Optimus SVEA 123
Talk about oldschool. This stove was designed over 100 years ago. I wouldn't categorize this as a normal stove I'd use. It's not lightweight or very efficient. It is however , very well tested , and dependable. At high altitude cold weather treks , the typical butane/propane hikers stove typically don't work well. White gas stoves are cold weather workhorses. Generally used to melt snow , I wouldn't consider using white gas for anything but dedicated winter camping. The modern equivalents of this stove usually require gaskets , repair kits, pumps , and fuel bottles.
With one effective moving part , the valve , not much can go wrong with this stove. Inside the valve is a needle that cleans the port of debris. I've been getting 8 minute 2 cup boils which isn't that great , but it is using a narrow pot , the Snow Peak 900. This pot fits the SVE123 like it was made for it. The integrated fuel reservoir holds 4 oz's and supposedly burns for 50 minutes..
One of the tricky parts to getting this stove working is priming , as with most gas stoves. Essentially your heating the stove to build pressure to vaporize the gas. I've found an eyedropper full of white gas in the depression around the valve works for me.
I've got an old Sigg aluminum cookset on order that I plan on using with this stove. It should provide more efficiency melting snow. This is one more piece of gear that I'll use for winter mountaineering.
Weight 19 oz
Wildcat Hollow / Double Rainbow initial impressions
I'm not sure if it was the mud , downed trees , or me getting old , but I was sore after 16 miles averaging a 2.9 mph pace. I've hiked this trail enough times, I don't need to review it.
I did pick up a new tent that I've wanted forever. Henry Shires Tarpent Double Rainbow. Aside from seem sealing, this is it's first trip. I've owned the Squall 2 for a few years and the Double Rainbow fills some gaps in features missing from the Squall.
1. Freestanding. Although I haven't tested this capability yet, it's possible using trekking poles. This comes in handy in the sand ,snow, or tent platforms.
2. Possible 4 season use. The double rainbow isn't advertised to handle snow loads , but checking out the design , it should handle moderate amounts. It also has peak vents in case the bottom venting gets clogged.
3. Double vestibules , side entrance. With this feature theirs plenty of room for gear storage and kitchen space. This also makes it an easier to use 2 person tent. These awnings can be pitched multiple ways. I had it set up with double awnings and it has unbelievable ventilation.
I'll be using this tent exclusivity for a few years and have no doubt it'll meet my expectations given my use of the Squall 2. One small quibble could be the slightly higher weight than the Squall. It also may require extra line. Total weight , including extra line , stakes, a breathable liner, and seam sealing ends up being 3lbs 1 oz.
Here's a view with one side rolled up. Gossamer Gear Marisopa plus pack in front.
This shows the porch/awning setup with tie-downs to trees.I originally had the other side set up the same way with hiking poles. This thing looked like a spaceship with both awnings out.
Random hill shot.
Sunday Creek about 1/2 mile from main trail head. This is were camp was set. It's kinda soggy.
Archers Fork
First fall hike! I spent a lot of my summer running instead of hiking , minimizing my time in the heat. I decided to hike somewhere new for the fall season and picked archers fork. The 10 mile loop could easily be hiked in a day . Tons of overlooks , rock features , caves . and a natural bridge kept this trip interesting. With side trails and detours the trip totaled 16 miles.
Giant cave at the start of trip. I actually rolled my ankle at the top of the first hill , so I didn't make it to the steep path leading to the cave.
The natural bridge is very close to the big cave.
A lot of evidence of oil drilling both past and present in the park.
An overlook near campsite. My tent is barley visible through the trees.
I believe this is a false morel , poisonous.
This trail is one of my favorites in Ohio. The only bad thing I can say about it is the long drive to to reach it.
5th Annual Fremont Paddling Festival
It's been a few years since I visited the Great Miami River in southwest Ohio. The Fremont Paddling fest is put on by Rivers Unlimited , was a good excuse to explore this part of the river. The Great Miami looked clean and healthy and I'll try and get some fishing done in the future. Their was a class 2 that I don't believe I've ever hit with my 14 foot recreational kayak. I tried the 10 mile race , but they also had the option of the 20 miles , and a 5 mile float. I don't think results have been posted yet , but I'll update when they are.
Kayaks getting ready in front of No Worries bar in Miamitown Ohio.
10 Miles up from Miamitown everyone's getting ready to race.
The finish line. If you look close a guy is helping someone out of the boat being a step out of the mud. This race will be on my annual schedule and thanks to the volunteers @ Rivers Unlimited for putting on a great paddling festival!
Mohican River
I gotta chance to hit the Mohican in North-Eastern Ohio. I had been down this river a a kid but didn't remember much of it. I got down their Sunday afternoon and found this was an off-week time to go. The crowds were leaving and the water was clearing out , a perfect time for a kayaking trip. I didn't bring any fishing gear , hearing about the crowds. Someone in our group did , and managed to catch a small musky. Having multiple people with trucks , kayaks and tubes let us ferry back and forth without using a livery. We stayed at Mohican Wilderness private campsite. This kinda improved campsite/ car camping isn't really my thing , but kids love it. They had showers , bathrooms , a general store with ice and food , and tons of activities for kids. I was also surprised to find a trail that I happily hiked on a 90 degree day.
Having a beverage on a paddle.
The group on a lazy float.
A panoramic picture taken with my new camera a Pentax WG-1. I just started messing with it , but so far the pictures are adequate for a point and shoot. The real draw of this camera is the waterproof rating that kept my other camera at home for a few months.
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More new gear , a Gränsfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe. This axe makes quick work of logs , and will work good for smaller kindling. Sharp as razor out of the box , great fit and finish, this might accompany me on winter trips.
The foot bridge to the hiking trail . I was scared to cross this.
Clear Creek metro park
I'd actually planned on doing the Zaleski South loop again , and decided to pull in here and check it out. 12 miles of trails total. I happened to walk the flat low portions. They were pretty muddy. as most are after all the rain we've had. I fished along the banks and didn't see or catch any. They do stock trout, which have probably died off by now.
Creek view. Future Kayak route.
You'll walk through a few meadows on the creak side path. A flower blooming.
Small saplings along the path. There is also a lot of what I call "Ohio Bamboo". I have no Idea what it is.
Roots seeking moisture on a cliff.
Butterflies mating? I scared off most of them taking the picture.
Check it out http://www.metroparks.net/MapClearCreek.aspx
Wandering Rocky Fork area
I haven't got any backpacking in lately. Just wandering/exploring here and their. Last weekend was the Rocky Fork area and downstream scouting pull offs and portages. I got a chance to check out the 7 caves park. Apparently it used to be a private park that let you explore the caves. It went under and was bought up by a non-profit. For reasons unknown they won't let people checkout the caves. I'm sure it has to do with insurance , money, or maybe satanic rituals are held their.
The visitor center has maps and asks for a donation.
It's pretty hard to get perception of height in photos. This is about a 100 foot canyon. They have a couple of short bridges that span 150-200 foot gorges.
Three sisters rocks in Rocky Fork Creek. it looks like some of the views kayaking here would be spectacular.
A neat little stone footbridge on the trail. This was pretty easy hiking. I'm guessing a total of 3 miles around a loop.Terry walked it in flip-flops.
After leaving Seven Caves we drove upstream to Rocky Fork Lake. After damning ourselves for not bringing fishing gear we found this old stone grist mill near the main splillway. Just downstream from here looks like a good kayak put-in.
Marvin Sparks 2011
I just returned from an annual bass fishing tournament in southeast Ohio . The bass seemed to be in prespawn , were skittish and not terribly protective of their beds yet.
Jim's reworked signage looks good.
The weather cleared Thursday afternoon for scouting and mushroom hunting.
A morel mushroom hiding under a leaf, on top of a rock.
Pond view.
A 2 year repeat with Tony getting the most weight. I managed to get big bass with a 5lbs 15 oz lunker. Over half the group skunked out.
My big fish
Two timer Tony.
Keith and Jim doing an excellent job of preparing fish and shrooms before sunset.
Zaleski South Loop
Looking for mushrooms a little early yielded no morels yet. I did find ramps and the fiddleheads are coming up. I managed to get 1.5 off trail for a total of 12.5 miles with a 2.5mph moving average.
Interesting mushroom. Black Trumpet?
The fiddleheads were popping up everywhere. I've never been brave enough to pick and eat them.
Numerous swollen stream crossing and sloppy trail conditions made the hike slightly more challenging.
Nordhouse Dunes
I took a trip to Michigan in a second failed attempt to get a case of Kentucky Breakfast Stout on the release date. I drank a ton of good beer at Hopcat Friday night. Woke up and headed to Founders at 8am hoping to be in front of the line and found 150 already their. I decided I better head out to Nordhouse Dunes.
I don't recall what beer this was. It was a sour high proof Belgium that was delicious.
Although most of the snow had melted in in the lower half of Michigan , I'd say the trails had 6-8 inches of slushy wet snow. I don't believe the temperature dropped too far below freezing.
A windy cold breeze made a dune hill windbreak a necessity.
My new winter-pack is the Osprey Variant. I had plenty of room for winter gear and weighed it down with 40 lbs of gear. I found it carried the load nicely.
The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 is a pretty nice setup for winter camping with it's freestanding capability and generous sizing. I didn't have the vestibule taught enough in this picture but it's roomy enough to cook in. It also has smaller vestibule in the back that's useful for bathroom breaks in the middle of the night.
I still haven't made it to Nordhouse in the summer but imagine it'd be a blast with the short hike to the beach.