Nothing boosts your confidence like real-world experience. Making lists and checking them is great for pre-trip planning, but it’s not the same. And while I’m pretty confident in my walking abilities, I’m worried about a few things:
Hang a bear bag
Listen, I can throw a soccer ball pretty well, but throwing something like that up is a whole different story.
backache
Am I getting old?
The last time I used the backpack that I will be taking with me on the Foothills trail was the first time. It was the first time I had used that bag or any woman-sized bag. It was also the first time I used a backpack with so many adjustable features. I didn’t adjust anything other than the shoulder straps and, unfortunately, I paid for that.
(I also got sick from the heat, so was my physical discomfort actually due to the bag or was it me being sick? Maybe the world will never know)
Wake up, repack, and get back on the road in a reasonable amount of time
I’m known for being a little slow in the mornings, especially if it’s cold.
While it was a little early in the season to start camping in New York, we had the right gear and a free weekend, and it was time to check out my gear.
It was meant to be.
We hiked 3 miles in muddy conditions to Black Mountain Pond Lean-To in the southern Adirondacks. The weather was warm 50 degrees. From time to time, the sun would come out to keep an eye on us before hiding behind the clouds again.
My legs felt strong. I was worried that after a quiet winter I would feel weak and struggle even on just a 3 mile hike.
Historically, anything over 16 miles tends to make me a little cranky; I’m working on it, but I always think that after taking a little more rest and relaxation, my legs will completely forget how to move.
We had a good time getting to camp, but surprisingly, the Lean-To had its shingles removed. A tarp was placed on the roof as a temporary solution and the shed was half filled with repair materials.
Luckily, there was room for the two of us to take shelter for the night.
Setting up camp was like riding a bike, and once I got settled in, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d returned home.
When the sun went down, we cooked chili dogs and watched downloaded episodes of Seinfeld. After finishing the last of the camp chores, I slept like a baby.
Unfortunately, the tarp couldn’t withstand the rain we received that night.
We woke up to thick raindrops falling, conveniently only on the side of the Lean-To we were sleeping on.
But that’s backpacking, right? We take the hits!
Something about the water slowly seeping into the top of my sleeping bag really motivated me to get up and run that morning. Sure, it was cold for a while while we packed our gear into our backpacks, but once we got back on the trail, it was wonderful (mostly).
There really is something special about walking in the rain. At least, there is when you have a good raincoat.
And now the question everyone has been waiting for:
Did she hang a bear bag by herself?
…No.
Not at all. I tried well. It was too close to the tree and Liam put me out of my misery and hung it up again. In the end, I threw it high enough, and that was my biggest concern, so now I’m MUCH less worried about it.
I did my best to simulate how I’ll pack my bag for the Foothills trail, although it wasn’t a perfect comparison.
I brought my heaviest sleeping bag, a 15-degree down bag that weighed about 3 pounds, 10 ounces. On my trip to South Carolina, I’ll be bringing a lighter bag for milder temperatures, but for a shoulder season night in Lake George, this bag was perfect. Plus, since I’ll be carrying five times as much food on my biggest trip, the heavier bag helped me better gauge how I’ll feel in the coming weeks.
I opted to bring food for both of us and anything that could be carried over to my next trip. My bag, filled with food and water, weighed 25 pounds. Since I’ve been backpacking for a while, I’ve lost the weight of my pack quite a bit, but never as much as I’d like.
What can I say, I like the little luxuries in life. You know, Chapstick, a spare pair of socks, a stuffed animal.
At the end of the day, who doesn’t love a little friend?
The only thing I regret doing this overnight was my glasses case. I always put my glasses in my backpack while I sleep and they are always perfectly fine.
It was a waste of space and weight.
I wish I had brought my camping shoes though. I don’t mind walking on dirt and pine needles; I DO mind walking on WET dirt and pine needles. By the time we got to camp, my hiking shoes and socks were soaked. A pair of dry camping shoes to wear with my dry camping socks would have been great, but hey, what can you do (other than pack them next time)?
All in all, I think this was the most successful test hike I’ve had so far!
- I am now more confident in my ability to hang a bear bag.
- My back didn’t hurt once while I was hiking and in fact my bag felt PERFECT on my back.
- I was absolutely focused on repacking for the morning and although the rain might have had something to do with it, I’ll go ahead and take the credit.
Next time I pack, I’ll head to the Foothills Trail.
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