A Call To Action (protect our wild lands)

ANOTHER POTENTIAL THREAT TO WILD PLACES

cautionIf you are reading this post, then you are probably one of my children, a camper, or a backpacker. You almost certainly value wilderness. These wild places are continually under attack by those who want to turn them into mines, clear cut the timber, turn them into expensive country clubs, or amusement parks. If we value our wilderness, we must continually be vigilant in their protection.

Continue reading A Call To Action (protect our wild lands)

The Digital Life: Gear Ambassadors

Gear AmbassadorLet’s face it, the Internet, blogs, and social media are changing the world we live in. For the most part, I think it is bad – people hiding behind little itty bitty hand held screens, large mega-pixel screens, all potential barriers to real interpersonal relationships. As the digital world moves ahead at the speed of light, there is nothing I can do to stop it, nor should I try. I shall be mostly left behind. People have the right to do as they please, as long as they don’t infringe or obstruct another individual’s personal rights.

One of the effects of our digital world is the ability of small companies to reach thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of potential customers for little cost at all. It is a marketing executive’s dream come true.

Continue reading The Digital Life: Gear Ambassadors

Clarification on the Deschutes CF Post Yesterday

I got a very nice email from the owner of Six Moon Designs, Ron Moak. My description of the seam construction was not exactly correct. The original post has been updated with the following information:

The Deschutes CF is constructed from several pieces of Cuben material and all of the seams on the Deschutes are sewn first then tapped. The sewn seam allowance is not seen as it is buried under a wide 1.5” piece of seam tape. This protects the stitching and makes for a very clean seam.

SMD also uses their own custom seam tapes and glue. The normal transfer tapes used on Cuben can peel under the right conditions. However, SMD wet tape bonds more completely to the Cuben when it dries. The tapping also waterproofs the seams.

Other than that, he liked the comments about using a tarp, and of course the write-up on the Deschutes CF.

Six Moon Designs Deschutes CF Shelter

Deschutes CF Shelter from the Six Moon Designs (SMD) website
Deschutes CF Shelter from the Six Moon Designs (SMD) website

DESCHUTES?

What kind of a name is that? I can’t pronounce it and can barely spell it. So I looked it up via Google. It is a river in Oregon that is a main tributary of the Columbia River. The Deschutes also flows north, which is atypical for a North American river. The manufacturer of the Deschutes CF tarp is Six Moon Designs and they are located in Beaverton, Oregon. Mystery solved. What a sleuth I am.

CF?

That one is easy. Cuben Fiber. Also known as CTF3. It is a non-woven fabric that is strong and extremely light. A lot of my gear is made from Cuben Fiber.

Oh, and yes, I bought a new shelter, the Six Moon Designs Deschutes CF tarp.

Continue reading Six Moon Designs Deschutes CF Shelter

ProPride 6,000 Mile Update

The more I use this, the more I like it! Hitching up the trailer takes seconds, not minutes. But a while back I ran into a small problem.

Propride upper caps dented
ProPride hitch removed from the packing box

When I unpacked the hitch, the upper dust caps were dented. The dents didn’t affect the functionality of the hitch, and was really just a cosmetic issue. However, they caps really should have fitted a little more snug.

Eventually one fell off, lost in the wind while traveling.

Continue reading ProPride 6,000 Mile Update