backpacking, bambi and bears

Believe it or not, in addition to sewing, crocheting, baking, knitting, and paper making, backpacking is one of my favorite things to do.  My husband and I just started planning a week long backpacking trip in Yosemite for August and I have never seen him so excited.  We are taking along a sweet couple that has never backpacked before and they are equally excited.  I can hardly sit still.  In preparation for our trip, I started exercising again.  Like I've been telling Lenny, I don't want to be the weak link on this trip.  You never know when the weak link will have to be eaten!!!  In all seriousness though, I suck (wind) going uphill.  It kills.  I'm slow.  But, it's hard to keep up with me going downhill.  I have my leki hiking poles and often times will jog/run downhill.  I've been told I look like a praying mantis when I go downhill, but who cares.  I love it. 

I'm a little nervous though, for this trip.  Here in Colorado, we have backpacked all over, and have never run into any bears. We've always taken (feeble) precautions though, hanging our food (although sometimes it was only a mere 5 feet off the ground) and cooking away from our tent.  In Yosemite however, the story is that encountering bears is to be expected.  Whether it's on the trail or hearing them trying to get into our bear-proof food containers at night, I am trying to prepare myself for this.  I have always been a nervous Nellie even when it's just the little patterings of mice (or Bambi) outside our tent at nighttime.  I wonder how this will go.  Hum.  I think there will be a lot of praying going on.  Yes, yes, I think there will be. 

So in the true spirit of backpacking, here is one of my "I've had enough and I am so tired I could cry (and often have)" photos that my husband took of me as part of a tradition he started.  Upon taking the traditional photo, he says, "the next time you want to go backpacking, I'm going to show you this photo!".  He's such a sweetie!  And I love him way lots!                                    

Here's to all you backpackers out there! 

                         

~Penny

Comments

[sarah]

Hi Penny, you are soooo brave, i wouldn't like to meet up with any bears in the woods.
Great pic !
Sarah x

[LisaAlso]

I am not a backpacker or hiker. Back when i was in highschool, I took a trip with a church group to Molokai in Hawaii (lived in HI already.) We went hiking to Kalapapa, the famous leprosy colony that can only be reached by a steep climb down.

Down, no problem, except I wanted to jump in the surf when we finally reached the beach but it had killer rip tides. The climb back up about killed me, and the last photo of the day, with the view in the background, has me posed all hot and red wearing just my shorts and bra! Got rid of everything else (except shoes!) Never again!!

[amy]

you are so much better than me! i get winded climbing up our front porch steps!

[Moonbeam]

How exciting! So tell me, is it a skill you can learn how to hike? I read Elizabeth Zimmermann's knitting books, and in one of them she talks about hiking. She said sometimes when a guest would come along, they would be panting and falling way behind, and she and her experienced friends would be fine because they figured out how to do it. Have you figured out some trick or skill?

[Stacey]

Sounds exciting....I have a little anxiety right now for you! Just talking about it gets me all nervous....I am sure you will make sure you are well prepared come August! :)

[Thimbleanna]

Ohmygosh! I'm so envious! I would love to go on a for-real-live backpacking trip!!! But, sadly, I don't know anyone who would go with me, so I'm left alone to dream! Can't wait to see your August report!

[Marcia]

I'm afraid of bears too. My husband and I had gone to Grand Isle to bike. There are no phones or people for miles...we stopped to eat our lunch. I heard someone walking close to us. I looked around the bush and there was a black bear lumbering towards us, Bruce couldn't see it, but saw my reaction. We walked over to the bikes. He said "I don't see a bear", just then it lumbered around the bush...Bruce took right off on the bike!!!!! He SAID "I was leading the way." I felt like the person in that joke. Two guys are being chased by a bear and the one guy stops to tie his tennis shoe. The other guy says you can't outrun a bear. The first guy says, yes, but I can outrun you! Ü

[Felicia]

Sounds like its going to be a fun trip :)

[Missy]

I haven't been backpaking in YEARS! My husband really enjoys it too, but with since the kids we haven't done it. I bet we could do day trips now that at least two of them can walk. Nothing big, but that would be so much fun! Thanks for inspiring a fun summer family activity!
Good luck and watch out for those bears!

[Jordana Castro]

hola penny, good look with the bears!!!