In 2014, at just over 200 miles into our southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, injury ensued. And not in some badass way that I can turn into a riveting story either. The knot I tied for one end of my hammock was loose and the toggle slipped out. The result? I landed straight on my tailbone. Oops! Crippled over in immediate pain, I knew it was bad. I could not fathom the thought of dropping off trail — it was not an option to me. So we took 5 days off in Gorham, NH where I laid motionless for the first 2 days, slowly walked around the 3rd day, slowly walked around with an empty pack on the 4th day, and repeated with a half-full pack the 5th day. It didn’t help that we were just getting into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, arguably one of the toughest sections of the AT.
sierra high route
Talus in Wonderland: A Summer of High Routes
Virginia and I thought we’d kick it up a notch in 2015 and attempt two routes through the highest and most remote regions in the lower 48; the Sierra Nevada of California and Wind River range in northwest Wyoming. Continue reading
Gossamer Gear ‘Kumo’ and a Bear Canister Fall in Love
Planning to thru-hike an extended version of Roper’s Sierra High Route, I knew the dreaded bear canister had to join for the escapades. Shortly after becoming enamored with my Gossamer Gear “Kumo” backpack, the question popped into my head: Can I carry the Kumo with a bear canister? Research online proved little-to-no-help, so I set out to test not only the possibility but also the comfort of carrying a bear canister with my beloved pack. The results, a resounding success!
Best of the West
Working and saving money has come to an end, and now it’s time to take off again! We had the most awesome time staying with my brother in Oregon (Clayton, you rock!) and getting to spend time with some of my family, but that time has arrived… Continue reading