by Evan McCarthy March came and went.  April came and went.  No backpacking.  Not so much as a quick overnight adventure in Shenandoah National Park, let alone DC UL Backpacking’s annual rite of spring group hike of the 70+ mile Massanutten trail.  I hunkered down with the rest of humanity.  I worked from home.  I... Continue Reading →

(Photo: Evan) Pouring rain with temperatures hovering around freezing.  All day long.  That’s what I interpreted from the weather report I read on Monday the week of our Friday to Sunday Shenandoah National Park DC UL Gamma Trip.*  That’s about the worst forecast one can imagine for the mid-Atlantic on a Saturday during which we... Continue Reading →

Photo: Karan The moment I was waiting for – arriving late in the afternoon with taxed legs and a growing appetite to a warm cabin and friends – played out just as I imagined. (Photo:  Peter Silverman) This was exactly how we designed our trip weeks ago. Back then I took a look at the... Continue Reading →

"Unsolicited advice travels no further than the brim of your hat." – E.N. Woodcock. Or in modern parlance:  hike your own hike.  But make sure you do it in north-central Pennsylvania when you get a chance. "Hi!  I didn't sign up.  Can I join the trip?" he asked. It was 11:30 p.m. on Friday night.  The... Continue Reading →

We begin mid-story on a hot Saturday afternoon . . . I was the last person to drop down into Edinburg Gap (boy do I love that final bit of exposed, pine-needle and rock stretch, even in the too-hot September sun) and a bit of a sweaty mess in the near 90 degree afternoon heat. ... Continue Reading →