This weekend's camping trip ended up being completely different than what we planned. First, I had to swap some of
the gear I ordered for other, more packable things. Second, one of the people on the trip had her work travel schedule changed, so we went for car camping an hour away rather than a hike-in site four hours away. I was bummed about this at first--I had a new pack to break in!--but it ended up being a very good thing, because third, my new pack tore when I was doing a test pack of all my stuff. And fourth, our friend who had gone early to grab a first-come, first-served site had to leave the site and drive to a store because the sole of her hiking shoe
fell off. So, while not the trip we envisioned, it ended up being a good call for many reasons.
Of course, I returned my piece-of-feces pack to REI today (it was purchased online and not one they stock in the stores). Can I just say I love that store? I would like to hang out in it all day and imagine all the trips I could take. And, yes, I'm aware I just nailed what they're going for. I decided to try on some of the packs in the store to see what I might think of getting for next time, and I learned two things about myself from the pack guy helping me out that I would like to stitch on a pillow and look at every day:
- I'm extra small...In backpacks, I am as small as they come (thank you, Italian heritage, for my short little Strega Nona torso!). I haven't been an extra small in anything since birth.
- ...And "all leg." On a related note, my short torso means I am "all leg," says pack guy. At 5'6'', that is not something I hear very often. I love it!
I didn't end up buying a new pack today because I don't have any other hike-in trips scheduled this year, unless we're able to move our reservation for the original trip. I'm thinking of doing one for my birthday, though, so perhaps I can justify the purchase. Pack guy even found a
closeout model of the pack I liked on the REI-Outlet site. Maybe it's a sign.
