Re: [Paddlewise] lanterns and sleeping pads

From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 12:21:59 -0400
----- Original Message -----
From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>

>   First, on lighting, a lot of the camping I have
> done is commando
> style and you just don't want to show a lot of light that
> announces your
> presence.

Ralph, I assume you are referring to kayaking and not your prior military
service :-)  As such, what is "commando camping"?

It is mainly a question of being at an unorthodox camping spot and not
wanting the long arm of the law to grab you.  It has nothing to do with
being minimalist, but clearly "commando" does have a minimalist angle to it
as well.  While I have no paranoia of being out in the woods, it is also a
safety consideration.  You never know what two-legged critters may be
wandering around and up to mischief or mayhem.  The less you are lit up like
a Broadway marque, the less such critters will know that you around.  I
believe I coined the term "commando" used in this way.  I remember it led to
all sorts of arguments about the military angle from anti-military types.
It also got me into trouble back here when the Hudson River Watertrail
newsletter picked it up.  Someone who had personal differences with some of
the organizers, faxed it to a bunch of officials saying that we were
outlaws, etc.  I had to lay low for awhile under an assumed name with little
rancor attached to it, Tim Ingram :-)

ralph diaz

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Received on Wed May 08 2002 - 09:20:46 PDT

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