Point Definance Park

Well I was in need of a hike, whether it was a couple miles in a park, or up in the mountains. The initial plan was to go to rainier today, but due to school and having to go to a plant lecture at 7pm I was not going to stretch myself too thin today. So I took my loaded up Jam2 with all my solo backpacking gear and headed out for a smooth sailing training hike at Point Defiance Park after my Biology lab in the morning. I drove around the 5 mile loop road, and finally found a map and scoped out a short trip that would take me a couple miles and also allow for a side trip down to the beach for lunch and gear testing. Other than just getting my legs jolted into working order I was testing out my Jam2 pack, Solo cook stove w/cook mug, the stickpic, and a couple other small items to make sure it was all going to work for my Elwha river hike on the 18th - 19th. So here's my photo documentary. (I also had to go to another "wilderness area for interpretations of the habitat for my Evolutionary Biology Course.

The Park Map


The battered trail vehicle


The view from my parking spot


First outside stick pic shot looking towards Vashon Island area.


Tug and Barge


Spring is here.


Stickpic shot for species collection project.




Headed to the beach, side shot of my really heavy Jam2 loaded with all my backpacking gear...


At the beach


Some barnacles.


Bring on the spring!


Backpackinglight.com Esbit Wing stove shot with a view! 14g/.49oz


Boiling some water for my lunch and some coffee. Testing to make sure that this pot will be large enough for cooking dinner and a small drink. Should work fine, esbit has a smell like a burning .22 gun powder...


My food and it's "bowl"


Arms length on the beach


Coffee shot with a view!


4 Cheese Turkey with rice, with a view!


Taking in the scenery with a little shot of joe.


Mini habitat and regrowth on an old log round.


Obviously a fairly domesticated raccoon... It didn't budge and I was in my car 15 feet away with the stereo blaring.


Tacoma Narrows Shot.


The stickpic works awesome! The esbit stove works well, definately slower than my canister stove, but a heck of a lot lighter. The trapper mug appears to be just enough for my needs at the moment. Not much more and not much less. I still might switch to a Tiberian Titanium 550mL cup/pot eventually though. The Jam2 is fairly darn comfortable, but I can't wait till my Golite Ion arrives next week so that I can modify it to fit my solo gear and solo packing needs better (adding a back mesh pocket and water bottle holster along with changing the lid to an extendable collar roll top).