Help Support Water Monkey In His 2012 Charity Hike!!!

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

Alright guys (and gals)…Raul Perez (AKA: Water Monkey) is at it again with another charity hike… The H3 Initiative: Hammock Hiking for Humanity…and he needs our help to meet his goal of $3,000. So, lets spread this around and try to help him to not only meet, but to exceed his goal!

Here are the 3 causes/organizations that he is hiking for:

Strength For Life – A non-profit organization which provides free exercise classes to those going through chemo therapy and cancer survivors

Appalachian Trail Conservancy – 20% of the donations received by Strength For Life will be donated to this organization. Last year $300 was donated based on this process!

Alzheimer’s Foundation – I personally (El Water Monkey) will donate from my personal bank account the equivalent of 10% of the total donations received to this organization in memory of my grandmother who suffered from this disease.

As well, everyone that donates more than $10 gets their name entered into a series of drawings/raffles (based on amounts donated) so you have the possibility to win lots of cool gear too (really…you gotta check out the prizes that Water Monkey is raffling off…they are awesome). The drawings will be held on May 19th, 2012 so don’t waste any time getting your name in the pile!

For more information, check out Water Monkey’s video below, and be sure to visit his personal blog Trail Name – Water Monkey to find out how you can help be a part of this cause!

On June 2nd, 2012 Water Monkey will begin his 100+ mile hike northbound along the AT from the NY/CT Border and will end 11-13 days later in Dalton, MA.

Thanks for reading everyone…now get on over to the Monkey’s site and help him out! And don’t forget to tell a friend…

~Stick~

Posted in Blogs, Give Aways | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Taping My Hexamid

Posted on February 13, 2012 by

A while back I picked up the ZPacks Hexamid Solo Plus Tent, which has replaced my SMD Skyscape Trekker as my solo tent. When the tent arrived it was not seam sealed, so I had to seal the tent myself. To do so, I used the tube of SilNet that Joe sends with the tent, as he does all of his tents. I found seam sealing the white cuben fiber to be a bit tedious as it was simply hard for me to see the seam sealer on the tent as I was sealing it. So, I did my very best, and hoped for the best. Continue reading →

Posted in DIY/MYOG, Gear Stores, Tent | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

More on the ZPacks Hexamid Solo Plus Tent

Posted on February 4, 2012 by

A number of people have made recent inquiries as to how I liked my ZPacks Hexamid Solo Plus tent and what are my thoughts on it. So, this morning I weathered the storm and made another video… Continue reading →

Posted in Gear, Gear Stores, Tent | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Pillow Talk: Flex Air Ultralight Pillow

Posted on February 2, 2012 by

Sleep is important to me, and especially when I am on the trail. After a long day (or even a short day) of trekking up and down and through the mountains, proper rest is much appreciated and more importantly needed. However, in order for me to get a good night’s sleep, there are certain things that I require. Namely, a comfortable (enough) bed to lie in. For myself, this includes a plush and comfortable air pad, a warm and cozy down sleeping bag (or quilt) and of course an adequate place to rest my head…that is pillow. Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Gear, Gear Stores, Pillows | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

I Put Kool-Aid In That!!

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

My water, that is… I add Kool-Aid to my water while I am hiking along the trail… I love me some Grape Kool-Aid (and before you ask, no, it has nothing to do with Tinny’s Cult). Continue reading →

Posted in DIY/MYOG, Gear, The Trail, Water Stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Post Hike Gear Thoughts

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

This past hike was quite an experience for me. First and foremost, I got to revisit the same section of trail in which my wife & I experienced our first true backpacking trip. As well, this time I got to take 2 of my buddies along, and guess what…it was their first hike along the Appalachian Trail as well! But, that is not all…on this trip I got to experience some new gear as well as hone in on some of my older gear… Continue reading →

Posted in Gear, Gear Reviews, The Trail | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Springer to Neels Gap…

Posted on January 19, 2012 by

This past weekend a couple of buddies and I packed up and headed to Springer Mtn, the southern terminus on the Appalachian Trail. Our plan was to take a nice casual 3.5 days and finish up at Neels Gap! This is a bit of a sentimental hike for myself since it was the very first backpacking trip that my wife and I embarked upon, so I was really anticipating it. As well, for my buddy Andrew (Blister), this was his very first backpacking trip and I thought it would be cool for him to do the first 30 mile section of the AT. My other buddy George (chode) has some past backpacking experience but he was looking forward to this new adventure… Continue reading →

Posted in The Trail, Trip Report | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

All Packed Up & Ready To Go…

Posted on January 12, 2012 by

Well I am all packed up and ready to go! I will be heading out for 3.5 days to hang out on the AT in North Georgia with a couple of buds! What more could I ask for? Continue reading →

Posted in Gear, Packing | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

Food Prep For a 3.5 Day Hike

Posted on January 11, 2012 by

Some of my buddies and I are getting ready for a 3-1/2 day hike along the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia. The above picture is most of the food that I will be carrying with me for this hike (all that is missing is 3 bags of dehydrated apples which should be done in about 30 minutes). I have put together a Food Planner on a spreadsheet in Google Docs which can be viewed here:

Food Planner Continue reading →

Posted in DIY/MYOG, Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

ZPacks Hexamid Solo Plus Tent w/ Beak & Ground Sheet

Posted on January 10, 2012 by

12/16/11: I placed an order for the Blast 30 backpack and a Multipack along with some other smaller items. I requested to receive the items by 1/10/12 for an expected trip.

12/30/11 (approximately 6 pm): I placed an order with ZPacks for the Hexamid Solo Plus Tent with the beak and the cuben fiber solo plus LITE ground sheet, among a few other small items. I was fully aware that ZPacks was closed for the holidays and would not be back in until 1/2/12. However, I requested that if possible could this tent be shipped with my Blast 30 backpack by 1/10/12 for a trip I am leaving on.

12/31/12: Joe responds to my email and says that he has been away for holiday and has a lot to catch up on, but that he will shoot for the 10th for the tent. As well, he said my backpack would be ready to ship early that week separately.

1/2/12: Email confirming that pack would ship the next day, 1/3/12.

1/3/12: Backpack and all small items from both orders shipped.

1/5/12: Backpack and small items arrive.

1/6/12: Tent & ground sheet shipped.

1/9/12: Tent & ground sheet arrived.

So, why did I say all of this? Because Joe rocks, that’s why! Continue reading →

Posted in Gear, Gear Stores, Tent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments