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07/29/2013
New MYOG Pack


For my needs, this pack is just great. The raw materials weighed 26 ounces and the final pack weighs 15.6 ounces. It easily holds all my gear and food for a week, and is comfortable. Quest Outfitters will sell you the materials as a kit and the plans with detailed instructions so you can make your own.


I had ordered the instructions and template last year, so I just reused them. I copied teh template pieces to brown paper as soon as I got them and use those rather than cutting up the original.


Trace all the pieces onto the fabric. I laid them out as tight as possible to save fabric which I might use for some other projects. Quest provides plenty of fabric.
It's important to check that you are drawing on the 'back' side of the fabric so your marks don't show on the finished piece. And, ensuring that you are laying right and left oriented pieces for shoulder straps, belts, and the like is critical.


Actually, a bright halogen floor lamp was a big help to keep the area brightly lit. It helped me find dropped pins in the carpet, too.
This is our new sewing machine since I broke our old, old, old one last year making my first pack. It wasn't my fault - a plastic gear inside just gave way, and replacing it didn't work out.


The front, right side, and left side are made. Then, all the parts are sewn together.
I made a few modifications from the original pack:
- I left off the back support sleeve since I plan to just slip a piece of cardboard inside the pack.
- I did not add the optional top cover since I'll have a rain poncho that covers me and the pack.
- I angled the side pockets so the fronts are a bit lower, letting my reach back with my hand and get in the pocket.
- I added little water bottle straps to the front shoulder straps so I have two bottles in front, balancing the weight and easy to access.
Well, for about $40 and two days of sewing, I'm happy with my MYOG pack. Hopefully, I won't need to use it until next year, but it's ready to go!
MYOG = Make Your Own Gear
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Posted: 07/29/2013
Posted: 07/29/2013
07/26/2013
Rest Stops


Consequently, a fairly big challenge of thru-hiking the Ice Age Trail is finding places to camp for the night. The Ice Age Trail Association is working hard to create 'Distributed Camping Areas' (DCAs) along the trail specifically for long-distance hikers. These DCAs are just open spaces where hikers can legally set up a tent - usually no water or facilities. There are only a handful of DCAs at this time, so what does a hiker do?
The IATA has some great volunteers and they've compiled a list of Trail Friends - folks that may be willing to have hikers camp on their property. I figure these wonderful people probably get asked for help often, so I've held off on contacting them. I'll call on them when it gets critical.
Instead, I've emailed Boy Scout troops and packs across Wisconsin that are in towns along the trail route. The last couple days have been great because I've received replies back from a few Scouters that have space for me to spend a night! I'm now down to less than 6 nights where I'm not sure what we'll do for camping.
I've also asked a couple friends about a stopover. If you know of anyone along the Ice Age Trail route in Wisconsin that wouldn't mind having a couple old guys crash in their yard, or hunting land, or wherever, please tell them to contact me. It would be greatly appreciated.
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Posted: 07/26/2013
Posted: 07/26/2013
07/25/2013
Respect Wildlife


When you encounter wildlife, you should have respect for them and leave them alone. It's best to give them plenty of room and observe from a distance. If they change their behavior because of your presence, then you are too close. This deer was right on the trail and bounded off about 60 yards, then stopped and watched. So, my approach did change his behavior, but I had little choice since he was on the trail. I didn't hang around, just long enough to take the picture and then move on.
Other ways to respect wildlife include camping far from water sources so they have easy access, avoiding areas where young are being raised in the spring, avoiding food sources in the fall when animals are preparing for winter, and keeping a clean camp by disposing of waste properly.
I'll probably see quite a few of this guy's buddies throughout Wisconsin next month.
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Posted: 07/25/2013
Posted: 07/25/2013
07/19/2013
Hike Schedule


See the schedule. As long as PapaBear and I stay healthy, I expect we'll complete the trail 4 or 5 days sooner than scheduled - but we'll see.
Camping along the trail will be a challenge since much of the trail is through private and populated land. I'm looking for people that would let a couple vagabonds camp on their property. So, if you or someone you know is along the trail, please holler!
It's only about 260 miles straight across Wisconsin. From the map, you can see the Ice Age Trail takes a serpentine path that more than quadruples its mileage. Of all the National Scenic Trails, it takes more miles to cover less distance than any other. Others, such as Pacific Crest and Appalachian, are pretty much a straight shot from end to end.
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Posted: 07/19/2013
Posted: 07/19/2013
07/17/2013
2 Weeks to IAT


My friend that I met on the Arizona Trail last year will be arriving from Seattle by train on July 30. We'll then review our gear, get food in order, and drive to Wisconsin. I hope to start hiking by August 3 or 4, heading West from Sturgeon Bay. Well, actually heading South for the first week, then a U-shape to the West, then another week heading North, then 2 weeks heading West. It's not really a very straight trail since it follows the last glacial terrain.
For the past couple months, I've been ramping up my hiking. Nearly every morning, I've been getting on the trail by my house. Starting with 4-mile hikes, each week I've added a mile. This week, I'm doing 10 miles each morning and that should be good enough. I feel in good hiking shape, even though I've still got 5 pounds that I don't need. But, that will go away soon enough on the IAT.
I know these last couple weeks will be hectic with last-minute preparation, but once I'm on the trail all I have to do is walk. That will be a welcome change to the busy lead up time.
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Posted: 07/17/2013
Posted: 07/17/2013
06/25/2013
My Little Friend

As you can see, that is a good idea not only to minimize impact but also to keep safe. I found his little friend of mine along the trail this morning while doing my daily hike. With the three cute little leafs, all shiny and green, he looks harmless enough. No prickly needles or scratchy thorns, but he can cause plenty of trouble if you touch him.
It's the urushiol in the poison ivy that causes skin irritation, more on some people than on others. By staying on the trail, keeping your eyes open, and paying attention to your surroundings, avoiding poison ivy isn't too difficult. When you go off trail, chances of running into it go way up. Actually, just off the trail is one of the best places for poison ivy to grow since it likes wood edges just like the side of a trail, road, or meadow.
It takes only a few minutes after contact with poison ivy for the urushiol to absorb into the skin, but it may take many hours for the itching, rash, and blisters to develop. Immediately washing off the contact area with soap and water is your best bet. Clothes that have contacted poison ivy should also be washed.
Poison Oak and Poison Sumac are also urushiol-producers and cause similar problems as poison ivy.
Burning poison ivy is especially dangerous because inhaling the smoke can effect your lungs.
Hike On Safely
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