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Updates to my equipment list for 3 season UL backpacking

Posted in Captain's Personal Log, Photography, Reviews, Travel with tags , , , , , , on December 6, 2014 by William Hooks

I’m finding that rather than super UL (SUL) style, I seem to gravitate toward UL setups.

My most recent estimate of base carried pack weight is approximately 8 pounds, including the new addition of a Hyperlight Mountain Gear 8.5 oz  8.5×8.5 ft square cuben fiber tarp. I plan to post a comprehensive review of this shelter later this month.

Given this foundation, I ‘m usually taking about 12-13 pounds total weight including fuel, food and water.

In 2015, I may begin to explore packrafting to exploit river and lake travel as well as cooking over open fires. That way, no fuel to take…. but need to be very cautious in California about fire control and regulations these days. The same caution is justified regarding alcohol fuels in my opinion.

Happy holiday season, and here’s to many more.

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First thoughts about the ULA Catalyst pack

Posted in Photography, Reviews, Video with tags , , , , , on November 13, 2014 by William Hooks

This is the largest offering from the Logan, UT cottage firm, Ultralight Adventures and I plan to use it mainly for winter backpacking, glacier travel, carrying video and audio gear, and when food loads exceed what I can put into my Hyperlight Mountain Gear Windrider 2400 (ie, probably over 3 days out).

It easily allows use of a large bear canister, my Western Mountaineering +5F Antelope down bag in transverse position, and provides some capability which I plan to enjoy: removable swing-type bilateral hand loops and water bottle carriers on the shoulder straps, S-curve shoulder strap option, excellent ooverall water carrying capacity with option of hydration system,and what appears so far to be unusually good fit and weight transfer. The belt pockets are large enough to carry my Nikon Coolpix and I ‘ve already modified them by attaching grab loops.ULA Catalyst pack DSCN1506 - Copy DSCN1505

Not certain yet as to how much I will use the 2 interior, removable pockets.

This pack will allow me to cut almost 5 pounds from my longer/ winter trips ,DSCN1514compared with a traditional expedition pack.

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Just posted recently updated gear list for 3 1/2 season backpacking on a new page

Posted in Photography, Reviews, Travel, Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , on October 27, 2014 by William Hooks

I hope that this information will be of help to those who ‘d like to get in the ultralight backpacking game, and even stimulate discussion of other’s experiences and lists.

I didn’t include detailed discussion of options such as UL canister stoves from Soto and Snowpeak which I use as substitutes for alcohol stoves whe n they are prohibited by regulations (as is happening in some CA locales due to extreme drought conditions), and some other alternative gear I use at times. I didn’t include equipment for more comprehensive video in the backcountry, as much of that is mentioned incidentally in my separate gear list for alpine mountaineering.

Have fun out there- and vote anything but Republican (I mean, stay safe)!

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The Hyperlight Mountain Gear Windrider 2400 cuben fiber pack

Posted in Photography, Reviews, Travel, Video with tags , , , , , on October 27, 2014 by William Hooks

This 1 pound, 10 oz friend has become my default carrier for many wilderness trips. The total weight of my setup for a 3 day outing as shown, including solo BearVault canister with Nikon Coolpix camera, food and  c 1.5L water is approx 18 pounds.Windrider 2400 w bear canister (1) Windrider 2400 w bear canister (2) Windrider 2400 w bear canister (3)I find that the belt pockets are not the easiest to open while hiking, and are smaller in capacity than I like- my clear preference is those on my Golite Jam 70- but this is a completely different category of pack.

It has 2 real, aluminum stays which are removable, but weighs about the same as the Jam 70 making it a great choice for using a bear canister—> wonderful for destinations such as the Sierra Nevada, CA where these are often mandatory. The canister can go inside or atop the pack, I really like the Y- yoke at the top which gives good stability. I find that this system is the most comfortable way I have ever seen, so far, for transporting my gear in the backcountry. The side pockets allow replacement of the Smartwater bottle without removing the pack. There is provision for both a mesh hydration reservoir holder and a covered hose port on one side.

Use of cuben fiber makes the pack very usable without a rain cover in many scenarios, especially if using good stuff sacks for internal down items.The price I paid at Nomad Ventures, Temecula, CA was $265. That’s nothing compared to a dialysis machine….

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Point Fermin/ San Pedro, CA- Bug Hut under an E-Wing

Posted in Captain's Personal Log, Photography, Travel with tags , , , , , , on October 24, 2014 by William Hooks

DSCN1424 E-Wing_Bug Hut_Pt Fermin CA (1) E-Wing_Bug Hut_Pt Fermin CA (2) E-Wing_Bug Hut_Pt Fermin CA (3) E-Wing_Bug Hut_Pt Fermin CA (6) HMG Windrider 2400 Upon arriving here, I recalled the words of William Clark as he and Meriweather Lewis’ 1805 expedition encountered the western terminus of their journey:

Ocean in view

Oh! the joy!

We are in view of the ocean

That great Pacific Ocean which we have so long been anxious to see

And the sound of the waves breaking on the rocky shores

Can be heard distinctly-

I wondered what the other William might say to me if he were here today…….my guess is that he’d wonder what kind of thing I was carrying on my back (Hyperlight Mountain Gear Windrider 2400, made of cuben fiber)

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Sky Camp, Pt Reyes National Seashore, CA today

Posted in Captain's Personal Log with tags , , , , , on October 18, 2014 by William Hooks

DSCN1348 DSCN1356 DSCN1379

Rained out of camp on Mt Wittenburg in Pt Reyes National Seashore this afternoon, but had a lot of fun… used the MSR E-wing tarp instead of a tent, and a Vargo Titanium Decagon stove to burn alcohol. Nice hike with views of Drake’s Bay to the west. The reconstituted beef stroganoff was good.

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