[at-l] I raised a backpacker!

[Jim Bullard]

Sound of applause...
Take a bow.

Jim Bullard
http://jims-ramblings.blogspot.com/
http://members.photoportfolios.net/Jim_Bullard


On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 10:37 AM, <bluetrail at aol.com> wrote:

> Warning:  this is a proud Mom bragging, so if that makes you gag, delete
> now.
>
> When my son Greg was younger, my friend Jon and I drug him along on several
> overnight backpacking trips.  Greg's constant lament was, "When are we going
> to stay in a motel?"
> He was faster and more proficient than I at all kinds of camping
> things--setting up the tent, rolling the thermarest, etc., but he said he
> didn't like it.  (Except for one trip to Grayson Highlands, which he
> actually enjoyed.)
>
> He's now 22 and has been talking about backpacking again for a couple of
> years.  He was going with his buddy Mike over spring break, but Mike came
> down sick.
>
> Well, last weekend, with temps near 90's, he and a tall, leggy blonde he
> knows from work backpacked 26 miles (2.5 days) in the Ocala NF.  It was her
> first ever backpacking trip, and I thought about trying to dissuade them
> because of the heat.  I'm glad I kept my mouth shut (except for urging them
> to carry plenty of water).  Jon & I loaned them gear as Greg proceeded with
> his planning and asked for it.  Greg did all the planning, bought and cooked
> their vegetarian meals (only one pre-packaged), and carried the majority of
> the weight.  They had a GREAT time. They didn't forget anything.  She loved
> the whole adventure, and they're still "just friends."
>
> They were astonished at how loud and humanlike a raccoon's footsteps can
> sound outside the tent.  They saw only one group of hikers--Boy Scouts--in
> 2.5 days.  They accomplished their second day's goal so early that they
> decided to hike on another three miles before quitting.
>
> Greg  did get some awesome blisters (refused to use my hiking socks), but
> even that didn't dull the grin on his face.
>
> Greg's now hoping to manage a trip to Grayson Highlands soon.
>
> Oh, yeah, and he's been doing volunteer trail work on the FT for almost a
> year.
>
> And I bought him a pair of smartwools for his birthday.
>
> Joan the Happy Mom
> bluetrail at aol.com
>
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