Bag Set and Ultralight Gaiters-Sale Items

Set includes:
black stuff sack 9 x 15.5
green stuff sack 7 x 10.5
blue stuff sack 9 x 14
blue ditty bag 8.5 x 7 (good for stove sets)
black ditty bag 4 x 4.25 (good for wallets)
blue stake bag
gray ultralight gaiters, custom
8 3 x 6 inch resealable plastic bags
8 2 x 3 inch resealable plastic bags

This whole set weighs a total of 3 and 7/8 ounces. Made with first quality 1.3 ounce silnylon, seams all double rolled for strength.

I made these ultralight gaiters to fit inside a 3 x 6 inch resealable bag. They only weigh 28 grams, yes, just one ounce. Made with 1.3 ounce silnylon. My prototype here is designed for simplicity and long wear:seams are double rolled, top cinches with an elastic drawcord. The bottom laces are removable and replaceable because they thread through loops and are not sewn in permanently. They are 9 inches wide, and 11.5 inches tall.

To keep the weight low and the gear maintenance free, no zippers, buckles or Velcro is used.
Good for early snowfalls, muggy rainy weather on the AT, keeping small rocks and sand out of the shoes in the desert. Because they are so light, you can just throw them in the pack without wasting space.

As with all prototypes, just one set of gaiters available. Set is $25 and includes shipping.
See Sales Page    http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html  for ordering information.

Patching Holes in Plastic with Silcone

I started a passive water collection system from my studio roof. When we get these enormous thunderstorms which dump a lot of rain within minutes I find its very easy to let the buckets fill up with run off from the roof. This back up water is used for the garden during dry spells of if the power goes out.
Notice the white buckets sitting on the ground on the left corner.

When I first started this project I had a couple buckets but one of them had holes in it. Several years ago in my Tomato potting project I drilled holes  in the sides and bottom to let the water drain so the root systems wouldn't drown. I have since decided a serious mountain garden  was in order, so the bucket now is being diverted to water collection.

In order to seal the holes I used 100%  clear exterior strength silicone , the kind that comes in a tube and is used in a caulking gun. I filled  the holes both inside and out with silicone.
Time would tell how well it would hold.
Its been two months and all is well. The water has not seeped out, even when its been full for days at a time.
I also use this product to seam seal silnylon tarps, tents and packs.

If you have to patch or glue plastic, I recommend this inexpensive product. You can find it in the hardware section at Walmart. Apply it to clean dry surfaces and allow to dry and cure completely.

Video and Story Bear Swimming in Yellowstone

The bear apparently just happened to be in the same area as a skittish woman hiker.
I don't blame her. Watch the video and decide what you might do.

Like the ranger says, you don't know if you're a stander or a runner til it happens to you.

Here's the link for the bear story and video:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/09/wyoming.grizzly/index.html?hpt=hp_p1&iref=NS1

Silnylon Fabric Starter Kit and Pack Cover

This selection of sewing hardware includes:
5 yards of cord elastic
3 yards of flat elastic
10 cord locks
12 mitten hooks (the black ones)
5 metal clips
1 Caribiner
2 sliding web clips
1/2 yard each (18 inches wide by 60 inches long) black, blue, gray and green first quality silnylon
1 yard no see-um-netting

With this assortment, you can make ditty bags, dunk sacks for cookware, water sacks, silsocks and more. If you need larger pieces of fabric, e-mail me. This set is $20.

This ultralight pack cover has a self stuffing ditty bag, and weighs only 2 1/4 ounces total. An elastic drawcord and wind strap are special features I always used. This should cover a pack with dimensions up to 18 wide by 24 long, with good wrap around sides and back. The elastic drawcord makes it easy on, easy off with adjustable sizing to smaller packs as well.

This packcover is designed for daypacks, and ultralighters. It is brand new, never used.
Price includes shipping , $13.

See sales page http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html
 for e-mail and to purchase.

Activities with the Grandson

This  summer I got a chance to spend time out west with the family. My grandson and I are painting this stool, he is doing all the trucks in Boy Fashion. I did the brown base paint, and the clear acrylic sealer over all.
First my daughter found three truck cookie cutters. I traced the truck shapes onto a top sheet of paper, then stacked 3 more sheets with it. I cut the paper shapes out with a scissors, put tape on the back and had my boy place them on the green stool. Then I spray painted the stool brown.
We removed the paper shapes and he painted the  trucks which were greenish. I outlined his work, and he enhanced the trucks with other colors. We allowed it all to dry, and finished it with a spray acrylic. His name and hand prints are painted on the top as well.





When I got home from my Out West adventure, I wrote Everything Except Corn Pasta, the book about trail food, trail stories, and ultralight cooking. Today I put it on sale as a way to say thanks for reading this blog.

This photo was taken up in Muir Hut on the Pacific Crest Trail. We'd stopped there to cook some hot lunch after slugging through snow all morning. 192 miles from Kennedy Meadows to Vermilion Valley Resort, including the side trip to Mt. Whitney without a resupply.  Food was pretty rationed out.

Everything Except Corn Pasta is 25% off for a limited time available at Kindle.  Kindle for PCs has a free download.

Appalachain Maps on Bandanas, for Sale

You can buy these for 12. 95 each at http://www.antigravitygear.com/mapdana.html

They do a good job describing what they are. I got a set of 4, the entire trail, but never used them.

This set is $25. Weighs 7 ounces, total.

http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html

New 10 x 12 Tarp for Sale

Sold!

This is the same size tarp used in making the video about how to make a tarp tent with a flat tarp. The staking loops are 2 feet apart on the 12 foot length, then centered and quartered on the 10 foot length.

It comes in a blue stuff sack, brand new. Total weight is one pound, 5 7/8 ounces, just under 22 ounces. Made with first quality 1.3 ounce silnylon. The tarp in this video sold so quickly, I made another one.  Stakes not included.



I shared another set up at youtube, which I called the E-Shelter.
http://youtube.com/user/brawny03

Tarp with shipping is $100. --Sold
Watch the tarp being set up on the video embedded in the blog at this site.
For details on how to order see:
http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html

This tarp can be set up in many ways, including the basic a frame, flying diamond and canopy. A flat tarp is so versatile, it could be considered a  Must Have for campers and backpackers alike.

Brooks-Range Solo Tarp for Sale

Sold!


I've tested this tarp and made an ultralight sleepnet to go with it. The tarp was used in my Five Pitches series at http://youtube.com/user/brawny03.
You can see the actual tarp at brook-range website by following the link.



http://brooks-range.com/Ultralite-Solo-Tarp.html

Red my review at http://thefemalesurvivalist.blogspot.com

on July 10, 2010.

For 9 ounces carrying weight you get a sleepnet, measuring 25.5 x 30 wide. It has a hanging clip on the front and an elastic drawcord so you can cinch it up. Customers said they wore a hat under it which worked really well.

Stakes not included. Cost is $25, which includes shipping too.See sales page for more details.

This Item is now sold.

http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html

Silnylon Day Pack

This day pack weighs only 3.75 ounces. It has adjustable straps, and a front mesh pocket for water bottles. Measures 20 x 18 x 4 inches deep.
Works really good for day hikes, and packing into luggage for air travel cause its so light and really packs into a small space.

Price is $25. Its brand new.  Sold

I made one of these for a friend in Yellowstone. He was amazed how light it was, and that he could pack his jacket into it, along with several other things.
I feel the pack shouldn't weigh more than the stuff you're carrying.
http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html
See the sales page for ordering information. Sold

Town Day Update

I went to town today, my one day a week I actually go in to shop.
Things are sorta strange. I read the story of the second bank here in town that went under in 18 months. Seems they were heavily invested in real estate loans that just weren't working. Seems they weren't able to raise enough capital to stay afloat.

Other businesses have gone under. Two new restaurants are trying to make a go in the same building others just failed in.
I hope they make it, a pizza joint, and a bar and grill.

I love the library and thrift stores, checking out the books and reading the newspaper. Talking to friends who do town the same day I do.

Its tourist season for us here. Gas prices are dropping every time I go in. Still, its 25 cents per gallon cheaper if I go into a different town same distance away.

Choices. Choices to keep our own people in business, even if it costs just a bit more. I know I'm buying from local markets instead of Walmart if I can. Just to spread the money around a little.

We do what we can.

Stay tuned for more gear sales. I updated the page, and will blog about the four new items tomorrow.
Happy trails, ya'll.