THE MUIR PROJECT

Anyone want to help my recreate this? (VIA Adventure Journal)


Almost There - The Muir Project from The Muir Project on Vimeo.

TUXACHANIE TRAIL

Some pictures from a November hike on the Tuxachanie Trail in De Soto National Forest.

Shopping Spree - Cabela's

Shopping spree at Cabela's, my Grandpa's dream. Pretty nice selection to choose from in the blaze or camo color schemes. I chose orange.


















Pack - Kelty Red Cloud
Knife - Bear & Son Cutlery(Some really amazing knives over at their website.)
Vest - Waxed Cotton Goose Down
Shirt - Blaze Upland Shirt
Belt - Carhartt Anvil
Pants - Cabela's Briarguard
Socks - Smartwool Medium Hiker (Previously)
Boots - Irish Setter 9" Wingshooter

(Orange is better....)

Boy's Life

Boy's Life, the magazine of the Boy Scouts of America, has been around since 1911. You can view all of the issues online at boyslife.org/wayback from past and present. Be careful, this one's a daywrecker and will have you sucked in for hours browsing old kodachrome camping pictures and reading stories. Reminds me of the vintage issues of Backpacker that you can read online, some amazing stuff there too.

Hiking Out West

Here's a few pictures I took on a hike outside of Las Vegas with my Grandpa. The big tanks are a water collection and supply system put together by the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn ('Papa Jack' is a member)for big horn sheep in the area. We didn't see any there, but we saw 45 on a cliff next to a mining project on the way out.

(Yours truly checking water levels)

Keep Your Toes Warm

I love my Smartwool socks. There are no other pair of sock more comfortable, warm, durable, and (and maybe a stretch) good looking. The pair of Hiking Medium Crew socks I bought have never let me down and show no inclination of doing so. Get a pair at the Smartwool website or at Backcountry.



For a less technical sock check out these 'Solmate Socks'. (Via Cold Splinters)

A Slight Case of Cabin Fever

Been getting Cabin Fever pretty bad of late. We had just a few days of nice weather when I could break out the shorts, now that monster storm is sweeping through and I'm freezing at 30.


A few weekends ago a few like-minded outdoor friends and I went on a one day hike in De Soto National Forest (Way better when it's not 90 degrees like last time). Everything froze over that night, with temps in the mid 20's, but overall it was a great trip and I got some great pictures I'll share here.







The Decemberists - Down By The Water

The Name, Part 3

Part 3 in the story of how I got the name. Part 1 and 2 are found Here and Here

5 o'Clock is very early for a 5th grader. 5 o'Clock is too early to eat, too early to talk, and too early to hike for a 5th grader. These arguments had absolutely no pull on the parents and teachers. We were at the trail head for Blood Mountain at 5:30 (Still no better). As we divided into groups however, we all seem to start waking up and feel the floods of excitement, waves of intrigue, and ripples of anxiety flow throughout our minds and bodies. My response, naturally, was to goof off. I started shambling around the parking lot like an old man, pantomiming a walker and a crooked back.



There it is, anticlimactic, but the story is not over yet. We still faced the 5.4 miles up and over Blood Mountain. We started, again running up the trail as if it were disappearing behind us. As we neared the top our anticipation mounted. I expected to burst through the thick April vegetation to the top of the mountain. Finally the moment came around noon, we entered onto a exposed piece of granite with a view 360 degrees of the surrounding wilderness. After marveling at the view, we ate lunch and explored the shelter. We could have stayed for days, but eventually the time came to head back down the mountain.



As we walked down I would like to say I thought of the view, the experience, the feeling of pure freedom, but I'm sure my thoughts were on my feet and stomach. Later that night, we went through our naming ceremony. We were each called up, presented our name and blessed in a traditional Native American ceremony. Most of the nicknames were funny. My friend dreux was 'Dreuxbo baggins' because of his shoe-less-ness in camp and short stature, Bradford was 'Model T-Ford' because 'He never stopped trucking' and Joseph was 'Caregiver' for his ever ready supply of band-aids and medical supplies.

This trip is one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I'm so glad it has affected me in such a positive way. (Plus I got the coolest trail name)