I've been updating some stuff on the web site and still moving over old podcasts from the old site when I ran across these videos.  Shug sent them over awhile back and they are worth checking out again.  He goes through many of the items he carries, gives us a little information on each and talks about some of the problems he has solved.  There are four in all and they are only a few minutes each.  If you don't have time to view them all, at least check out the first one.  He's a Hoot.
Thanks Shug!

The Big Four Ice Caves are a wonder.  Some years almost non-existent, some years speculator!  Every year a little different.  This year - Fabulous.  I hope you can get a sense of the scale of the cave when you see that image I took from a distance.  That little speck of a hiker is Travis approaching the mouth of the beast. 

A few weeks ago, Chris and I had the chore honor of hitting the trail for a couple of nights with Rylan.

Below is a quick video we made for Shug, but I thought I'd post it here for other Southeastern Backpackers listeners to actually see that Rylan does exist, and what you can expect if you ever hit the trail with him.  Here are a few other pictures from that hike.

I am certainly not an expert, but I have spent my fair time in the woods. I know there is always a careful balance between carrying extra weight for something you don’t use and finding yourself in an emergency and really wishing you had something that would help people find you.

Here is a list of several things to consider:

1. Create a clear plan on where you will start and end, with a time line for the trip. Leave a copy with people outside your hiking group.
2. Everyone carries a map and compass with the trail marked on it, and clearly showing where the water located and where are you going to camp.
3. Everyone carries a whistle and at least one other signal device.
4. Everyone in your group should have the contact numbers for all the people on the team and their designated emergency contacts.
5. Everyone carries identification in more than one place.
6. Medical conditions that could cause complications on the trail should be shared with your group.

I want to let you know that Bulgur wheat is a very fast and easy trail food.  Cooking is a major advantage over pasta or rice, as it only requires that you pour 2.5 cups of boiling water on 1 cup of bulgur wheat and allow to soak for 30 minutes.  There is no simmer time, so it frees you up to do other things during the soak.  It's like freezer bag cooking without the dehydration time.