The beauty of camping up North is that each region, actually, each square mile, maintains its very own micro climate. Halfway through our epic adventure, we encountered a bit of inclement weather. Thankfully, we were prepared with an arsenal of technical apparel that kept us in the game, focused on playing UNO and drinking whisky.
The atmosphere ended up feeling a little bit more moody, with purple skies and a thick mist settling on all of our tents. We explored the dock and took some time to get lost in the murky waters, but luckily the fog horn brought us back to reality before we drifted away too far.
On the outerwear tip, Carhartt kept us dry in the Downburst Waterproof Jacket, a 3-ounce, 100% nylon shell, with a 2.5-layer Dura-Dry® waterproof breathable membrane and fully taped seams. Once the sky shifted to dark blue and the temperature dropped, I threw on an updated version of the fleece-lined Sandstone jacket, a Carhartt classic and workwear staple. I have always coveted this jacket and I am thrilled that they decided to make a women’s version in a dusty color that isn’t too “girly”.
To keep with color continuity and retain warmth, I wore my new Hike Light Crew socks from Smartwool in a syrupy shade of purple. I have recently started expanding my collection of purple technical pieces, so I am happy to report that there is a new color is emerging in the outdoor sector and it kind of looks like grape juice. I also had my trusty Boston Clogs from Birkenstock in tow, they give me something to look forward to when I take off my hiking boots and I never head to camp without them.
The Shifter Pack from Alite Designs became my makeshift technology center for the week, housing my laptops, cords and cameras in the large central compartment. Made from a lightweight, water resistant waxed “kodra”, this deceivingly spacious beauty weighs in at just over two pounds and offers a capacity of 31 liters.
Once we finally settled in and started a fire, I used my mini Bear Grylls x Gerber knife to carve my name into the picnic table, which you can see evidenced here. Obviously, you guys didn’t know I was such a rebel and also a talented artist. Your bad. I forgive you.
Stay tuned for the final installment of Beach Bums, Sonoma County Part III and my illustrated guide to packing aptly titled BEACH BUM ESSENTIAL CAMPING LIST later this week.
XX Jeanine