Gloom and doom settled upon our second shelter on the Routeburn Track, the Lake Mackenzie Hut, overnight. AJ and I woke up in our bunks to dreary skies and a slow, steady drizzle. We were on a time crunch to catch our bus to Milford Sound; breakfast was fast and we hit the track.
Once upon a time, I soaked through my down jacket while snowshoeing. Yep, I’m the type of person who is too lazy to shed layers when I’m moving. I don’t want to stop; I just want to keep going. For days like those, the Black Diamond Deployment Hybrid Hoody is a lifesaver.
Pillows… are they something you really need in the backcountry? I’ve found myself debating this question of the last few years. Yeah, I could stuff some clothes into a stuff sack and call it a night. But after a few lumpy, sleepless nights, I decided that a few extra ounces of weight wouldn’t hurt for ultimate comfort while backpacking. The Feathered Friends Geoduck pillow did the trick.
From Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan tickets booked months in advance to Outdoor Retailer, August was a pretty jam packed month for me. I took a look at my calendar, saw one free weekend and knew I had to capitalize on it or be sad forever. I texted my friend Bobby and put together a game plan. We were going to head to Mildred Lake up Convict Canyon for some epic and mellow backpacking.
It always blows people’s minds when I say I don’t drink coffee. I mean you guys, come on. Do you really think I need extra caffeine? I’m bouncing off the walls 24/7, filled with extreme excitement ALL THE TIME. But sometimes when it’s pre-dawn in the backcountry and my sleeping bag is super snuggly and I really don’t want to get outside of my tent, it’s super nice to have a piping hot cup of something to wake me up.
When I’m the only tea drinker in the group, I’ll usually pack in my own tea bags, if I even remember to. In groups? I’m totally sold on Nature’s Coffee Kettle.