15º(f) • 7 AM • March 6th
Another early and bitter-cold morning here in the Appalachian Mountains. The sun is rising, casting long, dark shadows across the frozen ground. With a day of to-do lists and engagements forthcoming, I force myself to push everything out of my mind and focus on connecting with nature.
With stiff fingers, short breathing and my beard iced over, I trudge forward. Crossing a couple of wide-open fields, through some overgrown brush, I find myself in the midst of a perfect pine forest. This is the perfect place to settle in, fire up my MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe and make some tea as I read and journal for a bit.
Shown above: MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe . Optimus Terra Kettle . Helikon-Tex Swagman Roll . Extreme Wilderness Survival by Craig Caudill . RiteInTheRain 3×5 Journal
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
This morning I wanted a quick, simple and easy solution for getting my morning tea piping hot. So I decided to load up my backpack with the newly announced MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe, Optimus Terra Kettle and Überleben Kuksa.
The combined stove and pot weigh very little (8.3oz) but are extremely efficient in getting my water boiling. All-in-all it has taken around 8 minutes to boil 16 ounces of water in the kettle. I think this is very acceptable due to the bitter cold, moderate wind and half-empty fuel canister that I’ve slowly been chipping away at since last summer.
Easy As Can Be…Push Button Ignitor
As much as I love my twig stoves, there are times when I want to be able to simply push a button and have fire. The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe affords this option with its new piezo ignitor.
This newly introduced feature to the Pocket Rocket lineup has allowed me to keep my gloves on to retain some heat and easily put the stove into action without a fuss. I really appreciate this on frigid winter days like today and times when I simply want to take it easy.
Kettle of Hot Tea
In a total of 10 minutes or so I am set up with a kettle of hot tea to my right, a Kuksa topped off in my hand and my Helikon-Tex Swagman Roll keeping me moderately warm (given the temperatures).
I’m impressed by the Optimus Terra Kettle at this point as well. Not only is it a featherweight, but it performed very well with the Pocket Rocket Deluxe. I’m finding that it is perfect for times when I want to bring a “luxury item” to make my camp feel a bit more at home.
Taking a moment to sit and nothing more.
I’m not sure how most people are…And perhaps it’s just me because part of my ‘job’ revolves around the outdoor industry. But I have a hard time simply sitting and taking in my adventures some times. I’m always thinking about the next photo that I need to take or the next article that I want to compile my thoughts for.
I truly love this part of my outdoor adventures. But there are times when I need to unplug and remember to be present at the moment. To connect with nature. And this is exactly what I plan to do for the rest of this morning, nothing more, nothing less.
Gear in this Field Report.
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe:
I have been testing this newly-announced stove for 6+ months and I’ve been extremely impressed by it. Just like the past versions of the stove, this one is a winner. In fact, I have fully switched to the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe, when I choose to use a canister-based stove. (see it on Amazon)
Optimus Terra Kettle:
I am still new to this kettle. But I am enjoying it a lot. I really love having tea in the woods and this is the perfect companion for it. (see it on Amazon)
Überleben Kuksa:
Paired with the two pieces of gear above, the Überleben Kuksa is phenomenal and necessary to round out this kit. Its ergonomics and comfort are second to none. (see it on Amazon)
Action Steps for my Next Adventure.
As I mentioned in my last Field Report, I am focused on constant improvement as an outdoorsman and I aim to document this in my Field Reports as I move along. So, here are a few things I am looking to improve upon during my next adventure.
- Devote 10 Minutes at the beginning of every adventure to simply sit and connect with nature. Zero distractions.
- After these 10 minutes, spend another 30 minutes to observe and take notes about what I hear, see and experience.
- Continue to learn land navigation.
- Realize that every adventure is important and can be a learning opportunity. No matter if it’s a micro-adventure for a couple of hours or an overnighter.
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