There are 5 common mistakes that rookie-backpackers make in their early years. First, they lack physical conditioning. I have a backpack with 40 lbs. of cat-litter in the back of my Jeep. I strap it on and I do hill repeats once a week. Second, they forget an important piece of equipment. My first backpacking…
I was struck by lightning once. Well, almost. I was a 20-year-old Airman stationed at Rickenbaker Air Force Base, Columbus, Ohio. I was a Dog Handler tasked with guarding KC 135’s. Central Ohio, like much of the Midwest, can have some hellacious thunderstorms. During one stormy night, another Dog Handler and I were walking the…
I remember my first day of basic training. I remember learning how to tie my shoes. I remember being driven to kindergarten in the pouring rain by Pammy’s mom and saying, “Look at all that piss.” I remember walking across the stage and getting my Master’s in Social Work. I remember holding my mother’s hand…
“In advertising, sex sells, but only if you’re selling sex,” wrote Jef I. Richards, a professor of advertising at Michigan State University in 1998. But that was not the first mention of using sex in advertising. In 1871, Pearl Tobacco featured a naked maiden on its packaging. I think there are many advertising agencies that…
Disappointment Doesn’t Always Lead to Disaster My son and I were backpacking in Canyonlands National Park this past month. I was probably carrying 70 pounds in my pack due to the extra water and camera equipment. I’m sure he was carrying about the same weight. Our plan was to backpack 1 1/2 miles to the first…
It was May 19, 1980. I had just spent three days on a religious retreat at the Havilah Retreat Center about 100 miles north of Vancouver, Washington. As a religious studies Student-Intern, I was asked to be part of a Deacon’s and Deaconess’ spiritual awakening weekend. They were such wonderful people. Gracious. That’s how I…
I have learned to enjoy solo backpacking, mostly. My first solo backpacking trip was in the Grand Canyon about 20 years ago. I was going to do three nights and four days solo and then join a small group of friends for an additional three nights at the bottom of the Canyon. Solo backpacking requires…
My Superpower I wanted to quit. I was a quarter of a mile from the summit of Mount Quandary, and I wanted to quit. I could see a small crowd of hikers gathering at the top. Sitting. Enjoy enjoying a snack. Laughing. Prior to Quandary, I had summitted twelve 14ers. In fact, I had done…
Jim Fixx died from a heart attack while running, on July 20, 1984, at age 52. Does that name ring a bell? Fixx was a runner and wrote the best-selling book, “The Complete Book of Running.” He played a major role in the Running Revolution. In 1967, at age 35, Fixx decided that he needed…
I wake up. Check my phone. Weather. E-mails. Amazon Prime deliveries. My wife gets up and makes coffee for us. I sit up on the edge of the bed. My wife is delivering coffee, and I get a good hug. I walk to the bathroom and take care of business. After taking care of business,…
