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The Ultralight Hiker
The Ultralight Hiker

Ultralight hiking, backpacking, bushwalking, deer hunting, canoeing, pack rafting, tips, trails, adventures, gear, reviews...Over 1600 posts & 70 years' experience.

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Big Cats in the Bush?

Leave a Comment / Australia, Victoria, Wildlife (Australia) / admin

A friend thinks that reports of ‘black pumas’ etc may well be ‘thylaceo leo,’ the marsupial lion (there being no large black cats anywhere in the world only spotted ones) but this is a VERY long bow, though it would be nice. In 50+ years in the bush I have never even seen a large […]

Big Cats in the Bush? Read More »

Crepuscular Birdsong

Leave a Comment / Wildlife (Australia), Wonnangatta River / admin

Crepuscular birdsong why? Interesting to see this question answered in the latest New Scientist: it is because there is a temperature inversion then and sounds transmit better. Hope to live long enough to hear it again in our silent bushfire-ravaged forests. Bee-eater Wonnangatta River just above Waterford Bridge (Jan 2018). Update: Further to my post

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Hiking Food: Soup

Leave a Comment / Cooking, Food, Hiking / admin

I am currently trying Ainsley Harriott’s Southern Cajun Gumbo Cup of Soup for breakfast. Yum! Some people ask what food I take hiking. This is too hard a question for ONE post but here’s a tip which also works well for a snack or lunch. Combine a sachet of 2 minute noodles sans flavour sachet

Hiking Food: Soup Read More »

Cooking Oil Fire

Leave a Comment / Cooking / admin

Cooking oil fire: really important lesson. Who would have thought it could so easily be turned into something like a nuclear explosion? Only 34 seconds, please watch:

Cooking Oil Fire Read More »

Kumato Tomato

Leave a Comment / Farming, Home & Gardening / admin

There is a ‘new’ tomato called a ‘kumato‘ apparently originally from the Galapagos Islands which is interesting – though this may be spin. It is deliciously sweet. I recommend you try some, & save and plant the seeds. it is a small tomato so you should still get a crop if you are quick.

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Bebook Ebook Reader

Leave a Comment / Electronics, Equipment / admin

Best gadget we have bought in the last year a 5″ Bebook reader but you can now get the new Sony 6″ model for about the same weight @ 160g but it won’t fit in your shirt pocket. It does not require you to pirate books but it sure makes reading a lot cheaper if

Bebook Ebook Reader Read More »

Home Made Pack Raft

Leave a Comment / Canoeing, Canoeing / Boating Gear, Equipment, Rivers in Victoria / admin

I bought a $40 raft (Intex) from Clark Rubber and reinforced it with a layer of poly tarp which can be attached to it with polyethylene tape (from greenhouse suppliers), ‘Gaffer’ or ‘Duct’ tape. You could also use tarp clips if you prefer. This makes it well-nigh indestructible. The tarps come in three weights: 100grams/square

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Pack Rafts

Leave a Comment / Canoeing, Canoeing / Boating Gear / admin

We have the ‘Fiord Explorer’ which is a bit heavy but takes two. I took it down the Seaforth River in Fiordland afer a 3.5 day hike in! For a one person boat you could try the ‘Alpacka‘ or the ‘Scout’ (if you are as small as Della). These boats will handle any water you

Pack Rafts Read More »

Hiking Fishermen

Leave a Comment / Canoeing / Boating Gear, Equipment, Fishing, Fishing Tools / admin

Hiking Fishermen: This is good: http://penfishingrods.com/shop/product_details.php?category_id=13&item_id=126 and so is this: http://www.moontrail.com/accessrs/a-misc/handline.html

Hiking Fishermen Read More »

BLR Lightning Rifle

Leave a Comment / Equipment, Guns & Bows, Hunting / admin

Maybe you are thinking of an interesting Xmas present for your beloved. Maybe consider a Browning Lever Action (‘BLR Lightning’) rifle in ‘take-down’ format (ie it splits into halves to stow in your pack). Della bought me one for my 60th. Perhaps I should have got it in Winchester Magnum instead of .308 but I

BLR Lightning Rifle Read More »

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