I’ve decided after much contemplation that I need to release my gallerys or photo projects in book form instead. While .pdf might not be the best for presenting my projects it’s still considerably better than web format 🙂 Anyway, I actually wrote this article a few years ago and even put together this book along with it. I have made a few updates to the text, otherwise this is my hometown in pictures: Herlong, California
A while ago I was able to purchase a very used original Sony RX100 for about $130 – I really wanted a lightweight, or ultralight backpacking camera that would be “good enough”. While I don’t mind bringing my Fujifilm X-T1 and zoom lens (816 grams with battery), I wanted to try an even lighter camera and I read that the Sony RX 100 series is one of the best weight to quality cameras available. This one is of course the first version in (now version 4 is available) So, this review is rather dated, but what the hell 🙂 I still use an analogue camera, so a 4 year old camera is fairly new by my standards. In anycase, I have learned that the camera rarely makes a good photograph: Subject, framing and lighting are the essentials, it’s just important to have a sensor that can capture those three key ingredients. So with that said, the Sony Rx 100 fits the bill. Read More
My stuff is me: On my last post I talked a lot about simplifying your backpack gear, and more broadly, about simplifying your life. That was about a week ago and I’ve had some time to just think about the overall theme of simplifying or minimalism. I realize that a lot of people identify themselves with what they own. For example, for many people, they might identify me as simply being an ultralight backpacker, because that is what the title of this site is, what my book is about and in general what my gear and hiking is like.
The truth is, that my stuff does not make me who I am. These are two completely different concepts altogether in my world. When we start to minimalize our lives, we start to identify ourselves not with what we own, but by our values and goals. When we minimalize the whole point is to disenfranchise ourselves and our identity from the bought and paid for consumer. (or brainwashed consumer who just needs stuff to be whole). For most people we automatically assume that we are our own person, that we have created ourselves from our values and goals. I used to think the same thing about myself. Until of course I started going on long walks with nothing more than my backpack and a few essentials to keep me alive. Read More
In my going lighter series I have a constant reference point that I write a lot about: Simplify your backpacking and make your journey an enjoyable process.
I write a lot about this, but I found that I never really clarify it. What do I mean by simplify and simplicity? In life this would be the equivalence to the Minimalism movement, in backpacking I will just call it simplicity.
In essens I will sum it up as follows:
Simplicity in backpacking does not mean selling everything you own and backpack with just a tarp and toothbrush.
Simplicity is about bringing what you need with the comfort you enjoy.Read More
I have now been using the Globalstar GSP 1700 satphone for about 6 months in different regions. (mainly in Sweden and Iceland now). I think this is a solid performer in most conditions. Lightweight and one charge will last plenty long for most trips. What follows is my full review including video
What is it? The Globalstar GSP 1700 is a satellite telephone that uses the globalstar satellite network (spot connect). This will basically allow you to make very clear calls from around the world. I chose a satphone over a spot or inreach because I wanted the two way communication capabilities. I like to be able to call home. On top of that both the spot and inreach require yearlong subscriptions.. seems pointless in my book. The Satphone allows me to buy just the minutes I need what I need them. Read More
Finally after getting a few hours over and a little bit of motivation, I got around to digging threw my hours and hours of video from Iceland (someday I will even compose a complete video). Here is a simple video review I made while on my fourth day where I stopped in Bazar for the evening.
In the background you can see the glacier and some volcanos.
What is it:
The Haglöfs LIM Essens down jacket is another excellent edition to the LIM series. In my opinion the LIM series by Haglöfs is some of the best UL gear available right now, and most of it is resonably priced. The Essens down jacket is an Ultralight down jacket with minimal features, it does what it’s suppose to do: keep you warm
Weight:
The xl jacket that I have weighs just 188grams. Because of its lightweight and extreme packability I usually have it with me on all 4 season trips. In spring, summer and fall as my only insulating jacket or sweater, and it the winter I layer it.
Usuability: The Haglöfs LIM essens down jacket does exactly what it’s supposed to do: Keep you warm. As a bonus it packs down very small and has two pockets. It’s windtight and very warm for the weight. I have had it down to around 0 celcius without too much problem, below that I need to start layering.
Conclusion:
Buy it, like it and use it forever. I trully like this jacket and it’s one of those products that is so well designed for it’s nisch market that I have to wonder if Haglöfs sells any? In any case, if this one falls apart I will buy another.
Being as the current election cycle in the USA is in full craziness, I thought I would add my two cents.. mainly for fun but also to be the observer on the outside looking in. Writing about what I see is going on. Read More
Here is part two of my pictures along the Laugavegur trail – gallery of Iceland. All pictures where taken with the Sony RX 100 I, edited in lightroom. If you steal my pictures atleast leave a link to my site and let me know where they will be seen. Thanks!
It’s been a while since I did a daily pic, and I thought I would do one now. I have a lot of pictures that don’t really fit within a series, so I find the daily pic format to work the best for these.
This picture I took in Skogar in southern Iceland just after the Laugavegur trail. I was taking a picture of the waterfall when I noticed this chap looking very determined with his monster camera and tripod and the women taking a picture with her smartphone. I like the effect of the picture.
Taken with the Sony RX100 with minimal editing in Lightroom. Read More
This is actually a rather fun subject for me – and in my book Ultralight and Comfortable the politically incorrect guide to backpacking, I really play on this subject a lot. Here is an excerpt from the book:
Ever hike 20 miles with boots on? Backpack or not, boots are a bitch on any feet. They say you need to break in the boots first; the truth is you have to break in your feet and body to the boots. You have to get used to the idea of your feet cooking, wringing out your socks from sweat, avoiding water at all possible costs. You have to start loving and accepting blisters, double socks, tape and god knows what else. The first time I went on a long hike with boots on, I thought the bastard who invented boots was a masochist. I wanted to murder that fucker.
