HIKE MAINE 2003! (winter trip?)

“Hey, Lindy want some help w/recruits :) LOL”

“Hmmmm, the smart part of me says that we probably should attempt to get all women to require their men and sons to cook and clean. The independent part of me likes the idea of a loosely organized group of women who share the same values. The vengeful part of me, really liked the Thelma and Louise movie, until the end of course.”

“yes it did explain the lack of independant vengefull women tho....”

“LOL, yeah well maybe...”

“Sorry about reviving this thread, but I gotta tell you, all I have been thinking about today is x-country skiing in Baxter. A nice clear sunny day, pristine snow, cold clean air, just a hint of a breeze, and a little snow falling from a pinetree's branches.

Then a day of skiing in a snowstorm out there and coming back to the cabin like Grizzly Adams...

I am so into this trip, I can taste it. I have visualized it so much, I'm almost convinced I have already done it.”

“Oh, get over it, will you! This trip is MONTHS away.

Yeah right..... that is why I am probably going to be up all night tonight building my gear sled.

Where's a time warp when you need one?”

“UK - since you've already been there I have a few questions...

1. Was I able to make it?

2. Did I ski, or snow-shoe?

3. What were the hot stocks we wished we had bought?

4. Did me and twiggy live happily ever after? ;-)”

“Wow Uk, I can't wait to see the pics!”

“I am also ANXIOUSLY awaiting this trip! It's going to kick much arse!

If I'm lucky, the drive to Baxter will be considerably shorter this time. ;-)”

“why slick, I'm so disappointed...you even have to ask??? I thought we were soulmates... >:{

Don't you remember? Every night you came in from snowshoeing and threw a coupla packages of dehydrated food at me. I didn't even cuss you out for it - rather, since I'm a woman (and therefore better at meal planning than you - I accept this as fact 'cause I'm real smart) I dutifully set the pocket rocket to boiling, rehydrated your meals, and served 'em up using the "good" ziplocs. Only for you baby...”

“twiggy, I am just a little confused by your post. Yes, of course we are soulmates, that is now a given. And yes, you are smart, but... if you think I'd ever throw food at you and expect it to come back edible...that ain't right. And maybe I have just read something into it, but you seem to imply that I should be grateful that you didn't cuss me out, and frankly, that sends up all kinds of red flags...

:)”

“Oh, but "only for you baby" -- that kinda has a nice ring to it!”

“Second only to when I e-mail myself, I love it when I write a post that makes me laugh hysterically and people don't share my humor...
~>:D”

“Not at all...I thought it was very funny too!”

“I thought it was hilarious, but I don't think that I was the "people" that you were referring to. But Fritz was pretty quick to question whether the food would be edible or sabotaged in some way. Reminds me of that movie with Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid, "Something to Talk About" where Roberts poisons Quaid using a recipe from her grandmother.”

“can we revisit the phrase in Tiwg's posting:

I dutifully set the pocket rocket to boiling

Seems that it just should pass without comment.”

“That did add to the humor quite a bit.”

“Sigh.... Killington Ski resort is already open.... Let the games begin!!!!

Fritz,
1)you made it!!!
2) in on snow shoes, out on skiis 3) The hot stock was in Anti Saddam cruise missles
4) and , alas, though their was much cooing and flirtation, it was not to be on this trip, but the door seemed open to future trips...

The pictures will take a bit to load.

LOL”

“Wahoo - winter is in the air! Now I just gotta get my dates figured out so I can fit in 3 BSP trips, the Quebec winter carnival, other winter trips, and all the ski, snowshoe and other fun winter things I want to do...my 2003 organizer is a mess already...
hehee”

“All right Fritz... you ROCKED!!

I got some pics but not trip pics. I just finished the rough draft of my gear sled. It's based on the one seen on mountkatahdin.net with a few changes. I used 3/4 pvc pipe instead of steel, but used steel straps. I also added a brace for stability, put a bunch of grommets around the sled and looped 1/4" rope through them for bungee straps.

I haven't glued the pipe fittings together yet. Gotta make sure it fits in the truck first. DOH!

It looks like it will clip to my backpack's hip belt fine, but I'm thinking the pack will be in the sled,not on my back. I want to come up with some kind of belt with side loops or something of that nature.

In any case, here's some pics. Once I glue it together and test it with some weight in the yard, I'll post more details (that is if it works).

Sled pic 1
Sled pic 2
Sled pic 3

HIKE MAINE!!!!!”

“Damn, Pennsy, you ain't playin' around! That looks pretty sweet!”

“That sled looks great. I saw a guy on TV use one on an outdoor show and he had his pack straped inside it. When it got so he couldn't ski with the sled in some sections, he just put the pack on with the sled still attached. He looked like a turtle going through the snow.”

“backpacker mag had plans for a sled similar to what people made in AK. I think it was three or four years ago. You could certainly find it in the library.”

“The best part is that is was soooo cheap to make. $8.44 for the sled from Walmart. The pipe and fittings were about $4. I already had the grommet kit, the 3/8 plywood came from my brother's garage, and nuts and bolts are cheap. I just hope the dang thing works.

Richb - that must have been a sight, but not a bad idea.”

“looks to me like it'll work, pennsy.”

“It was and the way he was moving with the sled and on foot when he had to looked really efficient. You certainly can't beat the price of making your own and you've given me something to think about. I may just make one of those for areas where the skiing is relatively flat.”

“Pennsy, that looks like a fine model, I admire the ingenuity here.

What's that? Was that another shoe dropping on the floor? I see a red flag here.

Oh, how to say this good buddy....

3/4 inch PVC in the winter with a joint in the middle. I'm not so sure it will stand up to some downhill runs, with its weight pushing the poles into your hip belt. I think pulling will be fine. And that brace may add enough rigidity, after all.

Can you load it up and take it to a hill and walk it down the hill? Granted, it won't be as cold as BSP will be, or as slick, but check out the bending. Let me know, I still haven't built mine.

I was going to use some old skiis strapped to the bottom of a toboggan and spaced with a 2 by 4 between the skiis and toboggan, but I do not think they will turn on the trail well. So I am back to a Wal-mart sled with a harness arrangement.”

“If you want to improve the tracking, you can get strips of polyethylene plastic (I think that's it) to rivot to the bottom.

My store bought sled uses fiberglass poles similar to fiberglass tent poles. Some replacement tent poles might work, but you'd need to adjust the lenght by removing a section or cutting them. The poles are then fastened to the sled and to the belt or pack by rings.”

“Wow! That looks great!

Pennsy, I still carried a day pack last time.

Richb, we had planned on that last year, but opted for bags instead because they settled into the sled better. Also, we were on a snow covered road.”

“I wanna go for a ride!

This looks good Pennsy.

You're a regular shi+ house engineer!

You had better line up a good #&%!$ house lawyer just in case of product liability.”

“Pennsy . . loks great. A lot more stable than my last attempt.

A couple of notes. I used 1/2 inch pipe and it had WAY TOO MUCH FLEX.

I saw anohter one on the trail and it was 1 inch - 1 1/2 inch. BIG diameter.

Second. The weak spots would be in the attachment of the plywood deck to the sled. If that deck rips off, then your rig is shot. Be confident that the deck fastenings (and the fasteners holding the PVC to the deck) can withstand a lot of twisting and torque.

If you are just on the access road to Roaring brook (wide, probably packed, no sharp turn and twists) you have a large margin of error. If the trails are narrow, backwoods, downhills around corners . . .you have a narrower margin of error.

An example. Coming out of Zealand there is a short section that leaves the old RR bed and travels on a woods trail. Down relatively gentle inclines with the typical boulders, and trees to swerve around. My friend picked up speed, was doing great BUT BUT BUT

HIS SLED did NOT make a corner. It had swung out to the side behind him (too much flex in the poles) and as he went AROUND the tree, the sled went THROUGH the tree. total yard sale. the sled just exploded his gear everywehere. Pulled him off his feet etc etc.

POINT: Your Decking connection points should be able to withstand downhill impact with a traveling 50 pound load.

Again. IT LOOKS AWESOME. I will definetly carry away your ideas for the the next sled I put together. Good job.”

“Pennsy --
more. (sorry) I was also thinking of bracing using OVC joints and elbows. My concern would be that the cement wouldn't be secure enough (??) I was thinking of drilling all of the connections and running bolts with wing nuts through them. And, probably of leaving at least one joint NOT cemented, just bolted, so that I could collapse the thing for tranport. '

Do you think that the tensile (right word??) strength of PVC would be affected by drilling it??”

“The Roaring Brook road is wide (you've all been on it) but we shouldn't expect it to be packed. It's possible that it may be, but only authorized BSP snowmobiles are allowed on that section. Could be blowdowns as well.

Just as an FYI - for a few miles we'll be on a part of the tote road that allows public snowmobile traffic. The snow is packed the width of the road because of them, which makes that part of the trip easier for us. On my last trip we listened for them and alerted all in our party so we could start moving to the side as soon as we heard them - it takes a minute to get you and your sled off to the side. The first snowmobilier that sees us will raise his arm to alert those behind him to slow down. Everyone who passed by was very friendly and we enjoyed seeing them. Lots 'o bucks on those things!”

“Tom T, Fritz, Artex, wolfman, check your e-mails, please.

thanks!”

“Twig --

you're gonna make me cry!!”

“Just responded, Twiggy.”

“well then COME with us lee !
(I'll give you a sticker after, lol)

haven't got it yet mtnjamie...

I'm almost done with the infernal paperwork - man! Next time I say winter trip, kick me. I expect jewels and furs this time!

J/K! it's no big deal, you guys are great and we almost have everything we need!
I'm gonna mail it in the morning.”

“I sent it through mail2web.com, so it may take a while. In anycase, here ya go:

LHR 21D”

“hmmm...I didn't come up with anything like that from your writing, lol!”

“I'm on my way to the post office (I'm so excited!)

Final results - March trip, 9 participants, one party pooper in a tent. ;)
did somebody tell him about my snoring?!”

“I know, I know, my handwriting is somewhat haphazard. For that matter, my typing skills can be the same if I'm not careful.”

“...but you draw such great caricatures of yourself!”

“So, who is the party pooper?

Hey guys, no need to apologize for the sled critique. I welcome and appreciate the comments.

First, I should clarify that there wasn't much originality on my part. If you go to mountkatahdin.net and scroll down to the "the sled" link on the left side, you'll see what I mean. I liked the use of the wooden deck and modeled mine after that.

Hopefully, we'll get snow down here so I can test drive this on day-hikes before hitting the backcountry. In the meantime, I'll mess around with some grass hills.

UK - yeah, I am curious how well it will hold up on the downhills. I'm hoping the brace will reduce the bending. Shed 40 pvc is pretty tough so we'll see. Hmmmm, I wonder what filling the pipes with sand will do?

I may just build another one anyway with 1" pipe. Shoot, this stuff is pretty cheap, and I'll have an extra sled that I can barter with for food. ;o)

Lee - the decking and straps should be pretty solid (I hope so). I used 1/4 bolts to fasten the deck to the sled, using 3 existing holes on the sled where the plastic is thicker around the holes. I also used washers so it would take some force to yank the deck free. The straps are steel and bolted (not wood screwed) to the deck. If anything goes, I think the piped cracking would be first. In that case, I'll use rope to limp it home.

PVC cement is very strong. We use it with 1 1/2 pvc pipe at work and once it's glued, it's permanent. If we make a mistake, it's saw time. Using a bolt on one unglued fitting might be a good idea though. I don't think a bolt hole will weaken it much.

Again, thanks for the comments. Shoot, I am no Bob Villa, that's for sure. I'm more like Tim the Tool Man Taylor. Arr Arr..”

“About drilling PVC joints. Don't do it!! It weakens the joints. Many people have made hockey goal nets and soccer goal nets, and invariably, they break at the screws. The PVC cement is plenty strong enough, it literally melts the pieces together. If you want to make sure, use PVC primer first. Don't get that PVC cement that is supposed to be self priming. Use a primer and a cement. You can't go wrong with that.

Perhaps another look at the original is required. Can somebody post a link to AMY G's sled picture/plans. I think she ran a rope through the pipe???? And pulled on the rope? Seems her pipes were pretty small, about 3/4 inch. I can't really remember.

I see alot in the pics I like, bolting the front of the sled with some wood and attaching there, lots of grab onto that plastic sled. I'd like to some how come up with a way to put a bull nose (The front of the sled would look a lot like the front of a torpedo) on the front of the sled to keep snow from coming over the front and staying in my gear.

Hmmmm.... come on, come on everybody, design and build and test and prove the perfect sled, then I'll copy your designs!!!!
Actually, sometimes I think we put too much into it. We basically need a cheap plastic sled, some pipe and attachment, just how best to implement it.”

“Tom T's the pooper. :)

But what fun is that UK, if we don't spend days, months, years even, perfecting our sled designs! I talked with a guy at LLB who said the sled is a never ending project, one that evolves over time. Sounds like fun to me!

I originally started out with a rope threaded through pvc pipe, but wanted something more rigid. However, the woman in our group who had nothing more than a sled with a rope attached was just as happy as the rest of us. Like Pennsy says, I think it's wise to have enough line with you in case something happens to your rig.

I bought a roll of tyvek, the 3'x100' size - anyone want a piece? I'm hoping to make a sled cover using that and some pastic grommets. And now, off to Home Depot to see about a rivet gun...”

“Me?

And just how did I poop on the party?”

“I'll be making mine soon. The way the weather has been, I'll be needing one sooner than later, me thinks!”

“Just kiddin' Tom T !

However, if I could use that to make you feel bad, you could redeem yourself by showing up in them blue tights (and that tutu someone mentioned)- how 'bout it?
:)”

“What gives?

Am I the only tenter?

What a buncha sissies!~@%^>

I could sleep in the bunkhouse......you snore?

I fart!”

“Tom T, if you have enough room in your tent, we'll join you for hot chocolate and chewing the fat!!!”