Easter weekend & Packs

Lovely bottom land of the Tombigbee National Forest.

This past weekend the fam (Sallie, Wonderbite, Isabel, Sam) loaded up and made the short drive to Choctaw Lake recreation area In the Tombigibee National Forest, to camp and a little bit of relaxation & exercise. Sallie & I hiked a little bit over 14 miles but the majority was beautiful bottom land, the dog woods were full of blooms. Most of the area where we hiked had be burnt by a prescribed burn this past winter, the understory was low but bursting back into life.

The Azalea's were creating an amazingly refreshing scent, it was obvious when you were getting close to the creek, just by the smell.

I need help identifying this small tree blooming in the understory along the side slopes.

I saw lots of these galls in on the ground. natures is so cool. the way this thing was formed it looks like an safety system built for the worm that was inside. i wonder how high this thing fell from?

NEW Packs!!!

Sallie Got here pack in the mail yesterday and is awaiting her shoes,

My wonderful MOM ordered my pack for me today here is what we got.

Preperations for the AT

Howdy all... 39 days and counting till i begin walking North!!!

It's been an exciting and busy spring. I have been carrying a 40-60lb pack to and from school which is only 2 1/4 miles of mostly pavement walking, but i walk weather it is nice or raining. i have been doing this since we returned from spring break on the 24th of march. I have begun compiling a gear list and thought i would share it, you can see what I plan to carry on my back for 2000+ miles.

Sam’s AT Gear List
Needs to get!!
Transportation
Keen’s Shell Rock mid WP
Nothinz’s (croc –like) ($20)
Poles??? (Leki I hope)
Shelter
Osprey Aether 60 pack
Homemade Sylnylon Pack Cover
Red Ledge Parka
Full Zip Rain Pants
Gaiters
Homemade Sylnylon Tarp
4 Stakes
50’ Bear line
Bedroom
Dry Bag
Eagles nest sleep system
(need a new nest and tree saver straps & homemade skins)
Therm-a-rest Pro-lite 4 regular
Silk weight bag liner
Sierra designs Flex bag
Kitchen
(in stuff sack)
Hand Sanitizer
2 liter camelback bladder
1.5 liter nalgene
Recycled beer bottle alcohol stove
12oz alcohol bottle
Wind screen
Titanium pot
Lighter
Aqua Mira
Water filter PUR Homemade Sylnylon bag (Shower Bag)
Wide top Mug
Coffee Filter Screen
Long Heat Resistant Spoon
Food in Heavy Duty Ziploc
Small pak towel
Laundry
Dry Bag
SmartWool Hiking socks
ThorLo Hiking socks
Two pair of liners
LS Patigonia ziptop shirt
SS patigonia button up
SS under armor tshirt
2 pair underarmor or patigonia undies
Patigonia swim shorts
Patigonia silk weight long handles
Nylon shorts with pockets
Study
Heavy Duty Ziploc
Headlamp Petzl E+LITE®
Moleskine Journal & Sharpie
Guidebook??
Maps
Cell phone & Charger (Verizon)
Wallet (Cash-ID-Debit-Insurance card??)
Spot tracker device
Camera, Xtra Battery, Charger
Privy
Stuff Sack
Wet wipes
Small trowel
Dr. Bronners
TP
Toothbrush
Pak towel
Medicine Cabinet
Heavy Duty Ziploc
3xAntibiotic tube
Vitiamin i
Benadryl

Pepto chewables
Moleskin
Leatherman Micra
Sewing Needles Nylon String
Duct Tape
Ace Bandage
Bandana

I am trying to find the best deals on this stuff so if you see anything at a good price let me know.

This is a map of our day !!

This past weekend I attended a workshop at the Noxubee Refuge put on by the friends of the refuge, where we learned about nature journaling, it was an awesome day, we water colored and stamped leaves and other things we found and wrote a little about them.

Grace and Peace to All.