#100daysofhiking

So today is all about resolutions.  A new year, a new beginning, a checkpoint of sorts.  I've always been against new year resolutions, thinking any change should start now.  I figured the new year was an excuse for the weak minded.  Something for them to jump on, another bandwagon to fall off of. 

But now that I am older, though I still believe in starting NOW for making a change, I can also see the value in making plans for the year to come starting January 1st. 

I have an ongoing list, mapping out my next ten years.  It include major things I would like to accomplish or see every year, and details about how I will get there.

January 1st for me is the time to add the 10th year as the last one goes by.  That way I am always ten years out.  It's also a time to be a little more detailed with what's in store for this year, according to the plan. 

One of those goals this year is to begin hiking more often.  To get back to what I love doing.  This is going to be imperative for my 2020 goal of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.

I have committed myself to no less than 100 days of hiking in 2016. 

Today, I am down to 99 to go with a quick 4 mile stroll up Mt. Caramel in Sleeping Giant State Park.  With my son and daughter (Christopher and Emmalyn) in tow we tracked the red path up to the "castle."

We got to the top and busted out our PB&Js and the game Trouble.  Christopher got one of his red pieces to the finish before we quit and started to head back.  It was starting get pretty cold and Emmalyn was beginning to conplain.

Follow me as I post my journeys here along the way.

"The best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago.  The second best time is now."  So start now if you want to make a change but always remember to set goals and checkpoints along the way.

Be happy, be healthy, and be safe.  Happy New Year all!

Personal Protection

I thought this was a pretty cool article from a fellow blogger.  He sells personal protection supplies.  Tasers, pepper supply, etc.  Maybe something to think about while on the trail, especially when alone.  He also give basic survival advice as in the article below.  Be safe everyone!

18 Home Improvement Tips For Preppers

Written by David Pyrtle of thestaysafemart.com

David Pyrtle is a personal self-defense instructor, self-defense products distributor and a licensed dealer for TASER® Guns, Stun Master Stun Guns, and MACE® Defensive Sprays. He founded the STAY SAFE MART in June of 2012 while selling these products.

Between 1950 and 1979, approximately 29 recorded tropical cyclones endangered residents of Maryland. Between 1980 and present, there were 55 known hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions that have affected Maryland. Thus, one home improvement for Baltimore preppers to consider is a tornado safe room. The size of the room that you purchase will depend upon the size of your family.

When it Comes to Water

Another home improvement preppers should consider has to do with water, which is so critical that people can live for only several days without it. Besides drinking water, people also need water for activities such as bathing, washing clothes, and flushing away human urine and feces.

1. Swimming Pool

If there is a catastrophic cut off of public water for an extended period of time, even a small swimming pool will give a family all the water it needs and extra water for bartering with others. A swimming pool also can help to cool a family that is without air conditioning during a heat wave that has caused a power blackout. With your own source of water, you will not have to leave home on potentially dangerous journeys to get water.

2. Insulated Windows

Insulated windows are another home improvement to consider. They pay for themselves during frigid winters and scorching summers. These windows keep a house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

3. Window Shutters

Not all home improvements are so expensive. Window shutters can help to protect occupants of a house from flying objects during a tornado or hurricane. The shutters also can make a house less vulnerable to intruders.

4. Heavy Drapes

Heavy drapes have multiple advantages and eventually can pay for themselves. They can help to keep out cold drafts during a frigid winter and keep out heat producing sunlight during a heat wave. Thus, they can be very helpful when there is a failure of normal heating and cooling systems.

5. Sump Pump

One home improvement is accomplished when a prepper family buys a sump pump and installs it in their basement. The American Society of Home Inspectors states that more than 60 percent of American homes are damaged from below-ground wetness or floods. This damage can be especially severe if a prepper family stores preps such as food in their basement. Even if nothing that is stored in the basement is damaged by water, toxic mold can result from such wet conditions.

6. Generator

Another improvement for a prepper family home is an electrical standby generator. A standby generator is more expensive than a portable generator, but a standby generator functions automatically during a power outage. Also, a standby generator is not as noisy as a portable generator.

7. Garage

For a home that does not have a garage, such an addition has a number of advantages. A garage helps to protect the cars of a prepper family from storm damage and from car thieves. A garage also will give a prepper family more room to store preps.

8. Slate Roofing

When it is time for a prepper family to replace their house roof, that prepper family would do well to consider doing so with slate roofing. Such roofing gives better protection from wildfires than does roofing made from other materials. Slate roofing also lasts longer and neither rot nor insects will damage it.

9. Sprinkler System

Another type of home improvement is home sprinkler systems. Many commercial buildings have had such sprinkler systems for years, but now, a residential home also can have such sprinkler systems. These sprinkler systems can suppress or put out a home fire before the firemen arrive. Such sprinkler systems are especially valuable for the prepper family that lives in a rural location where the fire department response time is much slower than the response time experienced by a family that lives in an urban area.

10. Chimney

Chimneys that are not lined, clean, and well maintained can catch fire or leak poisonous gasses, and both of these problems can endanger families. Fireplaces are more likely to be used during disaster. During a disaster, when fireplaces might be greatly needed, is not a good time to discover faulty chimneys.

11. Trees

Trees that are close to houses can topple over during storms, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, and these falling trees can damage houses and cars. It might not be possible to use damaged cars or to live in damaged houses immediately after a disaster. Also, insurance policies have deductibles and limits to their liabilities. Thus, a good home improvement project would be to trim or remove trees, especially dead ones, that might be a threat to cars or houses during storms.
Gutter guards keep debris from clogging gutters. Clear gutters keep water draining away from houses where this water cannot harm houses.

12. Basement Maintenance

Wet, moldy basements can be a health threat. Homeowners need to determine the source of the wetness. Once they determine the source, homeowners can buy sealants, sump pumps, or dehumidifiers to remedy the problem.

13. Solar Panels

Solar panels can help to make families more energy independent. Energy independence is useful during normal times, but energy independence is especially helpful after disasters.

14. Burglar Alarm

Burglar alarms can lessen the chances of home burglaries, which can be a disaster for the victimized prepper families. Some prepper families are likely to have gold, silver, and guns in their homes, and these items are very attractive to burglars. Even if prepper families take these items with them during a bug out, there are plenty of other items that burglars can steal from their empty houses.

15. Steel Doors

Those preppers who do not have properly mounted and locked steel doors on entry ways to their houses might be wise to consider the advantages of having such doors. If the door is made of galvanized steel, it is rust and corrosion resistant. Also, if such steel doors are installed with proper mounts and locks, they will give better protection against anyone who wants to force his way into a prepper’s house.

16. Door Lock

A strong door lock and mount consist of a 1-inch-long deadbolt with a reinforced, metal box strike plate as well as 3-inch-long mounting screws that lodge in the framing beyond the door jam. Such doors should be on all door entry ways to the house, including the entry way from the garage.

17. Yard Fences

Yard fences have a number of advantages. Such fences, especially metal fences, can help to protect a house from debris blown by storm winds. Also, by locking the fence gate, even a low fence makes it obvious when someone is trespassing on a prepper’s property. In addition, a yard fence allows a prepper’s dog to roam unsupervised in the yard.

18. Fiber-Cement Siding

Cement fiber siding is durable and requires very low maintenance. In addition, it is indistinguishable from some wood siding products. Furthermore, it is not subject to rot or insect damage and can be guaranteed for as many as 50 years. Finally, since it is non-flammable, it gives some protection from wildfires.

The tips described in this article not only might help to sustain or save your life and the lives of your loved ones, but also should increase the value of your home, if you sell it someday.

http://thestaysafemart.com?utm_source=BoostSuite&utm_medium=Comarketing&utm_campaign=Strongerjourneys.blogspot.com

The Ten Year Plan

We were on day two of the Long Trail in Vermont and lord knows what conversation came before or after but the topic of life planning arose.  My friend and I were pretty deep into solving the world's problems I'm sure and the thought of what to do after retirement came up. Now keep on mind we have about 25 or so years to go...

He has a very detailed 50 year plan and he would like to involve me with some sort of social program involving the great outdoors.  He will be the president of the United States someday, you see.  Or at least the Governor of Connecticut. 

Crazy right?  Dream big nature walkers.  Then come home, back to Earth.  Right?

I don't think so.

My friend is the kind of guy that intends to do something, then, like a great chess player, has every move and potential obstacle considered all the way to the checkmate.  This is the guy with two masters degrees from two of the most prestigious schools in the world.  He speaks four languages fluently, including Chinese.  He is currently working as a diplomat, stationed in Haiti, basically rewriting their education program. 

It's all part of the plan.

So to say the least, this conversation had a profound impact on my life.  When I got home, I began working on my own detailed future plan.  I decided however to tone it down slightly, by about 40 years, and the 10 year plan was born.

This is so important to do as everyone has dreams that never get realized.  What I hope to do here is outline my plan for anyone to replicate.  It includes detailed explanations as to how exactly this plan will become reality. 

A lot of people create dream boards.   These are collages of things they want, places to see, and objectives to complete.  The problem is much less a problem with defining your "why" and more a problem of "how."

So the 10 year plan.  Every year I have a major event that I would like to accomplish.  And with the passing of each year another year will be added to forever keep it at 10.  It's posted so that I can see it every day.  So I am constantly reminded of what i am working for.  This keeps me on my toes and gives every daily task a purpose. 

10 Year Plan
Things:
Home Addition
COST:  $25,000.00
WHEN:  2017
HOW:  home improvement loan/refinance loan
Lake House
COST:  $200,000.00   
WHEN:  2020
HOW:  $50,000 downpayment and loan
Boat
COST:  $15,000.00 
WHEN:  2021
HOW:  Cash/ savings
Places:
Ireland
COST:  $5,000.00
WHEN:  August 2016
HOW:  Cash
French Polynesia
COST:  $5,000.00
WHEN:  2018
HOW:  Cash
Kilimanjaro
COST:  $15,000.00 
WHEN:  2020
HOW:  fundraise, summit for someone
Brazil
COST:  $10,000.00
WHEN:  2022
HOW:  Cash
India
COST:  $10,000.00
WHEN:  2024
HOW:  Cash
New Zealand
COST:  $10,000.00
WHEN:  2026
HOW:  Cash

Cost:  $110,000.00 Cash by 2026
Goal: $30,000.00 Extra per year by 2017

I need 110 grand to get all this done?! Sounds like a crazy and unattainable goal. But when you begin the break it down, it becomes a bit more realistic. 

Here's how!  My wife and I have begun a home business that we intend to begin a surge in activities in the next month.  It's in the home fitness and supplement industry and over the last year I have worked very hard at becoming a product of the product.  I am in the best shape of my life and I am 100% in on helping others do the same.  I will also get a training certification that will allow me to work in a more intimate setting.  Based on the numbers and potential of this business, I believe that an extra $30,000 per year might be shooting a bit low.  we are up to 10K afyer 1 year.  Regardless... I am ready to fight. 

What do you want to do? And how are you going to do it?

For those interested in the Beachbody business opportunity contact me at:
maliardav@gmail.com
And check out my page at:
www.beachbodycoach.com/davemaliar

Eat like you do on the trail

Eat like you do on the Trail

Simple,  Frequent, High Energy Meals

Think like a distance hiker for a second.  But it's Wednesday in the middle of your work week and there's not a trail in sight except for maybe a paper trail of memos and reports.  Think about your meals; what you eat and how often.  So you eat oatmeal in the morning with dehydrated fruit, maybe a pre-workout powder to add to your drink.  There's a bag of trail mix in your cargo pocket for day snacking.  I even saw two Appalachian Trail thru-hikers in Maryland eating peanut butter right out of the jar with a spoon while on the move.  Lunchtime hits, you want to eat something quick and not too filling because you will never get going again if you put yourself in a food coma.  A couple hours later, it's snack time and maybe you have a strawberry Shakeology, full of phytonutrients and super foods.  Then comes dinner.  You want something nutritious, something with a little protein to help you recover and get going again for the next day on the trail.  And throughout the day you are sipping on water from the tube that comes from your backpack.  You don't even realize you've already gone through the 2 liters and now you need to search for another stream to filter a refill.  

I might just be speaking for myself but why do we plan so carefully for a trip like this but when we get home it's back to convenience, over eating, and/or under eating.  And water?  I just can't remember to drink enough water!  I drink more when its hard to find and I have to filter it myself by hand.  

Maybe that's the answer to my problem.  The main reason I hit the trail is to feel human, be in nature, and for the physical accomplishment when you reach that summit.  I have to start treating every day like I have 10 miles ahead of me on foot with a 5000 foot elevation change.  Now, I don't think it would be right for me to pack a bag on Sunday before the workweek and carry my food with me through Friday.  The boss may not like that too much.  And me, I am a police officer.  I already carry an extra 30-40 pounds of gear every day.  

Fact: human brain development reached an astounding rate of growth when our ancestors began eating meat!  That says a ton about what the protein and other vitamins and minerals can do for your health.  

For the longest time I believed this was the ultimate argument for the omnivore diet.  You crazy vegans.... I eat meat so I must be waaay smarter than you.  Then I got smart and opened a book, or two.  

The reason the meat eating thing made humans progress so rapidly, come to find out, is that meat is a dense, slow to digest form of food that keeps you energized and sustained for a longer period of time.  As opposed to nuts and berries and whatever it was that you could dig up that day.  

Still think I am defending omnivores?  Fast forward to modern times.  Go to a grocery store.  Is there anything you can't find?  Our society has solved the problem of food the shortage.  We no longer need to fight for every meal.  It is way too easy to get everything humanly necessary, and its right around most corners or right downtown. You literally can get everything you need to live a really healthy life, full of energy and brain development simply by eating plants.  In fact your body needs to work so hard to digest meat it makes your PH too acidic, and an acidic PH is linked to creating the perfect environment for cancer!

So am I a vegan.  Oh hell no!  you will never.... never get me to put down the knife.  Never!  I even built a huge smoker in my back yard with two, 4 foot racks so that I can treat myself and my family to the best damn ribs and pulled pork you ever had.  Don't get me started on that.  

I am a firm believer in a very non-strict diet that consist of whatever you want in moderation and everything you need.  Exclusions: soda and fast food.  And don't get me started on that either.

So when I am on the trail this is how I eat.  The following is an example of the average day for me and my companions on the trail.  I will give you two recipes for each day just for options.  Most of the work is done ahead of time, before we leave, and carefully portioned out so that we are all carrying our share, and only what we need.  Sounds like the perfect way to live.  Everything you need and no waste.

Try this for one month.  Live like you do on the trail, high energy food, no waste, and plenty of exercise.  I think you will be amazed at how you feel.

Photo by Sean Ranieri Photography

(That's me flipping the kielbasa!)

Breakfast:  

• Oatmeal.  None of that quick instant crap that's half sugar.  Real steal cut or Irish style oatmeal.  Add honey for sweetness and dried fruit.  I like cranberries.  Also add a little ground flax seed to help with digestion and "regularity."  One cup of this mix is all you need.
• Pancakes.  For one serving you will need:
• 1/4 cup of finely ground oatmeal (we have a really good blender at home that works great!)
• 1 T of ground flax seed
• 1/4 cup organic whole wheat flour
• 1 t of baking powder
• 1 T of honey
• 1/4 cup dried bananas
• Mix all ingredients and add 1/2 cup filtered water 
• Coffee!  Starbucks actually makes a really good instant coffee in a serving sized pouch.

Snack 1:

• Have a bag of homemade trail mix with you at all times.  Mix together all ingredients.  Feel free to add any amount of any of your favorite nuts or fruit to this mix.  This will definitely keep you going all day.  Multiply this by 4 and you should have enough to ration out for the week.  
• 1/4 cup peanuts
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (shelled)
• 1/4 cup shaved almonds
• 1/4 cup shaved coconut
• 1/2 cup dried fruit (just buy a mixed bag if you don't have a dehydrator)
• 1/4 cup M&Ms (because, what the hell)

Lunch: 

• We try to make lunch light and quick.  If you can find a way to keep crackers safe (like an old Pringles can) then try this:
• Cut 4 inches of summer sausage per person
• 3 inches of cheddar cheese
• 15 multi-grain crackers
• Either be classy and cut a slice for each cracker, or just take a bite.  We just take a bite.
• Tuna fish:  They make those sealed pouches with tuna that are a perfect serving for a great mid day meal.  My favorite on the Tahoe Rim Trail was the lemon herb.  You could even eat this on the go with a spork... right from the bag.  It is much lighter than a can and way easier to open.  

Snack 2:  

• In addition the all day snacking on trail mix, I always bring enough of a good quality powdered meal replacement drink, like Shakeology.  They also have a no dye, no added crap performance line that is great for extra energy and recovery on the trail.

Dinner:

• First night:  STEAK!  We always marinade a big old honkin cut of meat and throw it in the freezer for the first night on the trail.  This way it stays cold all day and it is usually just about defrosted by dinner time.  Throw in some asparagus and quinoa and you got yourself a meal.
• Lemon Chicken and Rice:
• I know they make canned chicken and have not seen, yet, a chicken in the pouch like I have with the tuna.... but maybe I need to look harder.
• find a nice long grain rice mix
• Cook the rice with filtered water 
• Cook the chicken with cracked pepper and Himalayan salt to taste then add 1 t powdered garlic, and 1 t of True Lemon (a lemon extract).  Cook until the chicken is warm.
• Extra:  There are always those nights where you don't feel like a gourmet chef and are just too tired.  Stay away from Ramon Noodles please, and other high sodium low nutrient meals.  They do make whole dehydrated meals that are pretty tasty and actually not all that bad for you.  Chicken and mashed potatoes and beef stew are two of my favorites.  

*Always stay Hydrated.  A good way to gauge how much water you need a day is to take half your weight in ounces.  For example I am 170lbs.  half that... 85.  Drink 85oz of water a day.  Drink more the more active you are.  And stay away from sugar drinks like Gatorade and Powerade.  They are great for electrolyte replacement but the sugar content is ridiculously bad for you.  Water it down maybe by half or more and it should be good.  

**Always bring a flask of whiskey for the last day/ end of the work week to share in your accomplishments.  It's worth the weight.  (see photo above... though it didn't quite make it to the last day.  

Tales from the trails - 1

Real Life Lessons from the Long Trail

This past summer was a summer of a lot of personal reflection.  My yearly hiking trip with friends was to Vermont for a section of the Long Trail.  All that thinking lead me to this:  Lessons from the Long Trail.  I guess really you can place your own trail there; lessons from the trail, but the point will be seen.  

First I have to admit something.  If you look at the dates of the previous posts on this blog... its been a while.  I originally began writing this to give people a review of the best day hikes in Connecticut and the New England area, complete with tips from experience and of course all centered around my little hiking buddy, my son, Christopher.  Then life happened.  I just got hired as a Police Officer and got shipped away to the training academy and my greatest of intentions fell overboard.  Now here I am with a spark that is now so much greater than before and I have so much that I want to write about I hardly know where to begin.  So I reinvented the blog.

I recently read something online about a study that was done that listed the most boring towns in Connecticut.  My town happened to be number 10 on the list.  I was intrigued so I read on.  Come to find out, I am contributing to the reasons for good old Cheshire, CT to having rounded out this distinguished list.  The only criteria they considered was how much of the population was built of parents and how many of the town's activities were extremely family oriented.  The study essentially implied that if you have kids you are boring.  I guess the Jersey Shore has become the only standard for an exciting life.

When I was younger and apparently more hip, the outdoors was my world.  I was always scheming some kind of adventure.  The exact opposite of boring.  Somewhere along the way that flame became dimmer, and to the point where a once a year trip was all I really planned for.  Life got in the way. That's a great catch-all excuse.

Since my son was born, it seems that everything I do brings be back.  Everything has been reborn and everything I look at and do, I see from younger eyes.  That brings the excitement back to me.  This past year I have gone hiking, even just day hikes, more than maybe the last 10 years combined.  My son is at the age (just turned 4) where he is starting to get his legs under him.  You should see this kid go!

Yeah that's him.  Like a Billy Goat.

We have a "special spot" that we hike up to on the Metacomet Trail that overlooks the Police Academy in Meriden, CT.  He gets so excited about the wildlife, the views, "rock hopping," that it really brings me back to why I love to be out there.  "Dad, I'm a really really good hiker, right?" You know it, Buddy.  

So I put this all into perspective and here it is.  My top 5 + 1 list of lessons I've learned on the trail this year.  I did a lot of thinking while hiking  the northern 30 miles of the Long Trail in the summerof 2015 alongside some amazing friends.  This list is based on actual truth and experience, not like certain one way perspective "studies."  So check it out.   

1. Do, or don't.  Everyone has something that they love to do.  You can either do it, or don't do it.  Either way it is your choice.  Don't make an excuse.  Look at the "things" you do day to day and ask yourself if it is helping you, hurting you, or is it just passing time.  I am absolutely sure if you look at it this way you will find ways to cut out the nonsense and make time for what you want to do, and who you want to be. 

2. Surround yourself with "big headed" people.  If people are bringing you down, holding you back, or just simply not on the same wavelength, then cut the ties.  Or at least limit your interaction.  My partners on the Long Trail are some of the most big headed people I know.  But not in the sense that you would think, they are not full of themselves.  They have big ideas, big dreams, and everything they do is big.  We could probably solve the worlds problems out there if given enough vacation time.  We certainly find a way to solve our own problems at least and we truly inspire each other to do even bigger things.  

3. Train, and live healthy.  Here is a distance hike principal with real life applications.  You have to be prepared for what is to come.  Are you fit and healthy enough to embark on this journey?  Unless your aspirations are to be the best at video games and winning at TV then you have to be physically prepared for whatever you do.  Constantly reevaluate your physical condition and make sure you are two steps ahead of where your daily tasks require you to be.  You will enjoy whatever it is you are doing if you are not pooped and miserable halfway through it.  Hiking is just an obvious example of this.  Walking 10 miles a day in rough terrain with 30 extra pounds on your back will make you wish you worked out more often.  Going on vacation to Martha's Vineyard and biking for the first time since you were 15 around the island all day, and being so sore and miserable you miss the whole next day, or worse getting injured, would be another wake up call.  

4. Plan.  Know where you are going and make sure you are prepared with the proper gear.  Who knew that Northern Vermont in June would be so rainy, I didn't.  I mean the trail was literally a stream 80% of the time we were out there.  After a while it wasn't worth the acrobatics to try and avoid the puddles and mud so we trudged right through.  Everything was wet, but my sleeping bag and extra clothes were dry.  I have "dry bags" for this sort of thing and thankfully I brought them. Plan for life as well.  Make a list of what you want to do today, what you want to accomplish by the end of the week, where you see yourself next year, and what you will have ten years from now.  Make that list and put it in your face.  Stare at  that list every day and then make everything you do every minute of every day a part of  making those dreams happen.  If what you are doing is hurting you, keeping you from those dreams, or delaying those dreams then cut them out of your life.  Plan to succeed, or plan on getting comfortable in the rut.  

5. Be forever "young."  First of all, never let anyone dictate what is best for you.  There is no such thing as one defined avenue for excitement and happiness.  People are fulfilled in so many different ways.  What you could take out of that article that bashed us boring mom's and dad's is that the young do have something right.  Everything is new and exciting.  It's your own fault if you choose not to see things that way.  If you are in rut it is probably because you are surrounded by the wrong people or you don't allow yourself to get out and live.  It's all about perspective.  Have you ever looked at someone you've known your whole life and suddenly noticed something new about their face?  Now all you can see is that new feature and they look totally different.  Everything in life is like that, you just have to look at it differently and suddenly what's old is now new.  Now that's something to get excited for.

6. Whiskey.  And finally, the number one rule of the trail: always have a little whiskey to share with your friends in the end.  It's worth the extra weight.  Tullamore Dew is nice.  

Check out http://www.seanranieri.com/ for some amazing photography.  Seriously, this guy is good.