Monthly Archives: October 2015

Peru 2015

Finally Traveling to Peru!

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After about four months of planning, budgeting, researching and well… scheming. I’m finally sitting in the airport waiting to board a plane to travel to Peru! It all started with my roommate and I sitting in the living room talking about travel. Since she got her minor in Latin Studies and had even taken a class in Quechua (the language for native americans in Peru) so Peru was in her bucket list in a big way.

Even though I have traveled extensively through Asia, I had yet to travel to South America. I had heard so much about traveling in South America and Peru in particular that I was very excited. Among the sites I have planned to visit are is: Lima, Cusco, Salkantay pass to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Sacred Valley and a little visit to the Amazon. I can’t believe I’m finally traveling to Peru!

Check out my other blogs to see what I did to get ready for the trip!

Please stay tuned for more! Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave some feedback!

Peru 2015

Preparing for Peru: Travel Checklist

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I finally wrote down my travel checklist that I have been compiling in my head over the last few months as I have done some research. Some of this is information I have learned from others and some of it is from past experience. Hopefully, you will find this helpful!

Checking CDC for proper vaccinations and medications- You can check for the proper list here: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel. There are doctors that specialize in travel medicine and normally your general practitioner will refer you to one. Generally, going specifically to a doctor who specializes in travel medicine is best because he will have specific knowledge for the best medications for certain countries. This needs to be planned well in advance because the doctor may not be able to get you in soon.

Going over gear list- Is your list too much? Can you buy clothes or other supplies in country? Frequent travelers normally know that people will pack too much and cut down on their packing list.

Testing out and Breaking in Gear- Does that backpack fit corectly? Have you broken in those walking or hiking shoes?

Passport copies and identification online/physical with me and back home- My family back home has physical copies of my passport as well as copies that I have emailed to them. I will also have copies online that can be easily printed out from an internet cafe and physical copies in my travel bag.

Traveler’s Insurance- This is required by the volunteer organization that I will be traveling with, but generally it’s a great idea to have. Depending on the insurance you purchase it could cover: lost luggage, delayed/canceled flights, health issues and reparation of remains.

Tour Operators Information – This is easy in the form of email, but it’s best to be able to have the information handy in case you need to get in contact in country.

Passport and visa requirements – Since Peru gives an automatic 90 day visa to all visitors and I will only be there for a month. It’s best to check.

Check conversion rate- This is important to know so you can gauge how much extra cash you should take with you. Generally, I try to take about $300 in various areas around my body. However, depending on the country you are visiting this may be too much or too little. Right now, I know the approximate conversion rate to be $0.31 to one 1 Nuevo Sol.

Tell your bank of countries to be visited plus dates- It is a really big pain to be in a foreign country and have your credit card canceled because they didn’t realize that you would be out of country. I have experienced letting my bank know that I would be traveling internationally and due to a mix up in their system canceled my credit card. A reason I carry two credit cards with me now.

Check entrance/exit fees- You don’t want to be caught entering or exiting a country that requires cash fees. Could be a very awkward situation… especially if there are no ATMs nearby.

Check the Travel Warnings- The US government has a travel warnings site that is a good resource for information. A good guidebook will have warnings as far as what to check for locally. It’s also useful to check travel forums online to see what recent travelers have experienced

Have an exit plan- In case the @#$% hits the fan how are you going to get back home? Do you have emergency money? Where is the local embassy or consulate?

I went to : http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/peru.html to find out quite a bit of information I would need in regards to travel warnings, passport/ visa requirements and embasst/consulate information.

Note: Normally, you can find your country’s embassy in the capital city of the country you are visiting and consulates are in large cities. Travelers can get there paperwork processed at either of these places, but consulates tend to send paperwork for visas and passports to the embassy to be processed.

Anyone has any questions, ideas or suggestions feel please to leave a comment! Please stay tuned Post- Peru notes to find what I didn’t think of!

Backcountry

Backcountry Essentials

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The following is a list of things that I have found to be really useful and necessary essentials for traversing safely and comfortably in the backcountry. Recently, while getting ready for a hike I realized that it had become habit to just choose certain items to put in my own pack. I decided I needed to write down my own list so I won’t forget anything and the reasoning behind it.

These items are things I have learned to bring through the experience of others and also through my own trial and error. Hopefully, the following items will help you as much as it helps me.

I have found that it’s best to try out your gear and become very familiar with it before taking it on more serious expeditions in case something does go wrong.

Well fitted backpack

This is important and not as hard as you would think to find or expensive. In some mountain towns just going to the local thrift store or a sports store at the end of the summer season can reveal some great finds. Online stores like Sierra Trading Post or Backcountry.com also have some really good deals.

A basic day-pack with a decent hip-belt can do a lot for making the hike more comfortable because this takes less weight off your back and puts more on your hips. I really prefer to try on gear before I buy it as a general rule. Also, check the return policy so once you test the gear and found it unsuitable can be returned easily.

Water

Not only is the amount of water important, but the container to which it is carried in. Generally, I bring a 2 Liter water bladder for easy sipping while on the trail and a 32 ounce stainless steel water bottle.  The reason I take the stainless steel bottle is because in case a survival situation occurs as long as I have a way to make a fire I can possibly boil and disinfect water. Plus, I don’t get the plastic aftertaste you can sometimes get from a plastic water bottle.

The amount of water you take depends on the weather, length of hike, difficulty and if water sources are available during the hike. Almost always I take about 3 Liters of water with me, but if it’s going to be a particularly hot day I may take more. If a water source is readily available along the way I may just bring my water purifier with me. It’s always best to use your good judgement and I would rather carry more water than needed.

Food

My go to for snacks on trail is protein bars. Lightweight, easy clean up and carry sufficient nutrition to get you through. Always take at least one or two extra in case a survival situation does occur.

It depends on how much you want to eat while on trail. Sometimes it’s fun to plan an actual meal or just take a couple of beers with you. I don’t seem to eat much on trail. Recently, I cleaned out my room and found quite a few protein bar stashes.

Maps and/or GPS

If you have read some of my previous blogs you’ll see I am a big fan of my GPS unit as far as tracking and sending messages on trail to let friends/family of your location. As well as having the SOS emergency feature. Being able to track your location and back track in case you do get lost is a great tool to have. However, it’s always best to have a physical waterproofed map of the area you are hiking in.

Recently, this occurred to me where I did not have a physical map with me and had wrongly assumed that I had downloaded the correct maps of the area. It turned out I had not and the hike was not successful in the way of getting to the correct destination though it was still a really good hike.

Bandanna

This simple little piece of gear can have a multitude of uses. You can: wrap a sprained ankle, support a broken arm, wipe sweat from your brow, strain water before disinfection, tourniquet, use as a strap or simply just keep your hair back. This is just a few of the uses a bandanna can offer. It’s almost a no-brainer.

“Puffy” Jacket

I am a big fan of a “Puffy” which is a generic term for a down or synthetic down jacket. They have very little weight and can be stuffed into one of their own pockets so takes up very little space as well. I have heard it described as wearing a sleeping bag and is great for being outside where the temperature can drop drastically.

Waterproof shell

As well as the puffy jacket I will bring a waterproof shell to wear over it. Also, very lightweight and takes up very little space. This can be very important in a rainy and/or windy situation.

Camera 

You will see some beautiful sights in the backcountry. Why not take a few pictures to show everyone back home?

Ziploc bags

A couple of gallon Ziploc bags can be very useful for storing garbage, as an emergency water vessel or just keeping some of your gear dry.

Knife or Multi-tool 

I prefer my knife with a partially serrated edge for sawing. A multi-tool is useful because it takes a few items out of your first aid kit and can be great if

55 Gallon Garbage Bag

Again, another amazing very compact multi-use item. This can be used as a shelter, windbreak, solar still, water catcher or just keeping your gear dry.

String

Need I say more?

Fire kit

This depends on the environment and length of stay, but generally Storm proof matches, fire starter such as a small bag of dryer lint, a small lighter and/ or a magnesium fire starter. It’s really important to test out and build your own fire starting kit in case of an emergency you will be proficiently skilled at starting a fire.

In some areas, especially in California, where there is a drought and the risk of wildfire is very present it is very important to be able to stay in control of whatever fire you start.

Small first aid kit

To be built at your own digression. Mine is small enough to fit into a Ziploc sandwich bag and includes: ankle wrap, reflective blanket, moleskin, a small packet of ibuprofen, tissue, iodine, a few gauze pads, hand-warmers, small bit of rolled up ducktape and band-aids. My fire starter kit is also small enough to fit into this bag as well.

The items listed are my essentials that I bring when I go into isolated wilderness areas to protect myself and to help me in case an emergency happens. It’s always important that you use your own good judgement and keep your own situational awareness. Please only use the above as guidelines for building your own essentials as you learn and traverse in the backcountry.

Please comment or let me know if this helps! I would love to hear if there is anything anyone else brings that they always find useful!

Peru 2015

Preparing for Peru: Gear List

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As I have been getting ready to travel to Peru and have been doing a lot of research in regards to the gear I should be taking with me. Most of my gear I have already tried and tested including my backpack, camera, iphone internatinoal use, hiking shoes, GPS, etc. So that I will be as prepared as I could be.

I say this, but there will always be something I should have done differently. Especially, since for the length of time and I am there and the different trips I plan on taking will make it difficult to be prepared for everything. You’ll have to stay tuned for follow up blog!

Here is what I have so far:

  1. Backpack. The one I am bring which will be my main travel bag is an 65L backpack with a rain cover. The best part of this is the hip pockets that can hold my GPS and camera for quick use. Also, after having tested it a few times have found it comfortable.
  2. Camera w/ accessories: This includes SD card (8GB) and battery charger. The battery in my camera is rechargeable.
  3. iPhone w/ International use plan. I really like T-Mobile’s international plan. I have used it previously internationally and it has been awesome. Generally, free data and text in urban areas with $0.20/ minute calling the USA.
  4. Ipad w/ key board for emailing, reading and of course, blogging! I keep digital copies of my travel documents in my email in case anything should happen to the physical copies. Also, have a few travel guides on my ipad as well.
  5. Backpacking Towel because it folds small and absorbs a lot of water.
  6. Hiking shoes – I bought a pair of Brook’s Cascadia 10 trail running shoes for women. I don’t like hiking shoes because it doesn’t give me enough agility in my ankle to move around appropriately. I have tested out my shoes a few times and they have a thicker sole and a lot more group even to the edge of the toes than normal.
  7. Sandals/casual shoes just for hanging out at camp and something cute to wear around town.
  8. Plug adapter specifically for Peru
  9. Headlamp w/ extra batteries because you never know.
  10. Toiletries: Small travel case with shampoo, conditioner, Dr. Bronner’s all purpose liquid soap, razor, toothbrush/toothpaste, small make up pouch and sunscreen.
  11. First Aid Kit including bug spray, anti-diarrhea, malaria medication, anti-histamine, pain reliever, mole skin, anti-septic and a few band-aids.
  12. Extra charging station with USB outlet for my electronics.
  13. Sleeping bag – 20F Summer bag
  14. Backpacking Hammock from Eno – This hammock folds very small and light. I figure between the straps and the tarp part of the hammock it could be very multi-use. Especially, if the ground is wet I can at least throw the hammock portion on the ground to keep my sleeping bag dry. In a different scenario I can use the hammock straps to hang clothing.
  15. Delorme Inreach GPS – I have used this on several occasions to track my hiking and set way points if I get lost. Besides having an SOS button, I can send a link to my location for my family and friends back home to follow.
  16. Wide-brimmed hat. Normally, I take a visor or a normal baseball cap with me when I go outdoors however there has been a lot of studies lately that it doesn’t protect you from the sun the way it should. Especially, since I’ll be at higher elevations. Plus, will help keep me drier when it rains.
  17. Beanie for those cold nights to keep my noggin’ warm.
  18. Swim suit
  19. Pad lock is very handy to have in case you may need to secure your valuables.
  20. They say you should take a nice set of clothes with you. I am going to take a sundress with me. That way it’s something comfortable and also can be compacted down into my pack.
  21. Trekking poles with rubber tips. The rubber tips are important because otherwise the repeated use from hundreds of tourist could ruin the trails and the site.
  22. Extra duffle bag. I have an x-large duffle bags that fold down very small that I will be taking. That way I can only bring what I need for the Macchu Picchu tour and use my normal backpack as my day pack without the need of taking another day pack with me. Plus, I am sure I am going to generate a lot of souvenirs to bring back with me.
  23. Jackets. I am bringing my puffy with me because well… it’s a wearable sleeping bag and you really can’t go wrong. As well as my rain slicker with a nice hood in case the weather turns fowl.
  24. Socks. I am a big fan of light merino wool ankle socks. Also, another pair of heavy duty hiking socks.
  25. Two pairs of pants both made of stretchy material for trekking, but have the ability to be shortened to capri length if the temperature rises. Though I will also have a pair of shorts as well.
  26. An assortment of tops including some sport tops and tank tops.  I’m not really worried about clothing because it sounds like it will be very easy and cheap to purchase any items that we think could be needed later. I would rather carry lighter.
  27. A bandana. Very useful essential item that I take hiking with me. It’s very handy in case you need to make a splint. wipe off some sweat or just tie your hair back.

We’ll see how well this list serves me while in Peru.

If anyone has anything constructive to add I would be very happy to hear about it. Especially, in regards to past experiences while in Peru.

General Posts

San Francisco Hash House Harriers

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In a previous post I had mentioned an international running club (or a drinking club with a running problem) called the Hash House Harriers (H3). Last time it was with the Gypsies in San Rafel, California. A great club with a great trail leading us through the hills of Marin. That was my first hash and I had an amazing time and met a lot of really good people.

This time I headed into the San Francisco to meet with the San Francisco Hash House Harriers (SFH3) at the South Park near AT&T park where the San Francisco Giant’s Baseball team play. They have a normal Monday night hash which happens rain or shine starting in the evening. As we joined the obvious hash group which can normally be found near a keg, we started the normal meet and greets as the hare took off setting the trail.

Eventually the “hounds” or the rest of the pack took off following the trail that the hare has set. You can imagine a group of about two dozen individuals taking off into the streets of San Francisco following flour and chalk marks. Terrorizing those on side walks and dodging vehicles. It’s very exciting and heart pumping… though it doesn’t help that you’re already a little tipsy from the beer.

After running and tracking trail for about an 6 miles we came across the first beer check. There was a lonely water station sitting close to the group like the socially awkward kid at a party. A few partook, but most were looking forward to an icy cold beer. There is something that makes that first beer after you have been heavily exerting yourself extra delicious.

After the first beer check there were two options: follow the hare and run to the next beer check or walk leisurely through a park to the waterfront next to AT&T park. After another social period meeting new people and enjoying more delicious beverages we headed back to the original park that we started at for the “Down, down”.

The “Down, down” is basically the BBQ after the run. Everyone meets for food, drinks and some bawdy singing. The “virgins” are introduced along with the people who brought them and visitors from other hashes domestic and international are met. What struck me as one of the more interesting parts of the Hash House Harriers is how international it is. In a few weeks while in Lima and Cusco, I will be looking at possibly running with a hash group.

Overall, it was another great experience. I was fortunate to meet some really cool people and see parts of San Francisco that I hadn’t seen before. Looking forward to my next hash with whichever group I travel to next.

General Posts

Ridgecrest, California

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Ridgecrest is a town in Southeast California that could be best described by desert lands surrounded by craggy foothills and mountains. An off-roader’s and outdoor enthusiast paradise. The town’s economy is based on the local Military base and one of the largest’s military bases in the United States.

A note of interest to those who are interested in Petroglyphs. There is an annual Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival being held November 7-8th. This festival is free to the public and features a Gem and Mineral Show, Petroglyph tours and a Beer Garden. Supposedly, there is more Petroglyphs found in this area compared to the rest of the United States combined.

For the Western film enthusiast the area of Ridgecrest might look a little familiar. In the heyday of Western films featuring John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, the area around Ridgecrest and especially further North towards Lone Pine were the back drops for some of their most famous western films. Further north along Highway 395, there is even a museum dedicated to the craft located in Lone Pine, Ca called the Lone Pine Film History Museum. Every October they have the Lone Pine Film Festival.

While staying in Ridgecrest with my Uncle, we went every morning to Lugo’s Grill that has now become one of my favorite places to go for breakfast. Their Chili Verde Omelette and Chorizo with Eggs Skillet was amazing. What really set off the dishes were their homemade salsas and hot sauces. Even though I appreciated their Mexican fare the most there was other traditional items on the menu that were delicious as well. They can be found at: 908 N Norma St, Ridgecrest, CA 93555.

There isn’t anything really fancy about Ridgecrest, but’s it’s very genuine. It’s the kind of place that as you walk around the neighborhood that everyone will smile and wave. My life is richer for knowing the town and people of Ridgecrest.

 

General Posts

Ache in my Soul

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This weekend saw me leave Tahoe and spend some time with my parents visiting family down in Southern California. Driving down Highway 395, one of California’s most scenic Highways we started at elevation above 8000′ before dropping down to 2300′. On the way we passed Mount Whitney, Mammoth and Tioga Pass the western entrance of Yosemite.

Each time we passed one of these places or I had a breathtaking view of some far off peak it was like my soul was whispering to me: “Come climb me… come see what is beyond me.” It reminds me of that John Muir quote that people have framed on their living room wall: “The mountains are calling and I must go.”

Except the pull is very real. There is joy and peace in the outdoors. I find confidence and security knowing that I could navigate and handle myself in a place with few people. The greatest accomplishment is doing something most people would think you’re crazy for. And yet the most intoxicating part is that there is so much progress to be made and much more landscape to cross.

And always searching for the answer to the question: What’s just over there?

 

Peru 2015

Getting Ready for Peru: Testing out my backpack

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With less than a month left before the trip to Peru there are several things I am doing to prepare myself. First, do A LOT of hiking and second prepare my gear. Recently, I purchased the Osprey Ariel 65L pack at the REI garage sale for a good price.

(http://www.rei.com/product/846442/osprey-ariel-65-pack-womens)

Today, I packed about 25 lbs of weight evenly distributed through the pack  and took it on a 4.2 mile hike to one of my favorite destinations around Tahoe: Castle Rock. Starting the hike from the old Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead. The fit is a medium and I have to say so far it has worked very well. No hot spots and sat well on by back.

Tomorrow, we’ll be hitting up Maggie’s Peaks near the famous Emerald Bay. I’ll be using the pack again since this will be a longer and more strenuous hike.