So, I've been outfitting myself for overnight backpacking trips and I made the trial run this week. I figured I would do something "easy" (ha... or so I thought), picking an unusual (for the White Mountains) flat trail. Six miles, each way (turned out to be 6.9). What was I thinking? I totally underestimated the impact of 49 pounds after a few miles on a hot muggy day. I could have driven an extra 30 miles and done a 1.5 mile hike in from the other direction. That would have been perfect....
I was a hurtin' doggy by the time I got there. Probably the hardest hike I've ever done. And, it took me twice as long as I expected, so I rolled in just before sundown and had to scurry to pitch the tent and towel off in the ice cold lake before cooking dinner by the light of the moon.
The actual camping part was great. All my gear worked well. No snafus. Very comfortable. Packed well.
Gorgeous place. Sawyer Pond. There a log shelter and six tent sites spread throughout the woods along the shore. Two outhouse toilets. I went on Monday night and had the entire place to myself. I never saw another soul until I was hiking back out the next afternoon when a mom and two kids were hiking in to camp in the shelter.
I need to work on three things: getting a little weight out of the pack, picking shorter backpacking hikes, and getting a little stronger with a big load.
Here's the epic video (with high-def full screen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWhH-q7vq7g
And some photos:
I was a hurtin' doggy by the time I got there. Probably the hardest hike I've ever done. And, it took me twice as long as I expected, so I rolled in just before sundown and had to scurry to pitch the tent and towel off in the ice cold lake before cooking dinner by the light of the moon.
The actual camping part was great. All my gear worked well. No snafus. Very comfortable. Packed well.
Gorgeous place. Sawyer Pond. There a log shelter and six tent sites spread throughout the woods along the shore. Two outhouse toilets. I went on Monday night and had the entire place to myself. I never saw another soul until I was hiking back out the next afternoon when a mom and two kids were hiking in to camp in the shelter.
I need to work on three things: getting a little weight out of the pack, picking shorter backpacking hikes, and getting a little stronger with a big load.
Here's the epic video (with high-def full screen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWhH-q7vq7g
And some photos:
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