Jim’s motivation for writing The Honest Backpacker is to inspire his fellow Baby Boomers (and others) to stay active, take the road less traveled, and experience the wonders of the trail.
Car-Camping Damascus, VA – Day 1 Getting into nature takes many forms, one of which is car camping. There is virtue in taking very many conveniences to a designated camp site and setting up shop with a cooler of food, folding chairs and a walk-in tent. (Beartree Campground: www.nps.gov). What a great introduction to this…
Stage 2: Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale (Rosthwaite)1 We are treated to Ennerdale Water (lake) which is one of the famous lakes in the lake region. The conversation always turns to the Loch Ness monster. If any body of water could produce Nessy, Ennerdale is the perfect place for the monster. The trail is sometimes shear…
Stage 1: St. Bees to Ennerdale Bridge1 The inaugural 14 miles seemed tough because it was. And we had to get used to the dead-reckoning, folksy narrative of the Steadman guide book: “Don’t enter forest, but turn left and go through gate-keeping forest and fence to your right” (page 74, route to Cleator). What gate—this…
I like self-deprecating stories. Especially when I’m the topic of conversation. Naturally, when reading this, one would assume that I’m pretty conceited and self-centered, au contraire. I’m simply just a huge proponent of being able to laugh at your own follies and mistakes, and hopefully learn and adapt. The Honest Backpacker suggested I could blog…