Welcome again to the Gossamer Gear journey report shakedown sequence! We all know our group is all the time in search of new backcountry adventures to attempt to suggestions for getting ready and packing for them with an ultralight mindset. That’s why we’ve requested our model ambassadors to dish the main points on their newest and biggest travels.
On this weblog sequence, you’ll discover:
- Route suggestions
- Challenges and highlights of the path
- Tips about tips on how to plan your journey
- Gear lists from our model ambassadors
Our newest submission comes from Michelle Zhang, a path runner, fastpacker, and backpacker who splits her time between California and Colorado. Michelle has accomplished single day pushes for trails such because the Ptarmigan Traverse and Timberline Path, and has fastpacked longer trails, equivalent to Alta By way of 2. On this journey report, she shares some background on how she ready to take her mother on her first backpacking journey within the Rocky Mountain State. We hope her insights assist encourage your subsequent journey with a good friend or member of the family!
Inform us somewhat about your journey and the place you went! What area did you discover? What number of days or miles did you trek?
My mother and I went to the San Juan Mountains, simply exterior Silverton, Colorado. We did a two-day backpacking journey that lined eight miles.
What obtained you enthusiastic about this journey?
Throughout my mother’s sixtieth birthday, she advised me she needed to go tenting at the least yet one more time, earlier than her physique wouldn’t let her do it anymore. Rising up, my mother and father all the time took us street tripping to nationwide parks and stayed at campgrounds alongside the best way. They beloved tenting! I used to be greater than excited to suggest this journey to my mother as a result of she’d by no means been backpacking earlier than, and it could be a chance to share a peek into my way of life together with her.
Inform us somewhat about the way you packed for this journey.
I gave my mother the Kumo 36, and I packed the Mariposa 60. The hike itself was at excessive elevation (going as much as 13,000 toes), so I needed to ensure my mother didn’t should face any challenges with a heavier pack weight. I requested her to only carry water and a few layers for herself, and Gossamer Gear mountain climbing poles after all!
Every thing else I put within the Mariposa, together with The Two shelter, a hotter sleeping bag for my mother, a Katabatic quilt for myself, sleeping pads, Jet Boil, snacks, dinner, and water filter.
What have been among the highlights of the journey?
The spotlight of the journey was exhibiting my mother the alpine lakes and the way blue they have been. Attending to share my expertise backpacking together with her was so particular, as she had by no means been backpacking, simply automobile tenting.
What have been among the journey’s challenges?
The altitude was undoubtedly difficult as we obtained nearer to 13,000 toes. Since my mother was coming from sea degree, this may be a fairly large step for her. To organize for this, we stayed on the town at about 6,000 to eight,000 toes for 3 days earlier than our journey. The night time earlier than our journey, we slept at 9,000 toes to get her physique prepared for the backpacking journey. I made positive she was hydrating as a lot as attainable on our hike. I additionally made positive she had a really mild pack and didn’t have the additional problem of carrying heavier objects.
Get Impressed to Take Much less and Do Extra By Shared Group Data
For those who’d wish to observe together with extra of Michelle’s adventures, you will discover her on Instagram.
Have your individual tales from taking somebody on their first backpacking journey? We’d love to listen to them! Share your perception with us by tagging Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and utilizing the hashtag #takelessdomore.
Searching for extra outside journey inspiration? Take a look at a few of our different articles on the Gentle Toes weblog:
