Half Gallon Challenge on the Appalachian Trail

Thanks to Disco (PCT 2004, 2008, CDT 2006) for posting this little nugget, an NPR report on the half-gallon challenge at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The story is from 2008, but it will take you down memory lane, especially if you have done the Appalachian Trail. Enjoy!

Desert Protection Act of 2010

Senator Diane Feinstein has introduced the Desert Protection Act of 2010, which will set aside 90,000 acres of wilderness and establish two new national monuments that would encompass more than a million acres (a good image of the proposed national monuments is here). This sweeping legislation would also help protect wildlife corridor and provide a larger buffer zone for the Pacific Crest Trail in southern California.

After an initial reading, I am excited by this legislation, since it is setting aside large portions of land for zero development. However, it looks like there are provisions for easing the permit process for wind and solar developers, but it looks like their access to wild, lands is off-limits. As California seeks to develop renewable energy (which I think is great!), this legislation will establish parameters, which we need. Unplanned, unfettered projects need to work within guidelines. Hike a National Scenic Trail, and one will notice places where unplanned development has spoiled wild lands for everyone (i.e. Sugar Top in North Carolina, which is painfully visible on the Appalachian Trail, and a lot of the Front Range along the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado). The proposed Sand to Snow National Monument in the San Gorgonio Mountains will provide a greater buffer from development for the Pacific Crest Trail.

I look forward to hearing and reading more about this bill. I am sure that it will be argued (as it has already on the blogoshphere), but I think this congress and administration will pass it. I will keep my fingers crossed.

NIDO is the Way to Go!

After hiking the Continental Divide Trail, I am convinced that Nido powdered milk, which is made by Nestle, is the preferred powdered milk to buy. I first heard about Nido from Dicentra, who is a trail food guru, but I had trouble finding it. I was reminded that Nido is usually buried in the Mexican foods aisle in the grocery store, and it is nowhere near the baked goods aisle, where one will find the usual Carnation or store brand powdered milk. Although I am not a big fan of Wal-Mart, I did find it there for about $5.00 for a 14 ounce can.

Nido tastes like real milk. Forget Carnation or the store brand version of powdered milk. Even the now defunct Milkman Instant Lowfat Dry Milk (with "the kiss of cream"), which I used to enjoy on the trail, does not hold a candle to this stuff. Nido is dry whole milk, which has real milk fat in it. Apparently, one has to be conscious about keeping the stuff really dry, because if Nido get damp or wet, it can get rancid in storage. Yes, that's how true and awesome the stuff is, so keep it dry hikers, and enjoy Nido for your powdered milk on your next long-distance hike!

ULA Sold!!

I recently learned that ULA Packs has been sold to a new owner, named Chris McMaster. Check out this article to learn more. As a satisfied owner of a Conduit pack, it will be interesting to see how the sale changes the character of the packs. My guess is that they will make more packs for climbers and skiers to expand their client base.  I think all of us in the lightweight hiking community are holding our breath over the next few years to see how things will turn out.