Santa brought me a new headlamp, a klean kanteen knockoff, and a $50 REI card. I haven't decided what to get with the REI card, maybe some Ti.

The good news is that I did not receive a SPOT so I do not have to lug along that piece of gear which i do not view as a useful item. The bad news is that I received a solar charger for my electronic items. The problem is that I do not carry any rechargeable electronics items and the thing is about a pound.

It really bothers me that folks buy me stuff that is just going to set in the cabinet. I really do not want or need any more hiking gear but the family feels that they have to do something for husband/father/grandfather. They do not want to believe me when I tell them that I do not want anything. Once they gave a donation in my name but the problem with that was that one of my daughters gave a donation to an organization with which I disagree.

No wonder they call me GrumpyGord

Caldera Cone Stove with the full Antigravity kitchen.

Try returning the gifts you don't want! I'd rather my kids do that (and have told them so) than have something they don't want.

You might try hinting about gift certificates. I did all amazon.com certificates for the family this year--nobody would give me any hints. They now carry everything but the kitchen sink, so hopefully everyone will be happy.

Well, I'm about like GrumpyGord, I've got everything I need and more, but I still got some fun stuff.

I got a game camera. I've never hunted, but I will use it to see what critters are around here.

I've been told by two neighbors this year that we have a wolf hanging around. About a week ago I did see a big coyote on the road that goes down behind our house. He's big, but he's not wolf sized. I'd like to get a pic of him to show the neighbors. And I've got a few critter holes down back that I'll set it up in front of to see what goes in and out.

I got a Garmin "Nuvi" with the South Central Lakes Maps SD card. That should work great in the little houseboat and I can get the Topo maps for four wheeling to hiking/camping spots.

I also got a pack of 3 LED flashlights, 2 headlamps, and 2 keychain lights. It's an inexpensive "Lowes" gift pack but it was too good of a deal so I asked Santa to get one for me. The flashlights are pretty light and very bright, so they'll be good for backpacking.

And I got a vicious cold. I felt it coming on during Christmas day and couldn't do anything about it so it got a head start on me. I started taking vitamin C and snorting salt water the next day and finally kicked it last night.

It might have been "Swine Flu". I'm pretty sure some Arkansas hillbillies sneezed on me when I was out shopping last week.

A mountain hardwear tent, silnylon stuff sacks, Snow Peak Ti cookset, leatherman micra, smartwool socks, Keen gift cert, 2 platys, etc.

A very nice haul of gear.

American trout are a lot like American people. They want it now and they will eat any thing...sabre11004...

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.. I also got a big ziplock bag full of " Fatwood ".

I've heard about it for years, but never had seen it before. My "Cousin-in-Law" got a couple logs from a friend who lives in Florida and he split it up into kindling sized pieces about the size of those waxy fire starter sticks you can buy at Wal-Mart in the camping section.

One piece would be plenty for a couple days on the trail, and it supposedly lights off even when wet. Cool stuff!

Fatwood, I have had a good supply for over 15 years, use a few pieces when I car camp to light up the campsite, since I don't car camp much, it'll last another 20 years. Doesn't go bad, so much pitch in it. Mine are split bigger, so for kindling, would have to be split another half dozen times.

Did you find it in California? I never heard of it while I lived there.

It's crazy stuff. It lights and burns just like those torches you see in the movies.

The baggie smells like the sticks have been soaked in turpentine or something. And the sticks are hard as can be.

Even though I live in an evergreen section of Maine (hence the Boreal) I love getting some fatwood either for Christmas or some we find ourselves. We use this to start the morning or evening fire here at the house. Yes, even though I've got spruce and cedar growing like weeds, to say nothing of several species of pine a tamarack, and a hemlock. But fat wood is like a luxury.

I never thought of taking it into the woods before, just a few sticks. Nice. I doubt it's been soaked in any other but it's own terpentines---I think it comes from various southern pines.

A SteriPEN Adventurer! As I finally begin to enter into the world of water safety. I don't preclude having a filtering device, for the times I'm dealing with turbid water. Usually, the water I deal with at least "looks" clear and safe, and the SteriPen will disrupt the DNA in protozoans, bacteria, and viruses. I can't wait for spring so I'm testing it now, in Nalgene jars.

Actually, the product is good for travelers, or during any time when safe drinking water cannot be counted on.

skippy, you been good.

Me? I just got two lumps of Esbit and plan on being better next year. (Note: I got Esbit, not Nesbit for Christmas, although I wish Santa had brought me the latter:)


Evelyn Nesbit, famous turn-of-that-century model & actress.

I live in the extreme northern Sierra, amongst the mixed conifir forest, about an hour south of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The county I live in covers a section of Lassen Peak. The tree I found years ago was only a couple miles from home and I spotted another over five years ago, but I don't need more so I have left that tree. What I have is Doug Fir, the other I think was pine.

Love that country. I was treated to living in Yosemite NP for 3 years, and the Sierras, even up to your extreme northern end, left a mark on my heart, and I need badly to go back. My part of Maine is just as coniferous, much colder, much less snowy, and of course less mountainous! But I love both situations.

With the mixed forest, it is very pretty. Other parts of the country have their own beauty. I'm not rich enough to have property all over. I think when I retire, I'll get some "traveling" property and see what's out there.

I got an Equinox Poncho tarp, fishing lures, a fleece, mountain house, and diy bamboo trekking poles. Got a lot to play with:)

Fenix LD20 flashlight! Love it!

Just ordered a Montbell Alpine Light jacket with the green I was given for Christmas. Can't wait 'till it gets here and I can try it out.