Friendly expertise on camping. Please READ!!

Ahren,
Be careful out there.

Admittedly there was a lot of humor at your expense, but there are far, far harsher places to hang your hat.

And somewhere on BPL (use the Google 'site:' option) there is a "REI UL" gear list that wasn't to bad, just to prove that it could be done.

"And somewhere on BPL (use the Google 'site:' option) there is a "REI UL" gear list that wasn't to bad, just to prove that it could be done."

We were bored and there were no noobs to fricassee :)

Not that we're egalitarian dilettantes. There's no humility left after reviewing WallyMart trekking poles :)

Ahren …this site is where people like you and me go to ask questions ; not give answers.

Ahren said, "Truly this is not the case and your level of welcoming into this has been annoying."

I thought this thread was very funny, from the thread title, ("Please READ!!!") to the questions (skin out weight at 10,000 ft, 5 nighter, temps of 30* expected) to as well the very apologetic community wishing only welcome a new member with a bit of jest.

If you find that to be a "crappy experience" then, Farewell, sweet Prince. Your sense of humor will not only be missed, it remains yet to be seen.

I'm a little late to the party, but after reading through the thread, it was a little harsh in my opinion.

I happen to be an former REI employee, and thought I came into the store with a lot of knowledge. I quickly found that I had a lot to learn, about all kinds of things.

I was able to take some minor experience in Adventure Racing, pare down my packweight quite a bit, and share some of that with customers. The store did not offer a lot of UL options, but it did get better over time (like the one year we carried Montbell), and there is still some UL pieces here and there.

I also discovered BPL about then, and what I loved about it was the sense that
people were here to help each other. Offer advice, the wisdom of experience, and sometimes learning from others mistakes, but not at the expense of each other.

REI is a monstrosity of an outdoor store, but it does have its place. It's fun to help someone solve a gear problem, or make their outdoor experience just a little more enjoyable. Hec, even the Boy Scouts have started to embrace UL somewhat and I loved educating the little buggars to the degree I could.

I have found that while I'm now somehwat of a UL'r, I'm not terribly interested in pushing the fringe into SUL. Yes, I've showed up at a campsite with other REI employees wearing nothing but an 18L pack weighing 8 or 9lbs. However I did borrow some hot water, and enjoyed a few beers that they packed in. In all, it was fun, and we all learned from each other.

Granted, REI does hire some folks with no practical knowledge and will train them, but the diversity is what made it fun and worthwhile. At least for me.

I'm sure there are BPL board users to whom Ahren could lend some advice, and not feel intimidated by the wide range of experts here. However, some of you have been very helpful and genuine with questions I've had over the years, and for that, I thank you sincerely.

Sorry, for the rant, just felt compelled to say it.

Now, on to guns, cuben fiber, and a recommendation for a new lightweight piece of raingear. (grin)

Why are manhole covers round?

Wouldn't it be neat if our REI dividend was displayed under our username ?

Google will be happy to do this and more Mr Anderson.

Poor guy. Hell, I'm super new here too… Perhaps a little research on his part could have spared him from heckling…

I have to say I enjoy REI, or more so the ability to touch gear. Feel the textures, quality, etc… Sure they have a lot 'crap' gear and heavy gear to boot, but the masses aren't used to the UL nor are they so interested in UL. I think the saying goes "its a lot easier to buy new clubs than to change your swing."

Well, there are my two cents :)

Cheers to one and all, and to all a good night :)

PS Here's my new gear list:

.55 Cuben fiber loin cloth

Take that SULers!!! ahaha j/k

"Why are manhole covers round?"

Cause the manholes are Round. Anything else would be a little silly.

.

Ahren, don't leave.

As a token of peace, I just bought a pair of Black Diamond Ultra Distance 120cm from REI with my massive $6.95 dividend and 20% discount. Reduced my skin out weight by 7 oz!!

(Gotta keep posting on this thread to suppress that Cuben thread…)

OP, I read this post before it had any reponses and thought, "oh boy" Anyone who has been on ANY forum for any amount of time knows this is not how you enter a forum as a noob, no matter what your axperience really is. The old timers will tear you apart. I will stick to mostly reading with the occasional comment. After about two years of reading different light/ultralight sites and lots of backpacking trips I would almost be embarassed to post my gear list. There is so much to learn and improve on.

So sorry, yes, the harsh lesson of the internet. Don't post to a forum until you have read a good amount posts to that forum and get a feel.

I am not as reckless and wild, so never had this issue.

It doesn't mean a person shouldn't come back after accepting some good natured humor. I wish I was so adventurous to create such a fun thread:-)

I love how tight-knit we are here. Our collective sense of humor is a big part of it.

That said, the guy sincerely wants to help some out. Some responses went too far.

I hope he stays around. I don't want us to be compared to some of the "other" sites out there.

Ahren,

Backpacking light is an elitist cult of sarcastic gram counting weight weenies (pun intended)

The knowledge, skill, and backpacking experience on this site is just on an entire different level than your typical REI customer or employee.

Also, this is the internet and people are fearless behind a keyboard. If your out of place, people are gonna call you out at simply for their own amusement.

If you interested in lightweight backpacking, hang around and learn some stuff. Soon you will be sending your customers out the door with a list of cottage companies where they can buy "really" lightweight camping gear.

I've mainly been reading here and lately tried my hand on gear swap. (Im never in time)

I will say that when I first started backpacking I was in an REI talking gear with an employee who actually pushed me to looking into lightweight gear. Told me I was going to want to do it soon anyways so might as well not buy stuff twice. Referred me to companies that REI doesn't even carry, gave me his email, and still to this day helps with with my lightweight purchases. Outside of random things like meals, fuel, or maybe a daily use jacket I still havent purchased any gear from him.

I lurk here and at whiteblaze. Equally informative (the horror).

Also equally juvenile and classless (double horror).

Not saying it's a bad thing. Not sure what to say exactly, except that the attitude here is disappointing – if not predictable (anonymity and all that).

Matt,
Gear Swap… "..never in time…"

Know what you want, and what it is worth to You. Don't think, post and PM immediately.

Or, "WTB: The Perfect xzy". It is amazing how often you'll get what you're looking for.

Hey! I think I have a couple of those in my gear closet!

Thanks Greg.

Im pretty much set now, mainly looking for some cheap "extra" gear. Trying to get friends and the gf involved.

while it lasted…

this thread went from just a few comments to WOW in a matter of hours :D

As I posted over in the Cuben thread –

We need the Admin folks to create a "thread velocity chart" – Posts versus Time.

"Friendly expertise on camping" pulled in 95 posts in the first 7 hours.

"Dirty little secret" got only 30 in 7 hours out of the blocks, but it did accelerate a bit after that ;-)

I'd love to see a charting function.

Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife?

http://www.rei.com/product/816234

That bloody Dividend Sale is rough!

This has to be one of the fast & most entertaining threads in a while. Not since the Golite reselling thread have I seen this many posts in such a short time…. All in good humor