Wish List: Inexpensive Canister Lantern

Now, I'm not certain how useful it'd be, or if it'd be worth it's space and weight... Likely, I suspect that I'll be better off calling it an early night, using my headlamp if I need to be active in the dark, and that my fuel is better off used for cooking than illumination... but there's something about this Canister Lantern that appeals to me. Car camping I'm accustomed to having my coleman stove and my coleman lantern. backpacking, I have several stove options that you've already seen my reviews of... but no real lantern options. I've seen some battery lanterns, even little LED ones that'd take up very little space... but they just don't call out to me the way this does.

I found this on Amazon when I got curious if there were any such devices after writing my Coleman Lantern Review. REI has a Snow Peak (same people who made my titanium pot!) Canister Lantern for $75. Which is surprisingly expensive. Even the less expensive Amazon Option is pricy at $20 relative to the stove I picked up for $6. But I'll take $20 over $75, no questions asked. The reviews seem to indicate that it's as much a radiant heater as a lantern, which makes me think this might be more worthwhile in adverse conditions/colder weather than something I'd need on a summer hike. Unsurprisingly, it indicates they're a bit of a fuel hog too. 

Probably not NECESSARY gear, but it'd be neat to have and try out at least. For now, I've got better things to drop $20 on. For now.

SAFL/WR/HCSP Ice Age Trail Photo Post

I'll have a more detailed account of my travels later when I'm not so distracted. For now, enjoy some of the sights I encountered on my hike.

Starting Out by Skunk and Foster Lakes:

Trail continues after a switchback, between two lakes:

First Clearing:

Bridge Onwards!: 

First point where I really needed my map, where the SAFL segment led into road. I would go ahead to the intersection and take a right:

See the Microwave Towers? We'll see those again

Next Trail Segment, starting at the turn in Indian Valley Rd. It was around here that I heard a really freaky noise that sounded like a dying moose mixed with a hound dog baying. For lack of a better classification, I'm declaring it the cry of the Indian Valley Beast.

Microwave Towers! I had to stop and rest here, I overtaxed myself putting ground between myself and the weird noises coming from the farm on indian valley rd.

Bit of bone I saw:

Highway 10! This is where we turned off

And here I am on the other side, end of the SAFL segment, into the Waupaca River segment

Foley Rd

Quarry, just after rejoining the trail off of Foley Rd

Ice Age Trail Cabin where I made lunch:

Running low. I'll need to refill soon!

Waupaca River! One of many spots that would have been easier to reach than the one I actually filtered at...

And now for the longest on-road part of the sections I hiked, Townline Rd.

Ugh. Really?

That only seems to go quickly for the viewers at home. Least pleasant section of trail I had to hike. C'mon treefarm, let the IAT go through your land! Please? :D

Finally Leaving the Road again

Highway 54! Getting Close! To the left is the road which would lead into HCSP by car. The treeline between fields is where the trail runs.

By this point I was so greatful for the soft sandy piney ground I had to take a picture.

Home Stretch! Boy was I hurting! 

Victory Road

Trail to the campgrounds

Freeze-Dried Chicken Dinner!