Snowshoe!

We have a fairly heavy snowfall mid-week. There seems to be enough snow on the ground to pull out my new toys: a set of MSR snowshoes.

I try them on, testing them walking on my deck. They're unwieldy, feeling clumsy. I'm not so sure about this but looking forward to giving them a try.

I head to a local park and strap them on. The learning curve is about: 10 steps !!! Snowshoeing is fun! Just like hiking, but you have to pick up your feet more. (Which is something I'll say to myself several times over the course of the week-end.) It's like walking on mermaid tails. If you don't pick up your feet enough, you'll trip yourself.

I end up spending two hours out on the trails. It's great exercise, quite exertional.

There were very few people out at the park; it was eerie.

Still Can't Get Outside Enough

Two more week-ends in January have temps below freezing during the day (my threshold) and/or snow and rain. I'm getting antsy. I loved the calm, peaceful, relaxed state-of-mind I achieved by my week-ends outdoors, as well as the confidence and sense of self-sufficiency. I'm eager to get out; but stymied by the weather.

Fortunately, I get outside for some time during most every week-end. And 2-3 times a week, I escape for a walk at lunchtime. I'm getting some sunshine, but not enough.

Scouting Out a Trail

I've been invited by a group to participate in their leadership training. I'll start leading hikes / outings in the spring. I plan to start with something I am very familiar with. I map out a route around the Savage Park area. Today, I plan to scout out my chosen route and see how it works.

And it's a good thing I've decided to do that.

The park is a mess. The county is doing sewer work. Much of the section were my selected trails wind through are now closed off and dug up. Heavy equipment has been moved in. Portions of the trail have been re-routed, onto paved paths. The only way to get a decent hike in is to do portions of 1-2 miles each, driving to get to each section. That's not going to work.

I'm going to have to cancel plans for my very first outing.

Morgan Run Environmental Area / Hike

Participating in a day-long course on camping meant that ... there was no time to actually go camping. So with a free morning on hand for the week-end, on the spur of the moment, I joined up with a group hiking at Morgan Run Environmental Area.

This is the group that hikes "for time" in my perception, covering ground as quickly as possible. But it was a new area for me, and I preferred to explore it with a group. Also, the hikes was billed at 7 miles, my longest to date. I was excited about the outing.

It was a brisk pace. Either I'm getting fitter, or using both trekking poles helped (or a combination of both ideas), but I was able to pretty much hang with the group. It was an exertion, but I didn't fare badly.

There is still snowfall on the ground. The trail wound back & forth through fields and delved into a wooded area, in some sections alongside a stream. There wasn't much elevation gain except for a climb out of the stream valley.

We stopped for a lunch break in the sun. Carrying my "10 Essentials" paid off, as I unwrapped my emergency blanket to use as a groundcloth.

It was a nice winter outing.

"Essential Camping Skills" Seminar & Outing

January, 2011

So far in January, there are no opportunities for sleeping outdoors. The temps are in the 20s; I could handle that for the night as long as temps were above freezing in the daytime. I have a place picked out that is close, and has year-round camping; but I'm hampered by the weather. Besides the cold, it's been snowing or freezing rain on the week-ends. Luckily, there's usually been a window of some time available for daytime fun.

On this week-end, I participate in an all-day outing teaching the essentials of camping: how to choose a back-country campsite; where to set your tent in relation to streams, your "kitchen", etc.;  how to use water treatment systems; a demonstration on cook stoves.

I had been busy at work, and didn't think this through. I knew it was all day; but I hadn't planned that we'd actually be hiking somewhere in order to set up camp. My own fault. In addition, I want some help understanding all the gidgets and gadgets on my tent; they suggest I bring it with me. So for the first time, I'm actually backpacking with a load. I have my non-waterproof trail running shoes on, rather than waterproof hiking shoes. Even so, I'm pleased - I did well physically. Though I was glad to get the pack off, I didn't feel overly burdened by it. I was able to keep up a decent pace.

The day was chilly and overcast, but hiking kept us warm. The two instructors were personable and very  knowledgeable. My short, local forays into car camping paid off. I felt comfortable with the group, knew what they were talking about, and could assimilate more information than just the basics. I was prepared with very specific questions. I learned how to use a camp stove and have bought one since then!

I also learned more about the proper way to hang bear bags; emergency supplies to pack (just one example: dental floss for sewing repairs), and more specific tips on eating properly - especially for a good night's sleep!

"Winter Camping" Seminar

Fresh on the heels of reading the "AMC Guide to Winter Hiking and Camping", I attend a seminar on the topic. This ends up being a wondrously fun hour. The instructor covers the basics of clothing, cooking supplies, and tent/sleeping gear.

But apparently, he spends more nights outdoors than indoors. I can't wait to learn where and how to do this. Hopefully, there are places closer to home than backpacking in the Shenandoah, at least a 4-hour drive away. But his method is far more adventurous than I care to be. He finds out-of-the-way spots,  like farm fields and road clearances where he can just quickly pitch a tent, or even just "camp" in his car. He even uses his camp stove in his car.

Though he has lots of fun stories to share with us, it's just not practical for me.

"AMC Guide to Winter Hiking and Camping"

I devour this book with energy. It's stuffed full of information I need to know - the essentials of staying safe, warm, and uninjured in harsh conditions. This knowledge is the difference between having fun outdoors in the winter vs survival. Everything from planning, getting to and from the adventure, eating and dressing properly, gear, tent and sleeping supplies ... The more I learn, the more aware I am of what can go wrong out in the cold. But the knowledge also gives me more confidence, and builds the enthusiasm to get outside - even in winter.