The Trailmarker

Gold, Sweat, and a Two Year Old

2011-08-13T09:03:00.006-04:00

Hey Everyone.

Well Its been either hot or raining, with nothing in between. Since I don't like to hike in ninety five degree weather and the trout fishing isn't usually the best this time of year I have found a few ways to spend my summer days. I have recently taken up the hobby of gold prospecting and found that standing waist deep in a river shoveling dirt is a great way to spend a hot day. Ive been doing a little fly fishing for bass as well. Catching a small mouth bass on a four weight fly rod can be quite a challenge and a thrill, though I catch mostly small bream. This is great practice for the fall though. One of my favorite things Ive been doing is spending time with my daughter. Taking her to a museum is a great way to get out of the heat and it also gives me a chance to be dad and teach her about bugs, birds, fish, and anything else that she my ask about. Her favorite thing to say is "I want to touch it" even if its a diamond back rattle snake. I did let her pet a corn snake though. I hope you all have found a way to beat the heat and have some fun. I just keep telling myself fall is just around the corner.

See you on the trail,
Lance

New Water

2011-08-03T16:50:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone,
I got my hands on the new North Carolina regulations digest. I'm excited to see that some new waters have been added to the delayed harvest list. Here is the list of new spots to check out this fall.

Jackson county- Tuckasegee river (downstream N.C. 107 bridge to the falls 275 yards upstream of the U.S. 23-441 bridge).

Madison county- spring creek (N.C. 209 bridge at Hot Springs city limits to iron bridge at the end of Andrews ave).

Surry county- Arrat River (103 bridge to U.S. 52 bridge).

Watauga county- Coffee Lake.

Wilkes county- Elk Creek (portion on Leatherwood Mountains Development).

I myself have planned to take a week this October and fish as many rivers, creeks, and streams as I can. I should have a great post after that. Ill also be in N.Y. in Sept. and will probably find my way to the river for some fall run steelies or maybe even a salmon. I hope you all find the chance to get out this fall. Maybe I'll see you out there.

See you on the trail,
Lance

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A Few New Sites

2011-06-07T00:00:00.006-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I know that it has been very quiet on here lately. Ive been busy with...well just about everything. Im helping a friend plan her ten day trip into the San Gabriel Mountains to go prospecting for a week (another thing that I have started to play with). In doing so we have been diligently goving over the meal planning. I have recently found out about some realy great sites to get the little things that you may need to have an enjoyable meal outdoors. I have put them in the "sites I visit" section of the site. One of my favorites is Just Tomatoes. I hope you all have had some time to get outside this summer. I know of quite a few folks that have some great paddling trips planned and I am pumped to hit the (bartram) trail this fall. Well I guess that's about it for now check out the new links and make some great meals.

See you on the trail,
Lance

p.s. I have some video that I may edit into some previous posts so keep and eye out. I just have to figure out the video editing program on this computer first.

What Have I Been Up To

2011-05-02T13:43:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Man Have I been busy. Ive been all over the country from New York to Minnesota tying flies and chasing steelhead,

fishing with old friends from high school,

and attending several events and meeting with vendors.

I have a bunch of new gear to play with. I also currently have the beginnings of a shelter set up in my living room and should have it near completion soon. I am planning to hike the 100 mile Bartram Trail this year for my 30th birthday. Its been a full speed year so far and it doesn't look like its going to slow down any time soon (which is a good thing). I will be at "Trail Days" in a couple weeks as well. I hope you all have had as good a a spring as I have and have found time to get out there.

p.s. I am going to put a new section on the site with great quotes about the outdoors. If you have one you would like to share let me know it and who it was said by and Ill get it up.

See you on the trail,
Lance

No I'm Not Dead!

2011-03-30T13:02:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone,

I bet some of you have been wondering where I have been lately. Well, lets just say I've been really busy. Between work, events, and the trip that I am currently in the middle of (NY steelhead!) I havent had a chance to get on and post anything. Not all is lost though. Im shooting new pictures and video everyday and when I get back to NC I'll have some cool stuff to post. For now I just wanted to let you know that I havent abandoned ship and I'll be returning to the blogging world shortly. I hope you all have survived the winter and I hope you have some great trips planned for the spring. For now there is a teaser photo for you!

See you on the trail,
Lance

Fly Fishing for Christmas

2011-01-01T20:49:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I had been given a few days off for the holidays as expected. However, I realised that I only had plans for Christmas eve, which was to see my daughter. I soon came to the conclusion that I had no plans for the other few days. Well, it didn't take more than a second for my mind to wander to the stream. So that's what I did I drove to the river to spend a couple days with a fly rod in my hand. Besides, I knew that I would have the river to myself since I figured everyone else would be home eating turkey and playing with their new toys. It was a great couple of days. I'm not going to say it wasn't cold but the fishing was fantastic! Believe it or not but the trout were actually rising to my dry on the dropper. I took to time to shoot a few short clips and here they are.

I hope you all had as good a Christmas as I did.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Happy Holidays

2010-12-16T10:14:00.004-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I apologise for the lack of activity on the blog lately. With the Holidays here, it means long days at work. The weather hasn't helped much either. I was supposed to be up on one of the rivers today, but decided against it because of the freezing rain and ice we are experiencing. I mean I love fly fishing, but I'm not opposed to a nice hot cup of coffee and a movie on the couch. A friend of mine, who is also a fly fishing guide, and I are trying to get up on the water together between Christmas and New Years. As far as hiking goes, I get the feeling that we are going to have quite the winter here in NC, I may get out for a good snowy day hike but I'm pretty sure there will be no backpacking until spring. I am however checking out some new gear and working on a couple of projects. I also may have a really cool announcement to make in the near future.
I hope everyone is having a good holiday season. I hope we all get that cool new piece of gear we wanted. Maybe we can have a blogger show and tell. Happy holidays everyone. Stay warm.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Big Brown

2010-11-12T12:21:00.006-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I was up on the river a few days ago and had yet another wonderful day. The weather was actually pretty warm and the sun was out. I didn't expect such a banner day since it wasn't overcast and certainly didn't expect what I was about to catch. I had landed several trout that day and was just moving along the overhangs drifting small nymphs when out of no where a huge brown slammed my fly. This fish was 24 inches and all of five to five and a half pounds. I'm pretty sure I'll be looked at like I'm crazy for even attempting to film this fish but that's what I did. I don't want to take away from the video that I risked so much to shoot so here it is.

Needless to say it was a real caper on what was a great day on the water. I had the strangest thing happen to me as well. I was standing there casting away and all of the sudden something hit my boot. I looked down and to my amazement there was a brook trout just resting between my feet. Now I'm a very still person and sometimes don't move my feet for hours while fishing. So with that said I had a fishing buddy for about forty five minutes which I thought was pretty cool. Check out the photo I took of my good friend. I talked to several guys on the water that day and even handed out a few pointers here and there since I apparently had the magic touch for the day. I cant wait to get back up on the water and try and beat my own record.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Hiking on Halloween

2010-11-01T10:32:00.008-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I spent my Halloween on a trail in the woods. I would have to say that since my days have ended of filling pillow cases with absurd amounts of candy, this may have been my favorite Halloween yet. I took Ally (I call her Cricket), a friend of mine, up to Hanging rock. She had never been there and, as most of you know, its my local haunt. So I told her I would show her around. The weather was beautiful for hiking. It was nice and cool and the sky was wide open. With the cooler air there was no humidity to haze the air so you could see for miles in all directions from the top. I have been hiking pretty much solo for quite some time now so it was very nice to have someone to chat and laugh with as well.

With fall in the air and the leaves changing over its probably the prettiest time of year for a hike. The seasons are getting cooler so its important to note that if you are headed into the back country you need to start packing in the warming layers. A nice light fleece pullover or, as Cricket had, a special pair of sleeves to cover your arms if you get a chill. Also don't forget to drink plenty of water. You may think that because its cooler now you wont have to consume as much. However, the air is dryer now so you will actually dehydrate faster just from breathing.

Its a great time to get out there and enjoy the outdoors before old man winter takes over. I hope you all get a chance to get out and enjoy the outdoors this fall no matter what your hobby of choice is. Maybe you can take a friend.

See you on the trail,
Lance

2010-10-06T10:36:00.009-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I got out for the first day of fall fly fishing yesterday. I cant even tell you how good of a day it was. I was landing a fish every second or third cast all day long. I even managed to catch not one but two browns one of which was a nice fifteen incher. I began moving around the stream to check on other holes and was having the same success in each. I then noticed three ladies fishing up stream of me. When one of them came walking up I waved her over. I asked her how they had been doing and found that they had had limited success. Well at that note, I not only gave up the spot I was at, I told her how to rig, what flies to use, and where in that hole to cast. Her third cast produced a nice rainbow. She then began pulling them in with regularity. I proceeded up stream to her two friends and did the same. One of the women hooked a very large, very pretty, brook trout that I netted for her. I must have spent at least two hours just talking to and watching them fish. It was as much fun watching them as it was landing them myself. The ladies where very thankful for the the advise and time spent with them. It was possibly the best day on the river I have had not only because of my success but because I was able to help others do the same.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Trail Note

2010-10-04T20:04:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I was recently informed of a really cool site that could save your life. I'm not sure about you but I usually hike alone. With hiking solo there are inherit risks that one must accept. I'm a compulsive trip planner, taking up to a year to plan out the details of a hike. However, with all the planning in the world you cannot account for a misstep or accident. What would happen if you fell while in a deep ravine and could not move to get a cell or GPS signal. For those occasions there's Trail Note . A Trail Note is a simple online form that stores your travel details. You name the trip, provide a travel description, give a start time and end time of the trip, and mark your destination on a digital map. You also enter the email or text message address of people you would like to notify in case of you do not return in time. This is a really great free service. If you do any kind of back country exploring like backpacking, fly fishing, or ATVs I suggest you check out an possibly use this site. I plan on registering and using trail note for all of my future back country trips.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Back in the Light

2010-09-11T09:14:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone,

Im sure you all have been wondering where I have been.(yeah right) I have pretty much been working and sleeping. It was a busy month for me and although Im pretty tired of thriteen hour nights, yes nights!, I will enjoy the extra money and the cool new gear I will inevitably buy with it. With my favorite time of year for fly fishing just around the corner Im pretty pumped about this falls prospects. I also may have a fall run to NY in the works for some more steelhead fishing! I look forward to seeing the sun again and getting back to my hobbies which keep me sane. Leave me a coment and let me know whats new.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Warm Air Cold Water

2010-08-08T09:52:00.009-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Some of you may remember Josh. Last fall I took him trout fishing for the first time and he finished the day with a slam. He just picked up a nice fly rod and was itching to get it on the water. We took off for a very commonly fished stream in hopes of finding a few stragglers. I turned out to be a great day on the water and josh hooked his first trout on a fly. We also caught some species that I wasn't expecting but they were pretty all the same. I personally cant wait for fall to get here so I can really put him on the fish. Its nice to get someone else excited about a sport that you are passionate about. Here are a few photos of our day.

I hope every one's summer is going well and that you have found time to get out.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Ebira

2010-07-25T22:45:00.006-04:00

I spent my Friday in the backcountry, on a small trout stream, Tenkara fishing. I was also testing out a new product, the Ebira. All I can say is this thing is awsome! I consider it a must have for the backcountry Tenkara fly fisherman.

If you want to know more about the Ebira or Tenkara. Leave a comment below or chat with Jason, myself, and other like minded folks at backpackflyfishing.com

See you on the trail,
Lance

Its Raining Beer?

2010-07-12T18:52:00.006-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I took the day off from work (honey do list) to go for a little stroll. I planned a nice eight mile hike using a combination of trails, and enjoyed hiking from one high point to the next. However, upon reaching my final summit, I heard the unmistakable sound of aluminium hitting a tree branch. Imagine my surprise when a nearly half full Miller Lite can landed with a thud at my feet! I was, for lack of a better term, pissed. I grabbed the can, emptied the remaining contents, and decided to hike it back to the top in hopes of returning it to its owner! Well, it was no surprise that upon reaching the top, and questioning about ten people, no one saw anything. I'm pretty sure I found the guy (who shied away from me as I inquired about the can), but with no proof or pointed finger, I couldn't justify handing it to him. I crushed the can and hiked it back to the parking lot. In all my years of hiking, I've been through all types of weather, but this was the first time it rained beer on me.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Tying One On

2010-07-08T15:06:00.025-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I was recently invited to be the guest fly tier at the Greensboro location of the Great Outdoor Provision Company. I visit the store from time to time to see what I "need", and to talk a little trail and fly with the staff. I have come to know a few of the guys pretty well and occasionally they will ask my advise on a subject. I was really honored to be asked my Mike, the fly fishing manager, if I would mind coming in and tying some flies for their weekly get together. I don't consider myself to be an expert tier but accepted the invite. It was good to talk fly with a few folks, and I tied a few patterns that I have had great success with. I also introduced the world of Tenkara fly fishing to the guests and staff. I talked and tied so much that I didn't think to get my camera until I was packing up. I want to thank Mike and GOP for the invite, and I look forward to doing it again sometime. In fact, I'll have to get over there to see some patterns tied by other guest tiers.

See you on the trail,
Lance

p.s. If you are in the NC area you should stop in to one of the GOP locations. Here is a link to find the location nearest you.
greatoutdoorprovision

Shaving Pounds

2010-07-06T18:28:00.014-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Well, I was going to write this great post about how we all count every ounce in our packs, and scrutinize every piece of gear for its weight, but never think about losing weight ourselves. However, upon doing the research for this post I have found that it is a lot more complicated than that. No wonder people have to have degrees in this field. The truth is that we are not all thru-hikers, and we don't spend every day on the trail. It is not so true that we all could easily lose weight to be lighter, thus feeling like we took twenty pounds off of our backs. Upon reading some articles about sports fitness, I have come to find that you can burn fat, but that doesn't mean you will be lighter. When you start to working out and burning fat, you also start to build lean muscle. So what does that mean? Well, when you step on that bathroom scale, after six months of training, you may not be lighter. The goal, I have found, is to have the correct body fat percentage. I'm pretty sure that, for most of us, getting to a correct body fat percentage will make us lose some weight. If your body fat percentage is good, then that means the weight you are carrying is all working for you instead of just sitting there. Ive looked at body fat percentages,for athletes, and have taken an average from triathletes, swimmers, and runners, to come up with what I think is a good number for hikers.

Males 9- 15%
Women 12 - 19%

I was measured in the military to have 6% body fat. When I did triathlons I was measured at 8%. So, from my experiance alone these percentages seem reasonable. Another thing I have found is you can't always count on you BMI (body mass index) score because it does not take muscle mass into account. For instance I am 5' 10" and weigh about 190 lbs and my BMI score is 27.3 which is technically overweight. According to this scale I would have to weigh no more than 170#. However, my doctor says that, with the muscle build I have, I could never get below 175 lbs and be healthy. So your BMI is good to use as a rough estimate, but don't let it discourage you. If you would like to read more on this topic, I have posted a couple of links to my resources at the bottom of this post. I hope you all have learned something... I know I sure have. I think I owe my scale an apology as well.

I have set a goal to get back to 10% body fat at 175-180 lbs. This should be, not only good for my health overall, but make me a more efficient hiker. We'll see how it goes. Let me know if you set a goal and how you plan to or did accomplish it.

See you on the trail,
Lance

P.S. I also have some cool health related stuff coming up- like video interview with a friend of mine, who has a degree in sports medicine. We're going to go over food choices for hiking and look at things like calories, sodium, and electrolytes.

UPDATE: After talking with my friend he recomended that I up my body fat percentage to account for any weight loss that might occur during a hike. You will also notice that I have changed the recomended percentage for men due to this discussion.

Resources :
sport-fitness-advisor
fitnessonline
mountainsurvival

The AT Goes Where?

2010-06-09T16:25:00.011-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I recently heard some very interesting news about the AT (Appalachian Tail), well, the IAT (international Appalachian Trail). What do you think of hiking to Morocco? There is a plan in the works that will extend the Appalachian Trail into Europe. As it looks now, the IAT will run along the east coast of Greenland, and then on to Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The trail will then pickup on the mainland of Norway, and proceed south through France and Portugal, with a small run through western Spain, and finally ending in Morocco. Trails already exist along much of the conceptual route, so in many cases, participating countries can mark these trail segments with the IAT sign to make it part of the network. It seems that Greenland and Ireland are taking the idea seriously, and they are already plotting out the routs through their countries. This means, of course, that there will be some portions which involve a ferry or train ride, but that just adds to the adventure! With the small connector that links the AT to the Florida Trail, one could conceivably thru-hike from Big Cypress National Preserve all the way to Morocco. The logistics alone would be immense, and I'm sure it would cost a small fortune, but I bet you would never run out of stories for the camp fire!

See you on the trail,
Lance

UPDATE: I was asked to post a link to the article that I read this from. However, I am unable to locate it again. I have found this article pressherald which is almost word for word the same as the one I read. Also if you type "European Appalachian Trail Extension" into google you will see several more articles.

After the Hike.

2010-06-06T20:23:00.006-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Sorry if you haven't seen me around for a few days. I just got back from a three day backpacking trip that my Venture boys put together. Other than the 90 degree heat, thunder storms, and relentless mosquito's it was a fun trip. I think that everyone learned a new trick on this hike, such as how to cook in a down pour! I've just finished up cleaning everything (a.k.a. my post hike ritual). I know that when I step in the door I'm dog tired, smell like, well like Ive been living in the woods, and the last thing I want to do is clean gear. However, after a nice hot shower, with lots of soap, I find the energy to pull everything out, dry what needs drying, wash what needs washing, and inspect all my gear. I'm lucky that Christi is a hiker as well, so she understands the need to take over the dinning room and hang rain flies up from the chairs, and cover the kitchen counter with drying cook sets and filters parts for a day or two. Not to mention, I moved her decorative cooking apron to hang up my hydration bladder.

What's your post hike ritual? Do you get right to it like myself, or do you prefer to kick back, relax, and do it the next day? Also, if you have a really cool way of cleaning a piece of gear let me know. I'm always interested in learning a new way to do something!

See you on the trail,
Lance

Butt Kicker Hike!

2010-05-22T14:57:00.005-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I have been wanting to do this hike for some time now. I want to hike the Big Butt Trail and Black Mountian Crest Trail using the MST (Mountain to Sea Trail) to connect them. This is by no means a long hike, but the climbs make it one of the toughest around. With short 8 to 10 mile days, I think that three days will be plenty enough time to hike this thirty miler. This hike will summit several of the highest peaks in the south, including a visit to Mt. Mitchell's new lookout. If you are interested in hiking this with me let me know you can leave a comment on here. I haven't set dates, but I am looking at the end of June or mid August.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Footwear

2010-05-21T10:26:00.007-04:00

Hey Everyone,

When I'm at events or teaching classes I always get the question, "What brand of hiking boots/shoes do you wear". I always start my response with, "Well, I've been hiking ______ but...". The fact of the matter is, I feel that footwear is one piece of gear that you shouldn't copy just because it's popular. Sure, there are some companies out there that the majority of people will find comfortable and you should go try them on. However, just because that's what you see a lot of other people wearing doesn't mean it will be best for you. Here is a perfect example. I have read several backpacking web sites and forums, and I have heard a lot of great things about Solomon hiking shoes like the XA pro. So, I went to a local shop to try them on. Well, when I went to take a step my heel lifted about 3/8 of an inch out of the heel cup. I'm sure that you all know that, if I was to get them anyhow, I would have been headed straight for blisterville. I am once again in the market for some new hiking shoes, and sure, I'll check out the local shops and try on all the well known brands like montrail, inov8, and merrel, but don't be surprised if you see me on the trail in a pair of asics or new balance. The point that I'm trying to make is, hike what is comfortable to you. It shouldn't matter if they are two hundred dollars and float when you take them off, or if you got them on clearance for three bucks with a stain on the toe. Your feet are your vehicles out there, and if they break down, you break down.

p.s. dont forget to bring a pair of your actual hiking socks with you.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Steelhead

2010-04-21T17:49:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I'm back from my trip to NY. I was surprised to see how much had changed, and at the same time, how much has stayed the same. Needless to say, it was nice to be back on my home waters. Well, I dont want to steal too much from the video, so here it is.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Have Tenkara, Will Travel

2010-04-08T20:50:00.018-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Well after seeing his simple setup and talking with Jason Klass about Tenkara fly fishing, I just had to try it out. I recieved my rod the other day, and I can't wait to get it on the water. For the backpacker/fly fisher, there is no better setup. I have the Tenakara USA "Iwana" rod, which pulls out to eleven feet, and weighs in at a staggering two and a half ounces. This eleven foot telescopic rod collapses down to a mere twenty inches.
The reel you ask, there is none. This is a traditional style of fly fishing that originated in Japan about three hundred and fifty years ago, long before the invention of the reel. Your fly line, which was traditionally woven from horse hair, simply attaches to the end of the rod. The simplicity and compact design is what makes this style of fishing blend so well with ultralight backpacking. So far, the average kit I've seen, which includes rod, line, fly box with flies, tippet, and some basic tools, weighs in at around six ounces. I plan on using it almost exclusively for all my back country streams. If you have any questions or would like to try Tenkara for yourself you can checkout tenkarausa.com or stop by and chat with Jason, Myself, and other like minded folks at backpackflyfishing.com

See you on the trail,
Lance

Hot!

2010-04-03T20:24:00.010-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Well I spent the day in the sun, on the river, catching fish, getting burnt. I started the day with a little shiver, while I stood waist deep, watching a light fog come off the water. However, by that afternoon I was dying to just get out of my waders and "wet wade". I figured that the afternoon might die off a little, and we could get out of the sun for a bit. Well luck would have it, that at about one o-clock the bite came on again so we stayed. I did put on sun screen eventually, but by then it was really too late. I am glad to say that Ray landed a nice Rainbow that filled the net, and I held my own catching some healthy fish as well. I have always considered myself pretty hard core as far as the outdoors. I mean I kind of look forward to the rainy days because I know I'll have the river mostly to myself. However, I now know that rainy days don't make you that die hard, because getting wet is a whole lot easier to forget about the next day.

See you on the trail,
Lance

p.s. I think I might change the saying from "rain or shine" to "soaked or sun burnt". whadya' think.

Events

2010-03-19T10:10:00.006-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Sorry it has been so slow on the site lately. I have been really busy this spring. Not only have I been checking out some new products, but I have been busy attending several events this year. I have been invited to speak about backpacking all the way back home in NY in April. I am very excited to see what this year brings with backpacking and fly fishing. I have met some really knowledgeable people and made some great friends along the way. I also have been invited to come fishing with Linda Heller and Bob Clouser, and to go shad fishing on the fly with the team from Orvis. As far as backpacking, I have a few trips in mind for late spring in the higher elevations, and I think we have a caving trip in the works. This should prove to be a very eventful year indeed. Thank you to everyone who has invited me to talk at your events. I truly love sharing the passion that I have for these sports and getting others as excited about them as I am.

See you on the trail,
Lance

p.s. I have a really cool video on camp soap that I'm about to finish so keep checking in.

Learning From The Best

2010-03-06T08:38:00.006-05:00

Hey Everyone,

What a killer day. I spent the day talking fly with two of the most respected fly fishers in the sport. Not only did Anthony Hipps show me how to tie a couple of his most famous patterns that were featured in "Fly Tyer" magazine, but Linda Heller and I spent a good amount of time talking fly. I always say you can never stop learning and I figure if your going to learn something about fly fishing why not from two of the best. I'm excited to say that Linda told me that next time that Bob (Bob Clouser) is in town that we all should hit the water together. I gladly accepted the invite. Here are a few photos of the masters in action.

See you on the trial,
Lance

Wow Busy!

2010-02-18T18:51:00.004-05:00

Hey Everyone,

Im sorry for the lack of activity on the site lately. Ive been busy at work getting ready for the spring season. I havent even been fly fishing in about three weeks. Im hoping to get out here in the next few days and have something to share. I am also checking out some realy cool gear that I will be doing some videos on. Hang in there I have not abandoned you.

See you on the trail,
Lance

First Trip of the Year

2010-01-25T21:31:00.004-05:00

Hey Everyone,

This weekend I went on my first backpacking trip of the year. My venture crew and I headed to Uwharrie National Forest for our first hike together. Temperatures where mild compared to the 20's we have been experiencing, and we even managed to slip out just before the heavy rain fell. Although it wasn't a long hike, it was one of the more interesting trips I have taken. Menu choices are always fun to see, and there was no shortage of interesting meals. Now that the first trip is under our belts its time to hit the gears lists and start to shave some pounds. I hope to get everyone to around a fifteen pound base pack weight.

I have some really cool ideas for gear this year. I also have seen some new things that have come out that may make it into my pack. I think this is going to be a great year. I hope to be under nine pounds soon so keep checking in to see what I come up with.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Fun and Excitement to Come

2010-01-06T21:30:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of activity on the site lately. I have been out, I just haven't had much time to post. I went fly fishing last week in the cold and did quite well considering I had to break the ice out of my guides all day long. I am also in the process of planning a backpacking trip with my venture crew. I'm already getting requests for classes this coming spring and have been invited to a couple events. I think this year I'm going to play around with some ultralight tent/shelter ideas and see what I can come up with. I also plan on cooking some original meals this year on the trial. By the way...If you haven't been following Tinny lately I urge you to check out his recent tinkering. This should be a fun year and I cant wait to see what comes of it.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Cool (weather) Tips

2009-12-16T18:16:00.006-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I went out for a day on the river yesterday. The weather was very nice- mid to low fifties, and overcast. I'm sad to say that the fishing was very slow. I did manage a couple fish, including this very strong fifteen incher. I guess cold weather slows everyone down a bit.

One thing to remember is, if you are venturing out this time of year, you should wear layers. With morning temperatures in the twenties or thirties, and afternoon temps getting into the fifties, layering is a great way to adapt to the weather. I think that a couple of thin layers are better than two heavy ones. Also, it's fine to have a cotton shirt for camp and sleeping in, but for strenuous activities you should be wearing synthetics and fleece. Synthetic drys faster and fleece will still keep you warm if it gets damp. I like to wear a nice long sleeve synthetic shirt with a light or medium fleece over that. If it gets windy or rain starts to fall, it's very easy to put on a light shell.

If you have any winter backpacking trips or just plan to camp out for a night, remember to put your canisters and water filters into your sleeping bag with you because these items can freeze, and either ruin your filter, or make that warm morning cup of coffee slow coming.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Reinventing the Wheel

2009-12-10T17:31:00.012-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I just watched a video from Tinny on Mini Bull Design. It seems that the pot that I, as well as many others have been using, is even better than we thought. Tinny has been creating many different pot designs over the past year. He's made everything from pro 20oz wide mouth pots to little QMH 8oz pots. He recently built a new wide mouth ring for the lip of a pot. He also has started to make lids for Snow Peak Ti-mugs. His recent endevor was a new bottom that featured heat sinks. The question was, was it worth the time that he put into the manufacturing of this new pot. This is the kind of thing that I love about Tinny, hes always experimenting with new ideas and designs. That is the reason that I consider him the finest alcohol stove builder around. This is also why I only carry Mini Bull stoves. Here's the video from his site that explaines the rest.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Cold Weather Num-Nums!

2009-11-27T20:30:00.008-05:00

Hey everyone,

With the weather cooled down a bit its time to change the menu for backpacking. I usually carry cereal in a ziploc with 2/3 cup of Nido dried milk (add one cup water and shake...cold cereal). However, in the colder months, it sure is nice to have a hot breakfast to get the day started right. I usually carry oatmeal or cream of wheat which is good but... the other day I came across a ten grain cereal (www.bobsredmill.com/cereals/) in the grocery store. When I read how easy it is to make, it screamed backpacking food. I took it home and just added some brown sugar and WOW! I have played with it with my backpacking cook set and have come up with a good portion (the bag directions make way to much). Here it is.

At home put this into a ziploc bag.
1/2 cup cereal
1tbsp brown sugar

On the trail
boil 1 1/4 cup water (or just boil 2 cups and make some coffee or cocoa)
turn stove down to simmer or like me, take pot off stove and place in cozy.
pour in cereal and let sit for about five minutes.

I like to put milk in so here is an addition...
put 2/3 cup Nido in a snack sized ziploc and place it in the other ziploc with the cereal.
mix this with one cup of water in your Nalgene bottle (while your waiting)
add to pot and there you go hot cereal with milk on the trail.

Feel free to add some nuts or dried berries to spice it up (oooh blueberries!)

There are a tone of different types on the web site. If you have already tried some of these let me know your recipes or favorite kind.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Eighteen and Eighteen

2009-11-25T23:24:00.007-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I spent yet another day on the water. It was a great day for fishing with overcast skies and temperatures perfect for a light fleece shirt. I brought along a buddy of mine to share in the fun. It was a very eventful day. I caught around eighteen fish. I also landed a beautiful eighteen inch rainbow that just made the day for me. I have noticed that this site is slowly becoming a backpacking/fly fishing blog, although, most information is relevant to backpacking. If you're interested in fly fishing and hiking, Jason Klass now has created a web site www.backpackflyfishing.com that covers just that. I will be a regular visitor there so come check it out. Now if I can just find some hike in fly fishing spots I'll have it all.

See you on the trail,
Lance

The GREAT Outdoors

2009-11-18T18:20:00.008-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I had an exceptional day on the river. I caught well over twenty trout. I showed Christi how to tie a fly and promised to use it when I went yesterday. Well not only did it catch fish, it caught the biggest one of the day. Here are a few photos from my outting. A day like this is just another reason they call it the great outdoors.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Outdoor Etiquette

2009-11-09T19:02:00.007-05:00

Hey Everyone,

I spent yet another day on the stream. I know "what is this a fly fishing blog". The truth is its just easier for me to get out for the day rather than to get out for a week right now. I promise I have a backpacking trip in the works, and you can always post a question if you have one.
Back on the topic of this post...
I think we all agree that nature is very relaxing, and it's a great way to just get away from work, bills, traffic, and ,most of all, people. I had my first encounter with, whats termed as, a "hole crasher". I was fishing a nice quiet spot alone, and I was catching fish. Well, I guess this guy thought he could join in. He threw a bright green spinner into my run. He did this to me twice in two different spots. I was polite and didn't say anything, and besides, he didn't catch any fish. As he was leaving the second spot, I hooked up with another rainbow (my modest version of the middle finger). The point is that when you are out hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, or whatever, be respectful of others. They have just as much right to be there, and they want to enjoy the outdoors just like you. I like to call it outdoor etiquette. Show "outdoor etiquette" and make everyone's trip outdoors a great one.

See you on the trail (or on the water)
Lance

Rainy Days and Rainbows

2009-10-28T20:06:00.008-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Well, I spent yesterday on the stream and in the rain. It started out as a nice day- good temperatures, overcast skies, and quiet. I managed to do quite well, by catching some nice rainbows. As far as I know, I only shared the stream with one other person, whom I ran into and chatted with. I learned a valuable lesson yesterday about rain jackets. I have a very nice Stearns "rain coat", but after about eight hours it reached its limit, and by the end of the day the only dry part of me was under my waders. Think about this when purchasing a jacket for hiking or fishing, what looks good and works from the house to the car may not be so good for long term use. Needless to say, I will be looking around for a new fishing jacket. Do you think they will let you return something if you've had it on in the shower? jk.

See you on the trail
Lance

Lighten Up

2009-10-23T09:08:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone,

With the fall backpacking season in full swing, I have been seeing a lot of large packs out there. One of the first things people assume when they see my pack is that I am sacrificing comfort somewhere. I have had the chance to show my camp setup to a few of these people and the most common response is, "man I need to lighten my pack load". The best way I have found, to lighten your pack, is to make a gear list. List every little thing in your pack, and next to it list the weight (be as close as possible). Once you have made the list, look at the heaviest items, and find a way to either lighten it, replace it, or eliminate the need for it. I have made a list of what kind of weights to be looking for with the major pieces of gear.

Pack - under or around 3 pounds. There are several packs in the 50 to 65 litre size in this range.

Solo Tent or Shelter - around 2 pounds. Of course, more money = less weight, but I know of a tent that is 2 lbs 9 ounces for $80.00

Sleeping bag - 2+ pounds. Down can be much lighter, but even a good synthetic bag can be in this range.

Cook set - -1 pound. OK-OK, I'm way under that weight, but my setup is custom. A pocket rocket and a snow peak mug or GSI soloist pot are great and you can buy them anywhere.

Water treatment - This depends on your method but most filters are in the 1 pound range

Clothing - this is the one killer of hikers. I carry one pair of shorts or zip-off pants, 2 or 3 pairs of socks and underwear, two shirts (one for hiking, one for camp and sleeping). In really cold weather I may pack a light fleece, but a rain jacket is a great warming layer because it holds in a lot of heat.

I hope this helps those of you who are in the "I need to lighten up" mode. If anyone has questions, feel free to post a comment. The important thing to remember is that ultralight may not be for everyone, but I'm sure anybody would appreciate shaving a pound or two.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Rookies, Brookies, Rainbows, and Browns

2009-10-06T17:42:00.004-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I took Christi's brother Josh trout fishing for the first time yesterday. The weather was perfect, temperatures in the low 60's, overcast skies, and the water was in the mid to low 50's, a little cool for wet wading but we toughed it out. I had no idea that he had never fished for trout until we were almost to the river. (needless to say the pressure was on). Once on the water, I tried a few different flies and techniques, and soon landed a nice brown trout. I explained what color lure the fish were likely to hit, and where each species was holding in the pool. Taking my advice, Josh soon landed his first trout ever (another healthy brown). Josh's second fish was a net worthy rainbow, that ended up being the biggest fish of the day. We where soon pulling in fish quite regularly, and I'm happy to say, not only did Josh catch his first trout yesterday, but he ended up catching all three species. I found that changing flies (sunken drys and nymphs all in light colors) every few fish was the trick, and by the end of the day, I had landed several rainbows and brookies. With the combination of good fishing and beautiful scenery, I'm pretty sure that Josh is hooked on trout fishing! I for myself cant wait to get back up on the stream.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Fall

2009-10-01T19:11:00.004-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Well, Fall is finally here and temperatures have started to show it. The other day, it was 31 degrees on top of Mt. Mitchell. With the recent rain and the low temperatures, the trout streams have cooled off a bit, and with today being the start of delayed harvest, the fishing should be very good. I keep day dreaming of a dry fly floating through the current as a light fog rises off the water and seeing that small ripple from a trout rising to my fly.

Fall is also one of my favorite times of the year to hike. There is nothing like waking up and smelling the cool, crisp autumn air and hiking along a high ridge or up to a summit bald to see the collage of fall colors, which is, for lack of a better term, breathtaking.

This time of year temperatures can vary widely with the daily highs and lows being very far apart. When venturing into the back country, pack some warmer items, but be sure to layer clothing so that you can strip down during the warmer part of the day.

Maybe I'll see you out there and we can discuss the hot fly of the day or what trails have the best views. If we see no one then no worries we just picked a good stream or the right trail

See you on the trail,
Lance

Natives on the Fly

2009-09-07T17:59:00.006-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Well, I finally received my custom fly rod, and have already had it on the stream a few times. I headed out the other day to a quiet, native trout stream. I managed to do a lot of climbing, crawling, and a little bit of fishing. Besides taking in the beautiful scenery of small water falls and rippled pools, I managed to catch a few small rainbows. Tomorrow I am heading out for another day of slipping and stumbling in hopes of catching a few more.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Other Adventures

2009-08-06T17:02:00.003-04:00

Hey Eveyone,

I have decided to add a label of "other advetures" to the site. Although the site is primarily backpacking, I do many other outdoor things and figured that I should share them on here. This label will have everything from caving and rock climbing to paddling and fly fishing. I hope that you will all enjoy the new section, and hopefully I'll get someone to try something new.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Baby Hiking Boots

2009-06-23T12:52:00.005-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I'm sorry for the lack of activity on the site lately, but as some of you may know, Christi and I just had our baby girl. I have been preoccupied and put the site on hold. I will just have to post during nap time for a while. I'll also be checking Zappos for some extra small hiking boots(jk).

See you on the trail,
Lance

Waterproof Bag

2009-05-30T15:43:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I had some people ask about these bags, so I figured I'd make a video to show you exactly how I do it. Oh, I like to use Gorilla tape because it's just like Duct tape but stronger.

See you on the trail,
Lance

New Maps!

2009-05-29T19:23:00.006-04:00

National Geographic has come out with some new maps for 2009. They now have maps in Georgia, which not only cover the AT starting at Springer Mtn, but they also have the entire Bartram trail and a good portion of the Foothills trail. As any seasoned outdoorsman can tell you, a good map is invaluable in the back country. I trust Nat. Geo. maps for their accuracy, but they are also printed on waterproof, rip proof paper which means they last forever.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Classes

2009-05-14T20:17:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone,

Well, my class and event schedule has been pretty busy lately. I just attended the hunt-n-fish day event and, as always, had a blast. There is nothing better than hanging out in the woods talking about backpacking all day. I have also been regularly teaching classes to individual units. I really love doing these kinds of events, which give me a chance to share what I have learned over the years, and to help people start out in the right direction. On top of that, the scouts are always attentative and have great questions. I want to thank all of the units that I have spoken to lately for your support, and I look forward to future meetings.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Trial Cooking

2009-05-13T12:01:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to let everyone know that the site "Freezer bag cooking" is no more. It has a new name "Trail Cooking". I have updated the link so it will take you to the new site.

See you on the trail,
Lance

News 14 | 24 Hour Local News | TOP STORIES | Warm, wet weather means mosquito season

2009-05-11T21:33:00.000-04:00

My fifteen seconds of fame. I have done many news reports in the past on paddling and hiking but never had a web site to post them on, and now that I do, my first one is about bug sprays. I know it's not backpacking but I thought it was funny. Watch out for them skeeters!

News 14 | 24 Hour Local News | TOP STORIES | Warm, wet weather means mosquito season

See you on the trail,
Lance

Hydration Quick Tip

2009-04-16T22:48:00.004-04:00

Hey Everyone,

I forgot to add where to get the grommets. I found these coated aluminum ones in the craft/fabric section of Walmart all you need is a hammer and good aim.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Update

2009-04-11T19:34:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have updated the posting on the site. Now anyone can leave a comment.

Cook Set

2009-04-11T19:08:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone,
This is my current cook set. I say "current" because a backpacker's gear list is constantly evoloving. I have weighed every piece and it all comes out to 5.7 ounces. Having custom made gear is one of the ways in which I am able to save a lot of weight and size. I love this setup; it has worked extremely well for me. If you choose to switch over to an alcohol stove, all I can say is practice with it and your setup at home until you are 100% confident with it before hitting the trail. If you have any questions let me know.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Ultralight Trail Mix

2009-03-31T17:49:00.004-04:00

Here is the recipe for my trail mix. Don’t get me wrong, nut based trail mixes are great, but I wanted to make a light weight version that still tasted good. If you find something else that is good or beneficial in it let me know. The nice thing about trail mix is you can customize it to your personal taste and needs. I’ll leave the quantity of each ingredient up to you.

Here’s how I do it

Cheerios - (I used Honey Nut because, surprisingly, they have more potassium than Banana Cheerios).
Dried Cranberry / Blueberry mix
Blueberry granola clusters
Shaved Almonds
Reese’s Pieces – (I used these instead of M&M’s for the peanut butter).

I package this into the small snack size Ziploc bags.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Foothills Trail Thru-Hike Video

2009-03-31T17:42:00.001-04:00

I'm Back

2009-03-25T11:56:00.013-04:00

Hey everyone,

Well, I finished the trail and a day early at that. I started at 12:00pm on Saturday and finished about 6:00pm Tuesday. Don't let me fool you though, it is a very demanding trial. I just kept moving and hiked farther than planned each day. Ill be posting a video montage of pics and video soon.

See you on the trail,

Lance

P.S. I want to thank whoever left the Leki trekking poles tucked in the luggage rack of my jeep. I really appreciate the gift. They will be used often.

Foothills Trail Gear

2009-03-19T20:59:00.005-04:00

This one is a little longer so i cut it into two parts. These videos cover almost everything for my 9.5 lb base pack weight.

Foothills Trail Food

2009-03-19T20:27:00.001-04:00

All packed up

2009-03-19T17:09:00.006-04:00

Well, here it is... all packed up for five days on the trail. I will post videos of my food and my gear so you can see what is in it. I leave tommarow for S.C. and will hit the trail first thing Saturday.

See you on the trail,

Lance

Hello

2009-03-10T19:47:00.001-04:00

Hiking season is on its way, Hooorayyy! I already have my first trip planned for the year. I am very excited about this spring because with the addition of some new gear, I am officially ultralight. I find it harder to sleep the closer is gets to my 80 mile Foothills Trail thruhike. I'll spend five days on this trail (March 21- 26), which not only summits the highest peak in SC, but also passes several waterfalls. I plan on doing a video blog of my setup for this trip in the next few days.

See you on the trail,
Lance