ChristianHiker

Two Short Hikes

2012-01-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

Day hikes can be very rewarding during the winter. I just completed two hikes of five miles each. What a better way to start a new year than to take a nice quiet walk in the woods and also what a better way to start getting into shape than to begin hiking during the coldest day of the year. I did just that by taking a five mile hike around the Wintergreen ski resort on new years eve and a five mile circuit hike in January during 22 degree temperature and a 0 degree chill factor. Let me share these hikes with you:

Wintergreen New Year Eves Hike

I was treated to a stay in a condo at the Wintergreen resort ski resort. Several slopes were open but I preferred to hike on the trails around the resort. Virginia has had an exceptionally warm winter this year with very few snow falls and a mild weather. The ski slopes that were open were maintained with man made snow. I had purchased a new GoPro movie camera and I was eager to try it out.

The resort perimeter hiking trail crossed several streams with waterfalls.

Video of the hiking trail waterfall at Wintergreen Ski Resort

Humpback Mountain Cool Hike

I like to start each years hiking in January. The winter weather becomes a real challenge with freezing temperatures and lots of precipitation. I can usually be on a hiking trail in an hour and a half from my home. The Blueridge Mountains are almost in my back yard with lots of circuit hikes as well as the Appalachian Trail (AT). Sometimes I begin the season with an 8 mile loop of the Humpback Rocks and the AT trails. I began the hike at 7:30 AM and the temperature was 22 degrees where the car was parked at the base to Humpback Mountain. The wind was so strong that as soon as I opened the door it blew everything that was loose in the car into the woods. I estimated the chill factor to be around 0 degrees. I was prepared for the cold temperatures. I wore hiking boots with a synthetic sock and a wicking wool blended sock on top. I had hiking pants with short gaiters to keep the wind out. A long sleeve synthetic shirt with a down vest was topped off with a hooded wind breaker. A polartec Mountain Hardware over the ears hat and gloves completed my hiking clothes. It snowed off and on during the hike but I never got cold and I wish that I could have hike longer. It was a very enjoyable hike.

On top of Humpback Rocks

A hike to the top of Humpback Rocks.

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalm 110:133

Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve

2011-10-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

The Bad Branch Kentucky Nature State Preserve

The preserve is 2,343 acres that includes Bad Branch Gorge, the Presley House Branch watershed. the upper reaches of the Bad Branch watershed and a small portion of the north face of Pine Mountain. The preserve contains large concentrations of about 30 species of rare and uncommon flora and fauna as well Kentucky's only known nesting pair of common ravens. A few of the rare species are enchanter's nightshade, Fraser's sedge, painted trillium, and the long tail shrew. Black bears frequent this area. Bad Branch is classified as a Kentucky Wild River.Bad Branch flows down the south side of Pine Mountain through hemlocks and rhododendron-lined banks emptying into the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River. The area was logged in 1940 but a few old growth hemlocks were spared and thrive above the ssecond growth trees. Several old roadways are found through the area. Old rusted automobile remains may be seen along the old roadway. Large boulders can be seen all along the the mountain slopes. On the top of Pine Mountain is a big sandstone slab known as High Rock. From the top of High Rock you can see the Town of Whitesburg and the valley cut by the North Fork of the Kentucky River. A 60 foot waterfall is created by a plunge of water of Bad Branch over a sandstone cliff.

Bad Branch Hike

Early travelers used parts of the trail as a means to transport supplies to Whitesburg on the north side of Pine Mountain. The trail loops to the top of the mountain and High Rock, an extensive sandstone outcrop extending along the mountaintop. A panoramic view of the Cumberland Plateau and Black Mountain can be seen from the top.

The Trail

The trail is a 7.2 mile out and back partial loop with a side trail to a waterfall. The trail begins at the parking lot and leads northeast on an old road passing a roofed bulletin board with a map and a history of the preserve. The path crosses Bad Branch and cuts through a grove of old-growth hemlocks that escaped the loggers and then recrosses the stream again.

The trail parallels the stream for 0.7 mile where the trail branches leading to the waterfall. The trail is marked with orange blazes as it begins to narrow as you go up the hollow through second growth hardwoods and hemlocks. At many locations you pass through rhododendrons that form long tunnels. After you travel 2.2 miles you reach a high ridge and begin to start the loop and you will go over a small outcropping and curve around a boulder and onto an old logging road. Of the two arms of the loop the longest loop of 1.8 miles to the High Rock is the best to take to the top. After several old roadway and ridge crossings you come to the slab at High Rock atop Pine Mountain after 4.2 miles. On top of Pine Mountain you have a panorama to the north that includes Whitesburg and the palisades made by the North Fork of the Kentucky River. Here a large slab of stone follows the edge of the rock for 0.2 miles. The trail sharply descends back down the loop to its beginning and then to the parking lot.

Rhododrendron Tunnels

Rock slab on top of Pine Mountain

On top of High Rock

View of the Town of Pikeville

The Waterfall

Along the trail you pass a short side path to a lovely spot where the Bad Branch takes a 60-foot plunge over a cliff. This side trail goes down to a ravine and then climbs steeply through rocks before dropping to the base of the falls 0.9 miles from the branch. The cascading water makes a soothing sound as it plunges to the rocks below. If you save the falls for the end of the hike the sound of the plunging water on the rocks magically washes away all of the days hard climbs and threatens to ease your mind into a deep relaxing state.

2011-10-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

THE DREAM

It has always been a dream of mine to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT) through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park (GSMNP). I don't think there is any better way to prove God's existance than by seeing the beauty of His creation in the mountains and the complexity of all the plants and animals that live there. The park was established in 1934, and it is believed to contain approximately 400,000 acres. The Cherokee Indians called the mountains "Shacona-ga" meaning "blue, like smoke." The smoke is created from a combination of humidity, dense vegetation, and soil type. Several years ago I stumbled across a hiking group on the internet who had been section hiking portions of the Appalachian trail from start to finish. This past October I teamed up with them to make my dream hike. The hike was planned to go from the southern end of the GSMNP at Fontana Dam to the northern terminus of the park at Davenport Gap, a total of approximately 70 miles. We planned the hike to take 7 days. It was a real blessing that this younger group had accepted a slower, half-crippled, much older man to tag along with them. There were five of us making the 70 mile hike, and each one of the other hikers took turns making sure that I made it to camp at the shelters each day. We filled out the necessary hiking group permit, and our leader had reserved space at shelters for each night.

There are very few switch backs along the AT through GSMNP. Most of the trail goes straight up or straight down the mountains. Many sections of the trail are lined with very large, loose, angular stones, making it hard for me to walk and causing me to walk much slower than the other four hikers. The shelters are roofed, three-sided buildings with one wooded platform two feet off the ground and another platform five feet from the ground. Most shelters have roofs made out of semi-transparent plastic to let the light shine through. When it rained the raindrops sounded like a thousand woodpeckers pecking on the plastic. It rained on separate occasions for two days and three nights. A water supply, usually in the form of a spring that is sometimes just a trickle, is available at most shelters. I grew up in a log cabin, and many days it was like the "survivor man" meeting the new days challenges. Hiking long distances with a pack on my back containing everything I own to survive reminds me of those childhood challenges at the cabin. Food hanging cables are available at each shelter and campground to keep food out of the reach of bears.

In the following paragraphs you will walk with me as I met each day's challenges along my 7 day AT trek in the GSMNP. To help you understand the topography, history and geology, I have included some information supplied to me by Appalachian Trail Guide--Tennessee-North Carolina, Thirteenth Edition, V. Collins Chew, Exploring the Appalachian Trail--Hikes in the Southern Appalachians-Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Doris Gove, and Appalachian Trail Names-Origins of Place Names Along the AT-David Edwin Lilliard.

Each morning I spent very little time fixing breakfast. A breakfast cookie or pop tart was sufficient to hold me until I could eat a lunch time power bar. I managed to get on the trail 20 to 30 minutes before the rest of the hikers. This time was spent in prayer and thanksgiving to God for allowing me to be able to walk the trail. God reminds me often that I am very fortunate to be able to hike up and down the mountains because there are so many people who have a hard time just to be able to walk.

THE HIKE

DAY 1 - Fontana Dam, N.C. to Birch Spring Gap Approximately 5 miles

The Fontana Dam was created by flooding the small lumber company town of Fontana. The dam was built to supply the power for Oak Ridge nuclear plant where fuel was produced for atomic weapons. The hydroelectric lake contains 11,685 acres with a 480 foot tall and 2,365 foot long dam, the highest east of the Rockies. My hike starts here among an understory of woods of oak, pine, dogwood, and sour wood. The trail goes up immediately with switch backs among a weedy, rocky ascent along a narrow ridge. At about mile 3.5, I came to a clearing where an old house foundation and a stone chimney is accompanied by the Shuckstack Mountain fire tower. The tower is very dangerous, and anyone who attempts to climb it should be aware that he or she could fall and become seriously hurt. The name "Shuckstack" comes from the way the mountain looks "like a standing bundle of corn stalks." Climbing the tower gives rise to a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and Fontana Lake. The trees were alive with the October fall colors of red, yellow and orange leaves. The Birch Spring Gap shelter had been previously removed and replaced by tent pads. I camped out and strung my electric bear fence because I had heard that the park was having a black bear problem. No bears tested the fence that night. In fact, during the whole trip I didn't see one black bear but I did see lots of bear scat. The bears seemed to be gorging themselves on the red berries from the American mountain ash tree. Because of the threat of heavy rainfall each night I slept in the shelter the entire rest of the trip.

Hammock with bear fence

Fire Tower

DAY 2 - Birch Spring Gap to Russell Field Shelter Approximately 8 miles

During this section of the hike I passed over Tater Patch at elevation 4775 feet, Little Abrams Gap at 4,120 feet, and then arrived at Russell Field Shelter. All of the up and down elevations made me feel like I was on a roller coaster. Cherokee word Ekaneetlee means "by the river." This gap was the path traveled by the Cherokee to gain access to Cades Cove, an important white settlement. Later, the influx of European settlers pushed the Cherokee out of the area and use of the gap. The Russell Field shelter, like all of the shelters on this hike, did not have a privy. That gave a new meaning to "What do bears do in the woods?"

Day 3 - Russell Field Shelter to the Derrick Field Shelter Approximately 9 miles

Day 3's hike crosses over Rocky Top at elevation 5,441 feet, Thunderhead-East Peak at elevation 5,527 feet, Mineral Gap at elevation 5,030 feet, Sugar Tree Gap at elevation 4,435 feet, arriving at Derrick Knob Shelter. This area is heavy in rhododendron growth which obstructs the view of the thunderhead shaped rocks of Thunderhead Mountain. Derrick Field Shelter is in the spot where a herder's cabin once stood. European wild hogs, having escaped from hunters, invaded the Smokies from the south where they live today with no predators and plenty of wildflower roots to eat. Because of this, the hogs continue to forage areas along the trail.

Day 4 - Derrick Field Shelter to the Mt. Collins Shelter Approximately 14 miles

Some of the highlights of this hike are the crossing of Buckeye Gap at elevation of 4,817 feet, Silers Bald, Clingmans Dome at elevation of 6,643 feet and Mt. Love. Buckeye Gap was named by the settlers because of the abundance of very large buckeye trees with their big yellow leaves. Silers Bald was named after Jesse Siler who grazed cattle here in the mid-19th century. Clingmans Dome is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. There is an observation tower on top of Clingmans Dome where people from all over the world come to view the surrounding mountains. At this time it was especially attractive because the leaves had changed colors. The descent from Clingmans Dome was very steep with lots of large, loose, angular boulders that took a toll on my already tired and bruised knees. The trail here runs along hardwoods as well as conifers. The fresh smell of the evergreens reminded me of the smells of Christmas. When I was a teenager I helped my dad sell freshly cut evergreens for the local Lions Club Christmas tree sale. There are many beautiful views of the valleys below nestled by low lying clouds, hence the name Smokey Mountains.

Day 5 - Mt. Collins Shelter to the Icewater Springs Shelter Approximately 8 miles

The trail crossed Indian Gap, Newfound Gap, arriving at Icewater Springs Shelter. Indian Gap was believed by the Indians to be the lowest pass across the Rockies. Newfound Gap is the lowest roadway (US 441/NC 71) crossing of the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee. The roadway gap connects Gatlinburg Tennessee with Cherokee, North Carolina. This is the only roadway crossing of the Smokey Mountains. Friends from the Trail Dames met us with a treat of submarine sandwiches, chips and a fabulous Oreo dessert. It was cold and windy, and I came close to hypothermia from being wet and cold. I shivered as I ate. Once I began hiking again, it didn't take long to warm up. No matter how rainy it was, I always tried to save some dry clothes to sleep in. I put the damp clothes in my sleeping bag, and they were dry by morning. I think they could have named all of the shelters "icewater" because the water at each shelter comes straight from a well spring beneath the surface. Yellow birches and spruce tree line the narrow AT as it crosses through fractured shale outcropping. The mountainous views are only bested by day 6's hike.

Day 6 - Icewater Shelter to the Tri-Corner Knob Shelter Approximately 13 miles

This day"s hike was the most beautiful one I have ever taken. The hike crosses Charlies Bunion, The Sawteeth, Bradleys View, Mt. Sequoyah, Mt. Chapman and arrives at the Tri-Corner Knob Shelter. After the climb from Newfound Gap the trail becomes a series of ascents and descents with views of Mt. Le Conte and Charlies Bunion. The clouds that day filled the valleys. Charlies Bunion becomes a rocky ledge, named by Horace Kephart in honor of the sore foot of Charlie Conner, a man who inspected storm damage. The rock is Anakeesta Formation slate, giving a red color from iron oxidation. This rock is less stable than the sandstones of Clingmans Done. Because of the irregularities of these rocks, lichens and mosses colonize some cracks, and low growing shrubs like mountain laurel and sand myrtle try to become established. Small short flowers try to get a foot hold against the windy slope. Breathtaking views are seen on both sides of the slope. We can only imagine what a view birds must have flying over this area. My wish was that I could trade places with the large black bird that was flying over my head. After Charlies Bunion, the trail passes through spruce trees and enters a south facing grassy hillside with blackberries and honeysuckles. As the trail continues, it passes through patches of beech trees with a smattering of evergreens. The trail passes through dotted rock croppings lined with different colored lichens and mosses in rock fractures. These are organisms that begin the long erosive process of wearing away the mountains. The rocky Sawteeth outcroppings are due to the jagged sections of the Anakeesta formations. The narrow ridge trail allowed me to see the deep valleys on both sides of the ridge as it straddles the state line of North Carolina and Tennessee. I sat on a rock where I could put one foot on each side of the rock and in each state. As I neared the path to the shelter, the AT swung through a large area of fallen trees, created by the recent hurricane that blew through this area. I passed over Mt. Sequoyah, named for a Cherokee silversmith who developed written Cherokee language by analyzing the sounds and assigning symbols to them. Sandstone replaces the slate near the shelter. The trail continued to rise and fall until I reached the shelter, near 6,000 feet of elevation.

Day 7 - Tri-Corner Shelter to Davenport Gap ( Ranger Station) Approximately 14 miles

A large portion of this trail is shared with horses--a blessing and a curse. Because horses share the trail it is more gradual with accents and descents to Davenport Gap. The last five miles of this section are covered with small fractured shale, a real nightmare for people with weak knees or ankles. I had to go very slowly, trying not to turn an ankle or twist a knee. My fellow hikers were super by checking on me often to make sure I was still moving down the trail. There were Appalachian Trail Conservancy trail maintenance personnel working on the trail along this section. New species of hardwoods were seen along the trail including species of pawpaws, oaks, beeches, and birch trees. I heard many small birds, usually seen at these lower elevations.

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who May stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
Psalm 24:3-4

Light weight Hiking Stoves

2011-08-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

Backpacking Stoves

I want to discuss light weight solo backpacking stoves that I carry on long hikes. When I go backpacking I try to carry the least amount of weight I can. Many hikers don't mind carrying 50+ pounds on a long hike of 7 days or more. Most people can carry a lot of weight 50 + pounds for over night or weekend hikes. I try to lighten my pack weight every time I hike.

Gas Canister Stoves

Gas canister stoves are heavy and require fuel tanks to burn, They are very good for group hiking but not for solo hikers. A liter of water will boil in a little over a few minutes. Depending on the number of hot meals eaten a day, you can boil about 8 liters per canister.

Alcohol Stoves

Alcohol stoves are very light weight but requires alcohol to burn which makes it heavier. They are very inexpensive and you can make them out of soda cans. Boil time maybe around 6 minutes. You have to carry about 2 to 4 ounces of fuel per day, around 14 to 28 ounces for a week. You must keep the fuel from spilling in your pack.

Wood Burning/Esbit Stoves

The lightest of all stoves. Boil time of one liter is around 10 minutes. Most wood burning stoves can burn solid fuel (esbit) or alcohol. I carry the Bushbuddy Ultra Wood Stove or the Four Dog Bushcooker LT Stove. The Bushbuddy is thin steel (144.6 grams - 5.1 ounces ) and the Bushcooker (58.4 grams - 2.58 ounces ) is titanium. You can almost always find wood to burn and you may carry a few solid fuel esbits if the wood is wet, each esbit block is 12 grams. For me these two stoves are my best options because of their light weight. No waste is created and you don't have to carry any empty containers back home.

Bushbuddy Stove

With 600 ml Pot

Four Dog Bushcooker

Bushcooker With 600 ml Pot

Disadvantages

Burning wood or solid fuel leaves soot on the bottom of the pot. You will have to wipe or wash it off before packing it. You will have a longer boil time and after a hard day of hiking you may not want to wait that long. These stoves are mainly for solo hikers. You must carry a few solid fuel pellets (esbits) in case you have rain.

Below is a picture of some of the fire starters and fuels I take along with me on a hike.

Waterproof matches, lighter (also comes in a half size), fire stick, waterproof container for matches, hand sanitizer (sometimes used with cotton balls and a solid fuel pellet (esbit).

I often use clothes dryer lint as well as fire starter sticks to start my fires.

Let me know of some of your favorite backpacking stoves and fire starters you use.

"X" Factor

2011-06-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hiking/Backpacking "X" Factor

The theme that runs through all of my pod casts is light weight hiking. Several of my friends have tried hiking/backpacking with little success. I will tell you more about how one of these hikes turned out later. I developed a way I evaluate a friends ability to successfully complete a hike before we ever consider hiking. This means of evaluation was developed solely on the observation of hikers by me during my 20+ years of trail hiking. The process is not based on any medical research and I used it only as an estimate of ones possible ability to complete one of my hikes. I excluded friends with medical conditions (example: high blood pressure, heart condition, etc,). I made sure that they had had a physical exam by a doctor and was determined in good enough condition to hike safely. The "X" Factor is a number that indicates how much more effort a hiker "friend" may have to expend to hike the same distance as an average hiker. I have taken into consideration the weight of the pack, the weight of the person, age and physical condition. A person who is 40 years of age, in good physical condition, at their optimum body weight carrying a 30 pounds pack should be able to complete a 10 to 25 mile hike in one day without much effort. No effort was given to distance or speed of the hiker in this evaluation.

Score Points

The object of the evaluation is to add all "X" Factor points together while trying to get as close to zero as you possibly can. A hiker friend who scores a total of zero should be able to complete one of my distance hikes.

Age

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Years

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 Points

Physical Condition

Excellent Good Fair Poor Condition

  -1 0 +1 +2 Points

Pack Weight in Pounds

   10 20 30 40 50 Pounds

   -2 -1 0 +1 +2 Points

Hikers Weight in Pounds Over/under Optimum Weight

   -10 -5 0 +5 +10 +20 Pounds

   -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 Points

A hiker who is 30 years old in good condition carrying a 40 pound pack and is 10 pounds over weight would have an "X" Factor of +2. This means this hiker would have to exert twice the effort to complete a 25 mile hike in one day.

My Experience Before I Developed the "X" Factor evaluation

I have a friend I asked to go on a hike with me. He assured me that he was in good enough condition to hike and that he had just retired from the military and was used to taking 10 mile hikes with a full pack. I planned a 3 day 2 night 30 mile hike. He was 55 years old in fair physical condition about 10 pounds over weight and carried a 50 pound pack. We hiked 9 miles the first day and he was too tired to finish the second days hike. The hike was too strenuous for him to complete.

If I had evaluated him using the "X" Factor method I would not had asked him to go on the hike. His fair physical condition scored him a +1, 55 years old scored a +1, 50 pound pack a +2 and being over weight by 10 pounds a +2. His overall score was a +6. That meant he would have to exert an effort of 5 times greater than an average hiker. In order for him to exert the same effort as an average hiker he would have to lose 10 pounds of body weight, drop 30 pounds pack weight and get in good shape before taking another hike. He never hiked again!

For an older person the weight of the pack is one of the most critical factors that a hiker can change. You can without too much effort reduce your base pack weight by at least 30 pounds and you will use less effort to complete a distance hike. That is why it is so important to go ultra light.

The above evaluation was used by me to help determine the amount of effort my friends would have to expend while hiking with me on a backpacking trip. It is not meant to be used by anyone else but only as information on how I evaluated hiker friends.

Psalm 61:2 - From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania

2011-05-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Plan

Everyone needs a plan when attempting any hike. My plan was to hike from Caledonia State Park in Pennsylvania to the town of Duncannon on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania a total of 65 miles. I arranged to meet two other hikers from Raleigh North Carolina and Virginia to be my companions. They hiked at a faster pace and soon left me after the first 15 minutes of every day. I usually hike at about a 2 mile per hour pace and stop to take take pictures on an occasion. They stopped and waited for me to catch up several times along each days hike. We had agreed that if I didn't show up at camp after several hours that they would come looking for me.

I have hiked a lot in my lifetime but I have been seriously hiking for about 5 years and find that every hike is different. Each trip becomes a learning experience. I am always testing out new gear and try to carry as little weight as possible. I was scheduled for a double knee replacement about 10 years ago but decided to just hike and bicycle till my knees wouldn't bend anymore. On this hike my challenge was to see if I could cut my daily food requirement by half. Most experienced hiker/backpackers recommend to carry about 2 pounds of food per day. In my last blog I showed how I could cut the food weight to one pound per day.

The Hike

This 65 mile backpack of the AT traveled through areas rich in the history of the iron industry. Iron furnaces and blacksmith shoppes supported the towns along the route.

There were many unique areas along the trail like this "egg tree."

Along one part of the hike Hessian troops in the 1700's, escaped slaves in the 1800's and Nazi submarine commanders all passed along large bands of quartzite boulders laced with stripes of white quartz. Camp Michaux runs along the edge of the trail where WWII prisoners of war were kept. Large iron furnaces are found all along the trail.

Iron Furnace

Communities of workers lived and worked around the iron furnaces. Many of the buildings have been renovated and are used as hostels. We stayed in the old pay masters house where at the end of a pay period the workers would be paid.

Pay Masters House - Workers would go up one set of stairs, get paid and then go down the other set of stairs.

Not far along the trail we passed the midpoint of the entire Appalachian Trail at 1090.5 miles from Georgia to Maine.

It rained for several hours while hiking along the trail. The water flowed along the trail like a small stream. We had to hike in ankle deep water to stay on the trail and through muddy fields.

Trail Stream

Water Trail

Muddy Field

There were many modern well kept shelters along the trail

Shelter

As well as many modern bathroon facilities.

Modern Outhouse "Privy"

The trail is a roller coaster type hike up and down along the northern end with many rocky formations. The trail crosses through the town of Boiling Springs an iron industry settlement around a large lake.

Town of Boiling Springs

This 65 mile hike ends in the Town of Duncannon along the Susquehanna River. Despite the rainy weather, and the muddy wet trail I enjoyed the fellowship of two very nice men that made backpacking this section of Pennsylvania a real treat.

Town of Duncannon

Psalms 3:4

To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.

Food Carried on a Five Day Hike by Weight

2011-05-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

I recently completed a five day hike on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. I decided to weigh each food item that was taken on the hike in grams. I weighed the food in grams because I could get a more accurate measurement for each item.
Many hikers carry 50 pounds and up in their packs and have no problem doing it. This post is for those who need to carry less weight in their packs. Most hiking books state that hikers carry on an average of 2 pounds of food per day. Two pounds is equal to 907.18 grams.

Lets First Look at Tuesday the first day of the hike.

Breakfast is not included because the hike started after the meal.

Chili Mac Dinner 82g
Cliff Bar Lunch 48g
Cliff Shot Extra Energy 34g
Mars Bar After Dinner Snack 54g
Crystal Light Dinner Drink 04g
Mixed Nuts Lunch 44g
Nutrient Drink Evening drink 32g
Plastic Bag 08g

Total 306g

Second Day Wednesday Full Day

Chili Mac Dinner 84g
Oatmeal Packet Breakfast 36g
4 Packs Raw Sugar for Coffee 20g
Honey 2 Packs for Oatmeal 22g
Creamer 04g
Coffee Bag 06g
Breakfast Cookie 50g
Mixed Nuts Lunch 48g
Crystal Light 04g
Cliff Shot 34g
Cup of Soup Packet 16g
Power Bar Lunch 68g
Mars Bar 52g
Nutrient Powder 36g
Bag 10g

Total 490g

Thursday Hike

Mac and Cheese 104g
Pop Tarts Bag 106g
Mars Bar 52g
Power Bar 70g
Creamer 02g
Mixed Nuts 44g
4 Packs Raw Sugar 20g
Cliff Shot 32g
Soup Packet 16g
Breakfast Cookie 48g
Nutrient Powder 32g
Tea Bag 02g
White Sugar packet 06g
Crystal Light 04g
Coffee Bag 04g
Plastic Bag 10g

Total 552g

Friday Hike

Beef Trekkie 94g
Mars Bar 50g
Cliff Shot 32g
Oatmeal 46g
Big 100 Bar 104g
Coffee Bag 04g
4 Pack Raw Sugar 20g
Crystal Light 04g
Creamer 04g
White Sugar 2 Pack 06g
4 Packs Honey 38g
Mixed Nuts Packet 46g
Tea Bag 02g
Nutrient Drink 30g
Plastic Bag 10g

Total 490g

Saturday Hike Evening Meal is Not Included

Pop Tarts 110g
Cliff Bar 70g
Mars Bar 50g
Mixed Nuts 46g
Coffee Bag 04g
Nutrient Powder 32g
Crystal Light 04g
Creamer 04g
4 Pack Raw Sugar 16g
Cliff Shot 32g
Bag 10g

Total 378

The grand total of food I carried for all five days was 2,216 grams converted to 4.89 pounds. This is just about one pound per day.

So if you want to pack ultralight you do not have to pack on an average of 2 pounds of food per day. Of course this does not include water nor the food bag to carry the food.

Winter Hike

2011-02-24T17:08:00.000-08:00

The Trails are Calling

I have been like the black bears in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in hibernation coming out for the first time this year. I took my first hike of the year in February of this year. It was along one of my favorite hikes a 8 mile plus hike of Doyles' and Joneses Run. I love the views of the small waterfalls along both streams. I also wanted to try out an ultralight pack I ordered from Ultralight Backpacking. I am always in the hunt for light weight backpacking equipment. I was diagnosed with a loss of all of my cartilage in my knees about 15 years ago after many years of marathon and ultramarathon running. The doctors said I needed two knee replacements and I would not run or hike again. After three doctors opinions I decided to take glucosamine and chrondroitin and forget the doctors advise. I may not be the fastest hiker but I am still hiking the trails. I grew up in the country and I feel like I must return to it to be complete. The Doyles' and Joneses Run hike was perfect to start my season.

Waterfalls

Therapy

In Virginia we look for the black bear to come out of hibernation in the month of February. I love to hike the trails looking for the signs of bear activity. I usually find bear tracks and scat along the trail.

While taking pictures of the waterfalls along the trail I was almost hit by falling sheets of ice.

When I hike in the mountains I am reminded of the scripture Isaiah 49:13 - Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

AT Hiking

2010-12-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

The Long Green Tunnel

It is all so true what some might say about hiking the Appalachian Trail in wooded areas for long periods of time, these hikers say that they get bored while traveling long distances looking at that same scenery. I look at it as another piece of God's creation. There are so many people who will never see those long spans of cool shaded trails. There are others that cannot physically walk the trail and would give anything to see that same scenery that some might see as boring.

I look beyond the obvious for the hidden surprises like animals, plants and rocks that tell the story of the AT. The following videos tell a story of what I found along one of my recent AT hikes in Virginia and Tennessee.

Pentatoma rufipes- Mountain Stink Bug

2010-10-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

One of the most pesty pests on the Appalachian Trail is the stink bug. September and October are the worst months for the hiker. The bugs are everywhere. They seem to like to stay in the shelters in very large numbers in the hundreds. In camp they like to try to attach to you everywhere. I was eating and one tried to fly into my mouth. The SB prefers to host on all wild plants. The SB likes to feast on plant seeds. They overwinter as adults and become active in the spring. The female lays several hundred eggs on leaves and stems. It takes five weeks to go from egg to adult. Birds are the SBs natural enemy. They emit an unpleasant odor which repels most enemies. I recently hiked from Caledonia State Park in Pennsylvania to Harper's Ferry and encountered hundreds of SB's along the trail. When I returned home I discovered SB's attached to my tent and auto. In the past people have used animals or parts of animals as money. The scalps of woodpeckers and the tails of giraffes have been used. Since we have so many stink bugs in the east why not use then for money. They are plentiful in Pennsylvania but absent in other places. They could be referred as to as "bug money." I think we shall have dominion over the insects.

Genesis 1:26 .......... and let them have dominion over .............every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

The sodium connection

2010-09-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

In the past some nations went to war for salt and where it was scarce it was used for money. In Greece a hard working slave was said to be "worth his weight in salt." In Rome a portion of a legionnaire's monthly wage was paid in bricks of salt and the word salary is derived from the Latin word salarium or salt money. Salt or sodium performs many functions in our body:

1. It regulates the amount of water in our body governing the passage of fluids in and out of the cells and helping the cell membranes remain elastic.

2. Salt is needed in the digestive system for metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins and by the nervous system to aid in the transmission of nerve impulses.

3. Sodium also interferes with regulating the electrolytes into cells.

4. It helps maintain the electrolyte balance of the body also helps in muscle contraction.

Table salt is composed of 40% sodium and 60% chloride. If you eat 10 grams of table salt 4 grams(g) are sodium. A large amount of sodium leads to high blood pressure. One gram of sodium is less than a teaspoon and more than meets the daily requirement. The average American eats 8 to 12 grams a day. Often the excessive salt is passed out of the body by the kidneys but in 30 to 50 % of the people the kidneys can't keep up. If the sodium builds up in the blood water will also build up restricting blood flow and high blood pressure results. As we grow older our kidneys become even less efficient.

Many manufacturers of foods add salt as a preservative to add shelf life. Many doctors believe that 77 % of the salt in our bodies comes from commercial additives (ca).

Some examples of ca are:

1. Food additives -

a. Soft drinks - sodium cyclamate

b. Preserved fruits - sodium sulfite

c. Desserts - Sodium citrate

d. Antimold in cheese - Sodium propionate

e. Meats - Sodium nitrate

f. Sweetener - sodium saccharin

g. Ice cream - sodium caseinate

h. Skin softener - sodium hydroxide

i. Condiments, dressings - sodium benzoate

2. MSG - monosodium glutamate - flavoring and tenderizer

3. Dry skim milk - heavy in salt

4. Baking powder - kitchen favorite

5. Brine - pickles, olives, feta cheese, corned beef

So the secret is to avoid the salt in prepared foods.

Lets look at a few samples:

Clif Bars

The average clif bar contains 130 mg (milligrams) of sodium and 310 mg of potassium. Potassium can act as a substitute for salt but does not increase the amount of water in the blood. A good ratio of sodium to potassium is 1 to 3.

Organic Trek Mix

Sodium is 0 mg.

Most prepackaged backpacking foods are very high in sodium. Many hikers eat the whole pack but you must remember it contains 2 helping and twice the listed sodium per helping. Try to prepackage the pouch into 2 separate bags and only eat the meals that are around 800 to 900 mg.

Ramen noodles

Ramen noodles are very high in sodium if you add the flavor cube provided in the package. Instead add a low sodium bullion cube.

I have tried to give you some information on sodium, extend your hiking years by staying away from sodium.

Hiking Boot Weights

2010-08-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

The weight of hiking boots make a big difference when hiking long distances. To me every extra gram makes a difference in the total weight when carried or worn. In the past five years I have tried an assorted group of hiking boots. Of course the anticipated weather may make a difference in boot selection. The following are some of the hiking boots/shoes I wear.

Teva sandals are very comfortable to hike in and give you plenty of room for swelling feet. You have to be careful not to stub your toe or turn your ankle. Disadvantages are that small rocks will occasionally get wedged under your foot and that your feet will get dirty even if you wear socks. Weight 694 grams.

Keen sandals are a bit more rugged than the teva. The toe is reinforced to protect from stubbing toes. There is plenty of toe room. You have less of a chance to get small pebbles under you foot. Your feet will still get dirty. They are not very comfortable in hiking in the snow or in cold temperatures unless you wear a neoprene sock. Weight 828 grams,

Low cut hybrid keen sandal is a cross between a sandal and a hiking boot. It has a closed body with a reinforced toe. Your feet keep clean with the closed body but you still have plenty of toe room. The disadvantage is that you need to keep tightening the shoe strings. The weight is 986 grams. There is a high top version of the hybrid that gives you more ankle support but you have to tie them in a special way at the top to keep them comfortable around the ankle. The weight is 1035 grams.

The older version of the Montrail HardRock low cut trail shoe is a very good hiking shoe. If you don't have to worry about ankle sprains and you want to move faster with a lighter weight shoe it is a good choice. It may be hard to find because it has been replaced with a slightly heavier shoe. It has good cushioning and it weights 790 grams.

A newer version of the Montrail HardRock trail shoe is another shoe like the one above. I have found that it doesn't last as long as the original and weighs 830 grams. Montrail has newer versions of the above shoes and they continue to improve on them every year.

The Montrail Gortex True ankle high hiking boot is the tank of all of my boots. It gives me great ankle support and it is water proof. The disadvantage is that it is heavier. It weighs 1725 grams.

I have learned over the years that a lighter shoe helps my knees last longer before I have to stop and it keeps my daily mileage high. I tend to stub my toes less with a lighter shoe when I am tired. In colder weather with snow or rain you can still wear a sandal or trail shoe if you wear a neoprene sock.

I pray that you won't have to go through all of the trials and tribulations of buying and trying all of these shoes before you find the best shoe for you. Don't let your shoes become old laying in the closet. Good hiking; Joshua 9:13 ......and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

Summer day hike

2010-08-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like taking a good summer day hike. Just recently I hiked about 8 miles on the AT from Petites Gap to Apple Orchard Falls in Virginia. The trick of a good day hike is to start early and end early before temperatures rise and take and drink lots of water.

I try to take a camera to document my progress along the trail. If something happens to me and if someone finds my camera they can tell approximately where I stopped hiking.

Look around you as you hike and observe the flowering plants:

Thin leaved sunflower

White boneset

Sweet Clover

Luna Moth

Wedged Rock Bridge

Highest point on the trail

Trail Magic

Spider web coated with moisture from clouds

Backpacking stoves

2010-07-25T04:16:00.000-07:00

Many long distance backpackers carry a stove to cook or warm their meals on the trail. There are a few that like to carry foods that need no preparation to eat, like nuts and dried fruits and vegetables. I prefer to carry a stove to help rehydrate dehydrated meals. There are lots of different makes and models of stoves on the market. You can even make your own stove out of soft drink, beer or cat food cans. The type of hike will help you determine which stove to carry. On a short hike you are not restricted by weight but a longer hike requires you to lighten up on weight. There are trade offs using lighter weight stoves. Lighter stoves often have longer times to boil or to cook foods. I like to keep my pack weight for a 7 day backpacking trip under 11,350 grams (25 pounds) including food and water. I have tried many stoves and each stove has its own advantages and disadvantages.

It is a matter of preference to the type of stove you want to carry on a backpacking trip. I try to carry the lightest stove I can and with the least amount of fuel. I have found that carrying alcohol is safe and light. I have used the beer can stove in a blizzard and had no problem. The Bush Buddy uses wood for fuel but it has to be dry to burn. In a down pour I had to use a solid fuel cube to get a boil. The caldera cone works great but I don't have the patience to keep the seam from bending and binding.

Jetboil cannister stove

Good : Can boil one liter in a short period of time - 1 to 5 minutes, needs no windshield

Bad : Large size and weight 434 grams, needs gas cannister to work

Snow peak cannister stove

Good: Small size, short boil time 2 to 5 minutes

Bad : Needs wind shield, needs gas cannister, heavy 132 grams, unsteady unless a cannister support is used

Small cannister Isopro

Good: I can get about 9 to 10 boils per container

Bad: Gas under pressure, you have to carry it out when it is empty, heavy 236 grams - the 113 gram weight on the

can is the weight of the gas only

Large cannister ProIso

Good: Holds 220 grams of Isobutane/Propane almost twice the small container. Maybe you can get up to 15-20 boils per container.

Bad: Gas under pressure, heavy at 330 grams, you have to pack out the empty container

Brass alcohol stove

Good: Very indestructable, brass, you can regulate the burn

Bad: Heavy at 110 grams, must carry liquid fuel, alcohol

Bush Buddy

Good: A wood or solid fuel stove, you don't have to carry fuel

Bad: You need dry fuel (wood) to burn, heavy at 138 grams, large in size

Caldera cone

Good: Very light at 14 grams (minus cone) , primer plate, cone acts as wind brake and pot holder

Bad: Carry alcohol, one ounce can boil water, the cone tends to bend and is hard to put together

Soft drink can stove

Good: Light and efficient 8 grams

Bad: Must carry alcohol fuel and use a wind screen

Beer can alcohol stove

Good: You can use the soft drink can stove or the solid fuel cube

Bad: You can only boil only about a half liter of water, you need a wind screen, 80 grams

Proverbs 30:8 - Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Measuring backpack contents

2010-06-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

How can we go light weight?

It is essential when backpacking to determine the best pack weight you should be carrying comfortably on your back. Pack weight will vary from season to season. Again I emphasize that you should strive to obtain the lightest pack weight possible and to maintain as much comfort as you can while hiking. I am older and I need to keep any extra weight off of my knees to keep from injuring them. Many people feel comfortable with 50 to 60 pound packs. But for the most part I have seen an abundance of extra hiking gear left in shelters to lighten distance hikers packs. I have determined that you should weigh every item that goes into the pack and on your body to get the lightest load possible. In this blog you will see the measuring scales I use and the units of measure that I believe are most accurate.

In order to get an accurate measure of the weight that you are carrying in your pack and on your body you must be able to accurately measure all gear.

I measure heavy gear on a larger scale purchased from Bass Pro Shop that measures gear from 0 to 44 pounds or 0 to 20 kilograms.

To weigh the lighter smaller items I use the Weight Watchers scale. With just a push of the button on the top you can toggle from ounces/pounds to grams/kilograms.

Weight Watchers scale

You must first decide which type of measurement you are going to use to measure your gear. Do you want to use tenths of an ounce, ounces and pounds or do you want to use grams and kilograms. I prefer to use grams and kilograms. The metric system is based on a scale of ten and it contains units (decigram, centigram, milligram) that are units of measure smaller than an ounce. Many pieces of gear may weigh less than a tenth of an ounce but combined with other like items can have a significant cumulative weight.

Weights and Measures

Kilogram 1,000 grams kg

Hectogram 100 grams hg

Decagram 10 grams dag

Gram 1 gram g

Decigram 0.1 grams 1/10 gram dg

Centigram 0.01 grams 1/100 cg

Milligram 0.001 gram 1/1000 mg

1 gram is equal to 0.035 ounce

1 pound is equal to 0.454 kg

1 ounce is equal to 28.35 grams

Everything in your pack and on your body adds weight. The less weight you carry the longer and faster you can backpack. The smaller the measuring unit the more accurately you can determine your carrying weight.

Lets look at some examples:

If you use the metric units of measure and you want to set you pack weight at 30 pounds you do the following:

Convert your base weight to kilograms.

30 pounds X 0.454 (kg/pound) = 13.62 kg

Convert to grams.

13.62 kg X 1,000 grams/kg = 13,620 grams

Now all you have to do is weigh all of your gear in grams until you get to 13,620 grams.

A 25 pound pack will weigh 11,350 grams and a 20 pound pack will weigh 9,080 grams.

On my next blog I will weigh some of the backpacking gear I carry on an extended backpacking trip.

Tennessee hike

2010-06-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

In order to put some joy back into hiking after my freezing experience on Roan Mountain in Tennessee I decided to do some day hikes. I hiked a 15 mile section of the AT south of Damascus Virginia and a 6 mile section farther south of that. It was a real joy to hike with a 15 pound backpack compared to the 30 ponder I usually carry. I seemed to fly down the trail passing other backpackers for a change. Hiking in the sunshine was a treat. It had rained just days before my hike and rain was expected again after my hike. Every hiker I met had that "I am soaked" look about them. I recorded a few videos as I hiked along for your enjoyment.

Moving the AT

Going through cow pastures

Spittle bugs are insects that go through a nymph stage where the bug attaches to a stem of a plant and with their bodies produce a frothy mucus for protection, temperature control and to keep from drying out.

One of the scariest times to hike is during a thunderstorm. Just recently a female hiker was killed hiking on the AT near Hot Springs NC. I was hiking in a thunderstorm one time and I got off the trail in a hurry when I felt my hair beginning to stand straight up on my head before each lightening strike.

Remember

He who walks with integrity walks securely. Proverbs 10:9

Bicyle trip on the C&O Canal

2010-05-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

A group of 7 men from Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond Virginia got together to go on a 35 mile bicycle ride of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O) towpath. The ride started in Washington DC just below the Key Bridge to about 17.5 miles north toward Harpers Ferry West VA.

The trail paralleled the C&O canal and consisted mostly of compacted gravel and was relately flat.

Much of the canal is not in service but there are parts that are restored to original condition.

Our group ranged from the fairly young to some of the more mature.

One member of the group carried a cooler full of water, he converted a child carrier trailer into a camping, hiking and biking equipment trailer.

The trail passes Great Falls a very popular waterfalls in the area.

Many of the restored locks have taken on other multiple uses. In this picture a group of kayaks practice going over the falls of the locks backwards.

In another area a river boat reenacts how goods and materials were transported up and down the river through the lock system.

Great fellowship was had by all:

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Solo hiking

2010-05-04T16:11:00.000-07:00

I have been solo hiking for about 5 years. Not that I necessarily want to hike solo but because most people that will hike my pace are either still working or not in shape to hike. My last hike has taught me to always keep some dry clothes to sleep in. Always have a means of communication for times of emergency. I carry a cell phone and a SAT phone. Keep close tabs on the weather. Gloves even if they get wet can keep you from getting frost bite. The chill factor from high winds can drop temperatures well below the freezing point. Force yourself to eat and drink lots of water. Pack as light as possible and then lighten up even more. Keep sun tan lotion on at all times. Smart wool socks are well worth the price. A hat for night time can help keep you warm. A down jacket will save your life at night in extreme conditins. Always keep your hammock dry, the tarp can stay wet but keep the hammock dry. Keep your synthetic clothes away from flames and high heat, they melt. Water proof shoes are great in snow and slush. Be sure to keep God close to your heart. And remember Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Survival on the rail

2010-05-03T16:51:00.001-07:00

When hiking long distances a hiker must be prepared for all types of weather. Recently I experienced such an ocassion while I was backpacking from Erwin Tenn to Damascus VA, an eight day hike. The second day I would cross over Roan Mountain over 6500 feet in elevation. I started on Monday with heavy rain which turned to heavy rain and high winds. The second day I put on dry clothes and hours later I was soaked again. As I began to near the top of Roan Mountain it began to hail, sleet and snow. It snowed 3 inches and the trail was a swimming pool of frozen ice and slush. My hands were completely numb and it seemed like hours since I felt my toes. It was snowing so much I missed the shelter on top and had to pitch my hammock half way down the other side. I had nothing dry except my Eddie Bauer down jacket, my down quilt, polar tech hat, and hammock. I hardly slept the night, nude except for my jacket, and I never did gain circulation of my toes and fingers. The next morning the temperature was in the lower teens. Everything I had except what I was wearing was frozen solid. My pants, socks, shoes, and shirt were so frozen I couldn't put them on. I got out my alcohol and esbit stoves. I tried thawing out my clothers by suspending them above the alcohol stove. I managed to get most of the clother thawed out except my boots. Because most of my clothes were synthetic I managed to burn a few holes in them before they were wearable. For my boots I placed the esbit stove inside the boot and melted the ice. But along with melting the ice I managed to melt part of the boot also. I had a hard time untieing the hammock lines and repacking. I hiked to the main road and took a zero day at a hostel in Hampton, Tenn. I continued my hike but I saw very few of the through hikers that I had been hiking with the previous day. They either quit or took several zero days to recoup. When we hike we must always be able to make a decission when enough is enough and with me it ended 3 days early because that night took so much energy from me that I could never regain enough to complete my hike.

Burned holes in my socks.

Burned boots with melted tops.

Esbit stove

Stove inside my shoe

Life saving down quilt by Speer.

Hat for night time wear.

Eddie Bauer Down jacket.

2010-04-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Circuit or section hiking/backpacking can be very rewarding. You usually do not have any time restraint and aren't forced to cover large amountd of milage. It is exiting to be able to take some of the side trails. I recently hiked a few circuit hikes just off the Skyline and Blue Ridge Drives in Virginia. I observed an abandoned copper mine, a male turkey courting his mate, a bird house in a tree in the middle of nowhere, white tail deer and a monuement to Audie Murphy.

Copper mine

Bird house just off the trail on top of Brush Mountain.

White Tailed Deer

Audie Murphy monuement (Actor and most decorated soldier in WWII)

Male turkey doing his mating dance

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they walk, and not faint.

Sleeping styles

2010-04-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

I have hiked and backpacked all my life but since I early retired in 2000 that is about all I have wanted to do. Besides remodeling a few houses. But I have tried my darnedest to sleep in a tent with no success. I must have about 6 super ultralight tents and about as many tarps. It is no go for any of them, I end up tossing and turning all night and they don't make a pad light enough or thick enough for me to be comfortable. About 2 years ago I decided to try a hammock. It sounded perfect to me. The benefits out weigh any faults they might have. I first tried the Bear Mountain hammock by Jacks-R-Better. It is a bridge hammock and uses spreader bars to keep the head and foot area wide like a bed. The hammock worked out really well, many times I would over step the days hike and have to camp along the trail and I could set it up just about anywhere. The slope or the roughness of the ground was never a factor. I have found out that it tends to sway more than the other hammocks. But I am always looking for the ultra lightest hammock I can find. I talked with lots of people who convinced me into trying a Speer hammock. It seems to be lighter and a little more stable. It is really easy to put up and the mosquito netting works fine. I bought the inner liner and peapod under quilt for the winter backpacking. I have camped in sub 20 degree weather and have been real toasty. When it is not too cold I use a truck windshield protector, one of those folding thing you put inside to reflect the heat out and it worked great. I have slept in it with a tarp cover in a heavy down pour all night and never got wet. Next I began looking for something better in the winter and bought the Clark's Jungle hammock and it was super in the winter. It has storage pockets inside and outside to store gear out of the weather. I bought the North American and it is a little heavier but Clark makes an ultra light I would like to try. All of these hammocks are side entry and that is why I would like to try the Hennessy because it is a bottom entry hammock, hikers swear by it but I am skeptical. We shall see, I have a 125 mile hike planned from Erwin to Damascus and that will be a real test for it. I usually hike solo because I can't find many people who are not retired or don't want to take their vacation to hike. The picture is a Clark Jungle hammock.

Genesis 31:40 - Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

Enjoy Backpacking

2010-03-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

I enjoy backpacking because I can be in total control of each hike. I can decide wheather to do a day, section or thru hike. But no matter how much time I have or how many miles I want to hike in a day I always find something unique to tell people when I come back. A good story always highlights every hike. This past week I completed two 8 mile hikes near Roanoke Virginia. I hiked MacAfee's Knob and Craig Creek sections of the AT. I try to keep in my mind that there are hundreds of people that will never ever see or experience the joys of hiking. As you reach one of those breath taking experiences on top of a mountain you have to know that only God could have created such a site. On top of Brush Mountain on the Craig Creek hike you find a memorial to Audie Murphy the most decorated veteran of WW II and actor who stared in 44 films. He crashed in a private plane on memorial day in 1971 killing himself and 4 others. If you never hiked that section of the AT you would never see that memorial.

Psalm 72:3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

No more snowAT

2010-03-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

It looks as if there will not be any more snow this year. It is time to start hiking seriously again. The trails are muddy but if you use gaiters they will keep the mud and debris out of your boots. I usually use the short gaiters when just dealing with mud and leaves. I plan to do some day hikes around Roanoke Virginia. Dragons Tooth and MacAfee's Knob are a few very popular hikes with super views around Roanoke. The deep snow on the AT almost convinced me into buying some snow shoes. But I got over it. Most of the time I hike in the winter I hike cold. I like to put on 2 layers of synthetics for shirts and a simple one layer convertible pants. Usually no hat or gloves. I only put on a jacket or rain coat if I stop for more than a few minutes, especially if I break for lunch. The last hike I was on a friend went with me and he carried twice my pack weight and he wore multiple layers along with thermal underware. I will be glad to hike again. I am remodeling my house and I have a critically ill brother dieing from cancer. I need some time to be alone so I can talk with God and He can talk with me.

Backpacking stoves

2010-03-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

I have been in search of the perfect light weight backpacking stove. I need to hike as light as possible. I was supposed to have a double knee replacement about 8 years ago and the doctor told me to enjoy my natural knees as long as I could. So I began backpacking seriously 3 years ago. I hike on the average of 500+ miles a year. I still have my natural created knees. Before my knees went I ran on an average of 4 marathons and 3 ulta marathons a year and bicycled 500 miles a year. That is why I want to find the lightest of everything for my backpack. The backpacker stove is the first place to save weight. Keeping in mind that you will run into periods of bad weather you must not depend on wood as your primary fuel. The bush budy is a great wood burning stove but it must have dry wood to be an efficient cook stove. Cannister stoves like the jet boil and pocket rocket are great but are on the heavy side and you don't really know how much fuel is left in the cannister. They are excellent for short hikes of a few days in duration. Gasoline stoves tend to be more on the dangerous side. Years ago I had a gasoline stove blow up and leave me with 2nd or 3rd degree burns. I no longer carry white gas stoves. Everything starts to feel heavy after 4 or 5 days. Long distance hikers need to get up early, hike late and leave a short time to set up camp and eat before bedding down. We can hike a longer day for a greater distance with a lighter pack. I have been hiking solo because many of my friends want to hike longer distances but struggle with 40-65 pound packs and end up quiting after the first day. In the beginning I did the same thing because I didn't listen to the experienced hikers. I hike with the alcohol stove and carry the fuel in a plastic bottle. I carry esbit cubes in case I run late or the weather is bad. I never cook anything I just add boiling water and eat. I only boil water for coffee and oatmeal for morning, eat a dry lunch and boil water for a pouch meal for dinner. Carry only one light weight pot. Most people say that you can count on 2 pounds a day in weight for this type of menu. You can probably restock every week or two. Depending how long you hike during the day you can average with a light weight pack 10 to 30 miles a day. I hike a longer day because I like to study the biology and geology along the trail and have a tendancy to get to camp later. That means I have less time to hang around camp before I go to sleep. I try to hike all year round. If you have any suggestions let me hear from you.

Trail aid

2010-02-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

Solo hiking has many benefits but many times it gets lonely along the trail. I have been using a classic ipod to keep me company. I recently bought an ipod nano because it is so light and does so many functions. The nano is a video recorder, plays music and videos, a pedometer,and is a FM radio. It has plenty of things to keep you company on those lonely nights on the trail. Sometimes it is hard to sleep with all of the animals crawling around in the dark at night. I can turn on the ipod and it drowns out the noises till I get to sleep.