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EVERYTHING ELSE

Then there’s the rest of your gear.

• When was the last time you washed your
sleeping bag and pillow? Get some Down
Wash or Tech Wash.

• Did you dry out your water filter before
packing it away for the winter? If not,
you’ve been storing a petri dish.

• If it’s ceramic (MSR Miniworks or
Katadyn Pocket, Combi, or Vario) or
micro-tube technology (Sawyer Squeeze
or Mini, Katadyn BeFree, MSR TrailShot
or Hyperflow, Platypus GravityWorks)
did it freeze? Do a pressure check.

• Does your stove still work correctly?
Does the pump need to be lubed?

• How old is your fuel? White gas goes bad
after about a year after being opened. It
will smell similar to turpentine. Canister
fuel should be fine.

• Do you use the Blue Gaz canisters?
Bummer—they stopped making them.
Time to go stove shopping.

• Did any critters snack on your tent? Pick
up some repair tape, mesh repair, or
Seam Grip.

Bryant Helgeland is the owner/operator of
Mountain Provisions, on the Plaza in Ashland.
Active in several outdoor sports (Telemark skiing,
XC Skiing, Road and Mountain biking, Hiking,
Backpacking, Kayaking), he has been a seminar
speaker on many of those activities. He attended a
NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) semes-
ter trip to Chile shortly after college. During high
school he was a counselor at YMCA outdoor camps.
Contact him at bryant@ashlandmountainprovisions.
com or the store’s Facebook page.

Quality, Local Products Fresh Produce
Grab-and-Go Deli Hand-Cut, High Quality Meats
Local Wines Unique Specialty Items

Healthy Living Choices Customer Driven Selections

Locations in Oregon and Northern California• www.gorays.com

summer 2018 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 69