The NEW Post Your Campsite/gear/knife/hiking/anything Outdoorsy Pic Thread!

[OwenM]

The first part of my weekend was a bust. I'm going to try to make up for it tomorrow

I did discover that I could easily blow a month's pay on a bicycle if I were able or inclined to
Such a planner. I drove around mapping out backroad routes today, and haven't even gotten a bike yet. Did learn a couple of shortcuts I could have been using while living here the last 7 years, though.
Not sure I actually need a mountain bike, or even a suspension fork, but reading about bikes, and the difference between components, is like learning a new language.
Think I'll just buy an entry-level hybrid rather than give in to the "but one day I might" fantasies.
"Entry level" means $5-700. Holy crap. You're not in Wal-Mart any more, Toto...

 

[OwenM]

Coosa River below Jordan Dam at Wetumpka, AL:

Like I say, my water phobia is only when I'm thinking about it, not when I'm face to face with it...

This is the middle part of the class III side of Moccasin Gap, the southernmost class III rapid in the US. Flow was only 2353cfs today. It's a whole 'nother ballgame when it's up around 10k.

The "B" side of Moccasin Gap. Fast and fun. When the flow is up, kayaks look like rocks being skipped across the water.

Made some new friends today, and was really happy with how some of the pics I'm sending them came out.

 

[HikingMano]

Great pics, Owen! Looks like fun :thumbup:

 

[baldtaco-II]

 

[HikingMano]

Wow! That paint effect is awesome!

 

[gytheran]

My latest piece of outdoor gear, the Biolite CampStove! I've put together a short 4min video of the unboxing and test of the stove. There's no talking throughout the video, but it is annotated. Thanks for looking!

[video=youtube;wBRcYR-V0FQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBRcYR-V0FQ[/video]

 

[OwenM]

THAT is wicked cool! I don't have a use for it, but just the fact that they can and did make something like that is pretty awesome:thumbup:

 

[slaroy]

Mano; these coastlines don't really compare to yours, the water temperature was in the low 60's... "just" cold enough to cool off after a day of paddling and hiking. I hope to make it out your way to enjoy some paddling some day!

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Michigan), on the shores of Lake Superior.

 

[HikingMano]

The water in HI is indeed warm The coastlines here, near the San Francisco Bay Area, are around what you've got: 60-ish.

Nice pictures! :thumbup: I never realized the shores of the Great Lakes could have such fine sand.

And welcome to BF and W&SS

 

[lambertiana]

Nice pics of Pictured Rocks. I have seen a lot of pictures of that area, but I haven't been able to get there yet.

 

[adam0321]

So the military has had me in beautiful Florence Arizona for the past few weeks. I have wanted to get away for a bit and see the Grand Canyon. I drove up once I got off work since it was only a 5 hour drive. I have been living in a hotel for the past 3 weeks and refused to spend another night in a hotel when I had the Kaibab national forest at hand. As I drove up Friday I hiked around a bit and decided to jut plop down. Having flown over here for military training I was a bit limited on the gear I could bring, but I managed. Hope you guys enjoy. I will post on the Canyon later.

My camp for the night. Crude but how much do you really need? I did not expect it to get as cold as it did.

this guy did not seem to mind the company

not what I have been use to seeing in Florence

I did not bother cook as I ate on the road. This little fella and his friends were everywhere so I am sure the lack of food was a good thing.

This is mountain lion country I think this was a deer or small elk

My new favorite combo for day hikes/1-2 dyas

 

[OwenM]

Alabama issues 295 gator tags per year using a lottery system, and this is the 7th season. The season is very short, less than a week total in some areas. Hunters have to take an "alligator training course" due to the limitations on harvesting methods here, and the hunting "day" is from 8pm to 6am.
My friend got a tag this year, and this weekend he took the third largest AL gator on record, at 14' 1", 794lbs.
My little phobia of stuff under the water that I can't see is not completely unfounded, you know...

 

[HikingMano]

Adam, good stuff! I see you managed to get a Scout from Nick before you leave for Okinawa :thumbup: I'm looking forward to the Grand Canyon Pics.

Owen - Damn! That thing weighs almost half a ton... I'm always amazed that they can move their bulk around on those seemingly stubby little legs. How did your friend harvest this one? I'd be worried about swimming in water hiding guys like this....

 

[OwenM]

Didn't ask, but I looked up the regs, which are common between our three different gator hunting areas:
Alligators must be captured and brought adjacent to the boat prior to shooting or otherwise dispatching the animal. It is unlawful to shoot at or kill an unrestrained alligator. Restrained is defined as an alligator that has a noose or snare secured around the neck or leg in a manner that the alligator is controlled. Capture methods are restricted to hand-held snares, snatch hooks (hand-held or rod/reel), harpoons (with attached line), and bowfishing equipment (with line attached from arrow to bow). No use of bait is allowed.

All alligators, if legal, must be dispatched immediately after capture or released. Firearms used for dispatching an alligator are restricted to shotguns with shot size no larger than #4 and bangsticks chambered in .38 caliber or larger. All shotguns and bangsticks must be cased and unloaded at all times until a restraining line has been attached to the alligator. No other firearm or ammunition may be in possession of the permittee or hunting party. No firearm or bangstick may be discharged within 100 yards of any residence, building, boat ramp, or occupied campsite.

The ridiculous firearm regs must mean that those particular areas assigned for the hunts are on properties controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

 

[HikingMano]

Thanks. Had no idea the process was so defined....

 

[adam0321]

Adam, good stuff! I see you managed to get a Scout from Nick before you leave for Okinawa :thumbup: I'm looking forward to the Grand Canyon Pics.

Thank you, I will post up some pictures of the canyon later. I hate using photo bucket if anyone has a better suggestion for posting pictures. Technically I can not bring my newly beloved Scout with me to Okinawa because of the laws regarding knives. However I can pack it away with my Pro-Gear and write it off as work items. To say I love that knife is the understatement of the year. Simply the perfect blade I think.

 

[HikingMano]

Had mine for over 3 years now, and it's the only knife I've kept in the 4 years I've really gotten into knives. I don't foresee ever selling it. I want to have Nick make me one in a high quality stainless one of these days....

 

[adam0321]

I like the sheath you have. Thats the only think I am not crazy about. I am not a big fan of the pouch sheaths.

 

[HikingMano]

I'm all for the easy of use and low maintenance with kydex. And often, when scrambling, my sheath ends up getting scratched on stuff because I usually carry my fixed blades on my belt. I will say though, that Nick makes one hell of a leather sheath with his beeswax treatment. The knife clicks into place like kydex....

 

[OwenM]

Any of you guys mountain bike? I've been reading about bikes, and debating whether I wanted a full-fledged mountain bike or not.
Today I went to Oak Mountain State Park for a quick hike, and to see what all had changed, since I was last there in December of 2001.
It's close, but busy, with lots of family activities, and locals. My perception was that it must be crowded a lot, but I only saw 3 people today, and two were at the trailhead.
My interest got piqued, because I was reminded there are several almost parallel trails 6-7 miles long where I could stash a bike at one end, and hike one way, then come back on the bike on the road. Well, that middle trail is for mountain bikes as well as hiking, and that is just one section of it, as it makes a 17 mile loop. I hiked part of the way in on the "blue trail", then took the orange connector trail to hook up with the "red trail" on the return, and it's really nice.
Some comments here:
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/oak-mountain-state-park-bump-trail.html
I was on the downhill side that is apparently an old Jeep road where they talk about the "paved" stream crossings for maybe 3.5 miles. There are little information kiosks with maps behind glass, and benches to sit on, and I even saw a shelter made so that bikers could pull right in during a storm.
This is apparently now a world-renowned bike trail system, 45 minutes from my house. What's cool is that I could go out there in the morning after work, leave my bike where a couple of trails end at a waterfall, hike from the trailhead to the waterfall in 3hrs or less, ride the bike trail straight back to my truck, put my kayak in the lake for an hour or two, or go the other way and finish the loop, or just go out there to ride the whole bike trail-and I could do it on any day during my work week, and be home and showered before my regular bedtime. I hiked maybe 7 miles today, plus a couple of side trails to overlooks, and was home 4 hours after I started hiking.

The Blue trail starts out pretty steep, but after the first 1.5 mile it smooths out.

Side trail very steep. Fortunately, it's also short!

Eagle's Nest Overlook:

King's Chair Overlook:

Nice pack Adam! I was packed for an overnighter, just had too much stuff to get caught up on before the work week starts again! Was walking in a cloud of bugs the last hour or so, anyhow...

I know this won't show up that great on here, but it was cool how you could see the stuff under the water in the shadow of the tree trunks vs. the reflections everywhere else. It's pretty vivid full-screen:

These are from the bike trail, which follows a stream through this section, and crosses it multiple times:

Some of the crossings have a lot of mud and small rocks, along with several inches of water, while others are almost clear: