lundi 23 juillet 2012

John WISEMAN : SAS survival handbook

A very complete guide book about all the tips and stuff to survive from an earthquake to a nuclear explosion ! more seriously a lot of useful tips like navigation, first aid, knots, plants...and survival knowledge for those wanting to deal with  wild remote places.

vendredi 20 juillet 2012

Fjallraven Classic : Planing phase...


FJÄLLRAVEN CLASSIC 2011 - Pre-start preparation:

phase one : the online registration on the Fjallraven website starting on October. Whatever my patience could have been, or the time I spent watching for the start the best days and starting times are fully booked in a flash ! So my buddy and I had to take the remaining registration possibilities that is to say Saturday 4 pm.  once this stage done you receive a confirmation email with a dead line time limit for payment and after that your name and id number are published on the website... hmm the smell of adventure !! 

phase two : brain storming...was it a good idea after all ? we have never walk such a long distance nor did any hiking for many years... OK ! too late for questions !

phase three : Gear. My gear is old, about 15 years, heavy or in bad condition. Technology and fabric knew a big evolution since my last hike. My backpack weights about 3 kg (close to 7 lbs !! sorry sorry) my sleeping bag nearly 2kg (but can handles minus 20 °C), my fleece 1 kg (over 2 lbs) my old shoes gives me blister after 1 km....
So I had to buy new stuff = 


This made my base weight almost good making me, what I learned later, a "lightweight backpacker".

Phase four : Training. few to tell in fact, only two or three hikes for time to time with only one over 20 km with all the stuff on my back just to see what it is. I planned to hike only 25 km a day during the Fjallraven Classic considering it would be   the best we could do.

Phase...next : everything else : Plane tickets, train tickets, scheduling holidays...


Claes Grundsten : KUNGSLEDEN


A very detailed guide for those who wish to attempt to hike the whole or some sections of the Kungsleden. About 190 pages of very detailed descriptions of each section, very precise, nearly step by step.

What pleased me the less is the lack of readable maps even if there is a map per section the print size of it is too small to be useful and being printed in black and white makes it awful to look at. The main map printed at the first page is deceptive too by its size, resolution and lack of any color. An index would have been very handy for what could be the ultimate hiking guide for one of the most famous European trail. A bit "old fashioned" designed.

Must have anyway.

mercredi 18 juillet 2012

Grey Owl : Récits de la cabane abandonnée

GREY OWL : A classic ? may be but one of the most delightful book on the subject written by a real adventurer about real adventures. A forward-thinking speech for Nature and the Indian Nation. The "tree" novel is my favorite.