Packing List: El Camino de Santiago

Camino Frances route (~500 miles, 780 km); springtime

Here’s a list of all the items I brought (and/or recommend) when I hiked the Camino Frances route of el Camino de Santiago this May.

(Note: I’ll hyperlink the items in this list to my reviews as I write them; otherwise, the links are to product pages. Remember, you can probably find items less expensive than retail price – check the product site, but also outdoor retailers, Amazon, and thrift shops. Here’s my post breaking down my el Camino finances, gear included.)   Continue reading “Packing List: El Camino de Santiago”

Gear Review: Osprey Aura 50 AG Pack

a.k.a. Rosie, the best pack in the world

Meet Rosie.

I purchased the Aura 50 in 2012, so I have the older purple model, but it’s the same basic setup. I’ve used it for small backpacking trips, as well as my 2016 5.5 month thruhike of the AT.   Continue reading “Gear Review: Osprey Aura 50 AG Pack”

Gear Review: GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker Mug

because coffee

I bought this mug a few months before my AT thruhike, and used it through the entire hike and other backpacking trips.

Pros: lightweight, strap handle is perfect fit and snaps easily on my pack, better insulation than expected, lid stays pretty secure, easy to clean   Continue reading “Gear Review: GSI Outdoors Infinity Backpacker Mug”

Not a guide for starting fires

(at least not right now)

Howdy, all!

Welcome to Firestarter’s Guide to Gear, Trails, and General Recklessness.

After the eighth time explaining how the scariest encounter I had on the Appalachian Trail was with a porcupine, and after helping multiple people on el Camino adjust their load lifters on their packs to carry weight appropriately, I decided it would be easier to just write it all down online for anyone to reference.  Continue reading “Not a guide for starting fires”