5.11 Rush 24 Pack: 1 Year Later

As a freelance writer for numerous magazines, I receive a handful of items for review. Last spring a batch of 5.11 products arrived including their RUSH24 Backpack. After using this as my primary pack for countless survival courses, personal treks, and air travel I can say that this is a beast and holds up like few other pieces of gear I own.

With my height of 6’, I find the neck yoke and shoulder strap width comfy. There's a wrap-around web platform which is MOLLE  compatible and allows ample space to attach my survival kit and a small medical pouch on the front panel. The size is a little too big for short dayhikes but ideal for 2-3 day treks for my needs. The company states that it is a 2000 cubic inch pack (33 liters) but that is only for the main compartment. Add in the multiple side and front pockets and you greatly increase the carrying capacity. 

I made the mistake of leaving my pack outside my shelter one night in the desert and a packrat chewed through the shoulder strap. I've jerry-rigged the webbing for the past month but will have to look into replacing this soon.  

Post-Apocalyptic Fiction titles now available in print and eBook formats

Some of you are aware that I am involved in writing fiction, in particular post-apocalyptic fiction and sci-fi. These books are written under the pen name JT Sawyer and have largely been available only on Kindle. This past month saw the publication of the first three volumes in the First Wave Series and it is now available in print through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other brick-and-mortar stores throughout the U.S.

This series focuses on a small band of survivors who emerge from a 22-day Colorado River trip to find that the world has unraveled from a pandemic. They must survive and evade the (gasp...) undead while moving across the rugged Arizona landscape. 

Also, going Live tomorrow is the third book in the Carlie Simmons zombie-apocalypse series, The Way Back. This book takes off where volume two ended and follows former Secret Service Agent Simmons and her eclectic band on a harrowing trek through the wilds. This eBook is available at a discounted rate of .99 cents for the next week.

Overland Expo 2015

My staff and I had the great pleasure of teaching at Oveland Expo again this year south of Flagstaff. We had two days of mud, snow, and rain but, as always, a great crowd of enthusiastic explorers from around the globe. We taught numerous classes on bushcraft, basic survival, and emergency kits along with having a chance to scope out the latest Overland gear and vehicle hardware. Gracious hosts Jonathan and Roseann Hanson must not sleep a wink during the entire weekend with all they have planned during this event and with the arrival of thousands of participants pouring into Mormon Lake (whose diameter increased considerably in about 24 hours!).

An amazing rig with rooftop tent parked nearby amongst hundreds of such vehicles that were in attendance.

Vehicle extrication skills and rigging systems were some of the many workshops participants could register for during the three-day event.

There were many vintage vehicles present whose design and durability was a wonder to observe.

For those on the East Coast, the Expo will be running their 3-day event in North Carolina in October. For more info, check out Overland Expo.