and www.popupexplorer.com each, which isn’t surprising because those are the (only) 2 online forums I participate on.

So here are the top ten most popular posts of 2015

Continue reading PopUpBackpacker Most Popular Posts of 2015

My Favorite Camping Gear of All Time

gear article PUBackpacker 05-01-2013

It is common for backpacking bloggers to publish their favorite gear for the year. I have done this every year since 2012, and there has only been one change to my favorite gear in four years as documented in my favorite backpacking gear for 2015. This is different than most backpackers, who seem to have new favorite gear each year, which leads me to believe that their focus is gear-centric and not walking-centric. This begs the question, why do so many backpackers constantly buy new gear? Is it consumerism or do they not focus on skills instead of magic equipment to keep them safe in the backcountry? I’ll let you, the reader, sort out that conundrum.

I have never posted a list of my favorite camping gear. I have been camping for over 50 years and for the past 25 years it has included a camper. The previous 25 years I camped with a tent. In 2003 I refined my camping equipment and little has changed since then, other than we have bought two larger campers over the past 10 years.

So instead of presenting my favorite camping gear for 2015, I will share my favorite 3 of all time.

Continue reading My Favorite Camping Gear of All Time

El Niño Is Here (and so am I)

Last week really sucked, although it started out as an optimistic 2016 beginning.

On Monday I cleaned our camper and then took it to the storage facility. That evening, watching the local news, I was informed that a storm would dump up to 5 feet of snow on our local mountains on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wow! On Tuesday I assembled my backpacking gear for a multi-day snow trip. My plan was to request a kitchen pass from Joyce for the trip, which normally is immediately approved.

Major roof leak in laundry room
Major roof leak in laundry room

Before I could present my request, Joyce informed me that our roof was leaking from the rain and the laundry room was flooded and a large bubbled had formed on the kitchen ceiling. Drats!

Continue reading El Niño Is Here (and so am I)