Raw Notes From The Field - Response To Reader Comments
for whatever reason i got a bunch of comments almost immediately after posting the last entry asking pretty much the same question which was what do i usually do upon return from a big trip. well, it is my policy not to post comments because this is not a forum and also because i answer almost all comments sent in but i do want to address the question because it is a valid one.
i readily admit to being anal retentive obsessive compulsive and it should come as no surprise to any of you regular readers that i pretty much empty the truck upon my return. it drives my kids nuts when after a 6 hour haul back to the valley from coronado i insist that we clean out the suburban and put everything away. horse shows, football games, search and rescue missions, ski trips, hunts, mountaineering trips or whatever. the gear gets squared away first. why wait.
the first thing i do is empty the bags/packs, hang everything up to dry and turn the big fan on low. that includes sleeping bags, especially sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. I let everything air dry for a couple of days. Then i inspect each piece, make the necessary repairs and put it all back where it belongs so i can find it the next time.
two things always get extra attention though. waterproof footwear gets retreated with camp dry silicone spray and hung up again for a few days or as long as it takes for the smell to go away. waterproof breathable shell gear, depending on how well the dwr (durable water resistant) performed on the trip (meaning did it bead up the water so it just ran off or did it soak the exterior fabric), might get a wash/renewal or revival treatment with a product like grangers one step wash and waterproofer. works for gore-tex and eVent. you gotta wash and wax your car once in a while right? same thing here. by the way, if your shell gear is exposed to a lot of smoke like from campfires then you need to treat them more often. same goes for any other kinds of contaminants.
also, if i was hunting and had to carry part of the meat/horns/cape i always make sure that i rinse the interior of the backpack out real well with a baking soda/water solution to neutralize the smell.
hey, look, you spend a lot of money on your gear right? get the most out of it by taking good care of it. and don't half ass it either. do it right or you will regret it out in the field. roger that? are you tracking? good.
one more thing. i always carry a mini sharpie and index cards with me so i can take good notes while i am out there. i review them later and act accordingly. don't let those good ideas slip away.
Thanks for the question and as always your constructive or thoughtful comments are always welcomed. as the number of visitors has increased i don't answer them as quickly as i used to but please be patient, i will get to you as son as i can.
i readily admit to being anal retentive obsessive compulsive and it should come as no surprise to any of you regular readers that i pretty much empty the truck upon my return. it drives my kids nuts when after a 6 hour haul back to the valley from coronado i insist that we clean out the suburban and put everything away. horse shows, football games, search and rescue missions, ski trips, hunts, mountaineering trips or whatever. the gear gets squared away first. why wait.
the first thing i do is empty the bags/packs, hang everything up to dry and turn the big fan on low. that includes sleeping bags, especially sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. I let everything air dry for a couple of days. Then i inspect each piece, make the necessary repairs and put it all back where it belongs so i can find it the next time.
two things always get extra attention though. waterproof footwear gets retreated with camp dry silicone spray and hung up again for a few days or as long as it takes for the smell to go away. waterproof breathable shell gear, depending on how well the dwr (durable water resistant) performed on the trip (meaning did it bead up the water so it just ran off or did it soak the exterior fabric), might get a wash/renewal or revival treatment with a product like grangers one step wash and waterproofer. works for gore-tex and eVent. you gotta wash and wax your car once in a while right? same thing here. by the way, if your shell gear is exposed to a lot of smoke like from campfires then you need to treat them more often. same goes for any other kinds of contaminants.
also, if i was hunting and had to carry part of the meat/horns/cape i always make sure that i rinse the interior of the backpack out real well with a baking soda/water solution to neutralize the smell.
hey, look, you spend a lot of money on your gear right? get the most out of it by taking good care of it. and don't half ass it either. do it right or you will regret it out in the field. roger that? are you tracking? good.
one more thing. i always carry a mini sharpie and index cards with me so i can take good notes while i am out there. i review them later and act accordingly. don't let those good ideas slip away.
Thanks for the question and as always your constructive or thoughtful comments are always welcomed. as the number of visitors has increased i don't answer them as quickly as i used to but please be patient, i will get to you as son as i can.
Comments