and we practiced this stuff. I take so much for granted.
Yeah, I know. I take a lot for granted too. but I grew up around it so it's hard not to.
Anyway I think we don't help our newbs nearly as much as we should because we concentrate way too much on gear and not on Technique. I wrote a post last year on how to melt snow. Maybe its in a FAQ somewhere, otherwise how do newbs learn how to melt snow? Anybody that doesn't think melting snow is an art should take a dry pan and some snow and a stove and try it.
Jim
I'll agree with you to a large extent Jim, but the gear talk
is inevitable because it's what people spend money on. Notwithstaning that there have been a few real gems here for newbs, and they do come around from time to time. How to melt snow was good. Daisy's "how to pack a pack" was wonderful.
Makes me wonder if we shouldn't have a "Backcountry Techniques - The How To not the What With" topic section to just sticky up a bunch of these good ones and encourage further such discussion.