well $%^# backpacking this year

“I Signed my enlistment papers today

I leave 2 days after graduation

not getting that cook set i wanted for my birthday , getting a suit case instead.

mom wants me out and fast. I put most of my gear in storage the rest will go into boxes as needed.”

“Stay in touch.. if you give us your APO.. some of us will mail ya and stuff.”

“sorry for the laguage and there was suposed to be "screw backpacking for me this year"”

“i will the thing is i wanted to have the summer off to frolick and have fun in the mountains now i cant”

“and to top it all off my right and is one big blister (thx to my pepsi stove)”

“once i get my base adress i will post it.

i know its in N.J”

“What branch ya going into? Maybe you should have asked for some killer new hiking socks to wear through basics?

BTW- Thanks for serving.”

“coast guard”

“Oh yea returning my new JMT books.”

“Keep your head up poppinfresh. The military will put fire in your belly. You'll get what you put into it. Lot of miles and lots to learn. I've hiked lots of miles in Europe while in the military.

Also, it's an honorable thing you're doing. Look at it that way.

Given you've got a heart for hiking, why didn't you head for infantry or something else other than sea legs?”

“i didnt want to go into infantry- hope i dot get sea sick....”

“Keep your head up P-Fresh...The Coast Guard is a great arm of the service...Guess I'll have to carry my own beer this summer............”

“yea i know you wont have a beer b!tch

my hand still hurts like hell anyone gat any ideas on how to kill the pain?”

“So .... suppose you were on the 6 month trek right now, how would you handle the pain?

When you're done with the coast guard duty, start with short trips so you can learn how to handle the little things, like how to use the stove, how to handle blisters, etc. By the time you get to that 6 mo trip, there will be many lessons learned. I'm still learning.

Good luck, Mr Fresh! When you come back, you should be in great shape!”

“Good luck....:)”

“thank you all by the way today i am putting my pic on disk so i can post it.”

“no i'm really scared to sh!t”

“now i mean”

“Good Job!

If you had gone into the Army or Marines, you could have done a lot of backpacking this year.

Do they use kayaks in the Coast Guard?”

“nope”

“Up late and up ealry p-fresh. Keep in touch.

For what it's worth:
Find adventure where you are.
The outdoors is one door away.
Life is longer than you realize.”

“Why did you sing up if your just gonna piss & moan about it?”

“I hear the hiking is great in New Jersey.
Try allo vera on the burn-

Start swimming some laps-get a head start on all the other grunts.”

“Four months from now when you're scrapping paint off the side a Coast Guard cutter and it's hot as blue blazes and the Man is telling you to hurry up because he wants you to swab the deck next ....... well just remember that ole Sol told you to take the Sierra hike instead.”

“Hey poppin, you should keep you books. During tough times, bring them out. Dream about that next trip. And besides, you'll be earning a paycheck! Don't you get a week or some leave and some travel time after basic? Use basic to get trained for a trip!”

“Good Luck. After basic and advanced, we will look for you on the trail.”

“NJ poop?

Hey if you spot a guy sporting a thebackpacker.com t-shirt fishing in the restricted waters around Earl ammunition pier, could you just look the other way? Please? The fluke are the biggest there.”

“Joining coast guard just because you were kicked out? Umm, there are alternatives. Roommate, a job, etc.”

“You CAN still get out of it if you change your mind. It's your life, if you want to backpack, then BACKPACK!

I joined the Navy to punish myself for dropping out of college. GOD THAT WAS STUPID! It was a loooooooooooooooooooooong 6 years!

It turned out alright for me though, because I was willing to study and do a little extra to benefit my future while my buds getting sloshed in titty bars.

Don't forget you have rights as an American, and don't pass up opportunities!”

“wel walking dude i was hopeing for a later date... but you get what they give you, i'm not worried.

hand feels a little better now.

an WD i aint pissin and moaning that was partly due to the hand and my burnt salmon”

“hey, hey hey....... i am looking at the bright side i will have the money to buy the good gear as well as save up for a nice truck.

GO CHEVEY SILVERADO

and yes i did join becuase of my mom ( i didnt get good grades in HS)so i am proving to her that i CAN do something right.”

“hey look i'm goverment property WOOHOOO(not sure if thats a good thing?)”

“just a sampling

smart wool socks
dirty mags
fishing gear
camping gear
soap
candy
cell phones
watches
books
laptop

and pretty much everything else”

“time to play with my stove some more.”