For the Sake of Mental Health

As one of the unfortunate souls who has not been able to backpack their way into the remote wilds yet this year, I am getting ready to fix that this weekend with a trip into the closest thing to wilds that north Georgia can offer - the Cohutta Wilderness. My trips are usually day trips, consisting of 20 - 45 minute drives to the small pockets of woods here, and I am usually accompanied by anywhere from one to three family members, ranging in age from 2 years to persons of specifically ambiguous age, such as my wife.

But this time... this time I am going on not just a backpacking trip, but an adventure! I work with a guy who is as inspired by the unconventional as I am, and we are heading out on an off-trail excursion. We know where we want to be, and we have an approximate idea of how we want to get there, but the route is just squiggly lines on a green topo map for now. With the warm weather, it should be easy to pack light and have a bit more space for photo and fishing gear.

Now for the anxious countdown to Friday...