A Day Outdoors

A day outdoors brings a smile to my face.  But let’s face it: a day outdoors is not the same as a two hour walk in the woods.  It takes a bit more preparation and requires some gear.  A two hour walk in the woods you can prep for with hardly any thinking and requires maybe a bottle of water and little else.

A day in the woods, well… have a seat and let’s think this through.  First, are you going somewhere you’ve been before?  You know it’s a thought.  You’re already remembering sometime in the past when you were traversing that gentle slope; the breeze was calm and the sun was just right in the sky.  And you looked down the slope and saw your first White-headed Woodpecker.  That’d be a good day again.

Red  Rock 25

 If it’s to be somewhere new, that’ll be just fine, as well.  However, a little more preparation is required.  You’ve heard of this new (to you) place from your friends or you’ve read about it on the blogs.  Perhaps, it’s that fact that there is a particular bird, such as the Golden Cheeked Warbler, found breeding in only that area.  Maybe its geology makes it good hiking and exploring.  Maybe the land has an interesting history having been farmed by a very tough pioneer.  So you start the list.  Going to do some birding; need binoculars and field guide. Might need a camera, too.  Going to be sunny; need to get the sunscreen and hat.  Going to be hiking; get the hiking boots out. It’s spring; better get the bug spray out.  Oh, going to be out all day; need to pack a lunch and carry plenty of water.  Take the compass and get a map; don’t be so cavalier.  Grab a length of rope; you never know, it might come in handy.  Pack the travel first aid kit.  Be prepared, scout.  Pack it all in your day pack, a Mountainsmith Red Rock 25.  You got it for this coming day.    You got it because, with all its compartments, you would be able to organize all this and keep it so. You got it because Mountainsmith is doing its part to be eco-friendly by recycling plastic water bottles, turning them it to a durable cloth like material, and making day packs, lumbar pack and all kind of gear.  Okay, you got it because it’s affordable, too.

Are you gone yet?  Okay, see you when you get back. Or…I’ll just go with you.