A few quick tips

Here are a few things I learned from my backpacking trips this winter:

• Bring a fire starter (magnesium sparker) if you have a JetBoil stove.  Sometimes the built in starter breaks, or doesn't light in high winds.  With the sparker, it takes one swipe and it will start every time.
• If you are using an inflatable air mattress in winter, the air will become cool during the night and you will freeze.  I have learned to use another layer between the bottom of the tent and the sleeping pad.  Either a lightweight foam pad, or other clothing layers that aren't being used will work.
• Save your filter by pre-filtering overly dirty water.  Use a bandana or a t-shirt.  I use a Packtowl along with a Steripen pre-filter.  Both are extremely light alternatives, and along with some sort of chemical (AquaMira) can save you in a pinch.
• Sleeping bag liners are very comfortable to sleep in, but I am not convinced that they add any additional heat.
• Those re-useable hand warmers are awesome.  I slept with one by my feet, and used another to melt about .5 liters of water over night.
• Be careful using water filters in winter, as they might freeze.  If it is supposed to get below freezing, put the filter in your sleeping bag.
• When melting snow for water, don't forget to cover the pot.  Any sparks could get in your water, and the whole bottle will taste like charcoal. 

Backcountry Firewood Tools

I recently bought 3 items that for backcountry firewood processing.  They are the Gerber Gator Axe, Gerber Gator Junior Machete, and the Sven Folding Saw-15".

The axe comes with a serated saw that fits into the handle.  Both components work well, but the saw is fairly useless for anything larger than twigs, and it is really hateful chopping firewood with a hatchet.  I would only bring this tool in the backcountry if 3+ people were in your group to help divide the weight.

The second item is the Junior machete.  This machete has the typical machete blade on one side, but on the other side it has a serated saw blade.  This allows a person to hack off thin limbs, as well as saw through thicker limbs.  If I was going solo on a trip, I would bring this tool.  It is fairly light at 14.3 ounces, and has various uses.

The Sven folding saw is an extremely good tool.  I have owned many timber saws in my life, and this saw performs as well as any of them, and its made for the backcountry.  The only problem with this tool is that in order to effectively and efficiently process fire wood in the backcountry, a machete or large knife is required to split the wood.  If two people are traveling together, one person can saw the dead log into pieces, and another can split the pieces.  It is a lot of work for one person, but is the best method for processing fire wood.

REI Flash 18 Pack

 You are on a backpacking trip and you get to your camp around 2 pm, too early to sit in camp all day, so you decide to go on a day hike.  Their is a problem, you only brought your 60 liter pack, and have nothing to haul your small amount of essential items that you want to bring.  This is where the Flash 18 pack from REI comes in.

The Flash 18 pack is a stuff sack, that when turned inside out, has shoulder straps and a few loops.  It is perfect to use in your main backpack as a non-compressible storage sack.  Use it to hold your food, or clothing that needs to be readily accessible.  Once you get to camp, throw your food, water (it has a hydration sleeve as well), a windbreaker, matches, and your headlamp and head out on a day hike.  At 11 ounces, it isn't overly light, but a few things can be removed to make it slightly lighter.  When fully stuffed with your extra clothing, it serves as a very good camp pillow as well.  At $34.50, you can't really go wrong with this pack.  I use it for 3 things (stuff sack, pillow, day pack), and couldn't be happier.  It also comes in many different colors. 

Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid Review

I have been looking for a lightweight alternative to a tent for my backcountry outings.  After some extensive research, I decided on a tarptent, specifically the DuoMid made by Mountain Laurel Designs.  The DuoMid weighs in at 17 oz., but that doesn't include tent stakes, or the single trekking pole required to pitch it.  Since most people use trekking poles anyway, the weight of them can't really be factored in.

There are several options available with the DuoMid.  The first is the color, either Yellow or Gray, I went with the gray.  The second is the fabric; the two choices are cuben fiber or SilNylon.  The cuben is $200 more expensive, but weighs 4 ounces less.  I didn't want to spend $200 for a weight savings of 4 ounces, so I went with the standard SilNylon material.  I also elected to add the perimeter bug netting.  This netting is around the bottom of the tarp, its about a foot long in all places and is angled into the tent.  I am glad I added this, because with the 3 ounce tarp I bring along, this tarptent turns into a bug-free, 4-wall, and floored shelter.

Overall my first impressions of the DuoMid are great.  It is extremely roomy, with more than enough room for two to sleep (without gear, comfortable) and a huge shelter for one person.  It is very easy to pitch.  I setup it up for the first time, by myself, in under 3 minutes.  The only thing I would change is having the guylines be installed before shipping.  The guylines are supplied, but they aren't cut into correct lengths or installed onto the tarp tent.  It is a very easy process, and easy to follow directions are supplied online, but why not just do it in the factory where are the tools needed are readily available?

Overall, a very good buy that I am extremely happy with.  Now the only thing is seeing how durable it is after substantial use.  I will post a picture later of the pitched DuoMid from my next trip.