If you asked me five years ago what my interests were, I can tell you that drinking, smoking, partying, shopping, and visiting bars and clubs, would have made my top 5. Of course the memories and friendships I have made have come from so many of those good times. The older I get though, I can't seem to justify spending my free time on most of those things anymore (I am a girl, and hey, we love to shop).
Most backpackers can say that they camped or enjoyed nature as a child. For me, my upbringing wasn't quite that way. My mother still to this day has never been in the woods other than to set a "mouse free" that she caught in her humane trap (plus, she couldn't live without her makeup and hot shower) and my dad, an avid adventurer, lives on the other side of the country. Too far away to take me river rafting and camping.
When I was about nine, I went on my first camping trip with the girl scouts. I remember the smell of the campfire, the taste of my first "smore", and how peaceful the night sky was when I looked out of my lean-to . I camped with the girl scouts for a few years there after, and I can remember how much I loved it. I can also remember how scary it was, the perfect combination of fear of the unknown and the thrill of being in the woods. My first bear experience still has me scared of them to this day, so I am hoping to conquer that fear with time. Its all part of my journey.
My strong appreciation for the earth didn't begin until more recently. I began to think about life, and what it means to be alive. From dust we are made and from dust we shall return. The earth is an amazing place. Unique to any other planet human beings have discovered, earth offers life. It is alive just as we are.
Since we humans have discovered technology, mass production, and mass animal extinction, the earth has begun to change in an unfavorable direction. Our rivers and shores are polluted and dirty, and very few pure clean water sources are still around. Recent large number animal deaths will tell you that not only is our climate changing and that our bad habits are not improving.
I am hoping that through my travels I can experience what nature still has to offer before it is gone. Also, I am hoping to inspire more people to see what nature truly has to offer us as women, to enrich our lives and our souls. If more people could see what our humanly ways are doing to impact our earth, maybe more people would stop and think before they throw something out on the beach or near a river.
I'm fortunate enough to have a boyfriend who was not only a boy scout but is trained in survival techniques. Ah yes my wonderful "man's man". Phil has backpacked for several weeks at a time, in places such as Philmont New Mexico, New York State, and many other sites. I am truly lucky to have his as a partner in life.
In preparation for my first backpacking season, I have begun to gather many of the things I will need for my first backpacking adventure. There are three basic essentials that a person needs in order to survive, food (and clean water), clothing, and shelter. Once you are out on the trail and in a self survival situation, having these three basic essentials can mean the difference between life and death.
Future posts will build on this foundation. Women are different in our nature, therefore our needs are different as well. My posts will be focused on women's backpacking clothing and gear, habits and practices, basic survival techniques, and food cooking and recipes (healthy of course). Also I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can help those who are like me, just a beginner hoping to learn. As women we can pretty much do anything a man can do...and the fact that women can hike and backpack the world is proof of that. Celebrate being you!
Happy trails and until next time.....
A
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