<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3199" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document
face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>Well, I turned off my computer and was trying to go downstairs to get
something to eat and I started thinking about this umbrella thing. It is
cabin fever time, so I turned around and fired up the computer again. It
is your fault.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>What is the perfect hiking umbrella? What do we want in it?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1. Its main purpose is excellent protection from radiation and
dehydration.</DIV>
<DIV>2. It has some rain protection characteristics.</DIV>
<DIV>3. It should weigh under 10 ounces, the lighter the
better. Titanium and cuben fabrics (white only) are good and would make it
weigh probably 4 ounces.</DIV>
<DIV>4. The Senz canopy design seems fine. Those surprise strong
breezes pop up all the time.</DIV>
<DIV>5. It should be able to be raised and lowered along the trail like
the LuxuryLite.com umbrella. Those low branches pop up all the time
too.</DIV>
<DIV>6. It should fit nicely with Switchback's Handsfree Umbrella
Holder. This should be no problem and under 2 ounces.</DIV>
<DIV>7. May be it should have some type of reflective outer material that
can be replaced very easily from the wear and tear of the trail. Mylar
would do this.</DIV>
<DIV>8. Movability is optional for the sun's changing location as you bang
along the trail. The Senz design seems fine as a fixed umbrella on your
shoulder strap.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am offering a world wide reward of $5.00 American money (read as five
dollars) for anyone who comes up with this system. It should demonstrated
at the upcoming April PCT Kickoff at Lake Morena County Park. I have not
coordinated this with the WagonMaster yet, but it will fit nicely into their
gear contest.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If anyone wants to contribute money to the reward pool, feel free to do
so. I do not want to grab all the glory for sponsoring this.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I thank you for your attention and consideration in this matter.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sincerely, Switchback the Trail Pirate</DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the <A title="http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001" href="http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001" target="_blank">hottest products</A> and <A title="http://money.aol.com/top5/general/ways-you-are-wasting-money?NCID=aoltop00030000000002" href="http://money.aol.com/top5/general/ways-you-are-wasting-money?NCID=aoltop00030000000002" target="_blank">top money wasters</A> of 2007.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>