Tales from the Trail

Say hello to my furry friend

July 24, 2011

I have adopted a dog. It’s about time. She is a 9 month old, 75 lb ball of fur and exhuberance, and, yes, she is excited to see you. Here is a picture of her. Like all labs, she only speaks in all caps. Her name is still to be determined. Options include Chaco, Nyah, [...]

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On Chirripó and marching bands

July 10, 2011

We are at 12,000 ft on the top of Chirripó, and my little brain, used to living at sea level, is playing the base drum inside my skull in protest. I try to remind it that we live in the second story of a house, so that’s really 20 feet above sea level, and every [...]

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Following along with Erin’s journey

March 19, 2011

For those that don’t know, my good friend and hiking partner Erin Saver and I were planning to do the PCT together this year. I can’t go, but that shouldn’t stop you from reading about all of her great adventures. Her blog is Erin’s PCT Thru-Hike Journal. I hope that you’ll check it out and [...]

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Podcasts of note

March 16, 2011

I recently discovered that Mattexian and I have something in common: we both work in warehouses. It’s not an entirely bad job. But after 8 hours of opening boxes and hanging clothes I begin to think that someday my job will be replaced by a robot, and maybe that wouldn’t really be so bad, and [...]

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Headed to Costa Rica

March 13, 2011

This time tomorrow, I will be on a plane headed to Costa Rica. Why am I going? I saved up a bunch of money for the PCT and wanted to do something fun with it. While I’m not currently comfortable leaving my job for five months of backpacking, two weeks seems just about perfect. I [...]

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The many uses of silica gel packets

February 20, 2011

You’ve seen them before. Little packets that fall out of the box when you try on new boots. Or a couple of them are stuffed in the pockets of that jacket you just brought home from the store. What are they? Silica gels. What are they for? Many, many things. Silica gels absorb moisture. I [...]

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Big changes on PCT plans

February 2, 2011

Hello internets. I have been much away from this blog these past few months for two reasons. I was: 1) Working two jobs over Christmas. 2) Trying to figure a few things out. It’s looking like I won’t be able to go on the PCT this year. I know, I’m bummed too. The timing isn’t [...]

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How to identify a mudslide

January 17, 2011

Contrary to popular belief, it can actually be quite difficult to find and identify a mudslide. They are wily creatures, difficult to spot, appearing only on channel 8 news or on the road home on the last night of your vacation. On the off chance that someone will need this help, I have put together [...]

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