Get posts by email
At Outsideways This Week
July 21, 2012
Damien wrote about Lightening-Up, our packs and our life.
Anyone who has pursued ultralight backpacking for any length of time quickly comes to the realization that it isn't just about buying gear made of titanium and cuben fiber. Yes we can lighten our load (and our wallets) by geeking out on high-tech gear, but if we really want to get serious we have to roll-up our sleeves and slog through a much more difficult process: self examination.
The self examination process is where we wrestle with our assumptions about what we "really need" vs what we "think we need" vs what we "want". There is no easier and cheaper way to shed excess pack weight than to discard something we don't need. It is also an incredibly liberating experience, as it is one less thing to buy, break, manage, pack, or maintain. Our life gets simpler, our pack gets lighter, we save money, and we are empowered to do more with less.
We share photos from our hike last weekend. I am still pinching myself that these are our local trails. We don't even have to go into the big mountains, in the middle of the peninsula, to find this beauty.
Hiking this summer? Wondering how to dress and what to pack? This is our day hiking packing list that we've used for years.
Outsideways, i.e., Damien, is going to Outdoor Retailer in Utah again this year. (You can read about our trip together there last summer.) OR is in early August so our whole family is making a trip to Nova Scotia so the kids and I can visit family while Damien travels. It also works well since Halifax has a major airport and there are no major airports where we live, or anywhere near where we live, to fly out of.
Damien has started work on our first Outsideways inspired e-book. (Don't hold your breath, it will take us some time to finish and publish it.) We have so much to share about being together outdoors. People have questions, we have a few answers from years of practice (lots of trial and error). This will be our first foray into offering a product around this family passion of ours for the outdoors.
Have a great weekend. I hope yours includes some time outdoors, far away from traffic and phone coverage. Where you can experience the rush of water and wind in the trees.
Filed Under
-
Rana on July 22, 2012, 9:45 p.m.
I'm just now checking my email after being unplugged for a long weekend. We just got back from camping up in the "thumb" at Port Crescent State Park, Port Austin Mich. We had a great time and it was very relaxing. Did you know you are the reason our family goes camping? Thanks for sharing all of your adventures. Now my family is making our own.
-
renee on July 30, 2012, 11:40 a.m.
Rana, Thank you. I am so honored by that.
-
-
Jen@anothergranolamom on July 22, 2012, 11:57 p.m.
I love to hear about your family's adventures. Like you, we are fortunate in where we live. Central Utah has access to tons of great hiking-- mountain and desert. Sadly, we see few families --especially the female portion on the trails. We love to know there are other girls out there who love the outdoors. Thanks for sharing.
-
Natalia on July 23, 2012, 5:11 p.m.
Yay, so looking forward to your new ebook! We had a great four hour hike yesterday in a green and pleasant land (forests and fields of Wiltshire, UK) followed by a Medieval Melee! We are also lucky to have so much beauty and natural opportunities in our backyard.
You can subscribe to comments on this article using this form.
If you have already commented on this article, you do not need to do this, as you were automatically subscribed.
Nicole on July 21, 2012, 3:07 p.m.
I love the direction Outsideways is going! BTW, that is how I found Fimby, by reading Adventure in Progress & noticing the link for home life :) so curious what your logo will be... Good times for you guys for sure. Have a great weekend!