I want to let you know that Bulgur wheat is a very fast and easy trail food.  Cooking is a major advantage over pasta or rice, as it only requires that you pour 2.5 cups of boiling water on 1 cup of bulgur wheat and allow to soak for 30 minutes.  There is no simmer time, so it frees you up to do other things during the soak.  It's like freezer bag cooking without the dehydration time.

December 27, 2009

OK, hang on for a little photo tour of Travis and me climbing up to the Pilchuck lookout tower:

Every year for the past 7 years, my sons and I, my brother-in-law and his sons, my father-in-law and other brother-in-law have taken a trip to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge (WMWR) near Lawton, Oklahoma. On these trips, we generally spend 2 days hiking, bouldering and rock climbing. This year, for the first time, it was just my oldest son (12), myself, my brother-in-law and his son (11). So, this time we felt we'd be a little adventurous. We got more than we bargained for!

For those who have never been to the WMWR, it is an extremely rugged piece of property near Fort Sill outside of Lawton, Oklahoma. The mountains are small compared to most ranges in the Rockies and even the Appalachians, but there are few maintained trails and the terrain is generally covered with very large chunks of granite strewn about. You must keep a watchful eye on the trail at your feet to avoid twisting an ankle or stumbling and doing a face plant into the 10 grit sandpaper-like rocks.

Check out the Personal Energy Generator.  I copied some interesting information from their web site:

The nPower™ PEG provides you with never-ending communication, entertainment, & security! With the nPower™ PEG, you create power for charging your cell phone or iPod. Just place the lightweight nPower™ PEG in your backpack, briefcase, handbag, or attach the gadget to your hip, and you’ll create energy any time you need it. The PEG works when you are in motion so you do not have to worry about being near a power outlet or running out of a phone charge while on the go ever again.