…. believe it or not, once upon a time, well, I did a lot of hiking…. all of it was cold-weather stuff… springs and autumns mostly – in Scotland…..
… today I unpacked my trusty Lowe Alpine Quicksilver (which has been in the closet for going on four years now, completely undisturbed..) …. I was curious to see what it contained…. My mind being faulty on occasions, I had forgotten just exactly what was in it…. well, here you go….
1 Gore-Tex bivvy bag for sliding a sleeping bag into when things get really rough (this is actually the only thing that I have ever stolen in my entire life…. And it comes to me courtesy of the quartermasters of 45 Commando – Royal Marines..)…. and yes, I am ashamed…. well, no, not really….
3 plastic spoons
1 blue plastic cup
1 sierra cup
3 butane/propane canisters for my stove
1 green sock - military issue... (for storing the gas canisters in)
2 balaclavas (one fleece and one polypropylene)
1 pair of silk socks
1 pair of nylon socks
2 pair of woolen socks
1 Gerber MK-II fighting knife
1 compass
1 whistle
1 sealable plastic jar of instant coffee
4 chem-lights
1 fire starting kit
1 butane lighter
1 Petzl head-lamp with spare battery
4 handkerchiefs
1 Sweetwater purifying pump
1 pair of Gore-Tex trousers, camouflaged
3 candles
1 package of bug repellant
1 nylon mesh anti-mosquito head bag
1 kick-ass SAR first aid kit
1 unopened can of Copenhagen snuff
2 bungee cords
… and a bunch more stuff…..
… and tucked into one of the pockets?.... a packet of photographs from my last hiking trip….
… check this out…. this is my buddy James (on the left) and I just before we set off for a three day camping trip at the foot of Mt. Keen…. Notice his choice of trousers…. good God, is it any wonder that I preferred hiking on my own?....
… and here we have me by myself, again, taken about five years ago…… notice the snowline up behind me…. that is where I camped at the end of that day…. Glen Esk…. Absolutely beautiful…. well, it was once the sleet stopped falling……
… anyway, I’m off to finish cleaning the blogroom…. I hope you guys are doing well……
dibs on the stuff you aren't using
Bullshitted by RSM on December 22, 2006 06:50 PMWas one of the things in the "other stuff" a few sheets of asswipe?
Bullshitted by Jim - PRS on December 22, 2006 06:57 PMWoohoo - SWG in combat pants!!! *whistles from the cheap seats&
Bullshitted by Lisa W. on December 22, 2006 07:50 PMI thought balaclava was a Greek dessert.
Your buddy and Bones would get along just fine. Bones is our resident fashion disaster.
Bullshitted by Bou on December 23, 2006 12:07 AMMmmm. Jackass pants!
Bullshitted by Elisson on December 23, 2006 12:32 AMDidn't you get enough ruck humping with your day job? Christ. Hump a ruck with the Royals for a month and what does he do for fun? Hump a ruck.
Bullshitted by bitterman on December 23, 2006 12:40 AMOne rugged individual :o
No wonder you and RSM get along so well!
Merry Xmas & happy & Healthy New Year !!!!
Bullshitted by The Body Guard on December 23, 2006 11:54 AMEric, why is your friend (who I'm sure is a very nice man) wearing little girl's pajama pants?
Don't those baggy things come in more rugged, manly-like colors?
Bullshitted by Erica on December 23, 2006 12:39 PMCamping in cold weather... um... no! I'll let you wander about in the sleet, I'll stay at a nice warm hotel thank you.
Bullshitted by Teresa on December 24, 2006 12:24 PMHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! James' trousers are awesome! I'd forgotten about his questionable dress sense! But what the hell did you do on Mount Keen for THREE DAYS?! I've been up and down it in about four hours, and that was going pretty slowly.
Bullshitted by Mark on December 26, 2006 06:55 AM