The General Consensus on Definitions and Terms for Ultralight Backpacking

I have been meaning to get this off my chest for some time now.  I started a discussion about this on BPL a while ago, but it didn't really go anywhere or catch on; so here is another attempt, this time with more substance--and I hope that the idea takes off (even if it is another shot in the dark).  

There is not really a consensus agreement on what defines Ultralight backpacking and its different variations.  Wikipedia's entry on the subject currently states:

"The terms light and ultralight commonly refer to base pack weights below 20 pounds (9.1 kg) and 10 pounds (4.5 kg) respectively. Traditional backpacking often results in base pack weights above 30 pounds (14 kg), and sometimes up to 60 pounds (27 kg) or more. Enthusiasts of ultralight backpacking sometimes attempt super-ultralight backpacking (SUL) in which the base pack weight is below 5 pounds (2.3 kg) and extreme-ultralight backpacking (XUL) in which the base pack weight is below 3 pounds (1.4 kg)."

Some Reflections and Future Plans

The past year had quite a lot going on for my little blog.  I've gotten a lot more total views than ever before, especially after finishing my guide to Bohusleden.  Thanks to anyone that keeps up with my humble ramblings, and I hope this place has been both helpful and enjoyable to read.  As far as gear goes, there have been a lot of changes to my gear lists too as I continue to really polish off details big and small, though there were not that many big changes when compared to some other gear-heads in the UL/SUL online community.  I really wanted to put the gear I have to the test, and overall I am pretty satisfied with my choices and how things performed.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Epilogue

Here are some final thoughts and advice on Bohusleden now that I have completed the whole thing.  I wish that I could have done the entire trail on one big thru-hike, but doing it in section hikes was still an excellent experience.  In the future I will most likely do a thru-hike of the trail.  

One could ask: So why Bohusleden, anyhow?  The answers are simple really.  For one, I live in Göteborg, so it is close to me and convenient to get to and from the trail, even at the northern start/end point in Strömstad.  Next, as I hope all the pictures and my commentary have shown, is that it's quite a lovely trail with a lot to offer.  

I divide the trail in my mind into three big parts: the north, middle, and south.  In a nutshell, the northern third of the trail is very woodsy, more isolated, less people, and has more of an "adventure" type feel.  The middle third of the trail is still quite woodsy but with a mix of rural and small town/city society, more people, and a mix of adventure and comfort.  The southern third is not as woodsy, but when it is woodsy it can surprise you, has lots of people and the trail atmosphere is more social, and it hardly feels like and adventure but more like a very long walk in a huge park.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stages 2 and 1

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This post covers Stages 2 and 1, Skatås-Blåvattnerna, of the official guide to the trail.  This is the start/end point of Bohusleden in the south. 

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (hiking southbound), a double report on Stages 4 and 3.

These two stages are also a part of the E1 trail system.  At Skatås Stage 2 connects with the next E1 trail, Vildmarksleden, which goes east from Bohusleden to the small town of Hindås.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*  Another double report for two very similar sections of trail that weave around and through the city and suburbs.  The very end going south or the very beginning going north, there are some nice things about Stages 2 and 1, but overall both stages (especially Stage 1) I recommend you modify how you hike them--and perhaps skip portions, or maybe even most of Stage 1.  However if you are someone, say a hardcore thru-hiker, that wants to cover each and every part of the trail, I can also offer advice on how to do a more grand finish/start to the trail.

I'll cover the longer finish/start to Bohusleden first before moving on to the nuances of a slightly shorter--but what I would consider a better--version of backpacking this area.  After the beginning/end of the trail in Blåvattnerna, there is another trail: the Hallandsleden.  You can check out more information on this trail here.

Take the commuter train to Anneberg, which is south of Göteborg and north of the small city of Kungsbacka.  Then hike for about 3.5km east on the road Älvsåkersvägen, where you will intersect with Hallandsleden, and you can make a left and hike north for a few more kilometers to Bohusleden.  Or if you are hiking south and finishing Bohusleden, follow these directions in reverse to get to the train station.

Cesar's Guide to Buhusleden: Stages 4 and 3

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This post covers Stages 4 and 3, Jonsered-Kåsjön and Kåsjön-Skatås, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (hiking southbound), Stage 5.

At Skatås the E1 trail (which follows the first part of Bohusleden) connects with the next trail going northbound, Vildmarksleden.  Both trails follow each other in Stage 3 and then separate shortly after Stage 4 begins (soon after you pass the power lines near a narrow lake--see picture below with caption).

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*  These two stages are both fairly short at 9 and 8.5km, and have a lot in common such as the topography and general type of trail, so I decided to report on them together.  For being so close to the city--especially a big city like Göteborg--these two stages are surprisingly woodsy and quaint in many places.  As is the case with many of the stages in the southern half of Bohusleden, there are many people that you will pass and bump into on the trail.  The last four southern stages are definitely the most crowded, and not just with backpackers and campers.  Dozens of mountain bikers, trail runners, dog walkers, and people of all ages take advantage of the trails here--and Bohusleden is only one of several trails in the area as well.

My good friends Edit and Julia came with me on this section hike, and we were lucky with great weather and got to experience part of the peak of autumn colors.  We stuck to the official trail for all of Stage 4, but did some trail hopping in Stage 3 which made for a bit of a longer but lovely hike through a nature reserve.  We all agreed that Stage 4 has good hiking and sights, and I highly recommend that anyone going through Stage 3 do some extra exploring as we did.  These two stages both had me constantly taking my camera out, so on to lots of pictures.

My Advice to Would-Be, New, and Coverted Backpackers

I have been putting off writing this for some time, because I wasn't really sure how to go about it.  I had grander plans to make fancy flow charts and/or write a three part series of posts, but then I thought I could perhaps capture the most important points in one longer post rather than risk having things get muddled in a project that was larger in scope.  And honestly, just for pragmatic reasons, it would be easier and more efficient to be able to send people a link to this post when novices ask me for tips and such.

Questions and requests for advice from novices comes up fairly often--I have nearly two decades of experience backpacking, I write a backpacking blog, and love talking about this topic along with nature in general, after all.  In emails and in person, the people with the most questions usually fit into three groups: the would-be, the new, and the converted.  All three groups comprise what I would call novice or rookie backpackers.  The would-be backpackers (BPers) generally have little to no experience out in nature or with backpacking, new BPers have some experience, and the converts have a substantial (but often limited) bit of adventures out in the wild under their belts and are hungry for more.  Or put another way:

Would-be BPers would say something like: 
"I think I'd like to spend more time in nature."

New BPers say: 
"I like spending time in nature and want to go out some more."

Converts say: 
"I love spending time in nature and want to go out regularly."

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 5

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This post covers Stage 5, Angereds kyrka-Jonsered, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (hiking southbound), Stage 6.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*  This section is another good place to begin or end a thru or section hike, with each end having access to public transportation.  At Angereds kyrka there is a bus stop, and at Jonsered there is a train station right next to the trail.  Both will get you to Göteborg.  The bus takes around 20-30 minutes to Central Station, and the train only takes around 15 minutes.  

Some of the best marked trail are here most of the time, there are lots of locals around, and perhaps the best maintained shelter area on the whole trail is here too.  The Freden shelter area has running water, bathrooms, benches, and lots of space.  And if that's not luxurious enough for you while backpacking, there's a fancy café a few kilometers from the shelter area where you can watch all the pretty horses and ponies gallop around.

Zpacks Backpacks Double Review: Arc Blast First Impressions and Zero Long Term Reflections

I recently got my brand new, custom built Zpacks Arc Blast backpack in the mail.  Needless to say, I am very excited about it, and wanted to pack it all up with everything that I plan on using for my updated 3 season gear list (I will write up a post detailing this gear list sometime soon).  While I was at it, I thought that I ought to write a first impressions review on my new pack--note: I have since taken it out on a section hike, see end of this post for a small update.  Then I looked over at my tried and true custom Zero, which is my go-to pack for most of my trips, and thought that it deserved a long term review too.  So why not do both together?  

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 6

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This post covers Stage 6, Fontin-Angereds kyrka, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (hiking southbound), Stage 7.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*  If you are looking for variety, this stage has perhaps the most changes on a hiking path on the entire trail; but this does not necessarily mean that you will enjoy all of these different paths.  You will walk on small woods trails, big woods trails, boards across marshes, dirt roads, paved roads, sidewalks, cobblestones, wooden bridges, highway overpasses, and more.  Odds are that if you are backpacking the Bohusleden, that you are perhaps in it for the nature and not the town/city life.  If this is the case, you may want to consider taking advantage of public transportation to skip certain parts of this section.  My friend and I hiked the whole stage, but wouldn't have minded doing this knowing what we know now about how things are.

This is not to suggest that things are bad or that hiking conditions are poor--it is a good hike with a lot to offer.  It has both scenic woods at conveniences of society close by, so some might consider this the best of both worlds.  It's very well suited for day hikes and weekend trips, and plenty of locals will be around.  We were just craving woods more than streets, highways, and cars that take up a significant portion of this stage.  This stage is also a good place to start a northbound section or thru-hike at several different points, as are the next few stages which are close to or in Göteborg.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 7

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This post covers Stage 7, Grandalen-Fontin, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (hiking southbound), Stage 8.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*  For me this stage marks the end of what is usually a more isolated woods-trail experience on Bohusleden.  This comes with several different pros/cons depending on your preferences for your travels, and this different type of trail experience continues fairly consistently until the end/beginning of the trail in Stage 1.  While there is plenty of woods and nature to enjoy from here until the last/first section, you are always not too far from civilization, such as: paved roads, highways, pubic transportation (both buses and trains), local day hikers, houses, shops, cafés, running (i.e. tap) water, etc.  This can make for a more convenient, comfortable, "easy" backpacking; but if you are looking for more peace, quiet, isolation, and raw wilderness, this is not really the hike for you from here on out going southbound.

From here you pass directly through the town of Kungälv, and it won't be very long until you go in and out of the big city of Göteborg's suburbs.  So regardless of when you are out hiking or camping, especially in the summer high season, there are much more people around than the northern and central section of the trail.  Be prepared to share shelter space and a seat around the campfire, and it's a very good idea to have your own shelter in case shelters are full, or maybe you want privacy, or another backpacker snores (good idea to ask about this if you are a light sleeper!), etc.  

Update and Improvements to My Favorite DIY Shelter

For about half a year now (and currently), the most popular post on my blog is My Favorite DIY/MYOG Camping Shelter.  So I thought it would be good to write another post that focuses on this fairly easy and very cheap project, and one that can be very useful for a variety of reasons.  

These shelters are a great solution for someone looking for an affordable yet decent backpacking/camping shelter for themselves, or as a loaner/gift to a friend or family member that travels with them.  Also great for parents that want to set up a functional play tent in their backyard, and when the kids break it (which they most likely will, just like they will probably break a store-bought tent or tarp), no big deal.  Used with care, I have been able to re-use these shelters many times.  

Not your best option for a thru-hike (unless you make several and have them in your bounce-box, perhaps), but a great alternative for section hikers and weekend trips.  Hard to give an estimate how many nights one of these shelters will last, but I would say at least 10 nights used with care and under normal circumstances.  I still have my Deluxe Hobo Tent, and have used it out in the field half a dozen times or so, as well as set it up in my backyard a handful of times as well.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 8

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This post covers Stage 8, Bottenstugan-Grandalen, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (hiking southbound), Stage 9.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*  A short and sweet stage that I very much enjoyed, with one excellent vista spot a to take a break, along with one shelter and several welcoming places near a few lakes to set up camp.  If you are traveling south I suggest filling up on water someplace in the middle of this section, as the next stage is a bit dry at times; and if you are going northbound, here is where you can fill up after tapping your reserves from Kungälv through Stage 7.  It is a very well maintained section of trail, some of the best marked areas on Bohusleden, and there are even handrails, benches, and stairs for hikers to use.

There was quite a bit of hiking under thick woods, and in the late spring to early fall expect a thick canopy above and around you.  This is a very green part of trail, full of not just the leaf canopy but also plenty of ferns, moss, and reeds.  This was a fairly easy stage to hike for me, but I can see why the official guide marked it as being "average" difficulty due to some hills and occasional steep climbs.  Though it should not present much trouble to most people, and as is the trend on the more southern portions of trail, again my feet remained pretty dry completing this path.

Tagged: My 3 Favorite Bushcraft Items

I was recently tagged by Stick in a blog post of his, himself also being tagged by another blogger, and the chain seems to go on and on from there.  Bushcraft seems to have become a somewhat mainstream topic/hobby, thanks in no small part to the many survival-type TV shows.  I don't even think I need to list examples, nor do I bother to watch most of these shows.  But I do need to clarify my opinions of Bushcraft before I answer the question at hand, which is what my three favorite Bushcraft items are.

As the son of a US army veteran who was enlisted for over 20 years, from an early age I was taught survival knowledge by my father because I have always had an interest in the outdoors and nature.  The older I got, the more advanced information my father passed down to me, along with field manuals from the military on the subject to read.  Back in the 80's and 90's I never heard the term "Bushcraft," but then again I was more of a lone wolf when it came to going out into the woods to put what I had learned to use.  Sure, I went camping and backpacking with friends back then, but it was mostly car camping and traditional backpacking, so there was hardly any emphasis on the survival or primitive knowledge aspects when I was with others outdoors.

Then about 5 years ago or so, as I looked to further my skills (and sharpen ones I already had) by researching/reading online, I discovered two survival experts and their respective TV shows that I enjoyed watching and also learned from.  One was Ray Mears, the other was Les Stroud, and their TV shows as far as I am concerned (or that I am aware of), are the exception in this genre when it comes to both artistic merit and actual providing solid survival skills.  I highly recommend their work.  

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 9

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This post covers Stage 9, Lysevatten-Bottenstugan, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (hiking southbound), Stage 10.

I have since returned to do a section hike of this stage, the side trails around it, and parts of the next few stages as well.  You can read more about that here in my trip report of an extended exploration of Svartedalen nature reserve.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*   Easily one of the most beautiful stages on all of Bohusleden, much of the trail goes through the heart of the Svartedalens nature preserve and offers many gorgeous views.  These vistas come at a cost, of course, and the strength of your legs will be put to the test climbing up and down many hills and cliffs.  Some of the climbs are steep enough that ropes and makeshift handrails have been installed to aid hikers along the trail at certain locations.

This stage will not only demand your attention because of the scenery, but you also need to literally watch your step on many paths in this section--especially less experienced backpackers will need to be extra cautious.  Yet that being said: it is not the most difficult hike I have ever done either, but certainly not an easy one.

The hike is well worth it, of course, and I must apologize to my readers for my admittedly amateur photography.  Looking back over the pictures I took, I feel like they don't do this stage justice for how nice it really is.  Though in fairness to myself, it was an overcast day for most of my hike, and a bit dark and tricky to take pictures using natural light, especially under the canopy of the forest.  This is one stage that I will surely return, so perhaps I can take one of my friends that is a better photographer than I am and update this report in the future.

I have quite a bit to report before getting to the pictures, so please bare with me; and don't worry, there are many (42) pictures.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 10

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This post covers Stage 10, Hasteröd-Lysevatten, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (hiking southbound), Stage 11.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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* This is an easy, straight forward, and pretty section of trail.  I am again at odds with the official trial guide, which gives this an orange "average" difficulty rating; but I found this stage to be quite pleasant hiking, plus there is plenty of water sources, and one shelter on the trail and another one very soon after the endpoint (both of good quality and location).  This is not to suggest that it is not without challenges, of course, as there are a fair amount of hills to climb up and down and thick plant life to plow through (not to mention lots of bugs if you are here in the summertime), but nothing that was too crazy.  And my feet stayed quite dry, though I again had good luck with sunny weather. 

There is also some confusing information given on the official guide, which states that there is a "natural...virgin forest" in the northern portion (around Gunnarsvattnet lake)--yet much of this area (as you will soon see in the pictures below) has clearly had logging done on it.  Perhaps this is an editor's prank on the part of the official guide?  In spite of a good bit of logging done in the area, there is still plenty of thick woods to hike through, with a lot of both broad-leaf and pine trees.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 11

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This post covers Stage 11, Vassbovik-Hasteröd, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (going southbound), Stage 12.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*  With long stretches of forests and many different lakes spanning a large area (the trail itself is 18km here), one could spend a few days exploring and enjoying what this quite lovely stage has to offer.  While wood and water ought to be in no short supply, this stage does lack trail shelters.  It does have one official shelter, but it is oddly (especially given how nice this stage is) not of the normally quite good quality that is expected of the typical Swedish Vindskydd.  So get good use out of your own shelter system if you intend on spending the night in this stage, which I suggest you should.

After a quick hike on a dirt road, the trail will pass right next to the first lake (Buvattnet) which can also serve as a great place to take a break, which is what my friend Mehrdad and I did.  We were tempted to take a swim, and it would have been a nice spot to do so, but with so much left to explore we decided to march on.  If you travel here during the summer or fall, keep your eyes peeled for wild mushrooms and berries (provided you know how to properly identify them, of course).  Even on the dirt road we were able to pick a fair amount of wild strawberries, as well as some mushrooms which we threw into one of our meals.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 12

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This post covers Stage 12, Glimmingen-Vassbovik, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (going southbound), Stage 13.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*  I have mixed emotions about Stage 12, but overall it is a worthwhile and at many points a great hike.  There were a few things that bothered me about this section, which I will elaborate on below.  I had company on a two day section hike of the trail in July, my friend Mehrdad, who also acts as both model and cameraman at times.

As I wrote about on the previous report, the beginning of this trail going southbound is a great starting point for section hikers like myself; or if you are a thru-hiker a great chance to take a break from the trail to resupply, rent a hotel/BB, buy a nice non-backpacker meal, etc.  Glimmingen has its own bus stop, and we were able to easily catch a bus from the city of Uddevalla, and it only took us 10 minutes or so.  There is some road hiking for a bit, and then some dirt road hiking.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 13

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This post covers Stage 13, Bovik-Glimmingen, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (going southbound), Stage 14.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*   This section of trail offers a mix of nature and modernity, as paths weave over, around, and through parts of the small city Uddevalla.  The trail even goes past two bus stops, making it easier/faster (with a little planning, check out the public transportation here) to get in and out of the city center if so desired.  It is not a particularly spectacular portion of trail, but it is not boring either--there are some patches of pleasant hiking and the beautiful lake Köperödssjön, that also has the one and only official trail shelter in this stage (and it's a pretty nice one).  Around the lake are some very nice views as the trail wraps around the hills that surround it.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 14

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This post covers Stage 14, Metsjö-Bovik, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (going southbound), Stage 15.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*   This stage begins at a crossroads of backwoods/lumber dirt roads, and returning to the woods passes several lakes and streams before skirting close to civilization.  It is a very scenic portion of trail with many cute little details that I really enjoyed, and was again happy with my luck of good weather to capture some of the beauty on camera.  Stage 14 has many areas that I felt were really begging me to stay, and while I did make sure to take many breaks to enjoy things, alas a father, husband, and grad student only gets precious few days to spend out there.  Needless to say, this is a stage that I will surely return to with friends and family, especially because it is conveniently located close to a small city where one can take advantage of pubic transportation.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 15

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This post covers Stage 15, Kaserna-Metsjö, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (going southbound), Stage 16.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*   Another gem of a hike, though it is a longer stage at 17.5km.  You can take your time in this section if you wish, however, as there are many trail shelters--one of which is a mini-cabin which is fully enclosed and even has a small wood stove.  Have your water bottles and purification system (if you have one, some bold people drink water raw) handy, as you can fill up conveniently at many places on this lengthy stretch of trail.  I have found that the running water from springs/streams is colder and tastes better than lake or big river water.

Speaking of springs and streams, I lost count of all the little babbling water sources on the first part of the stage as you follow along Munkedalsälven.  There is also a decent shelter on the riverbank, where I stopped to have some dinner. 

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 16

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This post covers Stage 16, Harska-Kaserna, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on two sections before this one (going southbound), Stages 18 and 17.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*   If you follow my advice and skip over Stages 17 and 18 to the north, you are really not going to miss much.  This stage, however, is jam packed with lots of stunning eye candy and interesting features that you definitely don't want to miss it.  

I am usually pretty bad about taking lots of pictures--I am no photographer--as you probably could tell with not as many pictures included in the first sections I wrote trip reports for on this trail, if you have been keeping up with my guide as a whole.  So taking more pictures of the trail and nature has been a goal of mine.  Stage 16 made it all too easy for me to accomplish this goal, and I found myself constantly taking out my camera--though good weather also contributed to this as well.

Cesar's Guide to Bohusleden: Stage 18 and 17

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This post covers both Stage 18, Lunden-Svarteborg, and Stage 17, Svarteborg-Harska, of the official guide to the trail.

You can also check out my report on the section before this one (going southbound), Stage 19.

If you have not already read the introduction to this trail guide, you can check it out by clicking here.  It has a list of reports on other sections I have hiked plus other important/useful background information in general--so please read the introduction first before reading my reports.

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*   These two sections are not exactly the best or most exciting part of Bohusleden, so my first piece of advice would be to just skip these stages altogether unless you are a hardcore thru-hiker that has the need to cover each and every part of a given trail.  Both of these sections are almost entirely on either paved or dirt roads, and these are not really isolated logging roads, but meant for locals to get around by car.  If you do hike these stages, it should go without saying to be careful, as there will be cars driving by you.  It is also a fairly long section, with a combined total of 23km.

Section Hike and Bivy Modification Updates

I recently completed a two and a half day section hike on Bohusleden and will soon write trip reports/trail guides to six full sections of the trail.  The trip was originally planned as a five day trip, but when I called to say goodnight to my children and check up with my wife on news back home, I was unfortunately given some rather bad news that forced me to cut my trip short.  

A couple that my wife and I are good friends with, and that our kids are also friends with their kids, had to rush to the hospital with one of their children in a serious life-or-death medical situation.  The next morning I packed up my gear and then hitchhiked my way to the nearest train station so that my family and I could visit our friends in the hospital.  The child has been stabilized and seems to be on the road to recovery, thankfully, by the time we got to see her and her mother.  I was glad to coincidentally have been close to the end of a section of trail that also ended directly next to a highway, and didn't even think twice about getting back to be there in a time of need.

Yet before all this drama, I was able to document a solid portion of the trail on my quest to complete a full companion trail guide.  

Cesar's Updated Ultralight 1+ Season Gear List (2013)

Dedicated backpackers are often on the continual quest to put together a "better" set of gear, myself included.  I am constantly--and I consider this part of the backpacking process enjoyable unto itself--checking out gear reviews, trip reports, forums, etc. to gain more knowledge, tips, perspectives, modifications, etc. to the many aspects of both backpacking skills and gear.  Several months ago over the winter holidays I asked myself, after several years of transitioning and then becoming a UL, SUL, and even XUL backpacker: what would be your "dream list" of gear after everything you have learned and experienced?

What follows is the closest approximation of an answer to that question.  This year I have two big section hikes (each about 5 days) planned during my 1+ season (roughly May-September), and wanted to put together the best possible combination of gear for my goals and preferences.  Here is a fairly thorough breakdown of my completed gear list, and I will update this page with any changes to the list before I set out on my section hikes.

Reflections on SUL Backpacking

The most popular post on my blog right now is a SUL gear breakdown and trip report from about a year and a half ago.  For those of you that don't know (if you are reading this, you probably already know, but just in case), SUL is short for "Super Ultralight" backpacking, which is commonly defined in the backpacking community as having a base weight of gear under or around 5lbs/2.3kg.

My SUL gear has gone through a lot of changes since I went on that trip, and I have gone on many SUL trips since then and intend on going on more in the future--lots more, if I am lucky.  Thus, I wanted to reflect on these changes, plus just give attention to and ruminate on the subject in general--not to mention I started writing my master's thesis and obviously need a healthy bit of procrastination ;).

First Trip of 2013

Finally, I set off on my first overnight trip of the year.  I really had cabin fever, as I had been so busy with school and family in December that it was a rare month that went by without any backpacking trips--not even any significant day hikes.  This is a big deal for me.

I hiked roughly 15km total doing a loop of a small trail not too far away from where I live.  As I am about to bunker down as dusk fades into night, tent all set up, about to get my sleeping mat and bag in place, I decide to call my wife to see how she and my kids are doing.  She says that our youngest is not doing well, and I hear him crying in the background.  He got the flu and I reluctantly left home that morning because he seemed to be dealing with it alright at the time, and my wife gave me her blessing to go.

My Cooking Systems: A Complete Breakdown

This is a subject that gets a lot of attention and debate among devoted backpackers and campers alike, and people that are new to or that don't know much about outdoor activities often ask me about how I prepare food or what my portable kitchen is like.  When friends and family, outdoorsy or not, enter my office in my home--which also serves as my gear storage room--the gear that they usually like to play around with are my cooking kits, which are always neatly arranged on a shelf surrounded by lots of little accessories.

So I figured I would do a complete breakdown of the three systems that I have for cooking to finally quell all the questions and requests for recommendations as far as this important and fun kit is concerned.  Before I get into all the little details and get very Gram Geeky, first I should explain why I have the three systems that I have, when do I take each one (if at all), and my preferences in general regarding a good backpacking/camping kitchen.

2013 Updates, Improvements, and Rambling

Happy New Year.

I have been very busy over the past few months and have not been able to get around to working on the many different posts that I have wanted to write.  Graduate school is challenging enough, but throw in raising a few very young children, the winter holiday season, and finding time for backpacking and the like (say nothing of writing about backpacking) can be quite tricky indeed.

Yet I finally got around to doing some much needed organizing and revamping of this blog, as you may have noticed.  In the future, and not sure yet in what order--it depends not just on time but also on what I am in the mood to write about--here is what I plan on focusing on: