Labour Day 2024 Newsletter

2024-10-28

It seems like the bad weather never ends. When will summer come?

Two weeks ago there was a glimmer of hope, and I headed off to Homer and the Bowen for a trap check, and then a day later to Pomona Island to service audio recorders.

The sunshine was great for the few moments it was out, but the rest of the time cloud prevailed. I was grateful for the calm.

Thanks to all who have been buying trapper belt pouches in which to stow the smelly stuff. Keep up the good work.

I am making a new 75l Alpine pack, similar to a 65l Alpine but wider. Unfortunately I am over pack photography, so no images yet. It may be my best balanced large pack yet, very similar to a Macpac Ascent, but only 1.2kg or so.

I have always made big packs somewhat grudgingly, but I need something bigger for an upcoming mission if summer ever comes. It surprised me with its niceness on a recent load carry in the rain. A new FP product.

Thanks to the family that kindly waited for me to paddle into Moturau hut recently. That is the first time I have seen a customer pack in the wild (other than those owned by people I know). It was a special pack too, the second Sandwich Pack (45l) from a lifetime ago. I am frequently asked if I have changed them, the answer is no, nothing major is different.

In the beginning I thought I could make a living from 35l packs like others in the UK and USA. Alas, not in NZ. We are a hard bunch. I had to make a 45l, 55l, 65l... Now there is a really big one too 75l.

Get out there, and let's make the world a better place, just a little.

Happy tramping David