Alpacka packrafts

I discovered the Alpacka Rafts from reading Andrew Skurka's blog, he used one on a long Alaskan hike both as raft and also at times as a sledge/toboggan for hauling gear.

Just struck me as very cool, idea of being able to fish and paddle in ponds and lakes that might not see people in any given decade, perhaps even any century, has a certain appeal to me.

Neat Gift that has a lot of utility

Just a few examples, for more information click here.

These items are made from multiple colors of paracord, they look very attractive, yet if you ever need some cordage you will have some with you.

They even offer to replace for free if you ever have to use it in an emergency.  As long as your willing to send them your story & photos so they have an endorsement from satisfied customer.

Personally I think they look good enough to wear just for the look, but then I like neat things like this.  Check out "EDC" [Every Day Carry, usually refers to small items that might be useful] labeled posts on my blog for some other things I think are neat.

So a good, modest priced, gift idea for kid or adult, specially for anyone that likes outdoor activities.  That could actually save someones life, or more realistically, provide a temporary fix to get you home.

If your not familiar with paracord, it is cordage (basically thin rope) that meets the standards needed for parachute.  It is the gold standard of rope for hikers, astronauts, hunters, military, etc. 


Wikipedia link for more information on paracord.

Here is a picture showing what the insides look like, you can use the smaller inner strands for thread if you need to mend clothes or a tent.

Back Pain

Use a Tennis Ball!

Well I finally tried something for my crummy back yesterday that I had heard of some time ago but never tried.  Used a tennis ball between my back and a wall so I could get the pressure were I needed it on my back.

Helped a lot.  Did it 4 times yesterday for about 3-5 minutes at a time, really loosened up the muscle knots in my back.  There is a bit of a learning curve to get it working good, by the third time I tried it yesterday I finally started getting the knack.

All you need is a tennis ball and a wall, though some people lay down instead, I found that standing against the wall I am able to put enough pressure on the muscle knots to get them to release. Don't think I could get enough pressure on them while laying down.

So now with Tennis ball and this great book Stretching that I reviewed on my other blog, I feel like I am getting my back pain under control.

Dus-T a T Shirt with a dust mask

I can see several uses for this T shirt, from keeping bugs out of your mouth to dealing with windy days and dust/sand blowing about.

DUS-T link.

Neat way to carry 2 piece fly rod

From Jason's blog, The Patron Pole: A Combination Hiking Staff and Fly Rod Case
How to pack your 2-piece fly rod while backpacking, Jason's blog is worth reading on a regular basis.