Surprise, surprise! This weekend we went camping in the High Desert to celebrate my 63rd birthday. I usually do a birthday backpacking trip each year, but it is a week or two after my birthday; I spend birthdays with Joyce.
The 4 (not 10) Essentials for Hiking and Backpacking
Where I live and hike, each year dozens of people are rescued because they lack the skills, experience, common sense, brains, or equipment to stay safe. And almost every year some die. And each year it gets worse, because people read about places to hike on the Internet or in trail guides and head out without the skills, experience or gear that could keep them alive.
Picture by Craig Wisner.
Gear and equipment is important, if you know why you need it, how to use it, and when certain items are necessary.
If you hike or backpack, then you probably have heard of the 10 Essentials that should be carried on every trip, even day hikes.
Continue reading The 4 (not 10) Essentials for Hiking and Backpacking
Camp Chef Pro 60 Double Burner Stove
Cooking in a camper is different than when on an ultralight backpacking trip. UL backpackers usually try to pare down the weight of every item, so small stoves and instant foods are the typical fare, not to say the backpacker can’t get fancy and prepare some outstanding foods from scratch.
But camping lends itself to gourmet cooking.
Weber Baby Q 120 Grill
For 10 years we have been camping with a Weber Q series grill. For a more detailed look at the Weber Q, see this post about the Baby Q (model 100). I did the same LPG conversion on the new one too.
On Deserts…
You may wonder why we camp in deserts so often and why I prefer to backpack in them too.
You may deduce that since we live in the desert, it is close and easy to pursue outdoor activities there. That is partially correct – but the desert destinations are by design. Back in 1977 I moved to Palm Springs because I wanted to camp and hike in the desert, along with several other reasons. So I thought I would pontificate On Deserts.