Hike Naked, It Adds Color to Your Cheeks

Who says mother-daughter bonding involves shopping sprees or pedicures? My mom and I caught up on a backpacking trip, comparing the capabilities of our Swiss Army knives and reveling in my sweet new stove: The Raptor. Weighing in at a whopping 5 ounces, the stove is smaller than a digital camera and fits in the palm of my hand. Unfold its metal claws and the Raptor is born--simple, sharp, and ready to boil water in 4 minutes flat. $55 at Apex Outdoor Gear, a small independent store on 29th.

We hiked the Manistee River Trail and camped between the river and a creek. The trail was moderately challenging and offered varied terrain and a good view of the river. The only downside was the high river traffic--I respect those who canoe and kayak, but tubers are, indisputably, idiots.

It was good to spend a couple days letting my body breathe, sweat, and shit naturally. Communication was face-to-face and not by phone. Now I'm back to civilization with sore hamstrings and little regret for taking a long hot shower. One foot out and one foot in is fine with me.