Ultralight Backpacking

Parcour de Wild 2009

2009-11-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

On October 11th, 2009 Matt Lutz and Sam Haraldson drove to the Continental Divide along the desolate Montana Hwy 200. Arriving at the 5,610 ft trailhead and finding just shy of a meter of snow paired with temperatures around 10 deg F the duo put on their hardmen game face, snowshoes, backpacks, and began climbing from Roger's Pass to the Crown of the Continent - the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

For the previous months Matt and Sam had been planning a route across parts of the Helena National Forest comprised primarily of the Bob Marshall with the expectation of traveling between 130 and 165 miles as part of the loosely-organized wilderness adventure race Parcour de Wild. As the date for the trip grew nearer the snow began to fall in NW Montana and Sam and Matt's chances of making 150 miles along the Continental Divide grew slim. Much planning had gone into the route and little time was left to create a Plan B so when Matt arrived at Sam's house in Bozeman after driving from Minnesota the two stuck with their plan.

Even with the first steps from the highway, over the five foot embankment of plowed snow, up the switchbacks to the top of the first ridgeline Sam was doubtful of the teams ability to complete their route. Being the perservering type he kept his mouth shut and mentally determined his mindset would be that of forward-progress with no particular end-goal intent. Sam and Matt discussed their plans in ongoing dialog as they walked for the first and second day. Sometime during the second day after having only made less than a dozen miles they knew the focus of the trip should change from fast and light adventure race mode to an enjoyable winter camping trip.

After a decision to hike out-and-back rather than push on toward the finish was determined - a decision which did not negatively affect either hiker - the lightness of step that is found in any fun backcountry excursion continued with each snowshoe placed into the glistening white powder. Matt and Sam hiked until a pre-determined time, had some lunch, melted some water, and then began back-tracking their steps toward the trailhead and waiting automobile.

Although we set out to do a light and fast adventure race both Matt and Sam decided to themselves and openly to each other that this sort of pursuit would be better suited to them in summer months. Matt is an ultramarthon runner with multiple races under his belt and Sam is a thru-hiker with a couple long trails to his name. They both enjoy hikes in the 20 to 30 mile range and if this race had taken place one or two weeks earlier the duo felt they would have been in contention.

Only two other racers opted to participate in the event and they were successful, completing their intended route with smashing success. Dave Chenault and Kevin Sawchuk's race report can be viewed with a subscription to BackpackingLight.com at Parcour de Wild 2009. It was rewarding to both Matt and Sam to hear the other two had participated and completed the route for it added a legitimacy to the event. The four men who were out in the cold that snowy week in October may not have all finished but they could be certain they had planned, prepared, and set-out to do it. There were eight other individuals who originally intended to race the Parcour de Wild that ultimately did not. There is something to be said for at least giving it a go.

Video Trip Report:

Trip Photos

The full set of photos for this trip can be seen at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/walloftvs/sets/72157622795840046/

Moving by Bicycle

2009-06-30T12:51:00.002-06:00

In June of 2009 I made up my mind to move from one apartment to the other. I also made up my mind to make this move using only bicycles and bicycle trailers. After making up my mind to do this I did some research and found some great testimony to this from other individuals and groups having done this on the Internet.

Two days ago, after I'd decided to move I found out about a contest that Madsen Cycles was putting on. If you're interested in helping me win, click this link to their site and check out their cool bicycles (it'll open in a new tab/window).

Madsen Cargo Bikes

I started off on a Sunday afternoon by loading a few plastic tubs into the "kid trailer" I pull with my Schwinn Tempo road bike.

Schwinn Tempo and Converted Kid Trailer.

After the first load with the Schwinn I sent a text message to my buddy Captain E to see if I could borrow his Madsen Cargo Bike. I did two more loads with my Schwinn/trailer combo and then heard back from Captain E so I cruised down to pick up the Madsen.

Upon retrieving the Madsen and Captain E's homemade bike trailer I could tell that this game was ON! I rode it home and began to load it up with my stuff. I've moved a lot in my day and I have numerous plastic tubs to hold just about everything. This made loading the flatbed trailer a breeze.

The Madsen loaded up.

The consecutive loads went off without a hitch as well. I was able to stack tubs on the trailer and bulky, odd-shaped items into the Madsen's ample bucket.

The snowboards depict a common site in any Bozeman move.

Note the fly rods sticking out the top of the traffic cone.

Having things packed well from the get-go is important.

Furniture, skis, you name it!

The last load I had been contemplating since the start. When I set off to make this move using only a bicycle I assumed that the last load I made would be in my automobile. I justified that I would have to move my car from one location to the next and that it made sense to load it up with stuff. Although, as I proceeded further and further with the move I became more and more stubborn to move everything with cycles. The last item left was my boxspring, mattress, and bed frame. I solicited the help of fellow members of the Bozeman bicycling community whom I know are up for general jackassery such as this. Responses from SingleTrackM1nd and tjdzor came swiftly and with great enthusiasm.

The three of us sat in the sunshine pondering the massive load, first making attempts to put the mattresses on SingleTrackM1nd's Xtracycle. The weight was no problem for the Xtracycle but the size was. It became clear, quickly that the Madsen would have to be used as the width of the bucket was idea for balancing the width of the load of the bed.

After placing the load onto the bucket one test run was made unsuccessfully but I felt confident in my abilities so we re-secured the load and set off down the street. SingleTrackM1nd and tjdzor road ahead blatantly stopping traffic at the two major intersections, laughing, shouting, and capturing video along the way. The load was precarious and it required great concentration but in the end there was SUCCESS! A whimsical video was captured by tjdzor. Check it out:

The Madsen made it all the way from point A to point B, albeit with general un-stability requiring some careful maneuvering. But, it DID make it. No egg on my face.

Packrafting- East Gallatin River, Bozeman, MT

2009-06-22T16:06:00.000-06:00

A few hours were available at the Backpacking Light offices so the packrafts were grabbed, coffee was consumed, the river was reached and the boats were unleashed.

The route:

The video:

The photos:

Backpacking Light - Wilderness Trekking School - WS1-LWB

2009-06-16T11:10:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, June 12th - 14th, our six member team consisting of four students and two instructors set out into the Gallatin Mountain Range of SW Montana to learn the principles of Lightweight Backpacking during Backpacking Light's Wilderness Trekking School course, "Wilderness Skills I, Lightweight Backpacking".

BPL's course was taught by Mike Clelland! and Sam Haraldson. The four students were BPL members, Bruce, Gregg, Dave, and June. Level of experience ranged from 30 years backpacking to some without much experience, but with lots of ambition.

The course focused on teaching more than trekking and involved one day in the classroom followed by two days of hiking and outdoor learning sessions. Over the course of the two half-day and one full-day of hiking we only covered about a dozen miles but interspersed that with lessons in ultralight backpacking gear, bear bag hanging, proper shelter pitching, hygiene, hiking tempo, foot care, water treatment, cooking gear, and much more.

Clelland and Haraldson, as well as a half-dozen other guide/educators will be offering more courses throughout the summer if you find this interesting check out BPL's offerings at:

backpackinglight.com/school

Photos from the trip are as follows:

The route we chose:

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MYOG: Bubble Wrap and Duct Tape Camera Case

2009-05-13T15:22:00.000-06:00

I have written an article for Backpacking Light. It is a make-your-own-gear article and it's free to the general public for viewing. Take a look at:

MYOG: Bubble Wrap and Duct Tape Camera Case

Researching, Planning, and Remembering Trips - Part One

2009-04-14T11:39:00.001-06:00

Fulfillment
In the past few years I've found the best way to maximize the amount of enjoyment I gain from a backpacking trip is to spend time before the trip researching, mapping, and planning. Then, upon my return home I opt to spend time cataloging, memorializing, and sharing the trip through my Web site, a photo-sharing site, and a trip-sharing site.

This is the first of a two-part blog series in which I will discuss my pre and post trip processes. If you find all of this silly and would prefer to read only about activities during a backpacking trip, feel free to explore this site as I have dozens of trips cataloged herein.

Part One: Planning and Research
My research and trip planning involves a multi-pronged approach, but the most time is spent poring over maps, both paper and digital. I generally start the process using a large-scale area map to hone into the particular mountain range, drainage, or zone that I'd like to explore. After that has been determined I scale down the area of precision using my computer.

I primarily use the Google Earth software with a free USGS topographic map overlay installed. Once I've zoomed in on the area I determined to explore I use a series of Google Earths tools to map out my route and points of interest. I first make the USGS topo layer visible so that I can see any trails or other man-made features that are present in the area I want to explore. I next trace my chosen route into a new Earth layer using the "Add Path" tool. I turn the topo layer on and off to see how my route looks on the satellite image as well as on the map image. Next I use the Google Earth "Add Placemark" tool to mark the location of trailheads, possible campsites, or other locations of note along my route.

Within the Google Earth software I organize my routes within a folder structure. I have a folder for each of the states in which I've done trips. Within the folder for the particular state are sub-folders that are based on areas, whether that be a mountain range, a long trail, or a park. For instance in my folder entitled Montana there are sub-folders for the Bridger Mountains, Yellowstone, and Continental Divide Trail. Within the sub-folder there is yet again another series of folders - one for each trip. If I opt to hike a route twice but do it slightly different I may make a new folder that has information specific to it.

Google Earth is a great way to look at a trail from various points of view. You can see your route from above as if looking at a map or you can see it from a birds eye view at an angle from the sky, and you can even maneuver yourself along the trail at ground level to get a feel for how the terrain feels before you get there.

Part One: Data and Analytics
I'm an analytical person as well as a spatial person and maps aren't enough information in my thirst for data. For this reason I like to extrapolate specific mileage and elevation data from the mapped information. This is where a very useful Web site, GPSvisualizer.com comes in handy. There are a multitude of functions that this online software can perform but I find a handful of them most useful.

The first step in turning the pretty little map I've created into rows and columns of data is to export a .kml file of my route from Google Earth. This is done by selecting the trip folder, right-clicking on it, and selecting "Save Place As". This will save all your path and placemark information in the .kml file format. The .kml file can then be turned into a number of other file formats using GPSVisualizer.

Using the "Convert a File" link at GPSVisualizer I am able to create a spreadsheet that contains mileage data. This information can then be entered into the form at the "Look up Elevation" link. A third step allows me to create a section profile of the entire route. A section profile is graphical analysis of the route depicting mileage and elevation information.

Part One: Conclusion
To summarize, in this post I've discussed the use of paper maps, Google Earth software, and the GPSVisualizer.com Web site to research and view potential trip routes. I have a number of routes that I've prepared, but not yet hiked. These provide a fun way to dream of places to go in the backcountry.

Stay tuned for the next installment in which I impart wisdom of how I go about sharing a trip with friends, family, and other onlookers whom may be interested in that trip themselves or just interested in what I'm doing after I've returned home. Some of the tools I use for that are my Web site, Flickr.com, and EveryTrail.com. But that's enough of a sneak peek - - until next time, happy hiking.

Summit Cheeseburger - Drinking Horse Mtn; Bozeman, MT

2009-04-10T12:48:00.011-06:00

First I drove from my house in Bozeman, Montana to the Drinking Horse Mountain trailhead. It is located on Bridger Canyon road.

On the way to the trailhead I took some pictures of Drinking Horse Mountain. It is about 629 feet tall.

I parked my 1993 Subaru Legacy in the roadside parking lot. As you can see, my car is almost as tall as the mountain.

Like any good city trail there is a nice informational kiosk with a map and some little handouts. I stopped and took a picture for you to see.

Suddenly I was at the top of Drinking Horse Mountain consuming a double cheeseburger. I kept the cheeseburger wrapped in a knitted hat inside a stuff sack while I hiked. It was warm and delicious.

Near the summit of Drinking Horse Mountain someone has constructed a nifty fort out of dead tree branches. It was neat.

The proper summit of Drinking Horse Mountain doesn't provide too amazing of views, but slightly to the North a quality view of Bozeman is there for all to see.

I made a thirty-five second video of the hike to the summit.

Bissel's Mound - Summit Cheeseburger Project

2009-03-30T19:48:00.002-06:00

When he proposed the idea he had a glint in his eye usually reserved for those in the industry of taking fingers. The heavy silence that followed did little to ease the sudden tension that often settled in whenever he had an "idea".
"Are you in?" Sam inquired after a long silent stare at his comrades.
"In on what?" Matt and Jon asked with a puzzled look on their faces.
"Yes or no?" Sam stated with a simple insistence.
"You still haven't told us..."
"The details are unimportant. There is only one certainty - - we will need to get cheeseburgers."
Silence overcame the room as Matt and Jon looked at one another in bewilderment.
"Are you in?" Sam reclined in the car seat and and folded his arms across his chest.
"I'm in." Matt said, similarly leaning back and folding his arms moments before he remembered he was driving.
"Okay, how about you, Jon?"
"Well..."
"Yes or a no. Are you in?"
"Oh all right. I'm in," Jon said with a tone of nonchalance.
Ten hours, twenty-four beers, and a hastily constructed and detonated firework later found the intrepid trio driving the seven miles deep into the heart of farmland in Washington County, Minnesota with a Tupperware container full of microwaved White Castle cheeseburgers. It was not until then that Sam finally revealed his plan.
"So, we go out to this spot in Washington County that's supposedly the highest point?" Jon asked from his position in the back seat.
"That my friend is correct," Sam nodded enthusiastically.
"And we climb up it?"
"Duh."
"Then eat a cheeseburger?"
"Obviously"
"That's silly."
"And...?"
"Well, let's do it," Jon shrugged. "It's as good as any place to have breakfast I suppose.
As the Toyota began easing over to the side of the rural road, Sam took a worried look around. "We just have to watch out for the neurotic Nazi ninja monkey who, by a staggering coincidence are all named Mr. Tinkles."

Matt and Jon, normally allowing such nonsensical tripe to pass without comment, both gave Sam a puzzled look and began subliminally calculating how long until the car was traveling at a low enough velocity to jump out.
"What the hell are you talking about, moron?!?" Matt demanded before his silence reflex could kick in.
"I'm just saying, this is neurotic Nazi ninja monkey country, and it's been warm enough that they're probably done hibernating. I just hope we don't stumble on to one of their group hugs. A neurotic Nazi ninja monkey is most dangerous when he's hugging."
Simultaneously Matt and Jon's mental calculations turned to how much damage would be incurred if Sam were to be pushed from the moving vehicle while accelerating. Both arrived at the conclusion that apart from a little hippie-splatter the car would probably be fine.
Just as Matt's hand was slowly snaking towards Sam's seatbelt release button Sam's arm shot out causing both Matt and Jon to jump.
"That's it!" He announced enthusiastically. "Pull over here."
Jon and Matt exchanged one more glance of unease as Matt pulled the Toyota toward the side of the road next to a large empty farm field.
"So where is it?" Jon said, squinting out the window.
"There!" Sam pointed.
"I can't see it, is it near that dirt-mound?"
"It IS the dirt mound."
"You what?!" Matt and Jon both turned towards a smug-looking Sam.
"That, my friends, is Bissell's Mound, the highest geological point in Washington County. And we, my friends are going to climb it. Oh yes, we will climb it and eat cheesburgers atop it while we take in the glorious view of..." Sam was interrupted by Matt clicking the release on his seatbelt and kicking with all his strength while Jon leaned over and opened his door causing Sam to tumble from the car in an indignant heap of profanity and lightweight hiking boots.
"Thank god for that," Jon said flopping back down in his seat.
"That might have worked better," Sam's head suddenly popped back up, "if the car was actually moving."

"Damn," Matt said as he looked at the keys in his hand.
"Double damn," Jon said as he realized they would never get another chance.
"Ok, let's go - and don't forget the cheeseburgers," Sam said as he gestured towards the tupperware container cooling on the seat.
"Damn," muttered Matt, the parking brake catching his foot and preventing him from kicking himself. "Now what?"
"Looks like we scale a mound," Jon sighed.
"Ok, what if we were to break an ankle getting out of the car?"
"I if you were to cut your foot off completely he'd still make you climb."
"It wasn't MY ankle I was thinking of."
"It won't help."
"I know."
Thirty seconds later, after convincing Matt to leave the aluminum bat behind, the three adventurers began trudging along the edge of a muddy farm field towards what appeared to be a gigantic earthen pimple on the otherwise flat expanse of landscape.
"Hey, are we trespassing?" Matt observed the wooden fence that ran the perimiter of the field.
"Hey, yeah! We should probably get the permission of the landowners before we do this!" Jon chirped, "I bet that's their house right there." He pointed at the house with conspicuous satellite dish in the front yard.
"That's a good idea!" Matt nodded a little too enthusiastically. "I bet they have ESPN."
"Oh for God's sake, you guys!" Sam suddenly halted and spun on the pair. "It's maybe a hundred feet of walking up an incline, it's not like I'm asking you to crawl across a field of broken glass with your pants fly unzipped!"

"That's a good point," Jon mused. "But on the other hand it's a hundred feet of walking up an incline."
"He's right," Matt patted his shoulder. "It had to happen sooner or later but he's actually..."
"Just walk, you spaghetti-spined whiners," Sam said as he turned and continued on towards the dirt-heap.
"I think he was talking about you," Matt whispered to Jon as they followed along.
It wasn't long before the mound loomed before them in all its vertical glory. Surrounded by a perimeter of trees it sloped steeply upwards to, as was mentioned, the highest point in the county.
"I think if we circle to the left a little where the trees are thinner, we could easily get through," Sam said, pondereding the potential routes upward.
"Or, we could just set fire to this side and wait a few days. The way would be clear then," Jon stated, stroking his chin in what he hoped was a thoughtful way.
"Don't be stupid," Matt poked him in the ribs. "The cheeseburgers would be cold by that time. Does your chin itch or something?"
Jon stopped stroking his chin and returned to moping.
"Or, if we could get through the underbrush here it would be an easy ascent. Did either one of you bring a machete?" Sam stoked his chin in what was indeed a thoughtful way.
Matt and Jon stopped giving each other threatening looks and turned to Sam in unison with bewildered look on their faces.
"Well?"
"No, sorry," Jon answered. "I left it back at my apartment next to the weed whip and the barrel of agent orange."
"And I don't believe in defoliation," Matt said, folding his arms defiantly. "It's against my religion."
"Right, this way then," Sam led on, completely missing the sarcasm that was oozing out of every pore of his traveling companions.
"Hey, look! There's a beaten path through the trees right over there! This is going to be easy." Matt began towards the opening but Sam's arm shot out and stopped him.
"No!" A wide-eyed Sam half whispered, half shouted. "That's a neurotic Nazi ninja monkey trail! If they're nearby they'll sense our disruption and come running armed with pointy sticks and self-doubt." He studied the path intently. "It looks like they just got it the way they like it, so you don't want to disturb a single blade of grass there. Believe me, they'll know."

"Uh-huh," Matt nodded. "Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem. Say, on a completely different subject, have you eaten any strange-looking mushrooms in the last few days?"
"No, why?"
"Have you had any severe blows to the head?" Jon asked.
"No."
"Do you want one?"
"Shut up."
"You got it."
Quietly the group wound they're way around the base of the mound until they found a spot where the trees didn't quite form an impassible wall. Sam, being the more experienced hiker, deftly wove his way through them while Matt and Jon simply plowed through with clumsy determination. Halfway in Matt whispered to Jon.
"Are you getting thistles in your underwear too?"
"Yeah!" Jon grinned goofily.
"Ew."
When they finally emerged from the dense undergrowth the three were startled to find themselves half way up the hill. Jon looked back as the last traces of their path disappeared, reabsorbed into the thick foliage.
"Let's do that again!" He almost sang.
"NO!" Both Sam and Matt shouted back.
"And take that raspberry vine out of your pants!" Matt added.
"No."

"Oh please yourself, then. Just be aware that raspberry stains are even harder to explain to the girlfriend than they are to wash out," Sam shouted over his shoulder as he continued up the steep incline.
"I'll take my chances," Jon muttered as he followed after.
"Just don't drop the cheeseburgers."
"Are we there yet?" Matt sighed.
"Actually... yes." Sam suddenly noticed that the slope had become far less vertical and only sky presented itself when he looked upward.
"We are?" Jon said stopped and realized the only change in altitude that he could make was now downwards. "We are!"
"We made it?" Matt looked around startled.
"We are officially at the top of Bissell's Mound, gentlemen," Sam said as he smiled broadly. "Time to break out some burgers."
"Right, then." Jon set the Tupperware container on the ground and popped the lid off letting the smell of soggy microwaved White Castle cheeseburgers waft out. Each man took one of the small sandwiches and stood looking out over the landscape.
"Cheers!" Sam held up his burger as if it were a fine wine in an expensive crystal glass. Matt and Jon each held theirs up as well and "clinked" them together causing a few onions to crumble to the ground. The only conversation that followed was the unmistakable sound of chewing and savoring.
When the first three burgers had been devoured the three adventurers allowed a moment to pass as they gazed at the landscape stretched out before them. It was mostly farm land, with a few brushy clusters of trees dotting the areas where it was impossible to drive a tractor. Far beyond was the faint sound of the highway, muted by distance and a lingering humidity that wasn't quite fog. Jon was the first to speak.
"Wow. From up here everything looks so..."
"Majestic?" Sam ventured.
"Awe-inspiring?" Matt guessed.
"Flat."
"Remind me not to talk to you later, will you?" Matt sighed.

"Who's ready for seconds?" Sam rubbed his hands together, eager to end the conversation.
As each one reached down to pick up another cheeseburger a sudden cracking of twigs could be heard behind a clump of dead trees. A few whining wails could be heard drifting on the light breeze and the overpowering smell of sauerkraut and wasabi wafted past the three friends.
Matt squinted in the direction of the sounds and smells. "What the hell is-"
"SHHHH!" Sam, now wide-eyed, motioned for everyone to crouch down. "Keep down, and whatever you do don't say anything supportive in Japanese or they'll come running!"
"Who?!" Jon demanded in a harsh whisper.
"What do you mean who?! I've only been talking about them all day. It's the neurotic Nazi ninja monkeys! If they catch us they'll force us to listen to all their problems in haiku form and then try to annex Poland!"
"Well, that doesn't sound so bad," Matt shrugged.
"Yeah, it might actually be kind of funny," Jon began to stand but Sam pulled him back down.
"And they'll also beat us up and throw feces at us. Did I mention that part?"
"Are you seriously saying there are actually a bunch of monkeys over there who are not only ninjas, but who also have severe personality hang-ups?" Matt whispered incredulously.
"And throw their poo, yes," Sam hissed.
"That is wholly unbelievable," Matt countered.
At that moment a small furry hand appeared above the level of the undergrowth. It was held ridged at an angle with the palm down as if it were...
"Holy crap, is that thing giving a nazi salute?" Jon gasped.
"Yes! They hate anything that isn't their own race, and that means us!" Said Sam.
"We should probably get out of here," Matt said nervously.
"Wait!" Sam held up his hand.
"What?"

"We haven't finished our cheeseburgers!" Sam exclaimed, holding aloft his precious meal.
"He's right!" Jon looked in horror at the burger in his hand.
"Ok," Matt, obviously conflicted between his love of grilled meat and his love of being able to walk under his own power, finally came up with a solution. "Eat fast!"
Without a moment's hesitation all three simultaneously began stuffing the small cheeseburgers into their mouths and frantically chewing.
"Oh mahh aahhth guuuhhd," Jon mumbled through a mouthful of processed meat and cheese.
"Lethh go," Sam said, swallowing.
The three began creeping on hands and knees back the way they came as quietly as possible through the dried weeds. Every now and then they could hear a high pitch howl of emotional pain and confusion behind them. Just as the group reached the tree line the howls built in volume and frequency until they hit a crescendo of animalistic wailing.
"Oh, God! I think they're hugging!" Sam's face paled. "We've got to get out of here. Now."
"I don't think they know we're here," Jon whispered back. As if in answer to this statement a small silver object flew past his face and buried itself in the trunk of a tree.
Jon blinked. "Was that a-"
"Throwing star!" Matt screamed.
"RUN!" Sam stood and made a break for the trees.
Matt and Jon needed no more encouragement as the clamor of screeching simians was beginning to quickly close in. As they ran Jon hazarded a glance over his shoulder and immediately snapped his head back.
"Is it just me," He panted as tree branches and other assorted bracken whipped past him. "Or do they all look a little like Woody Allen in tiny black jumpsuits?"
Matt looked back for a moment and nodded the best he could with a squirrel's nest narrowly missing his face. "They do bear an uncanny resemblance."
Without warning the three suddenly broke through the tree line and found themselves running across an open field. "There's the car!" Sam shouted.
"I think they're getting closer!" Matt realized their pursuers would overtake them long before they made it to the car. "I also think we're screwed."

"Wait! I have an idea." Sam stopped and turned to face the howling throng of angry monkeys.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Jon called to him as he ran past a few steps and stopped.
"You're insane! They're going to bore you to death!" Matt stopped slightly behind Jon.
Ignoring both of them Sam raised his finger, pointing to a spot somewhere behind the horde of simian supremacists.
"Hey, Mr. Tinkles, look!" He hollered at the top of is lungs, "It's Ben Stiller in drag!" To everyone's amazement the monkeys stopped and looked around.
"And I think he's got Prozac in his pocket!" Matt added, catching on.
"And he's signing another movie deal in which he plays a guy living in New York but has to cope with something outside his element!" Jon shouted. "And they're paying him twenty million to do it!" He added for good measure.
This seemed to instantly enrage the spandex-clad primates and they ran off in random directions, screeching angrily and clawing at their eyes.
"That was close," Jon said. As he turned around he was greeted by two fists that introduced themselves to his face at high speed, knocking him to the ground.
"OW! What was that for?!" Jon rolled around on the ground cradling his jaw.
"Don't even joke about that!" Matt kicked him in the side.
"I'd rather face the monkeys naked and covered in banana paste than even think about another Ben Stiller movie!" Sam stomped his foot down on Jon's gut.
"All right, all right, I'm sorry! I panicked!," Jon coughed and wheezed. As he began to catch his breath both Matt and Sam grabbed an arm and helped him back to his feet.
As the three walked back to the car Matt turned to Sam. "So, is it always like this?"
"Nah," Sam shook his head. "Sometimes it's actually exciting."
"But it's always cheeseburgers?" Jon asked.
"Ever since Sir William Weber scaled Mount Sirloin with a Hibachi strapped to his back."
"Huh."
The crew walked on in silence for a while until they finally reached the car. The sound of angry neurotic Nazi ninja monkey nazis tearing the mound apart in their fruitless search echoed across the landscape as Matt unlocked the doors.
"So," Sam said as he stretched out. "What are you guys doing for lunch?"

January Mountain Biking at Pipestone

2009-01-20T18:50:00.001-07:00

Could be skiing...
The snowpack in Southwest Montana has been treacherous most of the winter which has kept me out of the backcountry and therefore out of backpacking or touring. I'm an active individual and I've been able to keep myself occupied snowboarding at the resort and doing a lot of cycling.
Nope, going biking...
A group of friends and I decided to take the cycling thing off the roads and onto the trails due to some unseasonably warm weather the area has been experiencing. This group of cyclists has been heading to this location for years for winter riding as there exists an interesting micro-climate in area that keeps the trails relatively snow-free most of the winter.
Pipestone...
We went riding on Sunday, January 18th, 2009 near Whitehall, Montana at a place referred to as Pipestone. It is known for it's bike trails, ORV trails, as well as it's rock climbing and bouldering. While riding we saw ATVs, dirt bikes, and even a couple climbers - all out to drink in the near tropical heat we've been having.
Joyous winter biking...
We rode for a couple hours stopping often to fix various mechanical issues - a common problem on the first ride of the year I suppose. I have no idea how many miles we put on but I'd venture to guess ten or more miles. The trails we were riding (and wrenching) on were a combination of frozen sand, ice, snow, and mud. We all ended up nice and dirty which is a sign of a quality off road ride.
The Bozeman crew...
Riders present were Casey, John, Katie, Sam, Seth, and Steve representing a varied cross section of abilities. I do not remember the last time I went off road cycling so I was very excited to be on the trail going fast (and very, very slow at times) through single track, dirt roads, and icy and snowy treads of all varieties.
Audio visual...
To better memorialize the trip I put together a video montage of the day's riding. My photo are also available from the day at my Flickr page, Pipestone Mountain Biking as well as via the thumbnails below.

Photos of a great day...

Searching for a Particular Post?

2008-09-25T09:02:00.002-06:00

If you you are searching for a blog post listed below, please click the link to visit the desired article:

Bridger Ridge Traverse
Pine Creek Lake - Absaroka Wilderness
Spanish Peaks Unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness
Winter Backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail
Gallatin Crest Trail - Gallatin Range
North Country Trail, Brule River State Forest
Superior Hiking Trail - Dayhike to Bean & Bear Lakes

Crazy Mountains - DIAD

2008-09-19T17:18:00.002-06:00

I've been doing some reading about DIAD activities lately. DIAD stands for done-in-a-day. The idea behind the type of DIAD hiking activities I've been researching is to pick a hike that might take two or even three days for typical completion and finish it in one day.

During the waning part of August, 2008 I had my sights on the Crazy Mountains, a small range in Southwest Montana better known for it's grazing cattle and timber land than for backpacking. Using a combination of Google Earth, digital 7.5 min. quadrangle maps and National Geographics TOPO! program I determined the route I was too take through the Crazies. My plan was to head up the Trespass Creek trail, over a pass, down into the Sweet Grass drainage, then up a different fork of the same creek, over another pass (one without a trail), and finishing by walking down and out the Cottonwood Creek trail back to my car. This trip was twenty plus miles and I was hoping to summit Conical Peak in the middle of it so I knew it was going to be a stout set of miles.

I usually hike solo and because of this I prefer to be prepared, having no one to rely on in the event of an emergency or stranding. I decided I would attempt the hike in a one-day push but would carry a limited backpacking kit (shelter, insulation, cooking gear, et al) in the event the weather turned poor or I the terrain dished out more than my endurance could handle.

I had a commitment on Friday night which I attended but left immediately afterward and headed to the Cottonwood Creek trailhead arriving about midnight. The weather folks were warning about possible nastiness so I had opted to bring my Golite Shangri-La 2 shelter which fairs well in the event of snow. I set it up in the parking lot at the trailhead and sat on the hood of my Subaru downing the pint of Old Milwaukee I'd brought along for the occassion. The stars came out and the night was beautiful for a sleep out.

I awoke at dawn, packed my bag and headed up the trail. I encountered a man and his son readying themselves for six days of mountain goat hunting, two groups of two backpackers, and a man as his four daughters outr backpacking. I didn't expect much traffic but this was Labor Day weekend so then again it didn't surprise me all that much. I made excellent time, hitting all the marks I was hoping to and as I approached Conical Peak I saw no reason I couldn't summit it and still be back to my car before dark.

The sky had been having trouble making up its mind as to what the clouds wanted to do. Big, ugly, black, menacing looking things had been rolling in and out all day and as I began the couple thousand foot climb to the summit of Conical it became very cold and began to rain. As I progressed another hundred feet the rain was turning to snow and a white, blinding fog was enveloping all around me. I realized very quickly that a summit of a mountain doesn't mean a lot to me without a view so I turned around and headed back to lower ground. If it did start snowing seriously I knew I was going to either have to make a dash over the trail-less pass I needed to cross to get back to my car, or camp below Conical Peak and hope the next day was warm enough to melt the snow which would have made the off-trail crossing difficult.

As I lost elevation the weather decided to be silly again and the sun came back out and warmed everything up. I made my way toward the steep, loose, rocky pass that from my vantage appeared to have some class 3 and 4 sections required for crossing. The group of backpackers consisting of the man and his daughters had told me they had made their way over this pass the day before (only in the opposite direction) and considering that these were kids aged in their pre to teens I figured I could probably do it successfully as well. I headed up the pass and made a couple poor route decisions which put me into about ten minutes of climbing that was a bit over the edge of safety. It wasn't anything I'm incapable of, but it was certainly stuff that could lead to danger had I made a wrong move.

The wind was howling atop the pass but the view was gorgeous and I knew I still had ample hours of daylight and only a few miles of trail hiking in front of me. I descended to Cottonwood Lake and found the trail down along creek. This trail was in great shape and the second half consisted of a well-graded road (used to access some land-locked private property). I arrived at my car before dark, relaxed with the other pint of Swill I'd brought before jumping into my rig for the drive back to Bozeman.

Driving along the fifteen mile gravel road back to the highway the weather really decided to kick it up a notch. A heavy rain began to fall complete with thunder and lighting. I drove slowly home thinking how nice it was I'd finished the loop in a day and not having to deal with the weather. But all the while a parallel thought was coursing my synapses, and that was that I just knew the next morning would have provided me a brilliant covering of snow and I would've awoke to the glistening beauty of a snow-covered alpine lakeshore. Alas, the time will come soon enough for lots, and lots, and looooots of snow. I'm curious, what would you have done?

Bridger Ridge Traverse

2008-09-03T09:46:00.000-06:00

*Note - this was originally posted as a trip report on Summit Post. Also, View Trip Photos

Jeff and Sam started at Fairy Lake USFS campground at 07:30 on 2008-08-24 with light packs, lots of food, water, maps and legs ready to be destroyed. We finished, eleven and a half hours later having ascended 5,170ft, descended 7460ft and traveled nineteen miles.

Preparation - Jeff has lived in Bozeman for two years and has had his eye on the route followed during the Bridger Ridge Run just about ever since. Sam has lived in Bozeman for about a month and a half but has had his eye on a Bridger Traverse since the first time he skiied Bridger Bowl in 2005.

In a passing conversation the week prior to the trip Jeff mentioned his 30th birthday was coming up and that he had a desire to do something meaningful, worthwhile and challenging before his twenties passed. Knowing that Sam was someone who thoroughly enjoyed backpacking, hiking and alpine scrambling he put forth the idea to him as well as some other Bozeman locals. Sam responded with a whole-hearted, hell yes I'd like to join you and the response from others was a bit milder.

Sam and Jeff both did some independent research of the traverse using such tools as the excellent Bozeman Area topographic map, Google Earth and the Ridge Run maps located at the Big Sky Wind Drinkers Web site.

The Hike - Waking at 05:30 on Sunday morning a quick breakfast was consumed and the packs finally loaded. Sam brought Clif bars, salami, cheese, baguette, chocolate and four liters of water. Jeff brought sandwiches, M and Ms and nine and a half liters of water (having miscalculated thinking he was only bringing seven and a half). Driving Sam's Subaru to the Fairy Lake trailhead they quickly hit the trail opting to change the Bridger Run route to their own liking by tacking on a summit of Hardscrabble Peak to the already big day of travel planned.

Descending from Hardscrabble the meat of the journey began with a climb of Sacagawea Peak, the high point of the trip at 9,665ft of elevation. A use trail exists along the entirety of the Bridge Range as described in this report but side-steps some of the summits in the range. Opting to bag most of these Sam and Jeff next climbed the few dozen extra feet to the summit of Naya Nuki wherein author Kenneth Thomasma has left a few copies of his novel, Naya Nuki, Shoshone Girl Who Ran, the story of the peak's namesake.

The use trail is excellent for 95% of the route and is the majority of what is traveled in the traverse. The route called for in the Bridger Ridge Run skips a beefy section near Ross Peak which would call for a higher class of scrambling that most are prepared for in a running race. At this point the suggested route is to drop a thousand some odd feet to the National Scenic hiking trail which parallels the Bridger Ridge on the West side. A beautiful trail with excellent tread takes traversers to Ross Pass and then at a well-marked junction (large cairn and two blazes, one paint and one cut) hikers should turn left, head straight uphill on a well-worn use trail back to the summit of the ridge.

The rest of the day was spent hopping rocks, photographing amazing views and calculating mileages and hours. Along the way are great views of many mountain ranges, including the Crazy Mountains, Madison Range, Absaroka Range, Beartooth Range, Gallatin Range, and the Tobacco Root Mountains.

Other named peaks that are ticked off while hiking this traverse are Saddle Peak, Bridger Peak and Baldy Mountain .

Descending from Baldy Mountain to the Bozeman area "M" trail is a knee-pounding affair nearly straight down a few thousand some odd feet. After a grueling day in the sun, hiking on scree and rock it took it's toll on Jeff and Samâ€™s knees. We met Jeff's wife Shannon at the "M" and finshed at the "M" trailhead to shuttle back to Fairy Lake to fetch Sam's vehicle.

Conclusions - Having hiked this partial section of the Bridger Range Traverse both Sam and Jeff would like to complete the remaining section from Flathead Pass southward to Hardscrabble.

Worthy of mention is the common thread on various Internet resources that the route is hard to follow and both Sam and Jeff agree that these statements are false. With minimal route-finding skills and keeping one's eyes open anyone with the physical capabilities for big miles and big elevations should have little to no difficulty in completing this traverse.

View Trip Photos

Gallatin Crest Trail - Gallatin Range

2008-08-25T09:15:00.000-06:00

Everybody is going green these days. Ask my friends ad family and they'll tell you I've been trying to go green since I was like ten years old. I took a break from it and entered a period of ignorance during college but even then I still tried to recycle my beer bottles and cans.

I gave my car away a couple years ago and biked everywhere I could. I have another car now but since my 1,000 mile move to Montana I've only put a few dozen miles on it. These precious miles are devoted to allowing myself the freedom of the hills. In trying to further minimize my impact of even these few dozen miles I concocted a nifty route for my backpacking trip on the weekend of August 15th, 2008.

On Friday I threw my bike into my car and drove the twenty miles into Hyalite Canyon to the Hyalite Creek trailhead. I parked my car and rode my bicycle the twenty miles back to town. I packed up my gear, got the rest of my groceries all trip-ready and went to sleep peacefully in my bed. A 6:30am alarm woke me and I grabbed my pack and walked out the door headed for the Gallatin Valley Mall. A weird place to start a backpacking trip I'm sure you're thinking. About 7:20am a large bus pulled up and I boarded along with a half dozen others and we set off South down the Gallatin River Valley. Upon reaching the turn off to Big Sky Ski Resort I asked the bus driver for a whistle stop and he obliged. My backpacking trip had begun.

The first leg of my trip was a three mile walk South along the highway to the Porcupine Creek trailhead followed by a grueling ascent of multiple thousands of feet to gain the Gallatin Divide and it's meandering Gallatin Crest Trail (also commonly referred to as the Devil's Backbone). By afternoon I was on the Divide and making my way Northward toward Hyalite Canyon where my trusty Subaru was parked. I hiked from 9:00am until 8:20pm covering something along the lines of twenty-five miles and ascending an elevation of 6,500ft.

The Gallatin Divide is out of reach of any creeks or lakes so I was out of water by the end of my hiking day. I had noticed snowbanks along the route and was relying on finding a camping spot where this would be available. This and some other factors were what prompted the spot I did choose. I camped at a lovely spot along the Divide at 9,500 ft above sea level and while melting snow for drinking water was treated to a sunset my photos will have trouble doing justice.

At dawn I awoke to the sound of a family of mountain goats click-clacking their way across the opposite side of the canyon I was sleeping near. The sunrise and moon-set were equally as delightful as the opposite occurrence the evening before. I quickly packed having not set up a tent or tarp the night before and headed off to find more water and ultimately my destination. Hiking in the early hours of the day is always a treat as this is when wildlife is most frequently visible. I had the rare opportunity of witnessing two elk from a distance of only a few dozen meters while I was collecting water from a stream. A handful more mountain goats also made their appearance high up on a canyon wall.

I summited Hyalite Peak that morning and enjoyed the view of the surrounding landscape - a view only barely topping the full-day of delightful views I had enjoyed during the previous days' hike. I can with all honesty say that the hike along the Gallatin Crest Trail No. 96 ranked second only to the high country in the Pasayten Wilderness I experienced the summer before on my 2007 PNT thru hike. If you are ever in the Bozeman area and in need of a quality trip, consider the Gallatin Divide Trail at the top of your list.

I descended from Hyalite Peak through Hyalite Creek and back to my car at the busy trailhead as just another hiker out in the woods - no different than the scads of cotton-clad families with half-full Nalgene bottles in tow walking up or down the creek. I smiled to myself at the grandeurs I had witnessed and groaned a bit at the toll the twenty-five miles the previous day and the dozen or so miles the current day had taken on my body. Endurance, limits, toughness. All things I like to test - and seem to do so on a regular basis. Stay tuned for next weeks' grand adventure...

View this trip's concurrent photo set here

http://picasaweb.google.com/sam.haraldson/UltralightBackpackingGallatinCrest

Pine Creek Lake - Absaroka Wilderness

2008-08-12T05:06:00.000-06:00

When I lived in Northwest Montana in and around Glacier National Park I became interested in attaining the summits of mountains. The idea of bagging a peak was as new to me as the mountains around me. During my childhood in Minnesota my brother and I certainly did our share of exploring but no hills were high enough to be called summits. I claimed a half or full dozen of peaks within the boundary of Glacier and then in a somewhat anticlimactic move, found myself in a day job in Duluth, MN. Duluth is like a mountain town - - just without the mountains. There are lots of hardcore outdoor enthusiasts there including some local hardmen even now in the 21st century putting up FAs on some tough, but small rock.

A new career called and I headed back out to the mountains, this time in Southwest Montana where the list of peaks to climb is nearly endless. The Bridger, Crazy, Tobacco Root, Madison, Gallatin, Abaroka, Beartooth ranges are all within one hundred miles, and the list goes on. Having set my sights on Ross Peak in the Bridger Range before even arriving in Bozeman I quickly set out to attain that in my second week here. Next my perusing of the pages at Summit Post put me in a mindset of the Absaroka Range and particularly Black Mountain.

Thursday Night - For those weekend warriors it is important to spend the week previous to your trips planning routes, attaining maps, checking off gear lists and preparing food. I had all taken preparations made by Thursday evening and my pack and trekking poles were readied by the door of my room.

Friday Afternoon - Out of work, back home and into the Subaru for the fifty mile drive to the Pine Creek Lake trailhead. I arrived by 18:30 and made the thousands-of-feet-over-five-miles-climb along a nice Forest Circus trail to Pine Creek Lake wherein to find the place to myself. Downing a canned-pint of a local Montana-brewed scotch-style ale I nestled into my quilt by about 22:00.

Saturday Morning - I awoke to my alarm at 05:45 for a semi-alpine start at Black. The weather was to be hot so I wanted to make the climb before too much sun was shining over the peaks to the East. I climbed and made the summit by 08:30 (read trip log at Summit Post). My plan was to follow the peaks ridge around the Pine Creek valley, summit McKnight Mountain and drop Eastward to McKnight Lakes and then a trail-less descent Northwest-ward the next day to the trailed South Fork Deep Creek trailhead. I was quickly thwarted by fear and rationale by some nasty exposure on the knife edge ridge off the East flank of Black Mountain.

Saturday Afternoon - Rather than risk life and limb on the alpine ridges I re-traced my steps down Black Mountain and headed off cross-country through the wilds of the Pine Creek drainage. I made my way across the mid-elevations and climbed again to the saddle between the ridges I was on previously and McKnight Mountain. I could look downard onto McKnight Lakes but seeing no obvious, safe route downward I opted instead to stay in the Pine Creek drainage. I wandered all over it, climbing and descending some 3,500 feet that day eventually settling on a nice campsite on the East side of the lake.

Saturday Evening - The lake was anything but mine that night as six other sets of backpackers showed up to camp. I joined one group, a father and his two sons at their campfire that evening for good conversation and a gorgeous sunset before heading back to my tarp for a cold slumber. Temperatures were hovering around 40 deg. F by 04:00. I was pushing my superultralight setup that night and awoke to do warming sit-ups a number of times before the sun shone.

Sunday Morning - Awake at 06:30, packed and down to the car in time to catch biscuits and gravy at a little joint with good, fresh, organic coffee. Home before the afternoon for relaxing, reading and enjoying my new home in Bozeman.

Spanish Peaks Unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness

2008-07-18T10:51:00.000-06:00

View Trip Photos

I recently made a career change which has taken me away from the beautiful Arrowhead of Minnesota and placed me into the grandiose peaks and valleys of the approximately 4,000,000 acres of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Upon arriving into my new hometown of Bozeman, MT and unpacking my Subaru of my belongings I immediately dove into my new roomates map drawer to find a couple day backpacking loop to satisfy my lust to enjoy the freedom of the hills.

I contemplated heading back up to my old haunt at Glacier National Park but decided that can wait until I've explored my new area a bit. Next I considered heading down to Yellowstone National Park but decided against it because of how busy it would be as well as the hassle of the permit system. I had read about the Lee Metcalf Wilderness briefly in some outdoor blogs and it looked to be perfect for my needs - close to Bozeman and high in elevation.

I opted to start hiking along the South Fork of Spanish Creek, head about ten miles up to Jerome Rock Lakes, spend the night, travel a short distance over a 9,000 ft. pass and down to Upper Big Brother Lake to spend the second night and then awake on the third day to descend a different drainage back to the trailhead and my waiting Subaru.

Montana welcomed me back with open arms. Although I've been a flatlander living in Minnesota for the past two years I was still able to climb the 2,400 ft to Jerome Rock Lakes and it's 8,000+ ft elevation without too much light-headedness. Two bears along the trail reminded me I was back in very wild country again. I arrived at the lake just as a thunderstorm was moving in fast. I peered over the lake to see a Bald Eagle swooping low along the lake heading for cover. I had read the upper lakes were nicer than the lower so I quickly began bushwhacking upstream but reaching two plateaus and no lake I decided to head back down to attempt to set up camp before the rains came. I had my shelter laid out when it started pouring. All was well however as I got everything situated and myself under the tarp to hear the thunder rumbling overhead and the lighting crashing around me. The rain didn't let up until much later so I spent the better part of twelve hours under the tarp that night.

The next day was short on miles but I awoke early and headed out hoping to arrive and do some exploring. This also offered me the opportunity to hike slow at these high elevations to be sure my un-aclimatized body could handle it all. I had my ice axe with me as the Forest Service reps couldn't give me solid beta on what the snow situation would be at 9,000 ft. There was patchy snow but nothing with dangerous exposure so I never used the axe. The high alpine country of this area is stunning. Rugged peaks, broken scree slopes, raggedy old-growth conifers. Being that this is a wilderness area the trail maintenance is at a minimum. The trail disappeared and hikers are forced to follow rock cairns through the pass. Route-finding was moderate to difficult between finding the cairns and moving through the snow.

I followed the cairns down to what I thought was Big Brother Lake, set up camp, had a snack and took a nap as it was still only 9:30 a.m. and I had plenty of time to explore later. Awaking from a wonderful slumber I headed out around the lake to climb the prominent knob in the cirque. Upon reaching the top I noticed there were three lakes in the drainage and not one as denoted on the map I was carrying. I determined that I was actually at an upper lake and that Big Brother was another .25 or .5 miles downstream. I lazied around the rest of the day and waded all over the freezing cold lake until anotehr thunderstorm came speeding in. I had to push my tarp walls out to keep them from blowing in for about ten minutes while the storm raged. When it let up a bit I went out, re-set all my tarp stakes and reinforced them with big rocks. This provided a bomber set up and the rest of the storm had nothing on my shelter.

6:30 came and I awoke as my body seems to do lately. I packed up, ate some granola and began bushwhacking down to the other lake, hoping that upon arriving there I would be able to find the trail again. I was in luck and I was sailing downhill on good trail in no time. Aside from the 250 downed trees I encountered it was good hiking. I arrived back at the Subaru around 11:00 and was back in Bozeman by 12:00.

View Trip Photos

North Country Trail, Brule River State Forest

2008-06-15T10:06:00.000-06:00

View the trip photos

Early June, 2008. My buddies and I decided to do a couple days on the North Country National Scenic Trail in Northwestern Wisconsin. We planned, we mapped, we discussed. All was going well, a car shuttle was arranged and we were amped. Then one guy hurt his back and the other got very ill. This left me to figure out my plan on the afternoon we were set to leave. I quickly laid out my maps, assessed the situation and decided to go backpacking solo. I rearranged my food stash so as to only carry eats for one and changed out some group gear with solo gear. This put me behind schedule by about an hour but alas the long daylight hours are upon us and I have a trusty headlamp.

I arrived in Solon Springs, WI at a trailhead in the Brule River State Forest around 19:30. I was out of the car and moving fast to stay ahead of the mosquitos. I hiked until approximately 21:00 and arrived at the Jesseth Creek Bluffs campsite just as the sun was setting across the Brule River valley - - gorgeous.

I picked off thirty wood ticks upon arriving at camp and decided to pull my socks up over my pants legs, set up the Dancing Light Gear silnylon tarp I had brought along and have some nuts and chocolate for dinner. After that I strung up my bear bag, built a smokey anti-mosquito fire using my firesteel and relaxed before turning in at 22:00.

Morning came and I awoke around 5:00. Without my buddies there I just wasn't feeling the need to continue on to another campsite. I opted to hike the three miles to the next trailhead and then wandered logging roads and ATV trails that paralleled the NCT back to my car which ended up being another eight or nine miles. It was kind of fun just using my compass and following random trails not really knowing exactly where I was on the map. I spotted lots of deer, moose, bear and turkey tracks and only saw two cars.

View the trip photos

Superior Hiking Trail - Dayhike to Bean and Bear Lakes

2008-04-08T15:04:00.000-06:00

Having put in my forty hours of I was able to leave work at 11:30 on a beautiful, sunny Friday. I went home, put together my pack with the ten essentials, jumped in my Subaru, stopped at my girlfriend's house to pick up Maya dog and headed up the North Shore to Silver Bay, MN and the Superior Hiking Trail. Below you can watch a video blog I produced of the hike. Also feel free to peruse a photo gallery of some of the sights Maya and I saw.

While hiking I kept my camera handy and put together a short video blog for your enjoyment.

Winter Backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail

2008-02-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

Chad, Jim, Kat, Sam and Todd on an overnighter at the Gooseberry Multi-group Campsite along the Superior Hiking Trail, February 23rd and 24th, 2008.

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Chad and Sam headed up to the Split Rock Wayside, Sam with his pack and Chad with his pulk sled and hiked the six miles to the Gooseberry State Park headquarters. They arrived around 14:30 with plans to meet Jim, Kat and Todd at 15:00. Food was consumed outside the headquarters in the sun and the rest of the group arrived in a timely fashion. Everyone quickly gathered their gear and hit the trail for the 2.7 mile jaunt to the campsite.

The trail was packed powder having seen dozen of pairs of snowshoes previously in the season and made for easy walking. Chad vocalized he wished he hadn't added the fins to his pulk sled but seemed to maneuver it well regardless. Snowshoes weren't necessary but the crampons on them were handy for the ups and downs.

Arrival in camp was around 16:30-ish and everyone immediately set up their camps. Kat and Todd put up their respective tents, Jim rigged up his tarp and Sam and Chad laid down their bivies. All was set before dark and next, out came the cooksets. Food was warmed and snow melted for the evening and next day's water. Chad and Todd masterfully created a fire around which everyone sat, warmed and conversed for a couple of hours.

Winter camping is synonymous with early bed times and most hit the hay around 20:30. The stars were brilliant and the moon was very, very bright. No headlamp was necessary for potty breaks in the night. But the lack of clouds brought tempertures into the teens.

Eleven hours later the sun was peeking through the trees to the East and bodies climbed from their cocoons into the crisp morning air. Oatmeal, granola and coffee was warmed up, warm clothes were donned and the warmth of the sun put smiles on the campers faces. Everyone had eaten and packed for the trail by around 9:45. A little over an hour later we arrived back at Gooseberry headquarters, did some car shuttling, took a final group photo and were on our way home.

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Everybody Blogs

2007-10-31T05:37:00.000-06:00

Everyone is very much so into checking the latest RSS feed of all their favorite friends and online heroes so I decided I'd best enter the blogging world for real. Although I've played around with blogs for quite some time now I finally decided to incorporate one into my Web site.