From: | Mike |
Sent on: | Friday, May 2, 2014, 3:59 PM |
Hi,
I’m into recycling, so I’ve decided to reuse every single letter of the alphabet. I have only rearranged (deranged?) their relative disorder. (My relatives have lots of disorders.) OK, let me get this one joke out of the way so that I can concentrate on the
rest of the message: People who like big buildings have an edifice complex.
If you've ever (or never) felt like backpacking, here's a great opportunity to try your hand, back, and legs at it. Liz Guertin and I are teaching a series of classes (2) for beginners (or non), followed by a two-night, fairly easy b/p trip. The classes and
the trip are brought to you by the letters “B” and “P”, and the numbers “6” and “10.” This is our tenth (!) series, sixth year, so you’d think we’d be getting good at it.
The classes are meant to get (or keep) you going in this sport, which does require a certain amount of gear and planning, and, quite coincidentally, each of these is a topic of one of the classes. The classes are geared (hmm) to beginners, especially those
who can’t tell whether or not I know what I’m talking about. The trip will be mostly for fun, but it will also allow us to put into practice what we preached, and give you a great excuse for taking a day off work.
Classes will be held in the Bethesda Club Room, White Flint Station Condos, 11800B Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD (www.goo.gl/yZLGhb). The location is one block north of the Red Line’s White Flint Metro station.
Street meter parking is free on weekends and there is a Metro parking garage one block away that is also free on weekends.
To cover expenses, registration is $20 for each class, which is much too cheap. To pay (by check or PayPal) and reserve a spot, or for more info, contact Liz Guertin ([address removed]). Now! What are you waiting for?
Sunday, May 11, 5 pm – 8 pm. Basic
Backpacking Gear & Food: This class will cover (pun intended) tents, sleeping bags & pads, backpacks, clothing (boots!!), stoves/cookers, and water purification gear. We’ll talk about proper fit, features,
characteristics, and what, how, when, where to buy (/rent/borrow, but not steal). We’ll talk about loving and obsessing over the gear (there are support groups) and buying a bigger house to store it in, but, ironically, about packing light.
We also cover food basics (no gassy backpacking). We will demonstrate hands-on techniques with stoves and water filters. Bring your stuff if you’d like to try it out. We will send you home with a gear-list to plan your next trip!
Sunday, June 15, 5 pm – 8 pm. Planning a Backpacking Trip. We’ll learn about trip selection, and route (difficulty & distance) and food planning, “Leave No Trace” basics, and water planning including
water purification options. We will cover the
first-aid kits and emergency planning.
You will learn how to read and interpret topographic maps and learn land navigation tips. We’ll also talk about the upcoming trip (if you’re going) and how to not get overly excited.
Friday, June 27 – Sunday, June 29: Beginner Backpacking Trip (Location TBD).
This trip will include shorter daily mileage and a reasonable elevation profile. The trip is designed so that a beginner can practice carrying a full pack (without walking funny) and other backpacking skills. We’ll sleep
the first night at a campground to figure out what we’re doing in a “friendly” environment. Then (there’s more?), we’ll hike to and spend the second night in the backcountry, stopping to ogle natural beauty on the way, before hiking out on Sunday.
We don’t know where we’re going yet, but we do know it will be a great trip. You can help plan it. Here are last year’s two beginner b/p trips:
- Big Meadows area, SNP (spring): www.goo.gl/zZi1oh
- False Cape State Park, VA (fall): www.goo.gl/BB7hUR
RSVP si vous wish at the following links, but you need to contact Liz ([address removed]) to register
Class 1: www.meetup.com/WanderingSoles/events/[masked]/
Class 2: www.meetup.com/WanderingSoles/events/[masked]/
B/P trip: www.meetup.com/WanderingSoles/events/[masked]/
The One Day Hike was great last weekend! (Photos at www.goo.gl/E3rQ7y.) Thanks to all Solemates who participated as hikers (almost 300 altogether), volunteers (~100), or supporters (countless). I’m glad it’s over
for now, but start planning for next year’s.
This message would be a lot shorter if I could just concentrate and avoid irrelevant or irreverent or intemperate statements or remarks that have no point to them, and are pretty redundant anyway.
I know that.
Cheers,
Mike