McNETT® - Essentials for Adventure^TM

Camping & Climbing

Climbing rope manufacturers recommend washing ropes periodically to remove fine particles that will damage fibers and mask water repellent treatments. The saying goes: “dirty ropes attract more dirt.” They also attract and hold more moisture. Household detergents damage water repellent treatments and make ropes into “dirt magnets.” Use the right stuff – ReviveX® Climbing Rope Cleaner Concentrate!.

• Rope Cleaning

  • Wash Your Climbing Ropes

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      Step 1:

      Before washing, tie rope into a Daisy Chain to minimize kinking and tangles. Double the rope by bringing both ends together. Tie in a knot, leaving the loose ends in a short tail.

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      Step 2:

      To make the first chain, loop the rope as if you were making an overhand knot.

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      Step 3:

      Reach your free hand down through the loop and pull the rope partially through. This is the start of your second chain “link”. Continue to pull the remaining rope through each successive loop until you reach the end.

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      Step 4:

      Add gentle detergent to empty washer. Use the medium water setting (10 gallons). Wash the daisy chained rope using the delicate cycle and cold water. Hang or lay flat to dry. It may take as long as 48 hours to fully dry.

• Rope Storage Tips

  • Paddlesports Tip

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      Keep knots and kinks from jamming in your throw bag by stuffing it correctly!
          Step 1. Untangle and spread out your rope on a clean surface.
          Step 2. Turn your back to your rope, drape it over your shoulder and begin to coil it into your throw bag.
          Step 3. Ensure you’re stuffing the bag evenly and that kinks are untwisting behind you.

• Backpacking Tips

  • Hiking Tip

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      From the top of the ridge you can see your car at the trailhead far below. Do you take a compass bearing and try to hold to it as you scramble down through dense forest? If you drift off your bearing, even slightly, you could miss the trailhead and wind up lost in the forest. By “Aiming Off” you could deliberately choose to take a bearing that will intersect the road then walk to the trailhead and your car.

  • Backpacking Tip

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      Steps to Lifting a Backpack
      1. Lift to bent knee.
      2. Slide onto one shoulder while swinging slowly around and slide other arm in opposite strap.
      3. Fasten hip belt, then snug up other straps and off you go...!

  • Packing Tip

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      Proper Backpack Weight Distribution:
      A. Small, “Quick Access” Items i.e.: sunblock, head lamp, etc.
      B. Heavy Weight Items i.e.: food, water, fuel, etc.
      C. Light Weight Items i.e.: rain gear, clothing, etc.
      D. Medium Weight Items i.e.: tent, ground sheet, etc.
      E. Sleeping Bag

  • Ultralight Tip

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      Going Lighter – The “Big 3” Gear Items
      To dramatically reduce the weight of your fully loaded backpack get the weight of your “Big 3” gear items down. The “Big 3” are your tent, sleeping bag and backpack (empty) combined.

• Camping Tips

  • Firestarting Tip

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      One of the easiest campfires to build and maintain, the “lean-to” fire is a simple pyramid-shaped lean-to built against the side of a large piece of firewood. Build up the lean-to using pencil-sized wood first followed by progressively larger wood. Leave a gap to insert tinder into the interior. Cover the gap with small wood once the tinder is alight. Commonly available fire starters include: clothes dryer lint (extremely lightweight), alcohol hand sanitizing gel, a small piece of candle, some insect repellents and even greasy potato chips.

  • Camping Tip

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      Put your jacket into your sleeping bag’s stuff sack for an instant pillow.

  • Knife Tip

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      To sharpen a knife, slide the knife across the sharpening stone as though you are trying to cut a thin slice off the stone. Hold the blade at roughly a 20 degree angle and draw it steadily. Be sure to count the number of strokes and do the same number of strokes on the opposite side.

  • Fire Starters

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      Commonly available fire starters include: clothes dryer lint (extremely lightweight), alcohol hand sanitizing gel, a small piece of candle, some insect repellents and even greasy potato chips.

  • Fire Building Tip

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      One of the easiest campfires to build and maintain, the “lean-to” fire is a simple pyramid-shaped lean-to built against the side of a large piece of firewood. Build up the lean-to using pencil-sized wood first followed by progressively larger wood. Leave a gap to insert tinder into the interior. Cover the gap with small wood once the tinder is alight.

  • Camp Set-Up Tip

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      In bear country, it’s worth having an ultra-light, sil-nylon tarp to create a dry cooking area 100 yards away from your tent. They’re also handy for packing and unpacking your pack in the rain. Current sil-nylon tarps weigh as little as 6 oz.