Archive for the ‘Asides’ Category

Aside: The Race is on Isle Royale

May 14th, 2012 / 0 Comments

Greenstone Ridge Trail

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 an attempt to get their choice of campsite before the music stops and the campgrounds fill up.

Unfortunately, much is sacrificed at this altar of expediency. Mornings, a perfect time to reflect and appreciate nature, are hurried so as to get on the trail early. Breakfast and lunch are short and convenient above all else. Hiking becomes almost a forced march, as getting from point A to point B is more important than taking some time to enjoy a view or take a detour to an off-trail lake. All is forsaken so as to arrive at one’s destination early enough to secure a choice campsite. Or, better yet, a comfortable shelter.
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Asides

Aside: Crazy Ideas for Dealing with Biting Insect Swarms in the Backcountry

Oct 29th, 2011 / 2 Comments

Mosquito by Center of Disease Control (CDC)

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 blood-suckers. My first line of defense is proper clothing, with insect repellants being my back-up in more extreme conditions.
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Asides

Perfect Note Recording System for Bushwhacking/Backpacking Adventures

Jul 18th, 2011 / 0 Comments

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 to chronicle their adventures for a blog or just for their own information.

Note taking can become increasingly difficult in wet conditions. During wet conditions, such as during or after rain showers, paper can become difficult to write on or pens can stop functioning. Although writing in the rain can become almost impossible, it is still very difficult to keep notes in under any wet conditions such as the morning after a night rainfall or even periods of very heavy dew. In rather wet areas like the Adirondacks, this could result in a large portion of a trip being completely without note. Unless you have a very good memory, the lack of notes can be real problem.
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Asides, Equipment

Is Black the New Black in Backpacking Rain Pants?

Jun 7th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Golite Reed 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 loved rain pants were now leaving me good and wet below the knees.

The dread of shopping for new rain pants escalated throughout the winter months but the urgency of this purchase was hammered home in April when hiking out in a cold, torrential downpour from Trout Pond in the Catskills. It took less than 20 minutes before everything below my knees was soaking wet. What I prayed was a fluke last summer was apparently a cold, hard reality. Luckily the hike out was short enough so I was just uncomfortable and not hypothermic.
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Asides, Equipment

Who put Adirondack Black Flies in my Peanut Butter?

May 30th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Black fly bites

Journeying into the backcountry of the Adirondacks during the height of bug season may seem like pure insanity but I did so the third weekend in May to participate in the Audubon Society’s Birdathon (a trip report to appear here soon). And it was certainly no surprise to find hordes of hungry black flies waiting there for those few intrepid (and deranged) individuals who simply could not wait until later in the season.

Although the black flies appeared somewhat subdued on Friday evening and Saturday morning the situation swiftly and painfully changed after some brief thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon. The light winds did not help matters either. Without some swift gusts to carry the pesky little demons away there was an almost constant dusky cloud behind me just waiting for the opportunity to get a free meal at my expense.
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Asides

Aside: Packing Backpacking Gear for an Airplane Flight

Apr 2nd, 2011 / 0 Comments

Kuna and Koip Peaks from Alger Lakes

Going to California to hike a portion of the John Muir Trail back in the summer 2009 (read about my trip out there here) required doing something I had absolutely no experience with: packing backpacking gear for an airline flight. In fact, I had not even flown on an airplane in almost a decade prior to the trip. Many changes occurred since my last flight, which was pre-911, pre-shoe bomber, pre-liquid ban, and, well, you get the idea.

Naturally, I consulted the Internet for some material on packing backpacking gear for an airline flight. Surprisingly, there was very little.

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Asides, Equipment

Aside: Bushwhacking Legs

Nov 7th, 2010 / 2 Comments

Blowdown near Toad Pond

Sea legs is a term used to describe the ability to walk steadily on a boat or ship, especially on rough seas. In addition, the term is used often as a metaphor for adjusting to living at sea. A similar term applied to off-trail hiking is bushwhacking legs. Although not as commonly used as its sea-faring counterpart, it definitely should be.

Bushwhacking legs is the ability to move steadily and gracefully (or as much as possible) over terrain regardless of conditions without the aid of a marked trail or road. Like sea legs, bushwhacking legs can also be used as metaphor for adjusting to traveling through the backcountry without the aid of a trail. Also, the term can be expanded further to refer to a philosophy not only applicable to the bushwhacking lifestyle but to life in general.

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Asides

Aside: Bushwhacking over balloon litter

Oct 16th, 2010 / 4 Comments
Ballonnen

Balloon release

What kinds of thoughts does the sight of a balloon illicit for you? Birthdays? Weddings? New babies? Grand openings? Circus clowns? UFO sightings? Unfortunately, I no longer associate balloons with joyous occasions, instead I think of litter. Yeah, litter. Like the type of refuse you see strewn along the side of the road. Except this balloon litter is not located near any roads but somewhere in a remote forest or wetland. This is where I typically find the remains of balloons when I am out bushwhacking. And I find this balloon litter way too often. And it infuriates me every time.

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Asides

Aside: Where have all the amusing rodents gone?

Aug 21st, 2010 / 2 Comments

A begging eastern chipmunk

Have you noticed the lack of wildlife around lean-tos in the northwestern part of the Adirondacks? Have you noticed you can leave your food unattended for 5-10 minutes and upon returning find it unmolested? Even tasty morsels like brownies? Are you able to eat meals uninterrupted without uninvited guests appearing and insistently begging for a handout? Do you no longer wake in the middle of the night and feel little feet running across your sleeping bag? Or see tiny eyes being reflected in the beams of your flashlight on the floor or walls?

Recently I noticed the lack of rodents within and around the lean-tos in the northwestern portion of the Adirondack Park. In the last couple years I have visited or stayed overnight in the lean-tos at Big Shallow, Little Shallow, Wolf Pond, Sand Lake, Cage Lake, Trout Pond and High Falls, and at each of these there appeared to be a lack of hungry rodents eager to beg for a free high-energy meal. The absence was profoundly experienced at Big Shallow and Trout Pond recently where deer mice (at Big Shallow) and eastern chipmunks (at Trout Pond) were once very plentiful.
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Asides

Aside: Who will stop the rain?

Aug 4th, 2010 / 1 Comment

Does the anticipation of rain during a bushwhack make you apprehensive? Have you ever had a downpour soak you to the skin while backpacking or hiking? Would you like to reduce the chance of rain while hiking? I know how to do it. And it does not involve any knowledge of meteorology, witchcraft or primitive dance. Interested? Of course you are.

Threatening clouds approach

Over the years I have discovered that whenever there is a threat of rain (i.e. dark clouds approaching, thunder in the distance, etc.), I can control the probability of rain by just putting on all my rain gear. I know it sounds silly but if I put my rain gear on BEFORE it starts raining then it most likely will not start. Recently, I practiced this on my epic adventure from Stillwater Reservoir to Cranberry Lake with great success. I must emphasize it is very important that the rain gear be put on before it actually starts raining or all bets are off.

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Asides