Before I started reenacting my main passion/interest was wilderness survival. I would often try building shelters in the woods, making fires without matches, and identifying edible plants. I also loved to go backpacking with family friends. For about the past 3 years we haven’t been, so I was thrilled when Mr. Maybray invited me to go on a trip they were planning in September. This time my 13 year old brother Marcus came along too!

We hiked the Minister Creek Trail in Allegheny National Forest. The trail isn’t too long and the terrain is moderate, perfect for those of us who hadn’t been packing in a while and for the younger members of our group. The weather was perfect; neither too hot or too cold, without a drop of rain, and the fall leaves were starting to turn. We were only gone from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, but it was a lovely little foray to get my backpacking feet wet again.

The trail was dotted with huge rocks (some approaching the size of a house!), including a cave made of boulders and a giant rock ledge opening up to an overlook.

The second night we set up near the creek. The water gurgling over the rocks was very soothing when I went to sleep.

Mr. Jeff taught me a new way of hanging a bear bag, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Method. It works great, and will definitely be my go to method from now on! (Click here to learn how to do it.)

I went ultra-light with my cooking set-up. I made an alcohol stove using, of all things, a cat food can! It may sound weird, but the stove boils water quickly, doesn’t require a pot stand, and weighs only 0.25 ounces! (I followed this tutorial to make mine.)

 

While hiking out on Sunday we stopped for a minute to take pictures at an old oil or gas pump house.

-The Farming Daughter