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Feb 22, 2004 I like to camp alone. I pack my gear, drive out to the Appalachian Trail or St. Mary's Wilderness or other Virginia location and set off for a couple days' peace and quiet. But my wife worries. I'll fall. I'll break a leg. I will be eaten by bears. I'll catch giardia and have diarrhea. Something serious will happen to me. So last time I made plans, she scrounged up a local fellow who had never been camping and wanted to try it. That was OK. I got out my old tent for him to pack, loaned him a sleeping bag, explained that he needed something with which to light a fire, and we were all set. But then he remembered it was his week to have the child. He was divorced and had a 5-yr-old daughter and it was his weekend. Could she come too? Well, yeah, they could both, being small, fit in the same tent. And I had an extra sleeping bag that would do. And we could pack some marshmallows and hot dogs and cocoa, as kids don't tend to do well with my usual backpacking fare of dehydrated dishes. So, off we go, from the top of Mine Bank Trail in St. Mary's Wilderness. It is a real wilderness trail, descending with moderate steepness into a valley, running mostly along a rocky creek, crossing it several times, and yet is still reasonable for the average person. The little girl carried a bottle of water and granola bars in her Barbie backpack so she would feel useful. Along the way, I showed them that there were teaberries (wintergreen) and other wild edibles and that we could take water from the creek and purify it through a micropore filter. We arrived at the campsire, pitched the tents, and when it came time to light the campfire, my camping buddy had played with his new butane lighter so much that it was out of fuel. Oh, well...I had spares. We told scary stories, then had to light a candle lantern and hang it outside the tents because the 5-yr-old was a bit frightened. But we all slept well. Next morning, we made cocoa, ate some granola bars, struck the tents, hoisted our packs, and set out for home. After the long climb back to the parking area, I asked the little girl whether she enjoyed camping. "Oh, yes, I love it! I want to go again." "What did you like most about camping?" I asked, thinking about the activities of the past two days. After a few second's thought, she replied, "I liked peeing on the ground." ------------ About the author: 62-yr-old physician, still practicing, retired from 41 years intermittent military service as of June 1, 2003. Just write for the fun of it. Currently writing a novel. Email Brooks A. Mick: brooks15@cox.net Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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