Chappy and ET's 50 miler

“Well, I've made it to ET's house and had to wait till he got home from work (Police Officer). After a hour of so of looking our packs over and pulling out nonessential stuff, like cold weather gear, we have lightened our packs a bit; about 30-35 lbs each. ET's wife is going to get us up at 5:30 tomorrow morn and drive us to the TH close to the halfway point for the Lone Star Hiking Trail and we will hike west toward the western terminus TH. This will be my last post till I get home and fill in the blanks for you all. The weather will be sunny and warm (70's) for the trip. No rain is predicted but I'm ready if it comes. I'll post when I return.......and mapes, you behave yourself in Colorado, girl. Don't forget the pics and stay off the sink. LOL.
Nowslimmer, I'll mail ya when I get home. Nimblefoot, talk with sassy ;)”

“Have fun, watch out for racoons and armadillos.”

“Hmmm, 1-hour 45-minutes left before a late start.”

“ET phone home”

“Ok, I'm back....early. ET, since it was his first backpackin trip, needs some lessons. He got em too. We did 15 miles the first day with 45 lb packs. ET hung in there like a real trooper, but because of his boots (leather, working) he got three blisters on his right foot. After making Lake Conroe, we camped the first night on the lake then headed out to Stubblefield campground five miles up the trail. We made it in an hour and a half and stopped to eat and let ET dress his blisters....where he informed me, also, that he was bailing because of the injuries. So, we spent the rest of the day at the campground and set up camp for the night. It was about 32 when I woke at 7:30 this morning so we had breakfast (oatmeal and coffee/tea). Then while ET was sitting and reading I took 1/2 litre of water on a piece of parachute cord and hiked up the trail three miles and turned back for a two hour hike...six more miles making my hike a 25 miler. I'm wondering if I wasn't too hard on ET the first time out? Probably. But he learned where he can cut weight, what boots to buy, and what it will be like next time. BTW, ET said a big "NO" to my Feb. hike on the Ouachita Trail. But I already have a partner for that hike anyway, a guy who is half my age and a avid backpacker. Look on the pics for my pics in a couple days...........I'll have more notations with pics.”

“A big mistake, hiking him into the ground. He may never backpack again and you'll be out a lhiking partner! Sounds like you're in good enough shape, though. Did you enjoy it? Guess the pictures will tell us. Welcome back.”

“50 miles may be just a tad too long for the first time.”

“Yeah, I know pushed it with ET. He says he'll go again, though. He's two years younger than I am and is supposed to be in good shape since he's a cop, with all the running and stuff he does, but it was the footwear he had, just really wrong stuff. He's going shopping for sure. His pack was an external frame and I suggested fitting it with load-lifter straps like I did mine, which he will probably do since it really helps. If not for his foot, we would have done it, he's in good enough shape for it.”

“Buy him some good trailrunners!”

“Yeah, wounded, I was braggin on my Merrel Cameleon's the whole way and may have convinced him that here in Texas, boots aren't necessary, but ET has weak ankles (he claims) and needs support, so I suggested Vasque or Solomon's. What say you?”

“Okay, I remember the post you asked about this.”

“Some folks I know have Vasque and say they are great. I told ET to get someone to 'fit' the boots for him when he buys them.”

“Yep, sounds right. REI can hook him up.”

“Yeah, REI is one place ET goes to look, now he'll SHOP. He learned alot about what he will need from now on with more lessons coming ;)”

“Look for "Chappy and ET's busted 50 miler" on the new pics page.”

“A cop? It was probably the donut withdrawl that did him in, lol.”

“Hey nimblefoot, you may be onto something there, I completely forgot to pack donuts....dumb me.”

“Hmmm, trail donuts for making donut trails?

There's something there, but I can't figure out what.
last edited: 12/30/05 6:18:29 PM”