backpacking | y2kemo

How-To: Make a trekking pole from a branch

On my last backpacking trip, as I made my way to Cold Mountain one of my aluminum Black Diamond trekking poles snapped. The cause baffled me. I planted the pole in the mud, leaned forward, and as I did the pole just went. With over a day and half of hiking to go, I stopped and made a hiking pole from a fallen branch.

The following day I needed to put the stick away, but it was wood and much too long to do anything with so I was forced to carry it. As I walked back, ideas for how to make a trekking pole started popping in my head.

If you’re interested in making your own, keep reading. It’s actually pretty easy. You’ll need a few things, some tools, and about an hour to do the brunt of the work.

Backpacking in NC: Flat Laurel Creek to Cold Mountain

Two years ago my buddy, Coop, and I met a backpacker named Chris at the base of Shining Rock while backpacking in NC. Chris had just turned back due to extreme conditions, and we were looking for a place to camp before the sun went down. Before parting ways, the three of us exchanged contact information and have kept in touch since.

This past weekend, the three of us met up at Sam Knob via the Flat Laurel Creek trail off of NC Highway 215 (Lake Logan Road) to hike our way to the top of Cold Mountain. Coop and I took Friday to get an extra day of camping and an Anywhere5K to the top of Sam Knob’s 6,055′ peak, and Chris joined us on Saturday morning at the Black Balsam Road parking lot.

If you don’t hear from me, head to the Pisgah National Forest

We finished the 2011 Blue Ridge Relay

Over the weekend I joined up with Team Lost Soles to run the 208 Mile Blue Ridge Relay (BRR208). Starting at Grayson Highlands State Park in VA we followed country roads and wound our way through North Carolina’s High Country to the finish line in Asheville, NC.

The team was a great combination of runners ranging in age from 28 to 59. Everyone supported one another as we prepped, ran, waited, and finished our legs. Each was determined to finish the race at an 8:45 pace. And after 30 hours 17 minutes and 30 seconds we bested that goal with an 8:44 pace.

I’m Running the 2011 Blue Ridge Relay

BRR2011 logo This time tomorrow I’ll be running with Team Lost Soles in the 208 Mile Blue Ridge Relay (BRR208) as a last minute sub for an injured runner. Starting at Grayson Highlands State Park, Grayson County, VA, which is near the base of Mount Rogers (5729′), the course follows country roads and winds its way through North Carolina’s High Country to the finish in Asheville. The course features some of the region’s most spectacular scenery including the balds of Grayson Highlands State Park, the New River, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain (5964′), and Mount Mitchell (6684′), the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.