During May (2026) we returned to the EBC for our fourth (and probably last – due to our age) visit. This time we were (not unexpectedly) much slower than we had been in years’ past. I don’t think you should allow such slowness or a level of fitness to put you off what should otherwise […]
If you have trouble putting your hiking shoes on (as I do due to age, arthritis, back injury etc) no doubt you need an ultralight shoe horn. I sometimes use my toilet trowel but this purpose-built item probably works better/more comfortably. This Shoe Doctor 17cm/17 grams Shoe Horn works very well and is available from
Fire lighting is a profound ‘secret’ which if you do not master, you might come to a time when you do not survive at all because of your ignorance. Take the time and patience to learn to be its master. Prometheus the Titan has a lot to answer for – but Boy, have we ever
If you have never tried out an alcohol stove (or made one yourself) you should really try this. All you need is a sharp blade a a pair of scissors and an empty can. You will be surprised how well it works. You should also read this post: Fuel Follies. Then if you take a
Of course you know what this is; it’s a very silly empty fuel container which you can see weighs 5.1 oz or 147 grams. Lots of unwise hikers lug these stupid things around! Let’s look at it another way. A lightweight bottle to carry alcohol (meths) in might weigh 10-20 grams. My lightest burner weighs
Was once the bushman’s standy-by. It is usually abundant, enormously varied, relatively easily to take, involves little waste or preparation and is often tasty and nutritious. Of course much of it is also illegal. You will notice though that in my post about the journey to Cromarty not so long ago everyone used to take
I noticed this morning that Nemo have a ‘new’ Tensor Elite Ultralight Insulated pad which weighs as little as 215 grams (though only R2.4) at US229.95 (April 2026) . That is certainly a game-changer for summer or maybe 3-season camping. Weight-wise this compares favorably with my personal favourite the Thermarest NeoAir X-Lite Regular Small (formerly
I have praised the Topo shoes in a previous post. Della and I both just acquired new Topo Terraventure 2Wp boots for an upcoming EBC hike. Mine cost A$279 delivered from Sherpa. Topo have improved the shoes since my first pair. Eg They now have really super grip Vibram soles which just about glue you
Work equals force by distance, where a single newton of force represents the amount of force needed to move one kilogram one meter. The equivalent imperial unit is the foot-pound which is self-explanatory. Image: Sisyphus: ‘In Greek mythology Sisyphus or Sisyphos was the king of Ephyra. He was punished for his self-aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness
I know this will be anathema to the LNT set but let me say that they are anathema to me! Such posturing and hand-wringing is the worst kind of virtue signalling. Nature can be improved for the benefit of man and indeed for the benefit of both – particularly in regard to the prevention of
