The Nevada High Point and Backpacking Southern Yosemite
My motivation for this trip was to bag the Nevada high point, Boundary Peak. As with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, I combined this with a medical conference just south of Yosemite. After our Wind River Range trip this summer, I realized our itinerary, including a four-day-65-mile-16,000-foot elevation change backpacking loop based out of Luken’sContinue reading “The Nevada High Point and Backpacking Southern Yosemite”
The Great North Wind River Range Backpacking Loop + Tourist Creek
Wherever we go backpacking, we always try to do loop routes. Apparently, as was true on our Beartooths trip in 2017, and now on our North Wind River Range trip, the trails don’t always connect into a circle and often skirt the most majestic mountains and instead stick to lower passes and valleys. Enter off-trailContinue reading “The Great North Wind River Range Backpacking Loop + Tourist Creek”
A Pandemic-Inspired Central Minnesota Canoe Adventure
As we paddle all the designated Minnesota water trails, Erik is often intrigued by the non-designated waterways and in particular, loop connections. He found such a one, the Rabbit River, that almost forms a connection with the Mississippi between highway 6 and Riverton. And so an adventure was born. In addition, we’d take almost aContinue reading “A Pandemic-Inspired Central Minnesota Canoe Adventure”
Ultra-light Backcountry Camping Gear: The Small Stuff
In this final of four gear posts, I’ll discuss all the small stuff. Although the list is long, we bring small quantities and so all these things don’t take up much space. Camping Essentials Extra Supplies (weight w/ First Aid Kit) map in waterproof container 108 g rope (thin spectra or dyneema) compass/GPS/phone/camera 179 gContinue reading “Ultra-light Backcountry Camping Gear: The Small Stuff”
Ultra-light Backcountry Camping Gear: Food
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”
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”
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