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I was mapping a site in the rain and my $20 waterproof notebook was a total bust
Last spring, I was helping with a surface survey near Flagstaff, and of course it started pouring. My fancy waterproof notebook from the camping store just turned into a soggy, unreadable mess. In a panic, I grabbed a roll of the clear packing tape we use for labeling artifact boxes. I tore off a strip, slapped it over my pencil notes on a regular piece of paper, and rubbed it down. It worked like a charm, creating a perfect, clear seal. I kept going, taping over each section of notes as I went. The paper stayed dry, and I could still read everything through the tape. It looked ridiculous, like a kindergarten art project, but it saved the day's data. Has anyone else had to MacGyver a solution for keeping field notes dry when your gear fails?
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abby_palmer2mo ago
My buddy once used a ziplock bag and a grease pencil.
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I read about a geology student who laminated all her graph paper with clear contact paper before heading into the field. That prep work seems smarter than my usual panic fixes in the rain. Your tape trick is basically the same idea, just done on the fly.
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wesleyburns23d ago
Yeah @skyler_white95 that contact paper idea is wild. I wonder if the extra layer makes the paper harder to fold or if it just turns into a stiff board you have to carry around.
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