Pacific Crest Trail

William R. Gray - The Pacific Crest Trail, 1975

I just finished reading "The Pacific Crest Trail" by William R. Gray, published by the National Geographic Society. This is a terrific book, well worth hunting down. Gray is a gifted writer, mixing natural history, trail history and a diary style narrative as he and photographer Sam Abell walk the trail. There is a strong focus on the people they meet and their stories. Their intention was never to thru-hike, this meant they were able to stop along the way to explore, expanding the narrative. Abell's photographs are exceptional, they are very artistic and complement Gray's writing perfectly.

Gray continued as a writer, editor, and publishing executive at National Geographic until 2001 and now teaches as San Juan college. His other books include "Camping Adventure (Books For Young Explorers)" and "Voyages to Paradise," both are now on my wish list. Abell continues to shoot with National Geographic and has been published in over 20 articles. He has also released several photography books and exhibited his work numerous times. See more of Abels work here.

Mawson's Hut

Mawson's Hut, Cape Denison

Sir Douglas Mawson was an Australian geologist, explorer and accedemic during the early 1900s. So much has been written about this great man I do not feel qualified to add any more, but I came across a fascinating site which I wanted to share. At "360 Cities" they have a full 360 view inside Mawson's hut at Cape Denison. Looking around this preserved piece of history sends shivers up my spine.

It is well worth taking some time exploring this amazing place.
 Explore the Main Hut here, Mawsons Room here and Frank Hurley's Darkroom here

This was the main base used during the 1911-14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Where Mawson stumbled back to, alone, after his ill-fated 1912 outing to survey King George V Land. His fellow explorers Xavier Mertz and Lieutenant Belgrave Ninnis had been killed forcing Mawson to walk the last 100 miles solo. Take a moment to pay your respects at Ninnis and Mertz Memorial Cross, Azimuth Hill.

Mawson's hut is being preserved by the Mawson's Huts Foundation and the Australian Antarctic Division.

Safe Travels

'Sure-enough Santa Clause' by Norman Rockwell, from The Boy scout's hike book

Thanks to everyone for reading this year. It's been great to share some stories and talk to so many amazing people. There's lots more to come in the new years. I'm overseas for the holidays, then back to my first Maine winter, my first cold winter in 7 years!

Safe travels wherever you are headed. Hope everyone can get some time on a trail, wherever it may be. Thanks again for reading.

Tea Chronicle Pt. 3 - Thomas Hiram Holding

Campfire in the backwoods

Hiram Holding was a British journeyman, tailor and early pioneer of camping. His love for the outdoors began in the 1850's when, as a 9 year old, his family joined a wagon train across the USA. He released “The Campers Handbook” in 1908 urging people embrace the outdoors. The book is an exhaustive resource full of technique and philosophy. Under "Stews and beverages" we also find his opinions on tea and the best way to make it.

“We will assume, for the nonce, that the camper has a “Primus,” stove, on which he has used some such vessel as the “So-soon” pan. He need not wait long for the water to boil, for the power and rapidity of the stove’s action is well known. He will have to consider, to begin with, if his Tea is intended to be weak or strong. We will say just moderate. Then he must have a pint and half of water for two. Into this he would put a tea-spoonful of Tea, as it boils—in which case he would instantly lift it off—or into the pan directly it is off. I deem it best to pop the Tea in as the water boils. Now I have known ladies to lift their hands in horror as they have seen me perform this move, and say, “what, boil Tea!” No, it did not boil five seconds. The Tea simply had the first “ bite” of the water at boiling point. As it stands in the pan off the fire it becomes degrees under boiling point in a few moments, and yet boiling point has power and influence over the TEA that cooler water can never possess. After the Tea is inserted in the pan the lid should be put on, with a paper or other cover over it. The Tea will be none the worse for a stir. If Tea is put into a strainer this should be removed pretty soon.”

— Thomas Hiram Holding

Holding goes on anecdotally about the various do's and don'ts and summarises in his own comedic fashion.

“There are various fads about Tea, into which we need not enter, viz., that it must be taken out of a porcelain cup, that the sugar must go in the cup first, or that the sugar must go in after, or that the milk must precede the sugar, and so on, ad lib. It makes one wonder when we hear all this, how men and women have’ managed to live in spite of their stupidity which has led them to tempt Providence by so much recklessness in their food.”

— Thomas Hiram Holding

"The Campers Handbook" is certainly from another time but at its core it is all valid, relevant writing. I look forward to sharing more.

Hike Maine

HikeMe Tshirt

A small plug for a friend and fellow Mainer, Live Maine has a great selection of t-shirts for the outdoor lover. Their latest offering is none other than Hike Me. A must for any Maine Hiker or Maine lover. Pick one up here.

John "Snowshoe" Thompson

Snowshoe Thompson

Snowshoe Thompson was a legendary Norweigen-American, often cited as being the father of California skiing. In 1855 he answered an ad in the Sacremento Union “People Lost to the World; Uncle Sam Needs a Mail Carrier” he vonlunteered to carry the mail across the crest of the Sierra between Placerville, California and Genoa, Nevada. During the winter months he was the only link between California and the Atlantic States.

Originally from the Telemark county in Norway he mimicked the Norwegian "ski–skates" crafting 10 foot long, 6 inch wide skis from valley oak. For 2o winters he took to the high passes through Hope Valley, carrying up to 100 pounds of mail on his back. The rountrip was 220 miles and took him 5 days. He always travelled alone and never took a map or compass stating "There is no danger of getting lost in a narrow range of mountains like the Sierra, if a man has his wits about him." Thompson took great pride in his work and never received payment for his service.

Jill Beede has written a fascinating history  well worth checking out. Her summary of his gear is particularly interesting.

“Thompson always wore a Mackinaw jacket, a wide rimmed hat, and covered his face in charcoal to prevent snow blindness. He carried no blankets, but he did carry matches to start fires, and his bible. He snacked on dried sausage, jerked beef, crackers, and biscuits. When a storm kept him from proceeding he would find a flat rock, clear it of snow, and dance old Norwegian folk dances until it passed, then he would continue on his way. He rested but briefly, and usually only long enough for a crust to form back over the fresh snow, for easier passage.”

— Jill Beede

As with a lot of historic heros it is hard to get hard facts but either way it is a great story, there has been a lot written about the great man the most in depth study I came across was by the Norwegian-American Historical Association which is well worth a look.

Treeless Maple Syrup - The Results

Treeless Maple Syrup Testing

So the verdict is in. A few weeks ago I went about creating "Treeless Maple Syrup" - this was a recipe of Bradford Angier's that I found in “Taming the Wilds.”  As advised I left it to mature and this morning the frying pan went on and the secret pancake mix was made up.

The syrup had taken a strange turn, the sugar all sank and solidified leaving a strange coloured liquid on top. I gave it a good mix and it became thick and caramel like. Once on the pancakes it was actually surprisingly good. A little gritty and extremely sweet, without any hint of potato. My fellow diners both found it "passable, with a weird texture" I was very happy the results. It doesn't really shine a light on maple syrup but a servicable replacement if you cant get hold of the real stuff.

Maple syrup season is nearly upon us and we have been invited to a syrup cook-out in New Hampshire, so my maple syrup adventure continues.

C. William Harrison's 1965 Gear List

First book of hiking

Found in Harrison's "The First Book of Hiking" published in 1965, this concise yet poetic book is beautifully illustrated by E. Frank Habbas.

“Here is a list of items that should be included in the pack of any hiker who expects to be on the trail for several days.

1 mummy-type sleeping bag (or from three to four lightweight wool blankets) 1 poncho 1 pair camp moccasins or sneakers Extra underwear, shirt, wool socks 3 bandanas 1 pair extra extra bootlaces Canteen and drinking cup First-aid kit Snakebite kit Antiallergin kit Soap, towel, tissue, and other toilet articles Waterproof matches Pocket or sheath knife Rope (25- or 50-foor length) Insect repellent Flashlight and candles (preferably plumbers candles because they burn longer) Cooking kit (nesting pots, frying pan, forks, spoons, can opener, scouring pads, paper or aluminium plates Sewing kit Mosquito netting Camera and film”

— C. William Harrison - The First Book of Hiking, 1965

I particularly like the sound of plumbers candles.

Kendal Mint Cake

Kendal Mint Cake on the 1924 Everest Expedition

Before there were Clif Bars, Larabars, Powerbars, Mulebars, GU, BumbleBars, Greens Energy Bars, Belly Timber Survival Energy Bars, Hammer Bars, Honey Stinger Energy Sachets and Rise Bars. Before there was dextrose and glucose tablets. Before there was Snickers and Mars Bars. Before there was even Hershey Bars and Cadburys Dairy Milk there was Kendal Mint Cake.

Kendal mint cake is a confectionary made from sugar, glucose and peppermint oil, prized by hikers, climbers and explorers alike for it's high energy content.

It's story is simply told. According to legend a confectioner named Joseph Wiper was attempting to make glacier mints, he took his eye off the cooking pan and when he returned the mixture had become cloudy and grainy. He poured and set the mixture anyway and the Kendal Mint Cake was born. He began making Wiper's Mint Cake in a small factory in Kendal.

Mount Ossa Attempt

Since its creation it has earned possibly the greatest resumé of any confectionary.

• Kendal mint cake boxes have been found in WWI trenches.
• Sir Ernest Shackleton stocked mint cake on his 1914-17 Trans-Antarctic Expedition aboard the "Endurance" and "Aurora."
• Grettir Algarsson stocked it when he led his North Polar Expedition attempt in 1925.
• It was also carried by the Cambridge Greenland Expedition as they tried to map the East Coast of the country in 1929
• 1931 saw it packed aboard the R.S.S "Discovery" for the British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research expedition under the leadership of Sir Douglas Mawson.
• The R.S.S "Discovery II" also packed the treat on the British Antarctic Reasearch Expedition in 1931.
• The early British Mount Everest Expeditions all took Wiper's Mint Cake in their attempts in 1922, 1924, 1933 and 1935-6. It was said to be a favourite treat of George Mallory's.
• Romney's provided the mint cake for the successful 1954 Everest expedition. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay snacked on mint cake at the summit. Norgay is quoted on Romney's packaging "we sat on the snow and looked at the country far below us... we nibbled Kendal Mint Cake."
• British climber and writer Gwen Moffat spoke about eating mint cake in her 1961 book the "Space Between My Feet."
• According to the Mick Wall's book "When Giants Walked the Earth," Robert Plant and Jimmy Page shared mint cake after writing "That's the way."
• Sir Chris Bonington also snacked on Kendal Mint cake on his 1975 summit of Everest as well. He even had his own promotional bar made by Romney's and Berghaus.
• Colin Fletcher talked about his love for mint cake in "The Complete Walker" and "The New Complete Walker" he saved the energy laden sweet for days he was "pushing hard." Thanks canoe62 for the tip-off.
• It is included in the Irish Defence Force ration pack and in some menus of the British MOD ration packs.
• Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman packed mint cake on their 2004 "Long Way Round" motorcycle expedition.
• The Vintage Hiking Depot author enjoyed mint cake on his failed attempt to summit Mt. Ossa, in Tasmania in 2008.

A lot of the  information used was found at Stricklandgate House centre for voluntary organisations in South Lakeland. If you know of any more famous tales that should be added to Kendal Mint Cake's Resumé please feel free to contact me.

Bushwalking from the 1960s & 70s

I came across a great collection of bushwalking and climbing pictures from the 60s and 70s, these shots are part of Ted Cais' collection. Ted and his peers we're pioneers of Queensland climbing, opening countless new routes and exploring the Australian bush. These shots have captured a really special and historic time.

A big thank you to Ted for giving me permission to share these great pictures. you can see the entire early collection here and all Ted's galleries are here.