I picked up the staff out of a rack at Sportsman's Warehouse.

I believe it was branded as a Field and Stream hiking staff, but made by these guys:

http://www.whistlecreek.com/index.html

However, they don't seem to have the F&S brand on their site. I popped in SW the other day to see if they had a slightly slimmer staff, but the display was emptied out. (I think they're having problems with restocking still, due to the change of ownership.)

Edit: I think "Hickory Hiking Staff," item number 1407, halfway down this page is the same as what I have:

http://www.whistlecreek.com/classerrusst.html

Hey Scafool, thanks for the heads up on the soapstone. As I said, I prefer the grease pencil. I was just looking at the crayon you were mentioning while at H Depot on Sunday. I decided no, as I trust what I use.

Back to the thread, I don't think a backpack or maxipedition is uncalled for. Heck just a basic messenger bag would work well and you can continue to carry those items all day long instead of just when you wear those pants.

You might benefit from carrying your water on your back or waist ( camelbak flashflo.)

@Comm: I wear these pants all day long. =P

Being self-employed, I wear what I like.

Seriously, though, the exercise is to keep as much stuff on-body as possible without getting bogged down. Once I get the Maxpedition bottle carrier, I'm sure I'll offload one or two things.

Speaking of which, after some deliberation, I've moved my Heatsheets blanket and Leatherman up to my coat pockets, and my cell phone down to my left front pocket (the slot pocket).

The blanket, while very light, was just too bulky. REI is having a 25% off sale on all AMK products starting on the 1st, so I'm going to pick up the single person blanket and see how the bulk is. The Leatherman only adds plier functionality, with the other tools being redundant to a SAK, so I'm thinking it's not worth having it bang into my leg all day. When I get the bottle carrier, it's going to have a home there.

Also, keep in mind that I'm not using this stuff in extremis. Rescue for any situation I'm likely to find myself in over the course of this coming year will involve placing a cell phone call to 911 to come haul my injured self off the trail. An extreme case may involve no cell signal or a dead battery, and waiting for a hiker/trail runner/mountain biker to come along (about a ten minute to fifteen minute affair on most of the trails I'll be on, if that) so I can either borrow their cell or have them contact a park ranger.

Until I'm in better shape, I'm sticking to tamer trails, and probably considerably shorter walks than a lot of you folks are used to. Once I start hitting longer walks, I'll be carrying the water bottle holder and other supplies. For just getting into shape, I'm pretty much in overkill mode at the moment for what I carry. I just want to get used to carrying it, if that makes sense.

What kind of holster, please? Do you always wear a light jacket or something to keep it hidden?

Dave

Very interesting. I might have to take a look!

Brian.
With all this fitness talk it sounds like soon you will be getting a small pack like Comms suggested, just to load it with rocks so you can do some weight training.

I liked your photo set of the trail.
For that plant you can't ID I suspect it is Maianthemum dilatatum
I added a comment to the photo.

Try this for more about it;
http://www.paghat.com/maianthemum.html

@Dave: Uncle Mike's Super Belt Slide Holster. I need to upgrade it when I get funds. Works well enough for now, though. At the moment, I do wear a jacket, yes. Thinking about getting an IWB holster for warmer weather.

@scafool: Thanks for the ID! I haven't yet dug up a good plant guide online. I may have to buy a field guide off Amazon.


Hmm, speaking of not being able to find an online plant guide, while looking up Maianthemum dilatatum, I found:

http://green.kingcounty.gov/GoNative/Photo.aspx?Act=browse

So, thanks again! Now, maybe I'll be able to put names to some of the plants around here.

For the Kimber, look to the tuck-able IWB holsters from De Santis or others. I was pointed in their direction by a friend well met here on this forum....

You mat also like the newer Kydex paddle holsters. I never thought I would move away from leather, but the plastic has really grown on me...


Cheers to the Old Sage, and Friend Well Met..... OBG

Seriously, water bottles filled with water make better weight for pack training than rocks. You can dump the water out if the weight needs to be jettisoned.
Dumping the rocks means you might have to find other, less pack-friendly rocks. Or be accused of littering.....

Just be sure to use either full or empty jugs. Sloshing jugs of water in your pack is a whole other challenge to walk with.

(I've been known to load up a 5 gallon jug or two and carry them in my pack around my usual daily walking path when working up for a backpacking trip.)