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Archive for March, 2011

Traveling from Syracuse to Yosemite for a backpacking trip

Mar 27th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Nevada's desert

During late July 2009 two friends and I planned on hiking a portion of the John Muir Trail from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park to Reds Meadow Campground at the edge of the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains in southern California. This was the second adventure for this trio as we hiked from Piseco, NY to Lake Placid on the Northville-Placid Trail the previous summer.

The trip required some creative logistics as my friend Dave lives in Rochester, NY and his childhood friend, Jim lives in Austin, TX. The original plan required Dave and I to meet up in Detroit and then fly together to Las Vegas, where we would rent a car and drive to meet Jim in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Jim was already enjoying the area with his girlfriend and for some reason wanted to spend some time with the two of us in the backcountry.

Reports, Trips

Yosemite, Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Trail and Death Valley Trip Teaser

Mar 15th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Banner Peak from Thousand Island Lake

In late July 2009 I went on a backpacking trip along the John Muir Trail with two friends. It was originally planned to go from Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park to Reds Meadow Campground. Unfortunately, due to factors beyond our control we had to start our trip from a different trailhead resulting in less than half of the trip being on the John Muir Trail.

Although this trip did not have any significant bushwhacking component I thought I would break from tradition for once to describe a trip outside my usual stomping grounds in the Adirondacks.

Reports, Trips

Gear Addiction: Is there such a thing as too many snowshoes?

Mar 7th, 2011 / 1 Comment

Michigan-style snowshoes

I have a problem. It used to be much worse but I pretty much have it under control now.

Hi, I am the Bushwhacking Fool and I am a gear addict.

As part of my therapy I thought I would start a series of occasional blog posts about all the duplicate gear I have accumulated over the years. In honor of the winter season, which is in its final stages now, I thought I would start out my therapy posts discussing the many different pairs of snowshoes I currently own.

I have seven different pairs of snowshoes. They come in all different sizes, materials and shapes. Two pairs are Michigan-style, two standard bearpaw and three Green Mountain modified bearpaw. Four pairs are made of wood, one is plastic and the final two pairs have aluminum frames.

Equipment, Gear Addictions