Category Archives: Backpacking

Book Review: Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey

This is the final book review of a series of three books that influenced me to venture in to deserts. The result of my first forays into desert environs has been a 50+ year love affair in these seemingly stark and inhospitable wastelands, which they are not at all. Not only are deserts my favorite places to hike, camp and backpack; I have lived in the Lower Colorado Desert since 1977.

The two previous “desert” book reviews can be found here:

Book Review: The Thousand Mile Summer, by Colin Fletcher

Book Review: The Man Who Walked Through Time, by Colin Fletcher

Desert Solitaire is a much different work than the two books of Colin Fletcher’s I just reviewed the past couple of days. Fletcher’s are woven around two long-distance hikes. The hikes set a structure for his prose, but in the end, he has to finish the walks. A multi-week or multi-month walk injects a schedule, or maybe better put, a focus on completing the trip itself where observations of nature must, at times, become secondary. Many of Fletcher’s books were about how to survive in the wilderness; Abbey’s is more about how to help nature and wilderness survive mankind.

Before we delve into Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire, there are some comments and perceptions of the man himself we need to address.

Continue reading Book Review: Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey

Book Review: The Man Who Walked Through Time, by Colin Fletcher

Yesterday I posted a book review of The Thousand Mile Summer the first book written by Colin Fletcher. In that post I shared that three books influenced me to consider venturing into deserts and I moved to a desert in 1977, where I still live. Each of these books have stood the test of time, and I have read them several times over the decades. Over this time I have changed as I matured, society has changed. The deserts have changed too. Deserts are constantly changing.

In Colin Fletcher’s second book, The Man Who Walked Through Time, we get a close up view of a changing desert as viewed through his eyes. The geological record in the canyon walls, abandoned ruins of cliff side houses built centuries ago, a river that has been tamed by man, invasive species such has equines introduced by early European adventurers, and more.

Just like Thousand Mile Summer, this book reflects an inner transformation of the author that comes with being immersed in nature.

The Man Who Walked Through Time by Colin Fletcher and published in 1968 is a thoughtful and skillfully crafted account of his 1963 journey through the Grand Canyon.

Continue reading Book Review: The Man Who Walked Through Time, by Colin Fletcher

Book Review: The Thousand Mile Summer, by Colin Fletcher

Over 50 years ago, on a hot summer day, I helped one of my brothers move to the Mojave Desert where he was starting college. The heat was like a blast furnance. His car overheated several times, resulting in a blown head gasket. After unloading his belongings and a fitful night of sleep, I left, hitch-hiking back to LA.

I vowed to never enter a desert again.

Six years later, I moved to the desert. A different desert. A hotter desert. Why would I do such a crazy thing?

In the time, between my vow to never visit a desert again and my relocation to the desert, I read three of my now favorite books. They piqued my interest, and I began to visit, hike, and backpack in desert environs. The first book I read was, The Thousand Mile Summer, by Colin Fletcher.

Continue reading Book Review: The Thousand Mile Summer, by Colin Fletcher

When & How to Replace an RV Smoke Alarm

Earlier this month I shared the story of the RV fire I witnessed. This served as a reminder that fire extinguishers, propane/CO detectors and smoke alarms need periodic inspection, maintenance and end of life replacement.

Yesterday I posted an article on When and How to Replace an RV Propane/CO Detector. As promised in that post, this is a companion article on smoke alarms.

Continue reading When & How to Replace an RV Smoke Alarm

Zpack 20° F Classic Sleeping Bag: 10 Year Review

I bought this sleeping bag in 2012. Since then, it is the sleeping bag I have brought with me for over 50% of my backpacking trips.

Today I have two sleeping bags and one quilt that I use for backpacking. All are over 10 years old. Which one I bring is decided by the environmental conditions (temperature) I expect. Temperature is the only determining factor.

The Zpack sleeping bag does what I need to do, with the caveat that is does have some limitations and faults. So let’s delve into this piece of gear.

Continue reading Zpack 20° F Classic Sleeping Bag: 10 Year Review

Exped Air Pillow: 10 Year Review

neither the pillow or mattress are inflated in this picture, which is why the cord looks so long

This has been my go-to backpacking pillow for over 10 years. I am a side sleeper, so a pillow is required for me to get a good night’s sleep.

An air pillow is a compromise of sorts and at first I just hated this pillow because it was difficult to make it stay in place and during the night would slide off my air mattress. Back in 2012 it flew away during a windstorm, but I later recover it.

Continue reading Exped Air Pillow: 10 Year Review

Backpacking Gift Ideas (miscellaneous gear)


^^^ Go Back to Table of Contents ^^^

<<< Back to Backpacking Navigation 

Next to Camping & RV Gift Ideas >>>


Reviews

Binoculars for Backpacking?

My Backpacking Watches

Headlamps

Sony RX100 Compact Camera

Winter Gear

Gift Ideas

This website may be compensated for linking to other sites for sales of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the purchaser.

 


^^^ Go Back to Table of Contents ^^^

<<< Back to Backpacking Navigation 

Next to Camping & RV Gift Ideas >>>