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all abuzz

2012 August 11
by Rachel Turiel

I’m going backpacking this weekend (without Dan, without the kids – but with a friend), which feels a little like announcing that I’ll be doing some alligator-wrestling in my tutu. The last time I schlepped all my necessities around on my back for a weekend in the wilderness was when Col was a tiny, unknown explosion of cells, furiously dividing in my virgin uterus.

I used to spend so much time traipsing around the San Juans with only a backpack, it was 2nd nature, wrangling that pack into the necessary configuration: 2 nights desert trip, 3 nights mountains with Dan, solo weekend with river crossing.

Eight (eight!) years later, I’m wondering, what exactly do people eat on backpacking trips? and What about coffee?  and Aren’t there, like, techno-strategies for how you assemble your pack? Also, I’m crazy excited. (I’m thinking cheese, hummus, avocado, bacon sandwiches should be enough calories).

Everyone’s all abuzz in the house. Col is using every opportunity possible to declare his love for me. “Even after you leave, I’ll still love you,” he says. Dan’s been coaching me: “Okay, eat as much food as possible in the car on the way up, so you won’t need to carry as much in.” And Rose is alarmed at all the food it seems I’m snatching from the house. As I was figuring how many packages of instant oatmeal I needed, Rose split the packages into 2 equal piles. “There, that’s fair,” she muttered to herself.

Also, look who won a few ribbons at the County Fair:

See you soon, friends.

Rachel



37 Responses leave one →
  1. August 11, 2012

    have fun! be safe! HOORAY COL! bacon!

  2. Anonymous permalink
    August 11, 2012

    Enjoy your backpacking trip and congratulations to Col on his well deserved ribbons!

  3. Anonymous permalink
    August 11, 2012

    Enjoy your backpacking trip and congratulations to Col on his well deserved ribbons!

  4. Maribeth Harris permalink
    August 11, 2012

    Way to go Col!! That plane is amazing. Rachel, have fun backpacking and I’d love to talk to you sometime about the San Juans. I have never been and would love to go sometime.

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      August 13, 2012

      Oh, the San Juans are magic. Yes, lets talk sometime. xo

  5. Maribeth Harris permalink
    August 11, 2012

    Way to go Col!! That plane is amazing. Rachel, have fun backpacking and I’d love to talk to you sometime about the San Juans. I have never been and would love to go sometime.

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      August 13, 2012

      Oh, the San Juans are magic. Yes, lets talk sometime. xo

  6. Kasey permalink
    August 11, 2012

    Have an utter ball! Were you inspired by Wild? I’m jealous! Live it up for us all, Girl!

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      August 13, 2012

      The trip was my friend’s idea, but yes, totally inspired by Wild, in more ways than one. xo

  7. Kasey permalink
    August 11, 2012

    Have an utter ball! Were you inspired by Wild? I’m jealous! Live it up for us all, Girl!

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      August 13, 2012

      The trip was my friend’s idea, but yes, totally inspired by Wild, in more ways than one. xo

  8. Melissa permalink
    August 11, 2012

    Congratulations to Col! I guess the multiple design changes proved worthwhile. Enjoy your carefree time in the mountains, and all that oatmeal. I hope you were able to figure something out for coffee, too. That would be my main concern!

  9. Melissa permalink
    August 11, 2012

    Congratulations to Col! I guess the multiple design changes proved worthwhile. Enjoy your carefree time in the mountains, and all that oatmeal. I hope you were able to figure something out for coffee, too. That would be my main concern!

  10. August 11, 2012

    Last time I backpacked was also while furiously and obliviously dividing the cells of my firstborn. Bring more chocolate than you think is my two cents.

    • Jamie permalink
      August 12, 2012

      Hahaha, that’s what I was thinking. Her sandwich is definitely NOT enough calories, she will certainly need more chocolate!

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      August 13, 2012

      peanut m’n’m’s. (chocolate *and* protein)

  11. August 11, 2012

    Last time I backpacked was also while furiously and obliviously dividing the cells of my firstborn. Bring more chocolate than you think is my two cents.

    • Jamie permalink
      August 12, 2012

      Hahaha, that’s what I was thinking. Her sandwich is definitely NOT enough calories, she will certainly need more chocolate!

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      August 13, 2012

      peanut m’n’m’s. (chocolate *and* protein)

  12. August 11, 2012

    Whoa, way to go Col! I can’t even remember the last time I went backpacking much less what went in it. Have an awesome time, Rachel!

  13. August 11, 2012

    Whoa, way to go Col! I can’t even remember the last time I went backpacking much less what went in it. Have an awesome time, Rachel!

  14. August 11, 2012

    Yeah, Col! Way to go!! I’ll second the chocolate if its cool enough to keep from melting!

  15. August 11, 2012

    Yeah, Col! Way to go!! I’ll second the chocolate if its cool enough to keep from melting!

  16. abozza permalink
    August 12, 2012

    Enjoy! Sounds delightful! And congrats to Col!!!

  17. abozza permalink
    August 12, 2012

    Enjoy! Sounds delightful! And congrats to Col!!!

  18. Christy permalink
    August 12, 2012

    Have a blast! And yay Col!

  19. Christy permalink
    August 12, 2012

    Have a blast! And yay Col!

  20. Jamie permalink
    August 12, 2012

    I guess that’s what being a mom does. The last time I did anything like that was a trip down the Green River while 11 weeks pregnant. I can’t wait to do something like that again, I’m sure you will have tons of fun. Remember, laughing also burns calories….
    Congrats to Col for his ribbons, certainly an accomplishment!

  21. Jamie permalink
    August 12, 2012

    I guess that’s what being a mom does. The last time I did anything like that was a trip down the Green River while 11 weeks pregnant. I can’t wait to do something like that again, I’m sure you will have tons of fun. Remember, laughing also burns calories….
    Congrats to Col for his ribbons, certainly an accomplishment!

  22. August 12, 2012

    Yay for you! Hope you are there right now enjoying the mountains! I’m trying to find someone to come backpacking with me this week, too. I haven’t been since my first year of college. So sad.

    Oh, and Congratulations, Col!!!

  23. August 12, 2012

    Yay for you! Hope you are there right now enjoying the mountains! I’m trying to find someone to come backpacking with me this week, too. I haven’t been since my first year of college. So sad.

    Oh, and Congratulations, Col!!!

  24. jessica permalink
    August 13, 2012

    Congrats Col on your awesome creation! And, have a super fun adventure Rachel. Maybe (with Dan’s help) Rose will replenish the instant oatmeal supply in your absence. ; )

  25. jessica permalink
    August 13, 2012

    Congrats Col on your awesome creation! And, have a super fun adventure Rachel. Maybe (with Dan’s help) Rose will replenish the instant oatmeal supply in your absence. ; )

  26. August 17, 2012

    Congrats on the county fair ribbons, Col! I love that Rose was rationing the oatmeal.

  27. August 17, 2012

    Congrats on the county fair ribbons, Col! I love that Rose was rationing the oatmeal.

  28. August 20, 2012

    I hope that you had a lovely weekend!

  29. August 20, 2012

    I hope that you had a lovely weekend!

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