I have a picture somewhere, not sure if it's printed or if there is an electronic version, of me standing next to the Finger Lakes Trail in Upstate NY. My dad took it right before I started my first ever solo backpacking hike. If I recall it was 2 nights. As a solo backpacker I had scoped out the area, planned for every possible contingency, had escape routes mapped, and plenty of food and water. I had packed just about everything I could think of. I was smiling and looked pretty happy considering I barely was able to heft the pack up on to my back.
So I have a picture. One way to share what you see in this picture is for you to use your imagination. Picture an ant carrying a loaf of bread. Or a Nepalese Sherpa at the beginning of an Everest expedition. I would guess at this point that the pack weighed in at close to 60 pounds. Maybe even more with water. Did not take long for me to stash some extraneous gear next to a tree by a road crossing, to fetch later when I had secured my car. Even so that pack still felt like I had strapped a small car to my back.
Since then I have learned a lot and had many more adventures. But I will never forget those first trips and needless to say I am glad I stuck it out. Now with more knowledge and some technology I plan on some great trips this summer. And if I ever find that picture, I will post it. Maybe ...
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