Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Backpacking But Were Afraid To Ask...

Thanks to Pamela, I had no idea that a few of you may not be familiar with backpacking, especially if you do not live in a mountainous area or if it is not a pastime among your children or grandkids. 

Backpacking is an adventure-filled hobby or sport, that requires pricey specialized equipment. It isn't camping!  To start with, you need a sturdy backpack that you can carry on your back. Think of yourself as a pack animal. I'm not referring to a regular backpack. This should be a lightweight, but durable backpack with a frame, as you will be carrying essentials such as a tent, sleeping bag, bedrolls, food, water, extra clothing, a first aid kit, and whatever else is necessary for survival. The weight on your back usually ranges from 30-40 pounds.

An excellent pair of hiking boots is a must-have, and sometimes it's advisable to carry two pairs if you plan to be away for an extended period, like hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Extra socks too. A tent, which is different from the kind you use when camping, will weigh less than 6 lbs and I believe his tent is 3 lbs. The sleeping bag will be around 2 lbs. Plus there is a liner that offers extra insulation from the cold. There's a lightweight camp stove that weighs approximately 2 lbs, and special canisters of fuel that are also lightweight. 

Foodie carried the extra weight of snow shoes on his trip, but they don't count towards the weight if he wears them. However, if he is packing them, they are 6 lbs. He has a water purifier to ensure safe drinking water, and he also carries a GPS to navigate. 

He is very experienced and has been backpacking/hiking since he was around 12. My dad was an adventurer, backpacker, and mountain climber, so both sons inherited those genes -  I guess. I have them to a degree—a very small one as I get older.  My husband in his younger days, also backpacked and mountain climbed. 

I usually am cool with it, but because this is the first time he is snowshoeing or backpacking in the snow, yeah, it has me on alert. On his behalf, he has been researching this for months, so he doesn't go in blindly. Of course, anything can happen. I try not to worry about this because 9.99 times out of 10, I just wasted my time. I'll deal with whatever happens when it happens, God forbid. That's just how I choose to roll. 

So there you have it - 

Take Care

Debby

This and That on a Friday

These white Irises are blooming, and there will be more to come. 

On my hill, these bushes bloom with pretty white flowers. I looked them up, and they are called Rosa Multiflora. They are also known as Seven-Sisters Rose, Rosa Rugosa, or Japanese Rose. Once again, this is one of the many plants my dad planted on the hill. They only bloom once a year—in the Spring. The rest of the year, they are just a green bush. 

Foodie and I went out yesterday - he was picking up last minute things for his backpacking/snowshoeing adventure. While we were out, I had said, I liked this water bottle and he bought it for me. It's a pretty coral color. 

He's on his way...He takes the bus just outside this mountain town - then there is a road he gets off at, and then he will proceed to his hike. I believe he said it is at the 5000-foot elevation. He is organized and tries to think of every scenario. His pack with everything weighs 30 lbs. The snow pack will be from 3-4 feet to 16 feet. So that would mean he will be sleeping on the snow. I couldn't/wouldn't do that, but he has these sleeping pads that should protect him from the cold. We'll see. This is a first for him - to be hiking in the mountains in early spring with snow on the ground. He returns on Tuesday. 

What can I say? He is an adventurous guy - who loves these types of challenges and has always said, he felt he was born in the wrong century. 

 Mommy, Mommy my feet are growing faster than I am!!

 Kool April Nites is today - but the husband wanted to check it out this morning. They actually don't kick it off until 4pm downtown. We won't be going as we have tickets to a Jazz Concert. 

One of my favorites -

What "car song" is your favorite? 

This morning, downtown was sparse - no cars yet and only vendors setting up. 

On our way back to the car I wanted to take a look at the new Bike Depot 

that has not fully opened yet - 

Some bikes are there to rent 

It seems that there will be lockers available inside the depot, as well as trail maps to help navigate the area. Additionally, there will be a coffee and snack shop, as well as a quick repair area for minor bike repairs such as changing a tire. For more intensive work, there are bike shops located nearby the depot.

This is one of the gates - to the courtyard.

 I thought this was creative. 

This is what it will look like when completed. 

Pretty flowers on the side of the Bike Depot. 

The brick is from the old police station that was demolished to construct the current building. 

Before the police department, the building was a fire station which is evident from the shape of its doors that were designed to accommodate the old-fashioned water pump trucks that were used in the 1880s. There were several of these doors, but the photo does not show all of them.

Many people were upset about the demolition of the building and some suggested that it be turned into a fire truck museum. However, the building was plagued with problems such as leaks and sewer issues that were deemed too expensive to repair. The city ended up selling it for scrap at a price of $600,000.

My book came yesterday! I haven't been able to dig in just yet. I plan to read it with a highlighter pen and highlight every one of my ancestors. 

Now, this is FUN!

_______________

The A-Z is winding down. 

For your weekend reading...The latest posts...

San Quentin 

A few Famous People in my Tree

Ohio

Native American Ancestry

Grand Mikey

Clan Lamont

varoom varoom

Banana Fanna Hodgepodge

 

1. What's a skill you think everyone should have? 

Learning to read. It's like the magic key that unlocks a whole world of information and opportunities for everyone. Whether it's books, articles, or even just signs on the street, being able to read gives us the power to understand and learn from the world around us.

2. Do you have a special place or organizational system for gift wrapping? Do you still buy 'real' cards to send for birthdays, anniversaries, get-well wishes, etc.? 

I don't enjoy gift wrapping, so I prefer using gift bags instead. I no longer support the big greeting card corporations, as I find it to be a bit of a racket. Too expensive.  Instead, I like using small note cards and writing a sincere message inside, scripture or a poem. I believe that those types of cards are the most endearing.

3. It's National Banana Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite thing to make with bananas or, if you're not a cook, your favorite thing to eat that contains banana? 

I like bananas. Banana nut bread and banana pudding.

 And no, I won't be celebrating. lol

 

 

4. Do you believe in second chances? Elaborate. 

Do I believe child rapists and pedophiles deserve a second chance? Most of them would believe they do. 

What was the offense? A career criminal? A mass murderer? A teenager who robbed an elderly person? A child who stole candy from the store? The husband who cheated on his wife? 

God is the God of second chances, isn't He? Repentance is the answer. Without repentance, there is no second chance. 

 

5. What is your idea of fun? 

Anything that is fun to me. 

My fun may not be your fun...

 

 and vice versa!

Dancing in the Rain by Emma Smith

Raindrops falling from the sky,
A symphony upon my face,
I skip and twirl, laughter unfurl,
In nature's sweet embrace.

Splashing through puddles, wild and free,
With every step, I feel alive,
The raindrops dance, and so do I,
Through joy, my spirit thrives.

In life's downpour, I'll never cower,
I'll dance with all my might,
For in these moments, pure and bright,
I find my purest delight.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The book I ordered can't be found anywhere but Barnes and Noble. Amazon does not have it, or I would have ordered it from them. It's a specialty book, and there is not a lot of demand for it. Barnes and Noble have reached out to me, and I hope they will resolve the issue. 

I have one or two more BSF classes. I will miss them, but I'm looking forward to that extra morning to finish some things. I like projects, and I haven't done any so far this year. I want to have one more morning to just sit in the sun and do some gardening. I have some painting that needs done. We want to fix up our front yard, but we have yet to sit down and draw up what we want.

It does seem like this year has flown by. 

The "Quiet" of the Morning.

Here you go Sheri. 

This morning I sat in the yard - turn up your volume and listen to my birds. I had to stay behind the fence because they're shy so you can't see them as well as I would have wanted. You sure can hear them! 

Recognize any specific bird sounds? 

In the late afternoon, around dinner time, that bird feeder is the place to be if you are a feathered friend. For the most part we have kingfishers, jays, nuthatches, mountain chickadees, robins, rock doves, finches along with hummingbirds, ravens, and woodpeckers. The other evening, I saw a pure white dove. I noticed it out of the corner of my eye due to its graceful fluttery landing on the bird feeder. It was so pretty. Yesterday morning, I saw a red wing black bird. Beautiful. Of course I was without my phone but I doubt if I could have taken it's picture. 

That's just the back yard - we have feeders and birds in the front as well. 

Roses are budding. 

I haven't planted anything yet but I plan to soon. I'm a morning "gardening person" Soon BSF will be over and that will give me an extra day. I do my grocery shopping on Friday mornings. 

I didn't know I had white Irises

I've been a bit perturbed. I ordered a research book on Scott County and its role in the Civil War. It mentions many people in my family, so I was excited about getting it. I ordered through Barnes and Noble online - they shipped it to UPS, and then UPS shipped it to USPS. 

No one knows where it is. UPS and USPS say it's not them. Barnes and Noble told me to talk to the carriers. Everyone passes the buck. Meanwhile, I don't have my book. 

When I track it, it says,

It's On It's Way!

Call me anxious, but I think I am going to order the book again—this time, skip the free delivery and pay for it. It will come faster. Then, I will either report the first one as missing or get a refund for the first one. 

I WANT THAT BOOK, BAD! 

More of the blue/purple are coming in...

I guess Foodie is leaving for his backpacking snowshoeing trip this Friday. The weather in the mountains where he is going will be clear - down to the mid 40's at night and mid 60's in the day. 

Time to grill some burgers!

Have a great evening