dont forget a good quality bear spray. it not only can safeguard you and your family from the likes of yogi and bullwinkle, but could also be first line of defense when confronted by the ocsnl moronic biped hominids

i have on hand 2 canisters per capable adult/young-adult in my party. also consider the purchase of an inert canister as well for practice. it for sho is not a good time to practice when yogi is prepared to eat you

of course, there are many options when it comes to bear sprays. all are not alike. make certain approved for use on natural predators.


http://www.pepperpower.com/

Obviously a good list of stuff to take is where most folks start when airplane camping.

The best list I ever made is the list of stuff not to take. Here's how it works.

After each fly-in camping trip, I make a list of all the stuff I brought along but did't end up using (this list does not include "emergency gear" like a first aid kit, bear spray, spare airplane oil, etc).

Any item that makes the list three times, gets left behind on the next trip.

I have yet to put anything back on the regular list!

If you do this for one season you will be amazed at the stuff you can leave at home! You will also learn how to make many items serve multiple purposes (my buddy modified the floor boards of his Super Cub to make a little camp table...low and small but it beats cooking on the ground!).

Good luck on your quest for the perfect answer to your question! The journey to such enlightenment is half the fun!

Just got back from REI on a fishing expedition. We liked everything we saw (what isn't to like in that store, really?), but a lot of the suggestions here definitely stood out in the store. My next trip through there is going to be expensive!

Thanks!

northernguy wrote:Obviously a good list of stuff to take is where most folks start when airplane camping.

The best list I ever made is the list of stuff not to take. Here's how it works.

After each fly-in camping trip, I make a list of all the stuff I brought along but did't end up using (this list does not include "emergency gear" like a first aid kit, bear spray, spare airplane oil, etc).

Any item that makes the list three times, gets left behind on the next trip.

I have yet to put anything back on the regular list!

If you do this for one season you will be amazed at the stuff you can leave at home! You will also learn how to make many items serve multiple purposes (my buddy modified the floor boards of his Super Cub to make a little camp table...low and small but it beats cooking on the ground!).

Good luck on your quest for the perfect answer to your question! The journey to such enlightenment is half the fun!

My S-7S has a plywood cargo deck that fits in place of the rear seat, I have found it doubly handy to use when camping, just like the floorboard scenario you mention. Something about a flat level surface, something you don't appreciate until camping out in an unimproved area! The pilot seat also comes out, in about 5 seconds (two pip pins) and in a pinch can be used to seat unexpected visitors This will be first year with a Tyvek ground cloth, lighter then the plastic tarp I carried for years. It is made for stuccoing over, so unlike the slick and smooth Tyvek, it is textured, kinda nubbly, I'm told this type stays in place better, not as slippery.

My very best advice is this: DON'T NEVER FRY BACON NAKED!!!!!

markkal123 wrote:dont forget a good quality bear spray. it not only can safeguard you and your family from the likes of yogi and bullwinkle, but could also be first line of defense when confronted by the ocsnl moronic biped hominids

i have on hand 2 canisters per capable adult/young-adult in my party. also consider the purchase of an inert canister as well for practice. it for sho is not a good time to practice when yogi is prepared to eat you

of course, there are many options when it comes to bear sprays. all are not alike. make certain approved for use on natural predators.


http://www.pepperpower.com/

Me, I'm a fan of guns when it comes to dealing with bears.

BUT, if you carry bear spray, either carry it in a holster secured to the OUTSIDE of the airplane, or carry it in a Pelican case or equal, that seals up.

I've been exposed to that stuff (one of reasons I'm not a fan) and I can't imagine trying to fly a plane (or argue with a bear) after you've been exposed.......and it doesn't take a full shot in the face.

At work, I did some of each....our spray (not bear spray) came with a holster...which got attached to a strut. The big bear spray cans rode in a Pelican case.

MTV

someone mentioned hiking stores like REI... good advice but I've found a lot of my stuff at Marine stores and RV dealers supply stores... most of the stuff made for motor homes is very light weight and useful....

shorton wrote:My very best advice is this: DON'T NEVER FRY BACON NAKED!!!!!

Haha.. Good one... Yup.. Dang spatter.. haha

mtv wrote:

markkal123 wrote:dont forget a good quality bear spray. it not only can safeguard you and your family from the likes of yogi and bullwinkle, but could also be first line of defense when confronted by the ocsnl moronic biped hominids

i have on hand 2 canisters per capable adult/young-adult in my party. also consider the purchase of an inert canister as well for practice. it for sho is not a good time to practice when yogi is prepared to eat you

of course, there are many options when it comes to bear sprays. all are not alike. make certain approved for use on natural predators.


http://www.pepperpower.com/

Me, I'm a fan of guns when it comes to dealing with bears.

BUT, if you carry bear spray, either carry it in a holster secured to the OUTSIDE of the airplane, or carry it in a Pelican case or equal, that seals up.

I've been exposed to that stuff (one of reasons I'm not a fan) and I can't imagine trying to fly a plane (or argue with a bear) after you've been exposed.......and it doesn't take a full shot in the face.

At work, I did some of each....our spray (not bear spray) came with a holster...which got attached to a strut. The big bear spray cans rode in a Pelican case.

MTV

When I'm flying the Bush Hawk, we always keep the Bear Spray in the float compartment. I was wondering about a solution for the 185! What kind of holsters were you using on the strut? How secure was it in the slipstream?

Grassstrippilot wrote:Mike, great talking to you! Here are a few items that we have and love:

- Exped SynMat 7 sleeping pads (very small, compact, and light. Pump built in). I had the name wrong when we talked.
- Coleman 3 in 1 cooking stove
- Folding aluminum table. One that folds to lie flat, the other is the type that the top has bungees between the slats and rolls up.
- Me. Heater
- Whisper light MSR stove
- Good light weight tent for when it's just me, Columbia big tent for the whole gang.
- Purdy Neat Stuff Stealth double zippered duffles are great for packing. Dee and I each have one for our clothes. Then another for cooking gear. They fit perfectly under our middle seats.

If I think of anything else, I'll post it here. Looking forward to meeting you...maybe again!

Great talk today - really got me spooled up for our shopping trip later... I went back through my logbook - it looks like we never flew with each other when we were in SLC. Too funny, though! Small world...

mtv wrote:

markkal123 wrote:dont forget a good quality bear spray. it not only can safeguard you and your family from the likes of yogi and bullwinkle, but could also be first line of defense when confronted by the ocsnl moronic biped hominids

i have on hand 2 canisters per capable adult/young-adult in my party. also consider the purchase of an inert canister as well for practice. it for sho is not a good time to practice when yogi is prepared to eat you

of course, there are many options when it comes to bear sprays. all are not alike. make certain approved for use on natural predators.


http://www.pepperpower.com/

Me, I'm a fan of guns when it comes to dealing with bears.

BUT, if you carry bear spray, either carry it in a holster secured to the OUTSIDE of the airplane, or carry it in a Pelican case or equal, that seals up.

I've been exposed to that stuff (one of reasons I'm not a fan) and I can't imagine trying to fly a plane (or argue with a bear) after you've been exposed.......and it doesn't take a full shot in the face.

At work, I did some of each....our spray (not bear spray) came with a holster...which got attached to a strut. The big bear spray cans rode in a Pelican case.

MTV

They do a bear spray demo at the Fairbanks winter survival gear course (the pay to attend one for all pilots). My neighbor went and told me it barely got the snowman they were shooting it toward and at pretty close range. It was cold, so I don't know if that had an effect on the propellant, but it sounded like it's not a bad idea to buy an extra can to do some live-fire practice with so you know a) how it works and b) what the spray pattern looks like.

CamTom12 wrote:

mtv wrote:

markkal123 wrote:dont forget a good quality bear spray. it not only can safeguard you and your family from the likes of yogi and bullwinkle, but could also be first line of defense when confronted by the ocsnl moronic biped hominids

i have on hand 2 canisters per capable adult/young-adult in my party. also consider the purchase of an inert canister as well for practice. it for sho is not a good time to practice when yogi is prepared to eat you

of course, there are many options when it comes to bear sprays. all are not alike. make certain approved for use on natural predators.


http://www.pepperpower.com/

Me, I'm a fan of guns when it comes to dealing with bears.

BUT, if you carry bear spray, either carry it in a holster secured to the OUTSIDE of the airplane, or carry it in a Pelican case or equal, that seals up.

I've been exposed to that stuff (one of reasons I'm not a fan) and I can't imagine trying to fly a plane (or argue with a bear) after you've been exposed.......and it doesn't take a full shot in the face.

At work, I did some of each....our spray (not bear spray) came with a holster...which got attached to a strut. The big bear spray cans rode in a Pelican case.

MTV

They do a bear spray demo at the Fairbanks winter survival gear course (the pay to attend one for all pilots). My neighbor went and told me it barely got the snowman they were shooting it toward and at pretty close range. It was cold, so I don't know if that had an effect on the propellant, but it sounded like it's not a bad idea to buy an extra can to do some live-fire practice with so you know a) how it works and b) what the spray pattern looks like.

Absolutely. The reason LEOs are required to be exposed (with a full shot in the face) is to ensure you know what it's like to try to function after exposure, and so you understand the range and coverage of the stuff. Before you pull that trigger, you should know a few things, like range and spray pattern, AND what effect a little breeze will have on the fine mist that accompanies a discharge......lest you become a "seasoned bear snack".

I certainly do not want to discourage folks from carrying and using this stuff....it can be an effective deterrent, no doubt. And, frankly, I'd MUCH rather be around a bunch of folks carrying this stuff than be around a crowd of people with firearms, assuming many of those haven't been well trained in firearm safety......

My concern is simply that you learn the stuff's characteristics and you carry it safely in your aircraft. There have been a couple instances of a release in an airplane, but fortunately, these occurred in the ground.

Mike, most all of these products either come with a holster to carry on your belt, or a holster is available. I just duct taped them to a strut. Pelican cases are a safe alternative for carriage inside, in my opinion.

MTV

northernguy wrote:Obviously a good list of stuff to take is where most folks start when airplane camping.

The best list I ever made is the list of stuff not to take. Here's how it works.

After each fly-in camping trip, I make a list of all the stuff I brought along but did't end up using (this list does not include "emergency gear" like a first aid kit, bear spray, spare airplane oil, etc).

Any item that makes the list three times, gets left behind on the next trip.

I have yet to put anything back on the regular list!

If you do this for one season you will be amazed at the stuff you can leave at home! You will also learn how to make many items serve multiple purposes (my buddy modified the floor boards of his Super Cub to make a little camp table...low and small but it beats cooking on the ground!).

Good luck on your quest for the perfect answer to your question! The journey to such enlightenment is half the fun!

Excellent advice! I'm going to keep a list this season!

Adding to my list in the other thread, I just bought this hanging chair a few weeks ago, so I haven't had a chance to use it yet: http://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/ ... -black.jpg

But I did try it out in the hangar, hanging it from a wing tie-down. It sits pretty low, but by adjusting the straps, I have my rump maybe 4" off the ground--and it's comfortable enough that I almost fell asleep!

I also have added a lightweight tarp with the necessary hardware and poles to create a nice shade ahead of one wing. I often sit under the wing, and this way, there's more shade and so more room for visitors. I haven't tried it out yet, either, but summer is almost here!

Cary

robw56 wrote:http://www.rei.com/product/829239/rei-flex-lite-chair#specsTab

These chairs are great, 1lbs 12 oz each and pack up super small. They are surprisingly comfortable and durable.

We ended up picking a couple of these chairs up to try out on our trip this weekend. For weight and size, they can't be beat. I wish the pitch of the seat was more upright. They are pretty reclined. In fact, Dee about went over backwards when she first sat in it. They require a little legs out to counter balance, especially if not on a level surface. Overall though, for the size and weight, we will adapt.

Zzz wrote:These are the sleeping pads I and the Mrs will be using this season:

http://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-category/mats/mega-mat-10-lxw

Best sleeping pads I have ever used!

dawgdriver wrote:

Zzz wrote:These are the sleeping pads I and the Mrs will be using this season:

http://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-category/mats/mega-mat-10-lxw

Best sleeping pads I have ever used!

Thanks again, dawgdriver - After seeing these in our local REI, I'm convinced we're going to have to "suck it up" and make the investment ($$$) in the ExPed mats. We look forward to seeing you and your wife in SZT this summer!

We ended up picking a couple of these chairs up to try out on our trip this weekend. For weight and size, they can't be beat. I wish the pitch of the seat was more upright. They are pretty reclined. In fact, Dee about went over backwards when she first sat in it. They require a little legs out to counter balance, especially if not on a level surface. Overall though, for the size and weight, we will adapt.

Cory, that is too funny! My wife did the same thing! I liked the chair immediately, but she is going to go with a different model that is more upright. Another woman in the store looking at camp chairs was watching us and remarked to my wife, "He's sloucher, and you sit like a lady - that's the problem!"... damn, busted.

Ive seen a lot of guys with blow up huge mattresses to jam in their tents. They tend to get heckled. The difference? The guys with the paper thin foam pads wake up early because they couldnt sleep well anyways and are alone, and the guys with the blow ups wake up early, smiling because they shared their tent with their significant others, slept well, and are enjoying the crack of dawn. A good night of sleep for your SO makes the world go round.

We like the thick Thermarests.

Lightweight Chairs are prized possessions.

I love the butane stoves now. Still generally use the whisperlite though. A couple liters of fuel lasts a lot longer than a few cannisters.

Solar showers. These things become the most popular item with SO's (and me too) after the sleep issue is taken care of.

A good seasoning kit is something a lot of people forget. A lot of bad cooking can be turned into a gourmet feast with the right thing or two.

I like lightweight uncoated aluminum cookware I can scrape out with dirt or sand after cooking...doesnt require detergent and wash basins and all that.

Ive spent many hundreds of nights sleeping out under the stars and in tents all over bear country for work. The only times Ive had a problem were when I created the problem myself. If Im lucky enough to see a grizzly or a black bear these days, its because It was by chance or I was tracking them. In the lower 48, bear spray would be wayyy at the bottom of my list anywhere but a place where bear encounters were actually getting to be problematic. My money is better spent on bringing better food.

lesuther wrote:A good seasoning kit is something a lot of people forget. A lot of bad cooking can be turned into a gourmet feast with the right thing or two.

Excellent, and lightweight, suggestion.

MTV covered pepper spray pretty well. Statistically it is both the safest and most effective bear deterrent. But it isn't safe to have it in a cockpit, so please either find an exterior way to haul it or have it in a sealed container with foam to trap the residue in case of accidental discharge. Any pepper spray that has been fired, even briefly, will leak and should be discarded...only carry undischarged cans.

Finally, it is very wind and temperature sensitive. If you want to use it in winter, you need to keep it warm in your jacket. If you want to use it in windy conditions, you need to actually have the presence of mind to work the situation around so the wind assists you. You can't do anything useful firing this stuff into the wind.



...been meaning to get an exped and try it...but I have the luxury version Thermarests...and I do love them...