Dec 24, 2023·edited Dec 24, 2023Liked by Erik Hogan
Yeah, medium seems pretty shit for actual meaningful writing if you’re not some tech bro talking about optimizing your business or some stupid crap, that’s why I’m on here, building material to kick off my stack soon (currently in Oaxaca, Mexico, a magical place, collecting story material, some nice hiking here too).
Happy end of year to you! Nice landscapes and entry. I have heard good things about the Ursack, but have managed to avoid actually owning my own bear container so far, would just strap to outside of pack I think. High quality tea is one of my great passions and “needs,” rather than coffee, so I too am familiar with the agony of lighting a stove and preparing the whole thingamajig in freezing conditions while camping, but really, doesn’t that just make it more enjoyable and precious in the end?
When I lived in Taiwan and hiked all around the mountains there, one day I collected water from one of the local waterfalls on a mountain there with a friend, took it all the way back, and made tea out of it with local amazing Taiwanese oolong tea. Doesn’t get much better than that!
You're probably right about Medium as a whole. For me Substack had everything I needed and I just didn't have the time or energy to also try to make something happen on other platforms.
The coffee (substitute tea) is much more than a process. It's a ritual that I look forward to every morning in the wild. You are so correct when you say the difficulty makes it better!
My time in Mexico is limited to one quick trip to Chichen-Itza. It would be amazing to hike trails there! I hope to see some of your stuff about it!
100% agree! (On the importance of ritual—actually this is something you can really see in places like Oaxaca that place a strong premium on artistic/spiritual/ritual/natural and the WHOLEness of people vs how unadulterated consumerism/transactionalism etc splits people and turns them away from ritual).
I think the biggest issues, is that like many places in the world, the trails systems seem a weird mix of public and private land interests and there are potential safety issues with unscrupulous parties taking advantage—despite the history and interests of capital and the seizure of lands from native people (and subsequent genocides), the national park system in the US is kind of incomparable in terms
Of well preserved spaces, access to them, true wilderness and an understanding of what they are supposed to be for. And personally, after you have hiked in places like the PNW or CA Sierras, there’s probably not a whole lot in the world that compares.
That idea of the wholeness of people involved in ritual vs splitting or separating out a task is VERY interesting!!! I'm going to have to think a lot more on that!
Even in the US, I fear meeting bad people on the trails more than any dangerous animals. I'm sure that would be exponentially more so in certain parts of the world, but I still want to explore them!
Yeah, it’s one of the main things I’m thinking about these days and at root of a lot of peoples’ sickness—e.g. explain the opioid epidemic to a European or Mexican, it will make no sense to them.
I think the thing I fear the most is just getting lost on. The trail or taking a sudden fall in the dark when I leave or come back to camp too late lol. May do a hike here with a local group next week before we head back to Mexico City, we’ll see. The ecosystems feel very familiar to me being a native Californian—very much this sort of high altitude desert chapparal pine forest type thing, rainy season is only in the summer.
I didn't have a thermometer with me, but I'm certain it was below freezing. The condensation on my tent froze and there was frost all over the ground in the morning. I kept a water bottle in my sleeping bag just in case, but it wasn't cold enough, long enough to freeze the water in my other bottles.
Yeah, medium seems pretty shit for actual meaningful writing if you’re not some tech bro talking about optimizing your business or some stupid crap, that’s why I’m on here, building material to kick off my stack soon (currently in Oaxaca, Mexico, a magical place, collecting story material, some nice hiking here too).
Happy end of year to you! Nice landscapes and entry. I have heard good things about the Ursack, but have managed to avoid actually owning my own bear container so far, would just strap to outside of pack I think. High quality tea is one of my great passions and “needs,” rather than coffee, so I too am familiar with the agony of lighting a stove and preparing the whole thingamajig in freezing conditions while camping, but really, doesn’t that just make it more enjoyable and precious in the end?
When I lived in Taiwan and hiked all around the mountains there, one day I collected water from one of the local waterfalls on a mountain there with a friend, took it all the way back, and made tea out of it with local amazing Taiwanese oolong tea. Doesn’t get much better than that!
You're probably right about Medium as a whole. For me Substack had everything I needed and I just didn't have the time or energy to also try to make something happen on other platforms.
The coffee (substitute tea) is much more than a process. It's a ritual that I look forward to every morning in the wild. You are so correct when you say the difficulty makes it better!
My time in Mexico is limited to one quick trip to Chichen-Itza. It would be amazing to hike trails there! I hope to see some of your stuff about it!
100% agree! (On the importance of ritual—actually this is something you can really see in places like Oaxaca that place a strong premium on artistic/spiritual/ritual/natural and the WHOLEness of people vs how unadulterated consumerism/transactionalism etc splits people and turns them away from ritual).
I think the biggest issues, is that like many places in the world, the trails systems seem a weird mix of public and private land interests and there are potential safety issues with unscrupulous parties taking advantage—despite the history and interests of capital and the seizure of lands from native people (and subsequent genocides), the national park system in the US is kind of incomparable in terms
Of well preserved spaces, access to them, true wilderness and an understanding of what they are supposed to be for. And personally, after you have hiked in places like the PNW or CA Sierras, there’s probably not a whole lot in the world that compares.
That idea of the wholeness of people involved in ritual vs splitting or separating out a task is VERY interesting!!! I'm going to have to think a lot more on that!
Even in the US, I fear meeting bad people on the trails more than any dangerous animals. I'm sure that would be exponentially more so in certain parts of the world, but I still want to explore them!
Yeah, it’s one of the main things I’m thinking about these days and at root of a lot of peoples’ sickness—e.g. explain the opioid epidemic to a European or Mexican, it will make no sense to them.
I think the thing I fear the most is just getting lost on. The trail or taking a sudden fall in the dark when I leave or come back to camp too late lol. May do a hike here with a local group next week before we head back to Mexico City, we’ll see. The ecosystems feel very familiar to me being a native Californian—very much this sort of high altitude desert chapparal pine forest type thing, rainy season is only in the summer.
Sounds like very interesting terrain. I've had a few close calls, but fortunately never seriously injured myself on a trip!
Great story Erik - every trip into the wilderness is a learning experience. And a chance to reconnect. Thank you
Hey, I'm grateful to have you read my posts! Thanks!
The fact that you even mentioned the possibility of bears...no sir lol.
Beautiful shots though!
Quick question about the coffee: Did your water freeze overnight? Or was the weather even below freezing?
I didn't have a thermometer with me, but I'm certain it was below freezing. The condensation on my tent froze and there was frost all over the ground in the morning. I kept a water bottle in my sleeping bag just in case, but it wasn't cold enough, long enough to freeze the water in my other bottles.
I think the bears were all still sleeping! 😂
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all sleep through winter?
Beautiful! I’m a backpacker too, and love reading others’ trail adventures and discoveries!
Oh, excellent! There are a few of us here on Substack. I agree, it's fascinating to read about other people's trips in different corners of the world!