Cold Weather Test

Hey Everyone!

I figured I would share about how my MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Deluxe worked in below Freezing Temps.

We had a snow and ice storm back in February, that took out the power for several days. I don’t remember it getting below 20F / -6C during that stretch, just down in the 20’s (-4 / -5 Celsius). A few of the mornings, when I was up before everyone else, I used my little stove to make tea.

Beings that the snow and ice was bad enough to take out the electricity and make leaving the house a no go, but not so bitterly cold (it was still only in the 20’s), that I couldn’t use my stove.

I was actually pleasantly surprised. I used it several times, and considering it was below freezing outside, as I had gone outside to use it, for safety, it still boiled water pretty quick. I also still have a bit of that 3.9oz canister of fuel left.

I currently only have the 1.0 litre GSI outdoors tea kettle, I might invest in the 1.8 litre kettle at some point. The 1 litre only squeaked out enough hot water for about two short mugs of tea. It would be nice to be able to have a bit more water for a couple more mugs of tea or to make a cup of tea and do some pour over coffee.

I should also mention that when I wasn’t using my stove, I broke it down and brought it back inside where it was between 60 and 65 degrees (Fahrenheit), to store it between uses.

While it performed great when I needed it to at temps just below freezing, I don’t know how well it would do if you were out backpacking and it was just below freezing.

I would definitely recommend it for any hiking trips where it is going to be above freezing, and the times when it is below freezing and you need to cook when the power is out as long as you can bring it back indoors when you are done cooking.

Adding to my Day Hike Gear

Hey Everyone!

Over the past several months, as the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions have forced many of the hiking spots to close. I have been working building up my gear stash for when I am able to get out again.

Besides having a daypack, I have my hiking boots, I also have silk liner socks to wear under my hand knit wool socks. In my day pack, I keep a hoodie, as well as hand-soap, hand sanitizer, toilet seat covers, an overnight case with some first aid supplies, and I also keep my little Winnie the Pooh and Tigger in there as well.

Over the course of the pandemic I have gotten a pair of Trekking Poles, as well as a backpacking stove, a couple of collapsible cups, a backpacking tea kettle, and a couple fork/spoons.

There are a few more things I want to get to keep in my day bag / overnight bag / hiking pack, to kind of complete things, besides what I would add when on the day of the hike.

Today, I tested out my stove once I got home, and had picked up a fuel canister. Since I have never used a backpacking stove before, I definitely wanted to familiarize myself with it before being out. I did get the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe stove that has it’s own lighter built in, so no need to use a separate lighter or matches.

My best friend, who was also my hiking buddy when she still lived out here, gave me a hiking journal, which is pretty cool, I also picked up a travel journal to be able to journal more about my longer / multiple day trips.

First Hike of the Decade!

Hey Everyone!

It’s been not quite three months since my last hike, and today’s hike was the first one of the year, as well as the first one of this decade.

I feel like going hiking more has been on my bucketlist each year for the last several years running. It is still one of my goals to spend way more time out on various local trails.

For right now though, my biggest goal is to just get outside and go walking more, especially on my days off, and work on losing some weight, and building up some endurance.

Today, I went across town, and hiked at Cooper Mountain Nature Park. It is definitely one of my favorite places to go hiking.

I finally got to the point recently where I have had enough of being sick and tired all the time, so I am trying to do something about that, and work on living a healthier lifestyle. Part of that is getting out and either going for a walk or a hike on my days off (since I walk a fair amount at work, the days that I go to work). Going for a hike everyday really isn’t feasible or reasonable at this point (even though I wish it was), I am definitely going to try to go for a hike every couple of weeks, and go for a walk around the neighborhood the other days.

It was definitely a good day for a hike, since it was partially cloudy, but didn’t rain.

After Work Hike

Hey Everyone!

I had a rough morning at work (I work early in the mornings anyway which is rough in and of itself). It wasn’t just the typical early morning stock crew kind of rough, it was the end of the season is near, nothing wants to go right, one of the seasonal hires was a no call no show on truck day, no amount of coffee or tea in the world could fix it kind of morning.

I have also been wanting to go for a hike for several months, despite this past summer being hot, then working like crazy, sharing a car (so I can’t just go where I want when I want kind of thing), I haven’t been hiking for a while.

After having one of those days, and checking with the person I share a car with, to see when they needed to leave for work, I went for a short, but much needed hike.

I already had on the right kind of shoes to go hiking since I wear a pair of Danner low jag shoes for work. I was already dirty and sweaty from work, and had on work clothes, so it’s not like a bit of mud would hurt either.

I went to Mt. Talbert, since in was closer (than Cooper Mountain), and a tad bit shorter (since I had to be home by a certain time). Mt Talbert is not the same as Mt Tabor. Mt Tabor is over off of SE 60th Ave and SE Division St in Portland, where as Mt Talbert is over off of Sunnybrook Rd and 97th Ave, which is off of Sunnyside Rd, somewhere (I don’t know what “town” jurisdiction it’s technically in) in Clackamas County, not far from the Mall.

It was raining a bit on my way up the trail, but it wasn’t that bad, at least not for someone like me who likes the rain. The heavier rain didn’t start setting in until after I got home. Beings that it was early in the day on a week day, this time of year, and it was raining I knew it wouldn’t be super crowded, and I don’t like to hike at super crowded places, especially when I just need to be left to my own thoughts.

I have hiked Mt Talbert a few times in the past, all of when I wasn’t working, or during the retail off season, so the hike has seemed more challenging. Today, I did have to stop a few times, but it seemed way easier than I had remembered it being. I attributed it to being a little more in shape from having worked this season.

I have definitely missed hiking so much, and I was definitely worried today, since I have been having issues with my knees. I was worried how they would handle an actual hike after what I have been putting them through the last couple of months. I have missed being in the woods, and on a “mountain”, whether it is an actual mountain, or an overstated hill. Today’s elevation changes were well under 500 feet.

I definitely want to get a pair of regular Danner Jag boots (rather than just the low shoes that I wear for work). I love the shoes, but could use a little more ankle support for hiking. They are also not waterproof, as my feet did get wet today.

I am definitely wanting to go out hiking more. I am definitely tired of being stuck inside so much, and I want to see more places, and experience more things. My bucket list includes hiking in Alaska, section hiking part of the PCT, particularly the John Muir Trail (while not all of it is part of the PCT, a good chunk of it is), through the High Sierra.

I absolutely love the ocean, but I definitely feel more at home in the mountains.

Preparing for Upcoming Trips

Hey Everyone!

July, I started planning a trip for next summer, since a friend of mine had told me about the Jane Austen Festival she had gone to, near where she currently lives.

I have also been wanting to go to Colorado for many years now, and I am going to attempt to make it happen next year.

I am, and have been wanting to get out and see new places for years, but really have not had to opportunity. With housing prices / property taxes ever on the rise, as well as lack of entry level jobs outside of the tech world, things have been a struggle. Part of why I want to go visit my friend is to get an idea of the area.

Yesterday, I had gone out to run some errands, and while I was out, I picked up some toiletries, since I don’t have much in the way of travel toiletries, as I don’t go away overnight very often. I haven’t flown anywhere since I got back from New York, eight years ago.

Since I want to do some more hiking, some of the things I picked up have more to do with hiking.

Hiking is Life

Hey Everyone!

I have been really wanting to go for a hike for a few weeks.

Today, I totally pushed myself to get out and go for a hike. I only made it about 1.68 miles, but that’s not bad for not having hiked in a couple months, and that was my first hike in many months.

I figured through today would be the best day to go, since I was off and it was cooler and not supposed to be as rainy as tomorrow is supposed to be.

I have seriously missed being outside, I love being out in nature, away from the city noise, and people who are always in such a hurry.

It was too beautiful to pass up

Hey Everyone!

I had been keeping an eye on the weather forecast as well as my schedule since I heard that today was supposed to get up to about 70. The city didn’t quite make it, but where I spent most of my day did make it up over 70.

I haven’t been hiking, properly for a couple of months (more like two and a half months). I needed to get out, stretch my legs and hit the trail again.

I needed to get out of the city, so I went down to Silver Falls State Park. I managed to hike about 3.25 miles while I was there. I hiked to about half way down the stairs leading to the Lower South Falls, and then back up. Parts of the trail were still slightly icy, and there was still a fair amount of snow on the ground driving up there, once I left Silverton, but the roads were clear, which was good.

I learned long ago, when you are going to a popular tourist spot, on a nice day, get there early to beat the crowds and the heat.

I hadn’t grabbed a jacket, because I didn’t want to bother, but I was glad that I keep a sweatshirt in my hiking backpack, as I was cold for a bit early on. Then I got way to warm.

Getting out early also meant that I had time to stop in Mt Angel, to take another picture of the Catholic Church, since I love the architecture of it.

I had also stopped in Woodburn to get a Dutch Bros coffee, as well as lunch as I started to head back to the city.

My last stop of the day before heading home, was St Paul, which also has another really pretty church.

Scenery wise I live this part of the country, though the politics, homelessness, lack of decent jobs, and rising cost to live here is pushing people like me, who have lived in this part of the state, out. While I am starting to look for jobs in other places, with a better cost of living, and where I can live the way I want, I am trying to explore this part of the country as much as possible and see as much as I can before I leave.

I have also come to the realization that some of the big hikes on my bucket list may not happen for a multitude of reasons, a big one being old injuries that never healed properly makes it hard to hike over uneven and more rugged terrain. It’s sad to see a dream not be able to be fulfilled in its entirety.

I am still trying to get out as much as possible and do what I can.

Well, At Least We Tried….

Hey Everyone!

A friend of mine had sent me a text message yesterday, asking me if I was free today, and if I was, would I want to go for a hike. It worked out that I was free today, so we attempted to go for a hike today.

We had decided to attempt LaTourell Falls today, so I went out the old highway. The old highway is this super narrow, winding two lane highway, that is so much prettier than I-84.

Our first stop was at the Women’s Forum, which overlooks the Columbia River, and has an amazing view of Crown Point and the Vista House.

Continuing on east, the old highway takes you right out to the Vista House.

Crown Point, where the Vista House is located, is one of the windiest spots in the state. It was very windy today. I love the snow capped hills in the background.

I should mention that “the old highway” is a section of the historic / scenic highway 30 between Troutdale and where it rejoins I-84 at Ainsworth State Park, east of Multnomah Falls. Most of the hiking trails and waterfalls in the Gorge are accessed off this highway.

We reached LaTourell Falls, and started up, taking a few pictures at the viewpoint.

And then continued several more yards up the trail, before we were met with this sight;

The trail was iced over. We saw a couple coming back down, and had asked about the trail on up, and they hadn’t got much further up the trail, as it was bad (or worse) than where we stopped. We decided that we didn’t want to attempt it in that condition, as neither of us were really prepared for an icy trail, and didn’t want to get hurt. We turned around and went back down. We maybe hiked about half a mile, and were bummed to not rally be able to hike it today. We agreed to try it again in a few weeks once it warms up a bit and thaws out.

We also attempted to stop at Multnomah Falls, but there were no parks left, and was super icy, which seems to be the theme of today. So we came back to town, got food, coffee and ran a couple errands before I took her home.

While the wind cuts right through you, no matter how many layers you put on, it was worth being cold for a day like this. Getting out of the city is always a necessity.

Time to Wait and Prepare

Hey Everyone!

Well, I finally got everything I needed together that I needed in order to submit my passport renewal application today. I got it mailed off this afternoon.

Going to Scotland has been a dream of mine for something like 12 years now. I really need to make it happen on this passport.

I also really want to be able to go to Canada again, and go see my cousins who live in Alberta. I would also love to go see Jasper and Banff at some point.

There are also so many places I want to go visit.

Renewing my passport is just the first step to making it possible to go travel. I am also working on preparing and getting things together to make traveling easier and more fun.

While I want to move away from the city, and live on some property where I can homestead, there are thing I want to do, and places I want to see first.

I have never been someone who has never left their hometown, or even left the county they were born in. For that matter, I leave the county several times a week, since the county line in super close to where I live. The closest Fred Meyer, as well as the Mall, and so much more is in the next county over. Beings that they are closer than the ones that are located in my own city / county, I leave the county often, without really thinking about it. I have also had a few jobs that were located in Washington County, which is the next county over to the west. I also left the state multiple times before my first birthday, as well as having gone to Canada before I turned one, not to mention having gone to the beach before I turned one. While I am not a world traveler, nor did my family take regular big vacations, I am also not so much a homebody that I haven’t been anywhere. I definitely have a bucket list, that I would like to see in my lifetime, but it is nowhere as extensive as others.

The sense of adventures and exploring the outdoors, is definitely something I want to pass on if I have kids.

“Life is short, the world is wide. I want to make some memories.“

First Hiking Trip of 2019!!!!

Hey Everyone!

It’s been far too long since my last adventure post.

I have been working a lot for part of the last three and a half months.

Today, I needed to get out and go, and get back into the woods. I am trying to work up to longer and more intense hikes.

Today was a perfect day for a hike. It started off at about 33 / 34 degrees (~1c) and by the time I finished the 2.25-mile (3.62km) hike, a little over an hour later, it had warmed up to about 39 (~3c). I had started out with a long sleeve tee shirt, a sweatshirt and a jacket over that. by about halfway through, I was too hot and took the jacket off.

The last year or so, I lost sight of what makes me, well me, and what I want to be doing in life.

Besides the fact that I love hiking, the great outdoors, living a simpler and more meaningful life, part of what keeps me going is seeing other normal young women going hiking in amazing places, and doing amazing things, it also reminds me that I can do it too, and not be afraid to live the life I am supposed to be living. There is more to life than living a “comfortable”, boring life in suburbia doing the same thing day after day, without doing something to better this world.