Rainy Days Make Pretty Falls

I don't really recall how or when I decided that rainy days just weren't for me. I grew up playing in the rain, and recollect camping trips that were nothing but drizzle and leaky tents. I used to hike in the rain. Kind of hard not to when you're hiking in a temperate rainforest. I remember when water-speckled glasses were propped on my head; when hiking in wet socks wasn't a big deal; when low pressure systems didn't cause joint pain and headaches; when a ponytail holder was a quick, easy fix for natural curls turned evil fro; when the shlishy-shloshy sound under every muddy step was an invitation to puddle hop instead of my shoes struggling for that last gasp of air.

It's frustrating really. The rain never stopped me before. I've tried to revisit that time - to no avail. I've even tried the random inspirational quote, like:

"All weather is good weather because it's God's weather."

It's hard to admit there is something "outdoorsy" that you're not fond of - especially on an outdoors blog! But no matter how many quotes I've read or how many times I've googled J.Muir's journal (ya know - What Would John Do?), I've not been able to escape my newfound antipathy for sogginess.

Inevitably, it's become well known that if it's raining, I'm staying in. And caging me inside - even of my own volition - is never a good idea. That's how rooms end up remodeled and wallpaper being stripped! To top it off, our entire weekend had been drizzly, and I was beginning to get restless. 

Restless or not, I usually give in to the rain and choose to curl up for naps. So, it was just as much a surprise to me as it was to Tim to hear myself mouth the words, "we should go there today," pointing to his newly posted Featured Parks page. 

The reason? Waterfalls: something I love far more fiercely than my disdain for the rain. All the precip we'd had this past week had made the creeks rage like rivers, and capturing this became top priority.  The mud, the cold, frizzy hair, and wet feet no longer mattered. It's ironic how something I find so uncomfortable is the very essence of something I find so intriguing. 

On a lighter note, Tim has found that he thoroughly enjoys photography. He's putting forth a huge effort to learn.  He took some shots of the waterfalls as well. He's a fast learner, and I'm so happy to have a photog buddy now! I was even nice enough to share my tripod so he wouldn't have to carry his own. And Ashby had a great time, too. Debord Falls finally gave her a good show. I hope she remembers this for years to come. And as for Clover Beene? She had a blast, too. There was no one on the trail, so she went wireless for the most part and got plenty muddy for a dog I had just bathed. 

Tim's first attempt at waterfall photography. Didn't he do a great job!?

To see all the photos from this hike, visit our Flickr photostream here.

Trimble Details of Trail to Debord Falls:

Joyeux Mardi Gras!

It's been a while since we posted a picture of Coo, and she's feeling a little neglected. She's always complaining about Clover being in the spotlight, and how she wished they'd make leashes for hamsters.
She says she'd love to hike, but only at night. :-)  Until then, she'll just have to stick to holidays.

Happy Fat Coo's-Day!

EMS Winter Clearance Extra 20% Off

From now until March 8th, get an extra 20% off at Eastern Mountain Sports.
Click on the banner to start shopping now.



Hurry before all the good stuff gets gone.

Happy Trails,
Tim and Robin

Gear Review - Camelbak Octane 18X Day/Hydration Pack

I've never written a pack review, so please bear with me. I recently had the desire to purchase a new day pack. Requirements: it had to be a hydration pack or hydration compatible, and it had to have some space to carry an extra layer, rain gear, or lunch on a nice day hike. Other than that I was pretty much open. I looked at several  packs on the interwebs and finally decided on the Camelbak Octane 18x and purchased it from Sunnysports.com, which might I add, was a very simple and easy transaction once I convinced wifey it was a necessary. I ordered on a Friday, got free Standard UPS Ground (5-7 business day) shipping and my pack was here on the following Wednesday - ahead of schedule! Woot!

Specs: 

• 70 oz / 2 L OMEGA HydroTanium Reservoir with Lifetime Warranty
• Front & Back Reflectivity
• Ultra-Light Materials
• Waist Belt Pockets
• Expandable
• Back panel: Air Channel
• Harness: Independent Suspension
• Belt: 25 mm / 1" Stability Belt
• Capacity: 1276 cu in
• Pack Dimensions: 18 x 12.5 x 9 in
• Weight: 16 oz; Full reservoir - 5.69 lb
  

The pack features a main compartment that is expandable by unzipping the outside flap. There's also some cinch cords to compress the pack some. Inside the middle flap is an external pocket that allows storage of some miscellaneous gear items (i.e. maps, first aid kit, thing you want easy access to). The pockets on the waist belt are small but there's enough room in each of them for spare batteries, keys, granola bars, crackers etc. Finally there is one loop on the back of the pack towards the bottom which allows you to stow away your trekking poles if you are carrying them along as well. Additionally the pack is made out of a ripstop fabric that helps keep it light.

My first use of the pack was this past weekend when we hiked up to the Tri-State Peak in Cumberland Gap NHP. In the main compartment, I kept beanies, gloves, socks, emergency kit (i.e. candles, matches, lighter, magnesium fire starter, headlamp, etc). There is a small zippered pocket on the the side outside the back flap where I carried my whistle/compass combo and a small led flashlight. In the middle outside pocket I carried the map of the park, a poncho, emergency hand warmer, and Beene's water bowl.

This was all that I carried in the pack along with some snacks (2 granola bars and 2 packs of crackers) in the waist belt pockets, a spare battery and a white card for the camera. In addition, the hydration bladder is kept in a separate compartment in the very back of the pack. It's easy to remove for filling and a breeze to put back in. On the outside of the pack I was able to strap my phone (used for Trimble Outdoors GPS) on the sternum strap, and my 2 meter handie talkie (ham radio) on the shoulder strap. After a mile into this hike I stopped and took off my fleece and was able to stow it away inside the main compartment quite nicely and still had room for a couple more small things if needed.

Things the wife had to say:

Overall, she liked the pack. There were some things she noticed that were a little "off" about it. She didn't like that there were no organizational pockets inside the main compartment. All the little things I carry fall to the bottom where you have to dig, dig, dig for them. She also thought some of the cinch straps should have roll up clips or something. She said with them just dangling there, they were bound to eventually get caught on something. She also didn't care for the adjustable sternum strap. It moves around a bit much - maybe it'll stay put once I get the pack broke in, but until then it gets all crooked and looks like it would surely feel awkward. Last, but not least, she loves the ultralight ripstop material, but wonders how long it will actually last. She thinks the first time I try to crawl under a pine fall, it'll rip for sure. "Ripstop or not," she says, "a hole is a hole." Guess we'll have to wait and see.










All in all, I have to say that I am pretty pleased with the pack and at $54.99 and free shipping from Sunnysports.com, it was well worth the it. The MSRP on this pack is around $75, so I consider it a steal.

Happy Trails,
Tim and Robin

Disclaimer: Tim bought the "Camelbak Octane 18x" to use day hiking and decided to review it here on Appalachia & Beyond. The opinions expressed above are his independent thoughts and experiences.

Trail Fun: 9 Ways to Keep Kids (and Teens!) Entertained

One of the toughest things about hiking and parenting is learning how to mix the two. On the one hand, you have this beautiful weekend with nothing you'd rather do but walk for miles, and on the other, you have a child who isn't as enthusiastic about riding your coattail the whole way. A surefire way for a trek to go sour fast is to listen to a child complain, and whine, and moan, and groan for hours on end.

When Ashby was little, we never really had this problem. She was always eager to go along, to walk for miles, to hop on rocks, and skip stones in the rivers. It has evolved over time. More or less during this time that the aliens have stolen her brain (aka the teen years). She doesn't complain while we're out there, just mainly the days before when she hears about the plans for hiking. And she doesn't hate hiking. She just firmly dislikes anything that doesn't include spending money or chasing boys.

So how do we keep her entertained? That's the easy part! Keep her distracted!

1. Tapping into curiosity. Kids are naturally curious. Utilize your hiking time to tap into this. Asking questions is the best way to get them started. "Hey, wonder what could live in that tree hole?" "Have you ever seen a mushroom that looks like THAT?!"


2. Observe your surroundings verbally. Just like you don't know what your teen is thinking, they don't know what you're thinking either.  Initiate a light conversation about what you see. Verbal observation will get them talking to you, too, and seeing through your child's eyes is the best trail experience.

3. Use your imagination. Get creative! Make up a funny story on the spot. Even Ashby's not too old for this. Also, use your observation skills (and theirs!) to find everyday objects in other things. Example photo: Picking a tree's "nose".







4. Feed that baby! We all know that food is more fun to eat when you're in the wilderness. Pack in yummy treats, lounge on some logs, and snack away. Really kick back and enjoy the experience. Let them play with their food. Oh, and the 30 second rule reigns supreme! A little dirt never hurt anyone.





5. Make it a solo date. Have more than one child? Momma and daddy always together on the trail? Make it special for your youngin' by making it a date, just you and the babe. Take the whole day if you can. Add in a playground trip, a picnic, a swim in the summer. Remember to take lots of bad pictures.





6. Bring a friend. I know this one works wonders for us. If we bring along "the Joders" (Jodi) then Ashby is content. They have a ton of fun together, and find a million faces to make things to do.




7. Pick an interesting trail. Just because you're bringing the "babies" doesn't mean the trail has to be boring. Sometimes the most interesting trails are rated "moderate" instead of "easy." Read reviews and do your homework. Your children will have more fun crossing rocks and streams than meandering concrete paths.

8. Go at their pace. I cannot tell you how many times I've seen the "Speed Hiker" out on the trail with his family in tote practically dragging them along by the ears. You know who I'm talking about: Mr. 30-miles-in-one-day. Usually he's up ahead hollering for them to catch up, or he's in the back badgering them to move on. Might as well put them on a leash and drag them. Don't do this. If your babies are little, go at their pace. Let them have time to explore, rest, and absorb all of their surroundings. Remember, there's a lot of new things out there for them! If they're older, allow them to try your pace, but don't expect them to be marathon trail runners.

9. When all else fails, resort to bathroom humor. Need I say more?