sdf527 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Ken and I have recuperated from our Yuma mountain sheep prospecting ordeal and have devised a new and perhaps overly ambitious plan. With the help of a fellow prospector, we have come up with an area with few roads and rugged hills that produced some placer gold in the past. We have decided to backpack in to the most remote section for a 2 day exploration. We are limited to 2 days because of 2 major obstacles. Water and batteries. At 8lbs a gallon, basic backpacking gear and prospecting gear, a packs adds up quick. I put my pack together last night. With 2 gallons of water and minimal camping gear it comes in at about 45 lbs. I was forced to buy yuppie freeze dried backpacking meals because of the space and weight considerations. Unfortunately, they haven't invented freeze dried beer or wine. Reminds me of W.C. Fields dreadful experience. Stranded in the wilderness, he was forced to live on food and water for several days. I did manage to include a small container of red wine for medicinal purposes. I might get sticker in my finger or something and need some analgesic.So we're off tomorrow morning return late Wed. Wish us luck. Should be an interesting yarn when we return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridge Runner Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 SDF Plan for the worst and hope for the best.Do find lots of gold.Chuck Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnigmaticEngineer Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 SDF,I've done a lot of backpacking (before I started prospecting) and I have a water filter that filters down to .2 (thats Point 2 ) microns. Filters out giardia and cryptosporidum. It is made by MSR. You might look into it...It as around 75 dollers and it is a NICE piece of equipment.http://www.msrgear.com/watertreatment/miniworks.aspThere is the link to MSR's page. I have used it for many years (hundreds of gallons of filtered water worth) and I have never had trouble with it.It weighs 16 ounces and connects directly to Nalgene 32oz water bottles.Using it in snow runoff or clear water creeks keeps the filter in better condition for a LONG time and when it gets cloged or starts performing a bit slow, you scrape the outside of the filter off with a scotch brite pad and its brand new (it has a gage to measure the filter after each scraping)I love it.Nathan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdf527 Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 SDF,I've done a lot of backpacking (before I started prospecting) and I have a water filter that filters down to .2 (thats Point 2 ) microns. Filters out giardia and cryptosporidum. It is made by MSR. You might look into it...It as around 75 dollers and it is a NICE piece of equipment.http://www.msrgear.com/watertreatment/miniworks.aspThere is the link to MSR's page. I have used it for many years (hundreds of gallons of filtered water worth) and I have never had trouble with it.It weighs 16 ounces and connects directly to Nalgene 32oz water bottles.Nathan.I have an early model MSR (10 yrs) and have been very happy with it. Change the ceramic filter every other year and it's been great. Unfortunatly, we'll be in a nasty part of the desert where just ain't no water to filter from. Huge problem for extended trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnigmaticEngineer Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 I have an early model MSR (10 yrs) and have been very happy with it. Change the ceramic filter every other year and it's been great. Unfortunatly, we'll be in a nasty part of the desert where just ain't no water to filter from. Huge problem for extended trips.I can understand that. Just thought I'd throw that out there, I have met many who are not familiar with todays water filtration/purification technologies and I like my unit Nathan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdf527 Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 I can understand that. Just thought I'd throw that out there, I have met many who are not familiar with todays water filtration/purification technologies and I like my unit Nathan.I know what you mean. I've learned the hard way. When I was a kid hunting deer in the desert, I've outwalked my water supply more than a few times. Strained algae and mosquito larvae through a bandana for a drink of water and damn glad to have it. Lucky I didn't get one of those nasty parasites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Hi SDF, Freeze dried meals suck. Replace them with MRE's. That will eliminate cooking gear. Foods like Granola bars, Trail Mix, dried and fresh fruit, bagels, cheese, summer sausage don't require much clean up and are fast and easy to fix. The whole idea is to just use the water for washing your face and brushing teeth. Oh you can drink it if you have too.Alternative Drinking a 40 oz Fosters is just like a meal. So 6 to 8 cans pre day. Add a 5th of Jack and you wont need the sleeping bag, air mattress or tent ....... leaving even more room for beer and Jack! Just don't let the bottles and cans clink together and break, thats how I got kicked out of boy scouts. Backpacking is so much fun!Chucker in a canyon near Lovelock NV (found it on google earth) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdf527 Posted January 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Hi SDF, Freeze dried meals suck. Replace them with MRE's. That will eliminate cooking gear. Foods like Granola bars, Trail Mix, dried and fresh fruit, bagels, cheese, summer sausage don't require much clean up and are fast and easy to fix. The whole idea is to just use the water for washing your face and brushing teeth. Oh you can drink it if you have too.Alternative Drinking a 40 oz Fosters is just like a meal. So 6 to 8 cans pre day. Add a 5th of Jack and you wont need the sleeping bag, air mattress or tent ....... leaving even more room for beer and Jack! Just don't let the bottles and cans clink together and break, thats how I got kicked out of boy scouts. Backpacking is so much fun!Chucker in a canyon near Lovelock NV (found it on google earth)You got those nutritional guidelines just about correct. You probably got out of scouting just in time, might've got liquored up and the scoutmaster be showing you a little "stoop frog". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 nvchris,Your alternative method is great. Let's get out for a hunt sometime, I like the way you think!Cheers,matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whats4supper Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 eeehhh, i think w c fields drank whiskey, not water, because water corroded the pipes and fish made love in it (amoeba too.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZNuggetBob Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Hi SDF, Freeze dried meals suck. Replace them with MRE's. That will eliminate cooking gear. Foods like Granola bars, Trail Mix, dried and fresh fruit, bagels, cheese, summer sausage don't require much clean up and are fast and easy to fix. The whole idea is to just use the water for washing your face and brushing teeth. Oh you can drink it if you have too.Alternative Drinking a 40 oz Fosters is just like a meal. So 6 to 8 cans pre day. Add a 5th of Jack and you wont need the sleeping bag, air mattress or tent ....... leaving even more room for beer and Jack! Just don't let the bottles and cans clink together and break, thats how I got kicked out of boy scouts. Backpacking is so much fun!Chucker in a canyon near Lovelock NV (found it on google earth)Hi nvchris I about blew the coffee out of my nose when I read your post, good one. and I agree, go with the MRE's and leave the freeze dried bird food at home. Take care AzNuggetBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joesen80 Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I'm sure it's too late but...Sounds to me that 2 days isn't enough time. Consider making a pre-trip to haul your necessities to the general area your planning to prospect. Then extend your trip to 4 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggetslayer Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Or take a quad, thats who packs all my stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zimak Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 One thing some long distance hikers (myself included) use is caching. Assuming you have a GPS and are coming back out somewhat similar to the way you go in. I would take multiple 1 liter water bottles instead of gallons and bury them or hide them under some rocks etc and mark on the GPS as you head in. That way the only really heavy load you are carrying is for the first stretch and then you lighten considerably each leg.....as for dehydrated wine/beer...a nice big flask full of whiskey always cures what ales me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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