For sale.  Garmin GPS Map 66i.  New.  Hand held electronic device for hiking, camping, backpacking, hunting, fishing or any outdoor activity.  Combines color screen with map of current location; or any other location to which you can navigate; GPS function that shows your current location; trip planning and route finding; tracking route taken; sending and receiving texts to any reciptient without use of cell phone towers when truly in the wilderness; can be Blue Tooth linked to your cell phone to access your Contacts; weather reports; send SOS rescue request signal to emergency responders; and other functions all obtained from satellites.  Go to www.rei.com and search for Garmin GPSMap 66i for more detailed pictures and descriptions.  Go to the Internet and do a Google search for Garmin GPS Map 66i Manual for a detailed, thorough and easy to read guide book on its operation.  Cost new $600.  Priced to sell at $500.  

Thermarest Pro Lite Apex self-inflating camping and backpacking sleeping pad. Color deep orange. New and never used. Cost $79 new. Priced for sale $55.

L.L. Bean Pathfinder self- inflatable camping & hiking sit pad. Color pine green. New and never used. Cost $25 new. Priced for sale $20.

Ranger Bob had planned a backpacking trip to Grandfather Mountain on December 28 - 29, 2020.  I made my reservation using the new Internet system adopted by the State Park several months ago.  A couple days before the trip I received a call from one of the Park Rangers.  I had never been personally called by a park ranger before.  Apparantly I was the only person to have a reservation to camp on the mountain that entire week, so I caught their attention.  He wanted to know if I was aware of the conditions in the Park. 

He said the trail head parking lot is on the Blue Ridge Parkway which is closed due to deep snow.  Then the camp site I had reserved has no water, so I will have to carry all I need for two days.  And the only spring where water is available on the trail to my camp site is frozen over and not running. Then the trail itself is iced over and covered with deep snow.  Not only would these conditions make for difficult hiking, but the mountain is so steep and rugged that even in clear, warm, dry weather some steps can be difficult and dangerous.  Under deep snow the steps would be invisible and even more dangerous. Finally, the temperature is expected to be about 5 degrees, with a wind chill factor well below 0 degrees. 

I said that I am 68 years old, my family has owned a cabin near Grandfather since I was born, where I often stay.  I have hiked, camped and backpacked on every trail in every season and weather condition, so I expected these factors.  The ranger fell all over himself apologizing for insulting my experience. 

I laughed and said that my experience tells me not to go on this trip.  Even if I could handle it and survive, I am not in that strong shape physically and I would be miserably cold.  I thanked him profusely for being concerned about my safety and for contacting me as a precaution.  We chatted for a while more about the Park before hanging up. 

This trip is the first one in my life that I have cancelled due to bad weather conditions and my own lack of acclimation and physical shape.  I suppose this situation is a condescension to my aging, and maybe to my getting a little bit wiser. 

A good time was had by all snuggling on the couch in front of the open wood stove and drinking hot chocolate. 

These items of camp and backpacking gear are all in excellent condition.  Nothing worn out or broken.  Several items are new or refurbished by the manufacturer and are like new.  All sale prices are negotiable and I will take the best offer.  Some are to give away for free.  The first person to buy a white gas item will get a fresh gallon of white gas free. 

Bladder hose $10

MSR Whisperlight stove $75

Playtpus water bladders $15

LL Bean battery lantern $30

Camera tripods $25

Pocket camera $50

Coffee percolator $25

Coleman white gas stove  $50

Liquid gas fuel bottles $20

Coleman Peak One gas lantern $50

Hammock $15

Pack towls $10

Coleman propane heater $30

Closed cell foam pads $0

Soap case $0

Ten stakes $5

Foldable water bucket $15

MSR Sweetwater water filter $50.

On the two chllly fall days of November 5 and 20, 2020, Ranger Bob joined his boon companion Bill Booth for two trout fishing days on the Linville River headweaters in Linville Land Harbor, between Linville and Newland, NC.  The weather was plesantly sunny and clear both days. November 20 was cold enough that for the first time this year I crunched through ice formed on the edges of the river.  I was well insulated in chest waders, a pile suit and long under wear, but still, standing waist deep in the chilly flowing water for several hours was enough to numb my outer limbs. 

The second day we were joined by Bills local friend Rick Leonard, who is nice guy.  He gave me several fishing tips to get more hits on my lure, then he took the photo and video published here. 

On the first day Bill and I caught about 10 robust trout, mostly browns and rainbows.  On the second day Bill had to leave mid-morning for a family errand.  Rick and I hit a deep pool at the right time and for two sessions of about 20 minutes each, we got a bite on nearly every cast.  But we did not catch that many fish. Many of the bites were light or trailing so we could not set the hook but on about every third or fourth cast.  

Both days we released all the fish. The rule is that a fisherman can keep three trout.  Next time I go I plan to take a creel and keep a couple to eat that night. 

https://youtu.be/gZL09CgusK4 

On the chilly, sunny, windy afternoon of November 1, 2020, a friend from the Women Who Wander hiking club joined me for a hike to the top of Rich Mountain at the western end of Cone Estate Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Watauga County.  She lives near Banner Elk with the headwaters of the Watauga River in her back yard, so we were both familiar with this trail. 

After the hike we planned to eat a picnic at an open air table in the Park, but by then it was too dark, windy and cold. So we went to my family's cabin on Shulls Mill Road and ate in the dining room.  My friend provided the victuals which were made by Maw's Produce in Foscoe, NC.  It was delicious and we enjoyed the bottle of white wine she provided. 

On the Halloween afternoon of October 31, 2020, Ranger Bob traveled to Eustace Conway's Turtle Island Preserve to be a volunteer at a Festival celebrating outdoor activities like black smithing and deer hide tanning.  The TIP staff conducted a silent auction of donated goods as a fund raiser.  Other staff cooked a large, deliciious supper made from locally grown or sourced meats, vegetables, fruits, cheeses and breads.  The main food was a whole pig smoked in the ground at TIP that afternoon.  

I was tasked with managing the wine station. Knowing nothing about wine except that I like Moscato, I opened and set out most of the bottles.  Then I pretty much let the guests serve themselves.  Most of them seemed to appreciate the opportunity to pour themselves about double the normal serving. 

Well after dark (there are no electric lignts on TIP) I pulled out my wisely carried flash light, made my way through the woods to my Jeep and headed home.