Those messy items like Bolognese sauce are a pain. Or drying small items like canned tuna, mince or cooked rice - the material simply falls through the gaps in the trays.
I've tried tin foil but it holds the moisture and the drying takes a long time. The food sticks to the tin foil at the end and if you need to reload, you invariably need to make a second lot of tinfoil
Solution - Insect mesh (No Seeum). I had a bunch knocking around. Perfect - supports the food, but allows it to drain if required. Dries underneath at same speed as the top. Finally, the dried food is easily removed and the mesh is quickly washed out for the next load.
Hint: To get the circular shape, with a 1cm excess up the side.
Cut squares to the outside diameter, cut the central hole, load the food to hold it in place, THEN trim the excess material to shape.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Most unusual piece of gear
An Umbrella !!
This gets my vote for strangest gear to find on a bush walk. Ray Jardine is a the granddaddy of Ultralight and wouldn't be without one. If he advocates using one, while still achieving a base weight of 4.2kg, then maybe I should take some notice.
He argues excellent ventilation and avoiding condensation build up (and consequent cold) in the wet. In dry hot conditions the ability to dress appropriately while being shaded from the sun (very common practise in Asia). While clearly no good for the bush bashing sections, the AAWT does include large sections of fire trail and otherwise open area, so let's give it a go.
Following Ray's directions I purchased one and modified it (took to it with a hacksaw and pliers).
Cost $15
As new - 362g (12.9 oz)
Modified - 265g (9.2 oz)
Remarkably, it still pops open and locks in place. Hats off to Ray !!
Before - Springs and struts and stuff
After - minus the spring, the spacer cut in half (about 2.5cm now), the struts cut out and the central hub removed. Also the trigger release, the top 3 inches of the shaft and the "U" bit of the handle removed or cut off.
Cutting the spacer in half, means that the spoke hub now lies higher than the horizontal and the compression forces are 'locking' the umbrella open. Have a look at one to see what I mean.
The bits removed add up to > 100g. The handle alone is worth 50g, the spring 22g
Lesson learnt. Don't hacksaw with umbrella supported on a rough surface (outdoor tiles) - will ruin fabric. Guess the silicone sealant will get a workout shortly.
PS - Nomination for best bit of gear - goes to the digital scales - essential kit for the ultralightest (and you don't even have to carry it :)) - grab one off ebay !!
This gets my vote for strangest gear to find on a bush walk. Ray Jardine is a the granddaddy of Ultralight and wouldn't be without one. If he advocates using one, while still achieving a base weight of 4.2kg, then maybe I should take some notice.
He argues excellent ventilation and avoiding condensation build up (and consequent cold) in the wet. In dry hot conditions the ability to dress appropriately while being shaded from the sun (very common practise in Asia). While clearly no good for the bush bashing sections, the AAWT does include large sections of fire trail and otherwise open area, so let's give it a go.
Following Ray's directions I purchased one and modified it (took to it with a hacksaw and pliers).
Cost $15
As new - 362g (12.9 oz)
Modified - 265g (9.2 oz)
Remarkably, it still pops open and locks in place. Hats off to Ray !!
Before - Springs and struts and stuff
After - minus the spring, the spacer cut in half (about 2.5cm now), the struts cut out and the central hub removed. Also the trigger release, the top 3 inches of the shaft and the "U" bit of the handle removed or cut off.
Cutting the spacer in half, means that the spoke hub now lies higher than the horizontal and the compression forces are 'locking' the umbrella open. Have a look at one to see what I mean.
The bits removed add up to > 100g. The handle alone is worth 50g, the spring 22g
Lesson learnt. Don't hacksaw with umbrella supported on a rough surface (outdoor tiles) - will ruin fabric. Guess the silicone sealant will get a workout shortly.
PS - Nomination for best bit of gear - goes to the digital scales - essential kit for the ultralightest (and you don't even have to carry it :)) - grab one off ebay !!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Progress slowly but surely
Flat out today, sorting out some ignored house issues, then finalised the food purchases. Remind me not to bother with Mango's again. It took forever to skin and cut up a dozen of them, not to mention the mess it created.
Despite carefully thinking out the food requirements I appear to have far too much food. Normally I wouldn't carry much for lunch, just snack all day, but I seem to have organised a substantial lunch each day plus more snack food than normal. Time to take a knife to some of this.
Finally managed to get the e-mail on the mobile working and able to blog both photos and normal text to this site. Have received and charged 5 extra phone batteries today, so communications appear to be sorted. Dad has been seconded as weather and fire watcher
Have borrowed a 2nd dehydrator from S+Y to get through the 8kg of Mango, Nectarines, Kiwi and Pineapple, the 1.5kg of Jerky and the 9kg of various Curries, Bolagnese and Tuna. Have 4 trays each of Mango and Spag Bol on the go right now.
Despite carefully thinking out the food requirements I appear to have far too much food. Normally I wouldn't carry much for lunch, just snack all day, but I seem to have organised a substantial lunch each day plus more snack food than normal. Time to take a knife to some of this.
Finally managed to get the e-mail on the mobile working and able to blog both photos and normal text to this site. Have received and charged 5 extra phone batteries today, so communications appear to be sorted. Dad has been seconded as weather and fire watcher
Have borrowed a 2nd dehydrator from S+Y to get through the 8kg of Mango, Nectarines, Kiwi and Pineapple, the 1.5kg of Jerky and the 9kg of various Curries, Bolagnese and Tuna. Have 4 trays each of Mango and Spag Bol on the go right now.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Getting Serious
Well I finally got serious about doing this walk, when I handed in my notice on Christmas Eve and put the AAWT down as #1 project on the To Do list.
Over Christmas/NY period, Clare and I explored the Bogong High Plains with 7 like minded SBW's and despite being literally blown off Mt Bogong and one night cold enough to freeze the water bottles, I'm still up for it.
Target Departure:
Monday, 2nd Feb from Sydney, put in food drops, start walk sometime Wed 5th. This timetable liable to be delayed by the fact there is still much to organise and the heatwave in VIC needs to run its course.
Duration:
I'm planning based around the 5 week schedule, though I hope to nibble a few days from this.
Rumpf Saddle 6 days
Hotham 5 days
Omeo HW 4 days
Thredbo 7 days
Kiandra 6 days
Tharwa 6 days
I need to return to Sydney for a week in early March, so I'll have to break out at Thredbo and restart later.
Philosophy:
Ultralight - Base weight should end up around 5.5 - 6kg. Worst case total, with food and water, say 15kg, so should be able to maintain a good pace.
Still a huge amount to do. Purchased food today - seems to be way to much right now with more still to purchase. Maps and verious guidenotes all sorted into their sections. Last minute gear to be made up or modified.
Karl
Over Christmas/NY period, Clare and I explored the Bogong High Plains with 7 like minded SBW's and despite being literally blown off Mt Bogong and one night cold enough to freeze the water bottles, I'm still up for it.
Target Departure:
Monday, 2nd Feb from Sydney, put in food drops, start walk sometime Wed 5th. This timetable liable to be delayed by the fact there is still much to organise and the heatwave in VIC needs to run its course.
Duration:
I'm planning based around the 5 week schedule, though I hope to nibble a few days from this.
Rumpf Saddle 6 days
Hotham 5 days
Omeo HW 4 days
Thredbo 7 days
Kiandra 6 days
Tharwa 6 days
I need to return to Sydney for a week in early March, so I'll have to break out at Thredbo and restart later.
Philosophy:
Ultralight - Base weight should end up around 5.5 - 6kg. Worst case total, with food and water, say 15kg, so should be able to maintain a good pace.
Still a huge amount to do. Purchased food today - seems to be way to much right now with more still to purchase. Maps and verious guidenotes all sorted into their sections. Last minute gear to be made up or modified.
Karl
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