What a great report! Thank you for the post. I've never seen a ranger cabin before, it looks a lot nice than I had imagined.

I like your strategy of taking a chef along with you. I'll need to revisit my trekking partner list, those meals looked great.

Tracy

Nice report, thank you for sharing! That photo taken from your first night campsite is breathtaking.

Tracy

I really like it, Steve! But please fill me in, what is the "blue hour"?

Tracy

Thank you for the tips, Barry! That should help me going forward.

I'll put together a submission based upon my Provoking Lake backpacking trip.

Tracy

Hi Steve, I too get occasional sore hips on my generally comfy ThermaRest NeoAir Xtherm Max. I experience numb arms if I have another part of my body resting on them (e.g. head), or if they are in certain positions. I find moving my arm slightly relieves the issue.
This is sort of thing is certainly newer to me, I never noticed this happening until the past couple of years. I am in my mid-50's for reference.

All right, even though I feel like I am "farting against thunder" when comparing my photos to Steve's, here goes:

Ralph Bice Lake in August 2013 at sunrise:

Another from Ralph Bice on that same trip:

Maple Leaf Lake in spring of 2015:

Thanks for the opportunity to share, Barry!
Tracy
 

Dontgroandaddy - Thank you very much for all the information you shared. I haven't really looked at canoe tripping the way you have just described it, but that perspective makes a lot of sense to me.
My wife is very paranoid about my solo trekking, so maybe I will invest in a SPOT despite the horrible reviews I have read for her peace of mind. As far as the bear spray goes, I made a decision to carry a storm safety whistle instead. Hopefully you and I will never have to use either one.
Tenderfoot - Thank you for the information. I am sure at some point I will try a hammock. I'll take a look at both of the vendors you have mentioned. I admire your spirit in even considering backpacking at this time of year. That's a challenge I am not sure I am up to. I have not definitively ruled it out yet either. To me it seems like something best attempted with a companion so you can share the load of the winter-worthy gear.
 

dontgroandaddy wrote:

I tried a solo hiking trip about 10-12 years ago in the park - the boogey man got me so a 4-day trip became a 2-day trip.  It left me feeling very unresolved.  This year I decided on a solo canoe trip - that suited me better, it went well, and at least partially knocked out that unfinished business sensation. 

When you described the pillow and sleeping position thing, I thought for sure you were going to say you spent the second night in the Trail Magic chair!  I wonder if a supportive structure, maybe even a hammock might help you attain a more reliable sleeping position.  Of course, head-bobbing in a chair all night long isn't ideal for the neck.... 

Anyway, congratulations!!!!

Hi Dontgroandaddy,
Thank you for the compliment and your thoughtful and informative post, I really appreciate it.

I am curious about the boogeyman thing. How did you overcome that? Personally I was way more skittish in my 20's compared to my attitude now that I am in my 50's.

You are correct in regard to sleeping in the chair, that would make for a horrible night for me. The blessing that the chair provided was the chance to sit in comfort for a while during the worst of my headache.

I am curious about hammocks, but once I calculated the cost of a hammock + underquilt for cool weather, plus the combined weight of both I realized there wasn't much of a savings over the tent. Yet I have heard many say that the most comfortable sleep they've ever had was in a hammock. I may yet pull the trigger on one.

Sincerely,
Tracy

token wrote:

You guys are making me extremely jealous! After reading your story now I REALLY want to do it! I might have to play around with my gear again today. ;-)

Hi Token! Don't give it up, my friend. Keep the flame burning. You look younger and stronger than I am and if I can do it, you certainly can. Start investing one piece at a time for lighter weight gear if you can. If you can get your tent down to even 6 pounds, your sleeping bag down to 3 pounds and get a lighter weight pack, that takes a lot of weight off your total. My pack for this trip was approx. 40 pounds. If rain was not in the forecast I probably could have got it down to 35 pounds.

Suggestion: watch the YouTube backpacking videos over the winter to keep the juices flowing. There are a lot of great videos showing how to reduce your pack weight.

By the way, I'll bet you I am more of a cold weather wuss than you. I used to be the first kid on the block to leave the road hockey game on winter nights due to being improperly dressed. Now that I know what to wear I can be perfectly comfortable in even frigid temperatures.

Hope to see a backpacking trip log from you next year!

Tracy