Memorial Weekend Fun

For the last 6 years I have taken some type of trip on Memorial Day weekend. It's always been a mark for me between winter and launching into a new year of adventures. It started with a canoe trip with my brother to Voyagers National Park. Other trips include backpacking with T.E.A.M. 42 and solo road trips. This year well be a more condensed trip but a trip none the less. The plan is to do some hiking and camping in the Black Hills of SD with my lady friend. We're going to squeeze in as much as we can but no matter what it will be a good time.

Gear List

Pack - Gregory Z55 54oz (3lb 6oz)

Sleep System (4lb 7oz)

Bag - REI Sub Kilo +20 31oz (1lb 15oz)

Pad - Therma-Rest Prolite XS 8oz

Bivy - NEMO Gogo LE 38oz (2lb 6oz)

Cook Set (4.9oz)

Stove - Alcohol Stove 1.4oz

Pot - Monster Pot 1.1oz

Spork - Sea to Summit Spork 0.3oz

Case - Neoprene Sleeve 1.3oz

Lighter - Bic Lighter 0.8oz

General Items

Water Purifier - Adventure SteriPen 4.5oz

First Aid Kit 4.5oz

Head Lamp - Black Diamond Ion 1oz

Compass 0.8oz

Water Bottle - Nalgene 1L soft side 3.8oz

Platypus 3L 3.7oz

String 2.6oz

TP 0.5oz

Shovel 3oz

Spot Receiver 4.2oz

Bear Spray 11.2oz

Bear Container - BV450/500 40oz (2lb 8oz)

Total: 215.7oz (13lb 8oz)

Right Where I Want To Be

Work has recently given me the opportunity to get out on the road for a couple of day trips in the opposite directions, in more ways than one. One trip took me south on I25 through Colorado, straight into Denver. The other, took me north on the same road but through Wyoming to Casper. Driving to Casper reminded me that Wyoming is exactly where I want to be. A place that still has some air, some elbow room. A short drive in Wyoming will get you out in the open, just the road with sparsely scattered areas of development. It provides a chance for some solitude and the ability to relax and enjoy the trip.

Driving the front range in Colorado provides the opposite. The deeper into Colorado the road goes the more development that lines the pavement. Houses, factories, shopping centers, skyscrapers and more. Cars and people pack into the highway so that driving becomes more of a stampede of cars. Consistently speeding up and slowing down without notice, changing lanes, trying to watch everyone around you. No chance to enjoy the trip. It's like a video game to see how long you can go without something bad happening.

Of course those areas provide opportunities for great things, which I enjoy from time to time. But that's not the place to for me to call home.