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Winter Min

Hey, it's winter and it's a new year. Get out there and embrace the healthy cold. Yes, research tells us that while an unhealthy person may suffer a weakened immune system and hence, be susceptible to rhinoviruses and influenza viruses that make us sick with flu or cold, it has another effect on all of us.

When we spend time out of doors and capture that winter sun, we arm our bodies with vitamin D; a necessary ingredient in the battle against illness. Additionally, being active outdoors builds core strength, circulatory and respiratory responses that keep us strong and energetic. Combine that activity and vitamin D with a good diet, and the only thing the cold temperatures give us is immune health.

Germs cause colds and flu, not cold weather. So why do people get sick in colder weather? Two major reasons for this are as follows: In cold weather people spend more time indoors where viruses are just waiting to get to them. Secondly, NOT being out in the winter sun lessens our absorption of vitamin D, which we get from the sun. Even in the season where the sun is less or hardly prevalent at all, we can still get vitamin D from being outside during the sunny times, even in Alaska for those short hours of faint sunlight.

Yes, winter cold is an immune booster and the old wives tale that cold causes sickness, is as far from accurate as is throwing a peeled potato over your shoulder will cure warts. Yup, that's another old wive's tale.

The key to being outside is staying warm. Don't go out hiking all day in your cotton jeans with a Fall jacket. Dress in layers and stay warm enough to be comfortable. Remove layers when sweating and add layers when at rest. You will thrive and enjoy numerous benefits, including a strong immune system!

It's FREE medicine. It's part of a health care program no one should ignore.

Sleeping Naked is Warmer?

No, it is not basically true. However, it may be true in one way. Your sleeping bag is warm because it has loft. That means inches of insulation. The thicker (loft) the insulation the better or warmer it can keep you. If a person has a bag that is perhaps a little too snug for them or, too small, then wearing extra clothes works to compact the loft making it less effective and making you think that wearing clothes in your bag is not a good idea.

A sleeping bag that is not too snug, combined with 1-2 layers of clothing is the best way to get the most insulation value. Your sleeping bag's girth (usually found in the specs) should ideally be approx. 18 inches or so, wider than your chest measurement. Most bags are made a certain size and so don't be concerned with the 18" exact. If it's 16, if it's 22, don't worry. Just make sure you not putting your 200 pound frame and 46 inch chest in a sleeping bag with a 54 inch girth made for teenage boys. If you do, you might be better off naked.

Cheers!

Using Two Sleeping Bags in Colder Weather

So, if you want to get a close estimate of the combined temperature rating when two sleeping bags are used together, it looks like this: x-(70-y)2 =z. Tonight I will use a two bag system for a 10-13 degree night. So, I have a 30 degree bag and a 20 degree bag. With x being the lower temperature rating of the two bags (mine are 20 and 30) and y being the higher of the two. And so x is the 20 degree bag, y is the 30 degree bag and z is our answer. The formula goes like this, 20-(70-30)2=0. My set up should be good to around zero depending on several other variables, but it is a good estimate.

Eat Well, Eat Cheaply and Eat Outside.

In a chapter of our forthcoming book, The Minifesto, We focus on four needs that we all have on this planet, including our four-legged buddies and co-inhabitants.
1) Air (oxygen), which we need real soon or we're gone in seconds.
2) Shelter (which is a broad word for a micro-environment) including homes, buildings, blankets, clothes and fire (or other sources for warmth). All of these serve to protect us from getting too cold. We need to be warm enough.
3) Water is next in line as we can not go without it for more than hours.
4) Finally, food, which we need within days.
As a minimalist, food is a big deal when it comes to cost. Also, as one who will not substitute nutritional value, I am always looking for ways to get it on the cheap. Here, I took those nasty Ramen noodles, (which we know are not good for us) and used only a third of the seasoning packet which makes a huge difference in the sodium content and then added the kale, tomato and onion. Six hundred calories and 30% RDA of sodium (not too bad) and then another 200 calories in almonds. Delicious and with the expensive almonds, about $1.75. Add to it the fact that I enjoyed my meal in the middle of the woods, breathing fresh air, boiled water from a creek and had the clothes and gear I needed to be warm. Free and happy as a kid chasing a butterfly.

Try it? Put these four things together in your own creative way and your soul will soar. Yes, this is how I live my life everyday.

Have a soul-soaring day.

The Minifesto

Our new book will be available in November. With inspiration, education and introductions to how minimalism can set your soul on fire and lighten your load, whether on a city street or a remote trail.

Look for The Minifesto: A Call to Minimalism, Contentment and Well-Being. Coming in November.

Also, be aware that your copy will come with a free gift to use on your next outdoor adventure. FUN!

Being and Doing: Minimalist Philosophy

The summit of a mountain is an experience, not an accomplishment. And, this is the difference between being, and doing.

P-E-A-C-E

Peace seems so distant from our reality, doesn't it? Peace is calm and our world is chaotic. Peace is quiet and our world is loud. Peace is kind but our world is often so violent.

Peace and minimalism are closely related and perhaps the acronym that you see below might offer you some inspiration and encouragement in possessing more peace in your own life. And, perhaps be the catalyst for influencing others, as well as speaking peace into the lives of all around you.

P. Pursue a life marked by kindness, gentleness and humility.

E. Embrace silence and solitude in natural places.

A. Avoid the unhealthy pursuit of material wealth and power.

C. Consider the basic needs and interests of others as equal or more important than your own.

E. Encourage education and non-violence.

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For Sale: YOU

Stop selling pieces of your life just for money! For most of us, that is what has been happening for decades. We want, desire and lust for things, so we sell our time and a significant portion of our very lives to jobs and enterprises that suck us away from family, love, intimacy and nature. We don't actually sit and think about it much, we just accept that this is the way it is. The world told us something years ago and we just kind of let it happen, follow the crowd, compromise. We have been selling our life to things that ultimately bring no lasting satisfaction or fulfillment. Basically we walk around with a sign on our foreheads: For Sale.

A minimalist philosophy may be just what you need to get life back. It requires some huge sweeping changes but you can slowly get there with a little bit of determination.

Here is what you can expect to come naturally once you're on the trail to minimalism: Health, happiness and harmony.

Health improves because you have time to get outside and run, hike, bike, camp, climb and sit in silence...where health is born. The stress fades and as a result virtually every system of our bodies heals and rejuvenates. In my life, the biggest decision I make on many days is simply, "where do I want to hike today?" Your diet will improve because you begin to take back control and your minimalist decisions consequently manifest themselves in improved health.

Happiness is not something you will enjoy occasionally, or look for, or hope for. Rather, happiness will define you. Your simple, carefree life will create a sense of well-being, peace, inner joy and consistent happiness.

Harmony. Your minimalist lifestyle will not only create harmony within your own mind and body. You will find yourself mindful of the connection you have to the world itself. To others, to nature, to God.

Please take time to follow us here at mtn-min without selling a piece of your life. Give us a chance to encourage you from time to time, right here. We will respect that time because we KNOW you're not for sale!

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Minimalism and Meditation

"I'm very happy," a person might say. In many cases it may actually mean, "I am content". Content is a good thing for sure however, if it means that I have settled into a life that works but it's surely not perfect then maybe it is time to review. Minimalism, as it pertains to a lifestyle and, meditation, which we will define here shortly, together offer an extremely powerful component to finding freedom and an indestructible sense of well-being.

Minimalism in short might be well defined as a philosophy and a lifestyle that is developed and bred from an understanding about what we need as persons. The great religious leaders of the past and the tenets of those philosophies are rooted in minimalism. From the Noble Truths of Buddhism to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, minimalism is not only suggested but, mandatory. Yet, hardly even a tiny portion of those who espouse these faiths and philosophies actually live consistent to them! This is amazing to me, we seem so sure about what we believe yet it is in a rather morbid contrast to how we live!

Minimalism in simply realizing that we "do not need". I used to counsel parents and their kids and I have heard, and in more than just counseling sessions, "you need", "I need" and "we need". Need carries an enormous amount of stress with it and stress, we are learning, might be at the root of virtually every problem we face as people and even as nations.

Even when we use the word "need" in sincere ways, i.e. I need my job or I need my spouse or I need my family, it really isn't true. For example, the person who says they "need" their children is in an even worse world of hurt if that child is somehow taken from them in death. A tragedy indeed! But, that person will continue to breathe and be forced to go on. It's a reality. It's true! One will not cease to exist, breathe, eat and drink. At the core of minimalism is an understanding that I don't need. I may want, in fact this is even better. I would personally rather be in a relationship where I am wanted rather than needed. I would rather have someone hold me closely and enjoy me rather than be addicted to me. This may sound cold. Please allow it to simmer for awhile. Once we let go of things to which we thought we "needed" we can find ourselves free to be even more, to love more, to smile more, to be wholly content! If we can get to this point surely we can easily begin to change the way we think about our possessions (cars, boats, clothes, houses, toys, etc).

Meditation is a scary word to some people who do not believe in a spiritual realm. To others it is a ambiguous thing. Well, it isn't difficult. Meditation is really thought. I call it thought therapy. There is directed thought therapy and free thought therapy. We discuss these in other articles. But for here, today, meditation is a bio-chemical and neurological process. we can see its affect in the brain. If there is a spiritual element to it, that is one thing but, the improved emotional control, lower blood pressure, increased health and other benefits to meditation are measurable. They are bio-chemically and neurologically physically measurable. That being said, "thought therapy" is highly effective and it marries amazingly well with minimalism. Meditation or thought therapy is most effectively practiced when we get rid of all the stuff and settle into a place of our, breath. Breathing! What we actually NEED is the breathe of life. It's just about all we need. Yes, food, water and shelter but right now...the breath of life!

Think on this for awhile and see how the two compliment each other and, watch for more information and inspiration here at mtn-min.

For now, I need to go. Ooops, wait a sec. I don't need to go, I am simply going out to the trail for an all day hike!

The Min Tin

A minimalist backpacker's dream. Click to view it in action.

Minimalist Backpacking and Water

Water in the Back Country

The philosophy behind minimalism is very important to the decisions I make when it comes to living daily life and also to backpacking so, I would be remiss to not start with a rather lengthy preface to what I carry in order to meet my needs and address safety while enjoying the raw nature that nourishes my soul.

To start simply, I do not carry water, a water bottle or a filter. Obviously this eliminates a lot of weight and bulk. I do however, carry a little bag that weighs 1/10th of an ounce and is the size of a marble.

A bag filled with water waiting for morning when I need a drink, or if I am using a stove or fire, a cup of coffee.

One major variable that I need to point out is this: We HAVE to have water! So, like our four-legged friends and our ancestors, we live (and explore) where there is water. Simple, huh? I would not make my destination, my home or my journey where people and most animals are not equipped to live, period! That said, if I am going to an area where there is no water, be it for a day or a week, I will have to carry water! My solution and preference in most cases is to be where I can find water.

Indeed, one cannot spend his entire back country life next to a creek and there may be significant distances between water sources. If I hike in the grand canyon, I will HAVE to carry water, but maybe not as much as the average person. My late hiking companion and 120lb Newfoundland mix (Barney) seemed to do OK where ever we went and he never carried water. You've seen desert trekkers (camels) who are really good at drinking their water when available and then going great distances in time and space without. You're right. We are not dogs or camels and more importantly we get sick easier from drinking water that has not been treated.

Hiking in the mountains is my preferred place to embrace the outdoors and the mountains have a pretty good track record of having water sources for the thirsty backpacker. When water is available, I drink. Maybe even as much as a liter and a half or more during a good long rest stop. In most situations I can drink enough water to sustain me for 4-8 hours. It makes a HUGE difference that I carry very, very, very little weight. Hence, I stay hydrated longer and I burn fewer calories!

But, is the water safe to drink without being treated? No! Eventually a person will get sick and maybe even dangerously sick without a way to treat the water. My minimalist philosophy says and I've learned the following:

Drink water when its available.
Beware of three major threats; E coli, Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
If drinking untreated water, do it with a level of mindfulness and experience.

With these things in mind, let me address my basic philosophy which is: I don't want to be on the planet if I cannot drink the water! (Yes, the planet may remove me if I don't change my ways). But, I am not completely stupid. Here is what I continue to learn and experience. Keep in mind, I am NOT suggesting that YOU drink the water or approach this important topic uneducated. All of the science and professionals will tell you to TREAT YOUR WATER! I concur. Let me, say I DO carry a tiny product that I may feel the need to use at times and I'll talk about it shortly.

I hike 4000 miles a year and I drink as much water from creeks and streams as I do from faucets.
I HAVE BEEN VERY SICK from drinking terrible water. I currently am into my ninth month of lactose intolerance since my giardia episode last year. It's much better and nearly gone but, I have actually enjoyed (in a morbid kind of way) watching and going through the process of getting well. Giardia is horrible for an active person because once the diarrhea, nausea and related symptoms subside, the fatigue can still be disabling. The microbiome (gut health) is thrown into a tizzy and things take time and proactive measures in order to be rectified. I stood at the door to the doctor's office before turning around and walking back to my car, reluctantly, in my quest to face the challenge to my immune health without medical intervention.

I have also suffered the similar I-am-going-to-die effects of e coli several years ago after beginning my minimalist journey without regard for the fact that I was taking creek baths in an area of free-range cattle. Cryptosporidium (crypto for short) is also a threat from diseased cattle and sick wild animals, and it is a tough microscopic parasite whose symptoms are similar to e coli with perhaps a little less dehydration, but all of the nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and sometimes fatigue that accompanies it.

Note: ALL OF THESE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS and more than just a terrible one week "flu". Immune health is one key in battling any water-borne parasite or harmful bacteria without the use of medical treatments. I also drink water often with DE (diatomaceous earth). DE is made of tiny diatoms which are fossilized remains of ancient aquatic organisms. Their clear silica shell is mined from deposits around the world. The tiny, chaotic and sharp edges of these fossils can potentially kill and remove the giardia trophozoites that gather and live in the mucousal walls of the intestine. They (the trophozoites) act like little suckers that steal your nutrition and hence mess up your second brain. Your second brain is your gut and a healthy gut works like a brain communicating with your other brain (the one on your shoulders) to create health and immunity. This is a most interesting topic in modern neuroscience and microbiology. I believe the DE is a good and highly effective way to prevent giardia (and perhaps other germs) from destroying the balance of flora in the gut and also a possible remedy for giardia in the case it finds anyone of us. While I credit DE for being an immediate help in my latest giardia battle it can't undo the damage. This requires a healthy diet and all the other components of a a healthy lifestyle like, low-stress and time outside in the dirt, trees and fresh air. Make that a LOT of time out there! Fermented foods are also a great way to maintain this healthy second brain and recover from an episode with giardia.

Giardia is the biggest and most common threat in the high back country. Crypto and e coli are more common where there are farms and people. For instance, if I were to find myself down stream from a slaughterhouse or a ranch I may be most concerned with crypto, next, e coli. If I were in an alpine setting that was remote I would first expect giardia. In the same area but with human traffic, I might be more concerned, or equally concerned with e coli. Where I prefer to hike and backpack, all could be a threat but I am most concerned with giardia. Most methods of treating water will effectively protect from all three.

Giardia: Think wild animals.
E coli: Think people and their waste.
Crypto: Think diseased domesticated animals.
However, these can all be carried by any person or animal. The bottom line for me is to build a resistance or an immunity, which some, but far from all scientists insist can happen. I have undoubtedly been the beneficiary of an improved resistance to these thieves of health. But, not without some pain along the way. And my future is NOT guaranteed when it comes to being able to resist. For now: I drink, therefore I am!

I want to travel light. Very light. So, for myself, I drink a lot of water when it is available. I try to use some bit of judgement when I am out there and occasionally use a product called dioxychlor. Chlorine dioxide is an effective treatment for water. It requires a wait time of 30 minutes before drinking (4 hours for crypto) and only takes 1.5-2 drops per liter of water. Very minimalistic indeed, and a tiny little container can last an entire season. Before chlorine dioxide I used chlorine (bleach) at the same concentration or dosage. CLO2 is much better to taste.

All this is to say, I drink the water and don't predictably treat it. I count on my immune system and I don't take it lightly. I do things specifically to build my immune health, gut health and I also sometimes treat the water. I also drink quantities, when water is available. For these reasons I can can embrace the best of nature and carry an extremely light load. A major priority for me.

Whatever your take on water and drinking in the back country, remember: Water is precious. Do not urinate or defecate anywhere close to water sources. Wash yourself in water and forget the soaps and detergents.

Educate yourself on the methods for treating water and know how to use what you use before you go. If you are a straight-from-the-creek-drinker, be so with a humble awareness.

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Minimalism and Barefooting

Don't put your foot in your mouth. But, I still hope you can still get your foot UP to your mouth.

There are advantages to going barefoot whether it is walking around in the backyard, a stroll through town or, on the trail. From a minimalist view, shoes cost money and money costs time! Oh, there are other reasons to shed the shoes and I'll cover them here shortly but for starters; shoes cost money and money costs time.

I began barefoot hiking some years ago. The only shoes I became comfortable wearing were a zero drop, minimalist shoe that cost 100.00 per pair. They are really quite worth it and you can see I extended their life by hundreds of miles simply by continuing to wear them well after their normal life span. Like the picture below illustrates, the only thing I need from shoes is some protection from the ground especially after my feet start feeling raw after some miles. I make a pair of these shoes look like you see, every year. This is the first year I only own one pair of shoes and they look like this. :) Summer is fading and I will need to decide about this years winter footwear, but I will still find many days to barefoot and wear other minimalist foot coverings.

Next to the shoes you see the Barefoot socks I make. See our tutorials for instructions on hooking yourself up with a pair. Introduction to Barefooter Socks 

The socks are for assisting a person in becoming a barefooter as they offer some protection and a little bit of warmth while training. This brings up an important reality: Our feet can get use to the rocks, roots and hard ground however, they can not get use to the cold! At some point you need warmth!

When I first started barefooting it was for reasons other than saving the money spent on shoes. In fact, I don't even think it is a good enough reason in and of itself but, it is a funny reason I like to use when defending being unshod. But, the real reason I like barefeet is I FEEL the trail. I become closer to the ground and the environment that is part of me in a very real way! Secondly, I subscribe to the science that supports barefeet as healthy and ergonomically superior. Yes, this is not the common person's understanding. I will let you research the science yourself, and decide that. I will simply say that my posture, back, knees, ankles and brain have benefited enormously from barefooting. Subsequent articles here at this site will address this more specifically along with the research you may choose to do on your own.

How about injuries? I cannot fathom barefooting through areas where senseless campers break beer bottles over fire pits or even walking through nasty parking lots in town. But, out on the trails, I have found I change my gait, my mind is sharper and aware and in thousands of miles I have not had an injury...of any kind! Granted, if I stub or break a toe, it may have been prevented with big and bulky boots. Yet, I see many, many hikers that stumble, slip and trip while my own steps seem to be confident and sure.

Stay in touch with us here as we offer more information and educational resources to help you if you feel barefooting is an option you enjoy or want to explore.

We look forward to offering insight into training and techniques for taking off the shoes and hugging the earth as well as links to the science that supports our position.

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