Gone Hiking

Out there getting some new blog material I’ll be hitting the road tomorrow morning for Zion National Park and will return sometime on Sunday October 6th if all goes well. Obviously there won’t be any new entries during this time.

Zion Preparations

Leaving in less than 3 days. EEK. So I’m a little bit nervouos. My friend Clint and I leave Friday morning for Zion National Park, where we will do as much of the Zion Traverse as we can allowing for a closure on the…

Are Bear Hangs Obsolete?

A recent blog post by noted outdoorsman and backpacker Andrew Skurka has the online ultralight hiking community rustled. It’s a great read, and I largely agree with it, so check it out HERE. I had personally already bailed on the whole hanging of a…

Up Next….Zion

Get ready to go to Zion, Fe go ride the lion- Culture Four weeks from today my friend Clint and I will be embarking on the Trans-Zion Trek. Clint has never backpacked before, but he runs marathons, is 20 years younger than myself, and…

Guide To Hiking The Lakeshore Trail In Pictured Rocks

Some advice on logistics from a fellow backpacker who bumbled his way through it When I was planning my recent hike of the Lakeshore Trail through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, I didn’t find a lot about the logistics on the internet. Fortunately, I did…

Prepping For Pictured Rocks

It’s almost time to hit the road for another trail We’re coming up on 7 weeks since completing my last trip, which means it’s time for another one. And in keeping with my new philosophy of knocking out some bucket list hikes while I’m…

VA Section Initial Impressions

Some quick first thoughts from my recent section hike A few firsts for me on this hike, notably that I survived my first significant stretch of rain on the trail. It poured the first 2 days and rained steadily on the 3rd, which taught…

10 Days Til Departure

And the pre-hike gear explosion begins It’s been a few days since I’ve posted. The work schedule has been rough, as it often is right before a week off. And now not only am I coming off Memorial Day weekend call, this week my…

Setting My Sights on June

And picking up where I left off My next free week for hiking is June 10-14 (plus the adjacent weekends), and I think I’m going to pick up where I crapped out on my last section hike. Right where the dead possum was, i.e….

Post-hike Gear Review

What worked, what might get changed, and what if anything sucked After every hike I go through my LighterPack for that trip and cogitate over how the gear all worked out for me. One’s kit is always a work-in-progress, but you eventually get to…