Gorp for the Grand Canyon and Backpack Items

Food For Fuel and What's in the Backpack Post

Reports have it that while hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back out you need to eat around 5000 calories. Now my brain tells me OMG, that is ridiculous! 5000 calories? I try to eat 1300 calories a day and now you want me to have 5000??? But I also know that when I hike or do the incline I am STARVING, so I know that while hiking this beast I will need to eat at some point, therefore I need Gorp. I made it just like I like it with good nutrients, some sugar, and salt. 

  

What is in it? 

Cinnamon Toast Crunch - Carbs, vitamin enriched, and yummmy

Dark Chocolate M&M's - Sugar and yummmy

Dried Apricots and Pineapple - sugar, fiber

Salted Cashews - Protein, salt

 

 Seal a Meal'd them up into individual portions so that I can take some and Alex can take some with her. Alex and Pam will hike a bit of the way down with us then turn around and go back up to the hotel and continue hiking around the rim while we are at the bottom and hiking back up the next day.

When we get to Phantom Ranch we will have a Steak Dinner waiting on us and a Pancake breakfast the next morning. So it may not be the greatest food, but I will not starve to death on the way.

Whats in the backpack?

3 shirts, for layers and the second day. 

extra socks and underclothes

pajamas for sleeping since we will be staying the night at the bottom

 Gorp

Beef Jerky

Luna Bars

Dark Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Gum!!! Gotta have Gum

Sunglasses

Travel Brush

Scrunchie

 

Rain Poncho

Sunscreen

Mini First Aid Kit

Chapstick

Cough Drops

Blister Pads just in case

Kleenex (because I have been sick, but don't care. I will crawl if I have too)

Antibacterial gel

soap

lotion

deodorant (because nobody likes to be stinky)

toothpaste

q-tips

 Planet Hollywood Shampoo and Conditioner (Courtesy of Jeffy who always brings me his hotel toiletries because I love them)

 My "Bucket List Journal" and favorite pen. This book no one has ever seen but me. Wina bought it for me and because it was Elvis it became my bucket list journal. My Bucket List was transferred into here and whenever I go do something that is on the bucket list I journal it as it is happening. So while I am sitting at the bottom of the Canyon Monday night I will write before bed :-)

Things not pictured:

Chargers for Camera, phone, and Body Bugg

Camera

toothbrush

extra shoes (taking my hiking boots and toe shoes) 

Camelback Bladder that will carry my water. 

Hoodie in case it gets cold 

gloves (because I still have to find them)

trekking poles

a hat, because it is cute and keeps the sun off my face

That should be it I think. I am pretty sure I have all essential bases covered. If not, I will pack it next time when I go back and do Rim to Rim in September or October.

The Manitou Incline - First Completion of the Year

The Manitou Incline

The Manitou Incline is a beast! No matter how good of shape you are in, it is still a beast. Last year was the first time I ever successfully made it up the incline. I had walked up to it once, and turned around and walked away, it was that daunting. But last year I did get to the top, on one of the hottest days of the year, right after eating sushi, and cried and moaned the whole time. Luckily Jenna was with me and kicked my butt to the top. I got to the top 7 more times last year. Barely, but I did.

This year, it was a different story.  This year, I am in better shape and Susie called yesterday morning and said, "Let's Go!." I was sick and in bed, but she was right, I needed some Vitamin D and fresh air. So off we went on the first incline adventure of the year. We are now planning on at least twice a week through the summer. I burned 1554 calories in the time it took me to get up and down. AWESOME!

What is the Manitou Incline? And what is the big deal?

Completed in 1907 the Manitou Incline was a 1 mile cable tram built to support the construction of a hydroelectric plant and it's waterline. After performing this service the railway was then purchased by Dr. Brumbach and turned into a tourist attraction. The incline boasted a 16 minute ride to "scenic splendors", 10 miles of hiking trails in Mount Manitou Park, and claimed to be the "longest and highest incline on the globe."

How many steps on the Incline?

Hard to say because some have been added and others have washed away. An unscientific field survey measured 2,740:

628 steps to the “Private Property of Manitou & P.P. Ry., No Trespassing” sign.

700 steps to a wall of sandbags and boulders used to slow erosion on the sides.

1,384 steps to the first big washout of ties.

1,605 steps to the beginning of the steep section, where walls of rebar, boards, and chain-link fence hold back the gravelly hillside.

1,700 steps to the heart of the steeps, where ties are scattered, crooked and sometimes loose.

1,821 steps to the “half-way” exit (actually closer to two-thirds) to Barr Trail.

2,122 steps to the false summit.

2,609 steps to the middle of the second steep section, where some ties are so eroded they float above the ground on their anchors.

What I can tell you is true though, and you feel every single step of it:

  The Manitou Incline averaged almost a 40% grade—gaining 2,011 feet (613 m) in elevation over a length of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km)-with the maximum grade being 68%.

 Below is Alex's first glimpse of the incline up close. She did so well! She made it to the first bailout point yesterday which is a huge huge accomplishment. Next time she will make it all the way!

 

 It is an amazing feeling the first time you stand at the bottom, but even better is the first time you stand at the top and KNOW you did it! There will be many many more incline trips this year. But the first of the year is always just a little more special because you realize that you can still do it, you are thankful that you are blessed with health, and you have lived through another trip up the incline!

Directions: Exit from US-24 to Manitou Avenue and drive to downtown Manitou Springs. On the roundabout turn on to Ruxton Avenue. Drive all the way up past the Cog rail train station and turn right on Hydro St. This is the parking lot for Barr trail. Unfortunately it is full most of the time and you might have to park somewhere along the Ruxton Avenue. Make sure you are not parking on private property. Under no circumstances park in the Cog parking lot or you will be towed. 

Happy Hiking!!!!

Devils Bridge Hike in Sedona, Az

So it has been a little while since I have updated this blog, but so many things have changed!

Apparently Cam and I are no longer going to plan the Appalachian Trail, there is a possibility that they will be moving to Washington soooooooo, the Pacific Crest Trail it will be :-)

In the meantime, I will update this on the hikes I have been on and will be going on this year. I actually have a pretty strenuous schedule for hiking this year - including 3 14'ers this summer! Can't wait to do the first one. Oh! And Did I mention that one week from today I will be hiking the Grand Canyon? Oh yeah!!!! Another bucket list item crossed off! The freaking Grand Canyon!!!!!!

On to Sedona - Sedona was a Bucket List hike for me....why? I am not sure. It is cheap to get to, easily accessible and the hiking is not all that difficult. But I had never been there, so therefore it was a Bucket List item that is now crossed off.

Tisha and I went to visit our friends Shantel and Rachael in Phoenix and while we were there we were going to hike. Now I had no idea where to go and neither did they. I started searching blogs and was surprised at the lack of information out there. Until I came to a post about Devils Bridge, with a photo of a guy sitting on Devil's Bridge all by his lonesome - THATS IT! I have to go THERE!

And go there we did. Well, except Rach, poor thing was sick the whole weekend. We didn't even get to see her.

It was a short, but spectacular hike. I was thoroughly amazed at how beautiful the formations were and they were all around us.The landscape changed every 5 minutes as a storm was rolling its way around the mountains.



As I said, it was an easy hike, but right before you actually get up on the bridge there were some rock stairs that made you go hmmm. After that, it was all just breath taking views! So glas we went, and I certainly have to go back to Sedona and hike more....and see Spring Training of course :-)






Directions to Devils Bridge:

From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Hwy 179 (exit 298). Turn left onto 179 and follow it past the Village of Oak Creek to the Sedona (Burger King) "Y". Turn left at the "Y" onto West 89A. Take this past most of the town until you see Dry Creek Road. This is just a little way past the Giant Gas Station to the right. Take Dry Creek Road until you see FR 152 (a well-marked dirt road) on the right. Take FR 152 for about 1.3 miles where you will see a parking lot pull off on the right side. There you will find the trailhead marked "Devil's Bridge #120." While we were there we had to park immediately after turning in. The road was very washed out. So we hiked the 1.3 miles to the Devils Bridge Trail head.

Beginning Training

In the next few weeks I will be starting to train, not just for the AT ( if it takes me 4 years there is a problem), but for next year Maroon Bells 4 Day Loop hike.

A few friends and myself have come up with a weight loss plan that actually will work. It is all based on money. We have started a central account for a Vegas trip next year. We pay ourselves to lose weight, if we only lose gain a pound in a week we pay ourselves double, if we gain more than one pound in a week we have to pay a $15.00 penalty to go into the other players account.
( I do NOT want to pay for other peoples trip to Vegas so I will certainly try my best to not do that.

Anyway, next week I will be climbing the Manitou Springs incline. The goal is to start doing that twice a week through the fall. It really ought to burn quite a bit of calories as well as get my legs in shape for ski and snowshoe season this year. Below is the link....not an easy feat..

http://www.hikingintherockies.com/hiking/hike%20reports/manitouincline/manitouincline.htm

The Maroon Bells loop is something I have wanted to do since I first moved to Colorado..it is tough 3-4 day backpacking trip. Besides my gear I will be loaded down with a camera. So it is worthy of really training for. Next summer besides Maroon Bells I want to hike at least 2 of the Fourteeners. That is my goal. Below is the Maroon Bells Loop....

http://www.swarpa.net/~danforth/wj/4pass.html

SO here we go...I can't wait. At the moment Jeff and I are doing Maroon Bells, we may pick up another person or two. We will be picky about who goes though. They have to have equipment, and they must be able to handle it. I will not deal with a bunch of whining in close quarters like that. But our friend Lisa has expressed interest in going, and I am sure Clinton and Pam would go as well. We will see. I am perfectly fine if it ends up with just us two.

I have made my "want list"...I have decided to go with a backpacking hammock for this hike as well as the AT. As long as we always come down from above treeline, I should have no problem. But most people don't stay above treeline anyway for too long. I am also buying an Excalibur dehydrator....so I can start playing with menus and such. I have an old dehydrator that my mom got me years ago, but really need a new one.

Cam here I go - the beginning has begun! Can't wait.

Another Keeper

Great site with lots of stories, blogging, photos, food and gear tips...this dude is really a blogger...

http://sectionhiker.com/category/backpacking-food/

Awesome Blog

Of course it is all in Georgia ...but still very informative after the first few posts...

http://atstagehiker.wordpress.com/

" I have wanted to experience the Appalachian Trail since I was a very young man. Inwardly, I wish I could hike the entire trail in one trip. I’d set speed records and make over 20 miles each day. Yeh, yeh, sure, doesn’t everyone dream these foolish dreams? In my mind I bring up memories of stories about excited warriors going off to war. “We’ll all be home by Christmas, after we whip the…” Except no one is ever home from the war by Christmas. Seemingly simple conquests have a way of growing large. And I smile to myself as I think I may have underestimated the trail in the same manner as the aforementioned optimistic warriors."

Hate to wait but don't have many other options.

Crazy to think this is all going to come together because of a random Facebook post. I've had a secret urge to get back on the AT since I was 19. While on vacation in New Hampshire where my dad lives and, coincidingly, where we will be spending some of the hardest days of our trip, we did four days with our life on our back and every night under the stars. It was Heaven on Earth for me, despite the blisters and scratches here and there. Needless to say when I saw Tiffany's post it sparked the fire inside me that has been smoldering for 7 years. "Unfortunately" (haha) I'm stationed out here in Hawaii until Fall 2013 and by then I'm sure we will have made a plan, changed it, re-planned, and changed that one about ten times too. But that's ok, we'll just think we're 110% ready for something that you can never truly be ready for. Until then it will be extended day hikes for me out here in paradise with some camp/hikes mixed in when I can get them. Aloha!!

Cameron