Hiking Gear, Misc.

I got more gear this weekend, some miscellaneous items from Wal-Mart, including this compass/whistle/tool thing that I will be taking back after just looking at 15 seconds of this compass-reading video I will finish watching when I get a better compass:

I decided I needed to watch the above video after starting THIS video, which was actually what I wanted to watch.

I just realized not only do I not know how to read a topographical map or use a fancy compass, I don't really know what to do with a compass at all if I were to get lost. There's SO much to learn!

I also got a 100oz/3L CamelBak water bladder. I know that even if I find my actual CamelBak pack, it's not going to hold as much water. I read up on bladder sizes, and read that the weight difference between an empty 2L vs. 3L bladder is not really going to be noticeable, so go for the bigger one if possible. For less than $10, I scored one, and I'm going to use a little bleach and water to clean it up and sanitize it tonight.

There's a few spots on it, so it definitely needs to be sanitized, but I couldn't pass up the bargain!

My sleeping bag came in, which now has me wondering if my backpack is actually going to be big enough to take overnight somewhere, especially in colder weather.

Even stuffed in it's sack, it's a lot larger than I expected, and I'm not really sure where it's supposed to go on my bag. I read a sleeping bag should go IN the pack, but it takes up most of the space! My Osprey bag has no straps to hold things underneath it.

Side view of the bottom of my Osprey Sirrus 36

Actual bottom of my Osprey Sirrus 36.

I'm sure I could rig something to work, and I've seen people pack sleeping bags on the sides. I guess I will just have to get the rest of my gear, and see if I need a different bag.

Still on the search for a tent. I think I've narrowed it down to the MSR Hubba Hubba NX or the MSR Freelite 2. I like the lightweightness of both of them, but either will run me around $300. I know I want to invest in a good tent, but I don't know if I want to invest that much before I've tried out a less expensive version to get a feel for what I'm really looking for or need.

Vaccination Day!

Today was a pretty good day. I got a flyer recently at Tractor Supply, showing that they offer a vaccination clinic on Sundays. I guess I need to provide a little backstory...

Ideally, I'd add a "Read More" link here that you could click on if you wanted to read some of my personal history, then follow that with the rest of the story NOT hiding behind "Read More", but I can't figure out how to do that. So if you want the whole story, scroll past the photos to "Read More". If you want the short version, you don't have to click on anything.

I knew the people he'd been with had kept up with his shots and heartworm, but I didn't know when he'd be due again so I decided to handle everything today. He was such a good boy! The temperatures have been in the teens, so I improvised a sweatshirt for him to wear to stay warm. (I've tried numerous tops made for dogs, but Dexter's chest has been too big for any of them. If anyone has a good recommendation, I would be delighted to hear.)

Waiting on vaccinations at Tractor Supply

I spoke with the vet, and he also recommended a Lyme disease vaccination for Dex, so I got him that as well. The vet said they were less common in the south, though he'd seen it as far south as Warner Robins, GA, but it got more prevalent the farther north one goes... and I suspect we will head north for more of our adventures than south.

As reward for being so good, and because I was itching to get outside for a bit, after being such a recluse, we went to the mini-trail that's nearby.

Happy hiking with Mama AdultBallerina!

Sleeping Bag vs. Sleeping Liner vs. Sleeping Pad vs. Blanket?

I took a chance and purchased a sleeping bag on eBay, not really knowing much about it besides the fact that it's a Kelty, which is a good brand. I know that this was not the best decision for me to make, but 1) I was lured by the pretty colors, 2) I knew it was a good deal no matter what and 3) I've got a fast trigger finger when I'm on eBay- one of the reasons I'm downsizing my life.

It's a Kelty; it looks warm; it looks PRETTY; SOLD!

I did a search for key terms of this bag on google- i.e., what I knew about it, and managed to come up with the entire information list from the seller (who, I guess, does not know how to copy & paste). Perfect! ...??

It's a 40* Kelty Light Year Down and weighs 1lb, 12oz. For the record, I paid $30 for it with shipping.

Okay, so I know that information, which may be bad for two reasons: 1) it's not rated at 32* or below and 2) it's down, which means it's probably going to be hot in the summer.

I am a very warm-blooded person. I prefer the cold, especially at night. If you're camping with me and you're cold, you want to snuggle up next to me for my warmth, and I want you next to me to cool me down. Long ago, I learned that I need layers in the winter- you will often catch me in a camisole top when it's literally freezing outside, with a puffy jacket and thermal shirt tied around my waist (or thrown in the backseat of my car).

So I've got this sleeping bag, and now I'm getting pretty confused. The hiking and camping closest to me gets hot and muggy during the summer, but of course, I want the option to camp in cold climates... I think I am trying to do too much with one bag. I think maybe I need cold-weather sleeping gear AND separate warm-weather sleeping gear, or I am going to be miserable. The question is: since the down is going to make this too hot for summer, can I make this one work for cold weather? (The other questions are: where am I planning on hiking?? What conditions are there in those places??)

Which leads me to sleeping liners and sleeping pads. With the proper one of each, my setup should work (though it may be heavier than I need or want). While I'm figuring out my own best system through trial and error, I have two compact emergency blankets to get me through cold nights if needed. I also plan to get a Kelty Bestie blanket. And, of course, Dexter and I can cuddle for warmth.

Let's start with the sleeping pad.

There are SO MANY options for both. REI pulls up 120 matches for "sleeping pad". I'm in the middle of Hike Smart,  a book that I highly recommend for beginners like me. The purpose of a sleeping pad is twofold: one, it provides cushion from sleeping on the ground (with possible sticks, small rocks, etc), and two, most importantly, it provides warmth (since the ground isn't warm- heat rises). The book says that there are basically three kinds of sleeping pads for camping and hiking: foam, inflatable, and a combination of both. Foam will be most insulating, but also heavier, while an inflatable will be lighter but not as warm. Hike Smart authors say it's best to invest in a high-quality pad.

"Sleeping bags are given an R-value rating, which measures how well the pad will insulate your body from the ground. The higher the R-value, the warmer... R-values of 2-3 are good for most conditions. R-values above three are good when the temperature drops freezing or below, which it often does in summer nights in the high mountains. If you're planning to snow camp, you want an R-value of 5 or higher, and you may even want to pile up two pads and sleep on them."

To be continued...

Hiking Boots

Boots will go here