This weekend I completed a May “trifecta” of sorts. Nothing epic or out of the ordinary. Earlier this month I posted about trips to the desert and the ocean, and this weekend I capped those trips with a mountain backpacking trip.
Continue reading Backpacking Trifecta (deserts to ocean to mountains)
After doing several hikes in the desert over the past three weeks, I decided it was time for a change. First option is usually to go up into the mountains, since our home is surrounded by mountains. But I decided to take a different kind of trip; a pilgrimage of sorts – to the beach.
A little satire I posted over at BackpackingLight.com.
The John Muir Trail (JMT) runs from Yosemite to Mount Whitney, a distance of 211 miles. Mile for mile, it is one of the most beautiful hikes in the US; and as you would expect, it is very crowded in the summer. I first hiked most of the JMT in 1971. At the time I had never heard of it, and hiking from Kernville to Mount Whitney I found the trail on my map. I almost made it all the way to Yosemite, but descending from Tuolumne Meadows I was put off by the crowds on the trail; turned around and hiked back to Kernville.
I didn’t plan this trip, just packed my gear and headed out for a few months. Today I am amused by the number of people posting on the Internet asking for help in planning their JMT hike. People asking what they should eat, what they should wear, what kind of a shelter they need or do they need a shelter, what sleeping system, what rain gear, how should they purify water, etc., etc., etc., not to mention all the “what if” questions.
So here is my post…
We humans have an extraordinary ability to communicate. Not communication by speaking or body language; but communication through other mediums such as narratives, poems, music, painting, music, sculptures, etc. We can capture the essence of our feelings, sight, smell, sounds, textures and unlimited emotions and thoughts. We can communicate satisfaction, achievement, joy or even sadness. Walking in wild places brings out many of these things and the best in us.
A packraft is a small but durable inflatable raft that can be carried in a backpack. Some weigh less than 5lbs and many under 10lbs. A packraft can make lake or river crossings easy for the backpacker, even when such a crossing would be next to impossible. A packraft can also allow the hiker a varied trip, where rafting a river can be combined with hiking. Such multi-function gear can make a very complicated route (in terms of logistics) easy and extremely enjoyable.
Over the past 10 years or so and new piece of equipment is gaining popularity with hikers – the personal locator beacon. These devices weigh 4 or 5 ounces, and can send a satellite signal if a hiker is injured, lost or in danger. The signal is relayed to search and rescue personnel who can mount a rescue operation. Most of these PLB’s and similar ilk cost close to $300 and require a subscription. A Google search can provide you with all the information you need to learn more.
It seems to me that today many hikers are so risk adverse; they cannot venture out without all manner of emergency or back-up equipment to keep them safe. Equipment alone doesn’t keep you safe; skill keeps you safe. Some folks are so paralyzed with this risk-aversion; they seem to be waiting to die, instead of getting out into the wilderness and living life.
Review of the gear I use on my backpacking trips.
Above: The backpacking, hiking, camping, and boating equipment I have accumulated over nearly 50 years. To see what I use today continue reading…
This weekend, with our balmy spring weather I decided to go searching for palm trees — or rather palm oases to be exact. And to be more precise, I already knew where they were, since I have hiked the area extensively over the years. I also explored a few side canyons I had not been in before.
The high temperatures were over 100F, which is okay as long as you have plenty of water. When visiting a palm oasis, plan on there being no water available unless you can verify water from a reliable source ahead of time. Palm Trees do not rely on surface water to survive and the water can be dozens of feet below the surface.
In the temperatures I encountered, most people need at least two gallons of water per day, so plan accordingly.
Anyway, it was a fun trip.
