Recent content by linehant

OOps. I see I've duped a recent thread. Sorry for the noise. Again, any additional input would be most welcome.

My two hiking partners and I are heading up to the ADK's tomorrow after work for some winter backpacking and 46er work. The plan is to tent camp near the Opalescent LT and hit Gray, Skylight and Redfied. Skylight has a trail from the Four Corners, Gray appears to be a simple 'whack from Lake...

If you're looking at Nikon dSLRs, it's worth browsing www.KenRockwell.com. There are reviews of digital bodies, lenses, suggestions for using photoshop, etc. If you're new to SLRs, it's probably a good idea to spend some time with the "kit" lens - which is a rough equivalent to 28mm-105mm in...

My Dragonfly goes with me on trips. It gets aired for several days before getting packed. It goes inside my metal cooking pot. Which is usually inside a pack. WHich is usually inside a duffle. I don't fly with a fuel bottle. I buy a new one when I buy gas at the destination. Costs...

lx, BD customer support is very good. If you e-mail them and tell them about the problem you're experiencing, they might be able to send you some suggestions or a "user's manual". FWIW, I have a charlet moser strap crampon. The toe yoke is a bit different, but the overall strap set-up is...

... what the other's have said. Try to get most of the weight onto your hips. I try to maintain apx 70% weight on hips, 30% on shoulders. The reality is that I end up fiddling for most of a trip anyway - shifting weight from hips to shoulders and back; it's not a set-it-and-forget-it kinda...

As usual, I agree with most of what Doug had to say. To that I would add that my sleeping bags have a similar life-cycle as my climbing ropes in that they don't get retired of a sudden - they get transitioned to "less demanding" outings as they age. Rather like my climbing ropes. A...

I had a pair of several-year-old BD Traverse poles. Fell on one while skiing this year and bent it (better that the pole gave than my arm). Bought a new pair of Traverse poles. They're kind of a bronze color w/black gray grips. And I agree. They seem thinner than the old silver/black...

BD strap? Is that the Contact Strap?

lx, Were you inquiring just to get a definition of water ice, or are you looking for information and commentary about what sort of crampon is best suited to various types of winter terrain?

Fish, Check out the Cicerone Guides for hiking in Switzerland. Chamonix Mont Blanc ISBN 1 85284 009 9 The Valais ISBN 1 85284 151 6 The Bernese Alps ISBN 1 85284 243 1 If you and the GF are up for it, there are some easy-ish 4000m summits that can be done from Zermatt and Saas-Fee...

As noted above, there is a microwave at Shapleigh. It can be used to boil water or whatever. I usually take an old electric percolator to boil water to fill water bottles, make tea, coffee, freeze-dried dinners. Use of hiker stoves is not permitted **in** the bunkhouse, though one may head...

Golly... this thread is still running? I too have had step-ins pop off at "inopportune" times - such as when leading a pitch of 3+ ice, for example. And climbing partners have popped step-ins while on steep-ish snow climbs. It's not a "regular" thing, of course, but it happens with enough...

The comparisons I've seen suggest that down lasts at least four times longer than synthetics. And maybe a lot longer. I own Primaloft and down jackets, and Polarguard Delta and down bags (and an older LiteLoft bag that rapidly became a no-loft bag). IMO, between the synthetics, Primaloft...

Another vote for Band-aid Blister Block. Best product on the market, IMO. Used to use mole-skin when they sold the whte stuff. The newer beige version does not adhere as well as the white version. It IS easier to remove the new version - but that's exactly the problem with it; it comes loose...