First Backpack trip of the year!
I was getting antsy for our first backpack trip of the year. Leann was not convinced after checking the weather reports. Forecast was for rain starting at 9:00PM Saturday night and ending Sunday morning by 8 or 9 AM. I told her backpacker midnight is 9 PM so we will be in the tent when it rains and I will take the teepee so we have a dry place for breakfast. Sure hope the forecast is right or I am in trouble.
First trip of the year takes more time to pack. I am not sure why we forget what goes where and what to take but it has been 7 months since our last trip. We packed Friday night and were ready to get an early Saturday morning departure. Sammy was waiting in the entranceway and looked at me with those sad eyes. Do I get to go? Sammy want to go backpacking? He got very excited even though he is almost 13. We completed the 3 hour drive and 7 mile hike and got to camp by 1:00PM. We set up camp, gathered wood and spent most of the afternoon reading and relaxing. It was great to be in the woods
Battle of the grey, Sammy in the left corner, Steve in the right corner…cast your votes
This is our main backpacking tent, it’s a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3. Plenty of room for Leann, Sammy and me, especially since Sammy tends to sleep mostly on me. He is a tent hog. FYI: it did start raining a little after 9 PM, I love the sound of rain hitting the tent fly. Something about it is very relaxing, unfortunately I am a lot older and the sound causes additional reactions. It was till raining Sunday morning as predicted so I just laid in the tent longer than usual listening to the rain and bird calls. We heard Hermit Thrush, Ravens and a Ruffed Grouse drumming.
If you read previous pages you understand that I am a nerd and am also obsessed with backpacking kitchen gear that nests. This is the culmination of my obsession, I can’t take it any further, can I?
Going left to right: First is the Sierra Designs double wall titanium mug large size. Leann dehydrates all of our meals and this is where I rehydrate my meal. Put the meal in the mug cover with hot water, stir and put on the lid. Wait a few minutes and enjoy, this weekend my main course was Sierra Spaghetti, tasty. This is also my coffee mug. In the morning I have Starbucks Via. I prefer Pete’s coffee at home but Via is tough to beat on the trail, go for the Italian Espresso roast, tasty but pricey. In the middle is the smaller version of the previous mug, this use to be my coffee mug and is now my wine glass. I am not a barbarian and still like wine with my meal even in the woods. Beverage of choice for the trail is Bota Box, Essential Red. Leann is more sophisticated and takes single malt. Her favorite is Balvenie, Caribbean Cask. Full disclosure I cut the handles off this mug so it would fit in the larger mug. Crazy but made me very happy. Nirvana does not come easy. In this mug is my pot stand, my stove, lighter and a piece of carbon black to grab anything hot. Last but not least on the right is my pot. Fill with water from the creek put on the stove and wait for it to boil.
Leann: is a very patient woman
This is our teepee for foul weather. You do not want to cook in your tent and attract critters to where you sleep. A black bear might not be able to resist Leann’s cooking and I prefer they not come calling. This is a Laurel Mountain Super Mid made from Cuben fiber, very light and very strong. This kept us warm and dry through breakfast. We finished breakfast and the rain stopped. Weather Channel nailed it!
Seven months between trips is way too long. That is the price you pay for living in NE Ohio. We could start going in the winter again but that is not going to happen except for Oil Creek. Great start to the season, what’s next?
HAPPY TRAILS, STEVE