Backpacking & Thru-Hiking
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, Lady and Minority Hikers, Leave No Trace, Pacific Crest Trail, SOBO PCT 2021, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, Trails, Trip Itineraries, Ultralight, United States of America, Washington State, West Coast
Sobo PCT 2021 Series (part 1): Harts Pass to Canadian Border to resupply at Mazama
Here begins my Pacific Crest Trail journey. I'm going South Bound (Sobo) this year. Follow my journey in the next posts.
- About me, Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, Lady and Minority Hikers, Pacific Crest Trail, Ultralight, United States of America, West Coast
My Pacific Crest Trail Backstory
So I thought I’d give a run down of my backstory: how I got to the point of starting the 2650 mile hike that is the Pacific Crest Trail. This post is related to some instagram posts that have been published and will be published over the next week or so. So check that out @justagirlandabackpack.blog on IG or facebook. Since these are already in the form of a photo series on IG, and I wanted to continue that method here, but my phone won’t let me upload photos right now :(( check out my FB for the pics. I’ll fix this when I get home in 4-6 months haha…
- About me, Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, Blog Updates, Lady and Minority Hikers, Pacific Crest Trail, Solo Hikers, Trail Journals, United States of America, West Coast
Follow me from Canada to Mexico as I hike the PCT!
This post is an introduction to a series of posts I plan to make about my 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. It covers some basic vocabulary, the who's what's and why's of doing a thru-hike, and more!
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, Backpacking Tips & How To's, Feminine Care, Health, Leave No Trace, Mental & Physical Health
Pee, Poo and Periods
A Backcountry Vagina inspired chat Today is Easter Sunday, so happy resurrection to those of you who celebrate and happy spring to those of you who don’t! I have a feeling this is one of the strangest Easters many of us have every experienced, considering COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it. I have a feeling that you might have been a little shocked by the title (and the subtitle!). I was too when I was asked to teach a bunch of new outdoor recreation staff a class about personal care and health in the outdoors. Shocked and excited! I’d always wanted to learn a little bit more…
- Backpacking & Thru-Hiking, Backpacking Tips & How To's, Health, Leave No Trace, Mental & Physical Health, Safety
Sleeping Warm in a Tent
I sleep cold when I’m backpacking and I always thought it was just because it’s cold out in the wilderness and my body has trouble regulating its temperature. But, after a couple really scary experiences thinking I was going to die because I couldn’t get warm, I realized that that is not normal and I needed to figure out what I was doing wrong and what I could change. Below are four lists of things you can do to stay warm while backpacking. The first is a list of important things you ought to bring on your trip. The second list is things you should be doing during the day.…
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What NOT to bring ultralight backpacking
A guide to packing lighter on a backpacking trip Ok, so here’s the deal. I am not yet an Ultralight backpacker. But I am working on it, and every birthday and Christmas I get closer to my goal with new, lighter gear! I do know how to lose some pack weight, though. Below is a list of things that you can do without, or can substitute for something lighter.  So let’s get to it: Canned food. All of that water weight, not to mention once you do eat what’s inside you still have to carry the heavy cans around! One option is to remove food from cans and put them in plastic…
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How to be an American Abroad without Getting Punched in the Face
I started writing this post after the third day in a row of foreigners telling me all about what they know or think about Americans. Most of that “knowledge” is stereotypes from movies, but some of it is real and I have experienced Americans abroad enough to agree with them. I highly recommend all of the following advice when you (not just Americans) travel abroad, much from personal experience or horror stories from friends. They are in no particular order, so just read the ones that are relevant to you 🙂 First step: Don’t say you’re an American. Say instead, “Hi my name is Kirsten. I’m from California! What’s your name?” Obviously,…
