Interview with Mike Clelland!

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I’ve been juggling the role of outdoor educator and illustrator for the last 17 years, and the two careers end up contributing to each other. Most of my teaching experience is with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) and most of my illustration work has been doing instructional cartoons for books and magazines with a focus on camping, skiing, and climbing. My introduction to lightweight backpacking came in 2005, when I received a phone call from Don Ladigin. He wanted me to do the illustrations for his book LIGHTEN UP! My first reaction was to say “No, thanks,” because I had just finished a series of instructional outdoor books, and they all ended up requiring hundreds of cartoons. I was sort of burned out. But, after talking with Don and reading his manuscript, I realized that this would be a really fun project, and I eagerly took on the job.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

# WORDS: 1890
# PHOTOS: 4

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Viewing 14 posts - 26 through 39 (of 39 total)

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Apr 20, 2011 at 7:44 am #1726974

David Ure
Member

@familyguy

Ah, I see.

Hello Mike? Where are you? Need some clarification.

Apr 20, 2011 at 7:52 am #1726979

D G
Spectator

@dang
Locale: Pacific Northwet

My Clelland book is supposed to arrive today from Amazon.

Apr 20, 2011 at 9:15 am #1727013

Sam Haraldson
BPL Member

@sharalds
Locale: Gallatin Range

Backpacking Light's shipment of these books is in and they are on sale in our Gear Shop. I started reading (and more importantly, looking at the pictures) my copy of it last night and I can honestly say it is a valuable book even for someone like me who considers himself a pretty seasoned UL backpacker.

I've had the pleasure of leading educational courses in the backcountry with Mike and I can say that I've learned a LOT from Mike. He is a fountainhead of information who walks a line balanced perfectly between nerdy-scientist and goofy-artist. I am humbled to have been mentioned in Mike's acknowledgements at the book's beginning and can safely say I approve of the words and illustrations between the front and back cover of this book.

Ultralight Backpackin' Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips for Extremely Lightweight Camping

Apr 20, 2011 at 11:54 am #1727083

David Ure
Member

@familyguy

There is definitely something wrong with the cover. Mike doesn't use trekking poles!

Apr 20, 2011 at 12:55 pm #1727115

Sam Haraldson
BPL Member

@sharalds
Locale: Gallatin Range

Except that's not Mike on the cover ; )

Apr 20, 2011 at 1:14 pm #1727122

Mike Clelland
Member

@mikeclelland
Locale: The Tetons (via Idaho)

1) No, I don't use trekking poles, but when I drew the sketch for the cover, I did it at first without trekking poles, and it felt a little empty. i added the trekking pose simply because I thought it helped the image a little.

And it sorta looks like me, and maybe all my cartoons sorta look like me (sorta).

2) I've done a few UL trips for up to 14 days (13 nights) when I've worked for NOLS. My base weight was at around 10 even, and we had a load of food delivered at the half-way point, so approx. a 6 or 7 day ration period back to back.

I've done a few week long UL trips while NOT in a teaching role. But, I've never actually done a 10-day trip with a UL pack.

I've done PLENTY of longer format trips (more than 10 days) with huge loads (skiing, mountaineering, traditional, etc).

My plan for the summer is to make sure I do a 10-day trip with a pack weight under 25 pounds (excluding water). I don't foresee any problems, I just wanna make sure I do it so I can properly promote the book.

3) Sam is awesome!

Apr 20, 2011 at 2:12 pm #1727154

francis siracusa
BPL Member

@fsiracusa
Locale: Northeast

Clelland! & SamH as instructors on a 3 day BPL course in Montana two years ago was my intro to lightweight trecking. Very dense learning experience and enjoyable as well. Mike and Sam challenged nearly every item in the pack. Mike's book reads just as he instructs on the trail. Both left brain and right brain product here!!!

Well done!

Apr 20, 2011 at 4:13 pm #1727210

Travis Leanna
BPL Member

@t-l
Locale: Wisconsin

>Except that's not Mike on the cover ; )

Kinda looks like Doug Johnson.

Apr 22, 2011 at 6:38 am #1727885

John Donewar
BPL Member

@newton
Locale: Southeastern Texas

Travis,

Mike's shave saved

0.000160 grams

in weight.

We have to keep the metric crowd happy.

Klic tock, klic tock, klic tock, I'm anxiously awaiting delivery of my copy.;-)

Party On,

Newton

Apr 22, 2011 at 10:20 am #1727978

Sam Haraldson
BPL Member

@sharalds
Locale: Gallatin Range

> Mike's book reads just as he instructs on the trail. Both left brain and right brain product here!!!

I'm about 1/2 through Mike's book now and his superb verbal teaching skills translate wonderfully to the pages of this book. Frank hits it on the nose with his remark about right and left brain points of view. It's one of Clelland's qualities – the ability to provide the scientists with an answer about a specific weight in grams, calories, et al just as well as he can provide the lovers with a response about beauty, elegance, and groovy vibes.

Frank overlooking Thompson Lake, Absaroka Mountain Range, SW Montana, September 2009.

Apr 25, 2011 at 5:03 pm #1729358

John Donewar
BPL Member

@newton
Locale: Southeastern Texas

My copy just showed up in my mailbox a day early. I'm off to enjoy a good read and a good laugh and I may just learn something before I'm done. ;-)

Party On,

Newton

Apr 29, 2011 at 11:34 am #1730959

Karple T
BPL Member

@ctracyverizon
Locale: Mid-Alantic

Hey Mike –

Congrats on your book!
I love your illustrations and writing style.

Cheers,
Craig

Apr 29, 2011 at 11:36 am #1730961

Sam Haraldson
BPL Member

@sharalds
Locale: Gallatin Range

I finished reading this a couple days ago and am planning to review it on my blog next week. It's a superb combination of humor, intelligence, and grooviness.

May 3, 2011 at 12:37 pm #1732493

Mike Clelland
Member

@mikeclelland
Locale: The Tetons (via Idaho)

Huge thanks Sam!

Just so y'know – This book was fun to do. I worked hard to keep it as sparse as possible, I wanted it short and simple. I went thru the text and compulsively used my word processor to subtract anything that felt extraneous. I kept anything childish or cute.

–

And – I created a companion blog:
LINK
> > > > > >
http://ultralightbackpackintips.blogspot.com/
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