Thomas came by and we finished revising the plan for our camping trip in 2009 to the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone. We're walking about 10 miles a day.On the first day we hike through a valley and camp on a cliff, Death Canyon Shelf right by the valley. Then we hike to South Fork Cascade, another valley. Then we hike through a bunch of backcountry camping sites and stop at the last one, which is in the lower Paintbrush Canyon. I'ma eat me some paintbrush plants, son!
So then we walk by Jenny Lake and look around at Cascade Canyon, but we don't have to go through it. We go camp by Bradley Lake, and we can explore a little on this high up trail that goes to this mountaintop where there are two small lakes: Surprise Lake and Amphitheater Lake.
Man, it's going to be so awesome. Camping in Paintbrush Canyon, looking at the lake just outside the valley's opening, as the sun is setting to the west, and the stars overhead are appearing, every single one visible to the naked eye... Aah, that's bliss.
I'm finally finished with a large school project. During it, and even now, I always long for the wilderness. I'm always looking at old pictures and searching for videos to take me back momentarily, into that blissful, nostalgic moment.
Thats partly why I started this blog, actually.
Seeing all the stars in the sky is like imagi-staglia. Lying there and looking up at it in a field, hearing some waves and some crickets... It's like I've done it before. Well, anyway, here's an amazing video that made me dream even harder.
So I was watching Survivorman (I love Survivorman AND Man Vs. Wild) the other day. I caught half of the new episode on Friday, and Les Stroud was with someone else, cause the situation was that they were on a hunting trip, just 2 people.
It reminded me of when you always want a videogame that's co-op, and finally they do it. Les and the other guy were playing Harmonica together, and they both were like, "Oh yeahh" when they ate food.
Then I saw an episode where Les was in the Arctic and he caught a BUNCH of fish and cut them a certain way (sorta like when you cut mango so all the cubes pop out). He was saying he bet his producer wished he was there, eating the fish. It was funny cause right at that moment I was thinking that. When you watch people eat in TV it makes you wanna eat too.
I love these survival shows, though. Ultimate adventure.
So two of the things we want to do are camping in Hocking Hills in the winter and in the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone next summer.
In fact, I want to go camping next spring, too. Maybe the place Robby went to in kentucky. Yes, Land Between the Lakes is what it was. The website for that park is here.
Robby said he saw all the stars there. As in, the galaxy.
That is what I want to see at night. What I want to sleep under. It must be so breathtaking. We don't realize how beautiful night can be. Such a shame. Well, my plan is to camp in Hocking Hills with my girlfriend, my neighbor, my brother and my cousin, and a girl (because otherwise my girlfriend can't go). It's hard arranging everyone's schedule though. Unfortunately it looks like we'll have to be sleeping near RV's, but it's no lie that the hiking part in hocking hills is the bigger part. Beautiful scenery. Hopefully there'll be frozen waterfalls when we go.
Then we'll go backcountry camping in Land Between the Lakes in spring. That sounds sublime.
Then, in summer, the mother of all awesome. Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Sleeping under the galaxy, swimming in crisp lakes, hiking in beautiful, flowery valleys, bright, vibrant blue skies, eating paintbrush plants... God yes. Complete wilderness.
You don't know how badly I want it. I need it, in fact.
Later in life? I want to go everywhere. Specifically I'm planning Yosemite and Banff National Parks as my next destinations. I have actually been to Banff before as a kid on vacation. Just in the mountains though, not in the wilderness either. But I remember riding a ski lift and playing in the mountain's snow in shorts.
I'll leave you with a very adventure-esque song from Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles.
I've decided to start a new blog dedicated to nature, camping, wilderness, nostalgia, adventure, and the goodtimes they bring. Every day, I feel so trapped and so tired of all the mundane repition of modern society.
I delight in technology, for sure. I love videogames, love the internet, love my MP3 player, etc. But it's all about balance. I've got to have my nature.
First, let me say this - These are other blogs/websites related to me. http://phatcorns.com/drewboy Drewboy's Area My main website, which, as of this post, I have not updated for a long ass while. http://drewboy64.livejournal.com Andrew's Amazing Adventures my day to day journal.
Just a note: If you go to my livejournal page, you can find logs about my camping trip to Shenandoah.
Now, some pictures from my first two (and so far, only) camping trips.
Hocking Hills was a primitive camping trip - designated campgrounds, but tent camping only. The scenery was beautiful, and it was sublime. I woke up and heard so many birds chirping. I remember when we first arrived, we saw a rainbow. Actually, a circumhorizontal arc. We knew it was a sign that this would be a good trip.
If you want to see more Hocking Hills pictures, go here orhere.
The scenery was breathtaking. Sometimes it reminded me of Tallon IV from Metroid Prime. The opening level of Halo 3 also reminds me of it. But man, great scenery. I remember one hike we went on had a paved path and it almost felt like we were in a building or museum, cause of the natural airconditioning.
We always went off the path and explored, which was great. Now, one disappointment was that we couldn't see any stars. But camping was great. I got what I call a s'moregasm. I remember eating two delicious smores, then gulping down cold water straight from a gallon we had bought, then lying down in the tent. Ultimate satisfaction.
Official Goodtimes Video
Man, then there was Shenandoah National Park. What a great trip. This was a backcountry camping trip, which meant we hiked in and found our own camping spot. Nearly complete wilderness. We had a map and it was so fun to navigate with it. The first night we had to hike in the darktill we found a camping spot. It was treacherous but awesome.
I also wrote in a diary my adventures. For the transcribed version, go here. Also, for more pictures, go here or here.
Also, for all the videos, check out this and this.
Well, those were some damn good times. Hopefully you will be able to experience the pure euphoria of nature and wilderness.
Every week, I'll try to update this with writings, and I'll post about all my wilderness camping adventures and anything like them.
Peace out, Andrew Lin
P.S., I found a camping blog called Camping Coop that inspired this one. Actaully, I've been looking for a blog about adventure, and figured I should just do it myself.
