There’s a saying with expensive hobbies, “Buy nice or buy twice.” In some cases, I’ve found that to be true, but as a beginning backpacker, it just didn’t make sense to blow a bunch of money I didn’t have on expensive gear before I even knew if I liked backpacking! Over time, I have upgradedContinue reading “A few of my favorite things…”
Tag Archives: North Country Trail
Finishing up the Jordan Valley 45
Today I completed hiking the 80ish miles of the Jordan Valley 45 Chapter of the North Country Trail, a goal that I hadn’t actually identified when I began hiking various stretches several years ago. I picked up miles here and there as I completed various backpacking trips, day hikes with family, and repeat hikes forContinue reading “Finishing up the Jordan Valley 45”
Pictured Rocks October 2023: Not quite a saunter, but definitely not a speed hike.
John Muir once said that he didn’t care for the word “hike,” but preferred “saunter,” with its origins of making a pilgrimage to the holy land. I think that many of us who hike consider nature a holy place, and regardless of your religious beliefs, the views at Pictured Rocks certainly make you pause andContinue reading “Pictured Rocks October 2023: Not quite a saunter, but definitely not a speed hike. “
A solo winter’s day hike on the NCT
An unexpected day off and a decent weather forecast: Where should I go hiking? I decided to fill in a gap in my NCT progress through Emmet County, along a stretch that contained enough road walk that I didn’t want to do it when there would be a lot of traffic. A Monday morning seemedContinue reading “A solo winter’s day hike on the NCT”
Getting to the trailhead: The quickest way is not always the shortest way
When trying to get to the trailhead is one of the most challenging parts of the backpacking trip…
The Joys and Challenges of Winter Hiking and Camping
There is a certain magic to hearing the absolute stillness of a snowy forest, seeing the snow-draped boughs of the evergreen trees, and finding tracks from deer, bobcat, bear, turkeys, and other creatures in the snowy path. Lying in my hammock at night, listening to the hoot of owls, yips of coyotes, and gentle fallingContinue reading “The Joys and Challenges of Winter Hiking and Camping”
You can plan all you want, but…
In which a planned 50-mile hike on the North Country Trail goes a little off the rails.
Becoming a Backpacker, Chapter 5: Pictured Rocks
I was feeling practically like an expert as I prepared for a long weekend hike of Pictured Rocks in May. I expected that it could be at least as cold in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as it had been on my two previous backpacking trips in lower Michigan, even though it was later on in theContinue reading “Becoming a Backpacker, Chapter 5: Pictured Rocks”
Exploring Michigan and other cool places 