A Look Back at 2014: Happy New Year!

JANUARY:

Ceiba turned two!

MARCH:

Caitlin & Nelson welcome Baby Girl Dresden!

Brian's first visit to Washington D.C.!

A dusty visit to Casa Grande.

A backpacking adventure in Araipa Canyon with Megan and Paul.

APRIL:

A trip to Chiricahua National Monument with Mom & Dad for Easter.

An epic "Chopped" competition with the whole McGowan clan!

MAY:

Kae braves it on a Bright Angel three-nighter in the Grand Canyon with us.

I received the 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year award.

JUNE:

Molly graduates!

A vacation to the Tetons with the entire Minnick Family!

My first visit to Yellowstone!

Arctic Tundra winds in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Petrified Forest finally crossed off the list.

JULY:

I became a Junior Ranger at San Juan Island.

SEPTEMBER:

Kaelyn turned 12 and I was pretty proud of my owl cake!

A visit to the Snowbowl in Flag wouldn't be complete without a little bathroom humor.

NOVEMBER:

Ryan turned 4!

DECEMBER:

Hours of birding with Kelly and Johanna at Ft. Bowie National Historic Site.

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Cheers to all who joined us on our adventures.  What a great time!

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Rest in Peace, Dan.  You are loved and missed.

Three Nights in the Grand Canyon

On New Year's Day, Brian and I put in a request for a back country permit in the Canyon for the month of May.  If you are interested but not familiar with this process, you can read about it here.  We knew we wanted to take a leisurely pace because we'd be taking our eleven year old niece, so we spread the trip out over multiple days.  Even though this meant carrying more food and heavier packs, we decided it was still worth the trade off.  Hiking 18 miles and 3,000 feet in two back-to-back days is really tough.

We chose one night at Indian Garden, (1/2 the mileage, 1/3 of the elevation), for our first night, Bright Angel Campground at the bottom for our second night, (also referred to as Phantom Ranch, although technically speaking that's referring to the rooms for rent at the bottom), and the third night again at Indian Garden.  This allowed us no more than 5 mile/four hour hiking days.  With heat well into the hundreds, this was a smart move for us.  We were able to hike in the mornings and have the remainder of the day to lay in the various creeks, partake in card games, naps, reading, and exploring.

The hike is obviously not for the faint of heart, but it is true that all shapes, sizes, and experience levels take it upon themselves to brave the trail.  The difference, I guess, is how comfortable you are along the way and therefore how enjoyable it will be for you.  Lots of different people can put one foot in front of the other and eventually make it to the final destination.  Whether or not they are miserable is another matter entirely.

Brian and I are getting better at backpacking every time we go out, but I still enjoy the safety of the corridor trails in the canyon.  I'm not sure we'll ever be die-hard backpackers, as all the fuss with packing and weighing and counting and planning are a little too cumbersome for me.  I enjoy the haphazardness of the camping road trip more than the ultimate precision of the backpacker's plight.  There is still no better way to experience the canyon, however, than to be in it.  And for that reason, we will always have some reason to pick up the packs.  Die-hards we aren't, but dabblers we shall.

I wish we had taken a better camera, but still I'm sure you can tell it was a great trip.

What I packed: Four Days in the Grand Canyon

Update: 6/3/14
Having been back from our trip for a few days now, I can fully reflect on what I'm glad I packed and what I wish I had not.  Comments after each section will be italicized.

Clothing:

packed:

~one t-shirt (cotton to stay cool)

~one pair of shorts (quick dry, to sit in the creek)

~two pair of socks 

~three pair of underwear

~one heavy weight base layer (top & bottom)

~one wool long sleeve shirt* (for sleeping - I'm only sleeping in a liner, so it'll be chilly)

~wool beanie

~one rain coat

~crocks* (camp shoes)

Wearing:

~underwear

~pair of converter pants

~cotton t-shirt

~cotton tank undershirt*

~socks

~trail runners

Converter pants should have been left at home.  They were bulky and it was HOT.  I never even used the pants part.  Same goes for Brian.  His stayed in his bag the entire time.  Such a bummer since they are both so bulky and heavy!  They took up prime backpack real estate.  Just wasn't the season for them.

Rain jackets also should have been left at home.  While I know the importance of having protective rain gear just in case, (and the weather did say chance of showers on the day we hiked out), a simple poncho would have sufficed.  Our highly technical rain jackets were bulky and in the way.  Never used them.

I used the heavy base layer at Indian Garden because we only slept in liners, and the extra warmth made me feel comfortable.  If I had a sleeping bag, however, the base layer would have been unnecessary.  The temps the first night were about 68 degrees, and I was fine.  That was the coldest we experienced of the three nights.  Obviously at Bright Angel it was warm, so I did not use the base layer on that second night.  

Sun/Skin Protection:

~wide-brim hat

~sunglasses

~sunscreen (80 spf)

~chapstick

Shelter/Sleeping/Night:

~ground tarp (Brian is carrying)

~light weight sleeping bag liner

~compact pillow

~flashlight

It will be time for me to buy a headlamp pretty soon.  Too many times with my flashlight in the mouth as I tried to pack up in the dark.  

My compact pillow is also not all that compact. But I can't sleep without it.

The liners worked out well.  I could cinch mine all the way around my head and I liked being able to protect myself from creepy crawlies in the night, since we slept only on a tarp with no shelter.

Camp Kitchen:

~self-igniting backpacking stove

~waterproof matches

~titanium spork

~aluminum pot

~three cans of fuel* (there will be three of us for four days - each of us is carrying one)

~mugs (each of us carries one)

Took too much fuel.  It's always hard for me to judge.  Gotta be a more efficient way.  And that pot.  Oh, wow.  It is getting old.  Time to replace.  But it did it's job just fine.

Food:

~eight dehydrated meals (three breakfasts, three dinners, two lunches)

~energy bars

~granola with nuts and chocolate

~home made fruit roll ups

~home made chicken jerky

We really struggled in this area, and ironically, this is one of the most important.  I don't know why, but I really neglected packing sufficient snacks on this trip.  The roll-ups were great, but sugary.  We needed more salt to counteract our sweating, and the jerky was gone before our final hike out - the most important day.  It was a struggle to get my niece to eat enough calories since she did not care for the dehydrated food, and for me, I committed the worst offense possible.  I chose meals of instant granola and instant noodles.  Because I struggle to maintain my blood sugar, this was horrible.  I was not a happy camper.  I'll know next time to pack tons of salty snacks, and I needed some good old fashioned peanut butter!  I am also interested in checking out buying dehydrated foods in bulk and making my own meals since the packaged ones are simply not healthy for me.

Hydration:

~3 L bladder of water

~water filter

~one bottle of gateraide
~nuun tablets (electrolyte replacement)

We never used the water filter, but we were glad to carry it for peace of mind.  

Hygiene:

~toothbrush + toothpaste (Brian carrying both)

~baby wipes

~Dr. Bronner's soap 

~toilet paper*

I'm glad we took toilet paper.  Mainly I used it to blow my nose.  And the baby wipes.  Good idea.

Emergency Preparedness:

~duct tape

~cord

~first aide (gloves, alcohol wipes, band aids, snake bite kit, pills - allergy, benedril, ibuprofen, anti-diarrhea)

~pocket knife

~glucose tablets

~map

~pencil

We used the duct tape to patch up our torn trash bag, and to help keep band aides in place.  We used various pills rather frequently.  Glucose tablets came in handy on the way out since my meals were not ideal for maintaining my blood sugar levels and therefore my energy.  I will know better next time!

Extras:

~hiking poles*

~camera*
~trash bags

We ended up leaving the camera.  Too heavy.  I took my cell phone instead, and put it on "airplane mode" so that the batter did not drain constantly searching for service.  It worked great.  The hiking poles are a necessity.  My niece had one and I had one.  I'd like to get another set.

*items that may not be necessary, but am taking anyway for comfort or convenience.  

Prepping for the Canyon

As a way to calm my mind with the absolute madness that is the end of the school year, I have done my best to only concentrate on other things going on in my life - happy, personal things.  Last Saturday was a big day because Brian bought a mountain bike and he also cut off about 2 feet of hair.  He looks great and we had a wonderful evening bike ride together which we have been looking forward to making a reality for many months.  Since then we have gone on an evening bike ride together every night.

My bike:

www.rei.com

Brian's bike: 

www.rei.com

Besides our bikes, we have added some new gear for our upcoming four day backpacking trip in the canyon.  Here's a look at what I chose and the reasons why I decided it was the right one and the right time.

1.  Water Filter

While we will only be on the Bright Angel Trail for this trip, (where there are plenty of water stations/pumps), the reason for the filter is that the water pipeline is currently undergoing some maintenance and there are warnings in effect about being prepared for the water to be turned off without warning.  We've been waiting for an excuse to get a water filter anyway, and this one was a favorite since it was on sale and we've used it before.  It's the filter my sister and brother-in-law have and they love it.  It worked well for us on our trip to Aravaipa Canyon this past March.

  

2.  Sleeping Bag Liners

With temperatures in the canyon in the 60's and 70's at night when we are there, a sleeping bag isn't going to suffice.  I have a zero degree bag, a 30 degree bag, and a 45 degree bag.  The only one compact enough to take backpacking is my 30 degree down bag, and we decided we are going to take it for my eleven-year old niece.  For Brian and I, basically a sheet will do, but he has different concerns when sleeping than I do, mainly being constricted.  So for him, we bought the one on the left, and for me the one on the right.  They were a great deal because I was able to use a coupon for BOTH items.

3.  Lastly I bought a mug, but it's not really that exciting.

It's super lightweight, (3.5 oz), and holds 17 oz.  Brian drinks a lot of coffee, and this is a major step up from the aluminum 8 oz mug we've been using all along.  Remember my 20 year old mess kit I mentioned earlier?  Here it is in all it's glory.

On this trip, we are only taking the pot.  We only have one stove, so we only need one pot, and we plan to eat all our meals out of the pouches they are dehydrated in, so this makes packing a camp kitchen pretty light.

Twenty years later still going strong.  I'm ok with giving the mug a retirement.

See you on the other side of the trail....

Into to Backpacking II: Gear Needs vs. Gear Wants

When you start talking gear, the desired list of "wants" is definitely never-ending.  Even after years of investing in pieces here or there over time, something else is always on the horizon that I'm saying I "need."  And herein lies the problem.  Most of what I say I need isn't really needed at all.  It would just be better than what I already have.  (Which is why it really is, after all, a "want."  See the problem?)

When it comes to wants vs. needs, I think I've set up a list of "best practices" which keeps it pretty simple.  It is too easy to become obsessed with things you convince yourself you need for the sake of convenience or comfort.  But you can make a good adventure happen without anything fancy.  And you don't need an array of fancy items right away to get your foot out the door and into the wilderness.

1. When you aren't sure of exactly what you need, borrow it until you know exactly what you want.

The first time I went camping the only thing I invested in was a pair of boots.  It was 17 degrees one week before Christmas and my brother and I drove through the night in the snow to Yosemite.  Pretty much everything else I wore or used was borrowed, even to the point of looking (and feeling) pretty ridiculous.  My brother and I still laugh at just how ridiculous I looked on that trip, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  So many things in my life changed on that trip.  Suddenly I gained some perspective about things in my life, I grew so much closer to my brother, and I fell in love with discovering National Parks in a tent.  Why would you ever wait for that to happen until you could amass the right tent, and the right jacket, and the right headlamp?  I had none of that stuff.  And it is still one of the best memories of my life.  Believe me, you'll eventually buy your own tent.  You'll have to because you'll fall in love with being in the outdoors so much.  And when you do, you'll know exactly what you want after trying it out with someone else stuff so many times.    

2.  Buying generic is nothing to be ashamed of.  Respect your own budgetary constraints.  

My first base layer was an REI mid-weight in the $40 range, and probably on clearance because they were last year's colors.  I already knew that Patagonia base layers were higher quality and that SmartWool was really ideal, but I just couldn't justify the price.  There is no one on the trail inspecting whether or not your shirt is of "wicking" material or made of "anti-microbial" properties, anyway.  Those expensive items are things I've collected one at a time as gifts from my husband or family for special occasions, over years.  My REI long underwear did me just fine for a long time.  Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.  My $100 Merrell hiking boots are just fine, too.  No need for $200+ Soloman's.

3.  Don't upgrade just for the sake of upgrading.  

I am still using my bulky aluminum mess kit from my girl scout days.  That was almost 20 years ago.  Believe me, this mess kit is NOT ideal.  Never mind the fact that it's so old, the mug gets too hot to touch when I prepare my coffee in the mornings, and I realized recently that a big part of the kit is left completely unused every time.  It's really not very efficient, but I'm still not convinced it is a real "need" at this time.  This kit still works, and good, quality pieces are pricey.  I already know I'm going to be forking out $80 for a water filter pretty soon, so this just isn't at the top of the list.  I'm OK with that.  So it's a few extra ounces and I have to use a sock to hold my cup...  It's not a deal breaker.  Use what you have for as long as you can and invest when the time is right after you've done your research about exactly what you want, how you'll use it, and how often.

4.  Buy on sale or with a coupon.

Anytime you are looking to add something new to your stash, do whatever you can to hold out for a sale, or a coupon.  There isn't much rhyme or reason to my overall shopping philosophies, but being a member of the REI co-op is a no-brainer.  20% off coupons come around a few times a year, and that's the time to buy your new tent or your rain jacket.  Their sales are also usually pretty decent.  End of the season, just like anything else in retail, is when you can score the best discounts.  And if you just can't hold out, we get a dividend back every spring on full-price purchases we made throughout the year, so even that isn't a total loss.  I always feel good about what I buy there, even if it's more than I would have liked to have spent.  Also I like what they do to support environmental causes, community outreach, and youth education.  So I prefer them over any other "sporting goods" store.

5.  Splurge only when you absolutely know that something is - without a doubt - "the one."

After I returned home from a trip to the Black River with legs torn up from thorns, I decided it was time to get some decent hiking pants.  Determined not to spend a lot, I tried on every single pair of pants my size (plus AND minus 1) on the sales rack, and eventually exhausted all reasonably priced options in the store.  Like any woman who has ever shopped for jeans knows, finding pants that fit just right is like finding a needle in a haystack.  Just before giving up completely I found a pair of PrAna converters that I figured I'd try on "just to see."  Of course I knew immediately that they were perfect.  And they were $80.  But you don't understand, I had to have these pants.  I swore to my husband that I would never take them off for as long as I LIVED because I loved them so much, and it was true.  I do literally everything in them.  He actually suggested I get a pair in another color because they are all I ever wear.  When something is exactly right, you can't replicate it.  It will pay for itself over and over again and you will never regret it.  So splurging on something here or there isn't something you have to feel bad about.  There are times and places when it's what you gotta do.  And I get that.    

Enjoy your time in the wild, and don't ruin it with thoughts about what you "need" to make it happen.  It's amazing what you can go without and still change your life for the better.  Just don't hike the canyon without something to carry a gallon of water that doesn't include a jug.  Because that is most definitely a "need!"

Aravaipa Canyon

Over spring break, Brian and I secured a permit for the Aravaipa Canyon wilderness.  This bullet has been on Brian's eternally long bucket list for many years, inspired by Edward Abbey's essay. It was so awesome, we can't believe we waited so long.  Already we have plans to go back in October.

Much of the hike was through Aravaipa Creek, which runs perennially.  Those who say Arizona has no water are obviously missing out. 

We went with my sister and brother-in-law who also enjoy backpacking canyons, and have a few more lightweight trips under their belt than Brian and me.  Like all good outdoors-men & women, we loved "nerding out" on all things camping, including comparing gear and sharing stories by the fire.

The water was beautiful to wade, bathe or swim in.  Clean and full of native fish.  Although we had heavy wind throughout the first night, the sun came bursting through after that.  The night sky was bright with stars and the birds aplenty.  Couldn't ask for a better way to spend our time off.