From: E Fred Mussler (emuss3@ipass.net)
Date: Tue Dec 03 2002 - 01:31:14 CST
While everyone is putting in their two cents worth about tents, I would like to say that I used an REI Half Dome Plus2 on this last summer's trek. It was wonderful! Two adults slept in it with no problems, and we encountered the same foul weather as John. Hmmm, come to think of it, I encountered a rather foul John also, once or twice-;)) With two doors, a gear loft and a wide, taught, wind dumping half dome, this tent works for me. At a little over 5 pounds it is not too bad. At 6'4" I was comfortable and did not get wet from blowing rain. This tent was Backpacker Magazine's tent of the year for 2002 , and checks in at a nifty $149. I like It !
Speaking of outside the box, like Mr LeBlanc says, do it! Most of what Philmont Official will tell you is what you may or may not do, or what parameters you must work within. The rest is left to you. Much is mundane, and people do as they are told. Others, being a little more adventurous or prepared, do it a bit different. Lots of 2 person tents or some 3-4 person tents? Crew photo or Contingent or both? Its your trip, you decide!
Bears yes, and the threat may be being over played. Know what you are doing. When we arrived at Fish Camp, we received the obligatory Bear in area speech, put up the food, yada, yada, yada. Please don't misunderstand, I am not making light of the threat of bears, nor the neccessity of treating all nature with proper respect, rather I am commenting on the staff crying " The sky is falling" or rather the "bear is around". We were escorted to our campsite, number nine up the aquia fria creek, if memory serves, and left. Now we were away from all the other crews, a great thing for enjoying the quiet and nature, but strange given the reported, heightened, bear activity. As I laid my sweat soaked socks across the berry loaded bushes, while I set up my REI half dome, hey wait! Berries?? Bushes?? Bears?? Use common sense. If there were truly bears in the area, in the midst of a drought, with sparce food supplies, would they forego juicy berries? Use the senses you were given, and add a bit of the cognizant awarness imparted by your ranger,and have a great time! Just don't foreget to put all the smellables in the bear bag-;))
YIS
Hiking Czar
Fred Mussler, Sm
Troop 357 Raleigh, NC
Eagle Class of 1974
Philmont 90, 98, 00,02 ??
" I didn't used to be anything..."
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