reading and writing on UL trips

Romano,

You're cool. Hope CP didn't take offense at the baristorial convolutions; I actually never took the calculus (although I read some commentaries on it by Leibniz when I was studying philosophy — after quiting biochem). I spent my time in probability, statistics, sociometrics, and multiple regressions — did read the theoretical math journals in the library at college once in awhile when I was playing hookey from my job in the library offices on summer breaks. But CP and you reawakened it all, and CP is good at it.

I think the minor shifts on the graph can be major in reality at the upper end — two miles or ten miles is a big distance when I am approaching the end of a trek, especially if the terrain is going to be bad like walking through volcanic cinder for a mile in order to get to my car.

Most of all the graphs are, IMO, a confirmation of training, fitness, experience, gear quality, lightitude, etc. If I could get a performance graph like that I would kiss the beautiful earth next to my car door at the end … on my way to get a burger and fries after a longish trek (or long for me).

> on my way to get a burger and fries after a longish trek
YEAH!

Coming back to the original question. I use my Swiss army knive to write.

What?

Yes, Swiss Army knive, this one:

http://www.victorinox.ch/index.cfm?site=victorinox.ch&page=196&lang=E&highlight=altimeter

It has a pen in it. And:

1. large blade
2. small blade
3. corkscrew
4. can opener with
5. – small screwdriver 3 mm (also for Phillips screws)
6. cap lifter with
7. – screwdriver 6 mm
8. – wire stripper
9. reamer, punch
10. key ring
11. tweezers
12. toothpick
13. scissors
14. multi-purpose hook
15. altimeter
– 100 m – +6000 m
– 300 ft – + 18000 ft

16. thermometer
– 20° C – +60° C
-0° F – +140° F

17. pin, stainless steel
18. mini-screwdriver ( pat.)
19. woodsaw

How's that for multifunction?

Eins

Eins, looks like a great little knife.

They make a relatively tiny mini SwissChamp (i forget the precise name, but i think it's MiniChamp) with a pen too, but it doesn't have the all of the gizmos that yours has. I bought one after my accident when it became clear that i was becoming forgetful and couldn't remember things like i used to. Problem is, it's in my pocket, out-of-sight-out-of-mind and i forget to use it!

I carry the small moleskine notebook.

I usually bring my Creative Zen Nano Plus MP3 player loaded up with audible books and podcasts. I try to read this way. It is nice too, sometimes to listen while walking that last 5 miles.

pj,

I have a swiss army knive for 12, 13 ? years now. I couldn't live without it. I almost carry it everywhere. I got this one (it's my 3rd swiss knive) because of the altimeter.

Eins

I carry a mini RITR notebook in my front pants pocket and a Inka pen hanging from my pack strap so I can take gear notes as I go. If I'm going SUL I just bring a space pen cartridge and carry it inside the notebook. I switched to the RITR even though it's heavier than plain mini notebook paper because it's hassle free (no need to worry about keeping it dry) and keeps a permanent record more handily than regular paper. (I used to staple my trip log to my gear and food list when I got home. Now I just file the RITR notebook when it's full.)

When I'm going to do some real writing I stick a sheet of printer paper in the book I'm carrying. I love to read outside, I found it really relaxes me and inspires "revelations" because my brain is "off," not because of what I'm reading. If I bring a book, it's usually a mindless romance. My last trip I departed from romances and read Richard Adams' sequel to Watership Down.

One reason I backpack is to get away and turn my active mind off. Romance novels don't require a lot of thinking and work perfectly to enhance my mini-spa in the wilderness.

For me it is the mini RITR notebook and for a pen, it is the small pen in my swiss army knife. The pen is small and reliable whilst carrying a spare is easy, not losing the spare pen is the challenge.

Maps are also great for notes, its keeping track of the notes and maps when you get back home is the challenge.

How do people store notes from trips, electronically and hard copy or …?

Roger,

My notes are all on maps. Sometimes I am able to transcribe the notes to TOPO and keep them electronic. But usually they remain on the map….

second all those above who say writing is important- I consider my notebook a survival tool, and am a sanity risk without it. Cheap ones tend to be light ones-small school exercise books, or breast-pocket sized jotters from corner-shops. I write with a biro, for reasons of permanence, ubiquity and cheapness.

I used to write in the long candle lit evenings in my tent, but since going over to the light side I've ditched both candle and tent and spend my evenings in a bivvy sack, which only has space for iffy, paranoid thoughts in it. I hope the evening writing habit will return when I've finished my tarp project and once more have overhead shelter. In the meantime writing tends to get done in cafes, on public transport, and on the more comfortable rest stops during the day.

I write whatever I have to to let me sleep. Hopefully this will be present beauty, meaningful details, or the insights that distance and aloneness can give. Often it is just the nonsense that I can no longer spare head-space for!

Zen and the Art is a wonderful book to read on the trail. I've baulked at the weight for shorter trips, but for a longer hike I'm planning around south west England and Wales next spring, I may ditch my camera in favour of Mr Pirsig's words!

as someone marooned on the romantic side of the Cartesian rift, I've just read the middle page of this thread and was horrified. Needless to say I didn't get the joke…

…I use fingers for most of my calculations, and limit my calculations to those that can be done on fingers…

That would be a digital calculation?

To pass the time, in my head I calculate the gravitional perturbations of my backpack on my cranium, and the perturbations of my cranium on my backpack. (I am a perturbed little man.) I assume a centrally symmetrical, static gravitional field, degenerating at infinity. When gravitional potentials are applied, from them the energy tensor of the matter in my cranium can be calculated on the basis of the field equations of gravitation.

Robert,

I think you need to get out more. Perhaps you could try hiking with other folks.

I'm not allowed to actually hike: they roll me along like they did Anthony Hopkins in "Silence of the Lambs."