5 Attachment(s)
Late fall backpacking - whoops make that winter.
I had just written up a lengthy report but the board timed me out so here is the short version.
Headed up to the Ganaraska trail in the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands. Ended up in snow a lot deeper than expected (up to the knees at points). Wonderfully, the main trail was blazed with white so navigating was a challenge (not that I really cared about staying on trail - my buddy did though)
Covered a lot less distance than expected but it's essentially crown land so you can camp where needed.
Despite a lack of true winter gear, was toasty warm with my WBBB 1.0, Superfly, 20 F Phoenix, tewa summer TQ supplemented by a 0 C synthetic bag and a reflective emergency blanket draped over my ridge line.
Shortened our route by crossing a beaver dam (that looked a lot less substantial the next day after the snow melted off)
Camp two was along the other segment of the trail and was rained on most of the night (which melted off the snow). Buddy set up his tent in a flat spot that turned out to be literally on the trail.
Last day was a short trip of about an hour back to the trail head (and then back to the camp to get my buddy's forgotten gear and back again)
Was a fun trip but with the short daylight hours (sunset at 5:00, sunrise 7:30) I'm not a winter camping convert.
Highlight of the trip was booting along the puddle filled dirt road on the way out like in the old subaru commercial.
First night was chilly enough to freeze a water bottle.
