Trip Report - Lost Lake (Washington Cascades)

Stonking spot.

I see the attraction of a tent over a SilShelter. As I type this I'm shuffling cheek to cheek 'cos of a bundle of skeeter bites on the arse. I still won't do tent, but man I see the appeal even clearer today.

Exped DownMAt 7 is new to me. I would have rejected a down mat precisely because of the excellence of down at compression. Captured inside an inflatable though and I can guess how that gets overcome. Interesting bit of kit.

Seeing your ClamperPod forces me to flag up these. I think they are brilliant. Uber-simple concept, squishes down as a long bundle of legs, and deployment is a doddle – as tripod or wrap it round something. And that actually begs you to use it. I wouldn't be without either of mine. I've seen knock off ones at a fraction of the price [=$5 USD]. I wouldn't normally endorse that route, but because the thing is so simple and there isn't really anything that can fail I don't see how there could be much wrong with them.
 
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Thanks for taking the time to post your trip, Flix!

Great pics and narration to go along with...

Glenn
 
I would be curious to see pics of the pouch and how it is attached to your belt for the Kahr. I've been trying to figure out a way to carry while hiking and don't have any decent ideas other than IWB or belt carry is out because of hipbelts and such.
 
Nice pictures and story FLIX! I really love reading about everyones adventures. You really did a nice job of makeing me feel like I was right there. Thank You!
 
FLIX said:
In rereading my post I noticed how many times I whined about it being hot. :o How did I become such a wuss? I grew up in the Saudi desert, where 100 Degree plus weather was common year round. I lived in Los Angeles for many years and was never put off by the heat. (Now when I go back, it takes several days to adjust.)
-- FLIX
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I really didn't want to say you were a wuss, but I was just up there last week (Fort Lewis) and it was in the 80's and absolutely beautiful...coming from central Texas where it had been over 100 degrees for several days. Yeah...you were a wuss:D

ROCK6
 
Looks like a great area, with great scenery and a beautiful forest.

How well does that BA Seedhouse SL1 pitch? I have heard that it takes a lot of stakes to get a good rainproof pitch.
 
Great trip and report, flix. I'll second the request from james61; accessible carrying and backpacking are not always convenient.
 
PB Wilson said:
It just sucks when you get some annoying song running through your head as you huff and puff down the trail.:(
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It sucks even more when you come across others on the trail and you can tell by their expressions that you weren't just humming that tune in your head! :foot:


James61 and crm3137,

I'll try to get some photos up as soon as possible. Carrying while wearing a pack with a hip belt is a real challenge. The two ways I have found are 1) to wear on a belt holster, using a drop leg attachment to lower the pistol below the hip belt, and 2) to carry in a pouch attached to the pack's hip belt. The benefit of belt carry is that you still retain your firearm if you have to ditch your pack. The disadvantage is that it is conspicous open carry that doesn't play well with the granola crowd. The pouch has the advantage of concealment, but if your pack goes, so does the gun.

What I used is a cheap black nylon pouch that I bought years ago for conceled carry. It has a narrow belt loop on it so I temporarily attached it to my hip belt with severall safety pins. Since it worked out (meaning it didn't look out of place or get in my way) I'll think of another way to attach it. It would be ideal if it could still be detached and worn on my belt when I take off my pack.

ROCK6 said:
Yeah...you were a wuss:D
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This from Brian's favorite Brokeback buddie? . . . :D:D (Wait - Did I just type that out loud?)

Again, thanks everybody for your kind words and encouragement. I wasn't sure whether the product reviews would be out of place and wasn't sure I wanted to share how a relatively short hike was such a challenge for me.

lambertiana said:
How well does that BA Seedhouse SL1 pitch? I have heard that it takes a lot of stakes to get a good rainproof pitch.
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I haven't stayed in this tent through a rainstorm yet but it seems solidly built and well designed. The rain fly is full coverage and if staked out properly (it comes with 13) it seems pretty well ventilated. Most of the problems I have heard of people having with this tent come from them not guying out the fly and having condensation problems.

My complaint with the tent is that the entrance is through the front, where your head must go when you are sleeping. Either you have to crawl in and then somehow turn around or you need to crab walk in feet first. A person who was shorter and/or more limber than I may have an easier time.

-- FLIX
 
I think this one was one of the best descriptive trip reports I have read on here. I found myself hanging on every word. Very nice job! Your pics are very good, amazing scenery shots. I like the product placement pics, and reviews. Looks like an amazing outing....

Are those the 511 pants you posted a pic of? I like those pants, they are heavy, but I wear mine out alot in the bush during fall/winter....

I find it interesting bout the gerber saw. I love mine, and have never had a problem out of it. Mine just eats through wood, I might have to push it a little harder and see what I come up with...
 
j williams,

Thanks! No, the pants I posted a pic and link to are Titanium "Omni-Dry" by Columbia. They are synthetic and very lightweight. They're great for warm weather. I had been planning to wear a pair of 511 "Tac Lite" pants I recently bought, but they much heavier. I've worn them around town a bit and really like them.

-- FLIX
 
FLIX said:
James61 and crm3137,

I'll try to get some photos up as soon as possible. Carrying while wearing a pack with a hip belt is a real challenge. The two ways I have found are 1) to wear on a belt holster, using a drop leg attachment to lower the pistol below the hip belt, and 2) to carry in a pouch attached to the pack's hip belt. The benefit of belt carry is that you still retain your firearm if you have to ditch your pack. The disadvantage is that it is conspicous open carry that doesn't play well with the granola crowd. The pouch has the advantage of concealment, but if your pack goes, so does the gun.

What I used is a cheap black nylon pouch that I bought years ago for conceled carry. It has a narrow belt loop on it so I temporarily attached it to my hip belt with severall safety pins. Since it worked out (meaning it didn't look out of place or get in my way) I'll think of another way to attach it. It would be ideal if it could still be detached and worn on my belt when I take off my pack.

-- FLIX
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Thanks for the info. Would still like to see pics if you get a chance. I would just go drop leg but unfortantly that gets to many weird looks these days so concealed would be my prefereance despite the issue of dropping the pack and losing the weapon. I've been kicking around the idea of getting a Safepacker. I may just have to get one and see if I can figure out a way to rig it up. Also the wife is learing to sew and I've got all kinds of ideas floating around in my head for gear. Hmmm. Maybe I'll have to start putting it down on paper and see what I can come up with. Anybody know where I can geta an industrial sewing machine cheap?
 
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Great pics. Those trees were pretty darn big-makes your Seedhouse look like minature one...

AC
 
Don't be so hard on yourself, Flix, the weather that weekend was a little warm for western WA. It happens so rarely it's hard to adjust in one weekend. :)
A pouch on the belt does sound discreet and I'm sure the Kahr is pretty easy to hide. :thumbup: I've been looking at the Safepacker as well; it's a few dollars but seems to offer a lot of carry options.
 
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