Date: 2009-01-24
To: Shake out hike
Miles today: 0.0

This week was shake out week, when I got to see if I knew how to use the equipment I bought and to see what I really need to bring with me.My friend, Bill, and I took a road trip to one of the Texas state parks to try out our gear and do a little hiking.Well first off I found out that I am obsessed with food since I brought about ten lbs worth of food for a 2 day hike. Actually I wasn't sure what Bill was bringing so I just packed a lot. I also wanted to see what my pack would weigh if I brought all that I have purchased for this trip so I brought everything.TOO MUCH - 46 lbs and a bruised shoulder later I have seen the LIGHT .. or should I say LITE as in carry less!!!I also have to learn about packing my pack better so it rides a little better.So that was lesson #1. After a 4 and 1/2 mile hike we set up camp. Lesson #2 , don't set up on anything sticking out of the ground like roots and briars etc. I thought sleeping on a spot covered with leaves would be nice and soft but I guess you have to look under the leaves first.Dinner went well, we had Mountain Home dehydrated Chili mac, smothered in Fritos and french fried onions , along with some German Strudel and cookies I had added to my food bag at the last minute. Remember I said that I was looking for high calorie per ounce foods like FRito's...well that may be good in theory but my stomach wasn't too happy between 9 pm and 1 am.The stars were unbelievable and VENUS looked close enough to touch. This was the reward I was waiting for after carrying all that weight today. Why was I up looking at the stars? Well around midnight a pack of coyotes started howling. It sounded like a mother and her pups and they were either being fed or having howling lessons, either way they were noisy and getting closer. Once Bill and I got up and made some hot chocolate they quieted down. I think the sound of our voices made them move away from us. The next morning was not so good. Bill had a tent but no Rain fly to cover it and since he closed all the vents he woke up to a tent full of condensation and a wet sleeping bag. The temperture was in the low 30's and my sleeping bag was performing well so I couldn't understand what all the fuss was coming from his tent. My tent was dry although my rain fly did have condensation on it. The cool night air after a fairly warm day produced that phenomenom seldom seen in hot/dry Texas ...DEW.Breakfast was another lesson. Since we were short of water and not set up near a water source I only had one chance with the dehydrated eggs. We struggled through them but the consensus was they were gritty and a bit more like cornbread than scrambled eggs. We washed them down with an oatmeal bar and packed up camp. All the time we were making breakfast two large Buzzards sat in the tree by our camp. Either they thought the eggs looked ok or they were waiting for us to die of dehydration. After lugging the backpacks the 4 and a half miles back to the truck, we drove to Elgin, Texas and had some of the best Brisket and sausage this side of the Pecos River. Already I have learned to look forward to that next town on the trail.Three weeks from today the real adventure begins.O.M. River