Back from Holidays

I've just returned to work after a week of holidays in my hometown. I fit in a wonderful backpacking trip with my dad. Blogging has been a little slow. No wireless access up in the mountains. No cell phone reception either. For that matter, our hand held radio wouldn't even pick up the coast guard station. But there sure were a lot of mosquitos.

I learned a few important lessons on this trip.

1. No matter how ridiculous the mosquito hood looks, keep it on at all times unless you want to be inhalling the cloud of black flies and mosquitos that is swarming around your head. It may look silly, but the mosquito hood is your new best friend.

2. Continuing to eat food, even after you're stuffed full, is not gluttony but rather an act of charity when on a backpacking trip. Remember in moral theology that it's always a pretty safe bet to go with the most charitable course of action (although, discerning what is the most charitable course of action is the hard part). When backpacking, it's clear that the most charitable thing to do is to consume the excess food that is being carried no matter how full you may feel.

3. The tree stump that from 200 meters away looks like a cougar (mountain lion) is not necessarily a cougar. It's a tree stump.

4. If there's thunder and lightening in the sky chances are it's going to pour down rain. Head for the base camp. Preferably before you're soaking wet.