Posts Tagged ‘backpacking’

There was nothing harder than the decision to hang up my old and trusted hiking boots.  I felt as if I was moving away from an old friend, but alas they had holes in them, and the tread was worn down to something resembling bowling shoes.  I dreaded the search for a new pair, but it was a trek I had to take (pun intended)…

As it turns out, I ended up with a pair of Merrell Moab Mid GTX.  I had tried on dozens of other pairs from stores within a radius of about 60 miles, and these were the clear winners in comfort.  From the moment I put them on, I felt as if they had been on my feet for 40 miles already.  The price was about what I wanted to pay as well, roughly $100.  I was a month away from my next trek, so as every good hiker should, I left them glued to my feet, taking them off only to sleep.  I would have thought that the breaking-in process would have been more drastic, but these boots were so comfortable and form fitting, that they hardly changed during the whole process.  I wore them up and down my hike, and I still wear them as my daily walkers as well.  They are an excellent fit, completely waterproof (I mean it!) and are comfortably lightweight.  I would recommend buying a pair of Merrells to anyone, and even did so to a team of hikers we caught up with on the trek.  Even my partner Kelly bought a pair, and it’s almost a struggle getting them off of her before bed!  Trust me folks, they’re worth the price!

Breakdown and Features:

UPPER/LINING
• Waterproof Dura leather and mesh upper
• Bellows tongue keeps debris out
• Synthetic leather toe cap and heel counter
• GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort Footwear lining protects feet and keeps them dry
• Breathable mesh lining treated with Aegis® Antimicrobial solution maintains foot comfort
• Ortholite® Anatomical Footbed

MIDSOLE/OUTSOLE
• Molded nylon arch shank
• Compression molded EVA footframe provides cushioning
• Merrell® Air Cushion in the heel absorbs shock and adds stability
• 5mm Sole lug depth
• Vibram® Multi-Sport Sole/TC5+ Rubber
• Weight: 1 lb 15 ozs.

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One thing you will notice in all of my pictures is that I am wearing a headband or bandana.  I can’t express enough of handy they are to have.  They can serve as a tourniquet in times of trouble, a washcloth on a hot day, head covering from bugs, and even preventing sunburn for the ‘hair challenged’.

When I found my first buff, I was rather skeptical.  I didn’t think it would do all of the things that they boasted it would.  Boy was I wrong.  The sheer combinations of configurations that this glorified loop of synthetic fabric can create are just staggering.  The best part of all is that when you no longer wish to wear it on your head, you can simply wrap it around your wrist for easy access next time.  Most Buffs are UV protected to prevent burning your pretty little head.  They are also comfortably soft and stretchy, and even moisture wicking!

They also have hundreds if not thousands of patterns to choose from.  I would strongly recommend going to their sales website and looking to see if there is one you love.  http://planetbuff.com

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Permethrin

Well if you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll know that I don’t typically talk bad about products.  I won’t talk bad about Permethrin spray, but I can’t honestly say anything beneficial either.

The product states that after applying the permethrin spray to your clothes and allowing it to dry, your clothes will become a deathtrap to any ticks or flying bugs and mosquitoes that come into contact with it.  I wouldn’t put my money on that…

The directions state that you should completely spray down your clothes before going out, allowing them to dry for at least 24 hours before wearing them.  DO NOT get this on your skin.  It burns rather harshly.  So spray down your pants and shirts, even your jackets and bandana, and let them dry very well before wearing them.  The directions state that you can even wash them several times before you have to spray them again.

Well, I’ve used this spray on dozens of my hikes, including those with rampant mosquitoes and ticks.   I have not noticed any difference in the attitude of bloodthirsty mosquitoes biting through my shirt, or the demeanor of the tick I had to dig out of my shoulder.  Ticks are supposed to die on contact with permethrin, yet this tick managed to get through 2 layers of clothes, both sprayed with this product.  I have been thoroughly unimpressed with this product for years, and I’ve given it dozens of chances.

In my opinion folks, I would look into other options or just go the old-fashioned route and buy some DEET-based bug spray.

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Well it’s that time of the year again, and that time is the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day 2010.  This year, we decided to head to Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan for their annual ‘Hike Between ‘da Falls’ day.

If you have never been to Tahquamenon Falls, you should really make time to head up there, even if for a weekend and check out the beauty and splendor of some of Michigan’s natural wonders.  There are two sets of falls, the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls, both of which are equally astonishing.

We arrived at the Lower Falls, greeted by Park Rangers wielding brochures, maps, and bug spray.  I cannot begin to tell you how friendly and kind the rangers up at TFSP acted.  It is a blessing to begin a hike with a friendly visit with some local rangers.  They informed us of a few dangers and tips before we were to depart.  After our friendly chat wound to an end, the shuttle bus arrived to take ourselves and a dozen other hikers to the Upper Falls.  The ride was short and before we knew it we had arrived.  We took a quick side trip over to see the Upper Falls and take in all of their loveliness.  Once a few pictures were taken, and pleasantries said, we set out for the Tahquamenon River Trail, which connects the Upper Falls to the Lower Falls.  The beginning of the trail was level and easy, with very few bugs and even less people.  Several times we stopped to just to enjoy the canopy of old growth forests and the stillness of the woods, with only the sounds of the river to break the relaxing silence.  We progressed down the trail at a relaxing pace, and the elevation and trail difficulty increased a fair amount.  I would not call the trail difficult, but certain spots required a bit of a breather.  As this was a day hike, we were not carrying full backpacks, and only had some water bottles and a sling back to weigh us down.  The repetition of the dirt trails was broken  a few times by some man-made wooden boardwalks, some of which tilted at almost dangerous angles.  The local chapter of the NCTA had setup a snack-stop half way through the hike, and we halted to enjoying a quick snack before trying to race the bugs attempting to get their quick snack, of us!

Eventually we arrived at the Lower Falls, and were greeting by a large tent sponsored by the local chapter of the NCTA.  We received a small gift bag with a wooden ‘achievement’ coin, as well as some maps and information on the NCT.  The staff at the tent was excellent and very friendly, and was a nice compliment to the end of a perfect day at Tahquamenon Falls State Park.  If you are even wondering which event to take on National Trails Day, I would strongly suggest this relaxing and beautiful hike, and take some time to enjoy the natural beauty that Michigan has to offer.

Pictures from our wonderful trip can be found by clicking HERE!

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Have you ever had that one book that you’ve always wanted to get, but never found the chance to get it?  Well thanks to my brother and his wonderful gift card, I finally bought that book.  That book is the Appalachian Trail Food Planner.

For most hikers that have experienced the joy of the AT, they realize that it takes careful planning to resupply their larder of goods and equipment.  You can not rely on finding a store or a ride to said store anymore.  So a wonderful alternative is a process called Mail Drops.  The concept is that you will send yourself a package in advance of your arrival at a predefined post office and then hike to that office, picking up your package.  It takes a bit of future prediction, but if you design it right it will make your time hiking and your food stores much easier to plan and resupply. 

The Appalachian Trail Food Planner is the book that helps you accomplish that planning.  The book begins with a quick lesson on how much food to take with you, explaining how much (per pound) food you should take, and how many calories you should ingest each day.  This is a valuable part of your planning, as taking something weight-intensive (i.e. canned goods) will cause your pack to be too heavy and leave with you with lots of large trash to hike out.

The next section is perhaps my favorite; recipes.   I will admit, as I am a pseudo-ultralight backpacker, these recipes are rather large, and use a vast amount of water.  I guess these recipes would be good if you’re just planning a trip that will last a week or under, but I would think that perhaps you should read these and rethink the water and amount ratios, otherwise you will be carrying quite a bit of water to do your cooking. I’ve tried several recipes already and they came out rather well, with a little doctoring. 

The last section of this book contains mileage charts on each leg of the AT.  The best part of that is it also contains the distances between trail legs and the closest post office.  How could you make that chart even better?  They’ve included 3 columns, based on how much you hike a day, and the days until your next leg, and post drop pickup.  Wonderful!

If you are thinking of hiking the AT, or any leg of it, I would seriously recommend that you read this book before hitting the trail.  It will educate you on what to expect, and give you a better bearing on how to plan.

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The Mad Backpacker team has taken a trip out of Michigan and visited one of the most beautiful parks ever to be declared such: The Great Smokey Mountains.

While staying in this beautiful  park, we decided to take a short day hike to a beautiful mountain named Mount Le Conte.  While ranked 3^rd highest in the Great Smokey Mountains, Mt. Le Conte is actually the tallest mountain in the eastern United States, when measured from the mountain’s base to it’s summit.

As we only had a short time to climb, we decided to take a trail called the Alum Cave Bluff trail.  The Alum Cave Bluff trail runs from it’s trailhead at 441 and runs roughly 5 miles to the Le Conte Lodge, located at the top of Mt. Le Conte.  During those 5 miles it passes through Alum Cave, which is a man-made cave / bluff made while mining salt for the Epsom Salt Co. as well as the Confederate Army during the civil war.

We started out in 64 degree rain at the base of Mt. Le Conte.  The weather was not very pleasing to most, but we found it acceptable given our task ahead.  We gathered our day pack and hiking poles and set out.  We were instantly greeted with the roaring of water rushing down the mountain.  It had rained hard the night previous and the streams had turned quite quickly into rapids.  Noise aside, it still had a musical beauty behind it.

We crossed several bridges, made simply of a log split in half, and then covered with what appeared to be a form of cement.  They all were structurally sound and I found the concept wonderful.

After a short stint of climbing slippery rocks, we arrived at Arch rock.  It was a beautiful cave-like rock with stairs leading through it, hewn into the rock itself.

Miles passed on, and after a mildly easy stretch we arrived at Alum Cave.  Standing tall and ominous, Alum Cave laid before us as we stared agape at it’s beauty.  This clearly was a  turnaround point for most day hikers, as well as a rest stop for those pressing through.  We sat beneath it’s dark wonderment and regained our senses, refueling our thirst and having a quick snack.  There were several other groups doing the same.

We gathered up our things and set out again, this time newly recharged.  The trail went up for a short time, then dropped back down again, leaving us wondering if we had perhaps taken a wrong turn somewhere.  The views along the side of the mountain are beyond describing with words.  Although at this point we were into the deep mist of the Smokey Mountains, we could look down and see the shadowed silhouettes of other tree lines, far below us.  The temperature had also began to drop.

We continued on, with the trail raising steeper and steeper.  The air was also beginning to thin, and the visibility was low with the fog, clouds, and mist.  We slowed our climb, and took each leg of the trail with careful accuracy and deliberation.  We took several breaks, needless to say.

Eventually the trail leveled out and we found ourselves at the Mt. Le Conte Lodge.  We were greeted by a very friendly and informative park ranger, as well as dozens of other hikers and backpackers.  The lodge has a very long history that I will not get into in this review, but I suggest you take a moment to look it up as it is very interested.  The lodge even today is resupplied via Llamas, even the mail!

We looked through the history of the lodge, as well as purchased a few shirts and patches before wandering over to the dining lodge.  The beautiful wooden lodge was surrounded by oil lamps, as there is no electricity at the mountain’s summit, and the entire place has an air of nostalgia.  We purchased a sack lunch for $9.00, and I am here to tell you, that is the BEST nine bucks I’ve ever spent.  Inside the wondrous sack-lunch-of-holding was a bagel with cream cheese, a small summer sausage, applesauce, cookies, trail mix, and some Gatorade electrolyte mix.  Sweet nectar of the gods.  It also came with bottomless coffee or hot chocolate, which has got to be the BEST coffee I’ve ever had above 6500 ft.  This could also be because the temperature had dropped nearly 20 degrees and we could now see our breath.

With our biblical ambrosia in our stomachs, we set out on our decent back down the mountain with a newfound spring in our step.  The climb down was easy, although slippery with the water still running down the mountainside.  We passed and followed several dozen friendly fellow hikers and eventually made it back to the trailhead without much incident.  We were left with a Greek-like feeling of accomplishment, as if we ourselves were Zeus climbing down from Olympus.  I would suggest this hike to anyone with a few hard hikes under their belt, but the stress is but a minor bump in the mountain of beauty and majesty.

Pictures can be found HERE

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Have you ever paid $15 dollars for a spoon? Well then you just haven’t lived yet! Today I found a fantastic spoon, the Cadillac of the spoon world! The Sea to Summit™ AlphaLight Long Spoon weighs in at a mere .4 oz!!! The beauty of this spoon is that it is made of 7075-T6 aircraft aluminumalloy, which gives it the uncanny ability to cool down and dissipate heat in record time. Also, this metal beauty is 8.5 inches long! It’s perfect for your trail gourmet recipes from Freezer Bag Cooking, and getting that last delicious bite out of the bottom of your quart sized freezer bag! Pick yours up today and shed those pesky extra ounces!

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One of the prettiest trails in Michigan is the Lakeshore Trail, directly on top of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  It was this reason why I decided to take a few days off of work and give this trail a shot.  I had never met a trail so beautifully difficult before, but looking back on my experience I gained a whole new respect for this hike.

First I will give you a quick breakdown of how this trail works, as it’s different than other trails in Michigan.  The Lakeshore Trail follows a 45 mile portion of the NCT from Grand Marais to Munising in Michigan’s upper peninsula.  One important fact that I will point out is that PRNL has distinctive backcountry camping rules.  You must first file an itinerary at one of the two trailhead offices, and designate which campgrounds you will stay at on each night.  You will then plan your trip accordingly, allowing yourself to hike from “A” to “B”.  It’s a good idea, unless you’ve called in advance (2 weeks), to bring a backup plan just incase the campsites that you wished to stay at are full.  Currently the fee is $5.00 per night, but no fee for day hiking.

Another important point I would like to bring to your attention is there is NO trail blazes on the Lakeshore Trail.  The rangers simply describe it as a “clearly worn path”, however there are several spots which will have you scratching your head and flipping a coin to choose which to follow.

That being said, I chose to embark on my journey at Grand Marais, and hike through to Munising.   I arrived at Grand Marais and filled out the appropriate paperwork then set upon my task.  My first day was a near 7 mile trip to the Au Sable east camp.  The hike was an easy one, although the trail crossed the only local road and followed it for about a half of a mile.  If the ranger wouldn’t have told me that, I could see how a person could easily get lost.   I was surprised at the amount of bushwhacking that was involved in this portion of the hike.  The elevation change was not bad at all, and I made it to camp with reasonable daylight left.  The camps were clean and had quite a few friendly backpackers as well.  The temperature was perfect, the bugs were not too bad just yet, so all in all a good evening.  I sat and watched the sunset on the shores of Lake Superior and then decided to call it a night.

The morning came easy and quiet.  I made a quick breakfast and set about my business of packing up camp.  Today was the “push” day, so I had to make near 14 miles before sunset.  I had injured myself on the previous day, so it was a slow go this morning.  The trail had begun to gain elevation, and the view was starting to get a bit more majestic.  I passed the Au Sable lighthouse first thing in the morning.  The sun was new in the sky and the stillness of the lighthouse emanated an aura of peace and serenity.  I paid my respects before setting off further down the path.  I pass several campgrounds, as well as paths that lead down to the water for viewing shipwrecks.  There was only one shipwreck and I could see from the shore, but the concept behind them being there was equally nifty and haunting.  I passed the Hurricane River mouth, tipping my hat to several fisherman attempting to bag a keeper, and eventually came to Twelve Mile Beach campground.  This is a large drive-in campground, but due to the road construction on H-58, there was not a soul to be found.  I relaxed on a bench perched atop a bluff nearly a hundred feet above the waterline and took a quick power nap.  About an hour later I was awake and grinding my way down the trail, stopping for the occasional snack and rest.  The trail at this point had flattened out quite a bit, and I made the rest of the mileage in quick time.  I arrived at Beaver Creek camp, which I found to be quite serene.  The water access was a LONG hike down VERY steep sugar sand bluffs, but I spent a well-earned time swimming in the ice cold comfort of the lake, then basking in the sun to regain my much needed warmth.  The bugs at this camp were far less numerous than previously on the trail, so I had a hot dinner and settled down for an uneventful night.

The morning drew closer with stealth and was there before I could outsmart it.  I broke camp with a renewed feeling of vigor and peace, and set off on my merry way.  There was a small A-frame bridge to be crossed made of old split logs and then the trail headed up in a rather swift distance.  I passed several groups of hikers than were complaining of bugs.  I just chuckled and went on with my business.  It was no more than a mile down the path before the scenery became nearly breathtaking.  The elevation grunting was well worth the effort, as I stood above towering cliffs and covers hundreds of feet below me.  The 10 miles I progressed that day was worth the trip in its entirety.  Words can hardly describe the beauty of that leg of the Lakeshore Trail.  Several times during the day I looked down upon the boats full of tourists viewing the beautiful cliffs that I was nested upon.  I ultimately arrived at my next camp which was appropriately named “Mosquito”.  The beach at mosquito was derived mostly of layered shale stone that jutted out into the lapping waters of Lake Superior.  The breeze was calming as I setup my camp, although the mosquito population was something out of an Alfred Hitchcock film.  I nestled down and had a cold and unforgiving night, rising at 3:00am to find that the mosquitoes had not subsided in either population or vigor.

The next morning I had a quick breakfast down by the water to escape from my vampiric cloud and then, after wrapping myself in as much clothes and I was carrying, broke camp and set upon my way.  The path was much calmer than the previous days, and I eventually arrived at Miner’s Beach.  I paused to refill my water supply, as the next available water was the end of the trail.  After visiting with a dozen kayakers that had ported in on the beach, I gathered my water filter up and hiked through half a mile of beach sand to an inland portion of the trail.  It was one mile from Miner’s Beach to Miner’s Castle.   This single mile was the toughest of the entire Lakeshore Trail.  The elevation change was intense and the terrain was riddled with tree roots and muck.  I was happy to reach the top and was surprised to see an full-fledged visitor center fully stocked with flush toilets and friendly park staff.  I had a quick chat with the delightful park ranger who informed me that the weather had a 50% chance of rain.  I relaxed at Miner’s Castle for awhile, partaking of a quick foot massage and water break, then embarked on the few miles that remained.  It began to sprinkle but the coolness of the weather was a nice reprieve from the humidity of the lingering day.  I arrived at my final camp of the day, named “Cliffs” which ironically enough was nowhere near a cliff.  In fact, it was about a quarter mile from the lakeshore edge itself.  I setup a small camp and made a fire before it began to downpour.  It only rained for a short time, and I emerged to assess the damage and rebuild my fire.  A group of wet hikers arrived, and within a short time they had setup camp.  We sat around the fire and exchanged hiking stories and jokes.  It was a great time for all, and they were certainly a group I will not forget anytime soon.  I crawled into my tent and had my final night’s sleep undisturbed and peacefully.

I woke early to get a head start on the day, as I had precious little time to make it to Munising Falls before my ride was to arrive.  I packed up a very wet and muddy camp, said farewell to my new group of friends, and slugged along the trail.  The wet branches and leaves left my clothes quite damp, but the refreshing cool of the day kept the mosquitoes down.  That was, until the sun came out.  With the humidity rising the bugs came out in full force, and served as an excellent motivator for me to make my journey faster.  I passed a few small waterfalls and quite a bit more beautiful landscapes before eventually arriving at my destination; Munising Falls.  The morning was still quite young, and I took advantage of running water and flushing toilets for the second time on my journey.  I had a wonderful chat with the park ranger and found that time flew back and alas our chat had to end.  I left Munising Falls exhausted but completely satisfied.  The trail was a harsh mistress but in the end, the Lakeshore Trail was quite the adventure and a definite recommendation to any backpacker I know.

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Ever ate a bagel at 1000ft?  It makes the bagel taste much better…

This weekend we had decided to take a hike and dust off the cobwebs and price tags.  We arrived at the Marilla trailhead near Mesick and Hodenpyl Dam.   The morning was brisk and the clouds looked iffy.  “Well,” I said “It’s either going to be a great hike, or a wet hike.”  We used the pit toilet that was so gracefully beckoning us by its pungent aroma, checked our packs, locked the car, and off we went on our adventure.

We started out on a segment of the NCT.  The trails were well trodden and the forest was calm and peaceful, with the occasional bird breaking the still.  Unbeknownst to us, the trail was slowly rising at a very gentle angle.  Then it hit us.   It was like a ton a bricks wrapped in lemons.  The view!  We stopped in amazement as we were staring down onto the Manistee River 250 ft below us.  We could’ve stopped and setup camp right there, and I think we both would have been satisfied.

We shook the stars out of our eyes, and continued along the NCT.    Slowly we began the hike down from our clouds as the trail began to drop a bit more steeply than it rose.  We passed only a few other hikers, who were friendly though reserved; as most backpackers tend to be.  Ultimately we arrived where the NCT left us, and the Manistee River Trail took us on another course.   We bid farewell to the NCT and its beautiful views and started on the MRT.

The MRT gently guided us further down into the valley.  No fewer than a dozen times did we stop and gaze up at the mountain next to us.  It was impressively surreal.    We crossed a few forest roads and got our first glimpse of the Manistee River.  Ironically, the spot where we arrived was the calmest water we would see in the next few days.

We tried to follow the blazes on the trees, but somehow got turned around and took a several mile tour of the woods.  A group of hikers ran into us in our desperate search with the same problem.  With their help we got back on track and arrived at the suspension bridge.  The MRT has a wonderful suspension bridge that reminds you of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s VERY secure, and also very one-way.  Do not attempt to pass anyone as there is not enough room.

After the bridge, the MRT follows the river along the tops of the high banks.  For most of our adventure, we were staring down onto the Manistee.  The views were amazing and the trails were fairly easy.  There was quite a few roots to stumble over in the trail, but with the amount of giant trees desperately clinging to the banks, you understand why.

We passed several waterfalls here as well.  Sure, they are small, but the sound and fury of the water is no less fierce or beautiful.  You also find yourself crossing multiple tiny wooden bridges that cross over the streams that help feed the Manistee.

Backcountry camping is allowed here, plus they also have dispersed camp sites that are free for use.  These sites allow you to be close to the water and trail, as the backcountry rules still apply for distance from water and trails.   After about five miles of hiking we happened upon a dispersed site that was NOT taken!  I swear, we had the best seat in the house.    We were quite a distance down from the main trail, yet only a few yards from the roaring Manistee.  The site was perfect and we spent the rest of the day relaxing.

One thing to mention is that this area is posted with signs that warn you “If you hear a loud siren, seek high ground!”  Apparently they let the dam waters out on occasion and the water has been known to rush through 12 ft higher than normal.  Just keep an ear open for sirens while you’re down by the river bank.

The night was quiet and uneventful, with the morning greeting us as a cold harsh mistress.  We got a fire going and warmed up before breaking camp and hitting the trail on our way back.  The birdsong and spider webs kept us brisk and motivated and eventually we made it across the bridge.  This time we took the correct path back to the NCT.   The ascent back to our lookout seemed much more difficult than going down the first time, but we eventually made it back up to the top.

The hike was a success beyond any of our expectations.  We sat and gazed out into the sea of trees below us, reliving our trip and remembered how truly good a bagel tastes at 1000 ft.

Pictures can be found by clicking HERE

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One product that I have overlooked in the past but need to give it the spotlight is the GSI Micro-table.  Although we backpackers look amusing as hell trying to juggle our stove, fuel canister, water, food, chainsaws, and burning torches, it gets to be a bit tedious after the first severed finger…

Well now you don’t have to!  I bought our GSI table for a gift and thought it might be an item that we would only use on occasion.  Boy was I wrong!  Weighing in at only ONE pound (ish) this lightweight aluminum table offers a flat surface to work on.  Whether it be chopping up some food or just having a stable surface to set your stove on, this table will cure what ails you.  The cost is rather cheap (I think around $30) and it’s worth the minimal weight sacrifice.  It is a must have in every backpack.

The table comes in a handy nylon carrying case, and is folded up like an accordion.  By removing the 2 rods from their clips on the side, you simply fold out your table, slip the rods through, fold out the legs, and EAT FOOD!  …or play cards, or juggle chainsaws!  The possibilities are endless!  So next time you stop at the outdoors store to look around, look for the GSI Micro-table and buy it while you still have fingers left!

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