Quick trek
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 11:03 pm
Outing
My fiancé and I had a few awesome days of modern camping at Farish Rec. Area on Rampart Range. I also got in a bit of Ranger trekking.
The plan was to move for a few hours up into the national forest, find a location to set up a camp site, then scout the area. Seeing weather approaching sooner than expected I found a spot to still work shelter options and do a short scouting around my site. I located a few good vantage points for observing trail intersections then found a shallow bowl away from any trail where a got in a bit of stump shooting.
At the site I set up and tore down the tarp several times. Used a plow point, coffin, and a low A-frame.
Mountain weather! I had the plow point set up when I realized I was about to get slammed as the dark blue clouds were boiling over the ridgeline.
I started breaking down the shelter and strapping up the ruck for movement as heavy rain hit so fast that my fletchings got wet before I got the cover over the arrows and the quiver strapped on the ruck.
Decided to take a direct route back to camp with a few good slips and slides moving down one steep ridge. Reality of non-lugged soles. Moved fast for almost an hour working my way back to the base camp (modern site). Of course, the rain had immediately turned to hail…. fun.
I was drenched by the time I made it back to the modern camp site. Icy slush was already building up on the tent.
Same load out in the ruck; four days of rations, water, wool tunic & pants, socks, cook kit, repair kit, tarp, blanket, ground cloth, shelter kit, med kit, water filter, rope, and light cordage. Bow and quiver.
Not a long trek but a good one.
Lessons learned:
Longer utility cords in shelter kit. 10’ rather than 6’.
Smaller tarp.
Current tarp is 9x9. I need to make an 8x8 or even a 7 1/2x7 1/2. There will be times when the larger tarp is necessary but for most travels, a smaller tarp will work fine.
All my gear was recently inspected, cleaned, and the leather treated. I can’t stress enough how important that is.
My fiancé and I had a few awesome days of modern camping at Farish Rec. Area on Rampart Range. I also got in a bit of Ranger trekking.
The plan was to move for a few hours up into the national forest, find a location to set up a camp site, then scout the area. Seeing weather approaching sooner than expected I found a spot to still work shelter options and do a short scouting around my site. I located a few good vantage points for observing trail intersections then found a shallow bowl away from any trail where a got in a bit of stump shooting.
At the site I set up and tore down the tarp several times. Used a plow point, coffin, and a low A-frame.
Mountain weather! I had the plow point set up when I realized I was about to get slammed as the dark blue clouds were boiling over the ridgeline.
I started breaking down the shelter and strapping up the ruck for movement as heavy rain hit so fast that my fletchings got wet before I got the cover over the arrows and the quiver strapped on the ruck.
Decided to take a direct route back to camp with a few good slips and slides moving down one steep ridge. Reality of non-lugged soles. Moved fast for almost an hour working my way back to the base camp (modern site). Of course, the rain had immediately turned to hail…. fun.
I was drenched by the time I made it back to the modern camp site. Icy slush was already building up on the tent.
Same load out in the ruck; four days of rations, water, wool tunic & pants, socks, cook kit, repair kit, tarp, blanket, ground cloth, shelter kit, med kit, water filter, rope, and light cordage. Bow and quiver.
Not a long trek but a good one.
Lessons learned:
Longer utility cords in shelter kit. 10’ rather than 6’.
Smaller tarp.
Current tarp is 9x9. I need to make an 8x8 or even a 7 1/2x7 1/2. There will be times when the larger tarp is necessary but for most travels, a smaller tarp will work fine.
All my gear was recently inspected, cleaned, and the leather treated. I can’t stress enough how important that is.