Just looked at my old trail logs and hit 500 nights under a tarp

I was cleaning out my gear closet and found my first trail journal from 2012. I started adding up all the nights I've slept under a simple tarp instead of a tent, and the number surprised me. It was over 500 nights, spread across trails from the Oregon Coast to the Long Trail in Vermont. It made me think about how my kit has changed but that basic shelter hasn't. I used to fuss over the perfect tent, but after a wet trip on the Superior Hiking Trail where my tarp saved the day, I just stuck with it. It's lighter, faster to set up, and lets me watch the stars. I guess I never realized how much that one choice shaped all my trips. Does anyone else have a piece of gear they've used for way longer than they planned?

2 comments

2 Comments

rowan5935d agoTop Commenter

It's wild how the simplest gear choices often end up defining our whole experience.

joseph_hunt5d ago

I get what you mean about simple gear choices, but honestly I feel like it's the opposite for me. The fancy stuff I overthink never matters as much as just getting out there.