Where did you wake up this morning?
Nature
Backyard Testing
When it comes to gear reviews, nothing replaces real world use. You can’t expect to learn much from someone who starts writing before they open the box and is done soon after. Every item needs to be taken out into the world so you can determine its limits and how well it holds up while doing the things you go out there to do.
That being said, I think backyard testing also plays an important role and I think that is true for everyone, not just reviewers. Being familiar with how things work before you go is just common sense, yet every year a lot of folks head out into the woods with a new tent, stove, or other item they have never used before. The stories I read about the first few overnight spots along the AT and the tales of misadventure folks get into with unfamiliar gear there both amuse and frighten me. It just seems outrageous to begin a 2000 mile hike without at least trying things out once, but apparently it is somewhat common.
I find backyard testing to be especially useful for trying out various sleep system setups. The time to find out that something isn’t right is at home rather than out on the trail. Most of the year it is just about comfort, but for cold weather camping survival is also a factor. Plenty of other gear such as water purification and food supply fall into that category year round. The folks on the AT have the benefit of being in contact with other people who can be pretty helpful and that may be why so many feel comfortable heading out basically unprepared. Where I go I may not see anyone for days if things go well so I don’t pretend someone will save me from my foolishness.
That brings me to last night’s backyard test to see just how good this new over quilt really is when it gets cold. I set up the tent and bedding early to make sure everything was at ambient temperature before I headed out for the night. It was just dipping past 0°f when I peeled down to fleece sleep layers and crawled under the quilts to read by lantern light for a few hours.
Unlike a mummy bag a quilt leaves your head to defend itself from the cold. In really cold weather like this I sleep in a fur lined Mad Bomber with a balaclava underneath. Last night I tried out a new polypropylene one which was light enough to breath through yet provided enough vapor barrier that I didn’t have any frost on the top of my hat in the morning.
Underneath I had two Therm-a-Rest pads, a Trail Pro and a Neoair Xlite. Above I had the Ventra 40°f down quilt with the new EE Prodigy 20°f on top. One other new addition for this test was on my hands which are usually an issue for me. I recently picked up some military ECWCS mitts and discovered the removable liner mitts might make for good sleepwear so long as they were dry at the end of the day.
The sleeping was pretty good for most of the night. I had to step out of the tent a few times which definitely was an eye opener, but was able to get the quilts warmed up again each time. An hour or so before dawn I woke up and could feel the cold. Temperatures by this point had dropped towards -15°f and rearranging the bedding wasn’t doing the trick.
I admitted that I’d found the limits of this new quilt combo and started reaching for insulation fast. First I pulled on a puffy jacket and then the nano puff pants. Crawling back under the quilts I could feel my body was making some headway as it warmed up the new layers, but it wasn’t enough. With cold you want to stay ahead of the game. Once you get behind catching up is difficult. In the wild I would have popped a chemical hand warmer at this point, but since I had the option I pulled the plug on this test.
Based on this test I now know that I don’t need extra insulation to go a little below zero, but if I’m going a lot below zero I should wear more to bed. Finding that out via a backyard test meant I could go inside the house, toss some wood on the fire and ponder my new found wisdom from under a blanket on the couch. Doing that same research in the wilds probably wouldn’t have killed me, but it certainly wouldn’t have ended with Mrs Stranger making me heart shaped pancakes for breakfast. Another of the benefits of backyard testing!
Whether you are an old hand picking up a new bit of kit or you are just getting started with an entire caboodle of unfamiliar gear it is worth spending a little time getting to know just what you’ve got. If you’re going to have problems close to home is always better than somewhere on the path less traveled by
This Weekend’s Trip…
Has been postponed 🙂
Pemi Winter Overnight
I took this trip back in January before the snow finally started falling. The Lincoln Woods parking lot was a solid slab of ice from the mid-winter thaw a few weeks prior. I put on my trail crampons before I pulled my pack out of the car. The Eastside Trail was bad until the washout and then much worse after that.
The whole trail was covered in frozen footprints and I was really glad I’d brought the spikes in addition to the snowshoes.
The river was littered with giant slabs of ice on both sides. The thaw and rain had produced a huge flow that literally exploded the thick ice cover from the river.
The slabs were 8-10 inches, varying in size from dinner plate to dinner table. Most were pretty big making an impressive sound when thumped. The big ice pieces also made some interesting noises floating down the river bouncing off of rocks and the encroaching ice cover. I’ll bet they were making some really interesting noises when the thaw hit and the river exploded!
Just after I set up camp the sun popped out for a little bit. Temps were in the low teens but the wind wasn’t doing much so it didn’t seem too cold.
Once I finished setting up camp it was time to get rid of a sweaty base layer to get ready for hanging out in the cold. Winter camping is all about maintaining your body temp because it is hard to catch up once you get behind. Taking a minute to swap out my base and let my fur air dry for a minute would keep me warmer in the long run.
I use a two man tent for winter solo trips to give me plenty of room for gear. This is an old TNF Tephra 22. They still make a tent with that name but it is very different. Mine is really a three season tent, but I’ve figured out how to use it in the snow pretty well over the last few years.
Once I got all settled in and warmed up I pulled out a book I’d brought to pass some time and realized I’d left my glasses in my pack outside heh. I’ve only worn glasses a year or so now and still forget I need them though that chilly trip to fetch them should help me remember next time.
This is how I dressed when I got up the next morning as my fur was no match for the low single digit temps. Puttering around camp a person doesn’t generate a lot of heat so it is important to hang on to what you’ve got.
These water bottles spent the night inside the tent with me tucked inside gloves in hopes of not freezing solid. The one with warm water was pretty slushy by morning and the other was almost frozen solid.
One thing I did to generate some heat that morning was to cut up some firewood. I figured that afternoon I’d build a fire. I don’t usually bring a saw but this time of year it is nice to be able to burn bigger pieces of wood that last a bit longer.
Finally there was a reason to get the snowshoes out! I headed off into the wilderness towards Cedar Brook. There was a ski trail broken out which I tried to avoid as I broke out a snowshoe trail next to it.
The ice was trying to reform on the river below. It made for some interesting views and the sound of water took some of the edge off my crunching through the snow.
Looking at these pictures makes me shiver now, but at the time I was warm. Something about breaking trail even in shallow snow will do that.
I was expecting snow that evening and by noon I could see and feel the storm coming. The wind picked up a bit and there was more of a bite to the air. I needed to make some more water anyway so I figured it was a good time to make some cocoa while I had the stove out.
Up til this point I’d gotten away with using my canister stove by keeping the fuel can in my jacket for a while before use. A snowshoe made a good base for keeping the can out of the snow. This time though I think it was too cold for the O rings as I couldn’t get the stove to seal to any of the canisters I had with me.
I considered lighting a fire, but the thought of my pretty GSI kettle charring over a wood fire made me sad. So since I had daylight to get out I packed everything up and hit the trail. With all the new winter gear I’ve acquired my ability to survive the cold had surpassed my stove which I found oddly satisfying.
Now armed with a truly winter capable stove I’m hoping to head back in the near future. The Whites have seen a lot of snow in the last few weeks so I’ll have to really dig if I want to find that pile of firewood I left behind. On the other hand the temps have been dropping even lower so even if I can’t find the wood pile the digging will be good for keeping me warm 🙂
Blizzard Video
Went out for a little walk yesterday and made this video to share the experience. Warning: blizzards are noisy!
Trailhead Sandwiches
For as long as I can remember, upon arrival at the trailhead there was a standard ceremony of scarfing down a Clif Bar, donning the pack and getting out on the trail as fast as possible. Other than the brand or flavor of snack it seems most other folks follow this same tradition.
It makes sense in a way. After being cooped up in a car or hanging on to your scoot for a long drive it is natural to want to get moving. You’ve had all that time to think about the adventures waiting for you out there and now you’re like a horse in the starting gate, raring to go.
Last year, just past mud season, I was unpacking my bike in the Grafton Loop parking lot and munching a Clif Bar and noticed the one other guy in the lot was performing a similar ritual. We had time for a few cursory remarks about our plans before he took off at speed in the opposite direction I was headed. I finished my transition from biker trash to hiker trash and sped off the other way myself.
Something about that scene stuck in my head and still does now. Over the course of this past year I’ve been working on cultivating a different attitude at the trailhead. One of the keys has been bringing along a sandwich or two to replace the pretrail bar, but they are more than nutrition. They are a reminder to not rush through the stepping off process.
Slowing down that transition from off trail persona and getting the lion’s share of it done before putting on the pack can really change the way the first few miles of trail are experienced. Sections I’d walked a number of times before seemed a bit new because I was actually seeing where I was. By shedding that pretrip tension in the parking lot rather than taking it out on the start of the trail I find myself slipping into my deep woods persona much earlier in my trips. Since weekends are much easier to get away for than weeks that ability can be very useful. If I can have a day three mentality by the end of day one it is definitely going to be a great day two!
There is more than just sandwiches that goes into this plan. My favorite places to go are hours away so I’ve had to be more strict about getting out on the road earlier so I’ll have the time to relax at the trailhead. Still, a really good sandwich or two is enough to slow me down even if I am running a bit late. That thing that will make you slow down might be something else, but think about what it might be. Then next time you hit the trail take a few minutes to enjoy the experience before the adventure. Nature is patient and will wait for you on paths less traveled by
Three Bald Eagles
I took advantage of a spare bit of time to wander down to the river today. It was a bit chilly to start, but breaking trail through ankle deep snow with a crunchy ice crust soon had me opening zippers and feeling over dressed. This cold snap seems to have put a solid cap on the river. I didn’t see any open water and the ice was quiet other than a couple of barks.
Checking my favorite spot for winter stealthing I found the early, heavy snows had bent a tree ominously over it. With my habit of sneaking out there to ride out blizzards spot selection is vital and it looks like I need to find a new one. Burrowing under the quilt listening to the wind roaring down the river and through the trees is a great feeling, but requires faith that you aren’t going to get crushed. Without that you just have a long, dark night of bracing to catch a few tons of tree every time you hear the wind building. Yup, gonna need to find a new spot!
As I was crunching down the trail on my way back I was busy thinking about a bunch of things. Should I buy those new snow shoes? How fancy do I want to get with this pulk I’m thinking about building? When will the new top quilt be sewn and shipped so I can start trying it out? When will the wind pants I’m supposed to start testing arrive?
Among all the chatter in my head I began to notice something else intruding and then realized it was some squawking that sounded to be in the trees up ahead. The noise continued and grew louder leading me to quickly guess it was a flying commotion; perhaps gulls? Then I saw them flying just above the trees along the river. Three bald eagles side by side sailed towards me and right over my head only stopping their conversation for a moment as they noticed me below and then picking it right back up once they’d flown past.
I stopped for a moment to watch them fly off down the river and then returned to my crunching homeward. My thoughts didn’t return to all those questions though. I was struck by an answer it seemed the eagles had brought me instead. Getting out there, where ever there is, is about being there. For all the time, money and thought we put into our gear it really is only important in that it lets us be out there.
It seems a lot of folks lose focus on the experience in favor of making it all about gear. That makes me feel a little sad when I see it in other people and I realized I’m just as capable of that to some extent. Here I was stomping through the woods on a bright and shiny winter’s day but my thought’s were on anything but where I was.
The eagles may have just been flying home from a late lunch and I’m making too much out of their visit. Maybe Nature herself didn’t send them to remind me to notice how great things are right this very moment rather than endlessly thinking about what comes next. I consider it a valuable reminder where ever it came from. It isn’t about the stuff we’ve got or the stuff we want next. If it was we could just stay home with our piles of stuff. It’s about getting out there, where ever your there is, and being there.
So go, be!
Blogiversary
A year ago I started this site as a form of therapy to help me get through trail withdrawal during the long winter months. Sure I was hiking and even camping out in the snow, but lacking the right equipment for extended cold weather adventures I definitely had too much time on my hands. I wasn’t sure exactly what my plans were for the site then so I was able to let it form naturally.
During those first few months there were lots of posts, then thankfully the snow melted and the trails dried so posting became a rarity. Last year was definitely a year of expanding adventures out on the trails. With a theme built around an intended September unassisted Long Trail thru hike I spent a lot of time reworking gear, nutrition and the type of trails I was hiking. Having my knee blow up coming down Zealand changed things up mid-summer and the rest of the year was a series of tests to see how well it was working. The LT plan went out the window, but that left room for some other adventures.
Some of them brought troubles of their own, but all of them, the family trips and the solo ones, brought such beauty and happiness into my world that even the worst difficulties are nothing to complain about. Ultimately that is what I see this site being about; It’s all so dang beautiful that I just have to share it with people. If it inspires others to get out there or to at least do something to bring adventure into their lives that is great, but if not then at least it remains good therapy for me. Something to carry me over the times I’m not out there and to vent some of that joy I find when I do get out there.
One thing that has surprised me over this year is how quiet blog readers are for the most part. Based on the likes and views statistics I can tell there are people out there actually reading my stuff, or at least looking at the pictures heh, but few people have responded via comments. Personally I love to respond to what others are posting whether it be questions, informational or just appreciation for what they’ve said. Considering bloggers by definition are people with something to say it just strikes me as odd that they don’t seem to interact more. I guess I’m saying, be it here or on other blogs you read; Don’t be so shy, speak up if you have something to say!
When I started the site I said I would give it a year as an experiment and see if I wanted to keep going. The renewal notices came in last month warning me it was drawing near to decision time and I realized the choice had already been made. This site has become an extension of my world that serves a purpose for me if no one else so, for at least one more year, I’ve decided to stick with it.
Thanks for reading or at least looking at the pics 🙂 I’ll be updating the review page soon with a slew of reviews with a mix of gear and food items. Maybe I’ll even get around to finishing up the LNT series, but no promises. Just ordered a new top quilt and am working out plans to build a pulk so hopefully there will be some snow covered paths less traveled to post about soon.
Solo Fall Colors in the Pemigewasset
With the Fall colors fading along with the autumn sun I figured I’d best make one more run into the Pemi Wilderness before the snow started flying. The plan called for a relaxing few nights in the woods with no major climbs and for once things went pretty much according to plan.
I arrived a bit chilled after a few hours on the scoot, especially my hands. It was definitely getting late in the season, but there was sun on the Lincoln Woods side of the pass. I warmed up a bit as I unpacked and scarfed down a sandwich I’d tucked into the saddle bags. A guy coming off the trail and packing up his van stopped to admire how I’d gotten my gear there strapped on the bike, though he may have had his eye on my sandwich as well heh.
With nice cool weather and no one to slow me down I headed out on the Eastside Trail at a good clip. I soon passed the gate into the wilderness at the far end of the campground three miles in. Having made more than a few trips on this trail it is becoming comfortingly familiar. Ticking off landmarks is like loosening a belt as I get deeper into the wilderness. The Cedar Brook crossing followed by the climb up the hill to the Cedar Brook Trail sign, the confusing intersection where the trail to the old bridge remains an unsigned mystery and finally the Thoreau Falls Trail sign.
All my previous trips had taken me on the Thoreau Falls Trail in one direction or another if not both. This time I stayed to the right and found myself on totally unfamiliar ground. This stretch of the Wilderness Trail tended to stay up high and back from the river. Eventually the trail crossed over the river near where the various notch brooks join with the Shoal Pond Brook.
I set up my little stealth camp as the light began to fade. Admittedly that wasn’t all that late this time of year, but I wanted to filter some water and get dinner in before full dark.
I don’t need much space to set the Hubba up, especially in nice weather when I don’t need to use the vestibule. Note the carefully undisturbed baby pine at my front door. In the morning, once I picked up my gear I just fluffed the leaves a bit with my poles and you’d never know anyone had been there.
Having gone to bed early I was ready to go at first light. I had breakfast, packed up and was on my way in time to capture some early morning steam in the Stillwater area.
There was still some color in the trees here and combined with the early morning sun and the steaming brook it made for a spot worth stopping to appreciate for a bit.
Heading up the Shoal Pond Trail I soon came into this stand of pines. The ground below was relatively open making them seem amazingly straight and tall.
The trail followed the Shoal Pond Brook for a while. Even with the very dry year there were still pools and small falls to be seen. Not sure I’d want to try some of these crossings in a wet year from the size of the beds.
After leaving the brook behind I hiked on and up for a bit. Just when I was starting to think the trail must have bypassed the pond I came into this boggy area and stopped to look at Whitewall Mt in the distance. Then I noticed a splash of blue out there and realized I might get to see the pond yet.
The trail actually followed near the shore for a while with some access to the water. There also were what looked like some camp sites along the trail though they were way too close to the pond and the trail to be legal. The water had that brownish color one expects to find in ponds, especially late in the year. I knew I’d be seeing a brook again soon so I didn’t mess up my filter here.
I did stop for lunch at the AT intersection. The raised bog board there seemed designed to be used as a bench as my stomach pointed out so it seemed a good idea.
This section of the AT between Ethan Pond and Zealand Falls is a gently flat section nestled in the middle of the rocky steep trails one expects in the White Mts.
There is even this pretty little bridge over the upper reaches of the North Fork above the falls. After time in the wilderness area where there are no bog boards or even blazes it seems like the height of luxury.
The trees in this area had been pretty well wind scrubbed of color leaving the pines to stand out.
Thoreau Falls was running even lower than the last time I came this way. I have a feeling this also would be an overly exciting crossing in high water, especially given the big drop of the falls below.
There was something to look at there that day though! I must have taken a few dozen pictures here hoping that one of them might capture what I was seeing. There was a nice couple I met there having lunch and once we all got over the shock of seeing someone else out there we had a lovely chat. They seemed to be doing a series of day hikes and were impressed with my ability to rattle off peaks and trail names. When they heard that I was camping in the wilderness rather than at camp sites they seemed surprised. I guess some folks are ok with visiting the wilderness for a few hours but they don’t want to live there heh.
Farther down the trail I found a place to set up camp and enjoy the heart of the afternoon in peace. The carpet of dry leaves here was thick and every gust of wind set them rattling.
I had plenty of time to enjoy the faded sun on the faded leaves with the brook gently bubbling at my feet. In my role as gear reviewer I was working on several edible items which was great as it gave me an excuse to eat several snacks so I could photograph them being used in the wild. Well and because sitting around eating after hiking is something I enjoy.
The days are short this time of year though and sadly this would be the last I’d see of the sun on this trip. I’d been up early and it was dark soon after dinner so I found myself in bed by 7pm. By the time it started to get light almost twelve hours later it seemed I’d been in that tent a few weeks. I’ve been trapped in a tent by weather for long periods before, but I tend to find that exciting and fun. A long night of tossing and turning between a series of fifteen minute naps just made me cranky.
The weather had turned by morning with a storm expected later in the day. My plan had been to hike out to the tent sites and ride out the rain there before riding home the following day. This was my view from the footbridge looking towards the Bonds. You’ll just have to trust me that they are back there behind those clouds.
With the nice cool weather and the flat trails I found myself at the tent sites before 11am. It was a Saturday and there was only one or two sites occupied. I started pondering which site would be best for an extended rain event when it occurred to me that I was just a few miles from the parking lot and then a few hours drive from a cheeseburger…and boom I was out of there heh. I guess it serves me right that I got nailed by the storm for most of the ride home.
No complaints though. Even if you get wet on the way home, or even if you get wet on the trail, time on the path less traveled is to be savored, appreciated and remembered fondly on long Winter nights.
Family Fall Colors in the Pemigewasset
This family trip is the first half of two Fall visits to the Pemigewasset Wilderness. It was a bit past peak color, but the weather was clear and warm for the end of September. We’ve been back country camping with The Tot with pretty good result so we took a shot at camping near other people and set out for the Franconia Brook Tent Site from the Lincoln Woods trailhead.
The Eastside Trail runs about three miles from the parking area to the wilderness boundary gate which is where the official camping area is currently located. I’d passed through on my way into the wilderness on previous trips but this was my first time camping here. I prefer getting farther out into the woods to camp alone, but this made sense for a family adventure.
There was a tent pad big enough for the Kelty TR3, though just barely. It is heavy by modern tent standards, but oh so roomy! We have plenty of room for gear inside which is important with kids along. We also brought along some premade, foil wrapped and frozen hobo dinners. Considering my usual diet of dehydrated meals this seemed like the best idea ever. Just some precooked sausage with lots of veggies, but even now my mouth is watering remembering how good it was under the trees with a bit of smoke in the air.
The Pemigewasset River was amusingly quiet. If you are familiar with what it looks like when it is really running this version just seems cute. We spent some time watching folks deciding whether to make a quick wet crossing or a long and complicated attempt at keeping their boots on and dry.
The sun was warm but in the shadows you could feel a hint of autumn. I would have been happy to just hang around enjoying the views all day but The Tot had other plans. First we headed east along the river on the Wilderness Trail for a mile or more with some stops along the shore.
I thought we’d more than worn her out for the day and we’d be able to relax after lunch. As often happens she proved me wrong heh.
In the afternoon she decided we needed to go on another adventure so we waded across the river and then poked around until we found our way to the Franconia Falls Trail. I kept expecting her to get tired and turn us around, but we went all the way up.
There was just enough water to fill the slide folks like to shoot out of, but not much water in the basin below. Our neighbors from the campsite were doing some swimming, but we just enjoyed the views.
I enjoy how relaxing these family trips can be compared to the sort of trouble I usually line up for my solo adventures. There was a lot of time to appreciate how pretty things were, how great it was to be there with the family and just to be alive in general.
I’m sure the view from up above was quite nice, but looking up at the Bonds from this viewpoint along the Pine Island Trail was certainly worth the little effort invested.
Franconia Ridge in the distance would also provide a fantastic view, but again, thinking about it rather than climbing it seemed the way to go.
No snappy tunes or explosions, but here are two minutes of Fall in the Whites
Compared to our Baxter trips this was definitely not an adventure down less traveled paths, but we had mostly neighborly neighbors and no one seemed to lure in any bears. Clustered camp sites like this will never appeal to me like being alone in the back country, but this place provides a relatively safe and easy to reach entry into the outdoors, especially for those with kids. Lots of day hikes available and water to splash in when you’re done so this place is very popular during the Summer, but less crowded for shoulder seasons especially during the week.
Less traveled by 