Minimalist Hiker

"Minimalist hiker"

I think I first heard this term about two years ago when I made the decision to set some high goals for myself regarding my activity level. My Dad expressed a desire to stand on top of a 14er with his daughter before he dies. He is 58 so lets not get TOO excited here. We did it though and it was a hell of an experience. We talked gear, we hiked, we purchased gear, we hiked, we got sunburned and took the wrong trails, and I stood on top of a 14er, Mt. Sneffles, Ouray, CO. I haven't stopped since. I have done long hikes through the White Tanks and a standard course through T-bird park and a few other semi popular locales. The next "BIG" is the Grand Canyon. A down and out.

The minimalist thing totally appealed to me when I heard it. The idea of carrying only what is needed- nothing more, nothing less. This requires a deep understanding of yourself, your capacities, and the environment you are in. It also requires a measure of adaptability and a measure of confidence. When you only have what you carry and you choose to carry little you must have the overall sense that everything will be okay- that you already hold within you what it takes to carry out your task. I just LOVE this idea. No room for baggage, distracting luxuries... This sense is currently permeating my whole life and I have an incredible desire to sell all my books, my IPad, my nicnacks- anything that I dont actually USE on a daily or weekly basis.

In practice, of course, camping in Hendy woods with a Desert rated sleeping bag (40 degrees) in 32 degree temperatures wrapped in a strip of reflectix one begins to have the hefty desire for extras and tent heaters and other such malarchy. Still- we did NOT die that night. In fact, it was an excellent adventure. Though the deisre is there to buy a warmer bag, etc. The primary camping we will be doing will still be here, in AZ, in the warm months where even the tent becomes dead weight. I think there will always be a balance enough vs. too much... But I think I will aim for items to ebb and flow- to not feel like I need to "own" or "buy" everything but will borrower and add and prepare and then let go.

Anyone need 15 teapots? I can only use one at a time so... yeah.