A Great Birthday Present! (EDC Reinvented!)

So I have left out a few adventures since my last post, but plan to put them up at some point in time !!!!!

Todays post was inspired by an exciting early birthday gift from my best buddy Mike!

I have been perfecting my EDC (Every Day Carry) over the past year or so, and have got it down to the bare essentials, for the most part!  I had been using a small canvas drawstring bag for this purpose, but my present blew it out of the water!

The gift had multiple parts, but the main aspect that will drastically change my EDC and what I bring/carry is the Tactical Water Bottle Pouch I got.  It is composed of two pouches, the main pouch being for a .5 liter stainless steel water bottle, and the other is a small utility pouch.  This setup is perfect for an EDC bag, and I will explain my reasoning for this in a bit hehe!

 side view

 Front view

standing up with my Leatherman sheath attached

The idea behind the EDC is that you carry, on your person, everything you would need to survive for a few days time.  The stainless steel water bottle can be used as a container for drinking water, for cooking, boiling water, or as a club to hit bears with ahahahaha! jk  I haven't yet got a bottle that is the right size for this setup, and basically that is all that I need to get in order to have everything I need!  

Listed below are the items that I put in my EDC. I put things together that make since together, all into three tiny ziplock baggies. The baggies and misc. items go into the front and smaller pouch, while the water bottle goes, well, in the water bottle pouch obviously ;-) :

Baggie #1: Fire, lighting, navigation, hardware

- 6 AAA Batteries

- Candle

- Swiss Army Knife (Standard, Small)

- Matches with striker 

- 3 Wetfire fire starting tinder bundles (thanks Mike!)

- Magnesium Fire Starter with Flint

- 2 Safety Pins

- Compass

Baggie #2: Medical

- Tylenol

- Heartburn pills ( A must for me hehe)

- 2 large gauze pads

- 2 large adhesive bandages

- 3 small adhesive bandages

- 3 small round adhesive bandages

- 2 antiseptic topical wipes

- 2 Tylenol Simply sleeps (great if your sleeping on the ground and can't fall asleep)

- Waterproof Adhesive tape (small roll I rolled around my lip balm tube)

Baggie #3: Sun protection, water treatment, bug protection, misc.

- Small role of duct tape

- Lip Balm (spf 15)

- SPF 50 sun block

- Bug juice

- Potable Aqua water purification tabs

- Disposable contact lenses

Misc. things that arn't in a baggie:

- Small fishing kit (inside a film canister)

- Needle with large eye (inside film canister as well)

- Black Diamond Headlamp

- Space Blanket

- Leatherman Skeletool (thanks Mike!)

The Baggies, Knife, Headlamp, Fishing Kit, Space blanket, and a mug that

I will use in place of a stainless steel water bottle till I get one the right size!

For a person who backpacks often and likes to have his kit under 30 lbs, this setup should be excellent!  It allows me to have everything I need to stay alive if for some random reason I should become lost, hurt,  or stranded!  Many people go into the woods with a gigantic First Aid kit that they bought at REI or some sporting goods store.  They also, in turn carry way too much sunblock, bug spray, and other essential items.  The key is moderation people!!!!!!!!

Take the time to think about what you would need and therefore use in an emergency situation! Say your pack slides down the mountainside, or gets washed away in a river, or worst of all, a bear tears all your gear to shreds and you are left with a pile of junk! An EDC keeps you protected from all of these scenarios, and is something you should keep ON YOUR PERSON, at all times. The bag I have can attach to any backpack, worn on the belt, or strung on paracord and slung over the shoulder.  It doesn't need to be bulky, and any small bag, fanny pack, and the like will do.  I feel that I have nearly everything I need, since I have taken the time to think about quantity, time, and necessity.  If I get cold,  I can start fire three different ways. If I need clean water, I can purify it by chemical or boiling. If I need shelter, I can string my space blanket up on some parachute cord. If I get hurt, I can improvise a sling or bandage from a t-shirt and paracord, and I have basic bandages and disinfectants for minor injuries.  Repairing gear is as simple as getting my needle and some fishing line or dental floss.  And of course, my Leatherman Skeletool is a great addition, giving me a cutting tool, pliers, and a screw driver (not needed in the back country but good for Urban survival).  If I should need to cut my arm off like that guy in that movie, it shouldn't take all day HAHAHA! jk

Things to add:

- 50 ft. of 7 strand parachute cord

- BIC lighter

- .5 liter stainless steel water bottle

All in all, I love my new setup for my EDC, and can't wait to take it out wherever I go!  I plan to just keep it in the car, carry it on day hikes and backpacking trips, and in general take it with me wherever!

If you haven't made one of these kits before, now is your chance. Most of the stuff in the kit you can find around the house already, and the only real work put into making it is figuring out what is necessary and how much is too much!  Play around with your kit and don't forget to have fun!

Till next time.....

Andy

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REI Gear Sales! (My Bread and Butter HEHE!)

So since I have not been writing on here much in the past months, I am attempting to catch up!  In that attempt I am  going to combine what should be Four posts into one.  The four REI Members Only Gear sales that I have attended between late May and the present, October 1st, 2011.  I will list them in order from first to last and discuss the gear, if I have used it, how it has performed, and so on.  Hopefully this will  be of use to SOMEONE! HAHA. (I will also talk about a few Misc. Items that I have purchased from REI's online store this summer)

Gear Sale #1 - Early June, Encinitas, CA

I was searching for some new outdoor wear during this hunting session.  I wanted some sort of insulation layer to go under the hard shell that I also hoped to find.  I also needed a headlamp and some other stuff, but you never know what you will find!  I was around 10th in line, so I got a good look at some stuff, but the clothes were my real focus.

 I found a Black Diamond Headlamp and also a Petzel Headlamp for Marco. Both in good shape! Also a  thin Micro Fleece Mountain Hardware Beanie, perfect for three season wear!  I have used the headlamp and it works fine, and have also used the beanie many times, on the Lost Coast, Yosemite, and San Gregornio Wilderness.  It has been a nice light weight addition to my clothing arsenal! 

 I had one just like this REI Flash 19 day pack, but thought it would be nice to have two, just in case I ever had a friend along.  I ended giving it to my dad! Hope he is using it! They are great little packs, and also double as a stuff sack if you turn it inside out.

 This is the light weight hard shell layer that I got for three season wear.  The REI Ultralight Jacket.  It is a little short, but gets the job done.  I have only had it in the rain once, but it was super light weight and also very waterproof, so it worked well!I like that it has pit zips so you can air out while in the rain when hiking. A lot of other more expensive hard shells don't have them. 

 These North Face Convertible pants are great.  A little bit more heavy duty than your usual light weight hiking convertible pants, but they hold up to abuse well, I have used them in Yosemite, the Lost Coast, and San Gorgornio.  They are really tough and Bug proof! (the mosquitos cannot bite you through them!)

 This REI 85% Down Fill Vest was great while I had it.  I only used it in San Gregornio, and then gave it to my brother, but it was toasty warm and durable.  

 This was the best thing I found. A North Face synthetic insulated jacket (model unknown) that most likely came out of a three in one shell or something.  It is super warm and mostly windproof unlike most of its couterparts.  I used it on the Lost Coast and it kept me very warm! It also fit nicely under my REI Untralight shell layer. 

 A Shirt I bought for Mike

 A Jacket I bought for Mike

A sleeping pad for my dad. The Big Agnes Insulated Air Core. It ended up having a slow leak.   Bummer! Good thing it comes with a repair kit!

Gear Sale #2 - Tualatin, Oregon - Beginning of August

I went to camp out at this sale while I was in Oregon visiting my family.  I was looking for Clothes as always and also wanted to find the pack I wanted, the REI Flash 65 Pack!

This pack has been Great. The REI 65 Flash Pack.  I got it for winter season packing since I have the REI Venturi for three season packing.  I have used it on one trip so far to Yosemite since I had to accommodate for a bear can and needed the extra room.  It took me a little while to get it adjusted, but it worked well!

Gear Sale #3 - Rancho Cucamonga - Mid September 

I went to this sale with my buddy mike and we camped out.  We had a blast talking shop with all the gear Junkies and also havin some beers and playing on Mikes Jumping Stilts! I was basically looking for a hammock, moutaineering boots/or some crossovers, a bear canister, vibram fivefingers, and any clothes i could find.  

The Haul! 

 I wanted the newer version of the Flash Pack, cause it has a double daisy chain instead of the single that the old one had.  Can't beat black either! better color than the green I had!

 Mosquito Net to use with my Hammock!

 MSR Pack Towel.  My buddy Marco had one when we went to Yosemite, and it was really nice when we went for a swim! So I got one!

 My Crossover Asolo Hiking/Moutaineering Boots

 Brand New, Saved 200 Bucks!

 Hammock that I got, Haven't tried it out yet. 

 The best stove I have ever owned. Even though I have never had a real backpacking stove, I have used a bunch of them.  Never White Gas or liquid fuel though.  The MSR Dragonfly International is Great! I can simmer if I want to, or boil super quick!  Great Stove.  If there is ever a zombie apocalypse, I will have a stove I can use with almost any fuel! 

 Great Bear Canister for the money.  I have used these in Yosemite and the Lost Coast, and they are super durable.  Make a great bucket too! Now I don't have to rent or return them anymore!

 Fuel Bottle for the Dragonfly Stove

These are the Black Diamond Ultralight trekking poles.  They are so unique! They are not screw tightening or clip tightening.  They come apart like a tent pole, and lock by pulling the handle all the way up, which in turn tightens the rope inside the pole that connects the three pieces together, locking them in place with a button.  Very strong,  I can put my whole weight on them and they stand up well! And I am not a very small guy! I used them in San Gorgonio once.

Gear I bought on REI.com - I bought a few items and now that i have been to a few more gear sales, I know that I probably shouldn't have ;-)  I always seem to find the stuff I want at the gear sales after I buy it new!!!!! Lame.  Oh Well.  

 I had been wanting one of these for years, but couldn't bring myself to spend 35$ on it! Finally got it on sale! Worked well and insulated nicely in the San Gregornio Wilderness! The perfect size for a mug, and mostly indestructible! Its double walled to add insulation.  The lid works well too, and didn't leak, which is always a plus!

 I try to buy most my electronic items new, so they work hehe.  This Black Diamond Storm headlamp is the best I have ever used.  The spotlight is blindingly bright, and the flood light is great for around camp. It is waterproof, and the best part about it is the battery life!  150+ hours on low! Thats 50+ more than most headlamps out there.  I also like that it has a locking option, so it doesn't turn on in your pack accidentally.  Used it in San G.  Awesome!

 A Beanie that I got, random brand, polar fleece, haven't used it yet, waiting for winter season!

I used this hammock twice so far.  Once as a lounge on a day hike for a little nap. It worked great! Very comfy and light weight.  Then As a night time sleeping system, coupled with my Big Agnes Encampment bag and Insulated Air core pad.  It worked ok, but I messed up the pitch of the hammock so I kept sliding down to the bottom.  Once I fixed it and leveled it out it was great! Very Comfortable! And strong for how much I paid for it.  

Gear Sale #4 - Encinitas, CA - October 1st

This is the most recent gear sale that I have been to.  I went with the sole purpose of having a place to sleep at night! HAHA.  I didn't need any gear, but I was going to go fishing with my cousin down in Carlsbad, and Encinitas is right there.  I ended up being the first person in line!  I guess they don't take their gear sales as seriously at the coast hehe (jk). Anyway, I found some great stuff regardless!

 The Haul!

 The MSR Quick 2 Cook System

 I would probably never cary all this anywhere hehe! But I wanted it for the 2.5 liter pot.  The larger of the two. Coupled with my Ti-ware Mug and DragonFly Stove, this is a pretty light weight setup, but gives me the option of cooking for two or I can use the bigger pot for actual cooking, like eggs, hashbrowns, and the like! I also like that my spork and all my cooking stuff (salt,pepper, olive oil) will fit in the one pot along with my stove! ( - fuel bottle of course)

 My hose froze up on my a ton last winter, so I got a insulating sleeve for the hose and nozzle. 

 REI Venturi Quarter Zip long sleeve Shirt. I wanted a long sleeve quick dry shirt for trekking.  Should be good!

 This Mountain Hardwear Vest will be great for the winter season to come!  650 down fill will help keep me toasty under my hard shell.  

 REI Convertible Pants - Brand New Sahara's! Great Find. SPF 50, light weight, my size! Nice!

 To go with my REI Ultralight Jacket, some REI Ultralight Pants!  Quarter Zip, breathable.  Great lightweight hard shell.  Should work well!

 Another Ti-ware cup! Super Cheap!

Black Diamond mini Lantern! Just cool.

I know......I kinda went gear crazy this year, but I am now getting my pack down to under 25lbs (before food or water), and doing it on a budget!  I recently took a trip to San Gregornio (post to come) and was less than 26 lbs total!  I love finally having the gear that I wanted, but at a price I can afford!  I pretty much only need a new shell layer for winter, most likely gortex, and also some Crampons! Other than that I seem to have everything I want and more! (Maybe a 4 season tent as well hehe!) I can always improve, but I am getting better and will most likely never get it just the way I like it, but I am getting closer!  I had a great summer of gear shopping and hope to continue improving my kit!  Thank you REI! Gear Sales are the best thing Ever!!!!!!

Until Next time!

Yosemite Here We Come.....Again! (Ten Lakes Basin)

Once again I took a trip in mid August to the Ten Lakes Basin, Yosemite with my best buddy Marco.  We had planned on it all summer and were not going to miss it for the world!

We left his place in Orange County around seven in the morning, headed down the I5 and were so excited to be on our way to a four day adventure!  Last year we had gone to the same area in Yosemite, and we had left around eight.  We knew we had a bunch of driving ahead, but we resigned ourselves to the trip ahead.  We arrived in the Valley and got our permit and bear canisters.  I thought one would be enough, since I have never put sealed or prepackaged food items in a bear canister with the belief that they were scent proof to animals.  However, recently, when I went to the Lost Coast, the Rangers said that I needed to put EVERYTHING in the canister. So I got two!  Good thing we both had large packs!  I was sporting my new (used from the REI Gear Sale) REI Flash 65 Pack.  I also had a few other new items, which I will comment on later.  Marco had his massive 85 liter Gregory that he had borrowed form a friend and never given back! We cruised up to the trailhead and got there around 3:30 PM, a good hour and a half earlier than we had arrived last year!

We began to get our gear in order and I realized that I had overlooked one minor detail.  It wasn't a piece of gear, I had all my stuff, including my fishing kit and pole, but I had forgotten to get my car fixed.  I had been experiencing power failure due to some wiring issues and I tossed around the idea of removing the battery mount while we were gone, but I forgot during the excitement!  We put on our packs, said goodbye to civilization, and headed out!

 My New Pack (the grey one), Marco's Monster!

 How is it that I have all the gear and he has only clothes? HAHA

 The Trek Begins!

6.3 Miles to Graceland

Day 1

We headed out on the trail and quickly passed a couple who had left around a half hour before us! Marco was setting a blistering pace, determined to get to the Basin before the light failed this time, whether I died in his wake or not!  All that cycling sure does the body good!  I did my best to keep up (smokers lungs and all ;-)  and we soon reached the first trail intersection, 2 miles from the trailhead at a small brook.  

 Us right before coming to the first trail intersection back towards Whitehorn

I was wearing my Vibram Fivefinger Treksports as usual and Marco had on a pair of Tennis shoes, and we were both feeling good! The only issue I had the entire trip was on the hike in around this point.  My pack was new so I had not adjusted it to my frame yet.  It was really uncomfortable, and I hoped that once we got there I would be able to adjust it better.  I was also wearing some new convertible pants made by North Face!  It was nice to actually be able to wear shorts in the semi-hot weather.  We continued on and came upon the high meadow that signaled the end of the easy hiking.  The climb up from the Meadow was near vertical, a climb of over 900 feet in less than a mile!  We headed up the slope, chasing the fading light, trying to beat it as it sank close to the edge of the far off mountains.  

The High Meadow (the light was fading fast!)

We climbed the hill rather quickly to my chagrin and reached the summit of the basin rim around 6:45 PM.  We had only been hiking for less than two hours, and had covered nearly 5 1/2 miles!  I keep telling Marco to keep drinking, but he said he felt great and didn't heed my warnings!  We saw a deer sitting along side the trail, and it looked hurt solely because it wasn't getting up as we approached.  We got within about ten feet of it before it finally rose to its feet and slowly walked away.  We also saw a spooked dear (some people in the woods next to us scared it) tear across the high ground at top speed!  Man those things can move! We headed down the hill into the lake basin as the sun started to go behind the hills.  

 Looking back the way we had come (my favorite pic of the trip!)

 The deer!

The trail heading down into the basin from the rim

We had enough light to make it down the rocky hillside before it got too dangerous, and as we came to a log bridge over the main creek in the Basin my warnings to Marco to keep drinking came back to bite him!  He was stepping up onto the log and as he did he got the worst cramp in his calf that he said he had ever had!  A blistering pace and not enough water will do that I told him as he rolled around on the ground in agony.  While we waited for his cramp to go away, the light continued to fade.  By the time we were going again it was dusk and we had just enough light to make our way down to the big main lake and skirt the edge and find a camping spot.  I had my mind on a spot that some other guys had had last time we were there, up about 200 feet from the lake on top of a little ridge over looking the scenery.  We found it uninhabited and took it for our home!  It had a great campfire pit and also a ton of rocks and things to sit on.  We set up the ten fairly close by so as to have the fire near at hand if any bears came through.  While we cooked a little dinner, sausages over the fire, which had been pre-lain by the last group through, Thanks guys!, Marco got eaten alive by the mosquitos!  I had had them all over me during the hike, but once we got there they rarely bothered me.  They must like Mexican blood better than Scandinavian! HAHA! Anyway, we ate, drank some sake, the best camping booze there is cause you can drink it warm, put our bear canisters to bed and headed that way ourselves.  It had been a great start to the trip, and we were hopeful for the following days hiking expeditions and also the promise of high lake trout!  Sleep came easily with the aid of Tylenol Simply Sleep!

Day 2
We started the day off right with a breakfast of coffee, eggs, and sausages.  Our fire was keeping most of the bugs away, so Marco was happy!  Our plan for the day was to take a little day hike up the main creek and to explore the fishing possibilities at the string of high lakes above the main one.  We headed out around nine and got to really experience the beauty of the area unlike last year, when I had only my Vibram KSO's that were not nearly thick enough for the granite and rocky terrain.  My feet just hurt too much the last time for day hiking!  My own fault, but I was not going to miss out this time!  We followed the creek and soon came to the first lake above the main one.

 Marco cooking and rockin out to country music on the Ipad!

 The Creek we followed

 Speechless beauty

 I'm ready to catch some fish!

A mexican in paradise...hhaha!

We continued up the creek as it snaked its way down granite rock faces.  We stopped along the creek at a really cool point to sit and write.  What a beautiful day!  

 Creek on Granite Slab

 Neat Waterfall area

 No better place to contemplate God and Life

Two Buddies

We hadn't seen many fish in the first lake, so we hoped that there would be some in the higher lakes.  As we came to the third lake in the chain, we saw that there were indeed fish all over the place!  Small 6-8 in. rainbow trout! Some were larger, but the majority were typical for a hight altitude lake. But fish are fish! so we decided to try a few approaches.  Marco tried a dark little Panther Martin size 1-32 spinning lure.  I decided to try my hand out on some power bait.  We both threw ours lines in and I immediately got a bite, but I think that my bate ball was too big and they didn't hit again after that.  Marco was the first to pull one in!  He was simply dangling his line in front of a few fish that were swimming right next to shore, when he was able to snag one!  A nice little seven-eight incher!  We put it on a stringer, not wanting to let any of the fish go, since we hadn't caught squat the year before.  He had one other nibble on his and caught a little guppy, but that was it for Marco.  I got tired of power bait, and I tied on a little Mepps silver spinner, a 1-32 as well.  As soon as I threw it in the fish swarmed it and I had one within a few casts!  I then caught about eight others, but only kept the larger ones, so we walked away around 2 PM with five fish for dinner!  I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful place to catch the first fish I had caught on my own well.......ever!  

 The third lake

 Marco's first fish

 Standin on a fallen log fishin

 So pretty

The catch of the day!

We went back to camp with our catch and thought of a great idea about how to preserved the fish till we were ready to eat dinner.  First we cleaned them out in the nearby creek, and then took them to a small snow patch that was still lingering on in the shade of the trees above our camp.  We dug a hole in the snow and put the fish inside!  This kept  them nice and refrigerated for the next few hours while we got firewood, water from the lake, and took a little much needed rest.  When we were ready to cook the fish we got them out of the makeshift fridge and slathered them in olive oil, salt and pepper. We then wrapped them in tin foil and threw the whole mess in the fire!  Man they tasted good! The first few were a little overcooked, due to my paranoia of getting diseases from uncooked meat (sorry buddy!). But the next batch was great!  Now we know how long to cook them for next time!  I had brought along a grease guard to try and use as a grill, but I also now know that a grease guard does not stand up to open flame!  Learned my lesson!  While we were eating and chillin we had a surprise visitor in the camp!  A four point buck just came strolling into the camp not ten feet from the fire!  I tried to get a pic but he was moving constantly so they all came out blurry.  Lame! We enjoyed some more Sake and I drank both the flasks of Rum that we had brought cause Marco wasn't feeling it.  His Loss!  I got a decent little buzz (cause we all know it takes much more alcohol to get you buzzed while backpacking for some reason?) and headed off to bed ready for the next day and our next exploration of the area.

 Our camp in the afternoon sun

 View of the lake from our camp

 The first batch of fish

 So Fresh!

 A blurry pic of the Buck

The fire at night

Day 3

The next day we decided to check out the one lower lake that was not really connected by stream to any of the other lakes.  We hiked around the bigger lake and up and over the small rim of the next lake over. We took our fishing gear thinking there would be fish, but we saw none in its clear glasslike waters.  It was a hot day, so we decided to take a swim at a nice area where the granite slabs ran right into the water for about 100 feet, giving us a nice bottom on which to stand.  It was chilly!  But refreshing once you got in and started to swim around.  We felt clean finally and headed back to the big lake to do some more fishing!  Marco caught one right off the bat, but it was a little small so we let it go.  Then I caught one that was nice sized and we put it on a stringer hoping for more for dinner!  But sadly we didn't catch anything else!  We must have gotten really lucky the day before.  All I caught after my first fish was a sunken log! I didn't want to lose my lucky lure, so I went for the second dip of the day to retrieve it!  We headed back in the early afternoon and settled for dehydrated meals.  Marco had an idea that we could hike up to the top of the rim of the lake basin before it got dark so that we would have plenty of time to drive home and not get in too late.  I concurred so we packed up camp and headed out.  As we were heading out (this was Friday night), we saw tons of people coming the other way on the trail! I was actually happy that we were leaving now, since there had been hardly anyone around the whole two days that we had been there.  We passed at least 20+ people! As we reached the rim of lake basin we got to talking about how nice a cold beer would taste. And low and behold we talked ourselves right off the mountain and back to the car!  We had had our fill of fishing and camping and really didn't want to have to rush our drive on the way home in the morning.  As we got to the car I remembered what I had forgotten at the beginning of the trip.  Didn't disconnect the battery mount. Shit!  The car was dead, but luckily it was a stick.  We push started it after about twenty minutes of battling it out with a stunted tree that was blocking our path!  Finally on the road we drove into Bakersfield and enjoyed a nice cold BJ's Beer and some steaming hot Pizza!  What a good way to wrap up a trip!  

 The fourth lake

 A good ways out

 Swimmin back in, its cold!

 I look like my dad in this pic! Scary.

 Marco takin a swim

I have come to love the ten lakes basin so much, and will definitely return again someday, but next year we are planning on checking out May Lake, a close by lake to the ten lakes basin.  Wish us luck!  Thanks Marco, buddy for a great trip!  We learn something every time!