Outbound Dan's Outdoor Musings

Everyone knows that Biggest Loser program on NBC, right? You know the one featuring morbidly obese people crying all the time and was created as a one-hour commercial for the weight-loss industry?  I propose a new Biggest Loser program, one which concentrates on limiting our expenditure of natural resources. We need to go on a diet from our wasteful ways, utilize renewable energy sources, and bre ak away from the gas and oil corporations all together.   Just imagine, instead of a weigh-in to see how much weight you lost, we measure your consumption of electric, gas, oil, and water. Perhaps the competitive nature of Americans, would "fuel" a new green revolution.  Now, all we need is a TV studio not owned by the fossil fuel addiction specialists.

Being up here in the somewhat frozen North and being a member of a SAR team, means that emergency bivouacs in the winter are a potential reality.  Yes, I could take the big Gregory Baltoro, throw in my Marmot Alpinist 4-season tent and my Marmot Col sleeping bag, but now my 24-hour pack is 12 pounds heavier.  Of course, it is a lot harder to walk through all that brush. So, what I needed was a lightweight shelter system, mainly because we don't PLAN on being out overnight.  Sure if we were planning on spending the night, I'd hump all that stuff back there, but realistically most of our SAR missions don't last overnight.  Generally IC, likes to bring everyone in and prevent further injuries. So, I've developed a system which is highly packable, lightweight, and that I've used in temperatures below freezing.  My test nights could be called - ALMOST comfortable. My shelter contains the following: Weather Protection:  Waterproof breathable bivy sack - ...

So for my HubPages account I am writing an article about the history of Appalachian Trail hiking. The History of Hiking the Appalachian Trail Of course as a thru-hiker myself ME>GA '98 I believe I have insight that many others don't have.  My one hub "An Appalachian Trail Thru Hike in Pictures" which showcases some pictures I took on my journey has been received moderately well.  I should probably tweak it a bit someday.  The problem is, that was '98 and I need to do something like that again.  Here I am on Katahdin during my thru-hike.  Sure since my Maine to Georgia thru-hike I've done A LOT of outdoor things, hiking on the FLT, becoming an Adirondack 46 R, paddling the Oswegatchie Traverse.  However, none of those things are as grand and as inspiring as hiking the Appalachian Trail. So, this year, before my child comes in August - I need to do something very cool outdoors.  However, because of saving money, it will have to be inexpensi...