GenX Backpackers

Isle Royale National Park 2025

Tina and I intended to visit IRNP in August of 2024 as our "honeymoon" trip, but I neglected to research/book the boat soon enough. When the time came I could not get boat tickets. I vowed not to make the same mistake in 2025: I booked tickets

Punches way above its weight class

There are many approaches to food and meals in the back country. Some people have the means to purchase pre-packaged freeze-dried meals and eat out of the foil pouches they come with. Others decide to go with a "no cook" option and simply eat prepackaged things from the

Every Gram Counts

This month, after years of continuous improvement/upgrades, I got my "comfortable" base weight down to less than 5 pounds. That includes a phone, a shelter, and cooked meals (no dry soaking), but not a battery bank, a bear bag, bear spray, or a Garmin Inreach. This setup

UL Raingear

There are two camps when it comes to rain gear: breathable membranes like Gore-tex, and impermeable membranes, like Dyneema Composit Fabric (DCF), silicone impregnated nylon or polyester (silnylon, silpoly), polyurethane coated materials (PU), and even plastic films. There are pros and cons to each, and both require knowledge to apply

Data, not fear

One of the biggest challenges of ultralight backpacking is rational thinking: properly assessing probabilities associated with the various possibilities. There are all sorts of things that could happen. But what's most likely to happen? How can you Be Prepared, but not pack your fears? While that question and

Trifles

Backpacking lessons for the corporate world

I got asked before my Ouachita Trail trip what I think about while I am hiking. I made some notes as I hiked. Most have obvious analogies for the corporate world. 1) Focus on and celebrate small achievements. Things like the next mile marker, the next nav point, or whatever

Trails Reviews/Wrap-ups

Ouachita Trail Trip Report

If you had read this post you will have known the general plan for my thru hike of the Ouachita trail was broken into two parts - a group trip and a solo trip. The group trip was to start Saturday November 23 from Pinnacle Mountain State Park and hike

Trifles

What's in a name?

Trail Name (noun, concept) - A special nickname adopted by long-distance backpackers, which has become a tradition on the AT and many other trails. (Source) Should you take your own trail name or wait for your "tramily" to give you one on a long thru-hike? Well, in my

Scout Stuff

My Earliest Scouting Pictures

I went with T676 to summer camp at Mount Norris Scout Reservation for the first time the summer of 1983. I earned Tenderfoot Rank in December of 1983, which is why I was wearing that rank patch in the oldest picture I have of myself as a Boy Scout, at

"They're all gonna laugh at you"

Hello again. Today Brian and I made the hour plus drive out of the flatlands to get to some hills to train on. Say what you will about San Antonio but their parks and Greenway trails are amazing and accessible and I miss them. . Brian is training for another excursion

Plan C

If you've been following this site, you 've see this where I explained my backpacking plan for 2024. If you read this then you'd know that Tina and I had to change our plans because I didn't book the boat to Isle Royale

Trails Reviews/Wrap-ups

The Final Mile

One of my father's childhood Scout leaders and mentors was a man named Bill Hall. Bill lived in the same town we did, and I met him several times. He was a forester by trade, and I can vividly remember tramping through the woods with Bill and my

A rock I hate.

I've been meaning to write about my and Brian's last hiking trek/honeymoon. As usual I am late in writing. Brian and I finally married in December of 2023, but just had our honeymoon because life often revolves around accrued vacation and PTO days from work.

Scout Stuff

A Philmont Story, Trail Crew 1989

In 1987, a couple of members of my Scout troop joined those from a neighboring town attending a trek at Philmont. Back then my troop prided itself with our annual "50-miler" backpacking excursions along Vermont's Long Trail. The tales of Philmont spurred my troop to send

Scout Stuff

I was so pathetic

I was 12 on my first backpacking trip - a 50-miler with Troop 676, Essex, Vermont. It was on Vermont's Long Trail, from North Adam's Massachusetts to Peru, Vermont. Sadly, I don't have any pictures of that first year (1984.) 1985, however, was a

Scout Stuff

Eagle Ceremony

This picture was taken in October of 1987. That is my grandfather behind me. My father is the photographer. This picture was taken as part of a slideshow that I used in my Eagle Court of Honor ceremony. I had this and other pictures timed to display according to wording

Scout Stuff

Kevin Wunder, Stoughton Wisconsin

Preparation: I trained fairly religiously from November through April, and did my best training in February, March and April. In May I developed some bad blisters on a training hike, and that was a setback. Most of my training was indoors, including wearing my pack on the treadmill, some strength

Scout Stuff

Heather Compton, San Antonio Texas

Philmont Reflection Thoughts * Adult leader in charge needs to plan hikes/campouts even if they can not attend. The group needs to be able to function under any leadership. * Pack shakedowns need to happen every-other month to ensure items are well fitting and repairs are made. * Shoes: try different styles

Scout Stuff

The good, the bad, and the ugly... Notes from Philmont for next time!

Vicki Armstrong, crew 618-7A: 9 Scouts and 3 adults from Troop 583, Castaic California. Bear Bags We tried to have each food buddy pair share a bear bag, and each pair to write on their food bags with a Sharpie, but somehow we always ended up with random loose items

Scout Stuff

David Parmly, Knoxville Tennessee

Know the difference between “PRINCIPLES” and “TECHNIQUES”. Techniques vary by day, by crew, by circumstance; Principles never vary, regardless of the circumstances. "Keeping the group together in the backcountry" is an example of a PRINCIPLE. You never violate this principle. It is needed for safety reasons and to

Scout Stuff

Jay Bradley, Salado Texas

Philmont Top 10  1-Make a conversion chart ml to cup for easy patrol cooking and water purification tablets. 2-Eat the spaghetti first and use tortillas w/ yellow curry and later with Santa Fe Rice to make burritos. (Next level snag white chicken packets at swaps and add gourmet camp chef

Trails Reviews/Wrap-ups

Honeymoon Trip

Our plans had been to go do 5 days on Isle Royale National Park - hopefully with friends. Unfortunately, nobody has signed up to join us, and I waited too long to book the boat. By the time I tried, the boat openings available would not work with our schedule.

Scout Stuff

Nat Marie, San Diego California

Super Strenuous lives up to its name. Epic adventure. This was a tough itinerary and we made all 8 peaks. Early mornings and long days. Thoughts from the past 12 days: * Read the guidebook to adventure…twice. Review your trek…twice. * My daughter and I mapped the entire trek on

Scout Stuff

Amanda Williams, Laurel, MS

Money was an issue with our troop but if I had to do it again I would go with Blue Sky or something like it to plan the trip for us. I handled all the logistics and it got to be a bit much since I also have a job

Lighterpack Repository

I created a page of my Lighterpack lists as a tool/reference for others. See here Keep Hiking my friends