Through a collection of first hand experiences by the author, The Part-Time Adventurer is an entertaining and informative ensemble of wilderness stories. Whether dodging alligators in the swamp, rappelling through slot canyons in Utah, or hiking through Appalachia, the reader is immersed in adventure.
Iconic hikes including "The Subway", "Syncline Loop", and "Hanging Lake" are just a few of the many treks described.
Detailed accounts of many National Park hikes, including those in Zion and Canyonlands National Park, provide planning tips and ideas for those seeking a more off-the-beaten-path adventure than that of an ordinary traveler. The need to adjust for an unplanned event dominates many adventures in the book, and many lessons learned are shared through detailed accounts of both failure and success. Many of the basic skills needed to complete overnight wilderness trips are also shared, such as packing, planning, and safety tips.
Excerpt 1:
- When the sun appeared over the mountain lined horizon, the rays glistened off the ice and provided much needed warmth. We loaded up our gear and prepared to hike to the next shelter, refilling our water from a nearby natural spring. I used my new backpacking water filter, even though the water was coming straight out of the ground.
I always err on the side of caution when it comes to drinking water in the wilderness, and either use a filter device or purification tablets. Contracting a virus or bacteria from untreated water is easily avoidable by taking a few extra minutes to use this common-sense technique. Knowing there would be opportunities to refill water every few miles based on our trail guides, we both carried around 2 liters of water (about 4 pounds) in an effort to minimize pack weight.
Refilling my water for the first time, I quickly learned I had packed the wrong type of water filter for this trip. I had a water bottle that had a built-in filter. To operate the filter, about 12 ounces of water could be placed in the bottle at a time, and then the bottle had to be squeezed forcefully to push the water through the filter. The process was extremely slow, taking a few minutes per each 12 ounces of water. With the need to fill up 2 liters at a time, I was stuck forcefully squeezing and filtering water for a good 15 minutes.
If we had been in an area that contained more risky water, then the added benefit of the virus filter on my device would have been worth the extra effort. But with water coming straight out of the ground, a simple gravity filter to protect against bacteria and protozoa was all we needed. Soon after completing the trip, I purchased a gravity fed filter device that could filter a liter of water in just a minute or two, and without any forced assistance. -
Excerpt 2:
- Even with the sun bearing down, I was still freezing cold. We pushed on down the canyon in hopes of generating body heat, but after a few minutes of hiking, and as Josh would describe my face was turning blue, I removed the wetsuit in an attempt to dry off and warm up. It only took a few minutes to dry off, but unlike Josh and Chris, I was still chilled to the bone. With Josh worried about me, I told him I was fine and to keep hiking.
I suddenly heard Josh let out a yell in front of me. When I looked up, he was holding his foot off the ground, and he displayed a look of pain and discomfort on his face. I asked if he hit a rock with his leg or foot, hoping he had just a minor injury. But he quickly said "no" and indicated it was his ankle, putting my mind in gear about how we'd get him out of the canyon if his ankle was broken. -
