Posts
The Magical Makings of Memorable Trail Food
Most of us love food. Food can be a great motivatorespecially when someone else is conjuring hot dishes of fried goodness in large quantities. It can be equally as appreciated even when it comes dished out from the depths of a Ziplock® freezer bag, exquisitely accompanied by a chorus of echoing loon wails.
T-minus 100
I am now less than 100 days away from putting my "normal" life on hold for six months. And by normal, I mean having more than one pair of skivvies at
Hello, My Name Is
For thru-hikers who are intending to hike the trail under a pseudonym, how you acquire one is divided into two schools of thought: Give them to ourselves or wait to be christened by fellow hikers. Sort of like comparing dogs to cats or pondering what came firstthe chicken or the egg?
Getting Over And Around Personal Speedbumps
No babies or weddings from April to October! I half jokingly stipulated. Well. It turns out the joke is on me. I have now learned that I, too, have a speed bump. One of these major life events is now slated to happen. In mid-May.
Random Acts of Creeping
This past year I stalked six different strangers and they never knew it. I discovered their strengths and weaknesses including who couldnt start the day without coffee, learned about their charities, their families and even got to know their friends, some of whom I also started creeping on too.
Pour Some Sugar On Me
The days are getting shorter, the trees are rapidly being stripped of their leaves and all too soon, hiking trails here in Wisconsin will turn into powdery XC ski trails. Oh, I'll continue to get outside once the snow falls, but realistically, physical preparations for next spring's thru-hike will be moving almost completely indoors. Come this January, Ill be the one "Lookin' like a tramp, like a video vamp " infinitely looping around the YMCA's track with a fully loaded pack.
Taut Tent Tips
As a weaver, I learned how to use butterfly skeins for tapestry and other handwoven processes. It is equally useful and an easy skill to learn as part of your camping arsenal. My 8' x 12' canoeing tarp has little butterfly skeins of paracord hanging from all four sides ready to be put into action (or not) as needed.
Things That Go Bump In The Night
Over the years, Ive been mauled by bearsexactly never, although I have seen bears on different outings. And to the best of my knowledge, Ive never crossed paths with psycho killers or aliens. Yet, on just about every first night of a trip I hear a snapping twig or falling pine cone and wonder if it is really a good idea to leave that meaty leg of mine exposed atop of the sleeping bag, a benevolent offering for a fortuitous bear?
Homage To An Umbrella
My SnowPeak Ultralight backpacking umbrella weighs the equivalent of a deck of cardsand is worth every inch of those additional 4.7 ounces.
Flipping Out About Flip Flopping: Part 2
According to the ATC websites 2,000 Miler Report , 70 of the 122 reported thru-hikes originating from Harpers Ferry in 2014, were completed. That is an out-of-the-gate success rate of more than 57 percent!