[pct-l] New Hiking Standard

[wandering_bob at comcast.net (Bob Bankhead)]

Gear: IMO, if the manufacturers were really smart, they'd have everything 
available in time for Christmas. They could fill a lot of wish lists that 
way.

CAMMO vs BRIGHT COLORS: Reasons not to do this:

1. Those who have served in the military have had quite enough of this 
pattern, thank you.

2. Cameo wearers who get lost are more apt to stay lost as their 
now-invisible bodies are bypassed or overflown by SAR teams

3. Hunters wear cammo and thereby manage to shoot a fair number of their own 
each year. Do you really want to become one of those potential targets?

4. Bright gaudy colors are a part of the natural world. Look at the birds, 
bees, and flowers (in a non-sensual way).

5. Try finding your cammo tent on a dark, moonless night or in a driving 
rain when returning half-awake from answering nature's call. (Remember, 
using Triptease would be considered using a bright gaudy color.) BINGO, one 
more lost cammo-clad-soon-to-be-hypothermic hiker (assuming your underwear 
is also genuine cammo).

6. Try finding your cammo anything that has somehow escaped into the leaves 
and duff of your campsite as you pack up in the morning. This is not the way 
to pare down your gear for a superultralight trek.


One good point about doing this - SIBBG will grant instant approval as it 
will now make it harder for bears to find your bear can (or your carcass).


Visibly Wandering Bob, who needs all the help he can get and then some.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Hiker97@aol.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Cc: <laura629@hotmail.com>; <carolwbruno@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 8:42 AM
Subject: [pct-l] New Hiking Standard


>I hear that some of our cutting  edge light weight gear manufacturers are
> designing some of their shelter  products with views for the spring 
> backpacking
> season.  That is very good  and we now have the ball moving in the right
> direction in this  area.
>
> Now there is another thing we have  to do to change the backpacking world.
> That is to get all the  manufacturers to make their products in stealth 
> colors.
> I think the US  Marines new cammo colors are great.
>
> Just think if your bag, pack, and  shelter were all stealth.  Neat.  For
> example, you could be walking  along the trail and say to yourself, 
> "Didn't I just
> pass someone on the  trail?  I would have said hello if I had seen 
> someone."
> Cool.
>
> Yes, we must start the movement  toward blending into nature.  Being
> transparent out there.  Not  bringing our commercialism and gaudy bright 
> colors into
> Mother Nature.  We  must encourage the manufacturers to compete with each 
> other
> for the most stealth  gear.
>
> Thank you for your support and  encouragement.
>
> Your hiking buddy,  Switchback
> Stealth Hiker &  Camp Ruffian