Armed and Dangerous

Hand me my adventuring hat, I’m ready to hack my way thru any jungles that would tempt the likes of Indiana Jones.

I am now the proud owner of a machete.

It’s an unwieldy thing. It’s very heavy at the end. Not at all balanced like the professional types I handled at the Military Surplus store. Those were real monsters. 2 foot long blades. Still, mine is a beast at a mere 18 inches in length.

In the middle of the desert, you’d think a machete wouldn’t be necessary. For the most part, it isn’t. There are some areas in the mountains and canyons that get heavy growth, but not so much that it’s really needed.

Mainly, it’s for defense. I’ll be out in the middle of nowhere, all alone. It’s a good deterrent against any axe murderer that should happen by. Just nicking him gently under the chin lets him know that I’m not interested in being hacked to bits, and that it’s time to go find another victim - I’m not available.

It’s also part of my broad-minded future planning. Acquiring equipment that will be used for a lot of different journeys. It doesn’t hurt to own it now, and it makes me look oh-so-sexy with a sword strapped to my hip...I couldn’t resist.

Home is where I lay my head at night

After beating myself up over the decision, I finally purchased my portable shelter. I have been agonizing over two specific tents, a 2 person tent that’s just big enough for me, and a 4 person tent that’s just big enough for me and my ego.

They were only $10 apart in price, but the size and weight difference is considerable. I really didn’t think the smaller of the two would be sufficient. With it’s 6x5 floor space, I cannot stretch out my full 6’1 frame. 6x5 is a hoax, anyways. The tent isn’t square. It peaks at one end, and is only a foot and a half wide. The next size up tent is 9x7. Plenty of room all around. And it’s a perfect rectangle in design, so no lost space.

Both tents fit into the frame pack I used to measure them. When I am trekking through the desert, not being overwhelmed by the weight is a big factor. But then, a comfortable sleep is important the longer the trip goes. Being tired and hiking 20 miles don’t go well together. Also, sharing space with my food supply is a factor. It’s good to be able to carry food, when you’re hiking in the last few acres of America where there isn’t a 7-11 on every corner.

Finally, I decided that I�d end up going the same route with a tent that I will with backpacks. I’ll get both! I figured that the smaller one will do fine, for my test runs. For long, extended distance trips, the small one will be perfect. I can sleep in it, I can sit up and write my logs at night, and it’s light and gives me lots of space for storing gear. For trips that are more of a getaway nature, where I will be doing more camping and resting than hiking, the bigger tent will be better. It allows me more comfort, and the extra weight is not as much of a factor, since I will be on the move less.