Feed the gimp

“I am in the market for some gear to try and lessen my pack weight and make it easier for my gimpy legs. But I can't afford new. In your various piles of cast off or unused gear do you have

1) an internal frame pack of reasonable size for long weekends. I have about a 20" torso I believe.

2)I might be able to swing for a Hennesy Hammock when the taxes get here but that's not certain. If anyone has an extra lying around they would be willing to part with I'd like to know about it. I ain't a tiny lil thing so it's got to be rated for some tonnage.

Those are the two Items I am seeking right now. If you have something that would help me out, let me know what the price is, I'll pay shipping and what you are asking if I can afford it.

Thanks.”

“Seriously you can solve 2 problems with 1 stone. (btw, glad you decided to stick around - you had said you would probably leave after the whole bearmagathon thing, and now that you've dropped out, looks like your staying anyways)

Lose weight. By eating less you can save money by buying less food, put less weight on your legs, won't need as heavy of a hammock, and won't have to mooch off others. You just might live longer too.”

“SARGE...WHAT THE F***K are you thinking....Rev needs to approach his congressman to get a government loan to get the stuff (LOL)

Rev I will see what I have left...I have been dumping stuff off to my Scouts to keep them supplied.”

“Sarge... you really need to learn to shut your mouth when you have no idea what you are talking about. Much of the weight is due to medications which I take to stay alive. Much as I am sure you would like to be rid of me don't be a jerk.”

“I have an old I-frame gathering dust, but it's too small And too heavy!   (and it's too bulky to make a decent paperweight)

Good luck with your hunt ----”

“Rev, heres a pretty good deal on a 5000 cubic inch, 3#14oz Jansport:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=226&memberId=12500226&productId=39277867

And here's a Golite Gust for $70:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/311,92785_GoLite-Gust-Backpack.html

There are all kinds of excellent deuter internals at Sierra trading posts bargain barn, all for less than $100 right now.
last edited: 2/13/08 7:58:29 AM”

“I didn't go into serious detail in my original post but maybe it would be appropriate for me to do so for those who seriously care. Sarge is specifically excluded from that group.

I am an insulin dependent diabetic so getting out and being active is important. I also suffer peripheral neuropathy which means my legs are becoming weaker as the condition progresses. My balance is affected as well as my stamina and ability to move easily. I can't get up from the ground with any degree of grace. Ask the folks from the last drunk-ferst they know that first hand.

I am schlepping a Kelty external that is 35 years old if it is a day. I love it, but I can't control it.

I didn't go into this before because I saw no need to air my woes before the world. However, having hinted at health issues I thought I should elaborate both to let people know what the situation is as well as to forestall any one celebrating my imminent demise and then being disappointed.”

“Sass... thanks but even that is a little steep for me atm. I've been watching. But with the income I have to work with, used is really the best I think I can expect.

And I need something that can take some abuse... because I am not the most graceful gazelle in the herd.”

“You definitely need to move to an internal frame, Rev. Sass has posted some good links on cheap, new packs. Try them out on a day hike, loaded, and if you don't like them, return them.”

“hey rev check yer e-mail!”

“nothing yet from shawnee nomad, but I'll keep looking.”

“it may be under packbacker35,i had to make a new acount(got a new puter and can,t remember my old password)”

“got that.... I just just cross chcked the email addies...

back at ya.”

“Rev,

I have a Gregory G Pack gathering dust that I will give you to try out. I believe it is a medium torso length so it should fit you.

Email me your address and I will send it to you this weekend.”

“Another consideration would be to get some sil material and make a tarp. It will be light and cheap.”

“don't put words in my mouth rev”

“http://owfinc.com/Fabrics/NylonWoven/Ripstop.asp#Nylon%20Ripstop:%20Coated

The sil nylon is running less than $6/yd. Get 6 yards for $36 + shipping and wind up with a roughly 8.5'x9.5' tarp. Fold the edges back, sew around the perimeter and then sew on some webbing material in a loop for the tie offs. Wal-Mart occaisionally has some of this stuff for $1/yd. I bought 20 yards of the stuff off sacco a few years back but sadly it's all used up.”

“tarp puts me on the ground in a single wall tent and no floor. All of which I have done and it would help the weight but not the ability to get up and down. I am averse to single wall tents with no floor. I was scared by one when I was a little kid.... hehehe”

“Ahh, forgot about the mobility aspect. Sorry bout that.”

“no sweat....
I've already got a real nice tent that isn't too bad... but I bent one of the poles when I tried to get up out at the Drunk-ferst. The worst of it was I was stone cold sober.”

“to put cost in perspective: $100 means going without half a month's groceries. I have trouble doing that to my family. They are willing to part with some funds to help me get what I need. But I just can't do that.”

“I have been offered a pack that may work. Now I need to troll for a hammock I can afford.... :)”

“if you pay s & h i'll send you a h.h. safari deluxe ready to go.”

“Darn man, panhandling on the net, what a novel thing. These bums are going hi tec”

“Shawnee you're on... I'll e-mail my addy”

“Glad it worked out for ya, Rev.”

“So am I.

Thanks folks.”

“no problem”

“sounds good rev. i may have wait a day or 2 to get to ups,kinda iced here for the last 2 days,i just got my internet back on today.do you need it real soon?”

“judging from the ice on the ground here.... Hans Brinker would have more use for it than I do.

No sweat.”

“Do nursing home's really have outdoor activity's these days. I guess medicaid won't pay for the gear.”

“hey rev,i never did get that e-mail”

“sent it twice.. hmmmmm”

“on it's way to

packbacker35@yahoo.com

which is what is in your profile.

cut and paste jobber...
last edited: 2/15/08 9:28:13 AM”

“ok!”

“ok,i got it now rev,the h.h. will be on it's way.”

“Another nasty troll goes on the list.

*click*”

“hey rev did ya get the h.h. yet?”

“I did.... scared myself trying to get into t the first time. Strung it up on the supports in the basement. I need you to let me know how much the shipping was so I can send you off a check. Thanks. It looks like great fun.”

“I found a great photoshop type free software program. It has some great stuff.
[url]
http://www.gimp.org/[/url]”

“Not Found
The requested URL /[/url] was not found on this server.

Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Apache/1.3.33 Server at www.gimp.org Port 80

---

I typed: www.gimp.org and it worked.

Thanks, Tango.

---

It appears that the [url]
at the beginning did not make it with the rest of the link.
last edited: 2/24/08 6:32:35 PM”

“Shawnee Nomad... the only address I have to send the check to is on the return label on the box. I don't want the check ending up in a UPS Store somewhere and not your place. Get me the correct addy or affirm the label address please”

“shawnee Nomad... I am not trying to ignore you... I need verification of your snail mail to send the check. I don't want it ending up in a UPS Store mailbox somewhere unless that's where you want it. My wife wants to get rid of the box.”

“Check your email....I sent it to you. Thanks.”

“not here yet. checked my spam filters and everything....
grrrrr

when did you send it?

resend it please.. try
ramblnrev1 (at) verizon (dot) net
last edited: 3/01/08 8:58:24 AM”

“shawnee nomad... I am honestly trying to find your address and it just does not seem to be here. I don't know what to do at this point.

Please resend it... or send it snail mail or something. I feel terrible having go on this long.”

“hey rev! how's the h.h. workin out?”

“It's working out really nicely. In fact I am getting rid of my tents cause I won't be going back to ground

I must admit it has fueled a new addiction. I am sewing DIY stuff now. I have narrowed the hammock styles I can use down to bridge and HH. The HH has the bottom entrance which is ideal for my limitations and the Bridge, for one reason or another I can get out of. I can get into most any of them.... it's getting out that's the problem.

PS.. whoever sent it to me if you are reading this... Somehow I never got connected with your address. If you want the shipping payment for it... send me an e-mail wit your address and I will get it out to you.”

“nah don't worry about rev,just use it more than i did.and now that you are sewing did you fix that tear in the inside pocket?”

“ugh.. to do that I'd have to disconnect the ridgeline and I am not about to do that. I am heading down next weekend to a gathering of hangers in MD for a group hang. Took me some time to get passed the learning curve in terms of hanging after having spent so much time on the ground. But it has gotten me out into the woods again. I made a bridge hammock for my wife. She'll be going with me over the weekend. Plus I am collecting underquilts and other insulation stuff. In short...having a lot of fun with it.”