Meghalayas' Living Bridge

This is a great example of how man can work with nature to create functional structures that are sustainable. It's important to note the dedication and patience while forming these bridges. This is not a instant reward but the payoff is well worth the time and effort. Let Meghalayas' living bridges be an example and inspiration to us all!

Snow On Colorado Trail Thru Hike

This video was shot along the Colorado Trail during my 2011 thru hike. These clips show some of the fun, and challenges posed by the snow.

Visit America's National Parks for FREE!

This is a great opportunity if you live close to one of the parks. Go here to find the parks near you.
National Park Week is a chance for all Americans to experience the majesty of the national park system for FREE. Visit any of America’s 394 national parks and enjoy free admission all week long, April 16–25, 2011. Now there's nothing stopping you, get out and go!
Visit the National Parks Website for more information.

Green Tunnel - The Appalachian Trail in 5 Minutes!

This video covers the Appalachian Trail in 5 minutes! If you have hiked the entire trail, or even just sections of it then it's fun to spot some of the landmarks. If you are new the the Appalachian Trail then this will give you a good overview of some of the terrain it covers.


Green Tunnel from Kevin Gallagher on Vimeo.
A six month journey along the 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail, condensed and reinterpreted into five minutes of stop-motion.

Great job Kevin, loved the video!

Ray-Way Pack Field Test

Now Comes The Fun Part
After finishing sewing my Ray-Way pack I finally got a chance to test it out! And guess what? I have mostly all positive things to say about it.

First off you need to be aware of a few things, this is a extremely light weight pack, and is made for light weight gear. If you enjoy bringing along a lot of luxury items, or heavy gear it's probably not going to work very well for you. Secondly, no matter what pack you choose if you don't allow time for your body to adjust to carrying a load, and walking all day with it you are still going to be sore. I can't express how important the training portion of a hike is. It gives you a chance to get in shape, test out gear and practice your skills. There are enough things to take care of while on a long hike, starting off out of shape is just one more potential thing that could lead to giving up(due to discouragement or injury), and ending your trip.

Taking advantage of the large pockets on the Ray-Way Pack!

Okay, Back To The Pack
One of the first parts you make when sewing the Ray-Way Pack is the shoulder straps. These are made of nylon casing and some thick foam that provided much more padding than my Golite Jam. While I never had a problem with the Jam's shoulder straps I was happy to see the thicker straps on the Ray-Way because of it's lack of a waist strap(there is a option to add one)

Plenty of Pockets
The back and sides of the Ray-Way pack are covered with 3 large mesh pockets, which I love! This was my first time hiking with a pack that had such a large amount of external storage. At the time I was not using my trekking poles and without the waist strap it was so easy to swing the pack onto one shoulder and retrieve whatever I want out of one of the pockets. I was able to store everything outside the pack that I knew I needed for the day, as well as clothing that I was either taking off, or planning to put on.
In addition to just storage, the mesh makes a very good option for drying any wet gear while on the move.

In addition to the large pockets, notice the black horizontal straps near the top, Ray calls these "Sock-hanger Straps". In addition to socks, they can be useful for securing an umbrella, collapsable trekking poles or other items.

The Cargo Hold
I'm not sure exactly how to describe this, but it has a good vertical feel to it. I don't like packs that protrude to far from my back. Everything feels close and I feel like i have a good center of gravity with it. Again, its not huge(although Ray does sell different size packs) but with the proper gear and planning its large enough for almost any trip.

So What's Bad?
Like most light weight gear, you must treat it with respect. This can be a little difficult if you get off the trail and are bushwhacking. While exploring around the foot hills trail I managed to put a hole in the extension collar. I knew at the time I was doing something that was risky, and I can now say that I know how to patch silnylon! It's very easy, and I will try to post some of my thoughts on it later.
Also, I'm a little concerned about the big mesh pockets that I love so much, there is a chance those could snag on some brush.
These are actually very small concerns and as long as you mind your surroundings there should be no problem.

Final Word
I'm thrilled with my Ray-Way pack! The construction was a learning experience and very rewarding and each time I take it out I build a little more confidence in it's strength and my ability to sew. I give it 5 out of 5!


For a little more info, be sure to check out my Ray-Way Pack construction page!

Line Creek Nature Area

While there are many trails I dream about traveling too the one I visit most often is the one closest to home, Line Creek. The Line Creek Nature Area is a 70-acre public preserve along the eastern side of Line Creek. The creek forms  the border between Peachtree City and Coweta County. There are two main trails, the Ridge Trail(0.8 miles) and the Creek Trail(1.2 miles). The preserve also has a small pond, dock and council circle(similar to a amphitheater)

The thing I like most about Line Creek is that it feels so out of place in Peachtree City. No paved golf cart path, just dirt, rock and roots. As you leave the parking area heading towards the creek the sound of cars on 54 begin to drown out. Walking along the trail you can almost forget that you are in Peachtree City and begin to imagine you are in North Georgia. Although a few times you can see homes from Planterra Ridge and that spoils the illusion a little.

I had the opportunity to go for a short walk one morning before work and enjoy some freshly fallen snow. It was the perfect way to start the day, enjoy the photos!

Fancy Feast Cat Food Can Stove

While a Jetboil stove can boil 2 cups of water in 2 minutes it comes at a cost(and weight). You can use this simple/reliable alternative and spend very little(if anything). The only things you will need to make this stove is a empty cat food can and a hole punch. You probably even know somebody with a cat(or two) that will be happy to donate a can. Who says going lite cost more??

Things To Keep In Mind
I keep the stove, along with a aluminum foil windscreen(a single piece of foil has held up for over 1,200 miles for me) inside my cooking pot to protect it from any impact and lengthen it's life span(I have yet to wear one out).
Since the pot sits directly on top of the stove(no potholder needed) all of the heat will be produced from the hole punches along the side of the stove(and not the bottom). It is important that your pot is wide enough to take advantage of this side burn. My pot is 5.75" in diameter, and the cat food can around is 2.5" in diameter. Keep this in mind while deciding on a pot and can to use for your cooking system.
Denatured alcohol can also break down plastic, so be careful with whatever container you are carrying your fuel in. I still use a empty water bottle, but switch it out with each trip. The longest I have carried one bottle is 2 months, and it was still fine.

Where To Find The Fuel
I have had no problem finding fuel at any trail towns be sure to check hardware stores, walmart and other general stores(it may be in the paint section). You may be able to find some stores that sell it by the ounce.

Note: I did not include fuel container for either weigh-in.

Closing Comments
I love the convenience of my Jetboil, but after trying this cat food can stove system for one week, I never went back. As with any new piece of gear, it is important to test it and learn any quarks before heading out into the backcountry. Pay attention to how much fuel you use to boil water and how long it takes(this will change with temperature and altitude).

Make Your Own
Andrew Skurka made a nice video describing  how to make your own, just follow this link.