Hey Backpackers and Campers...
Just wanted to let you know about a fun backbacking trip that we just wrapped up... A few of us here, mostly on the spur of the moment decided to do a night out with our packs. The closest place where we can get to some big mountains in a hurry is the Catskills. I checked my maps and we decided to hike the part of the Devils Path to Sugarloaf Mountain close to the town of Phoenicia, NY.
This was going to be a Saturady hike in, spend the night at a campsite, bag the mountain in the morning and then head back out. I did some meal planning and we decided to pack some of the JetBoil equipment from the We Do Campstoves campstove and backpacking cookset shop.
This was going to be a quick in, quick out type of trip so we wanted to test out the convenience and the time-saving features of the JetBoil line of Personal Cooking Systems (PCS). We packed one of the JetBoil PCS and one of the JetBoil PCS Companion Cups. This turned out to be a great choice for this hike - We were able to enjoy a quick and easy meal after our 4 mile hike in to the site. Breakfast was a snap as we woke up to the threat of rain (that we never did see), but knowing that we would be cleaned up and put away after eating quickly, We didn't need to worry about getting caught in a downpour!
Here's the best part - I HAVE to have my morning coffee, so I brought one of the JetBoil PCS Coffee Presses along and we all enjoyed a steaming cup of fresh coffee before starting up Sugarload Mountain. This was so quick and easy, I couldn't believe it!
The hike to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain was tough... Don't forget, to get to the top of Sugarloaf, you hike the Devil's Path to the top. There's a reason for this name and we found out why. A steep, rocky climb that was un-relenting. My hiking partner and I were up to the task, however (all of that running we do was paying off!). We were rewarded with, not one, but two lookouts and the top that allowed wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. We loved it!
OK, Enough for now. Remember... Keep on hiking! I'll post more of our experiences and the summer hiking season continues and don't forget to check out the specials at We Do Campstoves!
Scott
