Great Posts

So I haven't made any purchases yet, but I'm still looking to my friends in the Hiking forum to help, but this has got to be one of my favorite posts so far:

U S Forest Service funnies - 2008/07/24 02:20 posted by Talloutdrsygal
These are actual comments left on U. S. Forest Service registration sheets and comment cards by backpackers completing wilderness camping trips. I thought they were too funny not to pass on. Enjoy!

"A small deer came into my camp and stole my bag of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call."

"Escalators would help on steep uphill sections."

"Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to
wilderness."

"Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands."

"Ban walking sticks in wilderness. Hikers that use walking sticks are more likely to chase animals."

"All the mile markers are missing this year."

"Found a smoldering cigarette left by a horse."

"Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill."

"Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests."

"Please pave the trails so they can be plowed of snow in the winter."

"Chair lifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them."

"The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate these annoying animals."

"Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights."

"Need more signs to keep area pristine."

"A McDonald's would be nice at the trail head."

"The places where trails do not exist are not well marked."

"Too many rocks in the mountains."

Water Purification

So I've posted a question on The Hiking Forum about Steripen....

Seems that everyone thinks it's the best purification system out there, or at least everyone so far.

I just am hesitant to buy something that's a little costly, without finding out what fellow hikers think about it. Sorta was a "Tried and True or Tried and Failed?" sort of question. Swoosh, one of the guys who responds with knowledgeable and helpful information hit the nail on the head with what Steripen does, and he likes it.

I'm still looking for that "I have it and love it" post....but it's still kinda new to the market, so I'll give it a while, or I might just get it and make the post myself.


I can't believe how helpful the Forum has been. Getting all new gear is daunting, and the people at the forum are really helpful!! I've even found someone who lives near by and we're planning a trip to meet up and see if we can be hiking buddies.

We're being safe about it though, I'll be with my boyfriend, and she'll be with hers and we'll have our own camp and so on.....I've super excited about meeting someone who's passionate about hiking. If it works out, we might ditch the guys and strike out on our own for a girls hike......

The Florida Trail

So I feel like a total airhead.

In researching trails, and seeing what's nearby where I live now, in Virginia and where I'm going to school in August, Florida, I found out that one of the longest trails in Florida starts in or near my hometown.

The Florida trail is one that I have apparently grown up riding bikes down, and hiking. It begins in Gulf Islands National Seashore on Pensacola Beach. Since I can remember, my family and I have camped on the camp grounds at Ft. Pickens and I know the camp ground and the trails like the back of my hand.

In September 2004 (the weekend AFTER my birthday) hurricane Ivan destroyed much of the greater Pensacola area and I was out of school for about a month and a half. That time felt like forever in Florida heat, with no AC AND grumpy family close by. For the hurricane I stayed on Campus in the student shelter. Although my family was near by and wanted me home for this storm, I stayed with my friends and had a great time if I do say so. The night Ivan came on shore we stood back from the Common's glass doors and watched as they breathed against the dropping pressure outside. The next morning some friends and I decided to go canoeing DOWN the UWF nature trail. This trail had a lovely board walk that cris-crossed the Escambia river every now and then and was well above the water. When we went down the trail, some of the time we were canoeing over the board walk....
Anyway, it wasn't until a the next summer when a friend and I wanted to go to Fort Pickens for a few old surfs spots we used to hit that I realized that the 7 mile road from the gate to the Fort was is pieces, which meant no driving.
So Rae and I got our back packs, a SMALL first aid kit, a camera and two bikes and set out on the 7 mile one way hike.
We stopped at our old stomping grounds, and told each other about night treks to the garrison to scare tourists out for a night stroll. About brothers trying to feed us to the gators in the swamp, and about all the misadventures of the campgrounds. The camp store, the boys we met, the people we got in trouble with....
When we had road to ride on, we used it. When we didn't we pushed the bikes to the waterline and used the compacted sugar white sand as a sort of make shift road....I think it was some where between two and five miles that we did this. We hit the entrance to the Fort, and the road was back. The sea wall had done it's job and we had "walked" to what had been accessible only by boat.
At one point we thought we would have to get a boat, because the island was cut in two when the gulf decided to take a shortcut over land. But we found a way around it by finding the shallowest point and crossing our fingers that the tide wouldn't come in...
When we got to the Fort one of the Rangers asked how we had gotten there, when we pointed to the bikes and said "Half ride half push" he looked at us and said "You two girls must be in good shape, you look the least out of breath than anyone else who has hiked here. Most people are near heat stroke, and had started at 6 or 7 am."
We hadn't gotten the whim to get things together and get going until well past lunch. We just put on our bikinis, packed our bags and hoped for the best knowing we could always turn back and go home if we wanted. We lolly gagged and I think that's what made it better, we took our time and enjoyed the beach, the waves, the water, the fish and our time together (Rae had just gotten home from school, we're OLD friends from middle school, so her home was a big deal).

So to get back on track, this 7 mile one way hike was 7 miles of the Florida Trail. Seven miles of a major trail in Florida, that I knew nothing about but had grown up on. Literally, grown up on.

Not to mention the countless other miles of the Florida Trail that I "hiked" as I ran up and down the beach chasing a surf board, or a skim board, looking for shells, looking for the other half of my swim suit or running from my brother. I've no doubt been from one end of Pensacola beach to the other and through Gulf Islands National Seashore to Navarre Beach. I've found great secret surf spots that I would lug my board to because the roads were washed out. I've see houses built up by wealthy families and blown down by strong winds. All up and down on end of the Florida Trail.

My goal, is to find a map of the Florida Trail and see how much I can do, and what friends of mine would let me crash at their place along the trail and take a nice hot shower.

Ben, would you let me if I walked to Panama City?

Decisions

I decided on a few things....but still would like input from others that have been on the trail and know what works and what doesn't, or more importantly, actually used what I'm thinking about buying.

The only gear that I've decided on is Jetboil cookware, and Steripen water purification system.

I have back problems so the less I have to pack the better, and Jetboil hooks directly up to the fuel source, rather than having to place it on top of an stove. So far The Hiking Forum peeps seem to think Jetboil is a good system, the only other thing they suggest is a Pepsi Can stove, which I might try because well, it's FREE.

Steripen, I'm not totally sold on yet. All the reviews I've read have nothing but god things to say, but then again, why would they post negative stuff on the company site? So if I can't find anyone to verify the praise for Steripen, then I'll get it and put it to the test: the microscope!!

So those are my gear decisions so far. The only other decision is that I'll have to be an ultralight backpacker because of my bad back. We'll see which wins out, determination or body?

My money is on my determination...

Here's to New Beginnings

So my boyfriend and I are going to start hiking. I'm STOKED!! I've wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail since high school, and it looks like I've finally found someone who will do it with me!!

Right now I'm at the point of researching and comparing gear. Neither one of us have anything other than a camping tent and a regular backpack. That's what we're going to use for the first few hikes, they'll be day hikes only of course. I've found some great sites to help me out.

I thought I would try blogging to help me, my friends, and my family keep track of the progress from basically beginner (neither one of us has been hiking since we were kids) to who knows what.

Mom always said if I put my mind to it, I can do it....I guess I put my mind to doing the AT a long time ago, I intend to prove her right.