Campmor Trip Report

“ahh, campmor... the nirvana for east coast outdoor lovers. so much to see, so much to try on, so much to buy...

anyone who knows my style of backpacking knows that i'm a bit of a...minimalist. i mean, who needs a nalgene when you can use aquafina bottles? who needs a stove for hot food when you can eat cold food?

but this past saturday, that began to change...

i made the 2 hr. trek to campmor to shop, shop, and shop some more.

here is what i bought:

12 pairs of bpacking socks

gregory shasta pack (5,500) only $119!!

map of shenandoah nat'l park

wool gloves

fleece sweatshirt

2 NALGENE bottles!!!

eureka gossamer tent, might send back if i get CMBs

some more socks

i think that's it. i didn't buy a stove. i can't wait to try my pack. oh, my book was there also.
i'm really excited about my pack, and the nalgene bottles, but what's so great about those things??”

“nice score, but my casual observation is that you must be damn tough on socks....


;-)”

“chili-

just a lesson learned from you wife!!”

“LMAO.....


touche'”

“oh, i forgot, i also bought gaiters!”

“Jmitch a gear ho? I never thought it would happen.”

“hey, the hikin' stick is stayin'!

and i'm still using a grabage bag for a pack cover!

i will not become pennsy! i will not become pennsy!”

“Nalgenes don't crack if your water freezes - just use the large-mouthed ones and don't fill the right to the top. You can also pour in boiling water. They don't last forever, but just about.

How do you winter camp without a stove to melt snow?”

“Did you go to Harriman after Campmor?”

“Wow, congrats on quadrupling your gear. hee hee. Nalgene bottles rule due to their ability to survive thermonuclear blasts. Rumor has it Saddam was hiding inside of one.”

“went to campmor first, then harriman. the lemon squeezer was awesome, lots of cool icicles.

no artex, i now have ten times the gear!

gremlin- i never winter backpacked without having access to a running stream or spring, so it hasn't been an issue, something i need to keep in mind.”

“Why join the nalgene groupies?
Nalgenes are way heavy and have to be washed after a trip.
Aquafina bottles weigh little (about an oz.) and can be tossed after a trip.”

“I saw your book there on my last visit.

It's so hard to get out of there in under two hours.

I heart the tent bargain bin.”

“good point steve stomper! who wants to buy 2 brand new nalgene bottles!!”

“well I only carry a nalgene in winter when I want a hot water bottle in the bag - they work well for that purpose - just make sure the top is on tight.

wrt Aquafina bottles - I am not sure that they would stand up to boiling water - I have never ran the experiment but that is what I heard. Soda bottles are possibly a bit tougher and might handle the boiling water”

“Just where is this mother ship?”

“Buy any breakfast bars?”

“they take up loads of space and weigh a good bit (this coming from the guy who laughs at weight). I have switched out of my camelbak bladder to a platypus due to the heavier duty material and they roll up when they are empty and take up NO space and weigh practically nothing.

socks...one can NEVER have too many good hiking socks.

Nice score on the pack!!! Did you sign any books while at the store?”

“I just got a vision in my head of jmitch standing next to his book and asking passing shoppers if they want a signed copy of it...lol...”

“jmitch buying gear, Sacre bleu!!!

Nice score on the Shasta pack, that should last you a good while.

But that hiking stick? Hasn't the neighborhood pooch run away with that ugly thing???

hah hah, twelve pairs of socks! Are you using them for tubesteak warmers too? Wait! Don't answer that!!!”

“Just the ones he's loaning to you, Cap'n...lol...”

“Hey Grems - he gets his winter water the same way he gets his hot meals. "Ahhh, Pennsy, msy I have some more tortellini please?"

Jmitch = Jmooch.

Just kidding. Sort of.
Gaiters AND nalgenes? Wow, I am impressed. You're getting there, but what the heck are you gonna do with a 5500 pack? You'll be able to fit all your gear in it 3 times.”

“but what the heck are you gonna do with a 5500 pack?"
Pennsy
03:18:03 PM
12/16/03

Obviously, it's for carrying all his socks.”

“what? pennsy OFFERS tortellini! he should be happy i'd like to help alleviate extra weight”

“For 3 season use the Pepsi can stove is tough to beat and best of all it's free.”

“I have a Shasta. It's a monster pack (~5000ci) and weighs a ton (~6.2lbs). I can fit all of my gear for a five day trip inside it, including tent, thermarest, food, water bladder, etc. The suspension is great and it's pretty tough too.

Ditch the Nalgenes and go with a Platy. Nalgenes weigh 8oz and hold 32oz. A 100oz capacity Platy weighs a mere 3oz with hoser.”

“Platy(s) are great until they crack and then leak. The life time warranty doesn't do much good on the trail.

Nalgenes - are tough as nails.

I've carried both and like em both! They each have a niche on the trail.

Yep, that's why I have so much gear! Everything has it's place. The top shelf if for.., the middle shelf.....etc..

Jerbear we need to hit the gear shops. All this gear talk is getting to me. Especially those new Black Diamond tents/bivies.”

“I use a Platy on the trail and for filtering water into, storage you might say. I bring a Nalgene along to mix up Gatorade and drink from in camp. A lot easier to use when you're eating, you might say.

Plus, you can get 15 Puros Indios #2's in one.”

“Jmitch buys, gear and all u do is bust on his naglgens, u all suck...



good buys...keep up teh good work??

Did u buy the cheapest gaters they sell, like I did??? the 15 dollar "threshold"s.....

Don't worry, there is absolutly NO benifit in buying Goretex gatters for winter use.”

“Ice Tea what are gatters? Are you coming on the Catskills trip?

Good job on the gear Jmitch! I will not recognize you on the trail now.
I am surprised that you haven't gone the pepsi can stove and grease pot route for cooking. Of course you would have to actually bring food that you could cook. I wonder how a toasted granola bar tastes?”

“I love the nalgene bottles. I had one full of water, fall out of my pack in the Catskills and land smack on a pointy rock and didn't split, ding or anything. In the winter especially, I like to heat water to make tea and fill my nalgene so that I have hot and warm tea to drink instead of ice cold water, while hiking. All you need to do is make an insulated bottle bag and voila.

I have the big msr dromedary for summer backpacking, but I prefer the lexan nalgene for winter.”

“I love my Sigg more than the nalgene.”

“Guys who carry gats.”

“Tru dat bit!”

“I agree about the lexan Nalgene bottles for cold weather. So they weigh more, but you can depend on them and they can take boiling water and freezing temps. I had a 1 liter Platypus bottle leak in the top pocket of my pack one winter and it made a real mess before I discovered it. In really cold weather the last thing you want is your gear soaked.”

“I like the pretty colors Nalgenes come in these days.”