I can’t believe it’s November! Fall is upon us, crisp leaves, cool air, and all the pumpkin things! Straw Propeller has got the oatmeal flavor for you: pumpkin pie.
Pumpkin seeds, raisins, and pumpkin pie spice adorn the gluten-free rolled oats.
Fresh from sea level and running on about 6.5 hours of sleep, the beastly David Wherry and I set off with a friend on a Friday morning to acclimatize for our Whitney hike back in September. Our destination was Meysan Lake at approximately 11,500′. The trail begins at the Whitney Portal Family Campground by the summer homes, a short walk across Lone Pine Creek from our campsite. Starting elevation is 8360′, so if you’re not used to the altitude, expect to be huffing and puffing.
Autumn is upon us! Leaves are changing & falling, the streets are littered with discarded Starbucks pumpkin spice latte cups, and it’s time to break out those sweaters! Except for one problem, I don’t really own any sweaters. The Arc’teryx Covert Cardigan Hoody will have to do, right?
On Saturday morning, I set off to do a bit of solo hiking in Portola Redwoods State Park. I had a few hours to kill and wanted something a little more remote and quiet than the open space preserves in the area. This park is one of the hidden gems in the Bay Area, tucked away off of Skyline Blvd in La Honda, CA.
I decided to check out Tiptoe Falls in this severe drought to see if it still even existed. There are currently campground closures throughout the park and no running water throughout the park. My first stop would be Tiptoe Falls, approximately .5 miles away from the parking lot. The trail descended to Pescadero Creek, which had such low flow volume it appeared stagnant.
When AXP signed on to sponsor #HellHikeAndRaft, I was extremely curious to see what we’d be receiving. I have an Adventure Medical Kit first aid kit, and hoped it wouldn’t be the exact same thing.
When Adam handed out the goods at our motel in Idaho, it was a pleasant surprise. These were actual, thoughtfully crafted survival kits!
Each kit came with
- Mylar emergency blanket
- lighter
- NDUR Utility Flame
- Micro StarFlash Mirror
- Micro JetScream Whistle
- minor first aid supplies (not pictured)
I consolidated the first aid supplies into my current kit to maintain organization. The rest I left in the mesh pouch that they came in. My AXP #HellHikeAndRaft survival kit wasn’t terribly useful on the trip, but I am very excited to have it post-trip. It’s a great thing to toss into my pack for days in the mountain as a worst case scenario type of thing, especially now with unpredictable weather. For hikes closer to home, I leave it behind to drop weight and save space.
The only thing I would change about the kit is packaging. The mesh case is nice, but I would really prefer a waterproof bag like the one my Adventure Medical Kit comes in.
The closest offering AXP has to the #HellHikeAndRaft kit is their Wilderness Survival Mini Kit, available for $36 on their website.