I’m really excited to announce that my friend Karen “Nocona” Somers has published the first ever hiker’s guidebook to the Lone Star Hiking Trail, a 96-mile forested footpath north of Houston, Texas.
She tells me that “all my profit will be donated back to the trail, which has struggled (despite its 40-year history) to be taken seriously by the US Forest Service and other organizations. Like many trails, it relies on volunteers for its continuing existance. I’ve agreed to handle some aspects of marketing and promotion, and this is one (perhaps pathethic!) attempt at getting the word out. If I can sell enough copies, the trail gains that much more legitamacy and support when it comes time to argue for its continued protection by the USFS. I’ve been working many years now trying to promote this trail, because its the only “long distance” trail in all of Texas. That’s a shame, but it’s also a start. I am also involved in a contributing to a hiking master plan for Texas that will propose more miles, maybe thousands of miles, of hiking trails in a state that definitely deserves and needs them. This trail may end up being only the beginning of a real long distance trail, one that spans the entirety of Texas. For now, it’s a nice place to take a quiet walk, especially enjoyable in the winter season.”
I am very excited for Nocona and I hope that if you are interested in hiking in Texas that you pick up a copy of her new guide book to the Lone Star Hiking Trail. Happy Trails!
The first day of work we ended up just doing mannies, also known as manni-ing.That is the way that we wrap up and tie up the loads that we are going to have the mules carry to base camp.This is a very specific process of dividing loads that are equal in size, weight and weight distribution.It’s important to be very consientious about the loads to ensure that the mule is comfortable and stays healthy.Think if it like loading your pack…you don’t want one side heavier than the other, otherwise you are horribly uncomfortable and your shoulder or back starts to hurt.
We basically mannied all day and the next day as well.We were supposed to pack in a load the second day but the weather was prohibitive so we just prepped some more (Drew was going to prep while we took a load up but we saved him a good amount of effort since we were there).
Finally, on my third full day here we got a load in.Joe and I hiked up with the pack train (all the mules and 2 horses and their riders) and unloaded the train and set up the bones of the camp.We got up our tarp and the big canvas tent.We still had a bunch of other stuff to do but it was cold (or at least I was cold) and it was after 5 pm and we had started around 6:30 am.I still had an hour or so hike down to the truck and then a half hour or so back to the Yurt, dinner and my bed.It was a long tiring day of strenuous activity in cold/snowy/rainy weather at over 10,500 feet in elevation.I was beat.
I got to the Yurt around 7pm, made dinner and went to bed around 8pm.
Wednesday we got going and hiked back into camp.This time Joe and I would stay at the camp so that we could more effectively use our time for setting up and not hiking in and out of the camp.We got another load into camp but the weather and a sick mule prohibited Glenn and Alice our packers from getting a second load into us.We managed to get the bear fence set up and the solar pannel that powers the bear fence battery set up as well.It was a long night, working until past 7pm and we slept in the kitchen tent since we hadn’t had time to set up our own tents.
Thursday was a big day.We got up around 8am (late…I know) and busied around camp doing minor things here and there.We got the final two loads in to camp.It was a bit sad to see Glenn ride off for the last time.But we had a great time working with him, Alice and his animals; Patti, Sophie, Jimmy, Rory, Becky, Finn, and Leah.
Around camp, we set up the groover (our backcountry toilet), got food organized, got the kitchen set up, propane working, tool tarp set up, my own tent set up, ate dinner and went to bed.I felt much better at altitude today and was much less cold than I have been.
Friday, Drew came up to help us finish setting up camp.He and Joe worked on the water purification system while I washed out water jugs and did some finishing touches around camp.We hiked out around 1pm.Nice to have a short day after so many long ones…of to visit my sister in Arvada.
Today my friend Garret Christensen’s (The Onion) website, he had some interesting information about the history of the Pacific Crest Trail. Check it out.
I was looking at Dicentra’s Blog and noticed she has a good list of coloring pages for children. All of the pages relate to hiking and other outdoor activities. If you can’t get outside, you might as well be thinking about it and getting you child geared up for a great outdoor season. Enjoy her links and Happy Trails!
Here are my favorite trail recipes and a few bonus recipes.Bon Appetite!
1.Chicken Rice:Cook 1 package of Knorr (formerly Lipton) Chicken or Chicken Broccoli Rice Sides according to package directions.Add chicken packet.It will be hot, let it cool before you eat it.
2.Ramen Casserole:Cook 1 packet of Creamy Chicken Ramen according to package directions.Add packet of chicken.When done cooking, remove from heat and add some powdered mashed potatoes of any variety you like (for this I usually just use plain) by sprinkling a bit into the ramen and mixing it in good, check the consistency and add a bit more as needed.The idea is to soak up the juice but not be so dry that it’s hard to eat.You’ll taste it and know if you did a good job.If it’s a bit too dry as a bit of water (cold is ok, it will help cool it before you eat it!)
3.Chicken Pasta:Cook 1 package of Knorr (formerly Lipton) Chicken or Chicken Broccoli Pasta Sides according to package directions.Add chicken packet.It will be hot…please let it cool a bit, you want some taste buds to enjoy this with.
4.Spaghetti and Sausage:Carefully slice some summer sausage and brown it in your pan, remove and set aside.Cook spaghetti according to package (angel hair seems to cook quickly).Drain off and dispose of properly some of the starchy water.Leave a little bit in there and add tube of tomato paste.Mix it and it will become the consistency of pasta sauce (there are a few pasta sauces you can get in a packet and that would be a fine substitute but drain off all of the water).Then mix in browned sausage and enjoy…it might be hot!This is my most challenging culinary master piece to date…I remember eating it at Rae Lakes in the Sierra…it was awesome.
5.Chicken and Couscous:Cook 1 box of Near East Couscous (I prefer either Toasted Pine Nut or Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil) according to package directions.Add packet of chicken and enjoy…it will be hot.For this recipe, some people might prefer substituting another type of meat like tuna or salmon.I haven’t tried it but it could be good.If you try it, let me know!
Here are 3 bonus recipes…I’ve tried them all but never on the trail but those who made them for me eat them on the trail regularly and sure have gotten a lot of miles out of them…literally.
6.Erin and Hig’s Buttery Goodness:Do this at home, not in the field (although you could but I would recommend doing it at home).4 pounds butter (salted), 1 canister regular oats (2lbs, 10oz), 1 ½ pounds brown sugar, and half a spice jar of cinnamon (less if fresh grated, more if the jar’s really old).Feel free to half or quarter this recipe if you are not hiking for many days.
Mash up butter, then mash in oats, then mash in sugar and cinnamon.Fingers work best, utensils can be used.Don’t let the butter melt.If you like, add extras like dried fruit or nuts.Divide mixture into 2 zip top plastic bags (gallon size probably works best).Keep cool.It makes about 4 person-days of food, if the person’s days involve many hours of physical labor.
Makes 2-3 servings.¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion flakes, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ½ tablespoon dried dill, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (optional), 12 ounces spinach linguine (or your choice of pasta), one 6-ounce foil-packed salmon, 2 tablespoons shelf stable grated parmesan cheese.
At home:combine the garlic powder, onion flakes, lemon zest, dill, black pepper and sun-dried tomatoes in a zip-locking plastic bag.Carry the linguine in a second bag.Combine the lemon juice and olive oil in a plastic screw top container.
In camp:bring 2 cups of water to a boil.Add the pasta and cook until al dente.Drain if necessary, leaving the past fairly wet.Add the spices and sun-dried tomatoes and stir to combine.Add the salmon and toss well.Serve topped with the Parmesan cheese.
8.Yogi’s meal: Cut up a lot of onion and put it in your pan.Add enough water to reach the 2 cup level on your pot.Add some olive oil.Bring the water/onion/oil mix to a boil.Remove your pot from the stove and add some Butter Buds.Add one package of Idahoan brand Loaded Baked Instant Potatoes (This is the key!!! This brand is superior to all other brands for this recipe).Mix really well.Add real bacon -- from the salad dressing aisle, it's next to the Bacos, but this stuff is real bacon. It's in a little, 4-ounce package.Sometimes I add salt and pepper.The amount of Butter Buds, onion, oil, and bacon is up to you.Remember, it could be hot!
Other notes, in a few of these recipes I mention adding a packet of chicken.These can be found in grocery stores usually in the canned meat section, near the tuna and salmon in foil pouches.Some stores just don’t carry chicken in a foil pouch.In that case you have 3 options:1) make it without the chicken, 2) dehydrate your own chicken and rehydrate it on the trail and add it, or 3) get a small can of chicken instead.
All of these recipes are good.I am in no way providing nutritional consultation with these recipes.I just like to eat them so I thought I would pass that along to you.Cooking involves fire (well except for bonus recipe 1) so be careful so you don’t burn yourself or someone else.I take no responsibility for your actions.
Recently, on the blog The Simple Dollar, the blogger asked about activities that a parent can do during the winter to keep their child’s interest in the outdoors and nature.The post got me thinking about how someone gets kids interested in being outdoors and how to foster that interest.
When I was in Texas over the Christmas holiday, my cousin Jordan wanted to go for a nature hike.He loves the outdoors and knew that I loved going hiking since I had sent him 20 or so postcards from my CDT hike.Since my plane didn’t leave until late in the afternoon, we went on an excursion.It was Jordan’s mom (my cousin), Jordan and his two brothers.We ended up going to a special place near their house, ok so maybe it wasn’t the most wild of all places but it had trees and mud and a stream.It was perfect.It was a drainage area put there to deal with rain water and has some designated green space on one side with a walking path to a park.
We had a great time crossing the water, walking along the bank, looking for animal tracks in the mud.It just goes to show you that you don’t have to spend tons of money on kids hiking equipment and tons of time driving to a National Forest or Wilderness Area.Sometimes the best thing is to just get out and make the most of the time you have.Engage their senses and let them play and discover what’s there.But, maybe the most important part is just spending quality time with the kids and the people who are important to you.
I think the best way to get a child interested and enthusiastic about the outdoors is to show them how excited you are about it.If you spend quality time doing something you enjoy with them, then they may grow to love it.It doesn’t have to be a major production you could go to an area like I described and look for animal tracks or hike around.You could do backyard camping trips so you get the feel of camping but without much planning.Those types of activities could pique their interests enough that when the time comes to go on a big trip, they are ready and willing.
So get out there, find a place close to home and explore it with those you care about!
Book Review:The Thousand Mile Summer in Desert and High Sierra by Colin Fletcher
Colin Fletcher is an iconic figure in outdoor literature and modern day backpacking.Many people know him as the author of Man Who Walked Through Time or The Complete Walker. His books have changed people’s views of the outdoors and have inspired countless people to don their backpack and get outside.
I had the honor to win his book, , in a raffle at ALDHA-West, a hiker gathering.I was quite possibly the happiest and luckiest person in the room, after all, I won the book while others were winning titanium flasks, t-shirts, sleeping bags and other such non-sense.
I haven’t read any of Mr. Fletcher’s works in the past.It had always been on my radar but just never in my reading queue.But ALDHA-West changed that and I am now a better person having read him, having gotten go to along with him on his journey, backpacking up through the state of California from Mexico to Oregon.
The book, The Thousand Mile Summer, was quite different than I expected and it seemed to me that he was young and a bit inexperienced in a way, but his descriptions are magical and artistic.His prose made me yearn to be out hiking in the desert, experiencing my own desert landscape and then in the Sierra, having glacial bowls carved into granitic giants as my backdrop.
It is perhaps his personal evolution, his maturity as the story progresses that is of the most interest to me.In the beginning of the story he is deathly and violently afraid of rattlesnakes.So much so he has a tirade about the evil that emanates from them and then beats one to death.I was totally perplexed by this.From a man who is a hiking icon, I was shocked by this behavior.But as the story progresses, he learns from a ranger the importance of rattlesnakes and the impact they have on the ecosystem, and the impact not having them would have on the ecosystem.He learns to let them be, to let them live, that they are not evil.As happens for many people, with knowledge comes decreased fear and increased understanding and peace.Mr. Fletcher is no exception.
Mr. Fletcher’s book is full of colorful stories of the people he met and the places he visited.He has his idiosyncrasies and is not afraid to display them, most notably his firm belief that rattlesnakes ooze evil and, coming in a close second, his obsession with Silver King and it’s Piute cutthroat trout.He is honest and shows reverence when musing about Yellowstone National Park and the 5 men who found it.“Back in civilization, they registered no land or mineral claims.Instead, they wrote and lectured on the wonders of Yellowstone’s natural beauty.”
I think the best passage to describe the book, and Mr. Fletcher’s message, is found on page 188.He says, “Before long the sun dropped behind a line of stark peaks.Down on the valley floor it was suddenly very gray.But I knew that the copper-red dragonfly beside the Rubicon had given me something I would never altogether lose.And I knew that it was for moments like these that people came to the Wild Area.
Wilderness would be worth conserving if it did nothing but make such moments possible.And as I walked I found myself wishing I could thank the five men who had sat around their Yellowstone campfire in the fall of 1870.It would have been satisfying for them to know that their altruism that night-their altruism in a cockpit of rapacity and exploitation-had done so much not only for me but for the nesting Girl Scouts and for Thor astride his horse and for the father and son fishing in Lake Aloha and for Jinny stretching ecstatically on the mountain top and for Twig in his jeep and for millions of other Americans and for millions more, born and yet to be born, all over the world.”
Thank you Mr. Fletcher for reminding me of your message, of the importance of gratitude to those before us, the importance of treasuring what you have at the moment, the importance of what we leave to future generations and for letting me live vicariously through your adventure.It was a pleasure to read your words.
Snapshot from the Trail:PCT, Friday, July 15, 2005
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite N.P., California
Well, today was my longest zero day yet. I hiked into the Yosemite Valley. Not sure exactly how many miles I hiked, 24ish maybe. Anyhow, I managed to complete the John Muir Trail! Man it’s awesome to have that accomplished. Now it’s really Canada or bust.
So about today…well actually it starts last night at about 11pm when people decided to set up their camp all but in our campsite. I really liked having headlamp flashing into my tent. It made for awesome sleeping. I would have slept just as well if I had been in the middle of a dance club. Let’s leave it at me being, oh I don’t know, livid.
So the morning finally comes around. I woke up on my own (Doodlebug did check up on me) and as I was getting ready Stitch came over to say good morning. At 6:15am I was on the trail…well at least I was walking around the campground looking for the trail. Finally found it.
I had to deal with some snow patches and a ton of mosquitoes…especially in and around the Sunrise Camp area. In fact, if it hadn’t been for my rain gear and head net I absolutely would have jabbed my titanium spork in my eye and then thrown myself off a mountain. The mosquitoes were that bad. They were swarming by the thousands.
I met many people along the way, many JMT hikers who were just starting out. Man did they have a heck of a climb. Many of them were asking about trail conditions. One guy heard that Donohue Pass was impassable as of July 12. We went over it on the 14th. I told him not to worry, it was fine, a little bit of snow for about a mile on each side. He felt better.
Flew by the side trail to Half Dome and ran into a ton of people who had just come down. There was a wait for the cables it was so busy. It might have something to do with the fact that the cables are closed for maintenance, Monday-Thursday from 7am-4pm. It seems like a bad idea to encourage people to hike it so early or late in the day but, I guess, it’s a better idea than not maintaining the cables so people are making due.
Well, the trend continued…people, people everywhere. The park was hopping. I was passing people left and right. As I was waiting for the shuttle bus, I saw a deer and it’s baby bounding down the road…then I saw the bear chasing them. The topper was the tourists chasing the bear. Now I realize that I am not an expert in ursine behavior however I am certain that it is never prudent to run after a bear…to ask it to participate in a photo shoot.
I then hopped on the bus. I went to Curry Village and saw a buck peeing near the bus stop. I cannot believe how close parents let their children get to a peeing buck. If I were that buck and I was urinating, and it happened to be at a bus stop in front of many people’ and they were all staring and pointing and snapping pictures and letting their boogery children get close, I would have turned right around and bit someone. Granted, the Park Service would probably have to kill me but every action has it’s consequences.Right?
So I made it to Camp 4, I was told it’s the best place to hitch. Hitching didn’t go as well as planned. Finally, a nice man by the name of Sam gave me a ride to the 140/120 split. I then got a ride from another lady who was following her friend. At the 120 split, I went in her friend’s car. Rey drove me all the way to the Tuolumne store. It was a great ride and she was very knowledgeable about the area and the PCT. I got to the store about 10 minutes before it closed, got some pasta, talked to Dad and got back to camp at 9pm. Long day. I have finished the JMT!
Woman Gone Wild – Nice and Simple Tips for Maximum Hiking Enjoyment
Welcome and thanks for reading.You have entered the world of “The Woman Gone Wild”.This is one article in a series written about women’s issues by a woman with issues.My issues stem from this deep down desire to be out in the wild, backpacking and hiking and now, I am finally going to put it to good use.Here I offer some of my best (and simplest) tips to help make women more comfortable and enjoy being on the trail.
Let’s get started at the beginning and assess the situation.Most people, when they go for their first backpacking trip, go with someone who has more experience and has been out before.It is also common to borrow or rent gear for ones first outing.That being said, it is important to take into consideration two key women specific issues to facilitate a positive backcountry experience:1) when possible, use women specific gear or at least try it out, and 2) distribute any group gear not by equal weight but by equal percentage of body weight.
Using women specific gear is important for two main reasons.First, it can be a huge weight savings which will make anyone more comfortable carrying their load.Second, it is made to better suit a woman’s specific needs.The best example is when a woman who is 5’6” tall or shorter is using a men’s size regular bag.It’s absolutely crazy to be carrying around an extra 6 inches of sleeping bag.Its extra weight (or weight that could be used for extra insulation) and its extra energy needed to warm that space.Plus, women’s bags are usually stuffed so that there is extra insulation in the foot box, the core and the hood, as women are typically colder in those places.Now you’ve got a cold woman, carrying around extra weight. Not the best way to get someone to come back out for trip number two.Other women specific features to be on the look out for include: extra padding on hip belts, a more “v” shaped hip belt, narrower shoulder straps (although some women are more broad shouldered and might not like that option as much), and smaller (and typically lighter) carrying capacities for packs.
Distributing group gear by percentage of body weight as opposed to equal weight is important as well.Many women are typically smaller and lighter than their male counter parts, which seems to be who women go out with for their first trip.It is silly to think that group gear should be split evenly by weight.Calculations should be made so that everyone carries an equal percentage of their body weight.It’s also important to make novice women backpacker’s feel empowered and by “carrying their own weight” you are making them feel like a capable member of the team.This is a critical point with not just women but will all novice backpackers.
When it comes down to it, with any novice hiker, the main goal is to get them to want to go on another trip.These tips will help them be more comfortable on their feet but it’s the leader’s job to make sure that solid planning and reasonable expectations are set ahead of time to ensure the success of the back country experience.
I’m really excited to announce that my friend Karen “Nocona” Somers has published the first ever hiker’s guidebook to the Lone Star Hiking Trail, a 96-mile forested footpath north of Houston, Texas.
NITRO’s Top 5 Trail Tried Backpacking Recipes
Recently, on the blog 
Snapshot from the Trail:
