I love my REI Quarter Dome 1 person, lightweight, three season backpacking tent. I purchased it in March 2018. I have used it while bike touring as well as backpacking. It is lite, roomy, and easy to set up. It really kept out the rain during two days of nearly constant downpour on a bike touring trip in May 2018, the trip I bought the tent for. I especially like the large side vestibule, I think extremely large for a single person tent. The tent is freestanding but the fly needs to be stakes out to take advantage of the vestibule. As much as I like this tent, however, I would not trust it above tree line or in the winter. I would go with with a four season mountaineering tent. ... View more

I wore the Green Vest for about six months as a very part time employee, one to three days a week as I worked another part-time job which paid more but was never going to be more than part time. I liked the work and loved most of the people I worked with. Most of the customers were great too. REI is one of the top 100 companies to work for. It has a great corporate culture.  Even part-time workers can contribute to a 401K, and of course there is the employee discount. The sticking point for me was the inability to schedule and take time off when I needed it and that is when I resigned. Two and a half years later, I still have fond memories from the store I worked in, am glad when I go there to shop and see former co-workers, and I am still proud to be a member of REI. Generally speaking, however, retail is a brutal industry. ... View more

Trail shoes and I do not agree. They do not provide the support or the protection I want. The closest I have come to finding a nice pair are the old style Patagonia Drifters, and they leave a bit to be desired. A couple weeks ago I did a 15 mile day hike through The Sods that included mud, gravel, stream crossings on wet rocks, and the foot abusive Rocky Point Trail. My  Merrell Moab 2 Mid Ventilators were just not up to the job. I know what my feet felt like after 15 miles with nothing but a day pack. I do not want to think about what they would have felt like after 15 miles in the Sods with a full pack. ... View more

Thanks for the work you put into the reply. I own and wear the  Merrell Moab 2 Mid Ventilator. I like that it is lite and breathable. It is my go to boot for hiking and backpacking in dry weather on not too technical trails. I find it not very good in wet weather or on wet, muddy trails and it does not provide enough cushion on rocky trails. I can feel almost every  pointed or edged rock under the ball of my feet when I step on it.  I also own and wear the Merrell Wilderness. It is my wet weather and winter go to boot. It provides plenty of protection against rain, mud, snow and pointed, edged rocks but it is heavy and my feet perspire like crazy unless it is really cold. I have been hiking long enough to remember the day when all hiking boots were all leather and had no waterproof lining. Those were the good old days. All the leather boots I wore seemed to breath enough to not cause my feet to perspire, were stiff soled enough to protect against rocks, but could be made water repellent by applying various products that repelled water and mud in all but the worst conditions. IMHO, "they" just don't make boots like that anymore. ... View more

I remember that old campground. I stayed a night at Seneca Shadows last week. Seneca has changed a lot. When I climbed there in the late 70's the little community was called "Mouth of Seneca" but was later changed to "Seneca Rocks." I am glad I had the opportunity to climb there before all the commercialization. I am also sorry to read about your shoulder break. And not to be outdone, here is an OLD photo of me the first time I summited The Gendarme. On the Summit of the Gendarme ... View more

I recently had to adjust the tension in my shorter poles. I pulled out about five to six inches, cut off the end, and reconnected to the end. The poles do not snap back quickly, but they no longer sag. When the bungee eventually wears out, I will replace the entire cord. ... View more

I have filtered potable pump water along the C&O just to improve the taste. ... View more

I am not familiar with such magnets but think they are a great idea. Pins would be great too! ... View more

I think I have hiked every trail in Raccoon Creek State Park, but I do not recall a really cool waterfall. Which trail is is located near? Or are you talking about the large waterfall less than a quarter mile off the road? It IS cool, and the water from it was believed to bestow medicinal benefits. It is very mineral rich. ... View more

Almost the same problem here.  I use regular box matches that will strike on almost anything and/or a small butane lighter but carry the UCO weatherproof matches in case I ever need them, like the time if forgot to bring my  box matches AND lighter. I have noticed the strike surface is wearing down, but I have used so few of the matches that the strike surface still works. ... View more