Tuesday, June 24, 2014

48 State Virtual Hike - First Five Segments



Segment 1: 0 to 63.2 miles
Length of Segment: 63.2 miles
Total miles: 63.2
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Completed Segment 1: 0 to 63.2 miles of the 48 State Virtual Hike.



Segment 2: 63.2 to 135.2 miles
Length of Segment: 72 miles
Total miles: 135.2
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Completed Segment 2: 63.2 to 135.2 miles of the 48 State Virtual Hike.



Segment 3: 135.2 to 197.8 miles
Length of Segment: 62.6 miles
Total miles: 197.8
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Completed Segment 3: 135.2 to 197.8 miles of the 48 State Virtual Hike.



Segment 4: 197.8 to 237.9 miles
Length of Segment: 40.1 miles
Total miles: 237.9
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Completed Segment 4: 197.8 to 237.9 miles of the 48 State Virtual Hike.




Segment 5: 237.9 to 272 miles
Length of Segment: 34.1 miles
Total miles: 272
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Completed Segment 5: 237.9 to 272 miles of the 48 State Virtual Hike.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Segment 1: 0 to 79.5 miles

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Length of Segment:  79.5 miles
Total miles: 79.5
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I completed Segment 1 of the 48 State Virtual Hike  hiking  79.5 miles. The total miles since the start of the hike is 79.5 miles

Monday, June 16, 2014

Google route segments

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Length of Segment:  79.5 miles
Total miles: 79.5
Click leg for street view.
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I completed Segment 1 of the 48 State Virtual Hike  hiking  79.5 miles. The total miles since the start of the hike is 79.5 miles

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

1039 6/9/14 Fox and dead snake

Total Miles: 1039
Animated streetview

I took my 5 mile walk starting about 4:00 am. It was about 50 degrees and a bit windy - a perfect day for the walk.

I saw a fox cross the road near the end of Jerry Murphy road. It walked into a small wooded area where I've seen a dead fox in the past. I got out my camera to take a picture. It was dark, but the infrared light from the camera made its eyes shine read like something in a horror movie. The fox was unsure of the light, moved a bit, and sat to look at me again. It seemed as curious as I was. Here is a picture, although it doesn't show anything. You may be able to see the faint outline of the fox. Mostly the picture is for the memory.


I also saw a squashed snake on the road heading into the University. It is about 2 feet long. I can't tell what kind of snake it is, but it doesn't appear to be a rattlesnake. It's surprising how much wildlife is in the city.


Monday, June 9, 2014

1033 Mace Trail - Trangia video. 6/8/14

Miles: 1.0
Total: 1033
Animated Street View

Krister an I hiked the Mace Trail today at  the Pueblo Mountain Park. Unfortunately, I left the Fitbit home, so I didn't count the miles. 

Recently, I started using the Trangia mini alcohol stove. It is simpler than the SVEA 123 and a little lighter. Here is a video.



Yesterday I experimented with taking a picture at every bend in the trail to create a virtual trail. It's probably only interesting to the person taking the video. I think making short videos along the way is more fun and gives better documentation.

We continued along the Mace trail and had coffee at Lookout Point, which is a place cattle rustlers used to watch for the law coming. We continued along the Mace trail to the trail that went to Burch Camp, which is an old Boy Scout camp that was washed away in a flood in the 1940's. It started to threaten rain, but never started to rain. It caught up with us about 15 minutes after we drove home when we had strong thunderstorms. There were some reports of tornados in the area, but none too near us.

I may add the video later.



Saturday, June 7, 2014

June 7, 2014 Mud races 1031 miles

Miles today:: 8.8
Total Miles: 1031
Animated Street view

We were planning to go backpacking today, but there is a forecast for heavy rain. I walked up the bike trail to the University. The wildflowers are almost gone.


This rabbit posed for me until I took its picture.


It was cool, so there were many golfers out, all riding their white golf carts.



There was a mud race near the University. Looked like people were having fun.



This picture in the window of the sheriff's SUV caught my attention. It is advertising a website on not drinking and driving. http://www.evenzombiesknow.com/

The advertising is good as it made me curious.

June 6, 2014 - 1022 miles

Miles: 6.63
Total Miles: 1022
Animated Street view

The big excitement of the day was discovering the animated street view for Google Maps. The distance between pictures depends on the length of the trip. For a normal day's walk it is 2 to 3 per mile.

I didn't take any pictures today as I walked. Most of it was steps while doing work around the house and running errands. Yeah, that's a little cheating compared to hiking, but it's in the ground rules.







Friday, June 6, 2014

Automated Street View - Google

I found this great link for an automated street view in Google.


Back after a break - The 48 State Virtual Hike Challenge

It's hard to believe I took a two year break from this blog. I got caught up in writing eBooks for Amazon. Only one of them is related to backpacking, and only loosely.

Well, let's start over and get right to the meat.

The 48 state virtual hike challenge is what you want to make of it. In other words, break any of the following rules you like as they are suggestions. It's your hike to hike in your own way. These are my rules.

1. Plan a route that touches all 48 states.
2. Hiking on interstates is illegal, so avoid them.
3. Take a picture each day on your virtual hike.
4. Save the Google Street View each day on your hike.
5. Plot your position on a map.
6. Make the route one a person could actually walk.
7. The route should start and end in the same place.
8. Track your mileage with a Fitbit Zip or other Fitbit pedometer. Any other pedometer that interacts with a website will do. All steps taken during the day count.

I started over in Walsenburg, CO. I decided it would be more practical to walk westbound first instead of eastbound. This makes it possible to make it through Arizona and Nevada before it gets too hot. I didn't decide to restart this blog until over 1,000 miles into it, so I'll pick up the trek from there. Since it's a circular route, I can go around it as many times as I like.

Notice I added the Fitbit "requirement."  Here is my Fitbit page. https://www.fitbit.com/user/2D84F9.

Date: 6/5/14
Mileage: 1015
Automated Street View