Tag: backpacking

A couple weeks ago my friend Brian and I met to carry out phase two of the backpacking plan we started last fall. This time we would start at the East Fork Park office and carry our backpacks to a primitive spot on the backpacking trail. Brian got some lighter equipment at Christmas for this year’s hiking since, unlike last fall’s backpacking trip, he would actually have to carry the pack. Brian’s load weighed in at about 35-40 pounds until he loaded on the 5 pound fire log I asked him to carry. Yes, I …

My friend Brian and I have been talking a lot lately about backpacking. Most of that conversation takes place, though, inside our cushy campsites at East Fork State Park. It’s fun to reminisce about former trips, and even make some vague plans for new ones, especially while sitting in our cozy camper chairs, sipping a Keurig-brewed coffee and munching a plate full of assorted fire-grilled meat products. But who really wants to hoist their entire camp onto their backs, hike for who knows how many miles and mountains, and then set it up every night, …

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 7 August 16, 2015 Hot Meals and Cold Nights Halloween night I slept like a barn owl after a high-mileage night of hunting. I awoke early, feeling a little ashamed that I had fallen asleep and missed the Great Pumpkin. Of course, he might have cancelled his appearance due to the weather. But the sleet and wind had subsided, and it looked as if we had dodged one more weather bullet. George, Jim, and I all wondered how long our good fortune would last. …

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 6, Part 7 July 11, 2015 On to the Second Leg After making some purchases in Walmart, Jim, George, and I followed the aromatic smells to the McDonald’s corner of the building. We stood and gawked at the menu a couple of minutes. Turned out it was the same as every other McDonald’s. Good. That would make it easy. Our ordering completed, we staked out a table away from the other diners, assuming they would not like cheesy-smelling hikers with their Quarter Pounders. The skies had …