Share the sence of wonder.

There are those who live in families who are not very in-tune with nature. They are raised half blind, not seeing the wildness and wonder around them because they have been taught that such things are insignificant. Raised like that, you just don't know how to look and observe. When the closest they get to nature is a round up sprayed back patio its like a life half lived and incomplete.
My neighors 10 year old son reminds me a lot of my little brother (now in the NAVY) and with his mother's permission I am taking him hiking and showing him what I know and have learned as a forester and from my own studies and observations of the woods, fields, marshes, and streams. Nathan is 10 and he's excited about his first hike, next weekend. He's seen pictures in my house of the trails Mr. Hyper and I hike. I've taught him about the 10 essentials and told him to bring a note book and pen so that he can keep a journal of what he learns. I've showed him the beaver dam in his own back yard and a robin's nest with 3 pretty eggs within that was in easy view of his back patio he'd not noticed. There is a spark there. I can see it. The boy is realizing there is more to life then he ever dreamed about. He's begging me to take him backpacking. I told him latter, after we do some day hiking and it's warmer--His mom, a good friend of ours, is OK with it all--
I'd like to give a kid an opportunity I never had growing up. I never even KNEW backpacking existed until I was 17 or 18! But when I realized there was such a thing I knew that's what I wanted to do. The older boy doesn't show much interest at all, he likes golf and school and that's about all. And the girl is far too young for hiking (not yet 2 years old) so Nathan will go hiking with us. I challenge everyone out there to take a kid hiking :) Just don't forget the ten essentials!

Cat Hair

1*, feels like -19*, W 20 mph wind, partly cloudy, BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY, WIND CHILL ADVISORY, WINTER STORM WATCH

Remember, if you are out and about walking this morning, that cat hair is an essential part of staying warm. Make sure you have some on your balaclava---

Thanks, Charlie.

31*, feels like 22*, 78% humidity, S 10 mph wind, fair

I met a new friend this morning, early. His name is Charlie. Charlie Horse. I'm sure someone out there must know him. He came over unannounced and uninvited but made himself known real fast. I had to shout and jump out of bed to handle the surprise visitor. But that's OK, because I'm not usually up before that magical time right before sunrise that I enjoy so much but just can't seem to wake up for anymore.

Yes, I really am a morning person. Morning is my favorite time of day but since I get home latish from work, I tend to sleep in or I wouldn't get near enough hours of sleep every night. So, having been rudely awakened, I couldn't get back to sleep, I decided to go for a walk instead to enjoy the morning.

The first thing I noticed when I headed out was that the air temperature was notably more mild then it has been for a while. And had there been no wind, I wouldn't of needed hat and gloves to keep comfortable. The snow was soft, not crunchy and hard.

I walked through the neighborhood to the bike rail-trail and walked along the county line to Hobart section which heads south and is quite short, I think around a mile tops. I walk through the snow, past the baptist church and the corn field behind it, past a big red barn, lots of those oaks that hold onto brown leaves all winter, and snow covered marshes. I came to a spot that seemed very pretty this morning. there is a creek that runs through a marshy spot which the trail looks down over through the trees. Everything but the moving water was covered in snow with grassy snow island clumps dotting the middle of the stream. There were about a dozen ducks swimming around in circles, quacking and chatting to one another as the golden glow of the sunrise reflected off the water. It was quite a sight, and of course I had decided not to bring my camera along with me this time thinking that there wouldn't be anything worth taking pictures of. So I stood there, leaning against the railing along the trail, absorbing it all in until the golden glow faded off the water. I called it a morning and tuned around, walking back home the way I had come.

Its the Eve of 2008, Happy new year!

31*, feels like 23*, 96% humidity, NNE 8 mph wind, Light Snow

This is the last day of my old ways---That's the hope that everyone has every year with their new resolutions. It is my hope as well. Starting tomorrow, things that have passed these lips to find a home on my hips will have to start packing up and going bye-bye. In the living room, waiting future wear and tear are my exercise gear-- the new things I bought, and some old forgotten things that have gathered dust for a little too long. In the closet, backpacking gear waits patiently for the first trails of the year. My bike waits in the shed for warm day riding. I am gearing up for my "eat local" self-challenge, and a year of creatively finding ways to cut costs AND improve my life.


I will leave you with a little song I love.

Oh Nuts

38*, feels like 34*, 68% humidity, SE 5 mph wind, fair

Today the healthy habit schedule suggested having a handful of crunchy nuts for a snack. So I replaced a bag of chips or candy with a handful of cashews which is what I had on hand. So from now on, instead of something like chips, I have to reach for the nuts.

I also found another healthy habit calender in a magazine I subscribe to, and since I think this is kind of fun, after this one is completed I will continue on with that one.

At walmart today, I bought an exercise ball and a resistance band. I've wanted them for a long time since I see in all the magazines lots of exorcises that use both these items but I just couldn't justify buying them before. I had 2 1o dollar gift certificates to walmart and I had just enough to cover both items.

This weekend, I am going to have to get all my work out gear together in one place, in view so that I am reminded daily to work out. Also, I need to set time aside for this on a calender of my own and figure out what kind of routine I want. After all, the new year is right around the corner....

Trip Report Part 3

Sunday Morning

It was pitch black outside. If there was a moon out I could not see it through the trees though I saw a few stars. With my headlamp, I resumed the trail feeling OK and ready to hike. It was 4 a.m. according to my watch, Chicago time. I followed the trail blazes stopping at each tree to locate the next with very little difficulty through the forest down then up a gently graded hill until I reached a stream where I stopped to filter water as I was out and to try to eat some breakfast. I managed a piece of string cheese and a small handful of dried berries. After nearly losing pieces of my water filter into the stream, I packed up and headed to the trail again which promptly crossed the stream. Here I lost all traces of blazing. But to my left, was obviously a trail. This had to be it as sometimes the trail curved around without warning and you had to be eagle eyed to spot it.

The trail widened out, and was obviously well used so I continued down it. It was kind of rocky, steep and the footing tricky in the dark but I figured I was making pretty good time, much better then I had been yesterday. I passed some gated dripping mine, where I could hear the echos of water trickling in the darkness, startled a couple of birds from a conifer, and a pretty big rabbit got out of my way in a hurry. After a while I thought I saw lights ahead, you know the gentle glow of a lamp inside tents. I was excited. Perhaps this was camp! I was rather proud of myself for finding it in the dark. But as I neared, I saw that it was only my light reflected back at me from reflective rectangles on a gate that crossed the trail. There was a sign that had a little hiker on it, so perhaps this was still the trail? I KNEW I should of gotten my map out, but I didn't. Lesson learned. I walked a little further and the hill bottomed out in a graveled and very wet parking area nestled at the base of cliffs and between forest. It was very cold down here where the chill had settled. There were 2 pick up trucks, a blue one and a red one. The red one obviously belonged to someone with off road vehicles so crossed that one off the list of possibly being one of our group's cars. The other might of been Mataharihiker's, but it was only a guess. I had no idea what her vehicle had looked like. I set out to wait a while, my knee was hurting anyway, so I laid out my blue pad, propped myself against my pack and tried to take a nap.

Being too cold to nap, and the cold ground making my injury ache, I stood and walked about a lot. I watched the sun rise, as the sunlight colored the rocks and yellow leafed trees but it never reached down where I was. I longed for the touch of the warm sun rays. I questioned myself whether I should keep walking to the road the parking area was attached to, several times. Once I heard a car pass somewhere down the hill. I took off my cold wet boots and changed socks, tried to warm up and debated on getting into my sleeping bag or getting up and going to the road. But that question was answered for me when a white van drove up.

There were two men in the front seats who pulled onto the grass and got out. I struggled stiffly to my feet.

"Are you just coming or going?" The driver asked. I hadn't asked them their names, I wished I had as soon as they had left me.

"Actually, I have no idea." I told them. "I'm kind of missing my group. I got hurt yesterday and had tried to catch up this morning and took a wrong turn"

They looked at one another making a silent, psychic decision. They offered to help me, and I showed them my map, where a logical place for someone to find me from the group would be. "We have cars parked here" I said. "I can wait for them there, someone from my group will be sure to go there." It was the historic town site. Settled, they grabbed my gear and threw it into the van shoving hunting gear aside to make room. I climbed in beside my gear behind them, amid a cooler full of drinks and food, and guns all over the place. They turned the heat full blast, I guess my chattering teeth was loud enough to wake the dead. If you have a few hours to wait for your friends, we could go to lake of the clouds for some drinks and food" they offered. I laughed, "no thanks, they would hate me if they were searching for me and I was out having a good old time in town"

"Do you have enough food and water?"

"yes. Plenty" I said as the driver took us onto Victoria road and drove like a maniac. Every bump we'd hit we'd nearly hit the ceiling with our heads.

I asked them where they were from, they were locals and they plied me with questions about seeing any game, them asked if I had a gun, and if not, why not.

"She's probably one of those vegetarian types who's against hunting" the passenger said, a thinner, dark haired man with a hawk nose and sharp eyes.

"I've no problem with hunting" I told them. "I've wanted to learn to hunt for a while."

"Its us hunters who keep this place funded you know" he said. "Its us who care about this place. Still, you should carry a gun. There are bears"

"The bears are shy, they are hunted here" I told them, not worried about bears.

"That doesn't make a difference if you get between mom and her cub. In fact just last week sometime a hunter was in a tree stand, up went cub, mom climbed up after him and killed that guy."

In no time at all, the driver navigated us into territory I recognized, past a familiar clear cut. and to the town site where they grabbed my gear and propped it against the closed visitor center. The driver reached up into an apple tree and plucked an apple for himself, took a bite, proclaimed it pretty good and plucked a couple of them for me which I would of loved had I had a decent appetite. I offered gas money, which they declined, saying that they would hope others would do the same for them, and they took off. They had bird and rabbit to hunt and they had been eyeballing the clear cuts when we drove past.

I stretched out my wet gear on the wooden porch, where there were hundred of dead lady bugs scattered, and the sun beamed perfectly down on me and my stuff. It felt so good! I took a couple bites of apple and tried to eat some more food. I managed half a tortilla with some mustard spread on it. I was enjoying my warm spot and meager lunch when Prosecutor drove up with Dhutch as a passenger. Prosecutor had a grin on his face. I guess they were glad to have located me. We talked a few minutes, and he explained the change of plans for the night's camp. He talked me into being dropped off with him a mile from the nights camp. It's only a mile. An easy mile. Much better then staying at the shelter here. OK, I was convinced. I let him zip me away from my sunny spot. We met Mataharihiker at another road exit, picked her up and dropped her off at her car, perfect timing!

For the most part, the mile WAS easy, would of been a quick jaunt up a nicely graded hill for one with two nicely working legs. It started out flat, then wound its way up and around an oak covered hill. For the most part it was well blazed, though I did have some downed trees to climb over and hidden rocks to watch out for. By the time I made it to the top, Prosecutor had already set up his bivy and tarp in the best spot on the hill. I came into camp and he was ready to go back down for a beer run.

Alone, I set up my tent which took far too long, and threw my stuff in. I tried to rest, but the ground made my leg ache, so I stood and walked around instead. Mataharihiker soon joined me up on the hill and took her time "farting around" as she called it, putting up her hammock shelter. I watched her out of curiosity. Two hikers not related to our group came through camp and talked for a few minutes. They'd been out for 6 days, retirees that didn't have to worry about going to work the next day. Lucky bastards. Soon enough members of our own group began to show up. Mugsy was first. "Cockapooooooooo!" I called and he stampeded into camp ahead of his trail partner Chinmusic who was glad to see me and greeted me with a pretty good hug. I don't quite remember the order in which people showed up, but everyone was together perhaps for the first time this entire trip, in camp. Prosecutor started a fire, and it started to rain and get cold and windy. Though I wanted to hang out and socialize, to hear Randall's crazy story telling, the wind and damp and sitting on the ground was just too much for me. I went to my tent and listened from there for a while. I ate a snickers bar to warm up, and snuggled in for the night occasionally waking to loud laughter and roaring from something Randall was saying.

I spent way too much time in the horizontal, and got up early Monday morning. I packed up and skipped breakfast and got an early start after watching the sunrise from the hill and as soon as it was light enough to NOT get lost. I knew I would be slow and I cursed several times when I kept stepping into holes hidden by fallen leaves. Still, I must not of done so poorly as I was still the first to the car shortly followed by Chinmusic and Mugsy and everyone else except for Mataharihiker who likes to take her time in camp.

We said our good byes, packed up and squeezed into vehicles. It would be a long ride home, but it gave me plenty of time to reflect on this crazy trip.

Trip Report Part 2

Saturday Morning:

I got up before first light and began to pack up inside my tent as I had crap sprawled out everywhere in hopes to dry some things with no luck. I packed things wet. Outside the tent, others had already gotten up as early risers. The stars were out. It would prove to be a nice sunny day for us. I ate a granola bar for breakfast that REALLY sucked and that I will never buy that brand ever again in my life, finished packing up and hit the trail before anyone else. I stopped at a near by stream to pump water before continuing on. The trail this morning was very tricky to find. You would be on it one moment and not on it the next. Blazes were few and far between with lots of downed trees, broken marks, and lots of game trails criss crossing the hiking trail. I had to do a LOT of backtracking. The trail was not especially steep, but it was difficult footing none the less, that wore me out after a while. The footing was made more treacherous by all the leaves hiding things that wanted you to break an ankle and everything was slick. It was interesting the different things the trail took me through. Sometimes it went through these relatively flat areas where I could go into cruise mode, sometimes, there was lumpy ground, with large puddles to trudge through and lots of downed trees, other times it was strait up hills or down them, along ridges, and along rocky bluffs with views, where I ran into a couple members of our missing group, Hubcap and Chinmusic with his most awesome trail dog Mugsy. One place the trail turned into a very rocky section, and climbed over the bottom of what looked like a rock slide area. The rocks were loose and this is where I tweaked my right knee and fell pretty good. Here i had to sit a while to let the shock of that go away and to wrap my quickly swelling and bruised knee with an ace bandage. I took some pills, some pictures of the crime scene, and forced my way on. It was just shortly after this in a wooded semi flat area that I paused for a moment that a couple of our group caught up to me. Dhutch stopped for a smoke and I took the time to take my pack off and guzzle water. They hurried on and I started again soon after. More and more group members passed me up as I was going a snails pace now, it had to be less then a mile per hour it seemed like.
The trail returned to nice views, crossed a couple streams that I was hoping would be Gleason Falls where everyone had talked about stopping for lunch. No one was stopped there so I continued on until afternoon. Really dragging, I stopped to try to eat something and forced down some dried berries, a piece of cheese and part of a tortilla. It helped some, but I still was going a snails pace. I finally came to a bigger stream and saw most of the group there, either filtering water or exploring the side trail to the falls. I SO wanted to see the falls, I'd been looking forward to them all day but as I dropped my pack to filter water I knew I did not have it in me to use the extra energy it would take to walk up there and back with the way my knee was feeling. At this point I had quit having fun and I wanted only to get to camp. It couldn't be much farther NOW, I said to myself. A few more miles at best....
Those last few miles seemed like hundreds of miles. Hill after hill of poorly marked trail and backtracking. Everyone was way ahead again until I came down a steep hill and saw them crossing a road bellow to a clear cutting area. I called to them bellow and Randall answered, he was drawing an arrow in the road to direct everyone the right way through. I hurried down the slick hill falling only once to catch up to a few at a stream filtering at the bottom of the hill. I followed with then through the clear cut which nearly killed me as I could not bend my leg and climb over the trees very well. I held off cursing a lot, and just gritted my teeth as Jimmy waited for everyone to get through. This last part was what really did me in that day. I knew then I would likely not make it to camp as they all hurried ahead again. I kept lying to myself to keep me going. I'll stop at 4:30 and find a spot, I lied. I'll stop at 5. I'll stop at 5:30 unless I smell camp fire. It's just one more hill.... I could go no farther and it was getting close to sunset so I found a rare but tiny flat spot that was mossy and looked comfortable enough, sheltered from wind. As I pulled out my tent, I realized I was on solid rock under that cozy looking moss. A solid mass, that would hold no stake. I dragged my tent further back butting in between two trees where I could at least get a few stakes in. At this point I didn't care any more. I threw everything inside, changed into dry clothes, tried to eat but barely got anything down again and guzzled more water. It was almost dark when JimmySan showed up at my meager camp. He offered to carry my stuff for me to camp, to convince me to join the group telling me it was .9 trail miles according to his GPS over a stream and a couple hills. I just couldn't, besides, no body carries my gear but me. Could you imagine the grief I would get from Trail Talkers if I allowed anyone else to carry my gear? No way! So Jim went on his way after I told him I'd get off the trail in the morning with Mataharihiker and Dhutch and planned to get an early start to not keep them waiting for me.
It was a warm night, at least and I was comfortable so long as I kept my legs propped high on my pack all night. At one point I heard an animal scream, then coyotes yipping right outside the tent. Soon after some kind of bird started 'laughing' and sounded almost like a hysterical woman. The pills for the pain made me nauseous so about 4 am I had enough, packed up and set out to make it to the real camp.

Trip Report Part 1

Thursday night: I left work at 11 pm with my husband who drove me over an hour into Illinois to my friend Jim's house where I would surf his couch for the night.

Friday Morning: Woke up around 5:30 to get ready for the trip. We hoped to leave at 6 am as it is a long drive up through Wisconsin to the UP of Michigan. "Randall" was the first to arrive this morning, and then the late comer, "Hubcap', arrived 15 minutes after 6. We loaded our gear into the back of Jim's pickup in black bags to keep everything from getting wet. A good thing as it rained the entire drive up to the UP. Jim played Neil Young music on the radio the entire drive, and we had good conversation. We stopped 2 times for food. Randall wanted donuts and we all had a good laugh when we spotted a naughty novelties store that advertised videos, sex toys, and bakery goods. I don't have to mention the cream filled donut jokes the guys were making... We did not shop there, instead we went into a gas station and got some breakfast before hitting the road again. For lunch we stopped for fast food. Though I didn't eat much. I was actually kind of car sick on the ride up the entire time and would have to look strait ahead or close my eyes sometimes when I got too queasy. The fall colors in Wisconsin were amazing. Reds, golds, browns, dazzled us as we drove by despite the doom and gloom of the wet weather. By 4 we had reached the Old Victoria Historic Site that was our start for the trail. Randall, Hubcap and I tumbled out of the truck and pulled on rain gear and packs. I think I got soaked just doing that. Good thing I was especially anal about putting everything in water proof bags inside my backpack! That would prove to be a real lifesaver :). Jim left with the truck to go meet "Dhutch"at the other end of the trail and Randall and Hubcap decided between themselves who would stay and wait for them. I am a slow hiker and wanted to hurry on to camp so I let them volunteer. I could of sworn Randall had decided to stay, so I said I would go on ahead while the 2 of them seemed to be chatting. It was still raining and I didn't like standing still in it getting cold. It was much better to be moving in the rain. The blazes were well spaced and the trail easy to follow up the hill. Though the trail was sodden and wet, I was so far enjoying it. I saw Jim's pick-up zoom by through the trees where the road must of been and waved but he didn't see me.
I made my way to an old building that looked to be some old mining building that was pretty cool. I took my time playing around there taking pictures and trying to locate where the trail went from there, half expecting the guys to have caught up to me by then. Studying the placement of the blaze, I decided the trail went right through the doors of the building, and low and behold I stepped out the other side and it was there, though partially hidden. I walked down a curving hill around some more ruins, little more then part of a stone wall, and really had to start paying attention as the blazes seemed to either be missing or covered by lichen. I came to a gravel road and found the blazes again on the other side and it took me a short distance along a road and Vitoria town which was nothing but what looked like a few homes. I crossed another road and saw a painted blaze just down the road. I followed that not realizing that this was a forester's mark instead of the real blaze which happened to be ten feet away and the same color exactly. I should of known better. I followed these blue marks along the edge of a clear cut, scrambling over downed trees, branches, scrub and rubble. The terrain became steeper and steeper as it went back into the woods. I managed to half slide and climb up several steep hills, then with a wrong step slid down an impossibly steep ravine. Standing in almost knee deep rushing water at the bottom I had a real OH SHIT moment of panic, especially when I realized that steep side was too muddy and steep to climb out, and so was the other side. Almost sheer walls. The fact that I could of easily broken a leg did not escape me either. I considered my options. Calling for help, blowing my whistle. None of those would do me much good as I could see. The only way to get out would have to be by my own means. If I followed the stream down, it would likely take me to the big lake, if I followed up, I could maybe find a less steep way to climb out. This is what I did. I was soaked to the bone, and needed to move or end up freezing, so I scrambled through the water a short distance and began to use small trees to help climb out. At last!!! I climbed up onto a narrow ridge between that ravine and another and brought out my map and compass while I caught my breath to try and figure out where I had gone wrong. I followed that ridge back to the clear cut and cross-contryed over to the other side where I saw power lines, power lines that I knew parallelled Victoria road. Once I got to the road I followed it back down hill to where I had taken the wrong blaze and low and behold, 10 feet past the false blaze was the real blaze! Boy did I feel like a dope! From there I hurried along until I smelled the acrid smoke of a campfire just being lit and saw "Prosecutor" standing at the top of a hill. He waved and I waved back. CAMP!!
I was sure the others were there before me, but to my surprise, my party wasn't there yet. They MUST be lost too, I thought, kinda worried but sure they would find their way out like I did. I met "Cow Patty" and "Mataharihiker" and set up my tent. By then it had finally stopped raining and I could set up without worrying about getting my dry gear wet and the things I was wearing could dry out a bit. I enjoyed the amazing view, warmed by the fire, and had something to eat and drink as we related our day's experiences.
As it grew dark, Prosecutor went out to try to direct the others into camp. Matiharihiker set up a small lantern in a tree to guide people in but after a while still no one came. Prosecutor had gone all the way back to the road but found no one so he'd come back.
After a while, tired of being damp, I changed into dry clothes and snuggled to sleep in my bag. I woke up shortly after when I heard Jim's voice and Dhutche's voice. Boy was I glad to hear them! I left my warm cocoon-y goodness and went to visit them around the fire a moment, making sure they were OK. I was worried about them. Jim said he knew where everyone was camped, and that put me at ease. What a start!

I'm all packed....

My pack weight with food and water is 33 lbs. That's heavier then normal for me but with such variable weather, I did not want to go light with the shelter and clothes. My normal packed weight is 22-25 lbs. I leave tonight, to crash at my friends house on the couch whom I will ride share to the trail with. It should be wet, but a good old time!

Trip Preperation: Gear

Gear is the most important part of backpacking--It can make a difference between enjoying your trip or coming back miserable.

Since the weather in the mountains is just about guaranteed to be crazy this time of year, I will not be skimping on gear to make my pack lighter. I may have to wait out storms in my shelter, so I have opted for a tent instead of a bivy this time. Waiting out a storm in a bivy is not that great of an idea. So, this is the basics of what I am taking:

Mountain Hardwear PCT2 tent
REI women's downtime 15* bag
Blue sleeping pad cut to about 3/4 size
Homemade alcohol stove and heet as fuel
water filter
Kelty Comanche 4300 backpack
flat stake(as a digging tool) and TP, and other toiletries
Petzel headlamp
boots
First Aid stuff
Compass, maps, whistle
small folding knife
food (see below)
titanium spork and cooking pot
clothes line
bear bagging line
clothes---not decided on yet
lighter/matches
sack for hanging food