[pct-l] sun shade ideas, please

[wandering_bob@xxxxxxx (wandering_bob@xxxxxxx)]

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My umbrella attaches directly to my Mountainsmith Auspex pack, just behind =
my spine and allows free-hand walking. My marvelous wife designed the mount=
ing. We've gone through a few iterations as I moved from one pack to anothe=
r. Tried mounting to a shoulder strap but never could make it stable enough=
. I also tried the GoLite umbrella this summer in the desert section F of t=
he PCT (Mojave to Walker Pass). The wind gusts peeled the fabric - which is=
 wisely designed to be removed and replaced - like a grape, breaking three =
of the ridiculously unsound nylon support arms in the process. Since they s=
it in nylon or plastic mounts, once broken they can't be fixed. I went back=
 to my home-modified umbrella with the steel frame (13 oz vs 9 oz GoLite) a=
nd had no further problems.

A couple of suggestions. (1) Look closely at the "wind-proof" umbrellas. Th=
ey have a large hole in the top of the umbrella that is itself covered by a=
nother piece of fabric larger than the hole and anchored to the fabric of t=
he umbrella in several places. This allows wind gusting into the umbrella c=
anopy to flow through while keeping all but the worst wind-blown rain out. =
(2) try using material from one of those larger two-sided space blankets to=
 go from your pack over your head. They are mylar on one side and a bright =
blue or orange layer on the other. They're heavy - 12 oz - and not really l=
arge enough to use as a tarp in bad conditions, but they make great ground =
cloths and solar shields in the desert sections. Again this summer, we spen=
t many long hot daylight hours under one of those suspended from a convenie=
nt Joshua tree and our trekking poles. Better yet, use #2 and incorporate t=
he wind-proofing idea in #1.

It does get hot out there in the sand, even WITH a solar shield. Next stop,=
 mylar boot soles? Air conditioned boots? (don't laugh; heated socks alread=
y exist).

Wandering Bob

----- Original Message -----
Wrom: BIPBARHDMNNSKVFV
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 3:33 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net; backpackinglight@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [pct-l] sun shade ideas, please

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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A while back on PCT-L,  Brett Tucker [blisterfree@earthlink.net]  posted
something about "The Weightless Solar Umbrella."
He's exploring ideas and is waiting til after some time on the Arizona Trai=
l
later this year before posting any design ideas he is
happy with.

Meantime, solar protection this summer on the PCT has been on my mind, sinc=
e
my wife is much more vulnerable to the heat than I am.

Yes, I am aware of Jardine's mylar-covered umbrella and may indeed end up
using that.

1)  Has anyone refined Jardine's plan and thought up a better umbrella
situation??    I want our hands to be free for trekking poles and umbrella
attachment to a smaller, lighter pack is hard.

In 1985, on the PCT, my hiking partner - an older GE engineer - and I
fashioned fixed hoods over our heads and packs, as follows:  At the time we
were using external frame packs with the top extension up. To the top bar w=
e
attached (strapped) the bare ring (circle) taken from a large lamp shade.
We then supported this "halo" ring that was 4-6" over our heads by attachin=
g
two sections of a metal hanger from the side of the ring to a point 45*
back, lower on the pack frame, one on each side.  We then cut a space
blanket in half, hemmed the cut side, and placed grommets at the corners an=
d
halfway up each side.  We attached one end of the =BD space blanket to the
front of the ring and then draped the blanket back over the ring and over
our packs, securing them. This allowed us to hike in shade, without hat,
catching whatever breeze there was, and also keep our packs cooler, with
film, etc, inside.  It worked very well, except in high wind, of course, an=
d
except that it made us look like alien beings from another planet, as other=
s
often commented.  The wind was the most negative aspect and the reason I
probably won't repeat it.

Well, another idea came to mind.  Maybe I could take the thinner, lighter
(noisier) mylar emergency blanket and secure the front edge to the stiff
brim of my hiking hat, then drape the rest back over my hat and pack,
cinching it down so it wouldn't go anywhere in a strong wind.  I suppose it
would look something like a flowing Arabic poncho going back over the neck
area.
Besides the noise factor in the wind, my biggest complaint might be that I
wouldn't have enough height between reflective mylar and my head for any
real cooling effect.  Perhaps a chunk of Styrofoam stuck inside my cap so I
could look like a real conehead.  Groan!  I don't think I want to try those
tiny umbrella hats you see in catalogues, either.

So, witnessing my groping in this area, Does anyone have any good ideas for
a sunshade that works?    I heard of a website with "packshade" in the
title, but all attempts to open it have failed.  Is the person responsible
for that old website, involving a Packshade, still on this list?

Between PCT-L and BackpackingLight, there are geniuses out there to help
come up with a good solution.  I await your creative inspirations.   Thank
you.


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