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Talking with an older co-worker, she has kept a log book of camping spots. Not sure why I have never thought of this. Every time I go camping, I see at state parks really awesome sites and think 'i wish I had that one! Either because they are spaced away from others, have great views, good hammock tree set ups, or whatnot. I never can remember from one year to the next. Next year, hoping to hike a decent chunk of the Ice Age trail in Wisconsin. Trying to get myself into shape, experimenting with trail food options, gathering gear. Just ordered a cookbook of trail and camping food - those freeze dried meals always seem weird and salty to me, and celiac means I can't eat a lot of the options. So got a dehydrator, and I figured I can try making some homemade variety ones.
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Aug 7, 2020 14:45
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| # ¿ May 11, 2024 10:29 |
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That sounds awesome, and scary. Saw a video recently of a mom elephant peeling the hood off of a furiously reversing jeep when he turned the corner on a road and got too close to her baby. My first big camping trip, I was 16 and thought if I woke up early enough, I could have a cigarette at camp without anyone noticing. Dawn, Boundary Waters, and I am sitting on the dirt by the fire I was starting. A moose walked straight through the camp, not 6 feet from me. I was only up to his knee joint. Moseied down to the waters edge, and let out a firehose volume of piss. Right where we had been dipping water from ... I stayed right still until he was gone swimming off.
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Jun 7, 2021 19:03
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Had a great hike this morning in a state forest (Black River State Forest - Wildcat and Red Oak trails) that theoretically was shared path with mountain bikers. Saw people only as I was in the last 1/2 mile of 6.7 miles of a heavily wooded, but nearly perfectly maintained path. Started early, and I wore long tall (compression) socks, and pegged long pants. Frequently applied pircardin. That said, 17 loving ticks! I kept pausing to pull them off, and I have to wait until I get home to have someone check my hair for them. I changed in the pit toilets at the trailhead, found a bunch there, thought I had them all but I spotted 2 more while driving to my campsite. Someone really needs to make Frontline for humans.   
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Jul 10, 2021 20:00
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I have avoided it so far due to the toxicity with cats, but I may just try to get an outfit or two treated and keep them locked up in a tub. I have 2x 3 year old boy cats who get into everything. One has an adorable (annoying) habit of dragging clothes around the house, by his mouth too. He leaps up to the chest height laundry chute (which looks like a slatted box) and pulls out items of clothing, then drags them to us like a prize into the office. 8lb cat... Sometimes full pairs of pants. More often socks, underwear, and *loves* digging nasty hockey gear out of the boyfriend's hockey duffle.
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Jul 10, 2021 21:45
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I picked up some of the Tick Gear spray. Going to also going to try that duct-tape cuff thing, that I think someone posted here. Or maybe another site... Normally I am a softy towards most insects, escort spiders out of the house. Don't even mind getting mobbed by mayflies, but ticks can get hosed.
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Jul 18, 2021 22:48
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Weirdly in the early 90s, dry hummus is all I ever could find. I was a vegetarian then, and poor as hell. That was like my main protein source. It's been replaced by the normal stuff for a reason. Instant rice is my new camping love.
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Jul 23, 2021 18:51
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I have a baseball cap from a park I wear, or a canoe floppy hat with the neck protection in back. One time hiking (while thoroughly sweaty, so I didn't feel it) I had a horsefly bite the back of my neck at the hairline. Rubbed the back of my neck with my hand and my had was just covered in blood. Really not a fan of them, but nothing repels them. So I try to keep my neck covered it bugs are active.
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Aug 19, 2021 18:33
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Larger grocery stores also seem to sell boxes of packets of mayo, too. I have food restrictions (celiac) so I never trust non squeeze stuff out of my house. Double dip of a knife is a bad week. As a note, squeeze peanut butter and jam are awesome for sandwiches on the go. Or if you are classy like me, go hiking and snack from the pb squeeze packet directly. I call it astronaut snacking.
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Sep 3, 2021 18:39
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Dumb question that may be buried back somewhere. For not super aggressive hiking, how much water per mile should I be budgeting? I have both under packed and over packed in the past. Got my first big hike planned Sunday, after a number of smaller (7-8 mile) ones, and goal is 18.7 miles. I normally average about 30 minutes a mile after 5 miles. No crazy terrain. I will be bringing my mcr hand pump water thingies, but it's been dry so not sure if I will be able to top up. Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. (44 year old goonette, fwiw).
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Sep 28, 2021 21:58
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Casu Marzu posted:Which section of the IAT are you planning? Itinerary Jefferson Co.- 18.7 miles - 9.3 hours. Whitewater segment - 4.6 Miles (3/2) (water - camping whitewater lake campground) Blackhawk Segment - 7.0 miles (3/2) water - Kettle Morrain State Forest SU camping Blue Springs Lake Segment - 7.1 (3/2) That's the plan. Going to also carry a bit more gear than needed, as I am working my way up to through hiking, and it will be good practice. The #/# is the incline, difficulty from the guide. This is also for the Mammoth Challenge, 41 miles in October. I have another 18 mile one planned, and if I can do 2 of those, and one normal hike, I'll have my 41  I am sad too this year to find my older dog really can't do more than 5 miles. She's 8... Thanks for the water tips! Arkhamina fucked around with this message at 12:17 on Sep 29, 2021 |
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Sep 29, 2021 11:44
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Oof. Did 11.5 mile s today. Was aiming for 18.7, but in retrospect, that was *maybe* a bit too ambitious of a jump from 'feeling fine at the end of 8'. Packed too much crap I didn't need, and under estimated water. 2.5 liters. Was down to dregs and saw 4 miles to next water on the map so I took side trail to the Mountain Biking park trailhead. If I had thought it through, I would have noticed the topo lines on the map. Mountain bike trails (humans also allowed) means huge hills, lots of switchbacks, and .8 miles took about as long as those next 4 planned miles. It was supposed to rain, so I had rain gear. However it was 75F and max humidity, so by mile 4 I was so absolutely soaked in sweat rain would have been welcome. I underpacked food last time so I over packed this time. A canoe hat for sun (hike was 90% in woods under shade). Headphones I didn't use. I feel like I am getting closer to competent but not quite there yet.
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Oct 3, 2021 22:40
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I love my Salomons. They work with my wonky high arches, and despite my left foot is a full size bigger than right. Cinch 'em up, and it works. Frustrated thus evening, as I had planned out a nice hike tomorrow, managed to find a nice 12 miles section of the Ice Age Trail not 'closed during deer gun season' and... I can't find transportation to the trailhead. No taxi, uber, shuttle, heck I even tried asking rental car place and local small airport. Telling them I don't care if it's your sister's friend's cousin, just need a ride about 15 miles to the other end of the segment. Posted in ride groups, messaged the trails County chapter a week ago, my lady hiking group. Nothin. I solo hike, and am a middle aged woman, and not really all that scary. Picked it as it's a 'IAT Trail Community' and Mammoth hike challenge is supposed to include 3 of those in you 41 miles in October. Drove 3 hrs north, currently chilling in a Super8, Antigo, WI, population 8,234. Going to either not complete the segment and do a there and back (because realistically I am not doing 24 miles) or pack up and head somewhere else that possesses a taxi service.
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Oct 15, 2021 23:12
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Question: do any of the fancy wool socks (smart wool, darn tuff, etc) make compression socks? I miss fancy wool socks, but sadly can't wear ANY that band/stop at the ankle/calf these days for more than an hour or so. Upside is hiking in compression socks means basically a perfect fit, no rubbing extra cloth, no blisters. Downside is now I think of $25 a pair of socks as a great price.
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Dec 14, 2021 19:50
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Do they shrink even on full cold? Will definitely try those. The Sockwell brand compression socks are not bad, but I am a damp feet person, and after a few hikes this fall my feet felt soft from just being kinda clammy for hours. That said, I did love that the ticks at least had to work a bit to get to me. Bought some of the permithrin(sp?) Spray to treat my hiking socks and favorite pants. I am curious what random hiking things I might get for Xmas, since that was my big thing all late summer and fall.
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Dec 14, 2021 23:03
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Planning a trip in the 2nd week of May to Mt Rainier. I normally use Alltrails or a park's website to choose hikes. I am a bit overwhelmed with the sheer amount of options for trails there. Does anyone have suggestions for specific trails to check out? Reading up, for Rainer we might still find roads to access trails closed for snow that time of year? Looking for trails in the 5-10 mile range. Been to Seattle a few times, but never been able to escape the city previously. Got a rental car and a nearby cabin rental.
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Jan 17, 2022 23:23
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Northside cabin. Welp... Maybe should have asked advice before getting tickets and a rental. The good news is the rental has a hot tub and is only for 3 days. Guess we will be spending more time indoors... Being a Midwesterner, I didn't think about elevation. Any idea how Olympia is that time of the year? The remaining 4 days of the trip we are still sorting out. Got a rental with unlimited milage, and I actually like driving.
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Jan 18, 2022 19:51
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Ugh, sorry, yes, Olympic not Olympia. So close! I did a 2 day winter backpacking workshop this last weekend and had a great time. It was great to meet about 30 other people with 'my same sort of crazy'. Learned a ton about gear, safety, winter first aid (I got to be the hypothermia burrito!) and planning. Met some localish (few hours away!) people who are looking for more hiking friends. I was a bit surprised to find a number of other middle aged women who attended solo, some with kids/partners left at home. One of the best presentations was from a wilderness responder who really emphasized how good documentation and checking in with either family or local sheriff can be. Had a good suggestion too about putting a flag in a tree high enough to be seen from a distance before ducking off the trail to potty. Lot of people carry a compass/maps, but set their pack down at the trail edge before pooping. Would really recommend a workshop like this. Also, comedy - my biggest problem was that with an underquilt and a -30F bag in a hammock... I was too warm. At 5F.
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Feb 22, 2022 19:54
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| # ¿ May 11, 2024 10:29 |
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Past coworker made it a month and change in, but got a combo of medical stuff and had to bail. He prepared so well, but if I remember correctly, it was knee issues, feet raw, and GI stuff. I have my first hike of the year tomorrow, starting reasonable with a 7.5 mile. Did all the vacation, etc calculations and I have just about 80 hours of PTO unallocated. I do want to do thru hiking for at least a stretch of the Ice Age Trail (my local trail). Last year absolutely sucked with air quality in the Midwest, and I hid in the basement with a HEPA filter for like 2 months. The 15lbs I gained want me back out on the trail!
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Apr 11, 2024 17:59
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