Adventure
Gear Spread for the Grand Canyon
Today marks the beginning of our adventure to the Grand Canyon! I received some emails asking what we’re bringing for this trip, so here’s the breakdown:
Human Gear List
Kelty Redwing 40L
LED String Lights
PTEC Headlamp
GoPro HERO4 Silver & Mount
Therm-a-rest Siesta Pad
Cocoon Mummy Liner
Cocoon UL Camp Pillow
Tent
Hydration
6L DromLite
3L Platypus
1L Nalgne
Mini Sawyer Filtration System
Nuun Electrolyte Tabs
Hygiene/1st Aid
Biowipes
1st Aid Kit
Sunscreen
Clothes
Vasque St. Elias GTX Boots
2x Darn Tough Socks
Arc’teryx Windstopper
EMS Shorts
REI Convertible Pants
2x Shirts
Dog Gear
Ruffwear Singletrak Pack (The Palisades is pictured above)
1.2 L Water
Collapsible Bowl
Leash/Collar with LED
Ruffwear Boots & Liners
Poop Bags
The Food Situation
GSI MicroDualist
Sea To Summit Spoon
MSR Pocket Rocket Stove
Fuel Can (I’m flying out, so I’ll pick up a small one there)
Day 1 – No packed breakfast, 1.15oz Peanut Butter Snack, ProBar Lunch, Chia Bar Snack, Natural High Honey Mustard Chicken
Day 2 – ProBar Meal breakfast, Coffee, Peanut Butter Snack, ProBar Lunch, Chia Bar Snack, Backpacker’s Pantry Jerk Rice and Chicken Dinner
Day 3 – ProBar Meal breakfast, Coffee, Peanut Butter Snack, ProBar Lunch, Chia Bar Snack, Good To-Go Thai Curry Dinner
Day 4 – Pro Bar Meal breakfast, Coffee, Peanut butter B Snack, ProBar Lunch, Chia Bar Snack, no packed dinner
Dog’s Food
Day 1 – PRIME bar, 1 cup of kibble at night (Opal eats ProPlan SPORT 30/20)
Day 2 – 1 cup kibble in the morning, PRIME bar, 1 cup of kibble at night
Day 3 – 1 cup of kibble in the morning, PRIME bar, 1 cup of kibble at night
Day 4 – 1 cup of kibble in the morning, PRIME bar, ReFuel bar later
Let me know what you think. I’ll to post some photos of our trip later on.
Off we go!
Opal Visits Weverton Cliffs
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”
– JOHN MUIR
A Preview of Adventures to Come
Hey everyone! Here’s a little taste of what is coming up next for Opal and I in what I’m calling “The Summer of Adventure!”
- June 24th will kick off our Appalachian Trail Adventure in Virginia and head due north along the trail up through Pennsylvania. We’ll be hammocking each night in an ENO Doublenest to camp instead of pitching a tent. We’ve never tried this on an extended hike before, so I’m very excited to check it out! This trip should be a fun challenge for the both of us due to the many elevation changes, scrambling, overall terrain, and the fact that we will be carrying all provisions on our backs.
- July 8th we will be heading out to the southwest to explore the Sonoran Desert, the Grand Canyon, and Antelope Canyon if time permits. This trip will be Opal’s first trip to the southwest and will present all kinds of new challenges including the overwhelming heat, varied landscape, and dangerous wildlife. We’ll be tent camping in a comfy Coleman Sundome this time due to the lack of available trees in certain areas. The breath-taking views and natural structures will make it well worth our while on this trip! I have a feeling Opal’s boots will come in mighty handy here…
- Late August Opal and I will be driving down the Carolinas for a few days before driving further south to the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, also known as the “Land of Trembling Earth”. This is Alligator Country at it’s finest, and this swamp is the largest intact freshwater/blackwater wilderness in the country!
- Late August we will be driving down to our home in Florida and return to University. We’ll also check out the lovely Rainbow Springs for some kayaking and snorkeling.. or in Opal’s case, doggie paddling.
I will be doing some heavy testing of several dog travel items through all of these trips to get a true understanding of their functionality, durability, and overall value. Products will range from packs, to harnesses, to bowls, treats, toys, seat covers and more! Each location is so vastly different from the last; I think that all of these locations together will help to provide a well rounded test to each product.
Also, I’ve added a second GoPro to my camera equipment in the hopes of capturing some action shots and better photos. Between the Hero2 and the new Hero3+ Silver, I should get some great shots!
Are there any canine products in particular you’d like to be reviewed? Let us know!
Happy Travels!
