Camping with cast iron.

I wouldn't want to carry a cast iron Dutch oven on a long hike. For this weekend, we didn't care about pack weight. Instead, we bought the best tools for the job. 

I recently joined Hartley Brody and Mike Ewing for a weekend winter bushcraft workshop with Micah Surprenant. The first day Micah taught us how to build a shelter, harvesting wood from the forrest, and we built a long fire to keep us warm at night.

Lechmere Station:

Found this one kicking around in the archives.

I made it down the mountain.

Over the next week, I recovered and spent a few days in Seattle and Sequim. I had lots of time to process everything that happened and what I learned. I got some great thinking done while my legs recovered.

Camp Muir, 11:35 pm

The bunkhouse door flew open. Time to wake up and start our ascent. By 12:40am, we rigged for glacier travel and started hiking. We stepped outside into the howling wind, sandblasting our faces with volcanic dust. Our down parkas kept us warm in the coldest temps we'd faced so far. We were finally ready to head up the rock and ice to the summit. 

Whisky tasting day arrives.

After breakfast on the farm, we headed for Glendronach. We arrived just after one of the tours started, and needed to wait for the next one. Hungry again, we headed into the nearby town for sustinance.

We flew back to the distillary after grabbing a utility meal at Tesco's nearby. A couple of sandwiches would soak up the whisky. Their strawberries were irresistable and also made the car smell great.

Morning light came early.

I rose to pull the curtain and saw the countryside for the first time. We woke in our room in the farm in the Scottish highlands. At 5:30am, the morning light warmly lit some old red farm equipment. I did not take out my camera then. Instead, I climbed back into bed for another 2 hours. 

We woke early.

Very early, as the sun streamed in the crack of our window shade. Both of us rolled back over and slept until a quarter of 8.

Travelogue - May 26, 2014. Edinburgh Day 2. Read day 1 here.

Standard full English breakfast was standard. Bacon, sausage, eggs (scrambled or fried,) beans, tomato, toast and coffee. I snagged a nectarine for the road.

I wasn't cold.

That's the first thing that surprised me.

Chilly 50 degrees

We landed in Edinburgh to grey skies and cool temps. The flight, while uneventful, did allow us a chance to sleep. We touched down just after 10 am local time.

Unfortunately we arrived sans luggage.

My favorite question.

Especially in job interviews. Their answer tells you a lot about their motivation for approaching problems and achieving goals. I've probably asked this over 200 times. Naturally, I've also thought about my own answer for a while.

I figured the best way to know, is to go out and do it. I set my sights on Mount Washington.