My First Backpacking Trip

I have big dreams of being a backpacker.  BIG DREAMS!

I dream of taking a sabbatical from work and hiking the Appalachian Trail.  I have spent hours researching exotic places like Thailand and Peru.  I envision Pack and I climbing up the Continental Divide and looking over the country in awe.  I dream of becoming one with nature in the most intimate way.  I picture myself loving life in “survival mode.”  

In theory, I would be an excellent backpacker.  I have a pack.  I have a sleeping bag and tent.  I have strong thighs.  And, I want it.  I want it bad.

Then....I went on my first backpacking trip.

Not only was I exhausted by the unbelievable amount of work it takes to carry 35 extra pounds on your back, but the maps lied about the mileage - and not in my favor.  Are maps allowed to lie?  Dang you National Park Service!!!  

Oh, and when you learn that water isn’t available, they aren’t lying about that. 

I’m the girl that drank (filtered) water from a mud puddle.

By the end of day one, I was exhausted and my fun limit had been hit.  I was excited to crawl into my tent, but sleeping under the stars isn’t as relaxing as it seems.  Nature had re-confirmed how much silence is important to my sleep.  Nature is really loud.  No, I’m not talking about the unfriendly rattlesnake I met along the trail.  I’m talking about mate-less birds who won’t shut up.  (Are you mate-less for a reason, bird???)  I’m talking about wind.  I’m talking about beautiful streams.  I’m talking about the imaginary animals you make yourself believe are roaming around outside your tent.  

Yes, I love nature, but I also love sleep.  And I can’t sleep when it’s loud.  

I also can’t sleep when it’s light outside.  After you have spent a whole day hiking with your belongings on your back, you go to bed around 7pm.  The sun, however, did not get the memo that I was exhausted and needed a restful night of sleep.  

By day 3, I mentally and physically beat by the 30+ miles of trail.  Then, the universe wanted to test me further.  Mother Nature opened up the sky, and rained on me.  Then it rained more.  It rained so much that my rain gear could not longer repel the thick drops.  My expensive, “rain repellant” clothing completely soiled my clothes and underwear.

And do you know what happens when you are soaking wet and continue to hike?  Yep, you get rashes all over your body from your clothes and your pack rubbing against you in the most private places.  It’s not pretty.  Two weeks later....it still isn’t pretty.  And now, I permanently smell like topical cream.

Looking back, I am thrilled that I survived the backpacking trip.  I feel like I accomplished something.  I also learned that backpacking might not be for me.  And that’s ok.  Just like I learned that winter mountaineering might not be for me when I climbed Mount Washington, there is a possibility that backpacking isn’t for me either.  

Maybe I’m more of a car camper and a day hiker.  

And, maybe I’m ok with this discovery!

A Chilly Hike

Yesterday’s hike was one of the most interesting for me!  I’ve only been hiking for about 9 months, but this was the most demanding - and not because the trail itself was (too) difficult.

Pack and I made the trip to the Gambrill State Park in northwestern Maryland.  We hiked the Catoctin Trail for about 6 miles.  (I accidentally hit the wrong button on my new, fancy GPS watch so I’m not sure about actual milage.  OOPS!)

Not only was it 18 degrees, but there were some challenging obstacles I was forced to deal with.  In preparation for my Mt. Washington climb, I knew that going on yesterday’s hike was important to acclimating.  We have had unusually wonderful weather this winter, but I need to get ready for my winter hike.

I did not, however, anticipate my camelback’s hose freezing.  (I’m such an amateur!!!) A frozen hose means NO water for the entirety of my hike.

We came across about a half-dozen streams on this trail.  They were so beautiful.  I love the sound of a creek in the distance as I hike through a snowy forest.  

Yep, I had to cross both of these streams!!!

One thing I don’t love about streams, though, is how easy it is to slip and submerge your left foot into the ice cold water.  Of course....that happened to me!  And yes, it happen pretty early on in the hike.

Pack and I are really starting to get along.  This was our second time out together.  I stuffed him full of boots, clothes, and books to make him heavy.  I put him on the scale and he weighed about 20 pounds.  Let me tell you, it is MUCH different (read: exhausting) hiking with a day pack and hiking with a huge, heavy pack.  After Mt. Washington, Pack is going on a diet.

And mayyyyybe I could have also used an extra layer of pants.  (I only wore two layers under my hiking pants.)  My bottom half was a little chilly.  But I kept going.  As you can tell from a few of the pictures, I’m almost always the last hiker.  But that’s ok.  I don’t go hiking to race.  I don’t go hiking to be a hike leader.  I hike because it’s serene.  I hike for me.  I hike because it’s wonderful to be outside and to embrace nature.   That’s it.  Who cares if I’m last.....just as long as the bus doesn’t leave me stranded in a random forest!

All-in-all, it was a beautiful snowy day.  So what if things didn’t go perfectly.  Who cares that my foot was wet for a few miles.  And I was able to fully hydrate once I got back on the bus when my camelback (FINALLY!) unfroze.  

It was an amazing day on the trail.  

1st hike at Shenandoah

I spent last Saturday hiking in Shenandoah National Park.  I went with that Capital Hiking Club as a first-timer.  I was a little nervous.  As much as I love trying new things and don’t mind participating solo, I was a little nervous about the entire activity.  I’d never been to the Park and I’d never been on a real hike. Don’t worry, dear reader, I survived.

There is one thing I learned from this hike: I’m basically a little teapot.  I’m short.  I’m stout.  If someone would have tipped me over, I would have poured out all over the trail.  The super cute green pack on my back was kinda heavy too.  

I went on the short hike: 7 miles.  (The long hike was 10 miles...I'm not sure I would have survived.)  I traveled through Stony Man and White Oak Canyon.  The hike ended with a swim at a beautiful swimming hole.  

These 7 miles weren’t easy for me either.  I was huffing and puffing through most of the trail.  The ups and downs really challenged my body.

I got to see a rattlesnake.

This waterfalls was my background noise.

The views made everything worth it.

And my sweet blisters have forced me to remember this trip all week!!!

It was an awesome day.  I highly recommend making the trip the Shenandoah or joining me and the Capital Hiking Club on our next adventure.

Happy hiking!!!

Billy Goat Trail

Last weekend I made my second hike of the year.  My friend Lineka and I drove up to the Billy Goat Trail to get starting on our outdoor adventure.  Spending the afternoon outdoors with a good friend is one of the best ways spend my time.  

It was the perfect day.  We entered through Carderock, and The trail wasn’t too crowded - except for that crazy, unleashed greyhound that kept watching us, running circles around us, and almost knocking us over.  Otherwise, we saw other hikers, families, fishermen, and people out for a lazy Sunday stroll.  The trail was surrounded by the C&O Canal and an open, large park.  

We forged through rocky waters.

We stopped to enjoy the view.

But mostly, we talked and laughed and enjoyed the afternoon.  Everything I read said the trail was about 4 miles long, but we were only there for about an hour, so I assume we only did about half of the trail.  

Finding such a quiet place outside the beltway was often be a nice way to escape the stress DC brings to many people.  

A Trip to Great Falls

I had the absolute pleasure of enjoying Great Falls National Park this weekend.

http://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm

A few friends and I got up really early, faced the brisk cold, and made it to the park before it got busy.  We mostly had the place to ourself, and we throughly enjoyed every second.  

I felt like I was really one with nature.  I could hear the roar of the river, punctuated by the chirping of the birds.  It was pure bliss.  I could have stayed there all day and enjoyed the views.  It would have been an idyllic place for reading under a tall tree. 

One of my downfalls is getting into ruts.  This is something I am not proud of, but am actively working on.  Honestly, dear reader, on most days I come home and do nothing.  I watch mindless television and play on the internet.  The purpose of this blog is to engage with my environment.  I live in such an awesome place that has so much to offer.  There are so many historical sites, museums, and hidden spots that are waiting for me to explore.  This trip to Great Falls was my attempt in connecting with nature and exploring my world.  I live in 700 square feet, dear reader.  Sometimes it feels like my walls are caving in on me.

Great Falls is about 30 minutes from my apartment.  (The drive was easy, with my Garmin, of course.)  I really have no excuse to enjoy the world around me.  I mean, look at this place.  How could you NOT want to visit this park???

I’m new to this hiking thing.  I am trying to make a safe and fun experience for myself, thus well-packed, super-cute green hiking bag.  I'm trying to look well put together, but I am no professional.  

I will say that I loved every second of being at Great Falls.  I didn’t mind the cold.  The trails were easy to navigate, and now, I’m looking for my next adventure. 

Are you in?  What is your next adventure???