(I’ve titled blog posts like this before. You have to know by now that I’m being a dork. And just in case any actual researchers are reading this, there are no drug spoilers in this post.) “Wanna go take drugs and sleep at 14,000 feet?” Dustin asked one afternoon about a month ago. Because this … More Doing drugs and sleeping high (for science!)
“When I ask if you’d want to do this with us again,” I told Hobz, “what you should do is say, ‘of course I would! you guys are great hiking buddies!’, but then you should feel free to invent an excuse to be unable to meet us when it actually comes up next time. That way we can all stay friends.” … More Seven Days on the Appalachian Trail, Day 7: we arrive unscathed in Damascus!
Our hike today was incredibly laid-back. Well, except for how I forgot to refill my water before we left the hostel on a day with maybe no opportunities to refill so that we had to skim water off the top of a stagnant spring, and those two times we walked past hornet nests. … More Seven Days on the Appalachian Trail, Day 6: sunshine, hornets, people
“I feel crunchy today,” I mumbled over my oatmeal, which I was eating hydrated compliments of last night’s rainstorm.
“Crunchy in your clothes, or your soul?” Hobz asked. … More Seven Days on the Appalachian Trail, Day 5: hermit graves & wild mushrooms
“Are there rules?” I asked Hobz, imagining how this would have played out if we had arrived to find six people already in residence.
“No pitching your tent inside the shelter,” he said. “That’s about it.” Stories he told us over the next few days would help me understand that, if we had turned up to find the shelter already full, we would have just asked everyone to scoot over and wedged ourselves in, sad little sardines on a wooden shelf. You get real cozy with strangers on the Appalachian Trail. … More Seven Days on the Appalachian Trail, Day 4: rain, moonlight, and sharing pants
With my watch registering 7.2 miles hiked (thank gods!! only another mile to go!!) we called a break for lunch.
Hobz reviewed our progress on the trail map. “Three miles left,” he said, squinting doubtfully at the clock and then at my stupid backpack.
“Three…. whole… miles?” I whimpered. My watch is a vile traitor. I know it gives me more credit than I deserve, but this was ridiculous. I somehow managed to keep my weeping on the inside. … More Seven Days on the Appalachian Trail, Day 3: my hummingbird heart gets me there
You’re finally taking that epic national parks adventure this year. You’ve done all the planning, but there’s still one big problem: you’ve just learned that one of your favorite activities requires an advance ticket, you missed the on-sale date, and it’s already sold out. No worries. It’s usually possible to score a last-minute ticket if you know how to play the game. We’ve been in your shoes, and we’ll tell you exactly what you need to know to save your vacation. … More How to Get a Last-Minute Ticket for Going-to-the-Sun Road, Angel’s Landing, Rocky Mountain National Park, and More
Even the trail signs want to make sure you know this won’t just be a stroll in the park – though parts of it really are a lovely stroll. The trail itself isn’t heavily trafficked, so it can be a little unclear in places. Keep your eyes out for the next trail marker – there’s almost always another one in view as soon as you pass the last one.
Until you get to this rock. … More Hiking Mount Baldy, Black Hills
Thither & Yon 