Search found 147 matches

by Tortuga
Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:45 pm
Forum: Food & Cooking
Topic: Decent instant coffee
Replies: 28
Views: 22680

Re: Decent instant coffee

I'm a fan of cafe bustelo packets for backpacking trips.
by Tortuga
Fri Dec 27, 2019 4:09 pm
Forum: Gear & Supplies
Topic: Luxury item
Replies: 13
Views: 8371

Re: Luxury item

Definitely an REI Flexlite chair. 1lb and will never leave my list.
https://www.rei.com/product/148036/rei- ... -air-chair
by Tortuga
Fri Dec 27, 2019 4:02 pm
Forum: Gear & Supplies
Topic: Toilet Paper
Replies: 14
Views: 8326

Re: Toilet Paper

I always take my own. I take it off the cardboard roll so it stores flat, and have the nice cozy brand I always use. I also never have to wonder if there will be some at my next stop.
by Tortuga
Fri Dec 27, 2019 3:49 pm
Forum: Food & Cooking
Topic: Best stove for new backpacker
Replies: 19
Views: 11491

Re: Best stove for new backpacker

I'm way late to the party here, but my stove system is the one thing I didn't change for the first 5 years of my backpacking life. I use a "Caldera Cone" system and use HEET as the fuel. It's efficient, lightweight (even with fuel), and easy to use. I did buy a Jetboil system this year whe...
by Tortuga
Tue Jul 30, 2019 1:32 pm
Forum: Other Places and Parks
Topic: Colorado and Out West
Replies: 10
Views: 4354

Re: Colorado and Out West

We definitely rafted past those sites! Our river guide took us into the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado and it was so much colder, but he promised they had great fishing on that river. We were both getting snowed on 6/22. I was backpacking the Lost Creek Wilderness that weekend and got c...
by Tortuga
Sun Jul 28, 2019 7:48 pm
Forum: Other Places and Parks
Topic: Colorado and Out West
Replies: 10
Views: 4354

Re: Colorado and Out West

We were in CO the end of June. Spent half a day birding Pawnee Grasslands where we saw a lifer Burrowing Owl. Met up with family in Glenwood Springs. Camped along the Colorado at a site where we had sand bags to protect our site from the river. Went to Colorado Monument (cool place) and Hanging Lak...
by Tortuga
Sat Jul 27, 2019 7:31 pm
Forum: Transportation & Lodging
Topic: Sea Hunter III trip canceled, plus a question
Replies: 6
Views: 3298

Re: Sea Hunter III trip canceled, plus a question

I didn't see Esbit when I was there, but I wasn't looking for it specifically. Can you take the tabs on the seaplane? Could be better to do that if so. Sorry you're losing a day! That's frustrating.
by Tortuga
Sat Jul 27, 2019 7:35 am
Forum: Other Places and Parks
Topic: Colorado and Out West
Replies: 10
Views: 4354

Re: Colorado and Out West

I'm a guilty migrant and see every day exactly what you're talking about. Traffic sometimes as bad as Chicago, and backcountry sites and roads crowded. Just a month or so ago there was an hour-long backup to get in to RMNP and no parking once people did get in. Same with the 14ers. Inexperienced and...
by Tortuga
Fri Jul 26, 2019 12:15 pm
Forum: Other Places and Parks
Topic: Colorado and Out West
Replies: 10
Views: 4354

Colorado and Out West

I've been a very irregular poster this year. I moved to Colorado in December, and for the first time since 2016 I won't visit Isle Royale this year. But I have been exploring what Colorado has to offer! Sending Instagram links since the photos are already available. Mt Rushmore/Custer State Park/Cra...
by Tortuga
Mon Jun 03, 2019 12:23 pm
Forum: Gear & Supplies
Topic: Rain Gear?
Replies: 6
Views: 4600

Re: Rain Gear?

My jacket is a Marmot Precip as well. I don't tend to hike in it, but it's great to keep the wind and water off once in camp. I just accept getting wet as part of the hiking experience. Much more important to keep your bag dry than your shirt/pants (a wet bag adds a LOT of water weight and most back...
by Tortuga
Tue Apr 16, 2019 11:26 am
Forum: Trails & Campsites
Topic: First-Timers to the Island
Replies: 7
Views: 4171

Re: First-Timers to the Island

I second Base's suggestion above. You'll hit McCargoe and Moskey, which are two of my favorite camps on the island. I would personally stay at 3Mile rather than Rock Harbor on the 29th, then march in early morning. To be fair I take the Queen, which departs later than the Ranger, so it might depend ...
by Tortuga
Wed Mar 27, 2019 12:06 pm
Forum: Food & Cooking
Topic: Vegan Backpacking Food
Replies: 18
Views: 16820

Re: Vegan Backpacking Food

If anyone else is looking, I found a great company: https://outdoorherbivore.com/

I took their products to Isle Royale last year and it was all pretty great.
by Tortuga
Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:23 am
Forum: Trails & Campsites
Topic: data Minong
Replies: 13
Views: 5229

Re: data Minong

I promise you will regret it if you push on for Windigo after N. Desor! It took me 9 hours on that section, and I was wrecked by the end of it. The section from Little Todd to North Desor is probably the toughest section mile-for-mile I've ever hiked. That took me 5 hours for the 6-mile trip. North ...
by Tortuga
Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:13 pm
Forum: Trip Reports
Topic: TR: 9/7/18-9/21/18 [RH-DF-MB-MC-TH-LTH-ND-WC-RH]
Replies: 6
Views: 3357

Re: TR: 9/7/18-9/21/18 [RH-DF-MB-MC-TH-LTH-ND-WC-RH]

Thanks for the report and I am glad you have good memories. The Minong is not for the faint of heart! Two parts of your story make me quite sad and angry--the vandalism of the outhouse and the idiot with the dog off the leash. I thought dogs were never allowed on the island, leash or no. I couldn't...
by Tortuga
Tue Mar 12, 2019 7:21 pm
Forum: Trip Reports
Topic: TR: 9/7/18-9/21/18 [RH-DF-MB-MC-TH-LTH-ND-WC-RH]
Replies: 6
Views: 3357

TR: 9/7/18-9/21/18 [RH-DF-MB-MC-TH-LTH-ND-WC-RH]

Hey there IR Compadres, I live by an old saying: better late than never. And so here’s my trip report, from my excursion that commenced almost 6 months ago to the day! This trip really demonstrated so many of the island axioms; most importantly, hike your own hike, and be flexible with your plans. I...