This post is all about geeking out on calorie to weight ratios. The goal is to pack as many calories into as light and dense an area as possible. I’ll start with food accessories and then go to the actual food we bring backpacking- both intended for two people out for seven days without re-supply.Continue reading “Ultra-light Backcountry Camping Gear: Food”
Author Archives: Elspeth Ronnander
Ultra-light Backcountry Gear: Clothing
Unlike my first gear post, this one will follow a different format. Given we practice ultra-light backpacking, this requires justification for every clothing item because every ounce counts. Also, unlike a tent and sleeping pad, most of my backpacking clothes include race swag and even school clothes! Keep in mind the goal of ultra-light backpackingContinue reading “Ultra-light Backcountry Gear: Clothing”
Ultra-light Backcountry Gear: The Basics
My next four posts are going to focus on the backcountry gear we use for our adventures. “The Basics” include tent, sleeping pad, sleeping quilt, and backpack. In general, I’m of the belief that ultra-light backcountry gear shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. “The Basics” gear is the one caveat to this. So ifContinue reading “Ultra-light Backcountry Gear: The Basics”
Boundary Waters: The Fernberg Road Loop
A few years ago, someone was telling me about how they were a guide in the Boundary Waters. I almost said “oh, yeah, I go there all the time.” I stopped myself and realized “Elspeth, you hardly ever go to the Boundary Waters.” Somehow, because most people I know frequently go to the Boundary WatersContinue reading “Boundary Waters: The Fernberg Road Loop”
The Bighorns Medium-High Route
You’ve heard of the Sierra High Route. You’ve heard of the Wind River Range High Route. But have you heard of the Bighorns High Route? Have you ever even heard of the Bighorns? I had because of my dad. And then I found his old 1970s map of the area. Located in north central Wyoming,Continue reading “The Bighorns Medium-High Route”
The Great Northeast Minnesota River Loop
This loop begins near the town of Floodwood. From here, we paddled up the Whiteface River to the Whiteface Reservoir and then portaged into the Saint Louis River and paddled back to Floodwood. Erik, my husband, found this route on the map. It can be difficult to combine loops when paddling rivers, but this lookedContinue reading “The Great Northeast Minnesota River Loop”
Backpacking the Superstitions
Located just east of Phoenix, Arizona the Superstitions are a mountain range with lots of opportunity for day hiking, but also for backpacking if you know where to find the springs. We did this trip in early November of 2019 when it wasn’t quite so so hot! We spent three nights out in the wildernessContinue reading “Backpacking the Superstitions”
Italy’s Via Ferrata
This post is intended to be complementary to my previous post on my ski team blog. For all the emotional aspects of this trip and more photos, see that post. Included in this post is the how-to with maps and links (and more photos). Via Ferrata is Italian and translates into English as “iron path.”Continue reading “Italy’s Via Ferrata”
New Mexico High Point
At 13,159 feet, Wheeler Peak is the highest point in New Mexico, located near the town of Taos in the northeast part of the state. We hiked Wheeler following a three day backpacking trip in the Pecos. After the Pecos, it was threatening rain so we detoured to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge over theContinue reading “New Mexico High Point”
Pecos Wilderness Backpacking
In many respects, after hiking off trail in the Beartooths the year before and above the Arctic Circle in Alaska earlier in the year, I wanted an easy New Mexico hiking trip. Easy means trails and that’s at least what I thought I wanted but as I planned and scouted a route, my eyes driftedContinue reading “Pecos Wilderness Backpacking”
Elspeth Ronnander 