Thank you everyone for your kind and thoughtful responses. Several folks mentioned a handheld compass as a backup to my deck mounted compass and GPS. I'll add that right away. I'm also going to pack more spare batteries. I also like the idea of taking an inexpensive weather radio to save the VHF batteries. There are a whole host of other great from suggestions from several folks that I'll add. But rather than list them now, when I get back, I'll post the final list and let you know how it worked out. Melissa did ask about human waste and that was actually one of my biggest concerns. I kept wondering how I was going to carry a container to take care of that. It turns out that the campsites have pit toilets and in the areas without campsites it's OK to bury the waste in the organic layer. However, I'm intrigued by the 4 inch PVC Pipe container suggested in the book "How to Shit in the Woods." I really like the idea of trying to "Leave No Trace." Have any of you used this pipe container for a multi-day trip? It's also apparent that from the gear list thread and this thread that the more comprehensive and thoughtful I make my list going into this, the less likely I'll be to forget something important in my rush to head out the door. One last group of questions. Since weather is so critical, the last bit of gadgetry I'm considering carrying with me is a barometer. Do any of you use them on trips? Do you find them useful? Critical? Or overkill? Thanks again. Mark Schoon Fredricksburg, Virginia Hoping to see the Northern Lights! [demime 0.92b removed an attachment of type application/x-pkcs7-signature which had a name of smime.p7s] *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mark Schoon wrote: > > Thank you everyone for your kind and thoughtful responses. > Several folks mentioned a handheld compass as a backup to my deck > mounted compass and GPS. I'll add that right away. I'm also going to > pack more spare batteries. I also like the idea of taking an > inexpensive weather radio to save the VHF batteries. That is a good idea, the inexpensive weather radio. But remember that the VHF radio has much stronger reception and can pick up weather stations a lot more clearly in more remote areas than can the cheap weather radio. So switch on the cheapo first to see if it gets a good signal. If not, switch to the VHF. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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