hikingafter40

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...

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 ...