Job Hacking

An amazing coat

A couple weekends ago, I took a Boy Scout troop out on a weekend overnight up near Cle Elum Lake to make snow shelters. The snow level was at 8,000 feet, we were around 2,200 feet, so it was a bit warmer than expected. Still, we were on the snow, trudging up the trail on snowshoes.

Then, it started to rain. A lot. Over well over 4 inches in the 24 hour period we were there.

Fortunately, I had some good rain gear. Most important, my JakPak. No leaks, no sweating through.

The JakPak is a coat, and a bivy sack, too. 

I think I'll be bringing this piece of gear on more trips!

Bad Weather

It's not bad weather, it's bad gear. 

re: Bill Zeller, Congresswoman Giffords, and mental health

Penelope said it better than me, so here's her post, and I'll second her recommendation to you: Help someone else today. Do a good turn.

re: I've got your back

Was thinking about today's post from Seth in a political, not business sense (The shooting of Representative Giffords and others near her on Saturday continues to haunt me). 

Shouldn't it be the case that after the election is over, and our representatives are selected by the will of the people, that we close the book, and move forward together? Don't we have enough problems to face down without adding acrimonious politicking as a 7x24x365 ingredient?

Of course, "I've got your back" can be applied to many parts of your life, including helping out friends who are looking for a new job, or a startup that is desperately looking for one or two key people to move them forward. 

For my part, a suggestion, an invitation: Switch channels to some music. KUOW, 98.1 has some great classical music going on during drive-time in Seattle.

Tires in 2011?

About 6 months ago, I had to get new tires for my Blue Mistress, aka the 2000 M Roadster. It always seems that this process ties me up in knots because of the compromises one must make in buying tires if you live in the multi-weather zone known as Seattle.

Let me back up a step. I love the Blue Mistress. My kids love the Blue Mistress. My wife hates the Blue Mistress (shocking what a little competition will do!). Truth of the matter is that though the Mistress always leaves a smile on my face, she has a few quirks that you gotta pay attention to or she's going to let you know of her displeasure in no uncertain terms. Like when you put the pedal to the metal it will be time to shift NOW (that's hard to call a quirk, exactly, but sometimes it catches my passengers by surprise). She's short, so you need to be careful when taking a corner at the limit. She attracts Police Officers like Justin Bieber attracts tweens. Power to weight is pretty healthy, and the power goes all to large rear wheels so you really have to pay close attention when traction is reduced. 

Aye, traction, there's the rub. Unfortunately in Seattle there are several key occasions when the weather really screws up traction. The dreaded Pineapple Express, which typically occurs in November and December. Occasionally there is snow. This winter there have been several instances of snow that stuck around for a while, coupled with ice. So you can see why buying tires for this car is such a long, drawn-out process.

But this time I bought a set of Continental ExtremeContact DWS for my Mistress. And life has been very, very good since. I've had numerous opportunities to drive these tires in heavy rain, in fresh snow, and in packed snow conditions. And, yes, in dry conditions, too.

These tires rock. 

If you have a performance car, live in Seattle, and need a fresh set of rubber this year, add this tire to your list for consideration!

How to sleep great in a tent?

Is there a way to get a good night's sleep when you're sleeping on the ground, in a mummy bag, ensconced in a tent?

Yes, yes there is!

A few years ago, a Swedish company, Exped introduced an inflatable air mattress that combined the best elements of two sleeping pads into one. Basically, it's an air mattress, so you get lots of comfort, combined with insulation, so you don't lose as much of the heat that your body generates. In addition, it's low-bulk by contrast to other sleeping pads, so it's easier to pack and carry on the trail.

Here's the current version I recommend, SynMat 9 Deluxe, which uses synthetic insulation that should work better than down if it gets wet.

In the market for a field knife?

In my earlier article on The 10 Essentials, I talk about which knife I’d put in this assortment of survival gear. However, when I’m packing my gear for a hike or other outing, I like to be well equipped, and I always bring one additional knife beyond my Swiss Army Huntsman.

As an aside, if you want to get into a good discussion with some hikers you’ve just met on the trail, ask them about one of the following: 1) How they like their pack, and which one they’d like next; 2) How their tent is working out for them, and what they’d change about it; 3) Which knife they pack and why. This discussion should be long enough for dinner, dessert, and the slow calming before heading off to your sleeping bag.

A field knife needs to be able to do a bunch of things well that a Swiss Army Knife cannot, so it’s designed differently. The blade should be more durable, and thicker. The blade should be longer, but we’re not talking KA-BAR length; 4 – 5 inches will do nicely. It should be at least a lockback, and if you want real blade security, it should be a fixed blade with a hard, kydex sheath. And it needs to hold an edge, certainly far better than the Swiss Army knife does. I’d not go off into the land of Tactical Knives to get a field knife, as this just adds features which make the knife less useful in the field and sometimes makes it harder to maintain (Ever used a serrated edge to spread peanut butter? Or tried to sharpen one?).

Fortunately, there have been good advances in knife steel technology over the last several decades, with better steel-making processes getting into the blades of production knives. Of course, if you have the money, lower-end hand-made knives are definitely nice; I’m a big fan of Dozier knives, and in particular the Buffalo River Hunter.

But, why spend all that money when you can get a production knife that’s within a whisker of a hand-made one? Great question! With this in mind, look at Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Series of knives . For my money, the Buck 110 Folder is the one to get: Time-tested design, great steel, relatively easy to sharpen, and easy to operate.

 

When you need to cook in the outdoors

There are plenty of ways to bring heat to your camp so you can make a hot meal. I'll always dig using a campfire, but it's not a skill that one can often use in our Wilderness Areas here in the U.S. Plus, starting a fire in a rain forest is hard!

In pursuit of a solution, I've used a number of stoves over the years, and for me, white gas stoves are the best answer, at least in the U.S. and Canada. There are a lot of good options in this category, and the best one in my book is the MSR Dragonfly, currently on sale at REI. It's reliable, good to cook on (like cooking on your gas range at home in terms of heat control), stable to put pots on, efficient, and easy to light with a striker. It can also use fuels other than white gas, a plus in my book. This is the only camp stove I've been able to cook rice using a backpack cook kit without burning the rice on the bottom!

Stay away from propane/butane camping stoves. They have a number of significant downsides, including canisters that need to be thrown away, never using all the fuel in the cannister, cold weather inefficiency/failure, and the manufacturers seemingly focused on creating 'easy' systems that are too fussy and prone to breakage.

The 10 Essentials, 2010

For some reason, I’ve been ruminating about the 10 Essentials. Could be that it’s hiking & camping season in the Great Northwest, could be the REI Memorial Day Sale catalog, could be helping Boy Scouts and their parents get ready to go to camp, or it could be that I’m just crazy. Pick one, you’ll probably be right…

The 10 Essentials is a list of 10 items necessary for survival in the wilderness, and was first published by The Mountaineers in the book, “Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills”, which came out in 1960:

1.Map
2.Compass
3.Sunglasses and sunscreen
4.Extra food and water
5.Extra clothes
6.Headlamp (outdoor)/flashlight
7.First aid kit
8.Fire starter
9.Matches
10.Knife

Today, in the age of polypro clothes, GPS, and cell phones, this list might seem antiquated, but it is still relevant if you go venturing “out there”. And good as this list is, there are a bewildering range of choices such that you can make some bad selections. With this in mind, here is a slightly revised version, with some gear recommendations:

1. Cell phone
In the lower 48 States, we almost have complete cell phone coverage. So, why leave this device behind? I can’t think of one good reason to not, and plenty of great and contrary examples of how a cell phone has saved a number of people. One slight addition. When you hit the trail, turn it off, and then put it into a waterproof container, like Quart-sized Freezer Ziploc, or an Otter Box.

2. Map & Compass
Today, it sure seems like you should be able to whip out your iPhone and look up your location on Google Maps. And, most of the time, you can. But not ALL the time, and this list is about having items at hand that work ALL the time.

I have three preferred mapping solutions. The easiest and cheapest, but lacking in supporting information is a Google Maps print out of the area I shall be traveling in. The second option, and MUCH better in supporting detail is the Gazeteer line of State Atlases. But, tough to get into a smallish backpack because of their bulk. Third, there are Green Trails Maps, and these are the best, IMHO. Buy one for the target area you plan to travel through, and then the sections immediately around this area (it sucks to go off the edge of the map).

For a compass, get the Brunton 15TDCL. It has everything you need in a compass, and will likely last your lifetime.

3. Sunglasses & Sunscreen
I don’t think this one requires much comment anymore. Well, other than a great article regarding the best values in Sunscreen.

4. Extra Food & Water
With a slight quibble about the ordering, (Water, then Food), just do this. On the water front, you can easily run out, and then be forced to drink water which causes intestinal problems (which can seriously impede your odds of survival), so you need to avoid that. If you’re already doing an overnight hike, you probably have a water filter. But if not, try Chlorine-Dioxide tablets. Or, boil your water, if you have a pot.

5. Extra Clothes
Generally, a good recommendation, assuming you are already using wool (spendy) or polypro (high value) clothes that retain heat when wet. Additionally, bring along a 33 Gallon trash bag, preferably in black. These are great for emergency ponchos, or carrying stuff, or many other emergency situation solutions. In fact, take two, they are small and cheap.

6. Headlamp/Flashlight
Preference here goes to a headlamp, and make it an LED version. They use less energy, and your batteries will last much longer. I like those which have a flash setting so your rescuers have a better visual cue for what they are looking for.

7. First Aid Kit
Make your own, or go buy one designed for outdoor first-aid. If you make your own, remember to include non-latex rubber gloves.

8. Matches & Firestarter
I’m not quite certain why the original list separated these two items, because they should be together, and since this is my list…

A long time ago, I learned how to create a one-match fire. It’s a great mental process, because the whole thing centers on preparing EVERYTHING for the event of striking the match. So, you should definitely learn this skill, but about the match thing…

The best story I can tell you about making fire is written by Jack London, “To Build a Fire”. A cautionary tale, to be sure.

One thing that has not improved since this story was penned are Diamond Strike Anywhere matches. For some reason, their most current “update” to this product has produced matches that work about one out of three times for me. At home. To light my BBQ. In other words, in almost perfect conditions, your chance of a one-match fire has been significantly reduced. Me not like.

The modern solution I like the best is Swedish FireSteel. These things rock, they always SHOWER sparks, no matter how windy, or how rainy. Much better than a soggy match. And they are a great solution to lighting a gas or alcohol stove.

If you really must have matches, go get the REI brand Stormproof matches. And then practice with a few to get the hang of them, and do not lose the striker board.

Fire starter
A lot of folks are confused about what this is, and back in the day this was called tinder, simple enough. Problem is, you really need firestarter that works in rain and wet, so not so simple. Sure, you can go buy firestarters, and they do work. Or, you can simply take three or four cotton balls, coat them in Vaseline, and then pop them into a water-proof bottle, like a pill bottle, or a 35mm film can if you can find them anymore.  When you’re ready to start the fire, whip one of these out, tease it into a nice little pad, put it down, put some dry tinder or smaller pieces of kindling on top, and then hit it with a shower of sparks from your Swedish Fire Steel. And be ready to move, because this catches fast.

One other thing: The best firestarters tend to be cellulose impregnated with oil. So, potato chips work in a pinch. Seriously.

9. Knife
If there is one piece of gear that will ignite discussion and controversy on this list, this is it. Everyone has a preference, usually based on experience, and how some aspect of knife design makes the current favorite best. I am not immune to this disease, unfortunately, and I’ve had a variety of pocket knives, hunting knives, skinning knives, multi-tools, etc., over the years to prove it.

That said, for a survival situation my first choice is the Swiss Army Huntsman.  Second, the Leatherman Charge TTi.

Why these knives? Because they both include several important tools you want when trying to make your way. First, obviously, they have primary blades. Second, they both have a saw blade. Now, it might seem silly to have a saw blade on a knife, but the fact of the matter is that these saws are great at allowing you to cut smaller branches that can be used for various tools. Need a tent peg, easy to do now (because you can make an emergency tent out of your garbage bag). Need to cut a bunch of branches for a lean-to. Yup, you can do it. Using a straight knife blade for this work is much more work by contrast.

Why the Swiss Army knife over the Leatherman? Four reasons. First, the Huntsman costs four times less. Second, the Charge TTi weighs 16 oz, and the Huntsman weighs 4 oz. Third, when I use the Charge TTi for an extended period of time, I end up quickly wearing out the skin on my hand – it just doesn’t fit my average-sized hand as well as the Huntsman. Fourth, tooth pick, tweezers, and scissors. But, if you really have to have a main blade of better steel, and one that locks, get the Charge TTi.

10. Parachute Cord, 50ft
Parachute cord is amazing stuff. First, it can be used to tie stuff, or to help make a shelter. Second, it has some amazing properties to take advantage of in an emergency. For example, it’s made up of a bunch of small threads, tough and strong, bound by an outer sheath. So, if you need something smaller in diameter, cut a segment of the cord, slit the outer sheath, and select one of the threads for use.

 

So, now you know. Or at least you have a list to start with. Might be good to get some training on map & compass, first aid kit, and how to sharpen a knife.

Memorial Day Weekend - A change of pace

Summer is on the horizon, so there are a few posts coming that have nothing to do with work. Because, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!