HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: zrwv05@hou.amoco.com (Rod VanKoughnet)
Subject: Death Valley
Reply-To: zrwv05@hou.amoco.com
Organization: Amoco
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 13:26:45 GMT


I'm thinking of going to Death Valley over the New Year's Day weekend.
             1.  Is this a good time of the year to go there?
             2.  What temperature range should I expect?
             3.  Any hiking/camping suggestions?

Thanks,
Rod
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: dnewcomb@whale.st.usm.edu (Donald R. Newcomb)
Subject: What were those Therm-A-Rest tricks again?
Originator: dnewcomb@whale.st.usm.edu
Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 05:09:45 GMT

A few months back there was a series of articles on the subject of
how to inflate, deflate and care for a Therm-A-Rest (tm) pad.
I don't want to start an instant replay of the whole series on
rec.backcountry but if someone saved a copy of the high points
could you please forward a copy by email.

Thanks,
-- 

Donald R. Newcomb                * The one who dies with the most toys
dnewcomb@whale.st.usm.edu        * has accomplished nothing beyond
newcomb@usmcp6.bitnet            * enslaving himself to his possessions.
From: jreece@sousa.intel.com (John Reece)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Rustic cabins in the Sierra?
Date: 10 Nov 92 17:19:53 GMT
Reply-To: jreece@sousa.intel.com
Distribution: ca
Organization: Intel - Information Technologies

In article <1992Nov10.155700.16073@igor.tamri.com>, viviana@igor.tamri.com (Vivian Aldridge) writes:
> Greetings,
> Does anyone know of any rustic cabins which exist in the Sierra?
> Now when I say rustic I mean the cabins that have no running water
> or electricity.  However, a pot belly stove would be nice for some
> heat, but not essential.  I once stayed at a cabin like this at
> sequoia for ten dollars a night.  Actually, I'm used to snow
> camping, so staying at a rustic cabin wouold be a step "up".

There are a number of charming-looking cabins at Whitney Portal I've
always been intrigued by.  I don't know if they're inholdings, or under
long-term lease from the USFS, or available for short-term rentals.  
But the location and views are great.  Check it out and let me know.


-- 
John Reece			"This lifeboat is full"	
Not an Intel spokesman 			 
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: sheehan@pagosa.scd.ucar.edu (Tim Sheehan)
Subject: Re: Stun guns and bears
Organization: NCAR/UCAR
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 20:22:32 GMT

All this talk about bears and handguns reminds me of a story:

A hiker walks into a sporting goods store in a small town in
Montana. He looks at the storekeeper and says "I'd like to buy
that .357 magnum there."

The storekeeper gets it out of the case and starts packing it
up for the hiker. "What are you buying the gun for?" he asks.

"Well," the hiker says, "I'm going to do some hiking in Glacier,
and I need some protection in case I meet up with a grizzly."

"Oh," the shopkeeper says to the hiker, "in that case, would you
like me to grind off the gunsight for you?"

"Why would I want you to do that?" the hiker asks.

"Well that way, it hurts a lot less when the grizzly shoves it up
your ass."


-- 
-Tim-

sheehan@ncar.ucar.edu

Xref: sparky rec.backcountry:8739 rec.climbing:4281 rec.skiing:7284
From: tpm@ecs (TP Monks)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry,rec.climbing,rec.skiing
Subject: Re: Direct Euro-belays
Date: 9 Nov 92 10:18:58 GMT

azw@aber.ac.uk (Andrew Michael Woodward) writes:


>Time to rattle a few cages......

Hey, I climb loose rock. The only reason I belay from my harness is
in case the belay fails, in which case at least the leaders gear *might*
save me :-)
		   

>Dont send me any Email, I couldnt give a toss about your opinions

>Have a nice day (I think I'm going sick)

>Andy Woodward

I think you are sick.
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Monks                                Vision, Speech and Signal Processing
tpm@ecs.soton.ac.uk                                    Southampton University
Tel: +44 (703) 592774                                   Fax: +44 (703) 592895
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: jon@mtxinu.COM
Subject: backpack on plane
Organization: mt Xinu, Berkeley, CA
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 01:30:40 GMT

A trick I just learned for my last trip:

	Go to an appliance store and get a refridgerator cardboard box.
	Custom make your own cardboard box for your pack.

Newsgroups: rec.backcountry,rec.climbing
From: bohack@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (edward.e.harstead)
Subject: Re: GoreTex bags (was Re: Light & Warm Synthetic Bag: PARADOX?)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 17:04:35 GMT

In article <1992Nov12.002803.22136@nezsdc.icl.co.nz> hugh@nezsdc.icl.co.nz (Hugh Grierson) writes:
>
>I would
>be interested in hearing some real experiences of snow bivies (preferably really
>desperate emergency ones) in GoreTex bags with/without a bivvy bag.  What I am
>led to believe is that the goretex bag will still leak through the seams
>(it isn't seam sealed), but using it with a goretex bivvy bag will result in a
>loss of breathability (compared to a non-goretex bag + bivvy bag).  Are either
>of these situations actually a problem in practice?

Since we are talking about winter, the non-breathability of the
Gore-tex bag & bivy sac combination is
unimportant if you use a vapor barrier liner.  So if you have
resisted using a VBL, this might be a good incentive to try.

I have been carrying a bivy sac in winter, but haven't used it: the
Goretex bag does fine in light snow and very light rain.  I'd love
to leave it at home (yes, the Goretex seam-sealed REI Cyclops bivy 
is heavy) but in case of real rain or heavy wet snow, I
agree that something is needed.  How about one of those pocket
space blankets, which I have been carrying for years but never used?  
It is small, nearly weightless, waterproof, and might even help keep you
warmer.  I guess it could be spread over the bag and held down with
rocks.  Not elegant, but only for really wet weather (which is not
as common in winter).

Ditto on the call for real life emergency experiences.

Ed Harstead
From: john@ahuriri.gen.nz
Subject: Re: New Zealand Macpac Tents
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 01:38:07 GMT
Organization: Organisation? Where?
Reply-To: john@ahuriri.gen.nz
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Distribution: world
X-Newsreader: Simple News for Windows V1.0

In article <1992Nov9.014812.10721@lugb.latrobe.edu.au> <1992Nov9.014812.10721@lugb.latrobe.edu.au> wrote:


  > I've been wanting to get a Macpac Minaret tent for the past few months, but
  > the price has put me off (not that I don't think they are worth it).  Could
  > anyone in the Land of the Long White Cloud tell me what these cost in NZ?
  > If it is significantly cheaper, I may try a mail order.

The local street price for the standard street model is $NZ550.  I can give you
some ChCh shop addresses if you want to pursue it.

cheers, John

--



--------------------------------------
John McCombs       john@ahuriri.gen.nz
ph +64-3-665-234     fax +64-3-655-755
Christchurch,              New Zealand
--------------------------------------

Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: rigg@osnome.che.wisc.edu (Tim Rigg)
Subject: Re: Tom Browns Guide to Wilderness Survival
Organization: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chemical Engineering
Date: 10 Nov 92 07:45:45 CST
In-reply-to: hleaves@gems.vcu.edu's message of 6 Nov 92 16:50:47 -0400

In article <1992Nov6.165048.161@gems.vcu.edu> hleaves@gems.vcu.edu writes:

   Does anyone know if "Tom Browns Guide to Wilderness Survival" is still in
   print? If so, who is the publisher.

All of Tom Brown's books can be obtained from 

Berkley Publishing Group
390 Murray Hill Pkwy., Dept. B
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
1-800-631-8571

tim
--
    ...  Then they came for me,
	   and by that time there was no one
	     left to speak up for me. (Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945)

Newsgroups: rec.backcountry,rec.climbing,rec.skiing
From: trzyna@CS.ColoState.EDU (wayne trzyna)
Subject: Re: Direct Euro-belays
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 1992 19:29:08 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Computer Science Department

In article <1992Nov5.162618.5424@aber.ac.uk> azw@aber.ac.uk (Andrew Michael Woodward) writes:
>
>Time to rattle a few cages......
...
>irrational belief that your second's presence in the belay chain is somehow 
>going to save the day, so you use lethal belays in blissful ignorance. Going 
>direct makes you pay much more attention to the belay due to a (ficitious)
>perceived risk.

<sarcasm on>
So let me get this straight.  If the belay anchors are questionable you
would prefer to let go of the rope rather than be pulled off the belay
ledge, while the protection above the belay holds.
<sarcasm off>

I try to position myself so that NONE of the force of a fall goes on the
anchors, which as in all free climbing, are there for backup.  There are,
of course, exceptions forced by circumstance.

No, I think the conventional wisdom is just that in this case: wisdom.
You can of course experiment all you want, as long has I'm not on
the other end of your rope.
-- 

-Wayne Trzyna
 trzyna@CS.ColoState.EDU
From: gustave@ada.seas.ucla.edu (Gustave R. Stroes)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: For Sale: Plastic Doubles
Date: 7 Nov 92 01:36:39 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: SEASnet, University of California, Los Angeles

For Sale:  Scarpa Inverno Plastic Double Boots
           Size 10, never used.
           Also, Lowe FootFangs (crampons).
           $250 obo for the combo.
You can reach me through email or call (310)826-4332.
None of the equipment has ever been used outside my living
room.  They just don't fit.

Gustave
From: klee@wsl.dec.com (Ken Lee)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Fleece Jackets
Date: 9 Nov 92 19:45:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: PA.1992Nov9.194519.4694
Reply-To: klee@wsl.dec.com
Organization: DEC Western Software Laboratory

|> Are there any detractions to this stuff?  It seems pretty durable, doesn't
|> protect against the wind much (but that's for a shell anyway), and is 
|> in general the best 80 bucks I've spent on clothes in a long time!

Polyester fleece (brand names like Polartec, Synchilla, Armadilla) is
great.  Under a windproof shell it will keep you warm down to below
freezing.  Compared to down, it is more durable and dries much more
quickly, but it is somewhat heavier and less compressable.  Being
easily washable and very soft, fleece is probably superior to wool in
all regards, except for being petroleum-based.

The only problem with polyester fleece is that it is becoming very
expensive.  A few years ago, you could get a good quality Patagonia
fleece jacket for $30 or so; now it is $150.  Even no-name brands are
usually at least $60.

All kinds of practical garments are now made from polyester fleece,
including jackets, pants, hats, gloves, scarfs, and blankets.

-- 
Ken Lee
DEC Western Software Laboratory, Palo Alto, Calif.
Internet: klee@wsl.dec.com
uucp: uunet!decwrl!klee
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: wbm@freedom.Stanford.EDU (Wally Mann)
Subject: Re: Video in the Backcountry
Organization: /usr/local/lib/rn/organization
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 18:50:59 GMT

In article <1992Nov7.222358.5115@coe.montana.edu> graham@cs.montana.edu (Jonathan Graham) writes:
>
>	I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with filming
>(video) in the backcountry?  My main problem has to do with batteries.

I took a SONY TR-5, the first of the very tiny 8mm cameras, to the summit
of Denali two years ago.  It worked great, even in -20F.  

For batteries, I took 4 high capacity D cell lithium batteries.  They 
were not the kind that one routinely buys at places like REI.  I ordered
them from a battery company at $30 each.  (all lithium batteries are
not alike)

Then I bought a flashlight and converted it into a battery pack, which
I wore inside my jacket.  I bought an extra AC adaptor back for the
camera, and used that to connect my new battery pack to the camera,
which I slung just inside my gortex layer in an insulated chest
carrying case.

I shot 3 hours during that trip.  I estimated at the time that the
batteries would last 6 hours (I've been using my rechargable packs
since then).  All in all it worked great and weighed less than 4 D
cell alkaline batteries.  The only surprise was that I had to rig
all 4 batteries at once (2 sets of 2 in parallel) to meet the current
demands of the camera.

Have fun,
Wally
From: jjh00@diag.amdahl.com (Joel Hanes)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: BC in the movies [still diverging]
Date: 6 Nov 92 20:54:53 GMT
Reply-To: jjh00@diag.amdahl.com
Organization: Amdahl Corporation  Sunnyvale California


   watson@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (John S. Watson - FSC) writes:
> 
> The Horror. The Horror.
> 
> ...
> 
> Worse than a film of a crime, worse than a film of a accident.
> It's the premedition that seems to make the difference.
> 
> I wonder if it would bug me as much if I worked in a slaughter house?


                               Reuben Bright

               Because he was a butcher and thereby
               Did earn an honest living (and did right)
               I would not have you think that Reuben Bright
               Was any more a brute than you or I;
               For when they told him that his wife must die,
               He stared at them and shook with grief and fright,
               And cried like a great baby half that night,
               And made the women cry to see him cry.
               And after she was dead, and he had paid
               The singers and the sexton and the rest,
               He packed a lot of things that she had made
               Most mournfully away in an old chest
               Of hers, and put some chopped-up cedar boughs
               In with them, and tore down the slaughter-house.


                                     Edward Arlington Robinson
Xref: sparky rec.backcountry:8700 rec.climbing:4252 rec.skiing:7242
From: johnf@Auspex.COM (John Fereira)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry,rec.climbing,rec.skiing
Subject: Re: Direct Euro-belays
Date: 6 Nov 92 20:44:28 GMT
Followup-To: rec.climbing
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Nov5.162618.5424@aber.ac.uk> azw@aber.ac.uk (Andrew Michael Woodward) writes:
>Time to rattle a few cages......

>and if large, then a direct belay at least allows the survivor a chance of
>soloing off

Time to set the Followup-line:
-- 
+==========================================================================+
| John Fereira        | Auspex Systems | "Ask me about my vow of silence." |
| johnf@auspex.com    | Santa Clara CA |                                   |
+==========================================================================+
From: CA.FER@forsythe.stanford.edu (Jennifer Gates)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Lunches and Snacks: what do you bring?
Date: 13 Nov 1992 12:00:51 -0800
Organization: Stanford University
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: morrow.stanford.edu

My favorite treat while backpacking is one of those instant
cheesecake mixes. They turn out really well.

Enjoy.
Jennifer
From: tucker@shiva.edsg.hac.com (George Tucker)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Camping in Hawaii
Date: 11 Nov 92 23:42:56 GMT
Reply-To: tucker@shiva.UUCP (George Tucker)
Organization: Hughes Aircraft Co., El Segundo, CA

In article <122440205@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> ajs@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Alan Silverstein) writes:
>What about the feral pigs, however?  Some of the aforementioned police
>woke me up in the middle of the night at Mauna Kea State Park -- I was
>sleeping on the asphalt in a corner of the lot next to my car on a dark,
>foggy night.  The cops didn't hassle me, but they warned me my life was
>in danger if I didn't sleep in my car or in a cabin.  Apparently feral
>pigs are everywhere below timberline, although they avoid civilization.

You had me completely baffled until the last sentence.  In L.A., feral
pigs and police are identical, but the latter do not avoid civilization.
You are apparently referring to the critters with the curly tails.

	 George Tucker        tucker@shiva.hac.com
	"Innocence is irrelevant."
		Select two:	The Borg
				US Judicial System
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Hi folks
From: tabrock@nic.gac.edu (Nick Solinger)
Date: 7 Nov 92 15:48:02 -0600
Followup-To: rec.backcountry
Distribution: world

Just testing out my new news program.  Have a day.
From: jhhardy@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (J. Hardy)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Want recommendations for 1-man tents, bivvy sacs
Date: 13 Nov 92 04:31:16 GMT
Organization: Indiana University

In <lg61e2INN3np@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> avv@primo.Eng.Sun.COM (Vince Vasquez) writes:

>I'm looking for recommendations for 1-man tents and bivvy sacs.

>Thanks,

>Antonio

there are two tents you really should have a look at.
The Sierra Designs Half-moon is billed as a two person tent but its weight
makes it feasible for a solo tent also.  For two ppl its tight but comfortable.
For one person its a hotel.  Its one of the few tents I would consider
carrying solo that I can also sit up comfortably in.  Whether or not you 
get this tent, it makes a good comparison point.

Walrus makes a small tent, I think its called 'Solo'.  This is about a pound
lighter than the SD tent, but not nearly so roomy.  Its also not
free standing (the SD is).  But if weight counts for a lot and youre
sure you wont have anyone else in it, and you dont mind not being able
to sit up, this looks like a real good tent.  Actually you could squeeze
a couple ppl into it as long as they werent to big, but I wouldnt want to make a habit of it.  This tent reminds me a lot of the old northface mayfly.
Its a two hoop tunnel with a mesh top.

I got the SD cuz I was just starting up a relationship and didn't know
whethere i would continue doing solo stuff as a rule.  I figured the SD was
light enough to carry solo but comfortable enough to make long trips with 
two ppl more enjoyable.  My gf and I spent about 2 1/2 weeks in the tent
this summer and we sure enjoyed the extra room.  I haven't taken it out solo
yet, but it has more room than my old pup tent at about the same weight.

good luck

jim hardy
jhhardy@indiana.edu
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: eugene@wilbur.nas.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya)
Subject: Re: Sierra Nevada in May
Organization: NAS, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 20:25:41 GMT

In article <6NOV199209225313@juliet.caltech.edu>
pggreen@juliet.caltech.edu (Green, Peter G.) writes:
>May is a nice time to climb, but Nancy had it right, late spring
>offers great backcountry skiing if you are willing to make the
>approach.  Finest run I've ever had was in a dry year on June 1.

I have certainly skied there many times in good Mays and Junes
(Cascades are better in my opinion at that time of year)
Well, my only suggestion is to point out that the yearly Caltech Ski trip
is typical held between Jan.-March (which I have attended for the past, now
13 years).  I'm not partial to corn skiing.

"Sorry sir.  Looks like we ate the last of the geologists." --Punch

--eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@orville.nas.nasa.gov
  Associate Editor, Software and Publication Reviews
  Scientific Programming
  {uunet,mailrus,other gateways}!ames!eugene
Seeking Books to buy:	Bongard, Pattern Recognition
			3 down 1 to go.
From: marks@ssdevo.enet.dec.com (Randy Marks)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: cleaning down bags
Date: 10 Nov 92 21:40:58 GMT
Article-I.D.: nntpd2.1992Nov10.214318.24851
Distribution: na
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp. - Colorado Springs


In article <1992Oct21.172429.149@gems.vcu.edu>, hleaves@gems.vcu.edu writes...
>In article <1992Oct19.211027.3546@lgc.com>, commike@lgc.com (Alan Commike) writes:
>> 
>> How does one clean a down bag?
>> 

>The other option: professional dry clean.
> 

continuing with my previous reply (which I accidentally terminated)........
I'd suggest using Mountain Mend (303)443-1925.
I have used them to clean a down bag, a down vest and a down jacket.
In all 3 cases, they did a superb job.

	Randy Marks
(UUCP)	                {decvax,ucbvax,allegra}!decwrl!ssdevo.enet!marks
(INTERNET)              marks@ssdevo.enet.dec.com
(domain-based INTERNET) marks%ssdevo.enet@decwrl.dec.com
..........................................................................
	"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe
	while the legislature is in session."
..........................................................................
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: paale@stud.cs.uit.no (Paal Ellingsen)
Subject: Copy of Guns n Chainsaws            
Organization: University of Tromsoe, Norway
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 14:49:17 GMT

Shit! Every time there's something funny on the net, I miss it.
If there's someone who has saved the Trip Report: Guns n Chainsaws 
please mail it to me.

Paal Ellingsen/paale@cs.uit.no
From: hleaves@gems.vcu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Tom Browns Guide to Wilderness Survival
Date: 6 Nov 92 16:50:47 -0400
Organization: Medical College of Virginia

Does anyone know if "Tom Browns Guide to Wilderness Survival" is still in
print? If so, who is the publisher.

Thanks,
Hugh
-- 
*******************************************************************************
** Hugh L. Eaves                      ** Internet: hleaves@ruby.vcu.edu      **
** Medical College of Virginia        ** Bitnet: hleaves@vcuruby             **
** Department of Human Genetics       ** Voice: (804) 371-8754               **
***************** All non-incendiary communication welcome! *******************
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
From: jahn@guinness.Idbsu.EDU (Greg Jahn)
Subject: Re: gortex vs/ kevlar
Reply-To: jahn@guinness.idbsu.edu
Organization: BSU - Data Center
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 18:12:55 GMT

In article <1dripjINNpfq@moe.ksu.ksu.edu>,
 diverson@phys.ksu.edu (David Iverson) writes:
|>I'm considering purchasing a new anorak and I was wondering what the
|>benifits and draw backs are between gortex and kevlar.
|>
|>I guess gortex is better at stopping bears and rain. But how does it do
|>against bullets or grenades?
|>
|>I guess kevlar is a good fabric to protect against shrapnel, but can it be
|>made to be breatheable and waterproof at the same time?  And is it worth the
|>extra weight?
|>
|>What experiences have others had with these two materials?

Hmm, pretty heavy stuff.  The fact that this will once again be
an ever-argued and unresolved issue is only overshadowed by the
fact that, regardless of it's merits in grizzly combat in the 
rain, you will nonetheless be hearing in the 'outdoor' shops -

"This will look really nice on you while walking downtown
 during lunchtime."


--
Greg Jahn Boise State Univ.|>>>>>>>Official Disclaimer <<<<<<<<<<<<
/ jahn@guinness.idbsu.edu /|" Only the names here are fictitious.
/ dosjahn@idbsu.bitnet    /|  The story, unfortunately, is
/ (208)385-3891.thephone  /|  absolutely true. " - Joseph Brodesky

Newsgroups: rec.backcountry