Tip #2: Coffee Addicts in the Woods

I am a coffee addict- if I don't have a cup of coffee by noon my head is pounding. The prospect of not being able to have coffee in the outdoors has even made me leery of going on a few group trips which had taken on the "all natural" or "toxin free" living philosophy. I personally don't have a problem with coffee addiction, but I do have a problem being trapped by my love and need for coffee. Here are a couple methods I use to support my caffeine addiction in the back country.

1) Instant Coffee!!!

My brand of choice is Starbucks VIA, which practically tastes like regular coffee! I usually use two packets in a single cup, and I also bring along a little powdered milk and sugar, which I also use in my oatmeal. There is nothing better than sitting at camp in the morning sipping a hot cup of coffee and waiting for your breakfast to cook. Instant coffee is also pretty lightweight! Defiantly a back-country must.






2) Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Espresso beans are good in a pinch! There could be many reasons why breakfast didn't happen- maybe you are not in a position to boil water; maybe you like to tear out of camp early and eat breakfast on the road; maybe you are with a group of people who frown on coffee (weirdo's- avoid at all cost). Whatever the reason, if you know your going to get headaches without coffee and you can't really make a cup, chocolate covered espresso beans are a sure fix. Keep in mind they are heavy but each one if extremely potent.


3) Caffeinated Tea

Now, this is my least favorite option but it's what I relied on when I was on a coffee free backpacking course in California. I know this course had its reasons for banning coffee, saying it had to do with the high altitude, but I really don't buy it because the freaking instructors had their own "secret" coffee stash! Either way, I didn't struggle detoxing from coffee as much as I thought I would, but tea is defiantly a poor substitute for a good cup of Joe if you are as big of a coffee fanatic as I am. However, I always bring a bit of decaffeinated tea for the evenings, so I'm not a total tea hater. 

Hope this helps fellow trail blazing coffee addicts like me! And of course- none of this applies if you are car camping because, that's what portable drip coffee makers are for!! Break out the freshly ground Jamaican Blue Mountain and have a blast!!!

Happy Trails,
Steph 

Weekend in the Dolly Sods, WV

Just got back from a nice weekend in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in Monongahela National Park, WV.

We had never been here before and we found this detailed description of a loop online, so we decided to chance it. The trip was great! Unfortunately, Levi got pretty bad blisters, but besides that, everything was perfect!!

We took the loop counter clock-wise and camped just before the yellow scenic trail to Lion's Head Mountain. 9.7 miles the first day and 6 miles the second day. 

Tip # 1- Hair on the Trail

BRAID YOUR HAIR AND IT WON'T TANGLE 

 

Day 3 in Smoky Mt. National Park

I am prone to develop dreadlocks while on the trail. I have long, fine hair, and as soon as I hit the sack on the first night- my hair is done for. The way I combat this horrible affliction is by wearing my hair either in two braids or in a tony tail with the end braided. Single braids and french braids are hard to sleep in and still tend to tangle.

I like to shower right before I set out on a trip and braid my hair while it is still wet. I'll wear the braids all day and then to bed. In the morning I'll redo the braids but my hair is tangle free and still smells fresh. By day 3 I can still smell the shampoo, and I won't have to use a comb until day 4!!! Woah!! If I am nearing the end of a trip I might let up on the hair maintenance, but I like spending the bulk of my trip without a bees nest on my head. 

I've also been known to wear a bandana but I don't think this helps much for hair.  Bandanas are useful in preventing ticks and soaking up sweat, but honestly I think they just look good.

Happy Trails, 

Steph

Welcome!!!

Hey All Back-Country Enthusiasts!
Welcome to my first blog post.

I decided to create this blog as I was hiking in the woods today because I realized there are a ton of back-country tricks I've picked up over time that might be sweet to share. I usually discovered these tricks by completely screwing something up along the way, or ending up in a lot of unnecessary pain.  My hope that this blog might save other hardcore backpacking ladies the trouble.

I also don't want to freak anyone out cause I made a "girls only" blog- it's defiantly not girls only, but many of the tricks I've learned might not be that helpful to the hardcore men out there. I also wanted to write this for woman because I visit a lot of backpacking blogs and websites, and while many of them are awesome and super helpful, there are few that are written by or for woman.

It is VERY important to note: while there are special accommodation's woman might make on the trail- this in no way means that the role of hardcore chicks is any less hardcore than the role of hardcore men while in the back country. In fact, one of the things I love about backpacking is that no one on the trail treats me "like a lady".  Everyone is expected to pull their own weight, and no one should expect to be supported by anyone else. While I am not going to freak out and punch someone if they offer me a hand carrying fire wood, it is important that I have the ability and anticipate doing EVERYTHING by myself. No Excuses. There is no men's work and woman's work; I carry just as much weight as anyone else, I navigate, cross rivers, get disgusting, set up camp, and haul serious ass if someone is hurt. So this blog is not meant to separate female hikers from male hikers, it's just simply meant to address special needs that come up in the back country for us ladies. Cool???

It's funny- when I think about the main differences between my boyfriend and I on the trail, it pretty much comes down to the fact that 1) I have a vagina, and 2) I have long hair. This blog will be about more than just hair and vaginas, but let me tell you, those two things are the first things to become disgusting when you haven't showered in weeks!!


Also, (super important) I AM NOT AN EXPERT!!!!!!!!
I am going to post my experiences and opinions. I am not a professional nor a veteran backpacker- I am just a young enthusiast who spends their summers sleeping outside in the mountains. Please feel free share your advice, corrections, disagreements, and questions.


Alright, lets get started!!!
Happy Trails,
Steph

Photo: Me in Ohiopyle State Park in PA- outside Pittsburgh, 2010.