Solo trips

[Skip Newsom]

I did inherit some level of the desire for adventures from my Dad.
He was always fascinated with seeing new things and places, had us out on the San Juan's, the coast and up in the mountains multiple times in the first few years we were out here, this was 1968-72 time frame.

Now and then I scratch that itch with a drive in the 911, a walk or bicycle ride often solo, not that I don't enjoy my wife's company, I do she's a great adventure partner!!
Got her peeing in the woods and everything. She will not however spend the night in anything without a solid wooden frame and roof.

I do cherish solo trips... at least a few times a year I'll get in an overnight (or two) trips in areas within hours of home.
Hard to put into words how much time spent outside means to me, very lucky to be able to still do my own stunts.

Here's my most recent, attempting to catch and hold the glorious Alpenglow that is extra long now, goes on for hours before needing a flashlight.

[71T Targa]

Thanks for that Skip!

What a great reminder of just how beautiful it is here!

[Superman]

It IS beautiful here and the season for enjoying it is starting now. I like to backpack and I like silence. Particularly, not hearing another human voice. For a day is great. For two days is much better. After three days, not hearing another voice starts to become REALLY pleasant. Doing this on a PNW mountaintop or alpine meadow....O.M.G.

[Superman]

Don't get me started. At 7000 ft, the sky at night is milky with stars. People who have not seen this would be stunned to see it. I am stunned every time.

The smells. The sights - views - wildlife. The sounds. Walking along a stream, feeling the cool moistness of the air, hearing the babbling of the water and the society of birds, smelling......Purity. Thick, pure cleanness. And the fragrance of the trees and flowers and plants. Yes, you can smell all these things.

In backpacking, you can eat anything you want. As much as you want. The ambiance is better than that of the finest restaurant.

[Zeke]

All good unless you have tinnitus. Then total silence is annoying.

[Baz]

Skip - that was really great! Love the ELP soundtrack - excellent choice! The time lapse stuff also - very cool and I appreciate the creativity involved.

I used to make movies with my Windows Movie Maker and need to get back to doing this as it's so much fun and like you I'm a bit of a photography enthusiast, although I don't have any fancy equipment at the moment. Just my point and shoot.

I did get an imitation Go-pro but haven't learned to use it yet so stay tuned.

I've always considered spending time in the great outdoors as a spiritual experience - richer than could ever be experienced in any conventional church building.

[Skip Newsom]

Baz: "I've always considered spending time in the great outdoors as a spiritual experience - richer than could ever be experienced in any conventional church building."

Amen to that Brother!

The closest thing to it I've experienced was early one morning in a tiny little Catholic church on Kaui years ago, first communion for some local kids.
That was impactful.

Early season scent's are really amazing though, still hints of fall in last years leaves tucked here and there, then the explosion of fresh green growth smells and stream crossings always have an ultra clean smell to me.

This trip is a good test for the undercarriage, 6 miles in with a few hundred feet of gain/loss. I can do it with all the electronics at 34 lbs.
5 lbs less if I could just take a cell phone... I can't.

The parking area is popular for it's mile long trail down to Ross dam, the closest access you have to the area without a float plane or Amphicar.
The last peeps I saw were not even half way down that mile and not a soul after that until part way back the next day on the East Bank trail.

It ends up being a little over 2 hours driving and 2.5 hours hiking. I can have a nice low key morning in the mountains, not leave till noon and still be home for dinner... ok, a shower and then dinner.

This is the first video I've put together with a new version of Windows movie maker. Old version crashed and is not supported any longer. Bastages.
I like it so far, my technical skill have a ways to go... practice, practice.

This trip resulted in a divorce from what I though had become my favorite hiking boots.
They blistered the heck out of one heel on the way in... I thought I had them broken in enough to where that nonsense had stopped.
It has now, back to my Merrill Moabs

[Tervuren]

Is that a "bear safe"?

[Skip Newsom]

Bear safe?

Indeed it is.
I always feel very safe up there, food and almost every thing else is locked in the cool metal Bear box, storage shed and cook top at every site up there.

I do make some noise in sections where visibility is limited by trees or terrain, and Ive got a canister of Frank's Red Hot bear dissipater handy.

Never had any encounters with bear on foot up there.
By boat yes, they generally don't want anything to do with you. That said, Big Beaver camp just up the lake another 4 miles is infamous for bear activity.
They hide just out of camp and wait for you to leave, rip in grab anything you left sitting out and vamoose with it.
Generally you can smell them, just make noise and stick to the trail.

I think I'm big and stringy enough cats aren't interested. Lots of deer at times, almost to the point of being pests.

Went back and watched the posted video again, some how the conversion from project stage to MP4 lost at least a couple photos.
By Jove, that is odd.
They are still showing in the project, kicked these out, probably trying to save me the embarrassment of selfieism

[wdfifteen]

Fantastic! Beautiful video and inspirational. The views of the sky are stunning, and the top pic in post 9 is awesome. Thanks for posting this.

[LWJ]

Fantastic. I’m outside daily. If just for a dog walk.

[flatbutt]

This is how I spend my alone time now. Backpacking was my go to back when I could carry 50 lbs.

[vash]

not to diminish this thread into a gear discussion, but what is that old camp stove? very cool looking.

[Skip Newsom]

Thanks Vash!

It is cool!
It's the mighty SVEA 123 white gas stove, all new design in 1955!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svea_123

Brother Scott gave it to me not long after we started hiking together, 1975 I believe.
He had bought a newer version with a built in cleaning needle. They rarely clog and running them side by side mine would out preform his so that "upgrade" was a step back.

This one's been a lot of different places and even though I've tried 5 or more newer designs (MSR Firefly, Coleman pumper, etc, etc) I continue to carry this one because it's superior in most ways. Particularly in entertainment value.

Plus, there's starting it.
A bit finicky sometimes, normal operating procedure is to open the tank, dump fuel in the cap, dump the cap over the burner of the stove and fill the little diviot in the top of the tank, screw the fuel tank cap back in.

Then and only then set the whole thing on fire.

Let the gas burn off just enough to heat and pressurize the tank and juuussst before the flame goes out, open the valve and off she goes.
It also sounds like a little helicopter at full rip once she's completely warmed.
And it put's out pretty efficient heat like crazy, boils water very quickly.



Brass on it still shines up great, and a newfangled Jetboil fits it perfectly with 3 dremel slots to slide over the adjustable pot racks on the Svea





It gently let's you know you didn't let it warm enough by burping eyebrow remover size gouts of flame.
Good times, keep this stove way away from your tent and private parts