Winter Wilderness Survival Trip prep

There is something that reinvigorates the soul when you break out the camping gear lay it all out to plan what you need for an upcoming adventure. The smells from past trip campfires comes flooding back and a new since of purpose fills your soul.

Today I laid out all of my gear as I prepare to take my Winter Wilderness Survival class out for their field experience or as I call it concept reinforcement. I am whittling down the last details and figuring out the best balance for my load. It is odd that as I look at all of the gear guides and drool over the new stuff I realize that it seems like all of the gear is becoming too specialized. To the point where it seems necessary to “need” a different set up for each season. Packs are designed with specific uses and their pockets and lashings are designed to fit a niche and only that niche.

Gone are the days of army style do it all external frame rucksacks. I now realize that the external frame is what made the pack back then. The actual bag really had nothing to offer. It was a simple, well, er, bag and that is it. The key was that you lashed all of the extras to the outside. (Am I the only one that remembers the old camp tin cup banging rhythmically to the side of the frame?) I guess I am lost. Searching for the perfect pack. I have used my Gregory Palisade for quite a few years with no real complaints aside from the irritating bottom section that is this ridiculous shape and size (Gregory quickly realized the issue and created a stuff sack to nestle inside this area perfectly…for a price).

I am also trying out a new beer can stove (1oz denatured alcohol burns for 5 minutes @ 8500ft elevation long enough to boil 2 cups of water. More about that later. I just wanted to share the soothing feeling of getting the gear out and the calm that I enjoy just before a trip.