After spending Thursday night at the Comfort Inn on Rt. 31, we drove to the Rt. 31 parking area and hiked south to Grindle Ridge for Friday night, then back to the Rt. 31 shelters for Saturday night. A total hike of maybe 18 miles over easy terrain, spread out over 3 days. …What? WHAT?! Hey, we were 2,950 feet above sea level, not once but TWICE. What did you do that weekend?

Check the album, yo.

The movies are HERE.

More to follow.

—warthog

We have resurfaced. Master Chief and I came out of the Laurel Highlands today, and have begun to gradually re-enter our lives. Photos, words, and more to come. But right now, a nap.

First, though, a movie from the North Face at 7 Springs… (we left the sign right where we found it)

That noise is WIND!

—the warthog

Powder your crack. Really, I mean, that’s it right there. When I sat down to write this first entry, to christen campstew.com, I was planning to wax philosophical about how reducing the friction on a hike is comparable to keeping your life flowing smoothly, simple and clean and free of unnecessary encumbrance. But you know what? The greatest truths often go unsaid. So I’m saying, a dry crack is a happy crack. Bottom line. And while a happy crack may not be the best life has to offer, an unhappy one sure as heck is down there among the worst.

So powder your crack before you hit the trail. That’s a life lesson for you right there, junior.

—the warthog