The maps might be almost sold out (hopefully they’ll make some more as they are handsome as can be) but Best Made Co now has their entire line of axes up on their site for purchase and viewing pleasure.

And in case you haven’t been there, Best Made has a great blog to read after you’ve finished chopping your wood.

MP3: Bob Marley – Small Axe

If you’ve ever wanted to clean the dishes, wipe your brow or finish up a splint with your trail map, you’re in luck. And if you’ve ever wished that the bandana that was keeping the hair out of your eyes could help identify trees, stars and hiking safety tips, you, my friend, have found your match. Meet the Trail Hankie.

While most of their hiking, river and lake maps are from places in the south and midwest that I’ve never visited, it doesn’t matter much. Trail Hankies bandanas are a damn fine alternative to the classic design, and if you don’t want a map of Devil’s Den State Park to adorn your neck, Hiker Hank has general use prints of stars, trees, knots, tracks and trail maintenance that you should probably own.

If you’re in New York, head on down to the Fjällräven store at 262 Mott Street, pick up one of their Greenland hats and pretend you’re on the banks of Maine’s Moose River in 1973. They sure do know what they’re doing.

I don’t usually tout too many clothing companies on this rag, but what the hell, right? Campbellsville Apparel, located in Campbellsville, Kan-Tuck-Ee, is the largest supplier of undershirts and underwear briefs to the United States military services. (A picture of a soldier wearing one of the shirts was posted on A Continuous Lean a couple of days back.) The shirts are 100% moisture wicking polyester, cheap (3 for $12), have very short sleeves (the best part about them), fit extremely well, and for those of you who are attracted to the “100% American made from 100% American components” thing, they have that going for them as well. Great for walking up and down whatever trail it is you’re walking up and down.

Buy a pack here.

Once in a while, it’s too hard to refuse buying yet another t-shirt on Ebay. This handsome little number should be arriving any day. Thank you, Justin.

The first issue of BACKPACKER appeared in the spring of 1973, and in it, founding editor William Kemsley explains, “It took us three years to put together the first issue of Backpacker. In that time we debated some serious questions among ourselves.”

A couple of years back, in 2007, Kemsley wrote an article for the AMC’s magazine, Appalachia, titled “How The 1970s Backpacking Boom Burst Upon Us” about the beginning of BACKPACKER. The article has a recognizable feel…

One morning on the AT in 1963, I woke up in camp, yawned, stretched, and heard the patter of rain on my tent. I changed my hike plans, snuggled a little deeper into my sleeping bag, and decided to cook breakfast beneath the tent fly. The only others at this campsite that morning were some teenage boys standing around a campfire. I barely could see them through the trees.

While eating my oatmeal, it began raining more earnestly, causing the other campers to scurry out of sight. At first I paid little attention. But while savoring my coffee and beginning to peel an orange, it dawned on me that those campers had taken down their tent and left camp with no intention of returning to put out their fire.

If anyone has the rest of the article (only a portion of it is online) let me know.

Yeah, it’s good for shampooing your hair, washing your body, brushing your teeth and shaving your face while you’re out on the trail (who shaves on the trail?), but if you’ve got nothing to do but waste time around the fire before you get tired, there’s not much better reading material than Dr. Bronner’s labels. Click the image to read it now, but I’d wait until you’re out under the stars. Or you can leave the soap at home and read a far more interesting book. Guess that works too…

A tumpline is a strap attached at both ends to a backpack used to carry an object by placing the strap over the top of the head. The strap utilizes the spine rather than the shoulders as standard backpack straps do. In North America, you’re most likely to see a tumpline being used on a Duluth Pack and/or to portage a canoe. (Canoe link opens as a PDF)

I’ve actually never used one of these while backpacking. Have you?

And now you know how the “Sierra Cup” got it’s name. A little more info about the ubiquitous camping cup can be found here.

I know times might be a little tough in the print world, but come on, BACKPACKER, who wouldn’t want one of these?

Too much time rummaging through Google Books this week.