travel light, wake early, walk far
Intro to Packrafting: Pray for Rain Originally I'd planned for this weekend to be the latest Intro to Packrafting trip. DC UL has occasionally done this trip which involves backpacking along part of the Massanutten Trail, camping overnight, then paddling back to the starting point on packrafts. While researching this trip I found helpful trip... Continue Reading →
19 Day Colorado Trail Thru-Hike: A Hike Your Own Hike Trip June 29–July 17 • 450 miles The Plan This hike started with a couple of queries to an AI chatbot. I gave it data from previous hikes and asked for an appropriate itinerary for the Colorado Trail, including the best times to start based... Continue Reading →
Dolly Sods is a unique place with an interesting history. Dolly Sods gets its name from a German settler Johann Dahle and the local sods (a term for a field or meadow). Over time the name “Dahle” shifted to “Dolly.” It sits at the edge of Allegheny Front, more or less along the eastern continental... Continue Reading →
Trip Summary 📍 Susquehannock Trail System 📅 June 12–15, 2026 🥾 85 miles in 3 days ⛰️ ~23,600 ft climbing 🏕️ Shelter-supported backpacking I’ve had the STS loop trail on my radar for some time as it is one of the longest loop hikes in the midatlantic region and easy logistics are high on my... Continue Reading →
There are strange things done ’neath Virginia sunBy hikers with frozen hands,The Massanutten trails hold wind and galesAnd more rocks than grains of sand.The ridge winds bite with frosty spiteThough forecasts look sincere—But the wildest tale I’ll ever tellIs the hike we survived this year. I said with cheer, “The fall’s prime here—We’ll hike through... Continue Reading →
DC UL Backpacking 