Random Backcountry Hints

Electric Devices in the Backcountry

Assuming you will need to recharge, there are two ways to go in the backcountry.  The first way is to buy a big battery, like a Nitecore 10,000 mah, 150g (supposedly charges phone 2X). 

Another interesting way to go is to get a solar panel. Now the common ones you see are way too heavy, but there is a tiny light one called the Lixada 10W solar panel, This weighs only 98 g, and puts out 5V in bright sunlight with between 1.2 and 2 W (someone with a power meter on Amazon said this, and Now Way No How 10W). Here's where this might actually connect to our experience with EVs: Most devices for backcountry use are lithium batteries, and when you have limited charging resources, some lessons from EVs are relevant. 

The first rule of lithium batteries is that they charge fast at low SOC (state of charge) and slow at high. So, if you plug your power bank or phone in at night at a charger with plenty of power, you won't ever notice this. However, when charging with a pittifully under-powered solar panel, that's another thing altogether (and you notice similar going from powerbank to device).  

My range of experience is as follows: I have a camera with electronic viewfinder and a 1020 mAh lithium battery. At around 10,000 ft (~3300 m), sunny, blustery conditions, I just tied the solar panel to the top loop of a little daypack, and plugged my camera into it via a USB to micro-USB cord.  The battery went from near zero to ~50% in only 30 min!  So, in super-ideal conditions, wow, works great!

My phone has more like 2440 mah; I think I added ~28% starting from around 20% in an hour under ideal conditions.  Here is where this gets a little sticky: Many reviews cite issues using the phone directly into the panel because any cloud will cause the phone to ding (irritating) and possibly have significant latent time going back to charging mode every time a cloud passes.  They recommend instead charging up a power bank, and then charging the phone with that.  This is a terrible solution; the weight of a power bank is more than that of the solar panel.  So, solar panel might be a good thing for VERY long trips, longer than a power bank would last. However, a day of clouds and you're toast - home solar panels typically go below 20% of sunny days on cloudy days. 20% of sunny value is pretty much nothing for the panel.  

Random Notes on Charging Devices

Charging up an Ipad with Nitecore power bank: 

20 minutes - ipad went from 26 to 36% (NItecore 3/4 lights-> 2 lights;  75%->50%?
40 more minutes - only increased ipad an addl 13% (Nitecore to 1 light; 25%?)

So, this is in-line with lithium battery behavior, in that it charges slower as it gets more full. (I wonder if the Nitecore battery has less voltage and therefore less charging ability as well?)

Steri-Pen (and a lesson for almost all multi-replaceable battery devices)

Summary:  Most multi-battery devices tend to discharge just one battery before all others.  Performance can be greatly enhanced by switching batteries around regularly. Additional battery life can be had by removing batteries when not in use. 

Long form:  I love my Steri-Pen for the backcountry.  It gets almost all kinds of nasties, and is really, really fast (90 s/liter). The thing is, i went through a series of returns when, just after the pandemic hit (and lithium prices roses spectacuarly - conspiracy here???) my lithium AA batteries started failing after less than 1/2 the rated number of liters. After a very long and torturous process of returning multiple pens ("classic model") and batteries for new, I tested the voltages and found one outlier. Then, I remembered that once, when dead I removed batteries (to check contacts or proper seal or whatever) it started working again for a bit. This is really common in any kind of multi-battery situation. (Good solar systems come with "battery balancers" to deal with this situation.) (a) store steri-pen in a bag with batteries outside of pen - this prevents drain by pen AND "randomizes" batteries.  (b) put batteries in only during backpacking trip, and remove them after trip.  This assures all batteries are drained evenly, and maximizes life.  I saved someone else with "dead" batteries by changing their order in their pen  just a few weekends ago (backpacking out of convict lake). Works like a charm. Do the same with flashlights or any other kind of multi-battery appliance.  Better yet, buy only sealed USB rechargeable small devices - they seem to account for this effect and always work better than replaceable battery appliances (in my experience). 

Maps and E-Maps

The EBA crew brings both paper and e-maps on trips. Paper maps are way easier to read, but there is really nothing like having your GPS position "magic blue dot" on your map. However: 

• map labels come and go with magnification, which will drive you crazy

• e-maps won't have the same routes and trails as on paper maps, and vice-versa

• e-maps suck phone battery like nothing else

First Issue:  If a label disappears, zoom in and out and it will re-appear. 

Second Issue: If following a route missing from your e-map is important, then just sketch it out on your e-map by adding way points.  

Third Point: If you're navigating by a phone (or any device that doesn't have several trips worth of battery), KEEP AN EYE ON THAT BATTERY and be conservative about turning off GPS mode, AND the app.  Navigate in-between views with paper map and landmarks.  A pain, but easier than when you run out of batteries.  

... and don't forget to learn how to download maps for when you're out of cell phone range!

Useful Backcountry Accessories for your EV (and Hints for Them)

We bought deep, "bathtub design", custom mats for our car.  They have been a godsend, taking up water, snow, mud and trail dust that would normally go into the carpet. Expensive, but well worth it.

Protective film, or "clear bra" is quite expensive if you want it over large areas of your car.  We went for this over large areas of the car, knowing that we drive on gravel roads, regularly scratch the car with bushes, etc.  I have to say that this has been super-great at protecting the car.  No way it will protect against large rocks or collissions, just no way.  However, it's done absolutely fantastically. They give you some kind of nonsense line about the material being, "self-healing".  I've seem scratches and gouges in the film, only to have them apparently go away; it makes me wonder if maybe  there isn't something to this...?

A Tarp is a super-useful thing to always have in your trunk.  Again, at a horribly dusty trailhead, where do you put all your gear, while the rest of the car is full of the stuff you need to pack?  Thrown a tarp down and you get a big work surface to lay out your gear  before you pack up your pack, and keep it out of the dust.   Really really worthwhile.

USB-C Receptacles don't recharge USB-A devices with adapters in some EVs.  Check this first before your road trip! Work out the strategy for adapters from other receptacles before you leave