More Lessons Learned...

Other lessons learned on this simple camping trip include...

"Hefty" and "Ziplok" Brand sealable containers (not bags but the tupperware-like containers) are not to be trusted. They are a tempting purchase and okay for home use but for use in a cooler that might get tilted or otherwise jostled around being moved in and out of a vehicle, etc., not too good.

Raccoons like to lick the remnants of Starbuck's Instant Coffee from the bottom of a metal canteen cup at 3:30 A.M. The raccoon's tongue leaves a resounding "DING!" on a metal cup - SLUUUURP-DING!, yeah, just like that.

Petzl Headlamps are not just for spelunkers, miners and crazy gynecologists, they are absolutely invaluable for camping, hiking and general outdoors activities. I resisted them for years because they looked more than a little dorky and also looked uncomfortable. Now that we have advanced LED technology, you can get one of these excellent little headlamps for about $40.00 and they run on three "AAA" batteries for hours and hours. And hours and hours...

They are so comfortable that you will forget you have one of them on your forehead. Mine has a high and low setting as well as strobe and then has a red LED with two settings, on and strobe. Throw in a low battery indicator light and you have a great little package that once you use a few times, you will not want to be without.

SO! Here is to my Petzl Tikka Plus 2 LED Headlamp! One of the best pieces of gear I have ever purchased. More on flashlights to come...soon...I had all of them out there with me testing them out!

ESEE Cutlery once again comes through with my whittling desires and food preparation and a host of other duties. The Izula is just an outstanding little knife to hang around your neck when camping and, like the Petzl headlamp, once you carry one around, you will find it a comfortable and very, very valuable companion to have. The H.E.S.T. and ESEE-3 are also must-have items for people who like rugged cutlery that performs great.

I didn't clean three dozen squirrels and a cottontail with them, I didn't gut a squalus with it. Much more mundane stuff but I hope to put them to good use on some fish and small game in the future.

As I mentioned in the post below, the ground does get harder every year.

Thermarest pads are excellent.

The Eureka(!) USMC "Combat" Tent is the best tent I have ever owned, hands down.

Dinty Moore Beef Stew, cooked right in the can over an open fire and lifted out with pliers, is still one of the greatest things in the world and I actively encourage you to partake of some as soon as you can.