Backpacking, Knives, Gear, Cameras, Karate, and Bears!

B

bearthedog

Joined
May 17, 2006
Messages
4,290
Fresh back from an overnighter. The place, Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains of California. I don’t often get a chance to go Backpacking with my friends nearly as much as we want to but when the chance comes up---we take it. This was a short last minute “grab some gear and lets just go” type of trip. Overnight temperature dropped down to about 40F. There was lots of gear and everyone seemed to have one or two new pieces they have been waiting to try out. One guy had never gone backpacking before and he was in for a surprise with the other two clowns. As promised, there were knives, cameras, a few karate moves, and some animals---BEARS!
Here are some pictures from this weekend’s trip. I hope you enjoy!

-RB

Big Bear, California
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We parked, geared up, and then followed the Castle Rock Trail until we got to some pristine backcountry.
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Brian’s JK Kephart did the food prep before the hike.
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View from the top overlooks the south side of Big Bear Lake.
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Camp and Gear

I sometimes think camp pictures are a little boring but I have been getting a whole lot of email, and PM’s about my Super Ultralight Gear. Most of the time this causes a pissing contest about my light gear and how it won’t work, and how it will fail me, and how it could never survive a fall off a cliff or a 10 story building, and how it won’t repel bullets or vampires, and how I suck---so I almost never post my camp pictures. I finally broke down and posted my camp gear. After all these years, I am still waiting for this crap I use to fail me!
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My pillow system. Platypus 2L ontop of my New Balance shoes.
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I love watching my friends set up camp for over an hour sometimes, while I take a full minute of my time to get out my Mountain Laurel Superlight Bivy, Gossmer Gear closed cell foam pad, and my own handmade quilt.
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More Camp Fun

Amir
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Fozzle
First time backpacking
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Brian
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Bear The Dog
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Slow Shutter Speed and the Phantom
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Knives taken into camp
Victorinox OHT, RAT RC-3, Tom Halloran PSD 5, CRKT M-16
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My friend Brian fell in love and this time not with any barnyard animals but with the Tom Halloran PSD 5 Knife I was reviewing for Tactical Knives November 2010 issue. I let him have it and I don’t think he put it down for more than a few minutes. In fact, I saw him go into his tent at night with it and emerge from it in the AM with the Halloran in his hand. I don’t know how he does it.
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Fozzle and his only knife. CRKT M-16
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Nothing new just taking what works. A good RAT/SAK combo always fits the bill.
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Brian felt the need to give me a lesson on making fuzz sticks. The absence of fuzz stick pictures is due to his success in making them!
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Morning View
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Castle Rock was the place for a little rock climbing. Since I am deathly afraid of heights (not really, just the fall and impact part) I decided to just take the pictures.
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Karate in the forest keeps everyone in line
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After we hiked out (and made a quick trip to Starbucks) we visited the Moonridge Zoo to take in some wildlife. Nothing sucks more than taking pictures of animals through a chain link fence. Just a few that turned out ok.

I actually like the way this one came out. Everyone knows what it is.
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The view out
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See the whole trip, more knives, and stupidity!
http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/k...view=slideshow
 
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Thanks for posting these. :thumbup::thumbup:

Posts like these help hold me over till the next time I can manage to get out

myself..

It is appreciated. :)
 
So that upclose picture of the bear was in a zoo? XD

Regardless, I love big ole bears.

Cool pictures dude! I really like your lightweight setup, seems very practical and useful, don't know why people would bash it!? I could learn from you, I overpack by 10-20 pounds probably :o
 
Just curious, are fires allowed up there? I know on San G, they are not allowed. I also go the bivy bag route, although I need a real pillow and my shoes smell to bad at the end of the day to put them next to my face! :eek:

Cool pics!
 
I'm trying to learn to love the "go light" philosophy.
I've tried sleeping in a bivy sack, but it's too much like a coffin, so I'm a hammock-guy now, when weather permits.
 
Great shots! Looks like you guys had fun. I always think I'm going to pack light and then end up with a huge pack of gear that I probably will never use. Oh well if it did turn from 85of to -20of then I would be justified in my efforts. I just wish I could get out more.
 
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