Trail Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe

Ever since I was a kid I've loved tuna noodle casserole.  It's that home cooked meal you need every once in a while...especially my moms.  She use to make it "perfect" every time and I try to achieve that about once a month on my own at the house.  As a follower of the YouTube channel UrbanPrepper I saw he was having a "Bug Out Cook Out" contest.  I wondered if I could make tuna noodle (aka tuna nooda as my son calls it) on my backpacking pot and stove.  So I generated a recipe and gave it a shot.  Here is the end result:

I'm very surprised how it came out.  I'm sure I could tweak the ingredients and make it very close to "my" homemade version, but this was darn near perfect on the first shot.  I searched the web to see if another folks were cooking this dish on trail (after my first attempt) and found a few variants, but they were nowhere near my version with a creamy mushroom base.  Total success as far as I'm concerned.

So now I can basically cook a home cooked meal on the trail.  Perfect way to prepare for a chilly night on the mountain.  Thanks for the motivation UrbanPrepper!

DIY Alcohol Backpacking Stove Test Burn

So this weekend I got into building some lightweight alcohol burning stoves for backpacking.  I've been watching Tinny and WoodenArrows on YouTube and they've got me thinking of how I can build some stoves and pots for myself.  

I started with some Dollar Store aluminum water bottles and some Miller Light aluminum bottles.  The video below is the first "useable" stove I made.  I pretty much crushed the first one (on left) when I was trying to fit the two parts together and the third (on right) I changed the jet arraignment to see if I could make it more efficient.  I used the beer bottles to make some lightweight versions that are still being finished.  I plan on testing those soon.  As you can see these stoves can heat water quickly.  This one is the stove in the middle.  I still need to build a windscreen and do some actual field testing before taking these little guys with me.  

 

10th Annual Rock and Roll Half Marathon Virginia Beach

Today was the 10th Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon in Virginia Beach.  I ran the first one and several others since, but unfortunately today I was a spectator.  This race will always be special because it was my first distance race, but the "draw" has faded for this old timer.  Two main reasons really - first the course seems so limited especially for what Virginia Beach can offer in terms of routes and scenery.  I love the bands and live music, but running a good chunk on one road and a military base is "BORING"!!  That plus the price of this race is absolutely insane at around $9 dollars a mile.  Those two items were really turn-offs for me.  I'd would much rather run the Williamsburg Half for 1/3 of the price.

Regardless I will always support the local runners that use this as the springboard to longer distances and events!  Rock ON!

It's is done!

I'm back!  Just finished my first overnight backpacking experience.  It was everything I expected and so much more. I learned a ton!  My gear and pack out list need some work, but  I'm ready to share my experiences.  In the next few weeks I'll be posting on my trip, the gear and the lessons learned (some harder than others).  Stay tuned!  

Inaugural Run for the Dream Half Marathon Review

One thing I now know!  Williamsburg has a lot of rolling hills!  Last weekend I had the opportunity to run in the inaugural Run for the Dream Half Marathon held in Williamsburg Virginia.  I was very happy with the experience and here is feedback about the event:

This event spanned the etire weekend with two races.  An 8k on Saturday (21 May) and the 1/2 Marathon (22 May).

Proceeds from the event benefited "An Achievable Dream", which is a nationally recognized K-12 school dedicated to the belief that all children can learn and succeed regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, and that education can break the cycle of poverty.

The race also benefitted the Wounded Warriors Program, which is dedicated to assisting and advocating for the severely wounded, ill and injured members of the armed forces and for their families.

So running for two good causes made it even more of a pleasure hit those hill's I'm going to talk about.

I participated in the 1/2.  

Packet pickup was at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center.  It was an easy stop and they had just the right amount of vendors to load up on free gear, taste test and GU for the race.  The race shirt was a short sleeve moisture-wicking tee that was pretty nice. I had noticed from studying the map earlier in the week that they had a "ton" of water stops planned.  So I decided to not go with my Nathan fuel belt and picked up a SpiBelt to run with instead.  (Review coming soon) I was in and out in about five minutes. My kind of packet pick-up!

The start was very relaxed.  It didn't feel like a race at all even though they had some top runners from the region trying to establish primo times for this inaugural event.  About 2000 runners were present at the start.  Several shuttles were running from the visitors center where the bulk of the parking was to the start line.  Or your other option was to be dropped off.  The finish was about a 1/2 mile away in the William & Mary Track and Field Facility (aka Zable Stadium).  I was fortunate enough to be dropped off so I didn't experence the shuttles however I didn't hear anybody complaining about them during warm-ups.

And promptly at 7:30 am we were off!  To my surprise about 1/2 mile into the race I found myself in Colonial Williamsburg.  It was very cool needless to say.  Flanking us was the old courthouse and armory all while we were being cheered by people on bikes and locals all along the way.  It was a great way to experience all the sights.  

The race opened up to some rolling hills along some of the major roadways to Williamsburg. Down to a turnaround point near the water. Around the eight mile mark a steep hill presented a little challenge, but the motor was running fine with all the waterbreaks supporting us.  The hills did challenge many runners and I saw a good number walking past the 8 mile mark.

The end brought us back into the rear area near Zable Stadium.  A quick run up the hill and a 1/4 mile around the track and your done!  13.1 in the books - for me this was a PR.  Not sure if I was jazzed up from posting a good 10 mi time or what, but I felt compelled to push it.  

The after festivities included two beers, a bunch of food and live music.  It was a great time and again very relaxed atmosphere.  My family was able to find me quite easily and we enjoyed the rest of our day hanging out.   

When its all said and done I would definitely do this run again.  I just wish I took advantage of the free Bush Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg tickets.  Next time I'll spend more time and make a full weekend out of this event.  You won't be sorry if you do the same.  Enjoy!  

Apps that may Save your Ass

Here are a few apps that I keep on my trusty iPhone just in case the SHTF and I gotta bug out!  I also have a AA charging cell to keep it going if the battery starts to die out.

I have several navigation and location based apps that are in other parts of my phone menu (listed below), but these are what I go to when I need to find out information quickly:

Flashlight - Pretty self explanatory.  Only thing is this one has several flashes and configurations you can use in emergency situations.  Also lets you control the flash for the rear facing camera.

Disaster Alert - List every ongoing disaster in the world.

Compass - General compass for land navigation.  No cell service required.   

5-0 Radio and Police Scanner - Databases of local police and fire broadcast.

SAS Survival App - Basically a media rich version of the SAS Survival Handbook.

iFirstAid - Basic first aid and lifesaving techniques with an automated read over and CPR timer.

Surf Report - For currents, tide and water temperature readings.

Weather Bug and TWC - Local weather.

Find iPhone - If I need to get a general idea of where my wife is or send her an emergency message I can through this App.

Survival Guide - Good collection of free survival techniques.

Other apps not listed in this section that may be useful in a bug out situation:

Google Doc's - I have several PDF's that have first aid and survival information on them.

Twitter - To monitor social media response to an event.

Google Voice - To make calls if the cell service is down (Wi-Fi required).

Google Maps - for directions (walking routes available).

iFM - Radio station feeds.

Paypal - Buy stuff, transfer money from you phone.

iBooks - View any PDF's you have stored on your iPhone.

Star Walk - Navigate by the stars even when cloud covered.

    

Maxpedition Falcon II Backpack Review

I never thought much about buying a pack. I did however, put some hours into choosing the Maxpedition Falcon-II Backpack.  I started to focus on a cheaper pack that seemed to get good reviews, but it was hit or miss on the quality of two key items (straps and zippers).  I like assurance and if I'm going to spend $80 on a no name pack then I can easily justify the $110 for the widely known Maxpedition.  The quality is unmatched at the same price point based on what I found during my research.

My goal was to get a mid size pack that I could mainly commute (on bicycle) to work.  I also wanted to use it for day hikes and as a carry on for plane trips.  Size was a factor in my selection.  My old Longshot 70 was coming in about 1100 cu in of space.  I needed just at little more space for my haul to work.  I also own a TAG Chaos 3-day Assault Pack.  It's a little big at nearly 2000 cu in of space with limited compartments.  The Falcon II comes in a 1520 cu in and has a three compartment "stack" that can be cinched down if not used.

If money wasn't an option I would have chose the LBT-1547ARev Ranger Backpack.  Regardless of the size this is a perfect solution for just about all my tasks, but at $337 the Falcon II is a good 90% solution.

I wasn't sure with this pack in the beginning.  When I opened the Falcon II from the packaging it showed some signs of abuse.  Several of the pull cords on the zippers were frayed or crimped.  I replaced the worst ones with some paracord and cleaned off the dust.

Another issue I had was sometimes on the middle compartment the zipper would separate.  These YKK Zippers are self repairing, but I don't like to resort to that every time I go into a pouch.  Good thing is its covered by warranty if it gets worse or continues.    

After about a month of using the Falcon II I'm finding that I'm pretty happy with the purchase.  Following initial adjustments the pack now fits me like a glove.  I'm tall and have a narrow body frame.  The width and height of this pack allow me to take advantage of that when positioning it on my back .  I can haul a good load and not even notice it.  The narrow design makes it so it doesn't catch on anything (like in the isle of an airplane).  All my gear is finding a spot in the spacious 1520 cu inches.  Stuff I access more often is easily placed in one of the several organization panels that each compartment has.   The clamshell design is great for accessing deep into the bag at a moments notice.

It also has an area to carry a 100ml bladder and route for tubing in the compartment closest to your body.  I've read that a 100ml is a tight fit, but it can be done.   

I purchased two accessories for this pack which have enable me to utilize some of its features.  First was the  Maxpedition Universal CCW Holster.  A large loop field in the bladder compartment enables you to carry a weapon deeply concealed.  The loop field can be utilized for anything with Velcro, but the holster is a perfect addition to this pack.   The second was the Camelbak Bottle Pouch.  It's nearly identical to  the Maxpedition 10"x 4" Nalgene Bottle Holder, but its about half the price.  It hooks onto the molle with just a few snaps and can fit a standard Nalgene bottle.  

I have yet to be rained on or hike a long distance with this pack (coming soon).  Those are the only two areas I can't comment on, but several other reviews have.  I recommend you check those out for their perspective until I can get them in this review.

Bottom Line:

Pros
- Perfect size for my purposes (travel pack, daily bike commute, weekend hiking and geocaching).
- Compresses very nicely.
- Great build quality.

Cons
- Lots of straps (needs some form of management).
- Came with frayed zipper pulls.
- Zippers sometimes separate.

Verdict:
This pack has a narrow width that fits my body well.  That was an unexpected plus I had not considered when choosing the Falcon II and probably my favorite feature.  The compartmentalization is good for the setups I need (daily commuter, traveler and day hiker).  The main compartment compression straps can cinched down on any load and make it feel secure no matter the size.  I believe that system contributes to the "glove like" feeling you get when this pack is adjusted properly.  The build quality is as good as you've read about.  I think I may have gotten an oddball pack with my zipper pulls being damaged.  They were easy enough to fix I'm not going to make too much of a deal abou it.

I'm happy with the purchase and intend on getting several years use out of this pack.  This will be a part of my EDC and will serve as my wife's BoB if ever needed.  

Note: This is a "living review" posted after about 30 days (94 miles of commuting) of use of my Falcon II.  I'll be adding to it as I use this pack.  Please come back every once in a while and see what's been updated.  

Pocket Ref, Maxpedition CCW Holster and Smith's Knife Sharpener

Another order came in from Amazon today.  Here is a quick rundown of what was in this:

For when Google is unavailable!  Thomas J. Glover's Pocket Ref.  This thing has everything possibly imaginable in it (well just about).  A truly incredible amount of info compared to the space it takes up.  Easily going to go into my commuter, BoB and hiking configuration packs.

The second thing was an addition to my Maxpedition FALCON II backpack.  It's the universal CCW holster.  Now guess what's going with me all the time?

Lastly was Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener.  Nice little dodad to keep my tools sharp on the go.  Perfect size and versatility.

All these items were under $10 bucks each and make good additions to several of my "planned" configurations.   

EDC - Maxpedition Mini Pocket Organizer

It looks like the Mini Organizer part of my EDC is just about 90% complete.  I received the last shipment of items I wanted to carry in my commuer pack late last week. I have everything I need now I just have to organize the last few things and get them in.

One thing I still have not ordered is a Leatherman Micra.  I'm not sure if that's the multi tool I'm going to go with.  Still doing research on what's the best option for that last spot.  Any recommendations?

Camelbak Bottle Pouch

Picked up a Camelbak Bottle Pouch today to attached to my Maxpedition Falcon II pack. Unfortunately they only had OD green (and my pack is black), but it was only $11.95. I figured for that price I can hang any color on the molle webbing. That plus it's only for my long hikes where I'm carrying a days worth of water. It looks similar to Maxpeditions 10x4 bottle holder with the exception of it being nearly half the price. If it meets the task I'll buy the black to match.

The pouch is designed to work with Camelbak bottles, but fits standard Nalgene bottles Thats good to know since the 12 I own will easily fit. I'll post up some photos of how it fits on my Falcon II.

Maxpedition Falcon II Backpack

The Maxpedition Falcon-II Backpack (Black) I ordered arrived today.  I'm upgrading from an older generation of the High Sierra Longshot 70 as my daily commuter.  First impressions weren't what I was expecting.  Based on what I read in many reviews I was looking for a superior build quality to what I've encountered in the past.  It didn't scream that when I opened it.

I have a TAG CHAOS 3 Day Assault Pack that's built like a brick house. That pack could catch a bullet - I think.  I guess that's what I was expecting from my Falcon II.  Only reason I don't use the TAG is it's just too big for me to haul around every day (1976 cu inches of cargo).

The other thing that may be frustrating me is that I'm having a hard time arranging my "stuff" with all the new space. I'm use to a compressed, organized pack that fits me like a glove.  The Longshot 70 has 1089 cu inches of room while the Falcon II has 1520 cu inches.  That's a lot of real estate and it feels like everything is sloshing around (not the packs fault). I figure once I add a packed lunch an extra shirt and some flip-flops It may firm up nicely.

In time I hope that it will grow on me so I'm not going to make any judgements yet.  I need to break it in a little too.  My old Longshot has been with me for about five years and it would have stayed if it was just a little bigger.  I'm going to try it for 30 day's and I'll post a "official" review. Please come back and check at  for the verdict toward the end of May.  See you then!

Maxpedition Mini Pocket Organizer

When I opened the mailbox today I saw my Maxpedition E.D.C. Pocket Organizer (Khaki) had arrived! I've been looking at packs and EDC setups to help me support my BRW campaign and this was one of the first things I needed right off the bat.  I'm going to get it all setup and I'll review it this weekend. 

127 Hours Movie Review

If your not familiar with the story line you must read this before you read any further. I finally got a chance to watch this movie the other night.  I'm very happy that I did because it was probably the best account of a real life event I've ever seen in a movie.  It's also made me rethink some of my hiking plans and processes in the near future.

This movie is really brought to you by two people.  The Director (Danny Boyle) and the Actor that portrays Aaron Ralston (James Franco).  These two make for a physically emotional account of this real life situation.  Its amazing really, but its also a movie you only need to watch once.  The music and sound are pretty dramatic as well.  It will all have you on the edge of your seat at about 1:18:30 into the movie.

When it was over I was practically speechless even though I know in my mind this was a "fictional" account of a real life event.  I had cold sweats during the amputation scene and actually had to take a break.  This is a first for any real or fictional video I've ever seen.

So If your an outdoors type person I recommend you see this.  Think of it as a reminder of how to prepare if your going off the grid.  Make sure you call mom, tell people where your going and when you'll be back.

One thing that was a little odd.  The movie time is 1h and 34 minutes.  Why not make it 1h and 27 minutes?

Garmin 405CX Review

Usually I'm at the forefront when it comes to gadgetry, but for some reason my GPSR's upgrade cycle is a little behind schedule. I've just upgraded from the Garmin Forerunner 205 to the Garmin Forerunner 405CX with Heart Rate Monitor. The 405cx has been out for some time, but it's been out of my price range until recently.  I was able to sell my 205 for a great price on eBay making the upgrade very much worth while.

I logged over 1000 miles with my 205 and cannot seem to run without a GPS these days.  I love the data it provides. The 405cx provides me with all sorts of data both while its being used and after the run.

First impression: The learning curve to use the device was a lot compared to my 205.  The 405cx is a little more involved because needs to be paired with the heart rate monitor and you have more options to configure in the training mode.   Several other reviews stressed the importance of reading the instruction manual and what can I say.  They were right.  I did the typical thing and just started playing.  Spend five extra minutes with the manuals and you'll be able to navigate the device like it's second nature.  It becomes really intuitive once you understand the main functions of the bezel. I now take advantage of the training options I didn't' with my 205.

The construction: I've only had it a few outings, but the construction seems to be what you would expect for this device.  It's IPX7 compliant so you can run in the rain without worry.  The heart rate monitor is constructed well and is not to noticeable when I'm running.  Once you get a good sweat going the electrodes are pretty accurate in measuring your heart beat.  The ANT+ wireless module is absolutely amazing in itself (on OS X).  My device transfers data when I get within about 10 feet of my computer and pushes all that data to my online log.  It also works well with Daily Mile if you desire the social aspect of sharing GPS data.  I'm a little concerned with the battery life.  It's rated at eight hours of receiving and two weeks on standby.  Running I should be ok, but hiking may be another area where I may need to find an alternate GPSr to capture my data.  Bottom line is it's going to last if it's take care of.

Data:  What can I say.  I'm a data nut when it comes to running, hiking or whatever I'm doing.  I love reviewing the pace, elevation, speed and geographical information that a GPS provides.  This one gives me the added benefit of a heart rate monitor and programs my splits.  Tells me I need to run harder to get into the higher levels of my aerobic zone.  In the graphic you'll see a snapshot of what Garmin Connect will look like when you transfer data from the device.  It's enough for me right now.  You'll see you can download KML and GPX formats to integrate into Google Earth or any GIS projects you may be supporting.  Elevation data is available too.  This was a pretty flat run, but you can see the bridge I ran over at the beginning and end.

Overall:  I may be impartial because I just bought the 405cx, but with a 1000 miles logged with my 205 I can say it's a welcomed upgrade.  The forerunner series GPS's are my favorite for running and this is primarily what I bought this for.   As of now I'm happy with my investment.  It's money well spent for your beginner to intermediate cardio junkie like myself.  

Micro Vacation - Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg

So I've spent most of my adult life thinking that a "vacation" had to mean something which involved a bunch of travel, an extended stay and cost several hundred or thousands of dollars. We'll I learned something today - It doesn't. My family and I just got done with our first no kidding micro-vacation.

We spent just spent one day at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg Virginia.  Place is great weither you have kids or are just with a spouse.  They have indoor water slides and activities all year around plus you're allowed to use the park pretty much the entire day on both days you visit.  A win win for whenever you can break away!

Here is how we spent our vacation:

• Left home from Virginia Beach at 11:00 AM and dropped the dog off at the kennel for the night.
• Drove up to Hampton, VA and made a quick stop at Sandy Bottom Nature Park to take a quick peek around and eat a packed lunch.  
• Check into the Hotel at 1:00 PM.
• By 2:00 PM we were in the water park enjoying the slides.
• We decided to go eat dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill.
• Came back around 7:00 PM, got some ice cream and went to the animatronic wilderness show.
• Found out they have Guinness on tap.  :-)
• Then went to story time by the big fireplace in the lobby in PJ's (my Son).
• Put the kid to bed and played cards with the wife then went to sleep.

End of Day #1

• The next morning we rose pretty early and went to Starbucks for breakfast.
• Got the room packed up and ready to go around 10:00 AM
• By 10:30 we were at the water park again.  
• Stayed till about 1:00 and decided to hit the outlet mall on the way home.
• Departed, went to the mall, pick the dog up and back home by 2:30pm.  

We truly enjoyed ourselves and lived like kings for the day.  The cost wasn't too bad considering all we did.  They do offer some 10% discounts so make sure you ask prior to arrival.  

The perfect micro-vacation!  I would highly recommend you find a place locally where you can do the same.  

**This is not a paid advertisement - we just had a great time!*** 

Garmin 405CX Upgrade

We'll after several years of using my very reliable Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS it seems it's time to trade up for this seasons activities.  I logged nearly 900 miles on the unit in just a few short years.  It never "once" reported a bad track.  Also contrary to some of the reporting it worked quite well with OS X.

Next on the wrist is the Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS with heart rate monitor. Hoping to have the same reliability and dual use my 205 had with the added benefit of a heart rate monitor for my runs. I also prefer the smaller form factor.  I bought it on eBay at a really good deal.  Whats even better is my 205 is going for a great price on eBay too.  I'll post a review soon!

iPhone Geocaching App Reivew and Today's Geocaches - 3/21/10

Today I took my son and found a few caches that were close together.  He's almost two and was a blast to have along during the finds.  They were his first!

Here is a rundown of what we found:
CG22VDT - 1098 Old Dam Neck Rd. P&G - First find of the day.  Easy!  Always fun though.
CGJEH4 - Corporate Falls - Good little cache.  Its in a spot you wouldn't expect thats for sure.  Nice placement!  I took the Travel Bug and moved it to a cache across the street.
CG20N8M - This could be Taxing - Very cool small cache.  In a nice little spot you can easily miss if not careful.  I placed the Travel Bug I got from CGJEH4 here.  Was a tight fit, but will be a good surprise for the owner as I bet they never thought a TB would make it into this cache.  This is a premium cache only open to members of geocaching.com.

Today's trek was to test out the Geocaching.com iPhone App.  It was pretty good for the type of caches I was after (urban).  Not sure how good it would have been in the thick stuff because the iPhone has a hard time determining direction.  We did a lot of circles around CGJEH4, but it still did the job.

Pros:  It's nicely integrated with the iPhone and website.  I was able to post in the field.  Overhead imagery was a nice reference, but the images were a little blurry.
Cons: Battery hog!  Had to long-in every time I shut the app down.  It seems that you can get better resolution imagery on Google Maps app.

Overall:  It's still earning it's $9.99 price tag as far as I'm concerned.  Especially since I'm a paying member at the website.  It's a lot more convenient compared to my older method of keeping points with me that makes me want to continue to use it.  It's a nice to have in my GC toolkit.