Monday, March 17, 2014

Resource of the Day 3/17

Today's resource isn't so much about engineering or psychology, but about a passion of mine. Hiking, but more so, backpacking. A lot of people get these too mixed up but they are fairly different. Hiking implies a day trip, during a camping trip usually as something to do. Backpacking, however, I feel is more intense lasting at least over one night, carrying everything you need over many miles in usually hardly maintained
trails, many times having to make your own. The heavy pack along with the threat of dehydration, mechanical injuries, or animal injuries makes the whole trip a journey. Its definitely an experience everyone should have at least once: to go out with a partner of course and to just be on your own for a couple days, away from everything and trekking the hard miles, only to find the most amazing views at the end. I originally got into it because of scouting and it is a definite part of it. My dad and I really enjoyed it and now we just go out on our own, typically over spring break now. This year we plan on doing the Sisquoc Loop which is a 48 mile 4 day trip, essentially around a large mountain, following the Sisquoc River after it merges with the much smaller Manzana. Anyway here is a description of a bunch of trails and a map, situated around Figueroa Mountain, which is the main mountain visible from Santa Maria. Its a truly amazing landscape and its here in our own backyard.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_033964.pdf

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