Water is a must. Snacks are a good idea - I usually take along a granola bar. I always wear pants and sneakers (as opposed to shorts and sandals), when letterboxing because you never know when you have to brush past raspberry brambles or stinging nettle or even poison ivy to get to a box.

Lone R

S B wrote: Hi, being a newb to letterboxing and hiking, both, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for hiking?

Such as, what do you bring with you? Backpack? Snacks, water, etc? What do you normally carry in your pack?

What kind of clothing is suggested? Shorts? Pants? Sneakers, hiking boots?

I realize it's all individual, however, I'm one of those people who like to see what others do, then pick and choose what might work for me.

Thanks for any suggestions, or BTDTs

NY Team Wolf


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We usually bring a walking stick as well just in case a snake decides to guard the letter box. =) We have come across 1 so far, but it was a little gater snake and it ran off, but it is good we had the stick to help get the box out of the tree. Also a rubber kitchen glove if there is any poison oak or ivy around. Kids where them usually cause they no like the feel of spider webs.. LOL My mom carries a fanny pack that carries our books, our stamps, inking pens and a regular pen, and a damp washcloh to wipe off the stamps. We usually keep a cooler in the car filled with water and some snacks like lunch meat and cheese, so we can have like a "picnic".

Brat Pack IL
Jean

R wrote:
Water is a must. Snacks are a good idea - I usually take along a granola bar. I always wear pants and sneakers (as opposed to shorts and sandals), when letterboxing because you never know when you have to brush past raspberry brambles or stinging nettle or even poison ivy to get to a box.

Lone R

S B wrote: Hi, being a newb to letterboxing and hiking, both, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for hiking?

Such as, what do you bring with you? Backpack? Snacks, water, etc? What do you normally carry in your pack?

What kind of clothing is suggested? Shorts? Pants? Sneakers, hiking boots?

I realize it's all individual, however, I'm one of those people who like to see what others do, then pick and choose what might work for me.

Thanks for any suggestions, or BTDTs

NY Team Wolf


---------------------------------
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We wear hiking boots and our travelling hats to keep the sun off. My crazy husband wears shorts, but I wear jeans. We bring water, a snack, sunscreen. For the letterboxing, we bring our stamps of course, ink, book, pen, and enough repair materials for two complete boxes.

I actually have a spare backpack loaded just for hiking and letterboxing, because I got tired of reloading my everyday pack.

Cat
http://blogathon.org

----- Original Message ----
From: Jean Sheedy
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 1, 2006 6:51:13 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?

We usually bring a walking stick as well just in case a snake decides to guard the letter box. =) We have come across 1 so far, but it was a little gater snake and it ran off, but it is good we had the stick to help get the box out of the tree. Also a rubber kitchen glove if there is any poison oak or ivy around. Kids where them usually cause they no like the feel of spider webs.. LOL My mom carries a fanny pack that carries our books, our stamps, inking pens and a regular pen, and a damp washcloh to wipe off the stamps. We usually keep a cooler in the car filled with water and some snacks like lunch meat and cheese, so we can have like a "picnic".

Brat Pack IL
Jean

R wrote:
Water is a must. Snacks are a good idea - I usually take along a granola bar. I always wear pants and sneakers (as opposed to shorts and sandals), when letterboxing because you never know when you have to brush past raspberry brambles or stinging nettle or even poison ivy to get to a box.

Lone R

S B wrote: Hi, being a newb to letterboxing and hiking, both, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for hiking?

Such as, what do you bring with you? Backpack? Snacks, water, etc? What do you normally carry in your pack?

What kind of clothing is suggested? Shorts? Pants? Sneakers, hiking boots?

I realize it's all individual, however, I'm one of those people who like to see what others do, then pick and choose what might work for me.

Thanks for any suggestions, or BTDTs

NY Team Wolf

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Welcome,

My 2 cents: bring water, your LB supplies, maybe even an extra baggie for repairs, and if ANY poison oak or tics possiblity in your area, wear long pants and shoes. I went on a spur of the moment in shorts and sandals since easy trail, but now have poison oak up and down legs and feet.....itch...itch...

Enjoy !!
Lichen Hikin'

S B wrote:
Hi, being a newb to letterboxing and hiking, both, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for hiking?

Such as, what do you bring with you? Backpack? Snacks, water, etc? What do you normally carry in your pack?

What kind of clothing is suggested? Shorts? Pants? Sneakers, hiking boots?

I realize it's all individual, however, I'm one of those people who like to see what others do, then pick and choose what might work for me.

Thanks for any suggestions, or BTDTs

NY Team Wolf


---------------------------------
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Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

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I do wear shorts, but occasionally there will be areas I can't get into
because of that. I refuse, though, to wear long pants in summer time. I
cover my legs with Tecnu first to resist poison ivy and I declare
unreachable boxes to be winter boxes.

I carry a backpack as well, and include in it box maintenance stuff, water,
snacks, keys, and a small amount of money (I've never had to pay a squirrel
to find a box, but in the event I do I guess...).

Because I hike alot alone, I strap a compass and a whistle on the outside of
my backpack so that if I fall or am accosted, I can reach them quickly and
readily, and I keep my GPS and my cell phone in an outside pocket of my
backpack so that I can give exact coordinates for where I am, if need by.
--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

re: and a small amount of money (I've never had to pay a squirrel
to find a box, but in the event I do I guess...). Barefoot Lucy

Lucy, that's too funny. I usually carry some money too. I never knew why I thought I might need it on a trail - bail money for trespassing maybe? Once when I was loading up my pack and realized I had no cash, I put in my Visa card! Surely those squirrels take Visa!
Puddle Splasher


----- Original Message -----
From: Barefoot Lucy
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 8/1/2006 12:26:03 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?


I do wear shorts, but occasionally there will be areas I can't get into
because of that. I refuse, though, to wear long pants in summer time. I
cover my legs with Tecnu first to resist poison ivy and I declare
unreachable boxes to be winter boxes.

I carry a backpack as well, and include in it box maintenance stuff, water,
snacks, keys, and a small amount of money (I've never had to pay a squirrel
to find a box, but in the event I do I guess...).

Because I hike alot alone, I strap a compass and a whistle on the outside of
my backpack so that if I fall or am accosted, I can reach them quickly and
readily, and I keep my GPS and my cell phone in an outside pocket of my
backpack so that I can give exact coordinates for where I am, if need by.
--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I use a ski pole hiking stick I bought for $3 to keep the spider webs out of my face and to poke things. It's my experience in my area that folks seldom plant a box more than a mile from a car and won't visit those that are much beyond that especially if it's on a hilltop so the idea of a massive pack may not be needed. I've seen folks with a 'pack' that fits easily into a pocket.

I have a twin bottle Wal-mart fanny pack that I use and only have the needed LB items inside. I started in March and had the chance to see how season changes affect how boxes are visible in the spring as opposed to full plant growth.

Pioneer Spirit
P29 F385 X14

-----Original Message-----
From: silverbunny2112@yahoo.com
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 9:08 AM
Subject: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?

Hi, being a newb to letterboxing and hiking, both, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for hiking?

Such as, what do you bring with you? Backpack? Snacks, water, etc? What do you normally carry in your pack?

What kind of clothing is suggested? Shorts? Pants? Sneakers, hiking boots?

I realize it's all individual, however, I'm one of those people who like to see what others do, then pick and choose what might work for me.

Thanks for any suggestions, or BTDTs

NY Team Wolf


---------------------------------
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Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wow, I'm really surprised that no one said pants because it helps protect
against ticks (should also wear long sleeve shirt, too, theoretically).
Read a few articles about the kind of damage ticks can do to you and pants
really don't seem so bad. I wear wicking pants that can convert to shorts
if I really, really need to, but I haven't done it once. The wicking part
works pretty good! The actual retrieving of a box often involves a little
off-trail where you are probably most likely to get a tick; stamping in also
gets you some good nature contact-time, too.

Water, water, water. If you are hiking for a few hours you cannot carry the
amount of water you need in a fanny pack, particularly at this time of
year. Not drinking enough can be very dangerous.

Hiking boots - can't recommend them enough for ankle support. Don't go for
inexpensive. Miserable feet = miserable hiker. Boots should provide ankle
support, have sturdy soles, be waterproof and breath (read: goretex).

Trekking poles - if you are really hiking, I can't recommend these enough,
either. They help your knees and are good for balance if you have to cross
a stream or walk along a rocky trail or climb up or down something steep.
Plus previously mentioned bonuses of being able to use them to fight off
spider webs and poke into letterbox hiding spots. Can also use to poke your
partner to move faster or for impromptu reenactment of the sword fight atop
the Cliffs of Insanity.

Flashlight - underestimate the distance to that last box at the end of the
day just once and you will carry a flashlight or headlamp with you. No need
for you to find out the hard way.

Map
Compass
Whistle
First aid kit
Snacks
Cell phone (never count on a cell phone working, but if there was an
emergency and it did have reception, you'd be glad to have it)

So obviously I carry a backpack. Oh yeah, letterboxing stuff goes in there,
too.

And that's just the summer list.

You thought hiking was a free activity until you read this! Of course many
people seem to survive without all this, so there is something to be said
there. Green Tortuga, what did you carry on the AT?! :-)
Regardless, if you need to actually buy a bunch of stuff, e-mail me and I
will give you some advice on where to shop.

Wow, I had a lot to say for someone who never posts!

Clueless


On 8/1/06, RMORGAN762@aol.com wrote:
>
> I use a ski pole hiking stick I bought for $3 to keep the spider webs
> out of my face and to poke things. It's my experience in my area that folks
> seldom plant a box more than a mile from a car and won't visit those that
> are much beyond that especially if it's on a hilltop so the idea of a
> massive pack may not be needed. I've seen folks with a 'pack' that fits
> easily into a pocket.
>
> I have a twin bottle Wal-mart fanny pack that I use and only have the
> needed LB items inside. I started in March and had the chance to see how
> season changes affect how boxes are visible in the spring as opposed to full
> plant growth.
>
> Pioneer Spirit
> P29 F385 X14
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: silverbunny2112@yahoo.com
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 9:08 AM
> Subject: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?
>
> Hi, being a newb to letterboxing and hiking, both, I was wondering if
> anyone had suggestions for hiking?
>
> Such as, what do you bring with you? Backpack? Snacks, water, etc? What do
> you normally carry in your pack?
>
> What kind of clothing is suggested? Shorts? Pants? Sneakers, hiking boots?
>
> I realize it's all individual, however, I'm one of those people who like
> to see what others do, then pick and choose what might work for me.
>
> Thanks for any suggestions, or BTDTs
>
> NY Team Wolf
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and
> IM. All on demand. Always Free.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'd definitely agree with the flashlight comment - been there, done that!
Flashlights are now permanently in our packs.

Wisconsin Hiker

-----Original Message-----
From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Jennifer Decker
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 8:45 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?



Flashlight - underestimate the distance to that last box at the end of the
day just once and you will carry a flashlight or headlamp with you. No need
for you to find out the hard way.


Wow, I had a lot to say for someone who never posts!

Clueless
.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Green Tortuga, what did you carry on the AT?! :-)

Well, I'll admit to dumping the flashlight I had at the very first
post office I came to. =) Ditched my two trekking poles for just one.
Never even considered carrying a cell phone. Hiking boots with ankle
support are way overrated. Give me tennis or running shoes anyday. =)
I carried a map at first but finally decided it was too much weight
and dropped it. Never carried a whistle.

> Can also use to poke your partner to move faster or for impromptu
> reenactment of the sword fight atop the Cliffs of Insanity.

That's the precise reason I kept one of my two trekking poles! ;o)

Of the so-called "ten essentials" at
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/hiking/skills/teness.htm I only
carried four of them on a regular basis while thru-hiking the AT. =)
And the compass I only carried because of letterboxing! The other
three was extra food, water, and the army knife or "multipurpose
tool". (Though admittedly, I almost never filtered or treated water
like it suggests!)

The first aid kit thing--I always had a few extra bandaids and
moleskin, plus tweasers for taking off ticks, but not really a true
first aid kit. *shrug*

Never did carry any raingear except an umbrella, which I don't think
is supposed to count. =)

Didn't have a firestarter or matches, though I did carry a lighter for
my stove--does that count?

Sunscreen I rarely needed since I was always in the trees, and
sunglasses I kept losing when I'd take them off in the shade then
leave them behind, so most of the trail I didn't have those either.

Looking back, it's kind of remarkable I didn't die on the trail, huh? =)

-- Ryan

I think it was Bill Bryson talking about thru-hiking the AT (A Walk In The Woods) who said he even cut the handle off his toothbrush because it weighed too much!
Puddle Splasher


----- Original Message -----
From: rscarpen
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 8/2/2006 11:44:06 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?


> Green Tortuga, what did you carry on the AT?! :-)

Well, I'll admit to dumping the flashlight I had at the very first
post office I came to. =) Ditched my two trekking poles for just one.
Never even considered carrying a cell phone. Hiking boots with ankle
support are way overrated. Give me tennis or running shoes anyday. =)
I carried a map at first but finally decided it was too much weight
and dropped it. Never carried a whistle.

> Can also use to poke your partner to move faster or for impromptu
> reenactment of the sword fight atop the Cliffs of Insanity.

That's the precise reason I kept one of my two trekking poles! ;o)

Of the so-called "ten essentials" at
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/hiking/skills/teness.htm I only
carried four of them on a regular basis while thru-hiking the AT. =)
And the compass I only carried because of letterboxing! The other
three was extra food, water, and the army knife or "multipurpose
tool". (Though admittedly, I almost never filtered or treated water
like it suggests!)

The first aid kit thing--I always had a few extra bandaids and
moleskin, plus tweasers for taking off ticks, but not really a true
first aid kit. *shrug*

Never did carry any raingear except an umbrella, which I don't think
is supposed to count. =)

Didn't have a firestarter or matches, though I did carry a lighter for
my stove--does that count?

Sunscreen I rarely needed since I was always in the trees, and
sunglasses I kept losing when I'd take them off in the shade then
leave them behind, so most of the trail I didn't have those either.

Looking back, it's kind of remarkable I didn't die on the trail, huh? =)

-- Ryan




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ryan's description of getting rid of stuff along the way reminds me of a
book my husband is reading - The Ultralight Backpacker.

My husband, Fearless Fox, is one who, when he goes camping, thinks up every
possible thing in the world to take. We often find ourselves taking more
than one vehicle because we HAVE to take so much stuff. I, on the other
hand, am a minimalist (and sometimes too much so).

When he started doing longer overnight hikes, he followed his normal habit
of packing everything he could possibly ever need, I guess in the event they
got lost on the trail and an earthquake struck while they were lost and
created a huge divide on both sides of them that separated them for eternity
from the rest of civilization - that was all I could ever figure out
anyway. He packed for days when he and his friend each took their sons to
Arkansas to hike. They were planning on being on the trail for 2 nights
and 3 days. He would pack up and then put his backpack on and we would do
our normal walk at night. Satisfied he could handle it, he would shove more
in and we would repeat the walk the next night. Finally, the day came for
them to leave. The four of them loaded up and headed off. Drove eight
hours and then headed out to make their food drops. After they finished, he
called me at home (eight hours away) and told me "I have a little problem".
Being married to him for 20+ years and knowing him very well, my first
comment was "There is NO WAY IN H... I am bringing you ANYTHING." He said,
"These mountains are STRAIGHT up!" I guess I should mention that our
neighborhood is pretty much flat - total rise of perhaps 8 feet if you go
down one particular street.

He and his partner spent the next several hours dumping their backpacks on
the beds of hotel they were staying in before they began their journey (I
have no idea how long his buddy spent packing, but as I said, Fearless Fox's
packing took several nights), and whittling down what they absolutely had to
have. They managed to up the boy's backpacks to 9 and 13 pounds, and get
their own down to about 40 pounds. Even still, they realized after they
started out that they had toooo much! They managed it though, and even
though they didn't walk as far as they had hoped (they were shooting for 28
miles, and they made 21), they survived with no earthquakes or anything
other than some healthy blisters.

And so he began to read The Ultralight Backpacker. The author of that book
- now he is a fanatic about packing light. He even suggests that you take
your toothbrush and saw the handle down, then drill holes in the remaining
handle to lighten it. I'm gonna be really surprised to see Fearless Fox get
to that point, but it's fun watching him think about it!

BarefootLucy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ha ha ha! That story is great! The first time I went backpacking I spent a
long time packing, confident in my living room that the weight was good.
About 10 minutes in on the hike I started to have my doubts. Let's just say
when I got home, I weighed everything - everything! - in my pack. "WHAT?!?
This camera weighs a pound?!"

Next time I was much more practical - no more "Saturday outfit, Sunday
outfit, Monday outfit" for me! That trip was a LOT more enjoyable! But I
watched someone else in the group struggling, and was quite surprised - he
seemed like he was in good shape. When we stopped for a snack he pulled out
a JAR of peanut butter! Later at camp, he pulled out quite a few more
things like that - including a jar of tabasco sauce. I think I know what
his problem was...

Clueless


On 8/2/06, Barefoot Lucy wrote:
>
> Ryan's description of getting rid of stuff along the way reminds me of
> a
> book my husband is reading - The Ultralight Backpacker.
>
> My husband, Fearless Fox, is one who, when he goes camping, thinks up
> every
> possible thing in the world to take. We often find ourselves taking more
> than one vehicle because we HAVE to take so much stuff. I, on the other
> hand, am a minimalist (and sometimes too much so).
>
> When he started doing longer overnight hikes, he followed his normal habit
> of packing everything he could possibly ever need, I guess in the event
> they
> got lost on the trail and an earthquake struck while they were lost and
> created a huge divide on both sides of them that separated them for
> eternity
> from the rest of civilization - that was all I could ever figure out
> anyway. He packed for days when he and his friend each took their sons to
> Arkansas to hike. They were planning on being on the trail for 2 nights
> and 3 days. He would pack up and then put his backpack on and we would do
> our normal walk at night. Satisfied he could handle it, he would shove
> more
> in and we would repeat the walk the next night. Finally, the day came for
> them to leave. The four of them loaded up and headed off. Drove eight
> hours and then headed out to make their food drops. After they finished,
> he
> called me at home (eight hours away) and told me "I have a little
> problem".
> Being married to him for 20+ years and knowing him very well, my first
> comment was "There is NO WAY IN H... I am bringing you ANYTHING." He said,
> "These mountains are STRAIGHT up!" I guess I should mention that our
> neighborhood is pretty much flat - total rise of perhaps 8 feet if you go
> down one particular street.
>
> He and his partner spent the next several hours dumping their backpacks on
> the beds of hotel they were staying in before they began their journey (I
> have no idea how long his buddy spent packing, but as I said, Fearless
> Fox's
> packing took several nights), and whittling down what they absolutely had
> to
> have. They managed to up the boy's backpacks to 9 and 13 pounds, and get
> their own down to about 40 pounds. Even still, they realized after they
> started out that they had toooo much! They managed it though, and even
> though they didn't walk as far as they had hoped (they were shooting for
> 28
> miles, and they made 21), they survived with no earthquakes or anything
> other than some healthy blisters.
>
> And so he began to read The Ultralight Backpacker. The author of that book
> - now he is a fanatic about packing light. He even suggests that you take
> your toothbrush and saw the handle down, then drill holes in the remaining
> handle to lighten it. I'm gonna be really surprised to see Fearless Fox
> get
> to that point, but it's fun watching him think about it!
>
> BarefootLucy
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

this sounds way too familiar.....we laugh now when we take newbies backpacking with us because of all their gear....especially with teenage or young women....the make up, mirrors, brushes, etc.... it reminds me how far I've come. We've even had people bring full size pillows! My husband also sawed off his toothbrush handle on his 200+ miles John Muir trail as a teen, now just uses half of one of the traveling ones you can buy.
Lichen Hikin'

Barefoot Lucy wrote:
Ryan's description of getting rid of stuff along the way reminds me of a
book my husband is reading - The Ultralight Backpacker.

My husband, Fearless Fox, is one who, when he goes camping, thinks up every
possible thing in the world to take. We often find ourselves taking more
than one vehicle because we HAVE to take so much stuff. I, on the other
hand, am a minimalist (and sometimes too much so).

When he started doing longer overnight hikes, he followed his normal habit
of packing everything he could possibly ever need, I guess in the event they
got lost on the trail and an earthquake struck while they were lost and
created a huge divide on both sides of them that separated them for eternity
from the rest of civilization - that was all I could ever figure out
anyway. He packed for days when he and his friend each took their sons to
Arkansas to hike. They were planning on being on the trail for 2 nights
and 3 days. He would pack up and then put his backpack on and we would do
our normal walk at night. Satisfied he could handle it, he would shove more
in and we would repeat the walk the next night. Finally, the day came for
them to leave. The four of them loaded up and headed off. Drove eight
hours and then headed out to make their food drops. After they finished, he
called me at home (eight hours away) and told me "I have a little problem".
Being married to him for 20+ years and knowing him very well, my first
comment was "There is NO WAY IN H... I am bringing you ANYTHING." He said,
"These mountains are STRAIGHT up!" I guess I should mention that our
neighborhood is pretty much flat - total rise of perhaps 8 feet if you go
down one particular street.

He and his partner spent the next several hours dumping their backpacks on
the beds of hotel they were staying in before they began their journey (I
have no idea how long his buddy spent packing, but as I said, Fearless Fox's
packing took several nights), and whittling down what they absolutely had to
have. They managed to up the boy's backpacks to 9 and 13 pounds, and get
their own down to about 40 pounds. Even still, they realized after they
started out that they had toooo much! They managed it though, and even
though they didn't walk as far as they had hoped (they were shooting for 28
miles, and they made 21), they survived with no earthquakes or anything
other than some healthy blisters.

And so he began to read The Ultralight Backpacker. The author of that book
- now he is a fanatic about packing light. He even suggests that you take
your toothbrush and saw the handle down, then drill holes in the remaining
handle to lighten it. I'm gonna be really surprised to see Fearless Fox get
to that point, but it's fun watching him think about it!

BarefootLucy

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






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Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Reminds of Bryson's book "A Walk in the Woods" when he and his incredibly out of shape buddy Katz decide to hike the AT. After just a few days? hours? Katz falls far behind. Bryson has to go back and find him. When he reaches Katz he finds out that Katz unloaded a lot of wieight to lighten his load.Something like this:

Bryson - "Where's the matches"
Katz - "Flung"
Bryson - "Ane the spam?"
Katz - "Really flung!"
Bryson - "Coffee filters?"
Katz - 'Flung!"
Bryson - "You flung the coffee filters?"

rscarpen wrote:
Well, I'll admit to dumping the flashlight I had at the very first
post office I came to. =) Ditched my two trekking poles for just one.

I carried a map at first but finally decided it was too much weight
and dropped it. Never carried a whistle.




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Okay, if we're going to resort to humor along this line, I have to throw in
with this Boy Scout skit I saw recently.

Three guys were on a long hike and one guy was responsible for breakfast.
When it came time to eat breakfast, the other two guys told him to break it
out. He brought out the cereal - he brought out the milk - and he brought
out the spoons. The other guys asked him where the bowls were and he
replied that he was conserving space and weight, so he didn't bring any
bowls. They were sorely unhappy with him because it appeared they weren't
going to be able to eat breakfast - until the breakfast guy laid down on the
ground and poured cereal into his mouth and motioned for the other two to
pour milk into his mouth as well. They poured the milk, he handed them the
spoons, and motioned for them to eat the cereal out of his mouth. Problem
solved.

And - FYI - the guys acting out the skit ACTUALLY ate the cereal out of the
one guy's mouth - GROSS!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> The first time I went backpacking I spent a long time packing,
> confident in my living room that the weight was good.

A lot of people fall for that trap. The pack feels good for a short
while on level ground. Throw the person on a steep trail with hours of
hiking ahead, it doesn't take long to change their mind. =)

I firmly believe that one's enjoyment on a backpacking trip runs
directly opposite of their pack weight. They'll carry bizarre stuff
like full-sized pillows with the claim that they'll be more
comfortable in camp. Yeah, and you'll be unconscious most of the time
it's being used and will cause your waking hours on the trail to be
MISERABLE! Not really a good tradeoff. Much smarter just to bring a
pillowcase and fill it full of leaves at camp. ;o)

-- Ryan

Well I have used a pillowcase with my clothes that I may need in the
night in case I need to find the outdoor latrine. Or other clothes
that were comfy enough.
:)



--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "rscarpen" wrote:
>
> > The first time I went backpacking I spent a long time packing,
> > confident in my living room that the weight was good.
>
> A lot of people fall for that trap. The pack feels good for a short
> while on level ground. Throw the person on a steep trail with hours of
> hiking ahead, it doesn't take long to change their mind. =)
>
> I firmly believe that one's enjoyment on a backpacking trip runs
> directly opposite of their pack weight. They'll carry bizarre stuff
> like full-sized pillows with the claim that they'll be more
> comfortable in camp. Yeah, and you'll be unconscious most of the time
> it's being used and will cause your waking hours on the trail to be
> MISERABLE! Not really a good tradeoff. Much smarter just to bring a
> pillowcase and fill it full of leaves at camp. ;o)
>
> -- Ryan
>

I really hate long pants in the summer too, and recently went
letterboxing in shorts. Oh, the poison ivy!! The boxes were hid in
campground area of a park. I did my best to avoid the PI. I gave
myself a short while to find the boxes and then went to wash my
arms, legs and face in a water pump. I didn't have any soap, so I
knocked on the door of a camper and asked to borrowed a bar of soap
after explaining I had just been hiking in poison ivy. The lady was
hesitant, but she lent me one. I assured her she had just saved me
from a couple miserable weeks! I didn't break out at all, so
washing really helps. I now carry a small bar of soap when I hike.

Goose Chaser

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Barefoot Lucy"
wrote:
>
> I do wear shorts, but occasionally there will be areas I can't get
into
> because of that. I refuse, though, to wear long pants in summer
time. I
> cover my legs with Tecnu first to resist poison ivy and I declare
> unreachable boxes to be winter boxes.
>
> I carry a backpack as well, and include in it box maintenance
stuff, water,
> snacks, keys, and a small amount of money (I've never had to pay a
squirrel
> to find a box, but in the event I do I guess...).
>
> Because I hike alot alone, I strap a compass and a whistle on the
outside of
> my backpack so that if I fall or am accosted, I can reach them
quickly and
> readily, and I keep my GPS and my cell phone in an outside pocket
of my
> backpack so that I can give exact coordinates for where I am, if
need by.
> --
> Barefoot Lucy
> "It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I am a firm believer in Tecnu. My daughter is horribly allergic to PI so I
keep the stuff on hand. During warm weather, I typically keep a small patch
or two of PI myself, but I've taken to rubbing it in before I go into PI
territory, and I wash up with it when I leave as well. I've had one small
PI outbreak this summer - before I started using Tecnu diligently. It's
pricey - but worth it. My daughter swears by it and won't venture off the
sidewalk without rubbing it in.

--
Barefoot Lucy
"It's not about footwear, it's about philosophy"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

GIRL Scouts would have eaten the cereal dry and drunk the milk! =P

Barefoot Lucy wrote: Okay, if we're going to resort to humor along this line, I have to throw in
with this Boy Scout skit I saw recently.

Three guys were on a long hike and one guy was responsible for breakfast.
When it came time to eat breakfast, the other two guys told him to break it
out. He brought out the cereal - he brought out the milk - and he brought
out the spoons. The other guys asked him where the bowls were and he
replied that he was conserving space and weight, so he didn't bring any
bowls. They were sorely unhappy with him because it appeared they weren't
going to be able to eat breakfast - until the breakfast guy laid down on the
ground and poured cereal into his mouth and motioned for the other two to
pour milk into his mouth as well. They poured the milk, he handed them the
spoons, and motioned for them to eat the cereal out of his mouth. Problem
solved.

And - FYI - the guys acting out the skit ACTUALLY ate the cereal out of the
one guy's mouth - GROSS!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






---------------------------------
Groups are talking. We´re listening. Check out the handy changes to Yahoo! Groups.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

LOL!! Bravo and you're right!
Goose Chaser


--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Suzanne Coe
wrote:
>
> GIRL Scouts would have eaten the cereal dry and drunk the milk! =P
>
> Barefoot Lucy wrote: Okay, if we're
going to resort to humor along this line, I have to throw in
> with this Boy Scout skit I saw recently.
>
> Three guys were on a long hike and one guy was responsible for
breakfast.
> When it came time to eat breakfast, the other two guys told him to
break it
> out. He brought out the cereal - he brought out the milk - and he
brought
> out the spoons. The other guys asked him where the bowls were and
he
> replied that he was conserving space and weight, so he didn't
bring any
> bowls. They were sorely unhappy with him because it appeared they
weren't
> going to be able to eat breakfast - until the breakfast guy laid
down on the
> ground and poured cereal into his mouth and motioned for the other
two to
> pour milk into his mouth as well. They poured the milk, he handed
them the
> spoons, and motioned for them to eat the cereal out of his mouth.
Problem
> solved.
>
> And - FYI - the guys acting out the skit ACTUALLY ate the cereal
out of the
> one guy's mouth - GROSS!
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Groups are talking. We´re listening. Check out the handy
changes to Yahoo! Groups.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

The very first time I went b'packing I went with a group who'd been going on annual trips, trying to out do each other. I thought what they were doing were normal m.o. They had frozen meat that thawed by day 2 or 3, syrup for pancakes, and even a beer for day 5. My friend and I were eating the standard dried soups and other dehydrated foods....were we jealous! except for our backs faired better... makings for good stories many years later. Now I know better....give all the heavy stuff to teenage boys and carry the fluffy down that looks like I have a lot. lol ...they still beat me to the end.
Lichen Hikin'

jojoma22 wrote:
LOL!! Bravo and you're right!
Goose Chaser

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, Suzanne Coe
wrote:
>
> GIRL Scouts would have eaten the cereal dry and drunk the milk! =P
>
> Barefoot Lucy wrote: Okay, if we're
going to resort to humor along this line, I have to throw in
> with this Boy Scout skit I saw recently.
>
> Three guys were on a long hike and one guy was responsible for
breakfast.
> When it came time to eat breakfast, the other two guys told him to
break it
> out. He brought out the cereal - he brought out the milk - and he
brought
> out the spoons. The other guys asked him where the bowls were and
he
> replied that he was conserving space and weight, so he didn't
bring any
> bowls. They were sorely unhappy with him because it appeared they
weren't
> going to be able to eat breakfast - until the breakfast guy laid
down on the
> ground and poured cereal into his mouth and motioned for the other
two to
> pour milk into his mouth as well. They poured the milk, he handed
them the
> spoons, and motioned for them to eat the cereal out of his mouth.
Problem
> solved.
>
> And - FYI - the guys acting out the skit ACTUALLY ate the cereal
out of the
> one guy's mouth - GROSS!
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Groups are talking. We´re listening. Check out the handy
changes to Yahoo! Groups.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>






---------------------------------
Groups are talking. We´re listening. Check out the handy changes to Yahoo! Groups.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

REAL Girl Scouts wouldn't have forgotten their mess kits. ;-)

pezpam

On Aug 2, 2006, at 11:12 PM, Suzanne Coe wrote:

> GIRL Scouts would have eaten the cereal dry and drunk the milk! =P
>
> Barefoot Lucy wrote: Okay, if
> we're going to resort to humor along this line, I have to throw in
> with this Boy Scout skit I saw recently.
>
> Three guys were on a long hike and one guy was responsible for
> breakfast.
> When it came time to eat breakfast, the other two guys told him to
> break it
> out. He brought out the cereal - he brought out the milk - and he
> brought
> out the spoons. The other guys asked him where the bowls were and he
> replied that he was conserving space and weight, so he didn't bring
> any
> bowls. They were sorely unhappy with him because it appeared they
> weren't
> going to be able to eat breakfast - until the breakfast guy laid
> down on the
> ground and poured cereal into his mouth and motioned for the other
> two to
> pour milk into his mouth as well. They poured the milk, he handed
> them the
> spoons, and motioned for them to eat the cereal out of his mouth.
> Problem
> solved.
>
> And - FYI - the guys acting out the skit ACTUALLY ate the cereal
> out of the
> one guy's mouth - GROSS!
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

> Bryson - "Where's the matches"
> Katz - "Flung"
> Bryson - "Ane the spam?"
> Katz - "Really flung!"
> Bryson - "Coffee filters?"
> Katz - 'Flung!"
> Bryson - "You flung the coffee filters?"

Right! He even flung all his precious Little Debbies!

I've got that book on audio, narrated by Bryson. It is hilarious to
hear him read that part.

wood thrush

Great idea! I've read the book twice, but never thought of getting the audio so I can entertain myself while driving in rush hour!
Puddle Splasher


----- Original Message -----
From: wood thrush
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 8/3/2006 10:59:45 AM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?


> Bryson - "Where's the matches"
> Katz - "Flung"
> Bryson - "Ane the spam?"
> Katz - "Really flung!"
> Bryson - "Coffee filters?"
> Katz - 'Flung!"
> Bryson - "You flung the coffee filters?"

Right! He even flung all his precious Little Debbies!

I've got that book on audio, narrated by Bryson. It is hilarious to
hear him read that part.

wood thrush




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Great idea! I've read the book twice, but never thought of getting
the audio so I can entertain myself while driving in rush hour!
> Puddle Splasher
>

And if you also get the audio version of "Neither Here Nor There," you
can also hear Bryson talk (albeit briefly) about his previous trip
with Katz through Europe. Also hilarious.

wood thrush

what book?

Maribeth Jagger wrote:

>Great idea! I've read the book twice, but never thought of getting the audio so I can entertain myself while driving in rush hour!
>Puddle Splasher
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: wood thrush
>To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>Sent: 8/3/2006 10:59:45 AM
>Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?
>
>
>
>
>>Bryson - "Where's the matches"
>>Katz - "Flung"
>>Bryson - "Ane the spam?"
>>Katz - "Really flung!"
>>Bryson - "Coffee filters?"
>>Katz - 'Flung!"
>>Bryson - "You flung the coffee filters?"
>>
>>
>
>Right! He even flung all his precious Little Debbies!
>
>I've got that book on audio, narrated by Bryson. It is hilarious to
>hear him read that part.
>
>wood thrush
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

That's how I was introduced to it, Cyclonic had it on tape and played it on one of our drives while out boxing. Then I read the old fashioned version (the book) and laughed even harder.

wood thrush wrote: > Bryson - "Where's the matches"
> Katz - "Flung"
> Bryson - "Ane the spam?"
> Katz - "Really flung!"
> Bryson - "Coffee filters?"
> Katz - 'Flung!"
> Bryson - "You flung the coffee filters?"

Right! He even flung all his precious Little Debbies!

I've got that book on audio, narrated by Bryson. It is hilarious to
hear him read that part.

wood thrush






---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At a camp my daughter attends, part of a skit included a counselor named Britta playing the part of a Brita filter....water was poured in her mouth, her nose was pressed and the water was spit into a cup and enjoyed by a fellow counselor (the skit also included the human cereal bowl already mentioned) ICK!!
KellyBean

Barefoot Lucy wrote:
Okay, if we're going to resort to humor along this line, I have to throw in
with this Boy Scout skit I saw recently.

Three guys were on a long hike and one guy was responsible for breakfast.
When it came time to eat breakfast, the other two guys told him to break it
out. He brought out the cereal - he brought out the milk - and he brought
out the spoons. The other guys asked him where the bowls were and he
replied that he was conserving space and weight, so he didn't bring any
bowls. They were sorely unhappy with him because it appeared they weren't
going to be able to eat breakfast - until the breakfast guy laid down on the
ground and poured cereal into his mouth and motioned for the other two to
pour milk into his mouth as well. They poured the milk, he handed them the
spoons, and motioned for them to eat the cereal out of his mouth. Problem
solved.

And - FYI - the guys acting out the skit ACTUALLY ate the cereal out of the
one guy's mouth - GROSS!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

"A Walk In The Woods" by Bill Bryson (about his "almost" thru hike of the Appalachian Trail).


----- Original Message -----
From: Diana Newton Wood, MD
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 8/3/2006 2:07:35 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?


what book?

Maribeth Jagger wrote:

>Great idea! I've read the book twice, but never thought of getting the audio so I can entertain myself while driving in rush hour!
>Puddle Splasher
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: wood thrush
>To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>Sent: 8/3/2006 10:59:45 AM
>Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?
>
>
>
>
>>Bryson - "Where's the matches"
>>Katz - "Flung"
>>Bryson - "Ane the spam?"
>>Katz - "Really flung!"
>>Bryson - "Coffee filters?"
>>Katz - 'Flung!"
>>Bryson - "You flung the coffee filters?"
>>
>>
>
>Right! He even flung all his precious Little Debbies!
>
>I've got that book on audio, narrated by Bryson. It is hilarious to
>hear him read that part.
>
>wood thrush
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Will do! Thanks!
Puddle Splasher


----- Original Message -----
From: wood thrush
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 8/3/2006 12:34:05 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?


> Great idea! I've read the book twice, but never thought of getting
the audio so I can entertain myself while driving in rush hour!
> Puddle Splasher
>

And if you also get the audio version of "Neither Here Nor There," you
can also hear Bryson talk (albeit briefly) about his previous trip
with Katz through Europe. Also hilarious.

wood thrush




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--I love Bill Bryson's voice. It's a mixture of Iowa and the England. In a Sunburned Country
is one of my favorites.

- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Maribeth Jagger" wrote:
>
> Great idea! I've read the book twice, but never thought of getting the audio so I can
entertain myself while driving in rush hour!
> Puddle Splasher
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: wood thrush
> To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: 8/3/2006 10:59:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?
>
>
> > Bryson - "Where's the matches"
> > Katz - "Flung"
> > Bryson - "Ane the spam?"
> > Katz - "Really flung!"
> > Bryson - "Coffee filters?"
> > Katz - 'Flung!"
> > Bryson - "You flung the coffee filters?"
>
> Right! He even flung all his precious Little Debbies!
>
> I've got that book on audio, narrated by Bryson. It is hilarious to
> hear him read that part.
>
> wood thrush
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

'The New Complete Walker' by Colin Fletcher, revised over the decades to match new equipment yet always a great hit. This was a fellow who first walked the length of the Grand Canyon down inside 'The man who walked through time'. He also wrote the 1000 mile Summer about walking the length of California into Baja. I believe he did many of these feats in the 50's and 60's.

-----Original Message-----
From: cjagger405@earthlink.net
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 6:32 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?

"A Walk In The Woods" by Bill Bryson (about his "almost" thru hike of the Appalachian Trail).

----- Original Message -----
From: Diana Newton Wood, MD
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 8/3/2006 2:07:35 PM
Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?

what book?

Maribeth Jagger wrote:

>Great idea! I've read the book twice, but never thought of getting the audio so I can entertain myself while driving in rush hour!
>Puddle Splasher
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: wood thrush
>To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
>Sent: 8/3/2006 10:59:45 AM
>Subject: Re: [LbNA] Hiking suggestions?
>
>
>
>
>>Bryson - "Where's the matches"
>>Katz - "Flung"
>>Bryson - "Ane the spam?"
>>Katz - "Really flung!"
>>Bryson - "Coffee filters?"
>>Katz - 'Flung!"
>>Bryson - "You flung the coffee filters?"
>>
>>
>
>Right! He even flung all his precious Little Debbies!
>
>I've got that book on audio, narrated by Bryson. It is hilarious to
>hear him read that part.
>
>wood thrush
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]