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What I learned in Alaska...

7/20/2020

Alaska is such an abstract concept to people in the lower 48. It holds dreams of epic landscapes, freedom and independence, and grit and challenge. It embodies all that you dream of being able to do, all you dream you might be capable of fulfilling. It holds a revered place in our hearts and minds....

Being lower on the food chain...

7/20/2020

In the outhouse overlooking Twin Lakes, Gary TItus has put a series of comic strips depicting various Alaskan backcountry humor, mostly about bears. Gary has been bluff charged over ten times and survived an attack by a grizzly about a 10 minute walk from where I sit now....

Reflections on Alaska

7/20/2020

When I think I on my time in the true wild of Alaska- 28 miles by float plane to the next signs of civilization- I ask myself what it was I was looking for and whether or not I found it. What was it I was seeking exactly? I think it is what Dick Proenneke and all of those called to Alaska are searching for.

The best way I have to explain it is to use what I found here....

2nd Best Campsites

5/3/2020

Last weekend was a big reminder of one of the most frequent backpacker experiences out there…. Rounding the corner after slogging all day only to discover that that primo, dreamed about, fantasized about all day site has been settled into by another backpacker. (Cue the let down sounds: whaaannt…whannnnt…whaannnnnt.)
Ugh! Immediately the second guessing begins. If only we hadn’t stopped for donuts. If we had left earlier. If we had hiked faster. If we had gone Friday instead of Saturday… and on and on and on. And it never fails that the sun is setting pristinely over the horizon and the glow off their tent is just right....

Gear Tips for 1st Time Backpackers

4/19/2020

There are certainly numerous ways to go about this, here’s what works for us.
Pack -The first thing to consider is what kind of pack do you need. Backpacks are sized by volume, so you need to know how many days you plan to be out on average so that you have the space you need. Most beginners start with a 3-4 night range, but this is also the time when you tend to over pack and bring everything plus the kitchen sink. My advice is to get a pack rated for 5-7 nights. You can always not fill it up. Also, you want to stay within the 20% of your body weight ratio when your pack is full. If you are a small person or out of muscular strength, you’ll be happier with a lighter pack. Remember water will be your heaviest item.

Spring Wildflowers- Making Mom Proud

4/5/2020

Almost 10 years ago, my beloved mother passed away from ALS after a very quick and hard fought battle against the disease. By then, I was 30 years old and a mom myself. My mom had the opportunity to see me marry a man my father became strong friends with for all his interesting talents and hobbies; she enjoyed meals in my home watching me try to perfect her classic recipes and helping me tweak my skills and cooking; she shook her head watching me garden and can my own vegetables wondering how I finally got interested in an art I had watched her do a thousand times, yet never seemed much interested in growing up… However, she never witnessed my love of the wildflowers she was such a pro at naming and finding.

The Kinds of People You Meet on the Trail: Protagonists & Antagonists

3/24/2020

2 x 18-25 year-olds try to cook dinner without a stove or water filter. Needless to say, they got some freebie handouts from us.

After years and years of backpacking experience, you start to be able to typecast the individuals you run across on the trail. There is definitely a dichotomy of hikers out there. It’s almost as if you are sizing individuals up as you first spot them approaching you on the trail. Maybe this is some sort of caveman self-defense mechanism to determine whether someone poses a threat to your survival. So without further ado, and correct me if I am wrong, here are some of our top memorable people met on the trail, some of which we've been ourselves.

Igloo Building 101- What not to do….

3/24/2020

In 2010, our area got a very unusual winter ice/snow event that brought our region to a screeching halt. Schools closed and road crews worked 24/7 to keep up with the grind. The first few days were a glorious respite, filled with hot cocoa, sledding, and organizational projects. Our son was 2 at the time, so our days were very routine, a cycle of story time, playtime, snack time, and nap time.

The Waterfalls of Glacier

3/22/2020

Glacier National Park was truly more beautiful than any place I’ve ever been in this country, but the surprising thing even among all that beauty was the overwhelming number of waterfalls throughout the park. On our first hike I assumed we had just chosen well, but as our trips continued, I realized that Glacier is just full of amazing waterfalls....

Does G.Z still love J.Z?

3/22/2020

Leave no trace?

Last weekend, before the world lost its mind and we were all quarantined to our homes, we had one last glorious day hike on an unexpected 60 degree spring day- the kind of day that gently nudges you out the door and reminds you that spring is indeed right around the corner. It was brisk outside, but the sunbeams soaked into our jackets and provided that unique warmth that only the sun can. The wind reminded us of its presence and we hustled on down the trail to generate some heat.

We had an amazing day, unexpected really. Hemlock Cliffs is listed at just a mile hike, so I didn’t have high hopes for adventure. I figured our hour and a half drive would feel hardly worth the effort and we’d quickly be sitting in the car again. Immediately I was mistaken....