Mike Clelland’s Tiny Manifesto of Ultralight Backpacking Tips

Thanks Mike!

I had never heard this acronym prior to this article; I'll be using it now.

To be honest, I'm a little surprised that the simplicity of this recent tip has not sparked outcries of "DUH!" or "You're going to get people killed by telling them not to check the satellite forecasts!".

That said, I think it's a totally spot-on and relevant post, especially in this age of electronics, smartphones on the trail, and spreadsheet micromanagement/preplanning of every aspect of a trip.

"Dentist recommended, multiple uses–what more do you want?"

For it not to feel or taste like baking soda, blech.

Though it is amazing stuff.

It's surprising–and unfortunate–how many people are dependent on modern technology and don't learn to observe!

Mountains often make their own weather, and weather forecasters forecast for the cities, which are mainly in the plain.

Rarely, I've known thunderstorms to arrive in the middle of the night after a cloudless sunset. However, they usually announce their coming. One night a few years ago, I started dreaming that a big group of berry pickers was shining flashlights on my tent. That's probably because the night before a couple of jokers really were shining lights on my tent, ostensibly looking for a campsite about 11 pm, and because I'd been "grazing" on huckleberries all day. Finally, the thunder woke me up.

One time the bad weather didn't announce itself. In the Wind Rivers in August 2009, the evening I exited the mountains was cloudless and turning cold, seemingly indicating a clear night. About 2 am I woke up and heard gurgling in the motel's gutters–it was pouring rain outside in Pinedale! I was told by people who were up in the mountains (in a foot of snow) that up there the storm was preceded by thunder and lightning, though.

Out here in the NW, we often get some spectacular lenticular cloud formations when a storm front is moving in, especially around our large volcanoes:
http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/130313053.html

Maybe i could shake the dots up in a bag so they don't stick and meld back together.

I just bought a tube of tom's so I think I'll try drying that but it's whitening too and maybe that's why the colgate's not drying? The weather is dry here and it's been months so I don't think putting it in the dehydrator will help.

Next time I run out of toothpaste I'll get sensidyne.

Mike's book is fantastic. I start teaching an outdoors skills class to 12 middle school boys and girls next week. I will be using his book as my assistant teacher/companion. I have had the book for two weeks and am on my third read. Thank you Mike!!!

I've read a bit of baking soda as a "dusting" works well to mitigate the dot's stickin' together :D

Good tip. I enjoy keeping track of my mileage, pace and time. It is interesting to consider the relationships of speed, time and distance.

George – My main MAN!

Great tip Mike. This jives almost exactly with our hikes.
About 2.5mi/hr generally. Climbing steep grades is closer to one, downhill is closer to 3 and a bit. Thanks for the confirmation!

Why does Mike advise aligning the tarp ridgeline with the wind, while Ray J. says to pitch the tarp broadside to the wind? Maybe by "wind" Mike means gentle breezes that provide ventilation, not strong cold WIND…?

"What the….?

You mean, you guys don't shave your hariy parts before heading out?"

I don't have any left. :(

Mike C! Thanks for making the book available in Kindle format. I just got it! Thoroughly enjoyed the reading while travelling this past weekend.

+1 on the trash compactor bag. It is also a great way to keep your clothing dry and organized in your shelter, or to waterproof everything while camped by putting your *dry* pack inside the trash compactor bag overnight. No dew or rain-soaked pack to put on at sunrise {{{{{{shudder}}}}}}}

I have a suggestion about how to pack in the morning. How about putting the wet tarp on top of everything, so if it's a nice day you can take the tarp out during a break and dry it out.

A lot of pitching a tarp has to do with wind direction and the way the ground slants. Within these two constraints, is how I pitch my tarp.

Anyway, I suspect that using a RayWay tarp (A-Frame), it would be best as shelter against a side wind. Here is the address to Jardine's web site: http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/Tarp-Kit/index.htm
Note that his ridge line is set up level, or close to it. This means that set up with the wind at your feet, it will blow through with no effect on the wind…well, he does use beaks to compensate. His tarp is also wider with little space against the ground.

Mike uses a tapered pitch…About "belly" height down to a "few inches above knee height" at the tail. It will deflect more wind and still provide protection. But with a smaller tarp, his sides are more open, hence his recommendation, at a guess. It is smaller and lighter, but more finicky about setups… Typical of UL gear.

Mmmm — looks highly yummy. One could use a pastry bag to mix and then shoot it in to a platty.

I like Joe's Moose Goo but this is something different. I know with the Moose Goo it is hard to squeeze when the temps get below 40°. I wonder if this super spackle is the same way

I whipped up a batch of this and wow, it's delicious!

I ended up using the entire 11 ounce containers of the almond and cashew butter which measures out to just over a cup each. The recipe ends up making ~28.7 ounces of Spackle and averages 153 calories/ounce (Fats=12.9 gram/oz, Carbs=8.3 grams/oz, Protein=3.8 grams/oz).

What I ended up with was too thick to pour into a platypus but as Mike says, you can thin it out with more almond oil. I ended up repacking it into 7 snack-size ziplock bags containing 4 ounces each. I'll work out the storage container later. I ate the residual on Ritz crackers, yum…

I tossed a pack in the freezer to see what happens to it (i.e. is it a winter food candidate?)

My grocery receipt totaled $32, so this batch cost me $1.10 per ounce. However, I have enough agave nectar, almond oil, and extracts to make a few more batches.

All my experience with various homemade "energy gels, pastes, etc" is that they all tend to slow down when it starts to get chilly. Nothing like tilting a gel flask upside down and slowly watching your goop trickle down for 45+ seconds before reaching your mouth to let ya know that a) it's probably a little chilly or b) maybe you should have made it a little thinner or maybe a combo of both. In the end it still all works and you can always pre-warm under an armpit, in warm water while melting snow, etc.

Brian, I'll be interested to hear how the super-spackle fares in the freezer.

How about using it in Coghlan's squeeze tubes?

http://www.coghlans.com/products/squeeze-tubes-7605a

Wow! Can't wait to try this! This is surely a huge improvement over my plain ol honey and peanut butter mix. I've never put it in a squeeze tube. In the winter, its convenient just to put it in a lightweight throwaway container with a screw on lid and just use a spoon.

Dale – Good idea regarding the squeeze tubes.

We've carried peanut butter and jam in them for decades (not the same peanut butter and jam). I don't trust them and always put them in a ziplock, although I've never had a problem. My wife's hiking favorite is PNB&J on a Sailor Boy pilot bread cracker. Or you squeeze a little PNB in your mouth, followed by jam, and then a bite of bagel or whatever. Shades of Animal House! http://www.hulu.com/watch/26014/animal-house-im-a-zit

I've used the squeeze tubes as well and also put them in their own quart-ziploc for safety's sake. The only problem I've ever had was with the plastic "tube closer" piece cracking.

FYI – Campmor sells just those pieces so if you ever lose one or it cracks you can buy replacements.

I've migrated to individual serving packets (I get my PB&J from PackIt Gourmet) because it makes it easier to distribute the weight and the packaging weighs less when empty. There's also nothing to clean up when you get home…

So the super spackle spent two nights in the freezer and it does indeed freeze solid but I'm able to snap off chunks of it with easy and they quickly melt when eaten. At the consistency I made it (think peanut butter thickness) there is no way it would be delivered via a squeeze tube when temps are frigid.