I happened across this post on a UK blog about a folding-panel solar recharging kit and it made me wonder if anybody actually uses such a thing on the trail. It sounds like one of those “great ideas” that people…
Backpacking
Get ’em away from their X Boxes
by tmangan • May 23, 2006 • 0 Comments
A story from the newspaper in Caspar, Wyoming, tells about a camp geared toward teens. “A lot of these kids come into this with no intentions of being a leader,” said Dano Camp board member Joyce Ostrom. “But before long,…
Backpacking
Jacks R. Better profile
by tmangan • May 23, 2006 • 1 Comment
A story about those guys who make down quilts for hammock camping: Convinced that there had to be a better way to hike, the two Jacks began experimenting with lightweight equipment that still kept campers warm. With a sewing machine…
El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve
A moist walk to Tafoni Monolith
by tmangan • May 21, 2006 • 2 Comments
So I sat on my fanny for five gorgeous, sunny days that were supposed to be a vacation last week. I was figuring on getting in some hikes and maybe a camp-out till the Festival of Phlegm came to town.…
Tom's travels
Stuck in the slow lane
by tmangan • May 20, 2006 • 0 Comments
Still no fast connection around the ol’ homestead, which makes blogging seem more like slogging up a sand dune. Thanks to all who’ve sent along moral support in the past couple days … might be Monday or Tuesday before the…
Tom's travels
Now my Web connection’s ailing
by tmangan • May 18, 2006 • 9 Comments
River of snot turning into a creek, but now my high-speed connection’s gone down. Life’s too short to blog at dial-up speeds. Just hang in there folks, and visit many of the fine hiking links on the rail at left.
Tom's travels
Taking another day off
by tmangan • May 17, 2006 • 3 Comments
I’m supposed to be on vacation this week, so the gods have rewarded me with a nasty cold — yesterday it was a sore throat and lying around feeling like hell; today’s lying around feeling like hell with the ever-welcome…
Hiking
Gourmet hiking?
by tmangan • May 15, 2006 • 1 Comment
From a story on hikers who don’t mind ponying up big bucks for a fancy meal after a hard day’s slog. At trail’s end, chefs in white aprons gave them braised lamb with artichokes, mushroom penne pasta cooked on the…
Joseph D. Grant County Park
Mother’s Day at Grant County Park
by tmangan • May 14, 2006 • 0 Comments
So it’s Mother’s Day and how’s this for luck: My mom lives 2000 miles away so I’m free to spend the day on the trail. The Diablo Range (official title of the hills east of San Jose) is still mostly…