WalkUSA’s Adventure Series: Physical Training

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Walk USA Discover

Catch a glimpse of what it’s like walking across America with the first video compilation of my adventure!

Introduction

My name is Edward Mjelde, I am a 24 year old recent college graduate from sunny San Diego, California. This is my story about how I gave away and sold nearly all my possessions and left home with a backpack to walk coast-to-coast across the country following the 5,100 mile American Discovery Trail in pursuit of beauty, truth, and a life of risk and adventure. My goal is to share the stories I have gathered from my adventure in hope that it will inspire people to take risks in order to chase their own dreams and aspirations. I have dubbed my epic adventure as WalkUSA, ”A Walk to Discover America and its People”. Summary: In this article I introduce myself and share the story on how I came up with this cross-country backpacking adventure, explain how I physically prepared for my journey, and at the bottom share some tips that helped me achieve my fitness goals that might work for you. Welcome to the adventure!

The Birth of The Idea

I had announced it November 2011 to my friends and family, I had decided I was going to walk across America after college. At first my mom didn’t believe me, my dad thought I was crazy, and some of my friends rolled their eyes, gave me a face palm salute, and said “Good luck!”. They hadn’t yet seen the fire I had burning in my eyes. This idea to walk across the continent was born inside me on a rainy day while I was in a state of primordially ooze, stressed and weary eyed, after I had just finished a late night/early morning college paper. I was feeling a bit overworked in life managing over 20 units in college, running my own college marketing organization, and working the graveyard as a server at the local Denny’s Diner.
Being the Founder and President of the Marketing Society was a major challenge in college but taught me how taking on big risks provide for satisfying rewards.
Being the Founder and President of the Marketing Society was a major challenge and time commitment. Though it was hard work, it taught me how taking big risks can provide beautiful rewards.
I was awakened that night when I was sitting at my desk chair starring at my computer screen with a wide drooling mouth totally burnt out, knowing I had more to go. I sat there and must have had my eyes glued on the glowing computer screen for over ten minutes, the screen saver had come on. It started to float through images at the most melancholy pace that I felt my heart dip and slowly carve at my chest. I was feeling the feels while starring in front of me with a cow’s gaze at the images tumbling in front of my eyes. America’s heartland, mountains, rivers, oceans, cities, and towns were the subject of my attention. I loved where I was in California, but my heart started to make increasing scoops at my chest, I knew what it meant, my heart has told me this for quite a while… I really wanted to experience more. It dawned upon me that it was a priority that I take the trip I have always dreamt about. “Priority”… When I had this epiphany my eyes widened, my heart started beating madly, my head started running, and I knew the idea had hit. I had already dreamt about traveling by foot, at one point I moved all my belongings into a storage unit and lived out of my car in order to try and save money in hope that I could make a journey happen. I set up a cot on the beach and spent my nights sleeping beneath the stars. I took showers at 24 hour fitness, hung out at the local coffee shops, and at nights listened to the waves crash against the cliffs just missing me in its spray. I fell in love. School and life got in the way of my previous attempts but with graduation around the corner I knew it was time to get my plans in gear again.

The Need To Start Training

Where I sat till my friend picked me up after admitting my defeat, unable to complete my planned 40 mile trial walk.
Where I sat till my friend picked me up, after admitting my defeat, unable to complete my planned 40 mile practice walk.
I will never forget leaving my apartment on a warm morning with tight jeans and my old unfitted backpack. I had stuffed it to the rim with a mixed batch of thrown together gear and way too much food than I needed for my two-day-40-mile practice walk from the door step of my apartment in to a nearby mountain. I had been already telling people that I was going to hike across America after college, when they asked how I was going to do it I would say “I have no idea, but I am going to find out.”. It was spring break and I was ready to get my feet wet again and rediscover what backpacking was all about. I wanted to find what it took to walk 20 miles a day, so I planned this walk to build that perspective. The first day was invigorating, winding myself on backcountry roads, discovering places I hadn’t known existed. By the end of the first day my legs were overworked and in pain, but I had achieved my goal of walking 20 miles and landed myself in a baseball park for the night to sleep.  I remember optimistically thinking, “What a success!”. The following morning, I woke up to discover my legs no longer worked. I tried to get up but my muscles were so tight that every movement brought pain down to the core of my bones. I tried stretching, and it helped, but it didn’t help on beating the pain. I had 20 more miles to walk till I could go home, but I could only put in less than 10 painstaking sloppy-foot-pride-filled miles before I called my friend and had to ask her to pick me up, I had been defeated. It was easy to see that if I was going to do this I would need to get in shape.

Working Out

My results from beginning to end.
My results from beginning to end.
I didn’t waste time, I knew I had to get to work on my body. I had been to the gyms before and I realized it wasn’t for me. I needed something I can do easily, on my own time, that didn’t require having to drive somewhere to get it done. I decided to try out P-90X, an intense home workout program which requires about one and a half hours of devotion everyday for 90 days with the promise of getting amazing results. The results were truly phenomenal; the work outs were long and strenuous, but easy to do. The only work out gear I used included a pull up bar and 4 sets of weights up to 25 pounds. I feel my results are a true testimony that you may not have to get a gym pass to get your body in amazing shape.
My older brother and sister decided to join me on my challenge to complete a half marathon. As always my parents were around to support!
My older brother and sister decided to join me on my challenge to complete a half marathon. As always my parents were around to support!
After a month of P-90X I started including running and sprint training into my work out. I went from not being able to run a mile, to managing one with over a 10 min mile time, to my quickest single mile in my life clocking in at 5:51 seconds. I loved incorporating running into my regiment and decided to make the leap to train for a half marathon. In January 2013 I completed the Carlsbad Half Marathon in just over 2 hours before I left for my walk in March 2013. I became physically prepared to take on America.

Tips on Achieving Fitness Goals

Variety is the spice of life.  When running I enjoyed exploring new terrain. Creating new challenges may keep fitness interesting.
Variety is the spice of life. One of the goals I had when running was to  explore new terrain. Creating new challenges may keep fitness interesting.
Some people have found my results to be inspiring and have asked if I had any tips on getting in shape. From my experience  I offer these words of advice: Find a workout program that works for you. We all have different fitness goals and there are many ways to achieve them. For me gyms were too much of a hassle to get to during my day, working out at home was a solution which allowed me to avoid excuses. Keep records on what you are doing. You don’t know what to do if you don’t know what you have already done. Keeping detailed records allows you to create goals. Example: “ I did 20 push-ups last week, this week I am increasing to 25”. Reward yourself with something you like. You might find that it’s fun to reward yourself to keep motivation high. Find rewards that keep you energized and only reward yourself when you deserve it. For me I enjoyed a happy helping of beer “typically a training no-no, but lets be honest” ,fresh fruit smoothies, and lox asiago cheese bagels . Keep at it. No workout program was a success in just one day. Even if you just do small things everyday, the work you put in can amount to grand results. Create a larger goal. There is an old quote by Daniel Burnham, an amazing architect and city planner: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans.” Find something that you can aspire to. It can be a bet with a friend on who can do more push-ups at the end of the month or a future organized run you can participate in. Anything that is big enough and meaningful enough to get you going and keep you motivated. Start. You can’t get there unless you take the, often painful, steps of beginning. The first days may be challenging but as you stick with it, it becomes routine, it truly does get easier, and you start to see results. Our bodies are all different, but my experience shows that it may be possible to change your fitness level in a matter of months. I challenge everyone to reach towards their highest goals and to persist in finding joy in getting around life’s many challenges.

NEXT ARTICLE:

WalkUSA Planning Be sure to keep your eyes open for my next article where I will be sharing how I planned my hike. My hope is that it may shed some light on how you can plan your own hikes, large or small. Till next time, “Cheers!”. Check out the Next Article in this series: WalkUSA’s Adventure Series: Planning

Intro to Raising Chickens

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Chickens are great for food and self-sufficiency.  They are the oldest domesticated animal in the world, which means people have been using them for eggs, meat, manure compost, and insect control for  thousands of years.  If you’re thinking about starting your own flock, consider the following.

raising chickens for eggs Why do you want chickens? There is an investment of time and money involved, so consider your return.  These are the things you’ll have to do if you keep chickens:
  • Build a PREDATOR PROOF coop and run
  • Decide what kind of birds and how many
  • Raise the chicks or buy adult birds
  • Clean the coop regularly and compost or dispose of manure
  • Feed and water them
  • Deal with disease and/or destructive habits
  • Collect eggs regularly
  • Winterize your flock
  • Butcher and process them
how to raise chickens If you live in a town or city check city ordinances before you start your flock.  Most municipalities will allow a certain number of hens, but no roosters.  A rooster is not necessary for your hens to lay eggs, but it is for more baby chickens.  Investing the time and money to build a strong, secure coop and run can’t be overstated.  It is devastating to work hard raising a flock only to have it wiped out by predators, disease, or cannibalistic habits that arise from stressful conditions. A word of warning for first-time chicken keepers.  Some people get attached to their chickens, and eating your pets gets weird.  Do not let your kids take them into your house.  They actively carry salmonella and other bacteria that’s harmful to humans.  They are not house pets.  It may seem silly to bring it up, but people who didn’t grow up in the country struggle with this. Most people order chicks in the spring for egg and meat production. Chicks need a heat source for about three months before you can put them outside, depending on your climate and when you get them. They’ll require an inside area (it will get stinky and noisy) where you can install a heat lamp and have enough space for quickly growing critters. They need at minimum 1-2 square feet per bird as they  grow. They also need constant access to food and water, and daily cleaning.  It takes an average of 4-5 months for chickens to start laying eggs.  Meat birds mature between 3 and 5 months depending on the breed.  On average, after three years, egg production declines and then your hen becomes dinner or a pet. If you decide you’re ready, check back for articles on the next steps; choosing the right breeds and raising chicks.  chicken2

Everything you ever wanted to know about Garlic & it’s uses

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Garlic has been used by mankind for over 7,000 years! Garlic tastes amazing, at least to us, but did you know just how powerful this herb is. It does more than just keep Vampires at bay. Just some of the Uses fr Garlic that have been claimed
  • Acne
  • Athlete’s foot
  • Blood thinning
  • Cold sore treatment
  • Cold prevention
  • Cough syrup
  • Diabetes
  • Weight Loss Aid
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Pesticide
  • Psoriasis relief
  • Gas prevention
  • Ear infections
  • Splinter removal
  • Facial Skin cleanser
  • Yeast infections
  • Parasite killer
  • Fish bait
  • Mole removal
  • Hair loss help
  • Aphrodisiac
  • Reduces blood pressure
  • Toothaches
garlic uses  

Basics of Hammock Camping

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If you’re new to hammock camping, we thought this infographic would be useful to you hammock tutorial

Top Lightweight Methods for Treating Water When Backpacking

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In this comprehensive article we will be discussing the top lightweight methods for water treatment while traveling solo or in a group through the back country. After reading this article you will be familiar with many of the popular methods of water treatment including pump filters, point-of-use filters, gravity filters, chemical treatments, ultraviolet light, and boiling. For an overview of conclusions made for each system, scroll down to the bottom of the article. When weight is a concern it is important to consider different treatment methods and understand the advantages and drawback of each system. The options listed may be up for debate, personal preference, and depend upon the specific requirements for particular trips.

Solo Travel

survival water filters
Gathering water from a stream on the southern end of the Pacific Crest Trail
The following are the top two lightweight options for water treatments while traveling solo in the back country.All treatment systems discussed have the opportunity to weigh less than 4oz dependent upon the amount of water needed to be treated during a given trip.

Ultra Violet Light

Ultra Violet Light is a micro-organism killer. It has a wave length so short that it is able to destroy the nucleic acids in organisms scrambling their DNA so that they can no longer perform vital cellular functions, like reproducing. This James Bond method of water treatment is now available for outdoor enthusiast.
water purification
A) SteriPen Freedom B) CamelBak “All Clear” Water Purifier C) Meridian Designs Aqua Star
One of the most popular UV Light products for water treatment is the SteriPen. SteriPen has several different product models weighing under 4ozs with differences between weight, battery, longevity, display, and size. Other popular and great options are offered by Camelback and Meridian Designs.

Advantages:

-It‘s very quick. One liter of water can be treated in only 45-60 seconds. -It’s very light weight. At under 4ozs its is considerably lighter than many other options -It’s doesn’t clog up. Pumps and other filtration systems run the risk of building up sediment.

Disadvantages:

-It’s an electronic. It needs to use batteries or be charged and it can malfunction. Carrying a back-up treatment is generally recommended. -It’s expensive. Most units cost within the hundred dollar range. -Limited effectiveness in stagnant water. When water is cloudy and full of debris dangerous micro-organisms may be able to find shelter from the UV light leaving their cellular functions intact. -May not filter debris or pollution from the water source.

Survival Fact:

Did you know that water can be treated by the sun? UV Light naturally passing through our atmosphere can kill the micro-organisms in your water. The drawback, it takes very long! It is said that a clear plastic water bottle with one liter of water can take over 6 hours to be treated in direct sunlight.

Chemical Treatments (Iodine and Chlorine Dioxide):

Many chemical treatments come in liquid and tablet form. They are general dropped in dirty water containers and take 20-30 minutes to treat one liter of water. There are two popular chemical treatments available, iodine and chlorine dioxide. The once popular iodine water treatments may have started to go out of favor with outdoor enthusiasts. Iodine, even with taste enhancing treatments, carries an unpleasant flavor that may detract from the connection of the natural source that water is pulled from. There are some differences between the two chemicals. Iodine may not treat water for viruses but chlorine will. Both will treat water of from giardia, a dangerous protozoan parasite, but iodine may not treat water from cryptosporidiosis which causes diarrhea.
survival water filters
A) Portable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide B) Portable Aqua Iodine
 

Advantages:

-It’s light weight. You can carry what you need.

Disadvantages:

-May change the taste of the water, detracting from the connection from the natural source. -Longer treatment times than UV light. -Doesn’t filter debris or pollution from the water source.

Other considerations

The following are the top lightweight water treatments for solo travel, but what about the other options? Why wasn’t boiling water discussed?  What about pump filters? Great questions, let us discuss these other options.
sawyer water filter
Boiling water using natural fuel in the back country could be the lightest means of water treatment. However, when the decision is made to carry fuel to treat water through boiling, it becomes out of favor from other light weight alternatives.
Boiling water: Boiling water is a great light weight option for treating water in the back country. Creating a fire off natural fuel can be one of the lightest options for treating water. However, when the decision is made to carry fuel only to boil water in order to treat it, boiling becomes out of favor. The amount of fuel required to boil a sizable amount of water out-weighs the other suggested options. Pump Filters: Are you trying to get water from a very small source? Is the water you need to treat stagnant? Pump filters may be the best option in these cases. Pump Filters weight ranges from 7oz and up and can help mitigate these problems in your solo travels.
LifeStraw Sawyer Mini
A) LifeStraw B) Sawyer Mini
Point-Of-Use Filters: Many point-of-use filters have started to get buzz in the market. Popular filters like the LifeStraw have been given a lot of praise in the news for being a solution to the water crisis in developing parts of the world. Point-of-use filters were once criticized for not being able to treat gaurdia because of its iodine treatment method.  Now, many point-of-use filters do not use iodine but rather micro-filtration systems, usually a set of micro-pores that the water must flow through, that can treat water against 99.9% of protozoan parasites. Point-of-Use Filters may not at once have been a widely adopted filtration system for lightweight backpackers for a few reasons. One being that the flow rate or “suck-ability”, how hard and long it takes to suck water through the system, was strongly lacking making it uncomfortable and slow to pull water through.  Additionally Pump-filters and point-of-use filters both run the risk of becoming clogged by sediment over time.  They many not treat water against viruses. However, now point-of-use filters have claims of improved flow rates and streamlined system designs. They are an interesting system to consider with weights from 2oz and up.

Group Travel

Groups of two or more hikers may have different water requirements and needs.
Groups of two or more hikers may have different water requirements and needs.
In a group there may be the additional need to fill up multiple bottles for more than one person. Although each individual could carry their own separate treatment, it may be more weight and time efficient to consider alternative systems.

Gravity Filtration:

When traveling with one or more people a gravity filtration device may be your best option. There are several popular gravity filtration systems, such as Platypus Gravity Works and several options that have been developed by Sawyer, all are less then 11oz. Gravity filtration devices work similar to pumps but instead of pushing a lever to pump the water, gravity does the work. Gravity filtration devices have one “Dirty bag” where dirty water is stored and one “clean bag” for the filtered water to flow into.

camping water storage platypus gravity sawyer gravity
A) Platypus GravityWorks B) Sawyer Gravity Filtration System

Advantages:

-Allows quick filtration at a large scale, perfect for those traveling with groups -No pumping, easy use system

Disadvantages:

-May be difficult to gather water from small water sources. -May not be the best option for stagnant water sources

Pump Filtration:

Pump filtration usually requires having to pump a lever to pull dirty water through an input hose to pass through a filter before releasing through a clean output hose providing drinkable water. Popular light weight pump filters may include the MSR Hyperflow (8oz) and the Katadyn Hiker Pro (11oz).
MSR Hyperflow and  Katadyn Hiker Pro
A) MSR Hyperflow and B) Katadyn Hiker Pro
 

Advantages:

-Great for treating water from stagnant sources. -Great for gathering water from small sources of water.

Disadvantages:

-One of the heaviest systems for water treatment. -Not as fast as gravity filters.

Conclusion

Choosing the right water treatment may come down to personal preference and depend upon the specific requirements for a particular trip. Each system has its advantages and drawbacks that should be considered. The following is an overview of the systems discussed, each system is rated on a 3 point scale (3 being highest) for its effectiveness for treating low quality water, its ability to treat stagnate water, its group ease, its general ease of use, and on basis of the system’s weight. Overview Of Lightweight Treatment Here are some general rules of thumb: If the water source you will be pulling from is stagnant a pump system may be the best method to treat water in both a solo and group setting. If the water is expected to be flowing while traveling solo the lightest weight options will generally be UV light or chemical treatment. If there are two or more traveling in a party and the water is expected to be flowing a gravity filter may be the best method to accommodate the group’s water needs.  

10 Weeds that Heal

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So many of us look towards Roots, herbs and plants for natural organic healing, that often times Weeds are overlooked. Here are 10 Weeds That heal. These are some great ones & uses we had not seen or heard of before. Pass it along to your friends
  1. Shepherd’s Purse
  2. Cleavers
  3. Chickweed
  4. Dandelion
  5. Groundsel
  6. Mallows
  7. St. John’s Wort
  8. Self Heal
  9. USNEA
  10. Yarrow
Weeds that heal

Man washed up on boat on Marshall Islands says he’s been adrift 16 months

(pic from Castaway) – An emaciated man whose boat washed up on the shores of the Pacific’s Marshall Islands is reportedly telling a harrowing tale of being adrift for 16 months, surviving on fish, birds, and turtle blood. The man—who only speaks Spanish—says he drifted more than 8,000 miles in his 24-foot fiberglass boat, after leaving Mexico for El Salvador in September 2012, the AFP reports. He had been traveling with a companion who he says died at sea several months ago. Think you could have survived? Full Story here: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/01/31/man-washed-up-on-boat-on-marshall-islands-says-been-adrift-16-months/

How to Take Perfect Photos When Hiking Solo Using a Mobile Phone

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It is possible to take great pictures when hiking solo with a mobile phone without the hassle of using timers. The method is called “Film and Grab”, where video is taken of a moment and then from any portion of the film a single frame can be used as a picture. NO TIMERS! You heard me! It’s really simple. Requirments (2):
  1. iPhone or Andriod Smartphone Device
  2. One of the following applications that can grab video frames
The following applications are just a few of the options that are available on the marketplace that can be used: Android: AndroVid androidAndroVid can be purchased off the Google “Play” application market. The free version will allow you to do all the operations required to select any image as a photo from a video, Pro will gives you additional features. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androvid       Apple: Video 2 Photo Video to Photo IconJPEGVideo 2 Photo allows you to export one or more high quality photos from your videos on your apple device. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/video-2-photo-extract-still/id487353844?mt=8

   

How It’s Done

Step One: Set up your Camera One of the most common methods I use to set up my camera in the back country is to attach my phone to one of my trekking poles using a hair-tie or rubber band. However, you can set your phone up on any improvised set up. Get innovative to achieve the angle you want, sometimes I’ll lean my phone against a rock, stick, or up in the branches of a tree. Get creative but be careful with your device!
In this picture I rest my camera above me on the fire tower and place a small amount of weight on the phone to keep it from teetering off. Get creative on how you set up your camera but be careful with your device!
In this picture I rest my camera above me towards the top of the fire tower and place a small amount of weight on the phone to keep it from teetering off. Get creative on how you set up your camera but be careful with your device!
 

Step Two: Take the Video

Click record and show the world what you do! Remember that you can choose any frame from the video that you are filming, so if you are looking for the perfect picture don’t forget to give your video some variety. You may thank yourself later!Variety Tips: -Set the screen brightness on low to help conserve battery -Check the cameras resolution settings, the higher the resolution the more space the video will take up. Make sure you have enough space available for the video before you go live your moment.

Step Three: Use the Application

Follow your applications directions for grabbing a photo from the video. The following example is for Android devices using AndroVid. 1. Go to the device’s gallery and find the video taken. 2. Click the video and the phone will prompt about the different applications that you can choose to open it. Choose AndroVid. AndroVidJPEG                                 3.In AndroVid, on the top tool bar, click the camera image that says “Grab”. Frame GrabJPEG                                

4. Search the video for the desired frame for the picture. Click the camera icon on the top right to grab the image.

5. Save the image, directly upload it, or open up the new image in a different program for further processing.

Tips:

-If battery conservation is important while traveling you can choose to select your photos later when the time is more appropriate.

-Low on storage space? After you retrieve the picture from the video you can delete the video to create more available space.

How to make Old Fashioned Ketchup – Recipe

Clipping of an old Fashioned Ketchup Recipe we thought you might like Old-Fashioned Ketchup 48 medium tomatoes (8 lbs.), peeled 2 ripe red peppers, chopped 2 sweet green peppers, chopped 4 onions, chopped 3 c. white vinegar 3 c. sugar 3 T. salt 1 1/2 tsp. cloves 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1 1/2 tsp. allspice 3 tsp. ground dry mustard 1/2 tsp. hot red peppers Boil tomatoes, peppers and onions until tender. Run through sieve or strainer. Add remaining ingredients. Boil until thick and pour into jars. ketchup recipe Here’s a slightly different version we found too, let us know if you try making either! ketchup-recipes    

Comparison of Lightweight Shelter Protection

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ultra light weight camping In this discussion of lightweight shelters we will be looking at 5 basic shelter options for use in back country travel and discuss some of the advantages and drawbacks of each system in terms of protection they provide. The scope of the shelter systems we will inspect are: No Shelter, Water Resistant Breathable Bivy, Waterproof Breathable Bivy, Open Tarp, and the Mid Tarp. With each option we will be discussing the attributes of each shelter system in terms of its protection from dew, wind, rain, snow, and insects.

Brief Introduction to the Shelter Systems

The following are brief introductions to the shelter systems discussed: Water Resistant Breathable and Waterproof Breathable Bivy Sacks BivyA bivy sack is an extremely small and lightweight shelter that can be used as an alternative to a tarp or tent for a shelter. What makes it water resistant or waterproof is the fabric that it is constructed with. Waterproof bivy sacks, even with the advance of waterproof/breathable fabrics like Gore-Tex and E-Vent, are less breathable than water resistant bivy sacks due the different fabrics they are made of. In result, waterproof bivy sacks can commonly become uncomfortable and moist inside. Open Tarps Flat Tarp Open Tarps are simple shelters commonly rigged with hiking poles, tent pegs, and guy lines. They come in many designs, from simple rectangle pieces of nylon or plastic to more elaborate shaped cuts made with extremely lightweight and durable fabrics such as cuben fiber. They typically are floorless, though ground sheets are commonly used to keep occupants off bare ground. Mid Tarps Mid tarp Mid tarps are similar to open tarps in the way they are rigged, however their design creates a full enclosure with a small gap at the bottom for ventilation.

Dew

Unless you break camp early enough to escape, morning dew is going to fall upon your shelter system. The following chart provides a breakdown of protection that each shelter system provides against dew in a five point rating system. Dew No Shelter- Without any protection, dew may be strong enough to soak a sleeping bag which can cause it to lose its loft and warmth. If there is no time to dry it out the accumulative effects over a couple days may wreck havoc to a sleeping system. If dew is a concern a synthetic bag during good weather may be a better suited option when traveling without a shelter.

Water Resistant Breathable Bivy- Because the fabric is not fully waterproof heavy dew is still likely to soak through the permeable fabric, yet it provides more protection than having nothing.

WPB Bivy, Open Tarps, Mid Tarp- The remaining shelter systems offer full protection from dew.  

Inclement Conditions

During inclement conditions it is important to be prepared with adequate shelter. The three conditions we will be discussing are wind, rain, and snow. The following chart shows a breakdown of the protection that each shelter system provides against these conditions in a five point rating system. Wind,Rain,Snow No Shelter– Having no shelter provides little protection from inclement conditions. However, the study of wilderness survival skills can help mitigate risk and provide shelter as adequate as the skills, tools, time, and materials that are available to an individual or group. Water Resistant Breathable Bivy– Provides slightly more protection than no shelter. It is a popular option to combine a WRB Bivy with an open tarp to create a more adequate shelter system. Waterpoof Breathable Bivy– Although WRB Bivy provides better protection from wind and rain, during a snow storm they are subjected to snow loading. Snow loading is the accumulation of snow on a shelter which can affect the integrity of the shelter. With both WRB and WPB bivy sacks the snow accumulation can compresses the insulation in a sleeping bag which will result in a loss of warmth. Open Tarps- When analyzing the adequacy of open tarps in inclement conditions it is important to note that protection depends on how and where the tarp is pitched.  Understanding campsite selection techniques may increase the ability of an open tarp to provide protection in these conditions. Remember in most situations open tarps will usually have at least one or more open faces to the wind. Open tarps are also subject to snow loading because the structure lacks support. Snow loading can warp the tarps structure and possibly lead to seam failure.
This photo is an example of an open tarp. In inclement conditions one or more sides can be directly staked to the ground to provide more protection in a storm.
This photo is an example of an open tarp. In inclement conditions one or more sides can be directly staked to the ground to provide more protection in a storm.
Mid Tarps- Mid tarps provide the most protection in inclement conditions. This is attributed to its design which creates a full perimeter shelter that has no open sides which gives great protection from wind and rain. Mid tarps also handle snow well because it doesn’t accumulate and instead rolls off the tarps steep sides and accumulates around the perimeter.

Insect Protection

Those who have protection from bugs remain sane. The following chart shows a breakdown of the protection that each shelter system provides against insects in a five point rating system. Insect Protection No Shelter– Very little protection from bugs without a shelter. However, during cold seasons bugs may not be an issue. WRB Bivy and WPB Bivy– As long as the bivy is closed it provides excellent insect protection. Open Tarps- Open tarps by themselves offer very little insect protection. However, open tarps can have  no-see-um mesh sewn around the perimeter that can provide adequate protection from bugs. The mesh can also bring small gains in rain protection as droplets accumulate in the lining. Mid Tarps– Although the bottom of a Mid tarp remains open allowing crawlers open access, the mid tarp provides better protection from flying bugs because the tarp has no open sides. Additionally, flying bugs may seek warmth which gathers towards the top of the tarp, remaining out of the area of the occupant. Mid tarps can also be paired with no-see-um mesh which will increase its bug protection.

Conclusion

light weight backpacking Many of the shelters discussed can be less than one pound and smaller than a large water bottle. But what shelter provides the most protection? It may depend. Displayed in the chart below are the averages from each of the ratings that each shelter was given from above. OverviewNo Shelter– Having no shelter provides very little protection but has the lowest weight. Carrying no shelter is ideally suited for experienced travelers in good weather when the objective is to keep pack weight at the maximum minimum. WRB Bivy– Provides more protection in inclement conditions than not having a shelter and provides excellent protection against bugs. A popular option is to pair a WRB bivy with an open tarp to create more adequate protection from dew, wind, and rain. WPB Bivy– Provides greater protection against dew, wind, and rain than a WRB Bivy but may carry additional drawbacks. Waterproof breathable fabrics such as Gore-tex have come a long way but still lack adequate protection against condensation. You may be dry from the rain, but inside the bivy you may find that condensation and sweat can build up and dampen your bag internally and lead to uncomfortable sleeping conditions. Additionally, bivys provide little in respect to livability. Open Tarps– Open tarps create the most debate about its adequacy of protection. When dealing with open tarps outdoor experience plays a major role in how the shelter will serve. Open tarps allow flexibility in the ways it can be pitched to accommodate different scenarios. With the addition of mesh lining around the perimeter, the tarp can supply adequate bug protection. When combined with a WRB bivy its protection can be strengthened against wind, rain, and bugs. Mid Tarp– Receiving the best overall rating, mid tarps provide a wide variety of benefits when compared to other light weight shelter options. It has great performance against dew, wind, rain, and bugs. When encountering snow it is the only shelter analyzed that doesn’t succumb to snow loading due to a steep wall design. Mid tarps are a common shelter system used by a wide variety of the world’s most influential lightweight backpackers.