Gentle
10-03-2015, 16:57
Hello to all!
Please forgive me if this has been covered before. I hiked the AT with my dog, Barney, starting in Maine in 2001. Because of some health issues (and lack of credit card to rent a car) I had to rent a 'uhaul' in Luray, VA to get back home. Over the course of the last 14 years, I've tried getting the health issues under control so Barney (trail name Dino) and I could finish the hike we started. Unfortunately, Barney died last year. But his little buddy (he raised and trained from a pup) is in the proper shape to take up his dad's mantle and finish it with me. So, my plan is to head to Virginia next summer and finish what I started.
Sorry for all the unnecessary background... just kind of makes it nicer to tell the world about Barney... anyway here's my big question. I pulled all my gear out of the basement, it's been sitting down there for the last 14 years... still packed the way I left it in 2001... and everything stinks horribly... like mildew and general nastiness. Also the elastic bands are dry rotted and lost all elasticity. Can anyone tell me how I can go about getting all me gear clean and 'destinkified' and maybe get all the parts in proper working order?
Your advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Please forgive me if this has been covered before. I hiked the AT with my dog, Barney, starting in Maine in 2001. Because of some health issues (and lack of credit card to rent a car) I had to rent a 'uhaul' in Luray, VA to get back home. Over the course of the last 14 years, I've tried getting the health issues under control so Barney (trail name Dino) and I could finish the hike we started. Unfortunately, Barney died last year. But his little buddy (he raised and trained from a pup) is in the proper shape to take up his dad's mantle and finish it with me. So, my plan is to head to Virginia next summer and finish what I started.
Sorry for all the unnecessary background... just kind of makes it nicer to tell the world about Barney... anyway here's my big question. I pulled all my gear out of the basement, it's been sitting down there for the last 14 years... still packed the way I left it in 2001... and everything stinks horribly... like mildew and general nastiness. Also the elastic bands are dry rotted and lost all elasticity. Can anyone tell me how I can go about getting all me gear clean and 'destinkified' and maybe get all the parts in proper working order?
Your advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!