Re: [Paddlewise] speed it up

Dave Kruger wrote:
> 
> Dan Hagen wrote:
> >
> > Tom Cromwell wrote:
> > >
> > > How long does it take you to take down camp on a long kayak trip? What do you
> > > do to speed it up if you have to get off the beach fast?
> > > ...[snip]... even when we where trying it still took 2 hours!
> >
> > That sounds about right to me. It never ceases to amaze me how long it
> > takes to get going in the morning. [snip]
> >
> > Some day I am going to time every single task to see exactly where the
> > time goes. That is the first step in determining how to shave off the
> > minutes. "Scientific time management meets sea kayaking." I can hear the
> > groans already...
> 
> Yeah, I think there *is* a hyphen in anal-retentive <g>!
> 
> Seriously, I've never beat 2 hours when on a multi-day trip.  Overnighters,
> I've done an hour, but that does not count -- there's so much dead volume in
> my yaks on an overnight trip I just toss everything inside -- no fitting or
> anything.
> 
> My solution on extended trips is Tom's default choice:  just budget the two
> hours and get up at some unholy hour.  Seems like I need that two hours for
> "adjustment time," anyway.  There are a couple small things I could do the
> night before but taking down the tent/tarp/kitchen and packing the yaks are
> the big time-consumers.  If I could program my personal functions for evening
> I could cut off another 15 minutes, maybe.
> 

Just got in and found this thread interesting. Altho I have no problems 
"killing" a hour or two on shore enjoying the morning unfold, I usually 
get moving rather quickly and I do like Ralph Diaz said, "stop later".

I almost never set up a tent. I am a die hard tarp guy. It has to be some 
kind of rough WX going on before a tent even starts entering my mind(a 
casket will come soon enough). :-)

My normal morning is get up and make me some instant breakfast and 
powdered milk. This is in a ALADDIN insulated mug. Once I get that mixed, 
I light an esbit tab in a stove that I made out of a small vienna sausage 
can. On top of that I put a kettle of water(made from a beer can), and 
while this is heating, I can stuff the sleeping bag, drink the instant 
breakfast, fold the ground tarp, deflate the pad, and put it in its sack. 
I'm not sure how long the esbit burns, but it is just long enough to heat 
the water to a boil, so I don't have to watch it. I pour the hot water in 
the same cup that I just drank the instant breakfast, on top of some 
instant coffee, and snap the top on the cup.
I now finish packing the kayak, tidy up the camp site, and push off, with 
the cup of coffee between my legs. 
Total time..., maybe 15 mins??? Never timed myself.
I pack the same way for my overnighters and week+ trips. I can do it in 
the dark and in my sleep. 
The wind can get up early here and if you lolly gag around camp, you will 
either stay anouther day where you are at or at least start your morning 
with some heavy paddling.
If my gear is covered with frost or dew, I just unpack and dry later in 
the morning.

James

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************