Post by stealthytomato on Aug 24, 2016 7:47:20 GMT -8
Ho there!
At 46 I never thought I'd see myself finally getting into backpacking. My father was quite a mountaineer when I was young so it's in my blood but life has a way of taking over and here I am beginning my own adventure.
I live in the north puget sound area of Washington state (between Seattle and the Canadian border) on one of the many islands accessible by bridge. I have the sea and the mountains at my disposal and it's taken me 15 years of living here to finally get out and explore them! In the past my husband and I would tag a long on trips my brother-in-law planned out. Everything would be taken care of, we just had to show up with most of our own gear and he did the rest. Including doing everything from bear hangs to car shuttles. We really had little skill, just the ability to keep up on the trail. Barely.
I haven't worn a backpack in almost 10 years (West Coast Trail, I'm proud to say) but the Washington Trail Association's Hike-a-thon this month finally got me motivated to get of my butt and "use it or lose it"! I am done waiting for schedules and vacations to align, for hiking buddies that never materialize, for the perfect weather or when I'm "in shape". Next week I will be going on my first ever solo backpacking trip. Only over night and on a good beginners trail but I am over the moon excited. Just a gal and her dog on the trail.
While I am thrilled to be doing all this solo hiking (at 60 of my pledged 80 miles for hike-a-thon) I really do miss chatting about it with someone. So here I am! Now I can ramble on and on about trip planning or breakfast choices without my husband's eyes glazing over.
The West Coast Trail (on Vancouver Island) 10 years ago was the last multi-day trip I've done. Everything after has been short day hikes on the plethora of local trails. Only this month have I been casting my net wider to the Cascades - and loving it.
I am very much looking forward to learning from you all, getting motivated, learning of new places to go, and sharing my idiot beginner mistakes!
Stealthy Tomato (aka Charity P)
At 46 I never thought I'd see myself finally getting into backpacking. My father was quite a mountaineer when I was young so it's in my blood but life has a way of taking over and here I am beginning my own adventure.
I live in the north puget sound area of Washington state (between Seattle and the Canadian border) on one of the many islands accessible by bridge. I have the sea and the mountains at my disposal and it's taken me 15 years of living here to finally get out and explore them! In the past my husband and I would tag a long on trips my brother-in-law planned out. Everything would be taken care of, we just had to show up with most of our own gear and he did the rest. Including doing everything from bear hangs to car shuttles. We really had little skill, just the ability to keep up on the trail. Barely.
I haven't worn a backpack in almost 10 years (West Coast Trail, I'm proud to say) but the Washington Trail Association's Hike-a-thon this month finally got me motivated to get of my butt and "use it or lose it"! I am done waiting for schedules and vacations to align, for hiking buddies that never materialize, for the perfect weather or when I'm "in shape". Next week I will be going on my first ever solo backpacking trip. Only over night and on a good beginners trail but I am over the moon excited. Just a gal and her dog on the trail.
While I am thrilled to be doing all this solo hiking (at 60 of my pledged 80 miles for hike-a-thon) I really do miss chatting about it with someone. So here I am! Now I can ramble on and on about trip planning or breakfast choices without my husband's eyes glazing over.
The West Coast Trail (on Vancouver Island) 10 years ago was the last multi-day trip I've done. Everything after has been short day hikes on the plethora of local trails. Only this month have I been casting my net wider to the Cascades - and loving it.
I am very much looking forward to learning from you all, getting motivated, learning of new places to go, and sharing my idiot beginner mistakes!
Stealthy Tomato (aka Charity P)