Brief 2-night solo backpacking trip
For those who aren’t sure how much food to bring on a short 6 mile backpack, I include my food intake except water below. i am 52, male, 6’2”, 220#, and usually bike about 3 times a week for 15-25 miles
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Pratt TH (elev 1860’) off Exit 47 at 9:50 on clear warm sunny day. Handful of cars on a Thursday morning. Hit the trail.
Granite/ Pratt Mtn Y (elev 2538’) at 10:18
Talapus/ Pratt Y (elev 3750’) at 11:20
Ollalie cut, marker, not taken (elev 4085’) at 11:52 with 2 patches of snow, 10-20’ on the trail
Island Lake/ Pratt Y (elev 4050’) at 12:05 with 2 patches of snow, 20-30’ on the trail, no spikes needed.
descended into the basin- at this point had seen only 2 people out walking their dogs and one couple coming up out of Pratt Basin from an early morning hike
Pratt Lake (elev 3490’) at 1:15- blister needs care so, instead of going to Windy Lake will be camping at Pratt Lake and looking for campsite, snow free in all campsites
set campsite -t 1:30
blister tended, water filtering (thanks gravity filer), turkey sandwich, a small apple, and view of the lake in pure sunlight and fresh mountain air at 1:45
4 carrot slices, mushroom soup at 5:30
Katmandu Curry by Backpacker’s Pantry for dinner and a joint at 7:00
Handful sunflower seeds, 6 dates (!) and 2 pieces of TJ’s licorice with licorice tea and a piece of chocolate, 1 Advil at 7:50
No bugs all day, 1 group of 10 kids on a YMCA program but they were kind and quiet. One other couple nestled far away somewhere and never saw them and one father-son duo came in late at night and set up quietly
started to sprinkle at 9pm, battened down the hatches and went to sleep by 9:30
June 9, 2023
Rainy, awoke at 6am but because the rain was relentless and I was cozy and dry in my hammock, I just stayed in bed, listened to some music and fell back asleep
Woke uo properly at 9:45. Made some oats with blueberries and figs, cream, cinnamon and sugar with a cup of coffee 10am
Still no bugs today
Walk to Lower Tuscohatchie Lake (elev 3510’) at 11:30. Haven’t been here in 8 years- the raised bridge over the swampy area is a little worse for wear- pay attention to your footing.
Back to camp site and ate some carrot sticks and more licorice tea at 12:45
4 ounces Patagonia smoked salmon, 1 packet horseradish sauce, 1 TJ’s seedy cracker, small apple, handful sunflower seeds, lemon tea at 1:45
Still rainy- glad to have a tarp
2 carrot sticks, fiber chews, hot bouillon, half a joint at 3:00
Walk to Lower Tuscohatchie Lake (elev 3510’) 4:10
Return to campsite at 4:30
Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli from Peak Refuel, four carrot sticks, 1 TJ’s seedy cracker, two TJ’s licorice, scotch at 6:10
Peanuts and chocolate at 7:10
Scotch at 8:15
Raining all day, no bugs, one group of three came in sometime around 6 and got drunk and yelled for 10 minutes and passed out
another dad-son duo came in around 6, tried to fish in the rain and no bites
June 10, 2023
Rainy night, rainy morning
making coffee and 2/3 cup oatmeal at 8:10
No bugs
Break camp (elev 3490’) at 10:25
Island Lake/ Pratt Y (elev 4050’) at 11:37
Ollalie cut, boot trail taken (elev 4085’) at 11:58
Lake Ollalie lakeside (elev 3780’) at 12:12
Snack: salted nuts, sunflower seeds, small apple, watch the clouds on the lake
Hit the trail at 12:57
Talapus/Pratt Trail Y (elev 3750’) at 1:22
Granite Mtn/ Pratt (elev 2538’) Y at 2:18
TH at 2:25
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