Washington Archives - Home on the Trail

My One Pound Vice — A Backpacking Camp Chair

A camp chair had been simmering on my back burner to purchase for some time. The old school blue foam butt-pad is a weight saver and does take the edge off the bum from rocks, downed trees, and stumps. But, sometimes you end up at a camp where there isn’t a suitable seat for your derriere. When my fiancee said she was buying one to take on our honeymoon treks in Peru, I decided to reevaluate the pound it would add to my pack. At the outdoor store we sat in all of the backpacking chairs. I felt like Goldilocks.…

Go Ahead, Back That Plan Up

Repeat after me: I will prepare a backup plan for my next backpacking trip… and once more for the people in the back, I will prepare a backup plan for my next backpacking trip. But, seriously have an alternate expedition planned and ready to go. I’ve changed destinations the day before, day of, and even enroute. There are many complications that may waylay your best laid plans; weather, road closures, trail closures, snowpack, uncrossable waterways, fires, or in 2020 massive smoke clouds covering the entire western US. The far-reaching, wildfire induced haze set in motion my bail out of the…

So You Didn’t Win The Lottery — Your Second Chance for the Enchantments

Most years I feel I have a better chance of winning the Powerball than the Enchantments Wilderness Permit lottery. A number of times I’ve pondered attempting to go with a day of walkup permit, but hadn’t seized the gumption to do so. Instead, opting for other non-permitted hikes each time. 2019 was no exception to losing the elusive sweepstakes; despite my wife, my brother, and a friend all rolling the dice. My wife was hell bent on going the walkup route and her persistence paid off for us. For 2020, walkups permits are suspended at the Leavenworth Ranger Station, due…

How the Heck Do You Plan a Backpacking Trip During a Pandemic?

“Damn!” I shouted. My wife stood tall, startled. She thought something terrible had happened, as I rarely raise my voice. She asked, “what’s wrong?” “The maps! we’ve got to get to Fedex before 6.” It was 5:40. With ranger stations closed due to the pandemic and none of the local outdoor stores with curbside pickup carrying the map, I had to meticulously craft my own online. I certainly wasn’t going to head out of town without them. We grabbed the last of our gear, double checked our lists and made it to Fedex just in time. That’s a solid snapshot…