Category Archives: Backpacking

Lockdown or Liberty: How to Deal with Stay-in-Place Orders

Backpacking, Camping, General Talk, ,

Or When Can We Go Backpacking & Camping Again?

Like almost most Americans, we are isolated at home due the our local state, county, and city “stay-in-place” orders. Life isn’t working out according to plan. After a full-time engagement of four years of house remodeling projects, this was going to be a year of extensive backpacking and camping. I should point out that during the previous four years, we did are fair share of camping, probably more than most people. I also did several backpacking trips during each of the past four years of my retirement. Currently, in the State of California, most backpacking and camping opportunities don’t exist. Most places are closed to use. At the same time, we are in a high risk population as regards coronavirus infection. I’m scheduled to reach my 70th year milestone on the planet and Joyce isn’t far behind. Approaching 70, the fact is very real I don’t have a lot of backpacking years ahead, so I would like to maximize each year going forward.

Given all of this, it is wisest for us to stay in place until life equalizes and gets back to some sort of normality. So we are stuck at home, or perhaps better stated, we are willing staying at home for a while.

Staying at home for extended periods of time is a new state of being for many Americans today. Many aren’t handling it well. So the purpose of this post is to share my experiences as a retiree for the past four year, and more importantly, the 18 years I spent working from home – often for months at a time. The following topics will be reviewed with a focus on how to maximize your time, or better yet, how not to waste time. Continue reading Lockdown or Liberty: How to Deal with Stay-in-Place Orders →

Husky Liners Mud Guards – Long Term Review

Backpacking

Recently I wrote about how we got the most money for our “trade-in” by selling it to CarMax. That post explained the condition of vehicles in determining the wholesale value, and that our 2012 Ford Expedition was excellent in all categories. Part of the reason is I had installed mud guards (a.k.a. mud flaps or splash guards) to help protect against damage from stones, pebbles, gravel, and other flying debris. Having been 100% satisfied with our Husky Liners Mud Guards, I ordered a set for out 2020 F-250 Super Duty truck. Continue reading Husky Liners Mud Guards – Long Term Review →

Preventing Blisters with Leukotape: a 10+ year review

Backpacking, Backpacking Gear, Hiking

A common ailment for hikers are foot blisters, and I would imagine more backpacking trips are cut short due to blisters than any other cause. 

Typically I want to use a product for at least 10 years before recommending it. Leukotape not only meets this standard but it is an amazing product – the best I have ever used for preventing and treating blisters.

Continue reading Preventing Blisters with Leukotape: a 10+ year review →

R.I.P Corky (2003-2019)

Backpacking

Corky passed away almost a month ago on June 3, 2019, at 12:05am. He was born on August 11, 2003. I have been in kind of a funk for the past couple of months. He really started to decline at the beginning of May. The past month I have been generally unmotivated to complete tasks, especially to work on our house.

I am writing this for me, but you, the reader, are welcome to read along. 

Continue reading R.I.P Corky (2003-2019) →

“Falling” into Old Age and Backpacking

Backpacking

This month I’ll turn 68. Is that old? Are these sayings true?

“Age is just a number.”

“You’re as young [or old] as you feel.”

“Mind of matter.”

To me, these make for good “motivational” or “inspirational” posters — those posters often seen in offices to supposedly get under-achieving people become super stars — I’ve never seen them work however.

I prefer posters like this one but have never seen on in an office 🙂

The past couple of years I’ve fallen several times while backpacking and perhaps this is due to getting older; so the question might be asked,

“Should I do something differently or is it time to consider giving up backpacking, especially since I usually hike alone.” Continue reading “Falling” into Old Age and Backpacking →

Easy Trailer Stabilizer Upgrade!

Backpacking

The stabilizers on our trailer have been irritating me for almost 5 years. They’re too short and they’re welded to the frame. Typical replacement requires:

  1. Welding new ones means grinding off the old ones and welding the replacements. And I’m not an accomplished welder.
  2. Bolting on new ones still means grinding off the old ones, drilling holes in the frame, and then bolting the replacements to the frame.

Or is there another option that is easier? Yes, there is.  Continue reading Easy Trailer Stabilizer Upgrade! →

Update: BLM – Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Land Exchange

Backpacking, The Environment

Almost three years ago I wrote about  the proposed land swap between the BLM and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (ACBCI), and why it was a bad deal for the public.

A couple days ago I received an email from the BLM with links to three documents. Having spent considerable time reading all of this, I think it is a good deal for the public and the tribe. Continue reading Update: BLM – Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Land Exchange →

Mountain House Meals

Backpacking

I buy these in bulk and store them in plastic bins.

I like Mountain House freeze-dried meals. I bet there are few people who have eaten as many of them as me, since they have been one of my backpacking staples for over 40 years.

Many people tell me they are bad for a person’s health and these same people doubt they taste good. Of course, these are opinions and more than likely are not based on any personal research or knowledge. So what is the verdict?

Continue reading Mountain House Meals →

68˚ North — Peter Vacco

Backpacking,

At the beginning of the month I wrote a post about being famous for being famous titled, How to Become (or not become) A Famous Backpacker. Some of it was driven by tongue-in-cheek satire on modern culture and some of it meant for contemplation. But the last part of the post was about a friend who is section hiking the Arctic Circle through Canada, and I kept his identity anonymous because he hadn’t given me permission to write about him. That part was about hiking for the experience, not adulation. It was also a bit of recognition for a friend.

That friend is Peter Vacco. Among most backpacker’s he is not known by many. Some backpackers may recognize his popular headsets, which he no longer manufacturers.

Here’s a story about his trip from a Canadian news outlet…

Continue reading 68˚ North — Peter Vacco →