The Mexican flag waves proudly over the harbor of Ensenada.
I recently had the pleasure of going on a 4-day cruise with my partner that took us from Longbeach, CA down to Ensenada, Baja California. I had never been on a cruise before. When I was a child, my family always went to the Rockies, or the Smokies or some other awesome national park, but never a 24-hour booze/food-fest such as the Carnival Paradise. It was very different for me, but a blast nonetheless!
My one respite from the lights, the buffets, the slotmachines, and the mixocoladas was a 5-mile walk along a clean, uncrowded beach and through a bustling coastal town.
I have long struggled to find an effective way to clean and, especially, dry my CamelBak® reservoir, while avoiding the purchase of the special dryer and cleaning tablets. We all want our favorite gear to last for as long as possible, but sometimes the manufacturer’s recommended care and accessories can be an unwanted cost for us penny-pinchers. I found a way to use household items I already own to clean and dry my reservoir at no additional cost.
You’ll need a few things you probably already have in your house:
Hydration pack cleaning supplies
An old toothbrush
A medium/large, sturdy paperclip
A toothbrush (new or used)
Mild dish soap (specifically antibacterial, if possible)
An AriZona Sugar Free Green Tea® mix tube (or similar plastic tube approx. 3 in. x 7 in.)
A large bowl or your kitchen sink (big enough to dip your reservoir opening in)
Fill your bowl or sink with warm water, and add soap (eyeball enough to get the water a little foamy).
Remove the bitevalve, wash it in the soapy water, and rinse; set aside.
Submerge the reservoir and delivery tube in the soapy water and swish around to ensure the water gets in all the folds of the reservoir and through the whole tube. Allow unit to sit in the water for a few minutes, drain of water, and repeat flushing with soapy water. Use toothbrush on hard water deposits and other grime.
Rinse unit thoroughly with warm water, and drain of all excess water.
Bend the paper clip into an S-shape to form a double hook – one side attaches to the plastic clip atop the reservoir and the other will hang the reservoir.
Insert the Green Tea tube (sealed side first) into the reservoir and to the bottom to expand it. Place bitevalve in Green Tea tube.
Place the end of the delivery tube on top of the reservoir as pictured.
Hang the reservoir out of direct sunlight to dry (UV can damage the plastic).
Complete improvised reservoir drying system.
I live in Phoenix where the summers are hot, the winters are mild, and the humidity only spikes after heavy rains. This makes for quick drying outside. If you are less fortunate, just hang the reservoir for a little longer and/or near (not on) your water-heater or fridge. The heat will speed up the drying process and reduce the chance of mildew. Make sure to clean and dry the Green Tea tube after use as it is not bacteria-resistant like your reservoir.
Side Note:
I do not endorse AriZona® Tea or CamelBak®…but, if I did…I would say that the Sugar Free Green Tea mix is delicious and I don’t go on day hikes or car camping without at least one packet of mix. I would also mention that I’ve had my CamelBak® reservoir and pack for over 2 years and I can’t leave the house without either; best investment of my life. But, that only would be if I endorsed them.
I bought the Kelty Grand Mesa 2 in the summer of 2007 because I needed a place to sleep on my way from Texas to Arizona and something I could use for backpacking in the future. Being a poor college student, a reasonable price was my first stipulation. Weight, durability, and ease of setup were next. With the Grand Mesa 2, I found it all.
I searched the internet for all the top brands. But, of course, at the top of the brand mountain came the dizzying prices that left me gasping for air and grasping for more hours at work. I finally succumb frugality and narrowed my search to prices less than $125. I saw great reviews of the GM-2 on Trailspace, and did a Google Product Search. I found the tent on SunnySports.com for about $85!
With a minimum weight of 4 lbs 2 oz, the GM-2 is lightweight enough for one person to carry alone, but still spacious enough for two to sleep comfortably with some gear inside and boots under the vestibule. The DAC Press-fit poles are very light, and the segments are short enough to make packing easy. The two-pole construction with color-coded clips makes setup super simple, even at night. I stake the tent down taught first and then insert the poles; this ensure the tent doesn’t spring off the end of the pole when you’re setting up alone. I suggest purchasing new stakes since the included ones tend to bend when being hit with a rock or jammed down with a boot.
The tub floor is great and has never leaked. I bought McNett Seam Grip Seam Sealer just in case to go over the seams on the walls, the corners, and the rainfly, and I have never woken up to a wet floor or dripping ceiling. The rainfly has never failed in 24-hour drizzle or sudden, torrential monsoons (both of which I’ve used the tent in). The fly clips onto the stake tabs easily and velcroes to the poles and has guyout points for extra stability. The vent on the rear of the fly, thought open, never lets water in and keeps the inside condensation-free. With all the accoutrement in place (fly, guylines, velcro, etc.) I feel as safe as in my apartment.
The only thing I can think to ask for is a smaller-diameter stuffsack or compression bag for the tent and fly. It doesn’t get very compact unless you have a smaller, separate bag. Other than that, the tent has performed excellently.
Bottom Line: I recommend the Grand Mesa 2 for any backpacker on a budget but still looking for a quality tent.
With 110º days in from June through August, Phoenix is far from a hiker’s ideal summer getaway. But, for us locals with that hankering to get out, we have to do something. The best and safest time to hike in the desert is before dawn until about 11 am (noon, if you’re lucky) when the temperature stays below 100º and from 5 pm into the night when temperatures begin to ease. There are countless trails to be wandered before the sun rises, but you have to be willing to let go of the ‘Snooze’ and roll out of bed.
The Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area is about 15 minutes from the heart of Phoenix and home to Piestewa Peak and its Summit Trail: the second-most traveled trail in Arizona next to the Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail (Arizona Leisure). That being said, the trail is often times crowded with people, and, at narrow sections, this can rather restricting. If you’re looking for a less crowded way to enjoy the park but still want challenging elevation changes, beautiful panoramas, and diverse desert landscapes, my Phoenix Mountains Loop is for you.
The trail begins at the end of Squaw Peak Drive at the #304 trailhead. I recommend taking a counter-clockwise route since most of the difficult climbing is left for the last portion of the loop. The trail climbs to ridges and saddles and dips across dry washes by stands of mesquite and palo verde. Although the loop mostly follows established trails, many unmarked bike trails criss-cross the desert making it somewhat hard to choose which to follow. Most of the trails eventually feed into marked trails, but make sure to have a map, a compass, and, if possible, a GPS unit. Always carry plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, and sturdy shoes. Safety is always paramount when entering any recreation area, but especially in the unforgiving desert.
Nature has the amazing ability of finding a way to thrive around human development. In highly-developed central Phoenix, is a flood control tunnel along the Arizona Canal where a colony of Mexican free-tailed bats make their summer home.
I live very close to the canal and always see people running and biking on the dirt road that runs alongside it. My partner and I finally decided to walk the road after dinner one breezy night this week. The surface is very smooth for a dirt road and runs behind businesses and homes. While we walked we saw what we thought were birds flying overhead as the sun fell behind the mountains. I noticed the “birds” swooping low over the water and flying very erratically. I knew they couldn’t be any bird I knew of.
At about half a mile up the road on the right is an asphalt path behind a line of small trees. A huge cement spillway enclosed by a high fence opens into the ground. Walk the path along the fence to the left until you see two plaques (one pictured at left) at the fence corner. Here you’ll find information on Mexican free-tailed bats and the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s efforts to protect their makeshift cave home.
The best time to start this walk is right before the sun has fallen completely beneath the horizon. In the moments after sunset the bats begin to fly out of the tunnel on silent, velvet wings. Don’t be alarmed (like my partner was) if the bats fly low, even at eye level. Stay calm; they won’t disturb you. Once the sun has set completely and most of the bats have exited the tunnel, walk along the canal to see them feed on flying insects as their reflections flit across the water’s surface.
The bats are only in the tunnel for summer, and this short walk makes for a great, way to spend the warm Phoenix evenings when the days can be oppressively hot. Take a flashlight and a bottle of water and you’re in for an easy wildlife viewing opportunity in the heart of metropolitan Phoenix.
We hike for many reasons: exercise, solitude, bonding, personal challenges, and myriad others. For those of us that cherish silence and pristine wilderness, there’s no bigger disappointment than the sight of a plastic bag caught in a tree or noisy trekkers disturbing the peace. I offer my fivepersonal trail etiquette rules that I always follow and hope you will consider, adopt, and if you already use them, continue to do so knowing you’re not alone. (Some may seem like common sense, but don’t act like you haven’t seen people breaking these rules; I see it every time I’m out.)
Don’t Litter(DUH) – Littering (next to irresponsible fire use) is one of the greatest offenses I can think of. When we enter wild areas, we’re already placing stress on the ecosystem as a foreign species: we compact earth, we disturb plants and other animals, we make noise, and we smell weird. The least we can do is pick up after ourselves. I know a great deal of trash like grocery bags and paper (especially in urban and suburban parks) is blown in from neighborhoods and businesses; but, I also know that a water bottle does not just traipse up the side of Piestewa Peak of its own accord. If I see trash accessible with little to no habitat disturbance and within a reasonable distance from the trail, I will always pick it up and pack it out. Crushed plastic bottles and granola bar wrappers don’t weigh much or take up a lot of room. Do your part to beautify the trails, protect the environment from dangerous chemical breakdown, and save animals from harmful, accidental ingestion.
Watch Where You Put Your Foot - Erosion is an ever-present danger to our recreational paths and causes expensive and sometimes irreparable damage. Wind, rain runoff, snow, and ice carry rock particles away and foot, bicycle, and equestrian traffic dislodge these particles big and small. When I lived in north Texas where summer rains can last for days, I would too often come to a dip in a trail filled with impassible waters. Partly, I blame the trail planners for neglecting to build proper drainage and water bars, but we know this isn’t the whole story. Hikers, bikers, and riders can all help by treading on hardened surfaces (rock or wood) when possible and making sure footing is stable. Slipping down a slope (though not completely unavoidable and definitely ego-bruising) causes dust to fly and rocks to roll, compromising the integrity of the surface. Use caution to secure footing and use trekking poles for stability.
Keep It Down – Hiking is a great way to spend time with friends and even meet new ones. I have made many great (though fleeting) acquaintances on the trails of Texas and Arizona. But, we all know that one couple that comes roaring behind you on trail, yappin’ away, and waking the dead (forgive the cliché). I’m not saying don’t talk because you’re in nature; by all means, please share and bond, but for the sake of others and your surroundings, try to keep it low. I’d much rather hear the sounds of the forest than the din of the den mothers.
YIELD – Ya know that little triangle the parks put on trail markers; the one with the horse, the hiker, and the bike? They don’t just put it there for decoration. Yielding is first and foremost a matter of safety, so let’s disambiguate the symbol. Hikers yield to horses and bikers yield to horses and hikers. It’s very simple. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spook a horse. EVER. Not only because they can throw the rider, but the small fact they can also kick you in the face or elsewhere. I prefer keeping my face and my elsewhere intact. In my experience, bikers have always made their presence known (especially when approaching from behind) and I greatly appreciate it. As the hiker, I know you’re given the yield, but when a biker yells “Biker on left!”, just move! If they’re going 18 mph down a hill and you’re cautiously placing your foot at 1 mph, do the math.
Be Nice – If you can’t follow these rules or any others, remember: be nice! When I pass someone on the trail, I always say ‘hello’ or at least nod and smile. It’s just, well, nice. It’s comforting to think that I’m sharing the trail with good people and it makes me happy to see smiling faces. I’ve noticed that this cordiality is somewhat regional, but nonetheless appreciated.
These are my etiquette guidelines for making the trails a little cleaner, a little safer, and a little friendlier. You may have your own, and I’d love to hear them. When you go out on the trails, just remember that we share our public lands. Enjoying them is what it’s about, but you’re not alone. Have a great time when you’re out there, and try to make your and everyone else’s visit as enjoyable as possible.
