December 2009

Icebreaker Challenge

December 30, 2009

As I’ve written about before, much of my backpacking gear has taken on a noticeable funk. I don’t think it’s a failing on the part of the fabric, after being worn almost every day for two months (and washed infrequently), just about anything would smell. However, I received a gift this year that may make [...]

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Christmas at Trillium Lake

December 26, 2009

My Christmas was lovely and I hope yours was too. We spent part of the day hiking around Trillium Lake, which is a pretty easy trail that leads to an amazing view of Mt. Hood. Snowshoes would have been helpful, but weren’t neccessary because the ground was so well packed. Here are some pictures.

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Vehicular Crisis

December 17, 2009

I’ve been having a wrestling match with myself about whether or not to get a car. I live in a city that is very bike friendly, and I’m glad that I can reduce my environmental impact by not driving. If something is too far away for a bike ride, Portland has a great public transportation [...]

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Gear Review: Esbit Stove

December 14, 2009

Now it may seem strange that with all the high tech cooking options out there, I would review my 10$ Esbit pocket stove. I’m writing this because I firmly believe that backpacking does not have to be expensive. There are all kinds of fun gadgets out there, but if you are short on cash and [...]

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How to use an emergency blanket

December 12, 2009

There comes a point in most of my backpacking trips where I think, “Who’s stupid idea was it to going into the woods anyways?” For my friend Patricia, that point hit pretty early. “I’m freezing!” she proclaimed. “Our water bottles are turning to ice and I can’t feel my toes. What are we doing out [...]

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Reader Question #13: Men

December 11, 2009

Eliza V. from Burlington, VT Question: You have recently been organizing a lot of all-women events. Have you joined a convent or are you now unable to relate to members of the opposite sex? Answer: Yes. Wait, no, to both options. Actually, some of my best friends are male, and every week we watch another [...]

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Trying out some new recipes for backpacking trips

December 10, 2009

Despite my affinity for mac ‘n cheese, I am now determined to healthier meals and more variety when I backpack. To that end, I have been experimenting with recipes from a great website called Trail Cooking.This site is really helpful because they have a built in calculator so that you can adjust your ingredient measurements [...]

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