People often ask me, “What do you eat when you are out backpacking?” It is embarrassing to admit I never really know what to tell them; other than a vague recitation of staples, such as instant rice, couscous, pasta, etc. When I was hiking along the Minong Ridge Trail on Isle Royale it dawned on
Isle Royale Aside: Briefly Revisiting the McCormick Wilderness
When I originally planned my Isle Royale trip, I included a side trip to McCormick Wilderness for a few days, never really deciding whether it would be before or after the main two-week event. Storage of food for the second trip, while on the first one became a logistical nightmare, so I quickly abandoned the
Isle Royale Aside: Bearly Losing a Race
Typically, I am not the racing type. At least not the kind involving motorized vehicles. Although I participated in foot races when I was younger, it has been many years since the last one. And in none of those races were any of my competitors a black bear. This all changed when I drove home
Aside: Packing an Isle Royale Resupply Box
Long backpacking trips often require hauling heavy packs full of extra food, fuel and other supplies, consumed on a daily basis. Sometimes a resupply box allows for reducing the backpack weight considerably. Unfortunately, resupply boxes are only an option when the US Postal Service or some other person/entity is available to drop off the box
Aside: My first moose encounter on Isle Royale, times two!
Moose. Isle Royale‘s moose are legendary. However, during the past eight days on the island, there has not been much sign of any except some old antlers, a few tracks and some piles of scat. By the morning of the ninth day, I am starting to lose hope that I will ever see one in
Aside: A Thimbleberry By Any Other Name…
Common names of plants cause all sorts of problems. Common names are often regional, with identical species having disparate names in two different locales. The opposite case, where more than a single species share the same name in different areas is even more common. Differences in common names readily lead to misunderstandings. It is easy
Aside: The Race is on Isle Royale
The race is on. Or at least, on Isle Royale, that is. Backpacking on Isle Royale is like playing a giant game of musical chairs. Each morning an exodus occurs from the campgrounds, as hikers spread out in a quest to cover as much trail as possible in the shortest amount of time. All in
Aside: Crazy Ideas for Dealing with Biting Insect Swarms in the Backcountry
Being alone for many days in the backcountry gives me plenty of time to think. Too much time. And when I start getting bitten by hordes of blood-hungry insects, the thoughts inevitably revolve around ways to repel or destroy these pesky little pain-inflicting devils. Typically, I subscribe to the traditional methods of dealing with these
Perfect Note Recording System for Bushwhacking/Backpacking Adventures
Keeping notes while out bushwhacking can be a rather tedious task. From carrying a notebook and writing utensil where they are relatively handy to making sure the notebook does not get wet during inclement weather, there is a lot of necessary juggling involved to keeping notes. Unfortunately, note taking is a necessity if one wishes
Is Black the New Black in Backpacking Rain Pants?
Recently, I was in the market for a new pair of rain pants. In fact, new rain pants were an imperative since late last summer when I discovered my old rain pants were no longer doing their duty while bushwhacking on a wet morning in the Pepperbox Wilderness. Unlike previous trips these well-worn and much
