Month: May 2017

Things I Learned As I Helped College Boy Prepare For His 15 Day Hike On The Appalachian Trail, The List:

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  1. If you as a parent propose an idea (“Hey, look, the university is offering class credit for hiking! And it counts toward your major!”), be prepared to pay for it.  All of it.

  2. The lighter the tent is in weight, the higher the tent is in price.

  3. The lighter the sleeping bag is in weight, the higher the sleeping bag is in price.

  4. All that camping gear we bought for all those Boy Scout camping experiences?  Hopelessly outdated. Apparently the technology that goes into making camping gear evolves as quickly as generations of iPhones.

  5. A one-person cooking “stove” can be made with a Pepsi can and foil. And the fuel is a $1.77 bottle of HEET from the auto supply store.

  6. Salespeople at camping supply stores have many personal adventures to share, and they expect you to listen to at least a few of them.

  7. A bag of trail mix has a surprisingly high number of calories, and an alarmingly high number of fat grams.

  8. Even though the recommended supply list includes needle and thread, apparently duct tape can better solve any wardrobe malfunction.

  9. Packaged tuna comes in at least 8 different flavors.

  10. Oatmeal with added soy powder is quite palatable.

  11. One bottle of ultra-concentrated soap can be used for laundry, dishes, shampoo, and body wash.

  12. Yes, foldable mini-shovels to help you bury, er, body waste, are an actual thing!

  13.  The lure of the mountains is strong enough that even a 20 year old male will happily abandon over two weeks of access to social media, clean clothes, and hot showers.

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