Hiking and camping

The last time I went to REI to get some stuff I got a $25 gift card that I could use a bit in the future. I guess it's a good way to keep you coming back.That's not really a problem for me. I work something like five blocks from their flagship store. It's a curse I have to say. It's hard to go there and not spend money.The card for $25 expired today so I had to go and find something to buy.I bought some books. Books on hikes around me and a book on backpacking.I've backpacked before, but honestly it's been something like 30 years since I carried a pack in anger. It was with the Hungarian boy scouts when we climbed Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks. It was fun but I was far too small to carry a pack like that.I think I'm getting back into it though. We already have all the gear, or most of it at least. At this point it's just get a pack and a few miscellaneous things and we'd be good to go for a few days in the woods. Or course at this point I don't want to camp in the winter... maybe some other time. But starting next spring or something.  :-)