The Permanent Portfolio, Investing, Finance and Random Thoughts.
Posts by Craig Rowland
Casio Pathfinder Solar Powered Compass and Altitude Watch Model PAG-240
4 months ago
The altimeter/barometer is really handy. Not only will this watch tell you elevation (including max, ascent and descent rates). But it has a graphing feature for the barometer so you can track high and low pressure systems moving in. In other words, you can see when storms are coming! It’s like a weather station on your wrist. I love this watch for outdoor use.
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Glissading Down Mount Saint Helens
4 months ago
by Craig Rowland
in YouTube
Ever slide down the side of a mountain on a huge snowpack? I did and it’s a blast! Here is my attempt at capturing the moment coming down Mount Saint Helens.
Here are some tips for you to safely glissade:
1) Don’t wear crampons when glissading. You’ll catch a spike and tumble out of control, break a leg or otherwise do really bad things to yourself.
2) Speaking of control, have your ice axe ready to self-arrest if you get into trouble.
3) Don’t go too fast. You need to make sure you won’t go into a crevasse, hit a rock or otherwise get injured.
4) Also you may rip the bottom of your pants out if you’re not careful. Some people will carry hard sheets of plastic to use when glissading.
5) Have fun!
Kydex vs Zytel vs Leather Sheaths in Freezing Temps Test
4 months ago
As a follow-up to my post about Kydex sheath problems, I decided to put a number of sheaths to the test. I simulated getting my knives wet (as I live in a very wet area) and then put them in the freezer to simulate freezing up overnight in a tent.
I tested sheaths the Fallkniven Zytel, ESEE Kydex, Bark River Kydex, Kellam Leather, Bark River Leather, etc.
In a nutshell from best to worst:
Best – Fallkniven Zytel
Second – Leather
Worst – Kydex
The Fallkniven Zytel was developed by people that live above the Arctic circle in Sweden so this did not come as any surprise. Their Fallkniven F1 is also the Swedish Air Force survival knife so obviously the military tested it as well. The leather sheaths did OK within reason. The Kydex sheaths? The ESEE was OK however the Bark River and brand-I-will-not-name version froze up. I have never really been happy with any Kydex sheath for many reasons beyond this and I just try to avoid them now.
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