New Blog Page: Creating Custom GPS Maps

There's a new page on the blog!

Creating Custom GPS Maps

This page is going to be my repository for all GPS related posts that I do. As you can see I already have the links for the GPS mapping series there. In the near future I will be creating a quick reference PDF file for download.

That is about it for right now. Have a good day and remember if you see anything that needs clarification or just to give your 2 cents, please comment!

~Occasional Hyker

"Fun with Gear" or "Playing with your Junk"

Ok, the title is a bit 'tongue in cheek', to be sure, but I find tinkering with my backpacking gear very enjoyable. There is something about taking your gear out of storage, making sure everything is clean and in working order, then putting it all together into a better configuration than was before which I find extremely satisfying.

This past weekend I did a bit of pack maintenance. I removed the pack from the frame (yes, I'm still using an ancient external frame pack) and I used some silicone water repellant spray on the nylon bag. After the bag dried, I put it back on the frame, then went through my gear and refined it, cutting out whatever weight I could. (When you have a pack that weighs in at 10# empty, it helps to have a light gear list.)

Please continue reading after the jump

Plans for this spring: Cranberry Wilderness

Well, it is that time of year again, the air is warmer, the birds are returning and people like myself start making plans to head off into the woods again. This spring has found me dreaming of a "bucket list" hike.

Over ten years ago I read an article in Backpacker Magazine about the Cranberry Wilderness in the southern part of the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) ( You can find a more recent write up at Backpacker.com )  Please continue reading after the jump for more!