A rest day, solar panels put to the test, and the invention — or reinvention — of Hobo Camping.

A day at the creek, a carabiner deciding the next move, 33 miles through the night, a mountain lion, and breakfast at McDonald’s.

A slow morning, solar panels that work, a river crossing, and a last mile walked in the dark — a good day, all things considered.

Four days in Big Bear: a package that arrived late, pants that were never found, Mac and Cheese that was not really cheese, and a water filter that actually worked.

A bus, a new headlamp, a retired geologist, and a brief passport panic — Big Bear delivered on all fronts.

Up at 2am, a fall in the dark, a beautiful sunrise, and sixteen miles to a campfire — not necessarily in that order of importance.

Over ten litres of water, a first river crossing, and a night experiment that collected valuable data.

A Walmart run on camping chairs, trail magic with spareribs, and a pack weighing 30kg. About a month in the US.

No food, almost no water, nine miles to the next source, a filtered puddle, and a moon so bright it kept me awake.

Stayed an extra day in the mountains, it started snowing, and the gas ran out mid-cook. Lukewarm mashed potato for dinner.

The usual midday start, the usual two women I keep overtaking, strong wind, and more or less the last stretch in the mountains.

Still in the wildfire zone, thorns all day, a Star Wars festival I skipped, and a perfect dinner spot on a boulder with a view.

A long day out late, a forgotten hat returned, and something with eyes in the dark on the way to water.