Subes for life!

I’m somewhat tough on gear, and so for me it usually pays to buy a “better” version of the item and make it last. In fact, I still have (and use almost every day!) my backpacking stove from 1985. Sure, it’s not as light or sleek or efficient as something newer that all the cool kids use these days, but it was built to be used hard and put away wet.*

Sadly, I had to say goodbye to my favorite crag pack (also ca. 1985) the other day. It had been attacked by swarms of squirrels at Swan’s Slab. It had been dragged up and down Half Dome a half-dozen times. It had dutifully carried books and groceries and every theme and variation of outdoor gear. But, in the end, some of the stitching was ripping out, the strap padding was long gone, and the plastic buckles and attachments were crumbling.

Interestingly, my ultralight REI Flash 22L (ca. 2018) day pack is already showing signs of weather wear, after having been up Half Dome exactly zero times. Squirrel attacks? Sure, but it seems small for a 22L pack and I think someone using “new math” was in charge of measuring volume the day it was constructed, so there’s never much food in there for the little beasties.

It is strange to me how a piece of gear can become an extension of the person. And also strange how discarding that piece of gear can be difficult — it can be like tossing out a part of one’s self. Some people might not understand. But, for me it is the same with bikes and cars and books and letters and even some household items. Some are just junk from Target or Amazon. But some are imbued with an extra attachment, a certain connection, a special memory, a more implicit value: a bond.

Not all the “things” which surround us are the same.**

Fare well, cherished day pack. And thank you for all the fond memories.

*That’s an old expression a horse friend used: “rode hard and put away wet.” I don’t think horse people actually do this to their creature friends, but it sure is a catchy phrase…. [And just to clarify, I mean, a friend who was into horses, not a friend who is a horse. Not that I have anything against horses. But I did ride one one time (Hi, Annie!) and she promptly bucked me off and I had a massive hematoma on my thigh for a month.] And also, for you outdoor enthusiasts: don’t put your gear away when it’s still wet. I can’t believe I even have to remind you about this. Please don’t make me say it again.

**And man, did I ride the emotional rollercoaster whilst cleaning house and streamlining everything for the move out of Idaho. So much “stuff” went to thrift stores and got sold off. It was like a punch to the gut every day, to see all those belongings flee.