When we were preparing for our trip to the Grand Canyon, we were looking at several different water bottles/reservoirs.  We decided on the Camelbak Unbottle.  As shown below, it has a bite valve and is insulated.  The insulation worked really well at the Grand Canyon.  While the first sip was usually warm because it was in the uninsulated tube, the rest stayed quite cold all the way to the bottom.  We bought two 100 oz Unbottles from Campmor.com.

Camelbak 100 oz Unbottle

If you are planning on taking a trip I would consider the following steps while you are planning:

1. Plan far in advance.  When we backpacked the Grand Canyon, we applied for our permit 5 months in advance.  While, sometimes you can show up and see if there are any openings, I would not take the gamble.

2. When you are planning your trip, decide if you want to go to one or two places close together or if you want to make your adventure into a road trip with several stops along the way.

3. If you do decide to take a road trip, buy an atlas and make sure you aren’t missing any exciting/interesting stops.

4. Don’t be afraid to break your plans if the mood strikes you.  Being outdoors is liberating partially because you don’t have to follow the rules of everyday life.

Available at Amazon for $13.57

A friend of mine who organized our trip to the Grand Canyon introduced me to this neat piece of homemade gear.  As the title above suggests it is a cooking stove made from an aluminum can.  It burns unpressurized liquid alcohol and is very lightweight, always an important factor for backpacking.

We cooked some great meals with this type of stove.  I plan to make one myself.  I will post photos when I do.  This is a great example of gear you can make rather than purchase.  Click the photo to get all the details on how to make one of your own!

Disclaimer: As with any stove or open flame, it is important to be very careful not to burn yourself or cut yourself on sharp edges of the can.

Soda Can Stove

The following is my bucket list.  You know, the places you want to go before you kick the bucket.

1. Appalachian Trail

Shenandoah National Park

Also known as the “AT”, it runs from Georgia to Maine, about 2,175 miles in total.  While it would be an adventure of a lifetime to hike the whole lenght, I really want to hike two parts.  The 100 mile wilderness in Maine and the 100 mile section that runs through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

2. John Muir Trail

John Muir Wilderness courtesy of GORP

This 200 mile stretch is part of the Pacific Crest Trail in the west.  Runs through three national parks, Yosemite, King’s Canyon, and Sequoia.

3. Rocky Mountain National Park

I want to climb Long’s Peak.  There is a non-technical route that is open from mid-July to September (according to the NPS).  At 14,259 ft, I bet the view is increadible.

4. Utah*

Home to a number of great national parks.  Zion, Canyonlands, Arches, Glen Canyon and more.  *Technically, I have already visited Utah when we went to the four corners, but since I haven’t been to any of the above mentioned sites, I haven’t really been to Utah.

5. Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota

Over 150 miles along the border of Canada.  A great place to kayak or canoe.  I also want to do some fishing.  You know, catch a big one to tell the grand kids about!

I sit at a desk all day and analyze sales figures.  Not the most exciting job, but I really enjoy the people I work with.  Unfortunately, sitting at a desk all day does nothing to help me prepare for the many adventures I want to embark on.  So I bought a bicycle.  I have been riding several nights a week on paved trails near my house.  The city of Olathe (Kansas) as well as the rest of Johnson County, has a great trail system.  I wanted to save some money and buy a cheap bike at Wal-mart (savings would have been spent on camping gear), but I decided to buy a nice Trek bike that would last a long time.  I bought it at Bike America.  They have a great service agreement.  They will do free tune-ups on the bike for as long as I own it!  Check it out below.

My 4300 Hardtail Mountain Bike

Ever since I attended Philmot Scout Ranch in August 1999, I have been very excited about backpacking.

I have taken a couple trips since then and have learned a lot about living in the backcountry.  I decided to write this blog to help others who are just starting to learn about backpacking, to share my stories of past trips as well as future trip plans.

I will also discuss general fitness and how I prepare for trips.  Feel free to provide feedback and comments!

Enjoy!

Matt Bretz

Tooth of Time photo from BSA