The Horror Story of My Last Backpacking Trip
This post will publish at the start of my backpacking trip today. 5 people, 2 days, freezing rain!
For those who don’t know, I love to hike, and I love the pain of doing it with a heavy sack on my back. It’s this thing called: backpacking.
Backpacking is not for the faint of heart. You have to plan ahead, endure the ups and downs of the trail, and do it all with literally no reward.
Why do I do it?
I do it because after all of that pain, sweat, and blisters I can enjoy the luxuries of life just a little bit more.
Today I embark on yet another backpacking trip! I’ll let you know how this trip goes once it’s over. We will be hiking with 5 people, sleep 2 nights, and with a forecast of freezing rain.
Call us crazy, but we love the pain, so don’t worry.
This post will recount the horror of my last backpacking trip with my family of 4. You’ll learn of all of the pain I endured and you can laugh at me if you’d like.
Why Was My Last Trip Horrible?
My last trip began in Harpers Ferry, VA. This is known for being the steepest entrance into the Appalachian trail. It was like climbing into a butt crack. and back out.
To enter the trail, we first descended down a slippery rock staircase that sat beside a waterfall. Once we ended up in the valley juxtaposing the two mountains, we ascended to enter the trail.
Down a lot, then up a lot, is how we started! The trail entrance was shaped like a butt.
So, this was the first bad part.
Secondly, we didn’t pack very well. I overpacked so my bag was unnecessarily heavy. Same for my parents and my sister.
Thirdly, I didn’t own hiking boots at the time, so I found and old pair of sand-colored unisex military boots from when my mother was in Iraq. At first I was happy to have these boots.
They’re from the military right? So they must be good! I was wrong.
They were a little too big, even with my thick, brown socks on. As I walked, I slowly began to realize this strange pain I was feeling every time I stepped.
I had blisters.
Thankfully, the trip didn’t last long enough for them to worsen, but they were bad enough to make the make the trip more miserable one step at a time.
Fourthly, this is the worst part of the trip. Instead of bringing a tent like a normal person, I decided to be cool, and bring a hammock. My mother decided to join me as well, and we purchased a rain-fly to match.
Once we got out on the trail, I realized how cold it was. I planned for this, but not well enough. Hiking in the cold was okay since my blood was flowing hot. The worst part was trying to sleep.
That night it dropped to about 42 °F. To make things worse, not only did I sleep in a hammock (which is okay for sleeping in hot weather), I brought a summer sleeping liner meant for 50 °F and above!
A sleeping liner is meant to “line” the inside a larger, warmer sleeping bag. Sleeping in a hammock with little insulation was like being a chunk of beef hanging off a meat hook inside of a freezer. Cold wind was able to blow beneath and over my cocooned body, chilling me to the core.
It was likely the coldest and most uncomfortable 8 hours I endured ever. I literally watched time tick by on my watch. 3 AM, 4 AM, 5 AM, 6 AM, and finally near 7 AM the sun began to rise. I did not sleep.
That morning, or should I say, extended 1st day, was a thankfully brighter than the dreary night. Hot coffee was made, the fire re-lit, and I began to feel my toes again.
Ending Remarks
So now you know the horror story of when I almost froze to death. You can laugh at my blunder if you’d like, but for today’s trip, I’m much more prepared, and this time, its even colder! (~ low of 35 °F)
I’ll let you all know how that goes. :-)
Till tomorrow!