My Recent Moleskine Hacks

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This is one I came up with a few months ago. I picked up this 2010 pocket Moleskine planner/diary + notebook last year. I loved the size, but I found that the notebook page next to each week (on the opposite page) wasn't enough room for writing all of my to-do's and notes.

So I decided to attach a Moleskine Cahier to the cover of the Planner for extra room for taking notes & to-do's etc. I thought about gluing it, but paper clips seemed the smartest, quickest, and most temporary decision for the time being. I thought if I filled that Cahier up, then I could just paperclip in another one. This Cahier happens to be a pocket plain buff version. And it still fit great in my back pocket.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

This is a hack that I had seen several places around online over the last year. I took at squared pocket softcover Moleskine notebook and divided it into 5 or 6 sections using different colored sticky notes. I used each section for a different purpose (i.e. notes, to-do's, ideas, drawings, etc). I filled it up in about 6 or 7 months. I carried it everywhere with me as a BPN (back pocket notebook). I found the softcover was ideal for sitting on as opposed to the hardcover. Sometimes I would paperclip in blank 3x5 cards for jotting notes on to pass off to others for various reasons.

What are your (favorite?) Moleskine hacks? Sound off in the comments ...

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My Recent Moleskine Hacks

See and download the full gallery on posterous

This is one I came up with a few months ago. I picked up this 2010 pocket Moleskine planner/diary + notebook last year. I loved the size, but I found that the notebook page next to each week (on the opposite page) wasn't enough room for writing all of my to-do's and notes.

So I decided to attach a Moleskine Cahier to the cover of the Planner for extra room for taking notes & to-do's etc. I thought about gluing it, but paper clips seemed the smartest, quickest, and most temporary decision for the time being. I thought if I filled that Cahier up, then I could just paperclip in another one. This Cahier happens to be a pocket plain buff version. And it still fit great in my back pocket.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

This is a hack that I had seen several places around online over the last year. I took at squared pocket softcover Moleskine notebook and divided it into 5 or 6 sections using different colored sticky notes. I used each section for a different purpose (i.e. notes, to-do's, ideas, drawings, etc). I filled it up in about 6 or 7 months. I carried it everywhere with me as a BPN (back pocket notebook). I found the softcover was ideal for sitting on as opposed to the hardcover. Sometimes I would paperclip in blank 3x5 cards for jotting notes on to pass off to others for various reasons.

What are your (favorite?) Moleskine hacks? Sound off in the comments ...

Posted via email from 0MAk0's Posterous

Backcountry Skiing/Snowboarding in Central NY

My buddy and I decided to finally get out and do some backcountry skiing/boarding like we had talked about for so long. We had our eye on this spot in the Finger Lakes National Forest for some time, but never got around to it. We finally hit it up. Check out the Google Map below:

<br /><small>View Backcountry Skiing/Boarding in a larger map</small>

Unfortunately, since it was so late in the season & it was so warm, the snow was really wet and heavy. So that made for a slow decent. We couldn't even hit up the glades because we couldn't get up the speed to continue the decent. So we ended up snowshoeing up a road closed for the winter and then riding back down.

It wasn't the best, but at least we had a good experience.

Check out some video from it:

At the top for the 2nd time, ready to descend:

http://www.youtube.com/user/makflyer?feature=mhw4#p/a/u/1/aAiaB9W2KU8

On the ride down for the 2nd and final descent:

http://www.youtube.com/user/makflyer?feature=mhw4#p/a/u/0/jX_Psc-0zZs

Side note: I just wish I was back in Vermont during the 2007 Valentines Day Massacre! I had the extreme privilege of riding after that storm in Bolton Valley in VT. It isn't the best resort, but the shear amount of snow made it so wicked gnarly you couldn't even imagine complaining!

Gear Notes:

Pack

Lowe Alpine, Fall Line 35(L) (I think this is a discontinued model now)

I picked this up on Backcountry.com for a song in 2009. Sweet deal. I use it everyday to go to campus for work, but it really thrives on the trail. It performed well on this trip. I used the diagonal ski carry method this time around, it worked like a charm. I was free to snowshoe without the skis hitting the backs of my legs. The load didn't shift, and it was evenly distributed. Plus the attach and release system is simple, secure, and slick. This is a stellar pack all around. Love it.

Bladder - 70oz Camelback

Skis

K2, Fugitives 169cm

I purchased this pair of K2 Fugitives (soft, buttery, twin-tipped, park/powder) skis 3 winters ago. They were $680 retail, I picked them up on Backcountry.com for $140 (80% off!). Sick. They are great for powder, especially in the glades.

Bindings

Look (aka Dynastar), NX 11 +

http://www.dynastar.com/#/products/dc9a020-nx-11-

These have been great bindings. Safe, secure, great weight & strength transfer to the ski & edge. I had them mounted just behind center on my K2 Fugitives to adjust for ideal powder conditions. Hopefully I can get back into some powder regularly someday!

Boots - Dalbello (too old to matter, I got them in high-school)

Poles - Scott (too old to matter, I got them in high-school)

Snowshoes

TSL, Take the High Road 25" (The graphics on mine are a little different)

I picked these up in the fall at about $60 per pair. It was such an outrageous deal. My wife and I had been talking about getting snowshoes for a while. This was the perfect time. These have great stainless steel spikes, a quick and simple binding system that fits my Columbia boots (see below) perfectly, and an all around rugged construction. These have held up great (and I haven't be easy on them). I look forward to many more hikes in them.

Jacket

Cabela's, Gortex Paclite Shell (mine is older and in red)

This is a great lightweight shell. It is breathable, no frills, no thrills. It sheds the water & the snow, and holds in the heat. No questions asked. Boom.

Pants - EMS System Three (they are great)

Gloves - Burton (too old to matter, I got them in high-school)

Goggles

Spy, Targa II (the coloring on my pair is slightly different)

Great goggles. I have had mine since senior year of high-school, and they still work and look great. They rarely ever fog unless I am overheating in an extreme way. Nothing to complain about. Sweet ocular protection.

Helmet

Smith, Holt (this is the closest to what the graphics look like, brown matte, etc)

Great helmet. Comfortable, warm, stylish, touch, etc. I haven't cracked my head on anything yet (to really test it), but it has taken it's fair share of beatings in the woods of Vermont.

Get outside!

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See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Gift to my wife: Moleskine Extra Large Softcover

I got my wife an extra large squared softcover Moleskine for her birthday, for her writing exercises. Every serious writer needs a serious notebook! It is a thing of beauty, I must say. That's the largest Moleskine I have ever purchased!

Get some!

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Snowshoeing In Central New York

My wife and I went snowshoeing 3 times this winter in Shindagin Hollow, here in Central New York. Check out my previous post from mountain biking there last fall a few times.

Click here for more info about Shindagin Hollow, maps, directions, trail routes, etc.

The first few times were in mid January when we had a few nice powder storms. The snow clung to everything. We were tromping through at least 18".

The last time was in late January when the snow was a bit wetter, but still deep and thick. We hiked for at least 3 miles. The snow was around 3' deep.

I prefer snowshoeing over cross-country skiing mostly because of the "off-road" factor. I can go anywhere on snowshoes. Cross-country skis are not that versatile. On snowshoes, I can tromp down a trial, head into the glades, hike up a ridge/cliff, easily traverse hills, and hike into the backcountry to do some downhill skiing/boarding etc. Cross-country skiing is often bound to the trail.

That's my take. Disagree? Sound off in the comments ...

Gear Notes:

Pack

Lowe Alpine, Fall Line 35(L) (I think this is a discontinued model now)

I picked this up on Backcountry.com for a song in 2009. Sweet deal. I use it everyday to go to campus for work, but it really thrives on the trail. It sits well on my hips and hugs my back with some breathing room. It holds 35 liters of gear, so plenty of room for snacks for the trail, an extra layer & fleece, hydration bladder and or water bottles, first aid kit, other miscellaneous gear, etc. Love the pack.

Snowshoes

TSL, Take the High Road 25" (The graphics on mine are a little different)

I picked these up in the fall at about $60 per pair. It was such an outrageous deal. My wife and I had been talking about getting snowshoes for a while. This was the perfect time. These have great stainless steel spikes, a quick and simple binding system that fits my Columbia boots (see below) perfectly, and an all around rugged construction. These have held up great (and I haven't be easy on them). I look forward to many more hikes in them.

Powderridge, Women's 25"

The bindings on these are a bit weather than the TSL's, but they still hold up and do a great job. No complaints from my wife, she keeps up with me no problem. They are just not quite as aggressive as a design as the TSL Take the High Road 25's.

Poles

Tubbs, 2 Section Adjustable Snowshoe/Trekking Poles (Mine are red)

These work great. They are sturdy when at full length. They baskets cup the snow well. They are light weight, and the grip is comfortable. No complaints. Straight quality.

Boots

Columbia Bugaboot Omni-Tech (I've got them in brown)

I picked these up last fall as well. They are size 9, and slightly on the big side. They have a lip on the heel, perfect for snowshoeing. They are plenty warm and don't weigh very much. I wear them to work sometimes when the weather is bad.

Shades

Suncloud, Outlaw (discontinued, now called Surge)

I picked them up cheap on SierraTradingPost.com 3 years ago or so. Another good deal. No complaints. They are polarized (that's key). The fit well, keep the sun out, and look good. Period. Although, I think I left them in the car on a hot day one too many times, they are a bit warped (plastic frame). So they don't quite fit as well as they used to, my fault though.

Shell

Sherpa, Lobuste Soft-Shell Jacket (mine is an older version, this is the latest)

I picked this up last winter on Sierra Trading Post for dirt cheap (60% off at least). It has been great in most respects. The only complaint is the zippers. 2 of the 4 didn't have stoppers at the ends of the zipper track, so I would frequently zip the zipper right off the end into my hand (I fixed that with a little DIY tweak). Other than that, it is lightweight, wind resistant, water resistant, relatively warm, and a slim athletic fit. It is great by itself on a cool day, or as a cold weather layer. This is perfect as a shell for the kind of snowshoeing I do.

EMS, Techwick T3 Tights

I grabbed these on a retail sale when I used to live in Vermont a few years ago. They work out great for any cold weather activity. They can be worn by themselves for a run or snowshoeing (more activity), or as a layer in low activity or extremely cold conditions. Eastern Mountain Sports Techwick is the best.

Snowshoeing is so gnarly. Get outside!

(Next Post: Backcountry Skiing/Boarding)

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