Epic Ski-Tour Plans for this Season
November 22, 2008 - I'd like to do 4 epic ski-tours this winter.
I'd be happy to have folks join me.
Here they are:
*the Poto
*Pigeon River (Shingle Mill Pathway and more)
*Jordan River Pathway
*Chandler Hills (with David S. as tour guide!)
I don't know when they will happen, however. I'm used to not knowing when I'll have good snow---but I supp... > Read Article
What is OYB? --An HQ for Affordable Indy Action & Sundries
October 18, 2008 - Hi, I'm Jeff Potter and I herd the cats here. OYB has been celebrating thrifty independent culture since 1991, offering 1000+ hard-to-find stories, links, books and goodies (luggage, too!) that offer the Vision Thing that anyone can afford.
Hard times aren't new. They're the base condition for folk culture and social creativity. They can even be voluntary or not noticed. Doing without consumer "necessities" can free us up. What's "hard" for one is "good" for another. Simplicity ... > Read Article
Let's See Your Comments!
October 17, 2008 - Each of our OYB articles is followed by a "Reader Comments" section. If you have a reaction to the story or had a similar experience or a tip to pass on, please do!
I had it set up so it didn't need a Log-In, but the spambots found it that day and loaded in random trash (who are these people?) so now you have to Log-In...as with any blog. OK, it... > Read Article
Swiss Army Rucksack: classy, rugged, rumpled
October 16, 2008 - [$50.]
They're back! These vintage Swiss packs are getting harder and harder to find. But I found some!
Tired of hightech fabric and sporty bright colors in your outdoor stuff and everyday gear? Me, too. (Well, there's a time and place, of course.)
Here's a high quality, leather and canvas rucksack that'll break in (even more) jus... > More Info > Purchase
New! Classy Vintage Rucksack w/ Frame
October 16, 2008 - This is a basically new snappy-looking vintage military surplus backpack. (I guess I'd call a pack with a frame a backpack not a rucksack.)
This is a very good looking very well made pack.
Olive drab canvas with light-green leather strapping. Size is 19" x 14" x 6" on a 1/2" dia tubular frame, with 2 big side pockets. These are 95% new, or m... > More Info > Purchase
The OYB Pannier --Classy!
October 15, 2008 - [$45 postpaid in USA for ONE pannier.]
Presenting the OYB International Model Perfection Pannier!
(Title courtesy of Herter!)
Dang, these items are sharp.
The base cases are high quality, very rare military surplus in very good condition---used, with nicks, scuffs, stains and rumples. They have "beausage"---the beauty of use. ... > More Info > Purchase
The OYB Bag --The World's Only 5-Way Bag!
September 08, 2008 - [$37, postpaid in US] The 5-Way OYB Bag is ready for action! Get yours now! Cheap! (Other leather-canvas daybags are $80-100. And do much, much less.) Click on the PayPal button to the left under the picture!
The OYB Bag is approx 4"x8"x10" in size and is the only bag that converts in a jiffy into a Shoulderbag, a Saddlebag, a Handlebar-b... > More Info > Purchase
Free Sample OYB!
September 07, 2008 - OK, just to show you that the web isn't everything and that PAPER rocks, too, I'm offering a FREE SAMPLE issue of OYB to anyone who ... is willing to pay the postage.
Just click the PayPal order button and it'll only bill you $2 which covers most of the postage.
The freebie is big, tasty issue #8.
All my back issues are still available. ... > More Info > Purchase
Sweet new thrifty bike light! (good for everything else, too)
December 03, 2008 - I just got my new bike (and everything) stick light in the mail. I bought a handlebar mount, too. (I still need a headband for it.)
Dang, it seems to be rockin' powerful. And it seems to have what I need in a bike light.
The main thing is that it takes the huge brightness of a 2-foot Cree hotspot and spreads it out over about 10 feet at a 15-... > Read
Article | Go to Website
SuperDuper Poto Trail Ski Raid --- Jan. 25
November 25, 2008 - Here's a link to info about the coolest race / ski-tour in Michigan!
It's held on 1/25 and it's the severalth annual Poto Trail Ski Raid.
17 miles of ungroomed hill'n'dale in Pinckney on the worldclass Poto singletrack trail. Maybe the trail will be skied-in or walked-in already---maybe not.
It's a downstate jamboree. No entry fee. Just fu... > Read
Article
I Love a Beech Tree in Winter
November 24, 2008 - ...Because its copper leaves stay on.
I like how it stays yellow so late in autumn...it's one of the last bright trees. Then it turns copper against the white winter snow and deep blue skies. And of course you gotta love the hardness and toughness of the slow-growing beech.
But why do its leaves stay on?
Because it's marcescent!< >... > Read
Article
Growing Up & Learning to Cook
November 23, 2008 - I never cooked anything until college.
Then I got into hosting Renaissance dinners for awhile. A few friends would get together and we'd go find old recipes and make what we considered to be a feast, using what fish and game we had in the freezer. Shooting a goose or catching a big steelhead would tend to spark the whole show and everything we ... > Read
Article
Epic Day-Tour Ski Rig
November 22, 2008 - I'm working on getting my day-tour ski rig dialed in. I've posted about it here before, I'm sure. Many times. But it doesn't have an article to itself that I see offhand.
Start with a ski that will float and glide. 55-65mm wide. Lightweight. Metal-edge in mid-section if you'll be in bigger sidehill terrain.
Get a light boot with plenty of fle... > Read
Article
My Fave Junk Drawer
November 22, 2008 - Here's my favorite junk drawer. It's right where I work and it's for knives and outdoor sports stuff. Whenever I go on an outing, or need to tinker with something, I dip into it for what's needed.
How about if you take a pic of your fave/junk drawer, too! You can upload it somewhere and link it to a reader-comment below. I think you could also p... > Read
Article
Confession: I go nuts this time of year
November 19, 2008 - I have to confess that I just go nuts this time of year.
Every kind of hunting is reaching its peak. And trapping is at its zenith.
The build-up started in autumn, with the colorful leaves, warm days and cool nights. That's bow-hunting time. And scouting time for everything else. (I'm no pro---they scout year-round.) But to me it's time to p... > Read
Article
Here's
a Quote...
"Wash off all wonderings-why
and workings-out-however.
Don't take those with you
to the big watertank."
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Article 
