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Early Summer 2009

Summer is here, which means we can get back to the outdoors in relative comfort. We’ve been anxious to resume our camping and hiking adventures, and we’re going to approach it a little differently this year. Ken and I tend to go from one extreme to the other; adjustments are necessary, after all! We will set out over-prepared, as opposed to completely unprepared the way we were last summer on Blue Mountain. In reality, one probably can’t be too prepared when out on the trail, as anything can happen, and sometimes does.
Revamping means new gear, and it’s always fun to get more toys, so we’ve been busily gathering our supplies. Backpacks for each of us are an obvious necessity, although mine is not camo like Ken’s! Both are hydration bladder compatible, and of course we bought bladders as well. I never thought I’d own one of those, but once in a while a trendy item comes along that actually is practical to have. After doing some homework, we’ve also decided it’s a good idea to carry food in our packs, and we lean heavily toward high-protein and high-carb items. A first-aid kit, a camera, binoculars, extra batteries, and zip-lock bags for trash are a few of the other items we have packed.

Both of us also got a good pair of hiking boots; last year we wore sneakers which don’t offer any ankle support and are not waterproof. Just being able to cross streams without worrying about getting your feet soaked makes a huge difference, and mud is no longer an issue. Speaking of keeping dry, we now have rain suits and ponchos. We and our gear are well-protected.

The really cool toys we got are a quality compass, a handheld GPS, and topographical software. The GPS keeps track of a multitude of things: your current longitude-latitude location; distance traveled; average speed; total time elapsed; total moving time; stationary time; elevation changes; and waypoints, just to name a few. My favorite feature is the track log. It tracks where you’ve traveled, and can help you find your way back should you get lost. It can also be downloaded to your computer, which is where the topo software comes in. This enables you to see exactly where you were on a map, and even get a 3-D view of the terrain. If you’re planning a hike, you can also print out a map of that area ahead of time to bring with you.

When all is said and done, my pack weighs about 22 pounds, and Ken’s weighs around 35 pounds. Both are comfortable so far, but it definitely increases the work load! Still, it’s much better than being in the middle of nowhere wishing you had something to drink or munch on for energy.