hikingafter40

So, I truly suck at keeping a blog because, well, I get bored with it, and don't feel like writing.  Then I feel inspired and write in a flurry. In a notebook. With a pen. I don't feel it authentic to retype it all here, so, I don't. A lot has happened since my last post in August. For one, unexpectedly, I accepted a new job at the community college where I graduated and where I started my academic career 20 years ago.  As much as I love the students at Union and the opportunities I've had in New Jersey, it's time to go home. New Jersey is just too expensive, and as I think and pray constantly for my father who is battling lung cancer, I think, one day, hopefully a long time from now, but, one day, my sons are going to go through this with me.  I can't afford a future for my disabled son, Julian, in New Jersey.  He will always require a companion.  In PA, near our family, he has a chance.  Northampton is one of the best community colleges i...

Rambo and I used to debate over the important things: Thundercats versus Little House on the Prairie.  They both came on TV at 4:00, and this was the only time slot of the day when our Mom didn't have a program she was watching because she was making dinner.  Rambo, being older and much bigger, would always win the battle, but I still fought it every day. Fast forward 35 years. Neither of us watch TV.  But, the banter has never died.  It's how we roll. In the backpacking community, debates happen all the time.  To Bear Bag or Not; that is the question.  Trail runners versus boots?  Tent or hammock?  Brain, no brain?  Trekking pole versus sticks?  NOBO versus SOBO?  Is a Flip Flop a legitimate thru hike?  Aqua blazing ~  Yes or No? Every blaze or yellow blazing? Approach trail in Springer?  Can you give yourself your own trail name? I've been crowd sourcing ideas forever, and I definitely ask questions with ...

Another thing Rambo and I have in common is a love of music.  We both played bagpipes in high school, and he still does.  We both like harder rock and heavy metal in addition to classical music.  Since we don't agree on what to haul into the woods, I figured we could find some common ground and plan our "trek" playlist.  I am interested to know what other people are listening to on all these earbuds along the trail.  Are we all listening to "Uncle John's Band" by either the Grateful Dead or the Indigo Girls?  Are people listening to books on tape?  Even though I am an English professor,  I can't listen to books on tape...I will fall asleep while walking.  Other folks love podcasts.  Again, that's an instant lullaby to me.  What are you listening to? I have several playlists hanging around on Spotify.  They are broken down into moods.  Lately, I've been listening to the "contemplative" playlist.  These are the...

Yesterday, I wanted to hike, but my son, Sharpie Boy, who is Autistic and has CP as a result of an infant stroke, was having none of it.  Nothing is more miserable than hiking with someone who hates it, so I didn't force him to go. Instead, he wanted to go to Taco Bell.  The kid clearly has a stomach made of steel. I get very depressed when I can't get outside.  The weather has been horrible, so it was the first nice day to get out, and I was stuck at a Taco Bell. But, this is the life of a parent with a child with special needs.  He appreciated getting to choose our activity, and 3 burritos later, he was all smiles. So, instead, I went hiking today. Alone. This is actually my favorite way to hike.  I like to camp with others, but I prefer to hike alone. I can go at my own pace, stop when I want, take a million pictures when I want, and I am not holding anyone up or going too fast. I did a section in New Jersey that I have done about 10 times as...

So, before we carry on with one of the most controversial of hiking topics, let me preface this by saying a few things.  First, I respect whatever you believe.  I see the sides of all gun arguments, and I respect you and your opinion, and I don't expect my opinion to change yours and your opinion, while I am happy to hear it, won't impact mine. One of things that is making this hike so memorable is that Rambo and I are complete opposites in many ways.  He sees the world as a place full of criminals because he is a prison officer, and his world is, literally, filled with criminals.  I am an English professor turned administrator, so I see the world in terms of literary devices (he would say sunshine and unicorn farts).  Fair enough. I am not opposed to gun ownership.  I was taught to shoot at a very young age, and I own long arms of my own.  I've won first place the last two years (the only two years I've participated) at the annual gun cl...

I am actually heading out the door to take a hike with my unwilling 15 year old son when my phone vibrates with a text. It's Rambo. "Can you look in the hiker boxes for a Tomahawk?  I don't have one of those." My first thought was, who is putting Tomahawk missiles into hiker boxes...but then I remembered there is an axe thing called a Tomahawk, and this is Rambo. Eye Roll and laughter. I text back, "um, I will ask around, but I've never known anyone to have a Tomahawk or even a machete." "I already have one of those." "You need both?" "We've got to be prepared." So, I am not sure what my brother thinks lives on the AT in the 13ish mile section between Blue Mountain and the Lehigh River in PA, but I am fairly sure it isn't Nessie or Bigfoot.  Surely, some selfies would exist, right? I mean, we grew up there.  He still lives there.  Are there sightings?  Have I missed something in the 12 years s...

So, Rambo and I planned our route today.  Now, originally, we were going to do 4 days.  Then he said 3.  Now, we are going overnight.  LOL.  But, that's ok, as I go all the time, and can do a longer trip any time. So, this is our overall route: Day One looks like this: Day Two looks like this: He gave me his itemized packing list that had things on it I never even heard of...and when I gave him my tiny list (originally scribbled on a napkin), he pshawed at my unpreparedness.  Seriously, I don't need more than this: 65 Liter Osprey Pack with rain cover Black Diamond Trekking Poles UL Sleeping Bag (liner optional) and Thermalite sleep pad Kelty Monarch II Tent with Tyvek tarp and extra cord Pocket knife UL camp stove, Stanley pot, Titaniam spork 2 Smart Water Bottles, 1 Sawyer Mini Headlamp with extra batteries Charger + phone Ziplock wallet Waterproof matches Ziplock FAK (bandaids, Neosporin, Motrin, alcohol, tweezer...

In preparing for lashing (long ass section hiking), I need to get miles in with my gear and set up.  I've enlisted by older brother, Paul (AKA Uggie) to go on at least one backpacking trek with me, but this isn't as easy as you think it should be, but is as hilarious as you would expect it to be (people want us to go on the road as a comedy duo). Polar Opposites Paul and I are polar opposites.  His nickname in high school was "Rambo."  He (legally) owns more guns than anyone I know.  He wears camo (all the time).  He has American flags hanging all over the place, but especially near his gun cabinets.  His is a Corrections Officer; he is rabidly Republican; he is loud and shouts and yells and carries on.  He's agnostic.  He chews tobacco.  He has a giant tattoo of a wolf and cubs.  He carries his NRA membership card in place of a library card. I hug trees and save kittens. Why Bother? The thing we share, though, is a love o...

This weekend, I scheduled a MeetUp for new backpackers.  It was also the first time I have been backpacking in about 25 years.  Though I car camp from April til October, I've not had the chance to go backpacking since I began my career. 8 people signed up for the trip.  1 person attended: Kevin.  Raised in India, he and his wife have never camped, and he never saw even a "live" tent until he set up his own on Saturday.  He was amazing, though, and really took to it.  It was hard to tell if he enjoyed the experience, though, because his pack was really heavy and hurting his hips.  This is due, I think, to all the extra stuff he bought at REI that he didn't really need.  Since everything was new, it had all the packaging with it, as well, which adds weight. Friday night, I scheduled a beginning backpacking class with REI which they also opened to their customers.  Even though their job is to sell stuff, the teacher, John, did an excellent ...