Joseph's Tips - Page 2

jason · 10-01-2012, 10:32 PM

Some great tips so far. I cannot see what you all keep coming up with. I may have a book before the end for my kids. Thank you.

Grandpa · 10-02-2012, 12:43 AM

Oct 1 Do not drive tent stakes straight into the ground. Drive them in at a 30 degree angle with the top away from the tent. This gives much better stability with less chance of pulling free.

Hikenhunter · 10-02-2012, 01:05 AM

Tip #1 10/2/12 To make your water filter cartridge last longer, use a rubberband and secure a coffee filter to the end of the hose that you drop into the water. Even if you are using a prefilter this will help keep out debris that would shorten the life of both the prefilter and the main filter cartridge.

bsmit212 · 10-02-2012, 06:45 AM

When concidering gear, speically when you have options of what to use, concider the versitility of the item. The more uses, or potenial uses the better. For example, instead of a store bought rain fly for a hammock, concider instead a tarp. Might weigh a little bit more, but 1) can cover bigger area 2) can be used as a ground cover to pack (depending on where it goes in your pack) 3) could be used as a minimal tent with you hiking poles if you cannot hang/use your hammok for what ever reason.

dinosaur · 10-02-2012, 09:08 AM

If your tent came with plastic stakes, go out and buy steel. Plastic only works on soft ground. Glacial clay will bend or break the plastic.

Grandpa · 10-02-2012, 09:37 AM

Oct 2 For longer camping trips with multiple coolers, plan ahead and fill coolers for specific day use rather than all the pop in one cooler. Taped shut and placed in shade, those coolers containing food and drink for the later days of the trip will maintain their ice just fine.
Also, chill or freeze everything before packing in the coolers to minimize the heat exchange between food and ice.

IndianaHiker · 10-02-2012, 09:52 AM

You don't have to out run the bear. Just the slowest member of your party. With that in mind choose hiking partners wisely.

oldsarge · 10-02-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndianaHiker

You don't have to out run the bear. Just the slowest member of your party. With that in mind choose hiking partners wisely.

So this is why you quit smoking!

Pathfinder1 · 10-02-2012, 04:31 PM

Hi...

We're all familiar with DEET...which the CDC advises against applying on infants. And, as many grizzled hikers know, DEET can eat right through a tent, and should not be applied when using sunscreen (has to be reapplied too frequently). And my own personal experience has shown that it will also dissolve paint...!!

SIERRA recommends the following homemade bug spray:

Pour 1.5 oz of witch hazel in a pump-spray bottle. Add 40 drops of citronella oil and 40 drops of eucalyptus oil. Shake vigorously. The result was an effective repellent using natural ingredients.