Ultralight crosses sports

This summer the crazy Mattsons have decided to bike the New Mexico portion of the CDT instead of hiking it.  Using all frame packs we are hoping to keep our gear even more minimal than backpacking.  We have a trunk bag, two frame packs and a handlebar bag.  To experiment with all the new gear and packing it I did a solo trip to Ocala National Forest (Florida) in March.  On my bike I carried  my Marmot Helium in an OR silnylon UL dry bag, a 6.5 oz bivvie sac from Equinox, a tyvek tarp and the old footprint of a Sierra Designs tent, various string and tent stakes, an ultralight Thermarest.  In my triangle bag was a repair kit and my pataogonia down sweater, my handlebar bag carried my wallet and keys and the rest of my clothes, sunscreen and bug juice.  I went stoveless so 3 days of food and a MSR bladder of water was all the kitchen I needed.  My trunk has 

two fold out bags I put my raingear and a spare water bladder in one and half my food in the other.  There is one more small pack that sits on the stem.  My camera and mp3 player and a snack bar lived in that.  All in all it was alot like backpacking but faster.  Ocala has one short 22mile mountain bike Path which was a complete hoot, I was hoping to ride on some of the dirtroads that border some of the wilderness areas and looked nice but they were all too sandy.  I rode a big loop on paved roads the second day and then hiked a little on the Florida Trail the last day.   All in all it seemed that my UL gear was perfect for bike packing and translated very well.  Sure missed those hiking sticks for my tarp set up though. 

Camp 

All loaded up

The mountain Bike trail and the Florida Trail intersected

Sunrise in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness

Florida Scrub Jay

Alxander Springs River

How to Go Light presented by Vicky Mattson at the Buckeye Trailfest April 26th 2014

How to Go Light – Or How I Learned to Love Silnylon

Join veteran backpacker Vicky Mattson as she presents stories and lessons learned from a lifetime of heavy packs and reforming her gear into a 9-15 lb base weight for her Pacific Crest Trail hike and her Continental Divide Trail attempt.  In 2011 and 2012 Vicky and her family hiked the 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.  She is currently working on Section Hiking/biking The Continental Divide Trail (very large chunks) Last year we hiked the Colorado and Wyoming portion of the CDT, this year we will finish with the CDT in New Mexico and Montana.  She is planning to hike the AT alone next year, completing the Triple Crown of America’s long trails.  Along the way Vicky has learned many strategies regarding gear, food prep, and planning for these long hikes.   The program will include some photos of Vicky’s hikes as well as examples of gear and going light.  Vicky will also have some Gossamer Gear (https://gossamergear.com/  )products to share, and discount coupons.  If you are planning any long trail hiking or are just sick of heavy packs this workshop is for you.

9 AM Saturday April 26^th at the Buckeye Trailfest  http://www.buckeyetrailfest.org/ 

Winter Vacation by Jay Mattson

Winter Vacation 2014

By Jay Mattson

On Friday, December 13, 2013 I opened 5 My Christmas presents because we were traveling on our winter vacation. We drove across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas over two days then into Colorado. December 16 we  checked into the good night Lonesome Dove, at about 11 AM. We have stayed at Lonesome Dove on many other occasions. Almost every time we stayed in our favorite cabin “Clara.” Mom dropped me and dad off at Wolf Creek ski area, while she went grocery shopping. We skied for four hours, warming up our skills. Mom picked us up at the ski hill. I was very hungry. Mom made one of the best dinners that I ever had.

Ski hills have color and shape that code the difficulty of each run.

Green circles

Easy/beginner

 Blue squares

Intermediate

 Black diamond

most difficult

 Double black diamond

Expert

Double Black diamonds with EX means Extreme 

The first time I went extreme skiing was at Wolf Creek on this vacation. At the top of the Alberta lift I took off my skis, and then hiked with them on my back on steps that were kicked into the snow toward the High ridge. There was a sign at the top with the E X symbols. The sign said “watch for unmarked obstacles and avalanches.” I walked through that gate by myself. I felt like I had let go of a lifeline. I hiked for about 15 minutes.  Then I got to the top of the ridge. The view was amazing, I felt like I could see 500 miles of snowy peaks and big plains. I turned my Go Pro camera on to record a 360 view. At the start of my run I looked down. My heart was racing and my hands were sweating, all I could see was rocks and trees and a very steep drop. So I started to think “is this really a good idea?” I said to myself “I'm here I'm not going back and I will not fall!” Then I dropped in. The snow was unexpectedly powder. It was like skiing through whipped cream but nowhere near as tasty. I did turns the whole way down this steep section, then I look back at my tracks then skied through some trees. It was so much fun that I did it again while dad took pictures.

On a ski hill you can meet a bunch of different people at different skill levels. Here are the people I met. When I was going down Alberta face I saw three kids. I asked them what they were doing. They were building a jump. I asked them if I could ski with them. They said, “ok.” Ethan went first. He hit the jump and went really high and did a tail grab. Then Cody went. He did a nose butter which looks a little bit like a handstand at the end of the jump. Evan did a straight jump. It was my turn. I started towards the jump, I knew exactly what I was going to try… A backflip. As I left the jump, my right ski came off. I knew landing with one ski wasn't going to be easy. Then I realized I wasn't rotating fast enough to land on my feet. I landed on my back which sounds more painful than it was. Ethan skied over and said “dude are you okay?” Cody and Evan skied over and invited me to ski with them. We skied to more jumps then the three of them showed me some terrain I hadn't been in before. I skied with them for two days. We had so much fun skiing together that we exchange contact information, and I hope to ski with them again sometime.

Since my dad's college switched to semesters this spring break was really long. After our skiing trip we went to the Grand Canyon and camped in the campground and then started hiking the next day. T he first day we only hiked about 5 miles but descended 3000 feet. The next day we descended about 2000 feet to Bright Angel camp ground. After we left Bright Angel we hiked across a big suspension bridge that ended in a tunnel. We climbed 2000 vertical feet and found the Tonto trail on a plateau. We spent three days on the Tonto trail. Then we camped on horse shoe mesa.  The next day we left camp and went up some of the scariest trail that I have ever hiked on. In some places the trail was built above air with ice and snow on it! After we finished hiking the Grand Canyon we drove to Durango, CO to ski at Purgatory. We skied there for two days then we drove to our next stop in Gunnison Colorado so we could ski Crested Butte.

Then we drove to Monarch ski resort where I got injured. After that we drove to Michigan to see my aunt and uncle. As we got close to Michigan it got really snowy, and the roads were really hard to drive on. We made it to Aunt Lauri and Uncle Tom’s safe and sound. It was so snowy that we stayed inside for the three days we were there. Dad had driven to Ann Arbor Michigan to do research so my mom and I got on a train and rode to meet him. Then we drove home to Athens, OH.

Vicky Mattson

We delivered 98 gallons of clean fresh water to Charleston today. Thank you to all of our friends who donated water. Please try to donate water to the Pat Thomas trip next week
Drop off Monday's & Thursday's, 4-6 at Grace Christian Center, 9322 Johnson Rd. (next to Athens Messenger) & Saturday's Chelsea's Real Food, Adams Rib (when I'm there) at the Athens Farmer's Market 10-1:00.
Along with bottled drinking water, we would like to include plenty 2 1/2, 5 gallon containers for bathing, shampoo, cooking...
I haven't established a departure date, focusing on this weekend or early next week.
Thank you again, I can't wait to do this, so we can so it again!

We delivered 15 gallons to one family that had a single mom on crutches witha teenage son. Much of the Charleston are still can't use their water. The volunteers that helped us coordinate the delivery were so greateful. Please help if you can.

Like ·  · Share · 6 minutes ago ·

Please Donate Water for Charleston WV

As a through Hiker the Crazy Mattsons know how important clean available water can be and the deep appreciation of the volunteers that provide it.

The people of Charleston West Virginia are still unsure of their water and are seeking fresh water donations. We are planning on taking a car load to Charleston on Saturday or Sunday.

Any of our local friends who are interested in donating to this cause we can handle 1 and 2 1/2 gallon jugs. You can drop them off on our front porch 32 sunnyside Dr Athens OH anytime in the next couple of days.

We will be attributing this donation to the Sierra Club so please donate generously if you are a club member. email Vicky Mattson at Vicky.mattson@gmail.com, message her on facebook or call7408186737 with Questions.

Winter Break Trip Skiing Colorado, Hiking the Grand Canyon

Last Year Kevin's University switched from quarters to semesters, giving us a long break in December and January. We are still trying to figure out the best stuff to do during this time.  We started out with a ski trip at Wolf Creek.  Some of you blog followers might recall that we started our CDT attempt there last summer. Jay and Kevin skied every day for a week I got what's becoming my traditional sinus infection and spent the week in the cabin.  bummer.  Jay had a fantastic week; he skied double X, double diamond, hike to the top terrain, then pulled off a 360 Degree jump. We left Colorado and headed across the big Navajo reservation to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. After a frosty camp at Mather Campground then on Christmas Eve we hiked down the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden.  It was really strange to be headed into a canyon and getting warmer. The trail was icy at the top then sandy and dry at Indian Garden.  The next day we hiked down to the Bright Angel Camp and Phantom Ranch.  Kevins Birthday is Christmas Day so I hiked some Santa gifts and a can of Happy Camper Ale down the Canyon for gifts.  Kevin met a ranger at Phantom Ranch that had his exact birthday 12/25/66.  We chose an unfortunate camp right at the bridge, everybody in the campground stopped to talk. One of the coolest was a young woman named Sirena Dufault She is a Gatway Community Liason for the AZT or the Arizona Trail.  She showed us the brand new guide book and now Jay is hot to try biking it.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0899977472/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1565792793&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=04PX1ETQ0JKYJAFSCT73

From Bright Angel camp we hiked up the Kaibab to  the Tonto trail on our way up the trail there was a one horned desert Bighorn posing for a perfect photo.  The Tonto trail runs the length of the park on an apron of rock about a thousand feet above the river.  We hiked for three days on this trail.   Short miles for the short days.  Our Longest trail days on this hike were 7 miles.  With the sun coming up at 7:30 and setting at 5:30 We didn't have time for those summer treks.  

This trail has tunnels!

And very tame deer

At Indian Garden Jay and Kevin hiked out to a viewpoint called Panorama Point

Classic Grand Canyon photo.  Jay makes an awesome model.

Kevin at Bright Angel camp with his birthday brew

The bridge on the Kaibab trail ends in a tunnel

The one horned Bighorn

The Hiking Mattsons

Hiking into Grapevine Canyon the trail got very narrow and cliffy

The Tonto trail goes into every side canyon and turns around like this.  We found water in some of them

After the Tonto Trail we hiked up to Horseshoe mesa.  Fantastic views

Then out Grandview Point where it got icy again at the top

Some of the trail work was fantastic

After the Grand Canyon we went back to Colorado and skied at Purgatory and Creste Butte and Monarch.  reliving much of our CDT hike in Colorado.  We even saw trail signs at Monarch.  We stayed at hte Gunnison Hostel, it was a very homey place and we really enjoyed our stay there.  They had $54 lift passes for Crested Butte.

After our stay in Colorado we headed to Michigan to see Aunt Laurie and Uncle Tom in Kalamazoo.  Then the deep freeze started, Kevin went to Ann Arbor to do research on his next book while Jay and I stayed in Kzoo.  We meant to go to several museums but instead we sat by the fire and chatted. Jay and I got on an Amtrak and hooked up with Kevin in Ann Arbor.  Jay and I went to a great Museum called the Kelsey Archaeological Museum.

Here our links to some of the places we went and stayed:

Near Durango CO

http://goodnightslonesomedove.com/index_files/campground.htm

http://www.wolfcreekski.com/

http://www.durangomountainresort.com/

Arizona

http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

Colorado again

http://www.thewanderlusthostel.com/

http://www.skicb.com/

http://www.skimonarch.com

Michigan

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey/

Sierra Club Leaf Peeper Beginner Backpacking trip Oct 19th

Sierra Club Leaf Peeper Backpacking trip

Join veteran backpacker Vicky Mattson for an overnight backpacking trip in the Wayne National Forest near Corning OH.  We will hike on forested ridges and down into beautiful streams and hollows.

When:  Saturday October 19 to Sunday October 20

Where:  Meet at the Library Parking lot 9 AM Saturday October 19^th We should be back by 5 PM on Sunday the 20^th

Who:  Open to all hikers.  Contact leader if you have concerns.  This is a beginner backpacking trip.

Why:  participants will enjoy the fall leaf colors; exposure to contemporary hiking gear and ultra light techniques; leader has 30 years experience backpacking.

Requirements: pre registration required by Thursday October 17^th.  Information on gear and trip details see vickyandjay.blogspot.com

Leader info: 

Vicky Mattson

 mamamoab@gmail.com

740-818-6737

Vickyandjay.blogspot.com

Itinerary:

Saturday Oct 19th 

9:00 AM Meet at the Athens Library Parking lot.

We will carpool to near Corning Ohio.  The hike will take place on the Wildcat Hollow Backpacking trail.  

We will carry the packs to a campsite a few miles from the trailhead.  We will then have n option to explore the trail a bit more. Bring a lunch for today.

6 PM Dinner - I will have several campstoves to show and use. Dinner will be shared affair.

Sunday Oct 20th

Breakfast: Please bring your own.  I will provide hot water for instant coffee, tea, oatmeal etc.

We can take a morning hike, then pack up and head out.

We should be back to Athens by no later than 5 PM.

Packing list:

Food: 2 lunches, 1 breakfast, trail snacks

each participant will be asked to contribute toward dinner

Camping stuff:

Backpack*

Shelter (tent) *

Sleeping Bag*

Camp mattress(therm a rest, or closed cell foam)*

Kitchen

Plate or bowl

spoon, fork

knife

Clothes

Rain jacket

Long johns Top and bottom

Fleece or down puffy coat

hiking pants or shorts

synthetic shirt.

Spare socks 

Warm hat

sunhat

Hiking Shoes

Hiking stick

Small first aid kit

sunscreen 

Chapstick

bug juice

* means I have loaner gear available