Packs, Snacks & Trail Tracks

Wandering Fox
May 2, 2019
3 min read

Updated: May 4, 2019

Our first ever backpacking trip was a whirlwind of adventure and learning experiences. Follow me into the forest to Margaret Lake!

As primarily car campers, our knowledge of the wide world of backpacking was slim to none. Hoping to amp up our skills we headed to the vast (holy cow expensive) land of #REI. Pro tip #1- Sign up for the REI Co-op membership; not only will you earn a free $20 towards your purchase, but you'll acquire some pretty sweet discounts throughout the year as well. Thanks to the handy and camping minded workers there, we were able to score the backpacking bundle. This included the lightweight REI Passage 2 tent, Stratus insulated air sleeping pad, and the Trail Pod 30 sleeping bag. We snagged all of these essentials for the price of a quality backpacking tent.

Being down one sleeping bag, we headed to our next outdoor arsenal; #SierraTradingPost. Am I the only one that can't resist a killer discount store? Soooo, being the bargain hunters we are, we were able to find a nice sleeping bag for me, two Osprey backpacking backpacks, and a much needed bear container (more on that later) for a steal!

With all of our new gear we felt pretty much set to tackle our first #backpacking adventure! But where would we go?

Lake Margaret! Located just outside Kirkwood, CA, this 4.6 mile moderate difficulty trail seemed to be the ticket. Now I know what you all are thinking,"4.6 miles?! That's weak!" Well I too had a more optimistic idea of my athletic abilities, until we began hiking with 30 lb. packs on our back. Lets just say, I am glad we started out small!

Hiking in on the picturesque trail was nothing more than a breeze, because what we did not realize at the time was that we were traveling downhill considerably. The trail posed logs to cross, traversing some cliffs, but overall consisted of a smooth and pleasant terrain. Once arriving at Lake Margaret we were greeted by stunning views and an ample amount of spots for setting up camp.

Andy tackled the tent without hassle, which was surprisingly roomy enough to fit our 100 lb #GermanShepherd as well as both of us comfortably. Pro tip #2- Don't forget a compact hammock! This was a lifesaver for many reasons. 1. It alleviated the need to carry two foldable chairs, which would have been more weight as well as a little bit cumbersome. 2. Hammocks are pretty comfortable, and can double as a bed if need be! (Even Gunther seemed to love it)

For our meals, we kept it simple. Good ol' peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along with some granola bars for added energy. In the future our food choice would most likely be the first thing that we could improve on. Do you have any go to backpacking meals that fuel you for the long hikes in and out? Our one 3 L #Camelbak water supply was also something that we could double for future trips. You never realize how easily dehydrated you get carrying weight on your back for extended periods of time! One thing we did nail pertaining to our food, was having a bear box. The specific one we purchased from Sierra Trading Post was made for backpacking, allowing for easy attachment on the bottom of our packs. This seemingly small addition to our gear is vital in Northern California. Bears seek out our yummy food (even if it's not in a very inviting picnic basket for Yogi & Booboo) which in turn can lead them directly to your camp. This can not only be dangerous and scary, but a headache if they end up trashing your campsite. Purchasing a bear box was one thing I am glad I did not skip out on!

Throughout the remainder of the day we had the chance to explore more around the lake. Steep granite cliffs surrounded the water, allowing for a killer view if you were willing to trek to the top. In general, the area was not very crowded which was nice, it gave us more of a backpacking feel not running into people around every corner. Although we went in late August it was still quite chilly at night, and the water was much too cold to

even consider swimming (that never stopped Gunther though).

Hiking out the next day was mildly challenging, we definitely could have used one more day of rest to regain some of our strength! The steep incline back to the trailhead really kicked our butts, but the laughs and views we shared along the way made it more than worth it.

Comment your backpacking adventures, tips, or places you would love to camp!