Montana Highway 1, just west of the town of Anaconda, maintains an excruciatingly slow speed limit. For nearly ten miles, as it creeps toward the Georgetown reservoir and the shoulder of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, the highway is posted, on average, twenty-five miles per hour lower than most drivers would consider fair. Making this snail-like progress even more aggravating is the close proximity of so much good stuff: high mountain lakes, thickly forested canyons, and wind-blown ridgelines... if you could just get there already!
That was essentially my state of mind last September as I ascended the last twenty-mile stretch to meet my buddy Ryan Gibbs by the shores of Storm Lake. I drove eleven and half hours from western Colorado, and the prospect of being freed from the vehicle, feeling the chill of alpine air, and toasting our upcoming trek held considerably more allure than keeping my speed below forty miles per hour.
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Metamorphosis 3: Walking the Edge
I really liked this article. A realistic understanding of changes I have gone through; and with some new information thrown in. I really feel for the friend because I hurt my knee a few years back and it is just now getting better.
I love to see more of these articles.
I love reading these articles as well, i'm just beggining the trail to U.L. and every little bit of real experiance, mine or someone elese's, helps a great deal! KEEP IT UP.
Nice work. Great read…
Great article and great report! Curious though, which "flavor" of Dr. Bronners did the author try? If peppermint isn't your thing, give the Tea Tree a try.
Looks like a cool trip, I'll have to get in there next summer.
But.. 3 (three!) t-shirts!! Are you worried that you'll smell!?
"I know you guys aren't impressed. However, thirty-five-ish pounds as a total weight was about to make a universe of difference."
Compared to the traditional weights you came from, 35 pounds should have felt heavenly! Comfort is different for everyone, but I found that I noticed major improvements everytime I dropped even a little total pack weight… from 45 down to 40, down to 35, down to 25, etc… until I got below 20 pounds total pack weight. Below 20 pounds it all feels about the same to me – that is that it really doesn't noticably affect my stamina.
I've had similar experiences to you when hiking with "un-enlighted" companions. It usually only takes one trip to get them looking into lightweight methods! And usually I feel guilty and end up carrying some of their stuff in the meantime.
I really enjoyed my own metamorphosis process, and it has been fun reading about yours – thanks for sharing.
Is that a Golite Infinity pack?
I really appreciate the comments on this article! I had a great time getting down to that base weight, and have enjoyed going further.
The Dr. Bronner's was peppermint and I look forward to trying another. Heck, even the peppermint is tolerable with a good rinsing.
Yes, the Golite in an infinity pinnacle.
"The Dr. Bronner's was peppermint and I look forward to trying another. Heck, even the peppermint is tolerable with a good rinsing."
There is more than 1 flavor now? WOW, talk about showing my age. I have been using that stuff camping for 35 some odd years and never bothered to look at anything that was not in the familiar blue labeled bottled.
Blink…blink…blink…wow!
BTW…I loved the story, sorry to read about the weather.
Yeah, when I started back packing I tried using Dr. Branuers…. ew. It took a few months for me to smell it without wincing. Baking soda on the other hand works well and doesn't taste as bad. Tooth powder can also be bought at co-ops/health food stores and lasts forever. I switch between baking soda and tooth powder even at home.
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