What's in my backpack for hiking...

 Getting ready to have an active summer and thought I would share what's in my hiking backpack with you. It's time to BE on the move again. As the weather gets nicer I can't wait to hike again and go kayaking. It's important to be prepared for any situation.  For anyone interested I will put in links for where I purchased items.  Make sure to check the weather before you go so you dress properly and add clothes for wind or rain and wear proper footwear. 

 

1. Back pack

2. Brightly colored bandana

3. Hair scrunchie or hair tie

4. bug repelant clip

5. CPR mouth guard

6. Tic remover

7. Hand sanitizer

 

1. Water bladder or water bottle

2. Headlamp

3. Bug spray

4. Sun block

5. Toilet paper in zip lock

6. Folding hiking poles

7. Micro fiber quick dry towel

8. Trail food, granola bars

9. Rain cover for backpack

10. Map

11. First aid kit (with survival blanket included)

12. Lip balm

13. Soap sheets

14. Small note pad, pencil and highlighter

15. Monocular

16. Compression knee brace

17. Compression ankle brace

18. Extra socks

19. Gallon bag to keep things dry

20. Whistle, knife & rope

 

Eyes Wide Open

 11/9/21

Eyes Wide Open

        by Laura Brittain

Remember to keep your eyes wide open.
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
Around the next corner could be something amazing.
Everyday places you've been before can still surprise you.

If you remember to keep your eyes wide open and not shut.

Open to new possibilities, both visible and invisible.

Everyday things can make impossible become possible.

You don't always have to be able to see it to dream it.

Dream BIG, do, go, be, ArtsyBE.

Sometimes This is All I Need

Sometimes This is All I Need

by Laura Brittain - 10/14/21

A place to breathe

To be one with nature 

Take it all in

Foggy morning paddle

Same place ever changing

Fog wraps around the distant mountains

Colors fading

Sun shines through and the sky turns to blue

Spider webs glisten in tree branches with no leaves

Peaceful silence, birds singing, babbling water, splash of my paddle 

Amazing wonders of nature

Beaver dams changing currents 

A reminder to be flexible and open to life’s changes like nature changes with each season

Photos taken October 12, 2021 at the Kunjamuk, Speculator, NY

Be on the move 52 week challenge 2022

 Be on the Move 52 in 2022 

Somewhere I saw a 52 week hiking challenge and thougtht I could do something like that.  So I decided to make my own 52 week challenge. 52 weeks of being on the move some how like hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing or other way of moving, weather and calendar permitting I am going to challenge myself to move.  The idea comes from 52 weeks in a year but they don't have to be done consecutively if weather or calendar don't permit being able to hike, kayak, snowshoe or some other way of moving.  I will document my challenge on here.  I have made a chart to log it incase anyone else would like to do it here is a pdf of the chart.

Back to the Chuctanunda Creek Trail Hike with snowshoes 5/52

 2/2/22

Hike 5/52

Beautiful warmer winter day to dust off our snowshoes and get fresh air and a hike in before lunch. Back to the Chuctanunda Creek Trail for another hike this time with snowshoes.  Using the snowshoes did make it more of a workout thats for sure.  It's been a year since I used them and I forgot how tired I would be afterwards.  You don't realize it while you are on the trail but later that day and the next day my hips hurt.  It did make walking in the snow more enjoyable though.

Chuctanunda Creek Trail Hike 4/52

 1/23/22

Hike 4/52

For our 4th hike of the year we are staying in Amsterdam and hitting the Chuctanunda Creek Trail.  I have done this trail in the summer and fall but this is my first time in the winter.  This is a nice easy mile hike from the parking area to the old factory.  They city has placed signs on the strail with historic information on the old factory and surrounding area.  The Chuctandunda Creek was a vital part of the development of Amsterdam.  We only hiked a small section of the trail as there is much more to it.

Great Flats Nature Trail Hike 3/52

 1/16/22

Hike 3/52

Finally did Great Flats Nature Trail in Rotterdam.  I have driven past the trail head many times and wanted to check it out.    As we were getting out of the van I noticed other people in the parking lot putting on Yaktrax luckily we had them in the van from last week.  It was a good thing I noticed it because the boardwalks were icey and it definately made a difference wearing them.  We were pleasantly surprised and look forward to going back when it's warmer.  Considering how close the trail is to the highway Great Flats was a very nice hike with not much noice polution .  One thing I would like to make mention of is the number of thorny vines on this trail.  Towards the end of the hike I grazed one and it ripped my coat.  Hope to be on the move on another trail next weekend. 

Hike Willie Marsh 2/52

 1/8/22

Hike 2/52

Week two in 2022 and we are back to Willie Marsh doing hike 2/52, so far so good.  This time the girls had Yaktrax on while Ken and I had boots on.  The girls definately had the advantage with the yaktrax as there were some slippery spots, but Ken and I did have out hiking poles so that helped.   There was more snow this week and we decided to tak the other trail, however when we got to the bridge we split up 2 and 2.  Amy brought along 35mm camera to photograph the bridges so Ken and Emily went the other loop and meet us at the other bridge so we weren't rushed.  The lighting was beautiful on the fresh snow.  Another hike filling our lungs with fresh crisp air.  Can't wait to see where the trails take me this year.