Tag: Hiking

Many of my friends camp- be that with a tent, or a camper of various sophistication. Funny, for growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, my version of “camping” is a lot more primitive. I started in Boy Scouts when I was in fourth grade and was an Eagle Scout with various honors before I graduated from junior high school. It didn’t hurt that my dad was scoutmaster, and my mom was advancement chair. It seemed that the meetings to approve advancement fell on the exact days I needed them to… imagine that.
That said, my idea of camping consists of hiking around 7 miles, pitching a tent, and hanging out for a day. Hiking back and stopping off (smelling bad) at a McDonalds on the way home. I learned that a nice frozen New York Strip will thaw out appropriately at the top of your backpack after about a seven mile hike, and be ready for grilling. I know, freeze dried almost anything, tastes like nothing meant to be ingested. I’ve canoed and climbed, been lost in High Sierras, and tackled the gurgly monster. I’m a member of the Royal Order of the Moose, and Order of the Arrow. I have my Seven League Boot for hiking over 100 miles. I had a really great time gaining these experiences with dear old Troop 274, which now allow me to say “I’m staying at the lodge” when friends suggest camping. 🙂
Happy trail mix day, because without trail mix most people on the trail would die. Although growing up I was finicky, so my trail mix could not have nuts… Yes, I was a wimp.