Ultralight Tip of the Week

[George Matthews]

Speillng is way ovrreated

If you can undrestnad waht the syombls maen tehn the msseage is succsseful.

[Mary D]

Mike, that was truly beautiful! That's exactly why I go out in the wilderness and will continue to go as long as I can put one foot in front of another!

[Dale Wambaugh]

That's why I don't get 25 mile days on the trail— too busy dodging rocks and roots to enjoy the scenery. Many of us live a hectic urban lifestyle and we need to leave that at home and take the time to enjoy the awesome-ness of the outdoors.

[James holden]

you can it flower … i call it UL salad ;)

[Scott Engles]

The flower technique is great. But instead of focusing on a flower, consider trying what a guy once did sitting under a tree in the forest a long time ago: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.than.html

[George Matthews]

>> you can it flower … i call it UL salad ;)

some call it tp

kidding, only kidding – this tip is among my favorites

i've practiced this tip not only on a flower but on an insect and even fuzzy things growing on rotting wood. it's good for the soul

[Mary D]

I agree with Dale that getting out there away from the cares of everyday life and immersing oneself in the wild is far more important than mileage! That's why I hike what used to be called "banker's hours" (9-3) and generally end up doing 5-7 mile days. Of course my age has quite a bit to do with that, too! At least that's as good an excuse as any for spending more time enjoying my surroundings!

[Serge Giachetti]

Loving post #32. Moments like that are definitely a big draw to the mountains. I try to take some time on each hike to just relax and let my imagination wonder around the landscape a bit–picturing geologic time at viewpoints etc.

People often associate moving fast with rushing, which somehow excludes it from the present. Its definitely possible to get carried away or preoccupied with mileage goals, but I find that moving fast can also be a point of connection to the present. If I can bring a loose awareness of hiking rhythm and propreaception, a greater awareness of the passing environment usually follows.

(I realize that the level of earnestness is fodder for trolls, but hey, we're not actually out there just to test gear are we? ;)

On that note: I think my gear-fectionism might be getting in the way of just plain old enjoying myself in the mountains. I just finished a section of the colorado trail where I found myself paying attention to things that I never would have thought twice about before, like if the swing weight of my trekking poles is too much, or what the perfect volume hipbelt pockets would be. Silly huh?

Not to hi-jack, but anyone else have this experience?

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

"I think my gear-fectionism might be getting in the way of just plain old enjoying myself in the mountains…anyone else have this experience?"

Yup, but this will likely fade. For me it has. When you first go UL, the new gear is so neat/strange/exciting/worrying etc that it can draw a lot of your attention. This will fade though as your gear closet overhaul slows and you'll get back to just enjoying nature.

[Mike Clelland]

I have that feeling *BEFORE* I head out into the mountains, and it can be sorta ridiculous at times. Maybe bordering on obsession.

But, I mellow out a LOT once I'm immersed in the wilderness.

At the same time, my mind is always ticking. I see new tricks, and realize how I want to tinker with gear and techniques. This mind-set isn't at all oppressive, it can be really nice. I try not to judge it, it's just the way my mind wants to tick along. And, I feel i do my very best 3D R&D along the trail.

[Mary D]

That's me. I fuss a lot with the gear at home. Once I get out on the trail, I'm too busy enjoying myself and my surroundings. I just use the gear and don't worry about it, unless it's something serious like a leak in the tent (happened once; I missed a tiny spot when seam-sealing). Then when I get home I reflect on what worked and what didn't and think about improvements.

[Mike In Socal]

I like this one and I think it should extend to everything we do. Just be present. Don't be distracted. Don't view the trail from entirely behind a camera. When visiting with a friend, put your phone away.

[Mike Clelland]

Here's what I've been doing this summer. These short videos match the content of the book.

http://ultralightbackpackintips.blogspot.com/2011/07/video-tutorials.html

Lotsa tutorial videos.

[Thomas Trebisky]

I have been enjoying these tips online so much, I finally got busy and bought the book.
A great book, I can't say enough good things about it.

This particular tip "be here now" as I like to call it, is a great one.
I'm sure I'm not alone in that I can "live in my head" way too much.
It is a fine thing to turn all that off and fully tune in to what is around
you at a given moment. I find myself doing this more and more and this "tip"
just echos this discovery. It is great to do this many times each day!

The book is really a special work. Mike has a unique way about him that makes
the book great fun, and full of all kinds of valuable information.
My hat is off to Mike – a great work at many levels.

[F. Thomas Matica]

Yes, Mike, thinking can get in the way. Naming that flower can put an end to really knowing it. The flower is our teacher and silence is our connection with it.

Backcountry Buddhism at its finest.

[John Donewar]

Mike,

What about LNT? ;-)

Party On,

Newton

[Anonymous]

"IMHO, here's no substitute for a good human proofreader! Or preferably, several of them!"

A thousand monkeys will do, if you've got the time. ;)

[Anonymous]

"you can it flower … i call it UL salad ;)"

If it moves and it's back is to the sun……. ;)

[Everett Vinzant]

Okay, I'm sure there's a place for the idea of taking off a hat, and shirt, and throwing it in a pack while hiking. Wouldn't it be a good time to stop and enjoy your surroundings (tip from a previous week)? I think it's a neat tip, and could move a UL'er from Nerd to cool (okay, maybe it would take more than one cool move) but I can't think of a time I'd NEED to not stop to take off a shirt and stuff it in a backpack.

Warning, what follows is potentially thread jacking, proceed at your own risk:

Mike, the book is outstanding. I'm going to admit something. You have tips about natural toilet paper. Towards the beginning to the tip you talk about being disappointed with UL'ers that go and use TP. When I first read this I got indignant. Who are you to say… Long story short. You got me. I realized it's a book of ideas (excellent ones) not a rule book. I'll stick with TP (maybe only for now, who knows). Point being, thank you for expanding my mental tool belt so that I can make do in the woods. The day may come that I try it without TP.

Until then you'll just have to be happy knowing my BPW dropped from 47lbs (all that excellent military training), to just over 8 (retraining). My weight dropped from over 200 to under 180. Your books got me back on the trail, living. I look forward to even one night out under the stars. It's the best sleep I get.

Before anyone goes on about, "not a real UL'er if you use TP..", I'd like to point something out. When I go out, I don't bring the following: anything that requires electricity to operate (GPS, kindle, cell phone, radio, etc). In order to do it right to me, I have to leave the digital world behind. I have to. No watch. I militantly do not want to know what time it is or even what day it is.

I do bring a camera (Rollei B35). It is a fully mechanical film camera. Yes, film. I may bring a book. Without a flash light I read by the glow of light sticks, firelight, or during the day. This won't work for some/everyone, but it works for me.

[Mike Clelland]

Reply to Everett:

---

Just so you know, you are not the first person to get indignant about my views on toilet paper in the backcountry. This topic, more than anything else, provokes an emotional response. So don't worry about hurting my feelings.

Here's where I'm coning from, I've worked for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) for 17 years. I have logged over 3 entire years of time in mountains with students. During that time, I have NEVER carried toilet paper into the mountains, and neither have my students. And this is the standard practice at the school. And – Let me add – that absolutely nobody has ever complained, just the opposite. Once you learn how to perform this very simple duty – the students are proud and seem to enjoy their new found expertise (as they should).

NOLS is an institution that teaches skills at a very advanced level, and I'm super proud of my work there. And lemme add that the instructors teach a natural toilet paper class on the first day, the students have no problems, and it's not an issue for the remainder of their 30-day expedition. The outcome is that there is a rather large population of folks that are not carrying toilet paper, and then leaving it behind as litter in the mountains. And I had a small hand in that.

From my direct experience of over two decades of zero toilet paper – and teaching to students and peers – This isn't even an issue for me. It's something so simple that I don't worry about it. And I'm quite certain that every NOLS grad feels the same.

The reason I might sound so preachy is that each summer deal with a LOT of other peoples used toilet paper. This means I pick it up, and find a way to dispose of it properly. To me the issue is education, thus my zeal.

I'll also add that I feel quite alone in the lightweight camping community, because TP is always part of their gear list. (and often, soap is missing from that same list). I'm trying to change that, at least a little bit.

_____________________________________________
Here's a link to an article I wrote in 2006:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/toilet_paper_free.html

Note the long list of emotional reactions this article generated!
_____________________________________________

[Dale Wambaugh]

Re: Changing your shirt

Interesting, but I don't see the weight advantage :) I was reminded of watching a girlfriend changing her swim suit top under her tee shirt.

My question is WHY? Are we so busy we can't stop and take a shirt off? If you can't stop, change your shirt, have a sip, smell the flowers, take a stretch, you might as well stay home. I would probably trip and go head over heels anyway :)

[Mike Clelland]

Reply to Everett:

---

You wrote:
"I don't bring the following: anything that requires electricity to operate (GPS, kindle, cell phone, radio, etc). In order to do it right to me, I have to leave the digital world behind. I have to. No watch. I militantly do not want to know what time it is or even what day it is."

Mike replies:
Right-On! I feel very strongly about this too! (alas, I do bring a headlamp, but often in the summer it never gets used). I refer to this aspect of the wilderness experience as a "media" fast. It's the reason I go into the mountains. I also nix my wallet, money, credit cards and car keys. It's a philosophical ritual that I truly love. I do everything I can to separate myself from THIS world, so I can more fully immerse myself into THAT world.

Also – The reason for the instructional cartoon with the hiker NOT stopping when removing his wind-shirt is because it's FUN! Also, with a UL pack-weight, there is really no issue at all when it comes to walking and changing layers at the same time. It's a benefit of the super light pack.

[Will Webster]

I definitely agree with Mike about TP litter; it's an unsanitary eyesore. I've tried using snow (cold) and leaves (uncomfortable) to reduce TP usage. I'm willing to continue experimenting. I backpack with my wife, who has in many ways drunk the UL koolaid but draws the line at this, so we will probably always bring TP into the woods with us. It doesn't have to be a choice between leaving it at home or leaving it on the trail, though: We carry the same amount of TP out (double bagged) that we brought in if there isn't a proper privy.

[David Ure]

Ah heck – why wear a shirt? Save some weight and the hassle.

;)

[Rick Cheehy]

My wife and I have both converted to natures own TP, on the advice of Mike. We dig it. Packing out TP sucks and leaving it is just not an option. Besides wet moss is quite soothing, and it exfoliates!

[Author]

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