So...although I have been quite the adventurer this summer...I have not been a good blogger...I have discovered a few new social media/online journal sites geared to adventure...and well I have found myself spending all my time posting them! I will do better updating, but in the mean time wanted to share my new favorite site: Venturepax
I discovered this site last summer, but a few weeks ago they relaunched and have made it more user friendly and it seems as if the community is growing...so check out my personal Venturepax page to see what I have been up to this summer: Venturepax.com/Keli.Rupert!!!! Lots to see from local Blue Hill training hikes and trail runs to our weekend hikes in the Whites including 2 spectacular day hikes!!!
All this hiking got me thinking about joining the Appalachian Mountain Club...for a few reasons...It could be a great way to meet new people who enjoy hiking and being outdoors as much as we do...I am certain we can learn some more...but most important we want to support an organization that has a mission to: Promotes the protection, enjoyment, and
understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the
Appalachian region.
I will leave you with a few of my favorite pics from the last few hikes...till next time stay active and stay adventurous!!!
So I did it...bought my own pack...after a lot of research and several trips to EMS and REI to get sized and try out a few options...I went for it and left with a pack I LOVE...I am saying that now prior to actually using it on the trail so the verdict is still out. Few things I learned in the process:
1. Get sized by a professional- I know a decent amount about the product from being a gear geek, but I had no idea how the pack was "supposed" to fit. I almost bought a pack online because of the awesome deal I could get on closeout models...but I am so glad I decided to shop around and get the proper fit. I assumed that being 5'11'' I would wear a size large pack, (especially since they have female specific packs)...seems logical...WRONG...we started with a medium and adjusted the length of the frame to its shortest setting and decided I actually was a SIZE SMALL....I couldn't believe it... I am not a small anything! But it is all about proportions...an apparently I have really long legs and a really short torso! Anyway, had I ordered online I would have walked away with a size large pack, that was all wrong and would have caused pain and discomfort on the trail...making for miserable hiking!
2. Try out all comparable styles- Once you land the proper size it can be slightly different with each brand and style, so make sure you try on all options. Every brand feels different for different body types, like most anything we buy...I tried on several brands; Gregory, EMS, REI, Deuter...but settled on the Osprey...when I put it on it felt PERFECT...the shoulder straps landed in the right position, the hip belts proportion was right on, and it seemed to mold to my body...which I knew I wanted when finding a pack. The pack may be the most important piece of equipment you purchase, (an argument could be made for your boots as well)...so you need to take the proper time and research when looking for the right one...It is a large investment with prices ranging from $150-$350, but it will last you FOREVER and will make a long, heavy hike much more enjoyable and pleasant...I am all for that!!! Don't make this an impulse purchase and you will get through the process with an AWESOME bag that journey's with you for years to come!
3. All about the features- So we talked comfort and fit, but the last thing I learned was to know and understand what features you need and want in a pack. Do you like lots of pockets and straps, or do you want a few large compartments? Do you need hydration storage, or straps for ice picks? How much storage do you need? All these factors will impact your decision, both in terms of size and style of the bag, but also price as well. I knew I wanted a pack that would work well for weekend trips, but would also work for an AT thru hike. I knew I didn't want to be back spending another $200 in a few years when I needed more space. I realized I like lots of pockets, and lots of straps so I can really compress my gear and make the pack more versatile. This helped me rule out several packs that were just not "tricked" out enough for me. The other factor is weight, I wanted a pack that was big enough to survive the AT but also light enough to hang out in the Whites for the weekend. I have read everywhere that the lighter the pack the better...obviously...but this is something you really want to consider when making this investment...because it is not an investment you will want to make twice!
That is just the basics; but the biggest takeaway is to make sure you try them on and get help with the fit...it is okay to buy online and snag a great deal, but make sure you test out the size and style in store first before making the jump! Below I inserted a picture of my new bag (I need to come up with a name for her) and some of the basic features. We will be testing out my new purchase this weekend with an overnight in the Whites and I will write a great review of the pack in action...so stay tuned!!!
AddOn Compatible
Convertible Top Pocket
InsideOut Compression
J-Panel Access
Red Internal Compression Strap
Sleeping Pad Straps
Tool Attachment
Women's Custom Fit
Suspension Technology
Torso Specific Sizing
Lightweight and Breathable
Kick Ass Salsa Color!!!!
Dennis is our guest blogger as he gives us his insight and reflections while hiking the AT...He truly embodies our mission of living each day to it's fullest through our compassionate and adventurous spirit...read on and be inspired....
My Katahdin I grew up in the woods. Every weekend of my childhood was spent in the White Mountains, and multi week hikes with my father were the highlights of my summers (and sometimes winters). The idea at the time was to climb all of the 4000 Footers in the Whites, and after I graduated high school I was going to hike NOBO with the old man. When I was 15 he died in an accident in the Whites, and I didn't step foot into the woods again until last summer. Life wasn't too fulfilling in this hike-free period, and by a fluke, or maybe fate, the AT spark was reignited last august when I met a few thru-hikers on Mt Washington that were coming to the end of their hike. Too many people live life for tomorrow, "I'll get around to living next year, after I pay off this credit card," "I've always wanted to hike the AT but I can't quit my job." No! That job you don't really like isn't ever going to get better, and the life you want to live is just a leap of faith away. I come across alot of people who are here to finish the Trail as quickly as possible, just another notch on the belt, and OK, hike your own hike, but come on! How many times in your life can you wake up in the morning and think "Do I want to wake up right now? No, it's warm and dry in my hammock. I think I'll go back to bed for a while and then all I need to worry about is food and water." Life, boiled down to the three things that you need to keep living. Love won't keep you alive, love isn't all you need, but the solitude of the Trail has made me realize that love is an augmentation of the life you choose to live. Many set out in life hell-bent on falling in love without ever knowing how it feels to be alone. As the type of person who rejects affection outright, the Trail has made me realize how it feels to be alone, soaking wet at the end of a long day covered in blisters, without a shower for 19 days, with nobody to get a few words of encouragement from. This is the product of my own doing, but because of the experience I've found myself shoulder-deep in I've realized the err of my ways. In summary, (although I could go for days,) life doesn't begin until you have left your comfort zone. It's scary out there. I got dealt a few bad hands, and I sat on them for far too long. I'm not full of answers, I cant figure out what the fuck it is I want to do with my life, but I can tell you one thing, it's tattooed across my back: Live for Today. Because you never know what tomorrow will bring, if tomorrow ever happens. Greenlight!
