Author: asiwentwalking

That Killer Fruit

AtlantaGeorgiaMarch  2017 I almost killed my brother. It wasn’t personal, just something that almost happened. In his lifetime, my brother endured a lot.  He broke his leg in high school and nearly got it shot off in Vietnam, where he was also likely exposed to Agent Orange.  He spent three weeks in a coma with… Continue reading That Killer Fruit

Getting Stood Up

Sassafras MountainSouth CarolinaMay  2013 We’re back at the car after our summit hike.  I’m looking through my paperwork, notes about how to get where we are going next.  Two women approach us, just as polite as can be.  “Excuse me, but I wonder if we might be able to hitch a ride with you.  We… Continue reading Getting Stood Up

Waterless Soap

PittsburghPennsylvaniaApril  1998 Cleanliness is just as important on the trail as it is in the city.  But because it isn’t as convenient as absentmindedly twisting a handle as you would do over your kitchen sink, daily chores on the trail take on more deliberate, thoughtful preparation and behavior. If you have ever tried to wash… Continue reading Waterless Soap

Fire Assisted Rear Transport

Humphreys PeakArizonaJune  2013 Y’know what’s great on the trail?  Potato chips.  Like that magical food bacon, potato chips always taste good.  The salt doesn’t hurt either on a day as strenuous as this one.  We’re at 11 800 feet, on our way up, and it’s potato chip time!  I take the package out of my… Continue reading Fire Assisted Rear Transport

Fraser Fir

Great Smoky MountainsTennesseeMay  2013 The upper altitudes of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have a covering of a large spruce-fir forest.  The Fraser fir is named after — this is too easy — John Fraser.  He was a Scottish botanist in the 18th and 19th centuries who did some of his best work right here… Continue reading Fraser Fir

Flatter Than a Pancake

Mount SunflowerKansasMarch  2013 Climbing to the high point of Kansas is about as challenging as climbing up into your dentist’s chair, only not as traumatic. Yes, the highest point in Kansas is at an altitude of 4039 feet, higher than the high points of 22 other states.  Yet Mount Sunflower is utterly unspectacular, basically because… Continue reading Flatter Than a Pancake

Predators

Jonathan Dickinson State ParkFloridaDecember  2000 Camping along the east coast of Florida, we have the distinct feeling that we are being watched.  Because we are.  Perched in the trees surrounding our tent is a flock of sinister-looking vultures. Have you ever seen a friendly-looking vulture?  I keep repeating to myself, “They eat dead things.  They… Continue reading Predators

Right Now

Taum Sauk MountainMissouriJuly  2012 Driving to the end of the road to a large parking area, we are ready to begin our summit trek.  From the car, we walk a flat, paved walkway — ADA compliant — five minutes to a junction.  Generally when we summit, if we have the choice, we loop around and… Continue reading Right Now

Blisters

Driskill MountainArkansasJune  2012 Due to my damnable blisters today, we choose a shorter hike than the one we originally planned, the one we really want to do.  We’ve never hiked in Arkansas before and we were excited to be discovering a brand new land.  We intended to hike ten miles south from Cove Lake across… Continue reading Blisters