Recent content by DougPaul

I was hoping to go, but hadn't heard whether it was on or not. Judging by your note, I guess it is. Hope to see you there. Doug

Which is how I did it. Up ART, (add in a detour to Monroe), a bit of the Crawford Path, then the Camel Trail over to the Davis Path and back. A nice dayhike. Besides, the drive from the Boston area was shorter than approaching via Rte 16... Doug

Nice report--brought back some memories: The year after the attacks my family and I hiked the Highline Trail out to Granite Park Chalet and stayed at the Chalet. Watched grizzlies raid the trash dump* that night. Summited Swiftcurrent Mountain the next day and exited via Swiftcurrent Pass...

Thanks--enjoyed the TR and video. A relative used to work in the park and we visited every other year until I graduated from high school. My parents were day hikers and we hiked a number of the trails. Doug

Barge cement used to be available in small squeeze tubes (like toothpaste tubes) if you only need a small amount. Don't know if they are still available. Doug

There are about 7 tick-borne diseases here in the NE. Since all except for Lyme* can be transmitted immediately, protection requires preventing the bite. (eg Permethrin on clothing, insect repellent, and/or clothing without gaps for entry) * Lyme has a ~24hr delay before transmission. Doug

I find that keeping my feet and lower legs warm and stretching my calves and toe flexors before retiring help me to prevent night-time leg and toe cramps. I do two calf stretches: 1) the standard wall pushup (ankle dorsiflexion with a straight knee, stretches the gastrocnemius muscle) and 2)...

Group dynamics can increase the risk. All too often, no individual is willing to be the spoiler (or chicken) suggesting the group should turn back. Doug

These days people seem to have forgotten step cutting--it can be very helpful for dealing with short steep sections. A general mountaineering axe is a better tool for this than a short climbing axe/tool. (The technique for breaking out a step is different from the technique for setting a pick...

I use a trucker's hitch knot. (The small loop can be made from a variety of loop knots.) Easy to tie under tension, easy to release. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trucker%27s_hitch Also good for tying canoes and kayaks to cars. Doug

PLBs use lithium primary (non-rechargeable) batteries which have a nominal shelf life of 10 years. (Batteries carried by hikers go through temperature swings and ranges that can potentially shorten the shelf life.) IIRC, the regs require PLB batteries to be replaced every 5 years by a...

In 2018, one could avoid the stream crossings by: * turn left at the first crossing and bushwack parallel to the stream. * turn right on the snowmobile trail * cross 2 bridges and turn left * bushwack parallel to the stream until you return to the trail There are stream crossing both above and...

I also did Isolation via this route. A bit long, but the Camel Trail was very nice. (Also included Monroe--after all, it was hardly off-route...) Doug

I also use the lotion form of both DEET and Picaridin. If only spray is available, I spray it onto my hand, then transfer it to its intended location. DEET (and likely also Picaridin) tastes terrible, so wash your hands before touching food... Doug

DEET in one's eyes is also very irritating. (I have had the misfortune of being ~50 ft downwind of someone using a DEET spray...) My theory is that since DEET is an oily organic solvent it's less likely than Picaridin to be washed into one's eyes by sweat. IMO, DEET lasts longer when...