Hi, my trail name is Brawny. Please come in, take off your shoes , look around, and make yourself comfortable.Life holds no promises; I believe we ought to be active participants in our own destinies, leaving fate to those who linger in doubt. May all your adventures both inspire you, and keep you young.
This photo was taken below John Muir Hut, 6 weeks into my PCT hike in 2001. My packless system is getting a good workout.
See my ice axe strapped to the various silnylon sacks, and water bottle carriers cinched to 4 corners of the frame? Check out more details on the The Packless System for an easy way to modify an external frame.
--My new book about my journey to personal freedom, and my adventures on the PCT, JMT, and AT. The second half of the book is all about my ultralight techniques, with directions for making your own gear and gear lists.
--journal of my Pacific Crest Trail hike in 2000, including gear list, from Sonora Pass to Crater Lake
--journal of my solo Pacific Crest Trail hike in 2001, Campo, California, to Sonora Pass, and then the completion of the trail with Rainmaker, from Crater Lake to Manning Park, Canada.
--journal of the John Muir Trail, with new photos and stories
--before and after gear list, photos and descriptions of my pack and tent, with a final base weight (which includes clothing worn) of 8 pounds 2 ounces.
--from my thru hike March 12-August 14th
--links, hiker friendly data sheet, profile map and basic map, with trail notes for Georgia and North Carolina. Newly added discription of the S.Carolina section which ends at the Foothills Trail intersection.
--journal of the Colorado Trail thru-hike
--The next odyssey, complete with an up to date 2004 gear list for the Montana-Idaho section of the CDT, links, and information. My 2003 journal and gear list for the Colorado Trail, which runs concurrent for over 300 miles with the CDT is on this page as well.
--links, and trail journal for this trail which goes along the Blue Ridge Escarpment in North and South Carolina.
--trips to Cozumel, Mexico, The Long Trail, my Brawny video Productions and more. This page dedicated to the child in us all
-- ultralight tips learned over the years, plus new ones we have developed, complete with important links
--thoughts about personal strengths and goals, and a consideration of the "why" question, also, an essay on my personal ultralight philosophy
--people, things, poems that offer inspiration
--Silnylon Teepee I designed and made November 2002. It weighs under 3 pounds and sleeps 6-8.
Check out my video on YouTube:
--completely nested system weighing 3 just ounces used on the Appalachian Trail 2002
--used extensively on the Pacific Crest Trail, with photos and test result conclusionsHow to Make Silnylon Stuff Sacks
For a demonstration on how to make your own stuff sacks, including those used in the packless system, click on video link. More how-to films are being planned for my channel at youtube .
--the place for raisin afficionados, recipes, how to pack a bear cannister, and a lot more helpful information how to make your own gear and links.
--just a bit about me