[pct-l] 2nd AGPLDHG&IR

[Bighummel@aol.com (Bighummel@aol.com)]

The second Annual Great Pacific Long Distance Hiking Gear and Invention 
Review attracted a broad range of items and strategies that nearly crossed 
the entire list of contents of a typical hiker's pack, as well as an entry 
from a llama packer!  

Additionally, the G-Force Award was established this year offering one of 
only three existing G5 GVP packs to the lightest weight, fully prepared, pack 
and contents.  Each contestant had to show the judges the entire content of 
their packs, weigh each item and explain the strategy for use, alternative 
use, etc.  I will leave the description of this event and the entries to 
Glen, Reed or Brian.
 
The prizes for the Gear Contest included a G4 pack from GVP Equipment, a P-2 
pack from ULA Equipment, a high resolution digital compass, a Photon II, two 
$25 gift certificates from REI and A16, a Swiss Card, a couple John Muir 
books and other simple stuff.  

In the theme of the ADZ and the rules of the Gear Contest, the judges (Brian 
Robinson, Glen Van Peski and Reed Miller) elected to throw out the categories 
this year and award the prizes to the top ten best entries. (arrogant 
judges!)

The top prize (he who gets to pick first from the available prizes) went to 
the highly thoughtful, wildly innovative "Inspector Gadget", a wannabe from 
the Fresno area, who impressed the crowd with several entries that challenged 
many of the basic assumptions and showed an engineer-like mind for 
efficiency.

Pictures of all of the entries will be posted to the ADZPCTKO website soon. 
Look for an announcement.

The following are the winners with trail name, real name (if known) and 
entry:

1. Inspector Gadget (Steve Stevenson) = Innovative, compounding, hollow wood, 
extenal frame Pack, Carbon Fiber Tent Stakes (4 to an ounce!), super high 
efficiency pop can stove system and a home-made bear canister.

2. Ready (Sanne Bagby) = Webbing-strap-under-the-knee-around-the-lumbar chair

3. Terry Thompson = Homemade, 2-man, 3.1 pound, sil-nylon tent

4. Cupcake (John Brennan) = Baby bottle, Nut Butter system
Cupcake must be congratulated for a spirited, passionate sales presentation 
that was clearly designed to challenge the one given last year by 
Lightningbolt.  

5. Lyle Boelter = well-thought-out poncho modifications

6. Marion Davison = "the equalizer" llama packing equipment

7. Ivy (Ivan ?) = foil mylar umbrella cover

8. Igor (?) = small item organizer

9. Hungry Howie and the New Sushi (Jeremy Padgett) = home-made down quilt 
(with sewing direction from Mom) (honorable mention just for the great trail 
name!)

10. Harry Dyson = wind coat

One entry employed a GVP pack
Additional entries can be described by Jason Cramer, the host and organizer 
of the event.

A huge array of tarp and tent systems could be seen in the campground of new 
design from known manufacturers as well as many home-made ones.  I tried to 
capture as many of these as I could on the video tape, but found myself 
lacking to describe much of what I saw!

An interesting pack design by Ron "Fallingwater" Moak was not entered into 
the contest, but in my "Hummel" opinion should have been.  It appeared that 
he married a fishing vest with an internal, light weight, pack! 

More later,

Strider