Out On Trail

For those of you who joined us for the first few installments of our "Food Wars" series, welcome back! If you didn't catch them, you can search "Food Wars," on the main page of our blog, to get links to the previous installments.  A quick recap: On our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, we decided to compare the various brands of dehydrated meals marketed to backpackers. We hoped to determine which companies produced the best-tasting meals and whether some of the more expensive offerings were worth the additional cost. We're passing our findings along to you, in hopes that they will improve your future backpacking experiences! We did not receive anything of value from any of the companies involved in the tests, so you can trust our observations to be objective. How were the tests conducted? We conducted our taste tests in the field. We made our best efforts to adhere to the manufacturer's instructions when preparing meals (i.e. we didn...

Is it worth it to purchase pre-made desserts for backpacking? As with any purchasing decision, individual opinions will vary. It certainly can be, as a special treat can be motivation, or a morale booster, to offset a particularly tough day on the trails. If a Snickers or dried fruit just isn't going to get it done for you, there are other options that may be more satisfying. What is Backpacker's Pantry? Backpacker's Pantry is a subsidiary of American Outdoor Products (AOP). Doing business as DriLite foods, since 1951, the company adopted the Backpacker's Pantry brand name by the late 1970s. Originally headquartered in California, the company now operates out of Boulder, Colorado and supports causes related to renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and conservation.  Image from: Backpackerspantry.com Is Backpacker's Pantry Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Mix a worthwhile choice for a backpacking trip? If it fits into your budget, we think it's worth splurging for....

For those of you who joined us for the first two installments of our "Food Wars" series, welcome back! If you didn't catch them, you can search "Food Wars," on the main page of our blog, to get links to the previous installments.  A quick recap: On our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, we decided to compare the various brands of dehydrated meals marketed to backpackers. We hoped to determine which companies produced the best-tasting meals and whether some of the more expensive offerings were worth the additional cost. We're passing our findings along to you, in hopes that they will improve your future backpacking experiences! We did not receive anything of value from any of the companies involved in the tests, so you can trust our observations to be objective. Please note, hyperlinks to products below are affiliate links. We earn a small commission from products purchased through these links, at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your suppo...

We began Day 3 with a breakfast of egg scrambles (reviews to be provided in a separate post!). As we were breaking down camp, we chatted with one of the friendly local fisherman with whom we shared the camp. He was full of fascinating knowledge: from stories about the clearing of Proctor, prior to the building of the dam, to the current black bear and wild hog activity within the park. Having stayed a bit longer than we had intended, we eventually parted ways and got started on the Lakeshore Trail. A few minutes into the first uphill section of the hike (there would be many literal ups and downs throughout the day), we passed a couple of hikers carrying fishing poles who inquired about the creek. We informed them they weren't far off and continued on our way. We didn't know it, at that point, but those hikers would be the last people we would see for the next 27 hours!   Most of the work was in the early part of this day. After a couple of fairly long, steep inclines, we reache...

For those of you who joined us for the first installment of our "Food Wars" series, welcome back! If you didn't catch it, you can find it here: "Food Wars" Installment #1 .  A quick recap: On our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, we decided to compare the various brands of dehydrated meals marketed to backpackers. We hoped to determine which companies produced the best-tasting meals and whether some of the more expensive offerings were worth the additional cost. We're passing our findings along to you, in hopes that they will improve your future backpacking experiences! We did not receive anything of value from any of the companies involved in the tests, so you can trust our observations to be objective. Please note, hyperlinks to products below are affiliate links. We earn a small commission from products purchased through these links, at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support of the blog! How were the tests conducted? We conducted...

We awoke to find a dampness permeating the air, our gear, and well...basically everything. We were fairly certain in hadn't rained the prior evening, but it felt as though it had. The famed humidity of the Smokies was living up to its reputation. We made some coffee and began to break down our camp. After a brief chat with our only neighbors from the previous evening, a couple of fisherman, we set out to make the required mileage for the day. We started out along the creek and continued a little over a mile, until we reached Campsite 83 (Bone Valley). We conversed with a couple more fisherman, who would be spending the night there. Leaving our packs on the bear cables, we side-tripped down the Bone Valley Trail (a 3.6-mile round trip). There were several water crossings, with a couple of them being pretty deep. It being May, the water was moving pretty quickly, but after our initial stint on the Hazel Creek Trail, we were already somewhat acclimated to it.   At the end of the Bone ...

On our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, we decided to compare the various brands of dehydrated meals marketed to backpackers. We hoped to determine which companies produced the best-tasting meals and whether some of the more expensive offerings were worth the additional cost. We're passing our findings along to you, in hopes that they will improve your future backpacking experiences! We did not receive anything of value from any of the companies involved in the tests, so you can trust our observations to be objective. Please note, hyperlinks to products below are affiliate links. We earn a small commission from products purchased through these links, at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support of the blog! How were the tests conducted? We conducted our taste tests in the field. We made our best efforts to adhere to the manufacturer's instructions when preparing meals (i.e. we didn't adjust the amount of water specified by the manufacturer nor the amount of ti...

We awoke early (around 5:00AM) on a Thursday morning to make the drive from our AirBNB, in Knoxville, to Clingmans Dome, where we would begin our adventure. After a stop, a detour, and some road construction in the park, we arrived to the parking lot for Clingmans Dome just before 8:00AM. If you want to enjoy the views without too much interruption, we highly recommend getting to the parking area in the early morning hours. The contrast between the relative serenity of starting our hike in the early morning and the bustling scene we returned to, several days later, in the middle of the afternoon, was a bit surreal. Arriving early also allowed us our choice of parking, and we chose a prime spot, within view of the Clingmans Dome Information Center. If the road construction is still in ongoing when you read this, definitely allow for extra time when traveling outside of the early morning and late afternoon hours.  A few voices droned and an occasional car door slammed shut as we pul...

I headed over the Starr Pass Trailhead late in the afternoon, after completing the nearby Hidden Canyon Bowen Trail Loop. I wish I would have had more time to explore this area and will definitely look to do so on my next trip to the Tucson area!   Where is the Starr Pass Trailhead? The Richard E. Genser Starr Pass Trailhead is located southwest of Tucson, on the edge of Tucson Mountain Park, approximately 15 minutes from downtown. The trailhead can be found behind the Starr Pass Golf Resort.  What should you expect on the trail? You will start out on the Starr Pass Trail, which winds around Mine Mountain. You can grab some pretty spectacular views of the Tucson area at the top; however, it's a bit of a scramble, as there is quite a bit of loose rock to contend with. Be careful with your footing, and move more slowly than normal, if necessary. The trail intersects with the Rock Wren Trail, which heads into Tucson Mountain Park and meets up with the Yetman Trail. Alternatively...

I set out, in the middle of the afternoon, towards the Hidden Canyon Bowen Trail Loop. I was able to fit this loop trail, as well as another short hike from a nearby trailhead, in before dark.   Where is the Hidden Canyon Bowen Trail Loop? The trail is on the southwest side of Tucson, on the edge of Tucson Mountain Park. The trailhead may be a little tricky to find the first time you visit. It's located behind the JW Marriott Starr Pass property, and I had to travel through most of the resort to get there. I parked on the side of the road, next to the trailhead, and did not experience any issues. What should you expect on the trail? The trail is a relatively short two-mile loop. I only saw a couple of other hikers out on the trail when I visited in February. There isn't much elevation gain, which makes it suitable for most hikers. I would suggest choosing stable footwear, however, as there are some loose rocks and stones along the trail. I would also advise bringing enough wat...

  Why visit Peninsula State Park? “Considered Wisconsin's most complete park, Peninsula State Park offers over 460 campsites, three  group camps, a summer theater, an 18-hole golf course, sand beach, bike trails, a lighthouse, and eight  miles of Door County shoreline. The rollicking waves that skip towards Peninsula's sky high bluffs are  part of the Niagara Escarpment.”  https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/peninsula Where is Peninsula State Park?   Aptly-named Peninsula State Park is one of three state parks on Wisconsin’s Door County Peninsula.  The peninsula, which is approximately 80 miles long and 25 miles wide, is also home to a few state  natural areas and its own county parks. Peninsula State Park is on the western side of the peninsula,  which features views of Green Bay. The eastern side of the peninsula abuts Lake Michigan. The park is  approximately 2.5 - 3 hours by car from Milwaukee.   ...