@Keeys How exciting! I hope you have fun at your REI class (yes, it's a good idea not to get lost haha) and I hope you have an amazing experience at Indiana Dunes NP! Sunsets are always amazing opportunities for photos, especially when there are dunes. The lighting that's created is almost otherworldly. 🙂 Thanks for the compliment about the photos! Let me know if you have any questions about anything, Bryn ... View more

@Keeys the Shawnee National Forest is great! I actually lived in Southern Illinois for 8 years when I was younger. Although there are snakes, you just have to be careful, and choose your time of year wisely. However, the trail is definitely doable! As for photography, I have been doing photography professionally for about 5 years now (although it's not my main gig haha), and have been doing photography in the backcountry for about the same amount of time. When I go into the backcountry with my camera gear, I always make sure to have double or triple batteries for each camera that I bring. I also always make sure that everything is water-proofed. If temps will drop below 45 F, I sleep with my camera batteries (and all other batteries) inside my sleeping bag to prevent the batteries from losing charge. It can also help to bring some sort of protected/padded case for your camera (and I usually store my camera on top of the rest of the items in my pack, unless it's around my neck!). I also like to try to travel light but versatile. I usually carry two lenses for a single camera and a go pro for shot versatility. I don't really take tripods into the backcountry, but I know people that do. Also make sure to bring plenty of memory cards. Those are just the main things I thought of off the top of my head, but if you have specific questions you'd like me to answer, let me know!  ... View more

Unfortunately I'm still rather new to the area and tend to do my longer distance runs on the trail, rather than in the city. So I'm afraid I won't be much help in terms of running around the downtown area, but if you want trail suggestions just let me know! ... View more

Hi @Dad_Aint_Hip , hopefully I'm not too late to the party. This is a great question! I would say that to come to the answer of your question, you should think about the following things: How tall are you? Would you have ample room (for you) in the one person tent, including with whatever gear you want to place inside with you? Personally, I am 5' 5"-6" and about 145 pounds, and find that a one person backpacking tent is a great size for me. I love being able to sit up and not have my head hit the ceiling. The one person tent I have also allows me about 2 feet of extra foot or head space that I can use as gear storage. Thus, I am able to fit my entire pack inside with me if I desire. Think about how much room for movement and comfort you would like to have inside the tent. The two person will obviously give you more, but if the smaller tent still gives you enough room, cut the weight and get the one person. What sort of weather will you potentially encounter when using this tent? If you think there's even a slight chance you will encounter rain (that's more than a sprinkle), and you can't fit your entire backpack inside the one person with you, go for the larger tent. You may add 1.5 pounds to your back, but imagine how much weight you save by not having to carry a bunch of soaked gear (which can happen, even if you place the pack under the tent fly). Is there a possibility that someone else might join you on the trail and share your tent? If you think you might bring someone along with you, and that a two person tent could fit both of you, get the two person tent. If you think you will be alone or have someone with you but in a different tent, get the one person. Do you have room in your backpack? Remember that getting a two person tent instead of a one person will not just increase the tent's weight, but its volume as well. Make sure you have space that you can set aside in your pack for the larger two person tent.   These are just a couple of things that I think about and suggest anyone thinks about when deciding between one and two person tents for solo backpacking. Hope this helps! ... View more

@jorgevalencia If I were you, I'd do it! This will be your last chance to do the trail for a while, it seems, and it's much easier to prevent the spread of covid when you're on the trail and in the middle of nowhere. I have done several backpacking trips since covid began and have been able to social distance both within my party and with others on the trail. Perhaps you could plan to have supplies dropped to you at various locations and forego visiting the towns yourself, if you are worried about picking up the virus. Just a thought. Both trails are great, though, so either way I'm sure you'll have a fantastic experience. And congrats on the PhD program! ... View more

@REI-JohnJ thank you! Haha it does look like a cape, doesn't it?! It was actually my University of Arizona graduation gown!  😁 ... View more

@Dad_Aint_Hip got this one in 2017 after my first solo ascent of a peak in Bolivia. The mountains are based off a photo I took of the peak and the surrounding mountains, and we added some condors to represent the Andes. The numbers are the height of the mountain in meters, and yes, the fading/"missing parts" on the tattoo are on purpose. 🙂   ... View more

Hi @kiki, Personally, for thru-hiking I tend to toggle between two different shoes (and types), depending on the terrain, climate, pack weight, etc. that I expect to have. For the most part, I actually thru-hike/backpack (even with a full-weight pack) with my trail running shoes - the La Sportiva Bushido II. These shoes are extremely lightweight. They also have amazing traction, durability, comfort, and support. I've used these shoes not only to navigate slipper, muddy terrain, but dry, technical, rocky or dried loose dirt terrain as well. These are a great all-around shoe, and on the plus side, if they get wet, they dry extremely quickly! When I want more ankle support or am navigating extremely wet and humid environments, I turn to my mid-rise boots, the KEEN Terradora II waterproof mid hiking boots. These boots are also extremely lightweight for the type of shoe they are, and they have amazing ankle padding and support, arch support, and traction. And even better, they fit like a glove, so you don't have to worry about friction causing nasty blisters! Now, you may be thinking, "if they are waterproof, they must not be very breathable." I disagree! I have found these boots to work superbly even in hot environments!   Hope this helps, Bryn ... View more

@Philreedshikes it most certainly is! 😄 ... View more

Thank you @REI-JenK! I had some amazing friends that helped make it possible. 🙂 ... View more