Time-tested tricks used by BACKPACKER editors from the rainfoests of the Northwest to the wilds of Alaska.

Use an umbrella.
No amount of waterproof clothing provides 100 percent protection from a true deluge. A lightweight umbrella is a cheap and effective way to shrug off lots of moisture. Rig a hands-free system by duct-taping yours to a trekking pole or stick; lash that to the side of your pack.

Bring two half-liter bottles.
Not just for water, but for drying socks at night. You'll want the narrow, Lexan type because you're going to fill them with boiling water and roll your wrung-out socks over them. The odors unleashed might make a skunk gag, but by morning your socks will be dry.

Waterproof your pack.
Most good packs are built from waterproof fabric but have seams that leak like sieves. Solution: Make sure to buy a seam sealer to prevent zippers and other closures from leaking

Wear gaiters.
Gaiters under your rain pants will keep your boots and feet dry in the heaviest of downpours.

Use nature's umbrella.
Take breaks under overhangs or thick fir trees.

Care for your gear.
Wash raingear with detergents made for outdoor clothing, and apply a DWR treatment before wet trips.

Go easy on the apparel.
Dress lightly to prevent excess sweating and open vents wide.

It looks like the next trip for Symbiot will be up in the Catskill Mountains. I've never been there before so I'm looking forward to a new place to backpack. I've been doing some research and although I'm finding what I need I can't stand looking at all these sites. I've never seen such bad design and if the site has an ok design the content is horrible. Anyway here are a few sites that list some trails that I think will work for us.


Catskill Trails 1

Catskill Trails 2

Catskill Trails 3

Devil's Path - Devil's Path in total is over 24 miles and is viewed by many as the best backpacking trip in the Catskills. It is a very strenuous trail summiting several peaks (Indian Head-3573 ft., Plattekill-3110 ft, Sugarloaf-3810 ft, Twin-3650 ft and Plateau-3840 ft.) with steep descents through dense forest and over sometimes rugged terrain. A good place to turn around for a day hike is the summit of Indian Head (8.4 mi, round trip). There are southerly views of Ashokan Reservoir and Overlook and Plattekill Mountains. You also get distant views of the Catskills high peaks.

The trailhead is on Prediger Rd. In Tannersville, NY go south on CR 16 from NY 23A. (CR 16 turns into Platte Clove Rd.) After 5.7 miles on CR 16, make a right on Prediger Rd. You will begin seeing trail signs 24 mi. one way. Ends at Spruceton Rd. where you should arrange a shuttle.

This trip is 24 miles one way. So it's a lot to do in two days and since we would have to haul our large packs with us it could be hard. We will have to see if we can find a spot to have a base camp and do a long day hike over some of these peaks. Also with a name like Devil's Path it's hard to pass up. So we will see what happens.

Something to keep in mind when planning your next camping trip is whats going on in the night sky. Not only is it possible to get great views of stars, planets and constellations but sometimes mother nature provides us with a special treat, meteors showers.
Below you will find a list of meteor showers throughout the remainder of this year. So when you plan your next camping trip try to hit one of these dates and pray for a clear night. I promise you you will will not be disappointed.


October 8 or 9, 2007 Draconids
The radiant point of the Draconid meteor shower pretty much coincides with the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon. This shower is definitely a sleeper. Most years, it produces only a handful of languid meteors per hour. But watch out if the dragon awakes! On occasion, fiery Draco has been known to spew forth hundreds – if not thousands – of meteors in a single hour. Since little or no moon will be around to ruin the show this year, this hard-to-predict shower is worth checking out. At nightfall on October 8 or 9, look northward. Continue to look northward throughout the night. This shower is a real oddity, in the respect that its radiant point is highest in the sky as darkness falls. Best viewed from the northern hemisphere.

October 20, 21 or 22, 2007 Orionids
These meteors tend to be fast, occasionally leaving persistent trains and producing bright fireballs. If you trace these meteors backwards, they seem to originate from the north of Orion’s bright ruddy star Betelgeuse. Even though a bright waxing gibbous moon will disrupt the show until after midnight, the Orionids customarily save their best for the predawn hours before sunrise. The Orionids have a broad and irregular peak that is difficult to predict. This year, October 20 is a Saturday, which is one reason we’ve included that date, even though the 21st and 22nd might produce more meteors. Try looking in the predawn hours on October 20, 21 or 22. At that time the pesky moon will have set. A likely maximum of 15 meteors per hour.

November 5 or 6, 2007 South Taurids
The South (and North) Taurids are perhaps best suited to diehard meteor enthusiasts. The meteoroid stream that feeds the Taurids is very spread out and dissipated. That means the South Taurids are extremely long lasting (September 17 – November 27), but usually don’t offer a whole lot more than a sprinkling of meteors. At nightfall in the first week of November, look eastward for some meteors. If you catch some, that’s a good sign. Expect the greatest number of meteors to fall around one or two in the morning, when the radiant point of the shower is high overhead. The forecast is for about 7 meteors per hour.

November 11, 12 or 13, 2007 North Taurids
Like the South Taurids, this shower is long lasting (October 12 – December 2) but modest, and the peak number is forecast at 7 as well. Because the South and North Taurids overlap, there’s some chance of catching a few extra meteors per hour. Look for maximum numbers on November 11, 12 or 13 at around 1 a.m., when Taurus the Bull rides high in the sky.

November 17 or 18, 2007 Leonids
Historically, the Leonids have produced some of the greatest meteor storms in history, with rates as high as many thousands of meteors per hour. These storms often recur in cycles of 33 years. But this year, we anticipate more of a whimper than a growl from Leo the Lion, with a maximum of perhaps 10-15 meteors per hour. Like the October Orionids, the Leonids produce swift-moving meteors, and tend to put out the greatest numbers just before dawn. Don’t expect the Leonids to pick up steam till after midnight – or at about the time the moon starts to set. Try the predawn hours on November 17 or 18.

December 13 or 14, 2007 Geminids
This is the year’s grand finale! As a general rule, it’s either the Geminids or the August Perseids that give us the most prolific meteor display of the year. As soon as darkness falls, look eastward for the first Geminid meteors to shoot across the sky. (Don’t know which way is east? Simply look in the direction opposite of the waxing crescent moon.) After the moon sets on the evenings of December 13 or 14, and as night deepens, watch for the Geminids to intensify and to climax at about 2 in the morning. With maximums commonly reaching 50 meteors per hour, this is a glorious time of year to sprawl out on your reclining lawn chair and to take in the show. Just be sure to bring along warm clothing, blankets or sleeping bags, and a thermos with a warm beverage.

Not only is camping alot of fun it's also a responsibility. We need to leave the environment exactly the way it was when we entered it. The main motto of backcountry hiking is "Leave No Trace" and this is a motto that I follow.

Ben Lawhon, education director for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, a nonprofit group dedicated to reducing recreational impact on the wilderness. He described the seven guidelines Leave No Trace recommends.
Plan ahead "An unprepared hiker creates a higher risk for impact. If you didn't know you needed gaiters," explains Lawhon, "you might trample vegetation to keep your boots dry instead of hiking through the puddles." Call a ranger to learn about terrain, weather, and regulations.


Travel on durable surfaces "They rebound better than delicate ones," says Lawhon. Hike on rock, sand, gravel, and established trails; avoid stream banks, cryptobiotic soil, and alpine plants.


Dispose of waste properly Pack out what you bring in (including toilet paper), disperse cooking and washing water, and bury solid human waste in a 6-inch cathole. Wash, do dishes, and answer nature's call at least 200 feet from the trail, camp, or any water source.


Leave what you find "Hikers can spread nonnative species, which is a huge cause of habitat destruction," explains Lawhon. "By not taking plants or animals, and cleaning your boots before you leave the trailhead, you can make a difference."


Minimize campfire impact If fires are legal, use established rings, a mound, or a fire pan, and gather only dead wood no thicker than your wrist.


Respect wildlife Observe animals from a distance and never feed them. "This is a safety issue," says Lawhon. "Once a squirrel or a bear gets a taste for human foods, it actively seeks them out, which can lead to dangerous behavior."


Be considerate of other visitors "This is the do-unto-others rule--yield to fellow hikers, keep noise levels down, and camp away from the trail," says Lawhon. "Remember, we're all trying to enjoy a finite resource."
For details on each principle, visit www.lnt.org. Leave No Trace also offers Awareness Workshops across the United States; check Web site for days and locations.

In open country and above treeline, route finding tends to be as easy as looking for the next landmark. But in forests, marshes, and low-visibility situations (like whiteouts and fog), you'll need a compass to orient your map. A few basic skills simplify the art of compass navigation.
Determine the magnetic declination for your area (see "Declination 101" below), and set your compass for that variance, which is marked on most maps.
Orient the map so its grid lines point toward true north. This orients map to landscape, so you can correlate contour lines with surrounding features.
Place the compass on the map so the baseplate's long edge (and direction arrow) point from your map position to your intended map destination.
Hold the baseplate in alignment with your intended route, and rotate the compass bezel until its markings align with the magnetic needle. Now the north-south arrow on the rotating bezel points to magnetic north, while the baseplate arrow points along your intended travel vector, called a heading.
When obstacles deflect you off course, note the compass bearing of the direction you walk or paddle (say, 45 degrees), then count your steps, strokes, or the time you spend off-course. After skirting the obstacle, follow the "back bearing" (225 degrees is the opposite direction of 45 degrees) for the same steps, strokes, or time (equals distance). Then resume your primary heading.

QUICK TIPS
Follow The Leapfrog
In heavy fog or featureless terrain, use your hiking or paddling partners as intermediate objects. Send them forward as far as possible and wave them into position along your course. Then leapfrog ahead. Give them the compass as you pass so they can repeat the leapfrog.

Rock To Rock
In low-visibility situations, take note of any obvious landmark in your line of travel, then move single-mindedly until you reach it. When you get there, take another sighting, pick a new intermediate objective, and repeat.

The Two-Mile-An-Hour Speed Trap
An oft-stated rule of thumb for walking speed is 2 miles per hour. But that's for a dayhiker on an easy trail. It doesn't account for heavier loads, gazing time, rest stops, photos, or lunch breaks. Plan to average about 1.5 miles per hour if you move steadily on a good trail. Heavy loads, rough terrain, rest stops, or water searches slow you down further.

COMPASS TIP: Declination 101
Maps are oriented toward geographic, or "true," north (the North Pole), but compass needles point to magnetic north, a place that wanders slowly within the Canadian Arctic. The difference in angle is called magnetic declination, and it varies from 21 degrees west in Maine to 26 degrees east in Alaska. That's why you should buy a compass with adjustable declination and set it properly.

On most compasses, adjusting declination is done by turning a tiny metal screw on the rotating compass needle housing. Look for declination on the lower left portion of your topo map; you'll see two diverging lines with the angle listed between them. If it says "16 degrees east," rotate the compass housing so the magnetic north/compass needle mark sits 16 degrees to the right (east) of the true north orienting lines. Twist the screw to reach the proper orientation.

Two weeks ago Symbiot decided to set up a table at the Punk Rock Flea Market. A bi-annual event held at the Starlight Ballroom in Philadelphia, PA. With a good turnout we ended up selling a few bags and a bunch of junk we had. Although the bag was a little expensive for the type of event it was we still had a lot of interest in it.

We also decided to give a bag away. So tomorrow we will email the winner and send them a bag.

If your in the area the next time the Punk Rock Flea Market is here then check it out. Check here for future details - R5 Productions. This is also a great site to see when your favorite band will be in town. R5 Productions has been putting on independent music shows for over 10 years.