Guestbook

Ray & Jenny's Guestbook

FAQs

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101)	Ray

AZ
2010-2-28 09:38 PM

The Guestbook is temporarily closed for comments or questions. No further posts will appear until I return from my NFT. I am concentrating on my own projects - designing, sewing, and so forth, and of course training.

Two exceptions:

You may use the “Add your comments here” link to send Jenny any concerns about an order already placed. Jenny will read your input, even though your post will not appear in public.

And you may use the link to send us feedback about Ray-Way gear that you have sewn.

Please keep an eye on our "News" page for any updates from me or Jenny.

100)	Liz S.

CA
2010-2-26 03:13 PM

I would like to make a tarp and net tent, but I see that the tarp book is not in stock. Do instructions come with the kit or will I need to wait until you have tarp books back in stock before I can make my kit?

Ray 2010-2-26 03:17 PM
Liz: The Kits come with complete sewing instructions. Thanks to your reminder, I have updated our Tarp Kit webpage.

RayJardine.com/ray-way/Tarp-Kit

99)	Rhett T.

Dallas
2010-2-24 11:28 PM

Thanks so much for the PCT Hikers Handbook, I've really enjoyed it- I am implementing as many of your philosophies as possible to my first thru-hike ever.

98)	Casey K.

Portland, Oregon
2010-2-24 07:52 AM

Hi Ray and Jenny,

Any eta as to when the Tarp Book will be in stock?

Thanks for all the wonderful knowledge you share with others!!

Casey

Ray 2010-2-24 08:41 AM
Casey: I'm planning to get to work on a much expanded edition, as soon as I return from my NFT.

97)	Paula C.

Australia
2010-2-24 12:05 AM

Hi Ray,

Wish I had found this in 2004. I walked an awfully long way through Europe with a vastly oversized pack. But I have a question I hoped you could answer?
I am planning to hike the International Appalachian Trail next year. I found last time that I tend to get very cold at night - even in heat, I get chilled. I wondered if your quilts can cater for that - the ground chill? In weather than went -5, I found I needed a bag that went -15 to stay warm. I would love to know what you think. Otherwise, I plan to totally convert to your system. Bloody brilliant.

Paula

Ray 2010-2-24 01:44 AM
Paula: I have written much about that in my latest book Trail Life. The ability of a person to generate warmth depends on his/her metabolism, and that depends on how fit the person is. The more fit, the more warmth the person can generate, and the colder temperatures he/she can comfortably tolerate.

Now on a long journey, such as the AT, you will get fit after a while - due to the near-constant climbing. Believe me, it’s not like what people think. But until that happens you will need more insulation. On the other hand, the AT in summer is not very cold. I would be very surprised if you needed more than our standard quilt with two layers of .75” insulation. I used one layer last year. Be sure to wear a warm hat, and you might need a slightly thicker foam pad. I bet with that arrangement in mid summer you will be too hot.

If/when you start earlier in the year, you will need more warmth in your sleeping gear. But you have to carry it up each mountain. So I would suggest a 2-layer quilt with Alpine insulation, and also an insulated jacked and maybe insulated pants. That would give you the most flexibility. And don’t forget about the beefier foam pad.

96)	Edward B.

Rancho Mirage, California
2010-2-22 01:00 PM

What size of backpack kit should a solo hiker order that will use your kits? I know that you share gear with your wife and I will not.

Ray 2010-2-22 03:11 PM
You might have missed this page:

rayjardine.com/adventures/2009-AT/index.htm

I’ve added some info on our Backpack Kit page:

rayjardine.com/ray-way/Backpack-Kit/index.htm

See “a bit of philosophy” and “General Guidelines”

95)	Mike D

Perth, WA Australia
2010-2-20 07:35 AM

Dear Ray and Jenny, Last year I bought a tarp, net tent and backpack from you. I had never sewed anything before. With your advice, high quality products and instructions I successfully finished all of these projects. I have started to lay some claim to what was until recently my "wife's" sewing machine!! I have used all of the items on some hikes since finishing them and am very happy with the quality of all of them. I have become quite committed to reduction in weight of my gear and love sleeping in the tarp versus a tent. I have just now placed an order for a quilt and am looking forward to getting it finished ready for some more hiking in our autumn. I am happy for you to quote my recommendation for your products to others. Best regards, Mike D.

Ray 2010-2-20 09:56 AM
Mike: Thanks for your generous comments. Jenny has sent your order to you this morning.

94)	Ben F.

Wales, UK
2010-2-19 06:29 PM

Hi
I'm really keen to order one of your quilts, but I'm not sure which insulation I should go for. I'm looking for a quilt to keep me warm in British spring and summer and also summer conditions in the smokey mountains of NC.
Should I go for x2 of the 0.75 or 1x 0.9 alpine?
I'm generally a pretty warm sleeper and tend to carry a light synthetic jacket with me.

Thanks
Ben

Ray 2010-2-20 08:24 AM
Ben: We can’t advise you on that, because each person’s requirements are different. But British spring sounds like x2 of 0.75. You can read about what I used in the Smokey’s:

http://www.rayjardine.com/adventures/2009-AT/index.htm

93)	Teresa H.

OH
2010-2-17 02:08 PM

I like to hike in a skirt, and have hiked successfully in jean skirts on short trips. However, I am planning a 2011 AT thru-hike. Would your urethane coated nylon material be strong enough to make a skirt? Would it drape? Could I attach snaps effectively? Would it squeak under constant movement? I am basically looking for wind protection and modest coverage. I plan to layer for warmth. Thanks.

Ray 2010-2-17 03:45 PM
Teresa: In this day and age, a skirt is much more dangerous to hike in that most people realize. And the longer the skirt, the more dangerous. This is because a skirt gives the ticks free access to one’s legs, yet the skirt hides any ticks crawling around on the legs. So the hiker cannot see them. If I were a tick, I would look for a hiker coming down the trail in a skirt. That would practically guarantee a free meal.

Shorts are not much better, as I learned last summer. I kept a sharp eye on my bare legs, and found a bunch of ticks throughout the hike. I easily removed them all.

But it was the one I didn’t find on my leg that caused the problems.

If I had been wearing long pants tucked into the socks, I would have spared myself two months of laying flat on my back, after the hike.

Even long pants are no guarantee, but I think that they are a 100 times safer than hiking in shorts, and 10,000 times safer than hiking in a skirt.

Now, most people know that DEET is effective protection.

I differ with that.

I think that DEET does not deter ticks hardily at all.

Many times I found ticks on my legs, even though my legs were coated with DEET. And the one that got me was also ignoring the DEET.

Moreover, most people know that camping in the leaf litter is dangerous. That it is safer to sleep in the shelters.

Wong again.

While sleeping in a shelter, a tick could crawl off someone’s clothing, boots or backpack, and easily reach you.

But while sleeping in a Spitfire, any ticks cannot get to you from outside. It would be much the same in a Net-Tent, but the Spitfire proves a better seal because of the zippers.

I estimate that about four-dozen AT hikers contracted tick-related disease last year. Many of them were thru-hikers.

That’s just my estimate, based on the people I met and the stories I heard. I would not be surprised if my estimate were too conservative.

And I estimate that most of these people picked up the tick while hiking. I know that I did.

So I think that wearing long pants tucked into the socks could make a huge difference in a hiker’s safety.

Long pants won’t do a thing for one’s upper body, of course. But they would improve the odds greatly.

92)	Frank W.

Meadville, PA
2010-2-17 01:16 PM

I just finished my first knife and was very impressed with the instructions and materials for both the knife and sheath. Wonderful hobby to have, thanks!

91)	Kit K.

Federal Way, WA
2010-2-14 02:49 PM

I am totally impressed and overwhelmed with awe. I literally stayed up all night reading almost every page of your website. I was searching the web for military camo tarps and came across your fabulous ideas of using tarps instead of tents and then I was drawn in on the first cast of every story of your adventures in the great outdoors. You have an attitude that makes your journeys a reality and the relationship you have with your wife is amazingly beautiful.

90)	J.G.G.

Central Virginia
2010-2-12 07:32 PM

Hey guys. I've long thought about writing and finally merely decided to say "thanks". Simply - thanks. Thanks for always being there, for your forward thinking, for your inspiration, for proving it can be done, for being bulletproof to the non-believers, for never quitting, for doing it right, for doing it first, for doing it best.

With great appreciation, respect, and sincerity - simply - thanks.

Ray & Jenny 2010-2-12 10:54 PM
J.G.G.: Best wishes, with sincere thanks for your comments.

89)	Jeremy K.

Alberta Canada
2010-2-12 03:52 PM

I built the Net Tent and am more than happy with it - can't wait for bug season!

I really like the materials you supply, particularly the cord. I'd like to get a reel of it. Can you help me?

Thanks for providing your unique service; its a real benefit for people like myself.

Jenny 2010-2-12 10:44 PM
Thanks, and we'll quote you on a reel of cord. Look for a message from us.

88)	Dane R.

denmark
2010-2-7 04:15 PM

Hi there,

I'm about to put down an order for a tarp, a net tent + a spitfire. My plan was to make a 2-person net tent for when ever we are to people out and then use the spitfire when hiking alone. I would make the tarp a 2-person.

My question is if I can make the spitfire fit under the 2-person tarp?

Jenny 2010-2-12 10:47 PM
Dane: Yes, with longer cords.

87)	Ray

AZ
2010-2-2 08:26 PM

The Guestbook is temporarily closed for comments or questions. No further posts will appear until I return from my NFT. During Feb I am concentrating on my own projects - designing, sewing, and so forth, and of course training.

Two exceptions:

You may use the “Add your comments here” link to send Jenny any concerns about an order already placed. Jenny will read your input, even though your post will not appear in public.

And you may use the link to send us feedback about Ray-Way gear that you have sewn. That too will not appear, until I finish my NFT.

I am no longer reading input, but will catch up when I return this summer.

Meanwhile, keep an eye on our "News" page for any updates from me or Jenny.

86)	Robert K.

Atlanta GA
2010-1-31 11:01 PM

You are my heroes. After reading both "beyond backpacking" and "trail life" i feel like i've shed shackles and chains. Would love to meet you someday. Happy trails.

Ray 2010-2-2 08:30 PM
Robert: Thank you very much. That was very nice of you. Maybe somewhere along the trails.

85)	Brian W.

Bremerton,WA
2010-1-31 12:25 AM

I'm all set to go kayak the Willamette River in segments this Summer, and the Bowron Lake circuit up in BC. I plan on doing the Mackenzie River next year (Summer), and have two paddling questions.

I love your paddling journals on here and read them for inspiration/motivation from time to time, but I wonder why a tent was used instead of a tarp? Every book I can find on the subject states the same thing, but I believe that to be the "normal" camping mentality. High winds, weathered in, weight, and space all seem to favor a tarp for Summer usage with bugs being the exception. If a tent is better, what kind should be sought out (3 season, etc)?

Also, I wonder if you had any advice on maximizing daily paddling mileage? No book I can find goes into this at all other than to suggest paddling technique variations. Thank you for your time, and have a great NFT.

Ray 2010-1-31 01:13 AM
Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit is on our list for doing someday. For the Mackenzie I would use a Canoe because of the large holding space and easy loading. We used a 21-foot kayak but it had a huge carrying capacity. I would tend to recommend the Yukon over the Mackenzie; it’s much prettier and still a beginner’s route. And it’s twice as long.

For the Bowron, which is well below the sub-Arctic, I might take a tarp with a Spitfire. For which tent to use on the Mackenzie or Yukon, sorry but I don’t make brand-name recommendations. But yes, a tarp and Spitfire might work very well. If you ever paddle a big lake and river route in the sub-Arctic, take a bombproof tent. Think STRONG wind. No, I mean STRONG!

Maximizing daily paddling mileage; same as maximizing daily hiking mileage: Training. But, don’t worry about paddling high speeds. On the Yukon we often paddled 100 mile days, at least for the first half. But that was simply a matter of staying in the boat and letting the current pull us along as we paddled only moderately. On these river trips, how many hours you remain in your boat each day = how many miles you do each day. Same with paddling a canoe or kayak on big lakes. Same with hiking big miles: I hike slowly but remain on the trail for longer each day.

Paddling a kayak: We use un-feathered paddles to minimize stress injury.

84)	Steven D.

Tucson
2010-1-30 11:10 PM

Greetings Mr Jardine. Did I possibly see you at Catalina State Park the other day? (Do you drive a late model Jeep?) Best of success with your training and NFT, and Thanks for the impromptu trail work. Our trails certainly can use all the help they can get.

Ray 2010-1-31 12:36 AM
Steven: Quite possibly, but I don’t have a Jeep. I meet hundreds below the pools. But it is always in the evenings, on my way back down. During the day, I am high on the mountain, where there aren't many people, as described above, at least this time of year. I'm usually the first to arrive in the mornings, and I start in the dark.

If you see me again, be sure to say hi.

PS: thanks for the kudos on the trail work. For everyone: I love working on trails, and do as much as possible. Its good exercise, and I have a deep feeling that I am paying the trails back for all they give me. Or maybe that I am helping other hikers enjoy the trails a little bit more. Certainly, I enjoy those trails that I have worked on.

I think many or most hikers have no idea of the work required to maintain a trail to high standards. Usually people just default to the trail maintenance crew. Nothing wrong with that, until congress cuts the spending - which is what is happening.

If you read the news and put two and two together, you might agree that our trails are now in trouble. Especially in the National Parks. But the problem is, our nation’s trail systems are holding our wild places together. Without the trails, our wild places would be attacked by forces including the logging industry, the land development and real estate industries, mining and ranching interests, and so forth. They all want that land, and without our trails, what’s the purpose of keeping them away from it. Hey! Land development is good for the economy. It creates jobs. It creates wealth (for a chosen few).

Without our trails, our wild places would be in trouble. And that would be a disaster.

So, as the congressional funding for trail maintenance slowly evaporates, it’s up to us - we hikers - to get out there and maintain our trails. And the more we do that, the more our trails would mean to us. And by doing that, we would be sending a much more powerful message that we want our wild places protected.

83)	Jack Y.

Winters CA
2010-1-30 11:50 AM

I have a question regarding batting -- I sleep warm & my traveling companion sleeps cold. Do you have any comments on her idea to put the Xtra layer on "her" side of the quilt, leaving me to be a little cooler, as I like. thanks for your response.

Ray 2010-1-31 09:30 PM
Jack: that sounds like a good idea. Another idea is for your wife to wear more clothes at night, since she may need them anyway, during the day.

82)	Kai F.

Vermont
2010-1-29 12:49 PM

[...]

Ray 2010-1-31 08:19 PM
Kai: You are doing some good thinking, but it sounds like you are looking for an expert to validate your thinking, or maybe just to air it. Someone of your caliber does not need to do that. You can get a whole lot more accomplished by trusting yourself. So go ahead and take it to the next level.

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