Comments anyone?

Include me out.

Edited by kthompson on 01/16/2013 20:56:52 MST.

ah, yes.

I know you must have given it hours of consideration, but a descriptive sentence or two might clarify it for the rest of us.

I'm all in, just sold some stock.
Packrafting the Los Angeles River is going to be sweet.
I'm hoping something in the video series addresses defensive packraft maneuvers in hostile gang territory.

"Comments anyone? "

No comment, just a question. Aren't there enough "Let's trash Ryan" threads on BPL already? Do we really need another?

Okay, that was two questions....

Thanks Doug.
Even thought I haven't any idea what is being suggested, I should have recognized the setup.

Hey, let's play sniper...

Take a potshot, feel smug, then whine a bit more.

An educated consumer is the best customer.



PS. Thanks Doug for the PM.

Edit: Excuse me everyone. Apparently any communication from RJ pushes my Instant Douchebag button. Those of you who have actually met me know what I am like. The rest of you can only draw your own conclusions from my past posts. Which I do admit makes me look like not the person I really am. Especially some from the past year or so. The disconnect of the internet only makes this more extreme. I have said what I have said and can't take those things back. Yes some of them are fairly harsh and perhaps even hard hearted. I have much more work to do on myself. A Life's worth.
I'm sure too though that I am not the only one who could use some introspection at times and perhaps see the need for and execute a change in behavior.

So come on Ryan and let's be the people we should be and aren't.

Edited by kthompson on 01/16/2013 21:10:12 MST.

24: Packraft the Detachment River.

So, let me get this straight. RJ is asking members etc of BPL to fund his packrafting movie mega production which, looking at the schedule, seems it will keep him from paying much attention to BPL itself for quite a while, despite member's complaints about lack of content which they were promised and paid for.
Hmmm. Pretty tune.

...I already got my packrafting gear down to a T. Ahoy, matey!

T-man, wow--you could take out a lot of geese and ducks with that setup. Do you also use mini depth charges for the fish? Talk about multiple-use, you don't even have to carry food. I want one.

Yep; geese, ducks, annoying campers...

Mini depth charges? Heck no, Gary! Go big or go home! (though they do get a bit heavy)

This thing even has its own built-in poop deck. Wait...maybe that's too much information.

For the info of non-life members, yesterday each of us MLIFErs received a "personal" email from Ryan asking us to contribute to this project. That's the occasion for this thread.

I have no interest whatsoever in packrafting (I have a dog who refuses to swim, just for starters), so I deleted the email, along with the week's specials from Petco and a spam notification from a forum I help moderate (another mod had already zapped the spam).

That was before I realized that Ryan's email is evidently a substitute for this week's BPL articles. Otherwise I might have saved it for posterity!

Travis, I love your packraft model, except I don't see a spot for a dog!

I will give Ryan this: he clearly has a massive set of balls.

Pretty much sums up my feelings. From a business standpoint there is definite room for competition in the market BPL is in. Life members are ignored, pleas are ignored, and then he has a steel set big enough to ask us for money to fund a project that has nothing to do with bettering BP.

On top of that I just realized how close the mottos of BPL and Gossamer Gear are. What came first, the chicken or the egg?

In context of what I wrote above. I found BPL at the age of 20 suffering from life long lung deformities that had prevented me from enjoying the outdoors. Going to a 12 pound pack has allowed me to hike long distances of the AT and explore the backcountry of the East. This board was a great resource with great members and leadership. I don't see that these days and it is a shame. I understand having to provide for your family, but dont ask me for money on new projects while old projects need work more than ever.

Edited by Wrongturn on 01/18/2013 12:26:55 MST.

Turns out we did get articles this week, after all, only 2 days late. Posted by Ryan, yet! Did Maia go on strike for more dog biscuits?

"Did Maia go on strike for more dog biscuits?"


Oh great, now its TOTALLY white men. ;)

on a separate note....

Minimal Raft — Klymit is a company known for its sleeping pads and air-chamber insulated jackets. This year the brand debuts a tiny, one-person pack raft. The Lite Water Dingy will cost about $225. It packs down small and inflates ad hoc in the wilderness to float rivers or cross a fjord. Weighs a scant, take-it-anywhere 32 ounces when packed away.

The solicitation made my skin crawl.

Why all the hostility? "...made my skin crawl" you have to be kidding. It's a packrafting course not a porno film. Ryan isn't taking anything out of the BPL cashflow, it's a Kickstarter project and if you don't want to participate then don't. Packrafting has been a part of BPL for years just like other niche aspects of the outdoor world like tenkara and bikepacking. If this had been been published by someone besides Ryan in the forums it wouldn't have created a ripple. The attack Ryan at every opportunity and for any reason is getting old.

The hostility has nothing to do with the video, the content of the video, or even the kickstarter aspect. It has to do with the context in which they are developing.