[pct-l] Pirate Shill

[Hiker97 at aol.com]

Doc Holiday writes:

These  advertisers know how much weight Switchback pulls on the list, and it 
wouldn't  surprise me a bit if the pirate was doing a little moonlighting as a 
marketing  shill.



---------------------------
That brings up a good point.   I have not seen my issue of Backpacker 
Magazine lately.  Speaking of  marketing, my latest backpacking invention is using 
the REI Bug Hut Solo with my  solar umbrella.  I use a piece of spinnaker cloth 
with corner  grommets/stakes as a ground sheet to hold my foam down on the 
ground.   The reason I do this is the foam is rolled up and needs something to 
make  lay flat.  Works great to make a nice insulated comfortable bed.   
Basically, all I am doing is putting the foam down first with the ground cloth  over 
it.  This method is comfortable and warm at night.
 
Then I just put the 16 ounce Bug  Hut on top.  No problem.  The umbrella just 
slips in at the top of the  Bug Hut where the two poles cross.  Nice.  I only 
use the umbrella  with the Bug Hut if I need sun or wind protection.  I do 
add a simple  orange cord to tie the handle of the umbrella to one of the Bug 
Hut poles in  case of wind blowing the umbrella around.
 
For a rainfly I use some polycro  with grommets at the bottom and some 
Velcro/clips at the other end to hold it to  the Bug Hut poles.  Now I have 360 
views even in the rain.  Very  nice.  Very compact and light and simple to use.
 
I am a big 360 degree view  camper.  I hate tarps and tents, but I hate bugs 
too.  Anything that  blocks my views is not a player as far as I am concerned. 
 You  might need some privacy sometimes when others are around to change, 
etc., but I  can easily go behind a tree or rock.  No problem.
 
One thing about the above shelter system.  Many times you are not on  
perfectly flat ground.  You slide around at night.  I might have to  make a small 
modification to my system with some simple grommets.  This  would help keep me 
centered on the ground sheet.
 
Also, I special ordered from REI,  the Sierra Designs Mutts super light down 
socks.  I have never seen  anything that keeps feet warm at night in your 
shelter like down socks.   Very nice.  I got red color to find them easier.
 
Your hiking buddy, Switchback the  Trail Pirate
Bed & Breakfast  Backpacker