#backpacking — Public Fediverse posts

#whatsinyourpack #backpacking #hiking

For me, sunglasses are essential gear. One too many times I found myself in the alpine with bright sunshine reflecting off light colored rock (or snow) without them. Now I pack them every time.

I've been using cheap walmart polarized glasses. They get the job done and I don't feel bad losing or breaking them. But they scratch SO easily. I've got a little nylon bag to carry them in but still.

Are there cheapish sunglasses that are more scratch resistant?

#whatsinyourpack #backpacking #hiking

For me, sunglasses are essential gear. One too many times I found myself in the alpine with bright sunshine reflecting off light colored rock (or snow) without them. Now I pack them every time.

I've been using cheap walmart polarized glasses. They get the job done and I don't feel bad losing or breaking them. But they scratch SO easily. I've got a little nylon bag to carry them in but still.

Are there cheapish sunglasses that are more scratch resistant?

🧵1/9
August 15, 1983, 43 years ago today: As I entered Sages Ravine, I crossed the Massachusetts border. Ten states down and four to go.

#backpacking #landscapephotography #hiking #hikingadventures #Massachusetts #forest #mountains #nature #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/9
August 15, 1983, 43 years ago today: As I entered Sages Ravine, I crossed the Massachusetts border. Ten states down and four to go.

#backpacking #landscapephotography #hiking #hikingadventures #Massachusetts #forest #mountains #nature #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/7
August 15, 1983, 43 years ago today: The southern portion of the Taconic Mountain Range is basically two parallel chains separated by a high central valley. The Appalachian Trail follows the eastern fork.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #Connecticut #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/7
August 15, 1983, 43 years ago today: The southern portion of the Taconic Mountain Range is basically two parallel chains separated by a high central valley. The Appalachian Trail follows the eastern fork.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #Connecticut #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 14, 1983, 43 years ago today: I dropped my backpack and carried my camera five hundred feet down a side trail to Rands View, a spot at the top of a high, sloping pasture where a remarkable view northward revealed the Taconic Range from Lions Head in Connecticut to Mount Everett in Massachusetts.

#backpacking #landscapephotography #hiking #connecticut #forest #mountains #nature #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 14, 1983, 43 years ago today: I dropped my backpack and carried my camera five hundred feet down a side trail to Rands View, a spot at the top of a high, sloping pasture where a remarkable view northward revealed the Taconic Range from Lions Head in Connecticut to Mount Everett in Massachusetts.

#backpacking #landscapephotography #hiking #connecticut #forest #mountains #nature #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 14, 1983, 43 years ago today: The trail turned into a virtual rock climb straight up the face of a cliff to the top of Barrack Mountain. It was a rather sadistic climb for a backpacking trail, but some open ledges near the summit offered great views to the north and to the south — some of the nicest since Shenandoah National Park.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #Connecticut #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 14, 1983, 43 years ago today: The trail turned into a virtual rock climb straight up the face of a cliff to the top of Barrack Mountain. It was a rather sadistic climb for a backpacking trail, but some open ledges near the summit offered great views to the north and to the south — some of the nicest since Shenandoah National Park.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #Connecticut #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

Another sleepless hour or two got me past pragmatism and across a threshold of self-honesty I'd been working up to all night. The thought of four more footsore days lumping through the mountains and three more nights of lonely dinners hunched over a microscopic flame with nothing to do besides sleep or hike just didn’t fill me with joy. In my heart of hearts, I just didn't want what I'd gotten.

#backpacking #colorado #wilderness #sanjuanMountains

https://cdan4th.wordpress.com/2026/07/22/you-cant-always-want-what-you-get/

Another sleepless hour or two got me past pragmatism and across a threshold of self-honesty I'd been working up to all night. The thought of four more footsore days lumping through the mountains and three more nights of lonely dinners hunched over a microscopic flame with nothing to do besides sleep or hike just didn’t fill me with joy. In my heart of hearts, I just didn't want what I'd gotten.

#backpacking #colorado #wilderness #sanjuanMountains

https://cdan4th.wordpress.com/2026/07/22/you-cant-always-want-what-you-get/

🧵1/4
August 13, 1983, 43 years ago today: The Appalachian Trail went into Dark Entry Ravine, ascending through the perpetual twilight silence of an old hemlock forest. Long years of decomposing fallen needles had buried the boulder-strewn ground and transformed it into a soft, lumpy carpet. It was lovely, even though the stream was barely running.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #Connecticut #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/4
August 13, 1983, 43 years ago today: The Appalachian Trail went into Dark Entry Ravine, ascending through the perpetual twilight silence of an old hemlock forest. Long years of decomposing fallen needles had buried the boulder-strewn ground and transformed it into a soft, lumpy carpet. It was lovely, even though the stream was barely running.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #Connecticut #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 13, 1983, 43 years ago today: It was still cloudy this morning when I woke up, and the air had turned even chillier. I had not seen a morning that cold since Tennessee. After the persistent heat wave that dogged me through six states from Virginia through New York, shivering was a pleasure. Still, in order to warm up, I really had to start moving quickly when I hit the trail.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #Connecticut #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 13, 1983, 43 years ago today: It was still cloudy this morning when I woke up, and the air had turned even chillier. I had not seen a morning that cold since Tennessee. After the persistent heat wave that dogged me through six states from Virginia through New York, shivering was a pleasure. Still, in order to warm up, I really had to start moving quickly when I hit the trail.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #Connecticut #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

The Bigelows

https://lifeasjackcom.wordpress.com/2026/08/13/the-bigelows-2/

The Bigelows

https://lifeasjackcom.wordpress.com/2026/08/13/the-bigelows-2/

🧵1/4
August 12, 1983, 43 years ago today: Macedonia Brook abounded in tough climbs. The rocky trail off Cobble Mountain descended very steeply over boulders sheathed with slick, dripping moss. There were more nice views a mile later from the top of Pine Hill. The entire state park was beautiful, one of the nicest stretches on the Appalachian Trail since Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #Connecticut #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/4
August 12, 1983, 43 years ago today: Macedonia Brook abounded in tough climbs. The rocky trail off Cobble Mountain descended very steeply over boulders sheathed with slick, dripping moss. There were more nice views a mile later from the top of Pine Hill. The entire state park was beautiful, one of the nicest stretches on the Appalachian Trail since Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #Connecticut #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/2
August 12, 1983, 43 years ago today: The open, grassy crest of Cobble Mountain looked just as lovely today as the image which had lingered in my memory. Encircling the summit was a sprawling rock outcrop with extensive views to the north and west. The mountain overlooked a lush, green valley filled with forests and pastures in the foothills of eastern New York State.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #Connecticut #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/2
August 12, 1983, 43 years ago today: The open, grassy crest of Cobble Mountain looked just as lovely today as the image which had lingered in my memory. Encircling the summit was a sprawling rock outcrop with extensive views to the north and west. The mountain overlooked a lush, green valley filled with forests and pastures in the foothills of eastern New York State.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #Connecticut #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/2
August 11, 1983, 43 years ago today: The first few miles of Connecticut trail were on typically rough New England trail, but there were good views through the rain from some ledges called Indian Rocks and from the summit of Mount Algo.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #Connecticut #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/2
August 11, 1983, 43 years ago today: The first few miles of Connecticut trail were on typically rough New England trail, but there were good views through the rain from some ledges called Indian Rocks and from the summit of Mount Algo.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #Connecticut #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 11, 1983, 43 years ago today: The first mile of the day’s hike was on a forest path. Swarms of biting deer flies harassed me relentlessly during that stretch. It was a relief to come out on the beginning of a three-mile roadwalk and leave the little bastards behind me, but the escape was only temporary.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 11, 1983, 43 years ago today: The first mile of the day’s hike was on a forest path. Swarms of biting deer flies harassed me relentlessly during that stretch. It was a relief to come out on the beginning of a three-mile roadwalk and leave the little bastards behind me, but the escape was only temporary.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

I've been cooking and dehydrating backpacking food and it leads to some strange smells when I've got two meals going at once. Yesterday was dahl and chili and tonight is more chili and spaghetti sauce. The chili is very popular.

I used to order dry ingredients and mix them, which works, but it's far easier to just a make a regular meal, make sure it's blended or chopped fine, and dehydrate. Then I usually add a starch like instant noodles or rice.

#backpacking #cooking
1/

I've been cooking and dehydrating backpacking food and it leads to some strange smells when I've got two meals going at once. Yesterday was dahl and chili and tonight is more chili and spaghetti sauce. The chili is very popular.

I used to order dry ingredients and mix them, which works, but it's far easier to just a make a regular meal, make sure it's blended or chopped fine, and dehydrate. Then I usually add a starch like instant noodles or rice.

#backpacking #cooking
1/

🧵1/7
August 10, 1983, 43 years ago today: About two miles from the end of the long roadwalk, we stopped at a little town park in Pawling, New York, about an hour’s drive and two or three universes removed from New York City. Edward R. Murrow Memorial Park contained a small lake with a tiny beach, a snack bar, and a picnic area.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/7
August 10, 1983, 43 years ago today: About two miles from the end of the long roadwalk, we stopped at a little town park in Pawling, New York, about an hour’s drive and two or three universes removed from New York City. Edward R. Murrow Memorial Park contained a small lake with a tiny beach, a snack bar, and a picnic area.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 10, 1983, 43 years ago today: I cannot say enough about Ralph’s Peak Hikers’ Cabin, where we slept last night. The southbounders at Graymoor Monastery told us about this place, and I am very happy that they did. The club that maintains this section of the Appalachian Trail (Ralph’s Peak Hikers) has restored an old farmhouse and furnished it with beds, a kitchen table and

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 10, 1983, 43 years ago today: I cannot say enough about Ralph’s Peak Hikers’ Cabin, where we slept last night. The southbounders at Graymoor Monastery told us about this place, and I am very happy that they did. The club that maintains this section of the Appalachian Trail (Ralph’s Peak Hikers) has restored an old farmhouse and furnished it with beds, a kitchen table and

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/6
August 9, 1983, 43 years ago today: The next three-and-a-half miles were an easy walk through pleasant forests with no distant views. The Appalachian Trail then crossed New York Route 301 and ascended a very rocky trail alongside Canopus Lake. After a couple more miles, we stood on a rock outcrop near the north end of that lake which almost seemed to overlook two different lakes.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/6
August 9, 1983, 43 years ago today: The next three-and-a-half miles were an easy walk through pleasant forests with no distant views. The Appalachian Trail then crossed New York Route 301 and ascended a very rocky trail alongside Canopus Lake. After a couple more miles, we stood on a rock outcrop near the north end of that lake which almost seemed to overlook two different lakes.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 9, 1983, 43 years ago today: Charlie started hiking at 8:00, just before a lively little thundershower kicked up. Pete and I waited it out a while before we left. Pete’s small transistor radio, on which we heard the forecast, called for widely scattered showers, so we had reason to believe that it would blow over quickly. It did. When it stopped, we were quickly on our way.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #NewYork #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 9, 1983, 43 years ago today: Charlie started hiking at 8:00, just before a lively little thundershower kicked up. Pete and I waited it out a while before we left. Pete’s small transistor radio, on which we heard the forecast, called for widely scattered showers, so we had reason to believe that it would blow over quickly. It did. When it stopped, we were quickly on our way.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #NewYork #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5
August 8, 1983, 43 years ago today: I had hiked the preceding four miles without stopping, in one-and-a-half hours. I now possessed a half-hour cushion for my attempt to reach the monastery. I stumbled to the top of the ridge, where the Appalachian Trail came out onto an old dirt road.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5
August 8, 1983, 43 years ago today: I had hiked the preceding four miles without stopping, in one-and-a-half hours. I now possessed a half-hour cushion for my attempt to reach the monastery. I stumbled to the top of the ridge, where the Appalachian Trail came out onto an old dirt road.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5
August 8, 1983, 43 years ago today: I passed park benches also swarming with humanity, most of whom seemed to be staring at me, wondering what the hell I was doing walking through that park with a backpack on. I did not do much to reassure them. I could see that most of them thought I was a psycho, and that had me constantly breaking out in fits of laughter, which no doubt convinced them.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #NewYork #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5
August 8, 1983, 43 years ago today: I passed park benches also swarming with humanity, most of whom seemed to be staring at me, wondering what the hell I was doing walking through that park with a backpack on. I did not do much to reassure them. I could see that most of them thought I was a psycho, and that had me constantly breaking out in fits of laughter, which no doubt convinced them.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #nature #NewYork #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

#Fotovorschlag "Verkehrswende"
zu Fuß nach Sterzing und weiter nach Bozen
#weitwandern #hiking #backpacking

#Fotovorschlag "Verkehrswende"
zu Fuß nach Sterzing und weiter nach Bozen
#weitwandern #hiking #backpacking

🧵1/5
August 7, 1983, 43 years ago today: I left the Brien Shelter at 6:00. It had taken me an hour to regroup — psychologically more than physically. All day, I had been driving this out-of-shape body towards a single goal: that shelter. Then, I discovered I had to push it farther to water that probably did not exist. It was a somewhat discouraging prospect.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5
August 7, 1983, 43 years ago today: I left the Brien Shelter at 6:00. It had taken me an hour to regroup — psychologically more than physically. All day, I had been driving this out-of-shape body towards a single goal: that shelter. Then, I discovered I had to push it farther to water that probably did not exist. It was a somewhat discouraging prospect.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 7, 1983, 43 years ago today: I crossed New York Route 17 just after descending Agony Grind and entered Harriman State Park, a place historic on the AT. When the idea of this long-distance trail was conceived in 1921, only a few sizable stretches of existing trail could be incorporated.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 7, 1983, 43 years ago today: I crossed New York Route 17 just after descending Agony Grind and entered Harriman State Park, a place historic on the AT. When the idea of this long-distance trail was conceived in 1921, only a few sizable stretches of existing trail could be incorporated.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 6, 1983, 43 years ago today: It is 9:00 P.M. Crazy and I have our tents pitched next to a busy road known as the Old Orange Turnpike. With all the traffic and the racket coming from a nearby rifle range, it is not an ideal spot for sleep.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/3
August 6, 1983, 43 years ago today: It is 9:00 P.M. Crazy and I have our tents pitched next to a busy road known as the Old Orange Turnpike. With all the traffic and the racket coming from a nearby rifle range, it is not an ideal spot for sleep.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5
August 6, 198: They dropped me off at 4:00 this afternoon, at the point where I left the trail on Monday. While I was getting my gear ready to resume my hike, a thru-hiker came by. I won’t use his real name or real trail name in this story. For the purposes of this tale, let’s say that his trail name was Crazy Charlie,

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/5
August 6, 198: They dropped me off at 4:00 this afternoon, at the point where I left the trail on Monday. While I was getting my gear ready to resume my hike, a thru-hiker came by. I won’t use his real name or real trail name in this story. For the purposes of this tale, let’s say that his trail name was Crazy Charlie,

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewYork #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/2
August 5, 1983, 43 years ago today: Took a few days off at home.

From May 6, 1983: My camera received heavy use this morning, as I traversed another group of scenic ridges with equally picturesque names. The six miles of trail between Neels Gap and Tesnatee Gap featured a long uphill climb similar to yesterday’s and some steep downhills, but most of the trail was nicely graded.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #Georgia #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/2
August 5, 1983, 43 years ago today: Took a few days off at home.

From May 6, 1983: My camera received heavy use this morning, as I traversed another group of scenic ridges with equally picturesque names. The six miles of trail between Neels Gap and Tesnatee Gap featured a long uphill climb similar to yesterday’s and some steep downhills, but most of the trail was nicely graded.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #Georgia #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail

🧵1/8
August 5, 1983, 43 years ago today: Took the last of several days off at home.

From June 2, 1983: After lunch, I passed up a side trail to Roan’s famous wild rhododendron gardens.

#backpacking #hiking #landscapephotography #NorthCarolina #nature #mountains #Tennessee #forest #AppalachianTrail