All My Bags Are Packed...

...I'm ready to go!!!  I leave in the morning for 10 days in the Pacific Northwest with my family and some hiking with my Dad :)  We don't know yet where we're hiking.  We've tossed all sorts of ideas around--part of the Wonderland Trail around Rainier, part of the trail-around-the-mountain at Mt Adams, part of the PCT, Eagle Creek???  To make things more interesting, there's a fire burning near Mt Adams which may eliminate that option which was probably our first choice.

The following is what 4 days of food for 2 people looks like.  I've since consolidated it a bit.  It looks awfully brown.  Part of that is my camera.  Today they announced the new iphone5.  Hopefully there will be one in my future.  I could use a new phone AND camera, so it's a no-brainer, right?

I've got 3rd batch of granola in the oven.  I'm making a 2nd batch of my favorite Pumpkin Granola to bring to my sister.  Mmmmm...smells so good!

There's a Tent in my Front Yard!

The boys are not very impressed with my tent...and I think even less so that I pitched it in the front yard where people could SEE it!  Tom probably shares their sentiments, however, he has got to be impressed that I bought such an inexpensive home :)

The weatherman's predictions for the morning were right on.  It was cool enough that being outside wasn't miserable.  I set up the tent for the first time.  It's pretty easy and with practice I'll get quicker and better.  I sealed the seams which wasn't too bad of a project.  This is necessary because water can find its way through the needle holes in the seams.  A thinned silicone is painted on the seams and then wiped off to seal them from rain.  I also put a couple stripes on the floor of the tent to keep my sleeping pad from sliding around in there.  The tent is really quite spacious for a 1-man tent.

One week from tonight I will be sleeping in this tent for the first time!  I thought about sleeping there tonight, but I'm sure my son would just DIE from embarrassment.  On second thought... :)

Getting Ready

I received the last shipment of ordered gear today.  It was my sleeping pad.  I got a great deal on an "irregular" ThermaRest NeoAir XLite pad at www.campmor.com.  Of course I had to immediately blow it up and try it out :)  My initial impression is favorable.

 

This picture shows most of my collection of stuff.  The pile at the top is all clothing.  After this picture, I stuffed it all in a stuff sack to see how small it could get.  On the left is cooking/drinking stuff.  Rolled up in the middle is my tent, pad, and ground sheet.  To the right is my umbrella and trekking poles.  Everything is so new and clean.  I will be borrowing my sister's sleeping bag and probably a few other little things for the hike in Oregon/Washington.  I'm keeping a list of what I need because rumor has it we will be driving right by an REI on Saturday.

Preliminary weather reports are great for Portland.  Highs of 80, lows around 50, and 0% chance of rain.  I wonder how long that can last in September in the Northwest?

 

The Postman Delivers...Twice!

Fun-filled mailbox today.  I wonder if the postman has any idea how much joy he gives?  Today there were 2 packages in the mailbox:  my "cozy" from www.trailcooking.com and a hipbag and ground sheet (for under the tent) from www.gossamergear.com.  First the cozy...

I could have easily made one of these, but the simplicity and speed of a couple clicks on the computer was hard to resist.  I also ordered my cookbook from these folks.  Unfortunately, I have crossed out the recipes in about half the book because I discovered I cannot tolerate the smell/taste of powdered milk.  Yes, even the whole milk version.  Oh well, the book is still well worth it.  I've come up with a couple recipes of my own from the inspiration in the book.  The cozy will hold the bags of food and hot water while they "cook" in the insulated cozy.  The cozy is about 8" x 8-1/2".  On top of it are two bags ready for the trip--minestrone and overnight orange oats.

I think I've mentioned that I'm disappointed in the hipbelt pockets on my pack.  They are only partially accessible because of the wrap around frame and shoulder straps cutting across them.  I plan on putting this hipbag on before my backpack, with the pouch in front for stuff I may want while hiking so that I don't have to stop and dig it out of my pack...camera, blistex, snack...  I'm real pleased with its size:  9-1/2 x 6-1/2 x 2" at the bottom.  How thoughtful of them to print a little "g" on the top left corner for me :)  Thanks, gossamer gear...haha.  The ground sheet is tiny!  And, there are TWO in the package!  It's about 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" and not very thick.  Each sheet weighs just 1.6 oz and protects the bottom of my tent from punctures and wetness.

Back in the Saddle

Well, not exactly a saddle, but back in the hiking boots!  I've had a few days off while I recover from the antibiotics which are helping me recover from the tick bite.  I haven't enjoyed this process, but I'm on the downward side--I think only 2 more days of medication after today.

Walked a little over 4 with the dogs this morning.  And, I added another 10# bag of flour to my backpack, so it was an unofficial 25#.  The dogs don't exactly help with the walk...but they enjoy it so much I can't leave them home.  After Bella gets tired slows down a little, I tie their leashes to the hip belt straps.  Makes it easier on all of us...until the day that Bella sees a squirrel and then things could get interesting!

I picked up my camp shoes over the weekend :)  Nice and bright so I don't lose them.  They're even brighter in person.  That reminds me...I need to shop for a camera!

The weatherman has assured me that we are expecting a cold front this weekend which will bring temperatures from 80/100 down to high-60s/90 with some drier air to follow.  The "cold" is only supposed to last a couple days.  Hey, I'll take it when I can get it.  Besides, I just need one cool morning to seal the seams on my tent.

I learned this morning about making fire starters and fire straws.  Very cool.  I also prepped a lot of meals for my upcoming hike in the Pacific Northwest.

Hiker's Kitchen

The mailman delivered my PCT kitchen today.  I was expecting small and I'm still shocked at just how small it is.  And light! The picture is deceiving--the box is barely over 4" square.

It's a titanium alcohol stove and it heats silently with readily available alcohol.  The pot holds 2 cups of water.  All the parts fit into the pot for protection and easy packing.  The pot has a ridge at the bottom to stay securely on the stand.  It's just an engineering marvel :)

Now, if only it would bake cookies...

Spots!

So, a couple weeks ago I'm sitting on the couch minding my own business and I feel something like an ant or small spider on my side.  Of course I take a peek and make sure I don't have a bug on me.  Nothing there.  I feel it again a few minutes later.  Check again and wonder what could be tickling me...maybe a hair or string?  That night I find the source...a tick!  Ewwww.  Tom got it out, head and all.  We flushed it and went to bed, not thinking any more about it.

The next morning I could feel the spot of the bite, and every day it seemed to get a little more raised and red.  Of course I checked online for symptoms of a tick bite.  I learned that an indicator of Lyme Disease is a red bullseye at the spot of the bite.  So, every day I checked for this.  The spot wasn't healing, but at least there was no bullseye!

Tuesday my hips got very achy--kinda like I had the flu, but not quite.  Couldn't figure it out.  By Wednesday afternoon, my hips were still achy, I had a fever, my thighs were numb, I had a headache, my tongue felt swollen, I had some accelerated breathing...and then there were spots!  I was getting red spots!  Back to the computer...Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?  I called the insurance company and they suggested a trip to the ER.  Wonderful.  Just the way I wanted to spend the next 4 hrs of my life.

Blood tests but no definitive answers yet.  I was sent home with prescriptions for 2 antibiotics.  So pleased that within 24 hours I was feeling much better.  Whew!  I was afraid the September hike was going to be in jeopardy.

My best advice?  Stay away from ticks...and hospitals!