I used to do things that were hard. It seems not so much anymore. As I approach my 55th birthday, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm losing the mental edge along with the physical. Over the past years I developed a "system" that worked well for me and my family life. I would train to the minimum for an event, so that I would at least be able to hold up physically without damaging myself, then make up for the rest with mental toughness, or "grit."

I'm not going to give up easily. My kid's kicking my butt only makes me realize that I need to work harder, to make myself workout when I don't want to, to do things that are outside my comfort zone, so that at the very least, I can continue to do challenging hikes with them or go run a race where they don't have to wait too long snacking on bananas and free 'aide for Dad to appear at the finish line.

I saw nary a sole for the remainder of my descent, gloriously lit by a better than half moon, negating the need for a light, and glittering off Pebble creek like so many miniature reflectors. Sure, the pace is slower in these conditions as I throttle back and lift my feet more, scanning side to side to look for the shadows off rocks cast by the moon. But who's in a hurry on a night like this, with perfect weather and complete solitude?

This is an ideal way to "flash" the trail with the minimum amount of equipment, offering freedom to lope along at a fast pace to cover the 30 or so miles required per day. Now, I won't call this cheating, but I can't consider this a backpacking or fastpacking trip, as the "packing" is missing from the formula.

With some spare cash you can compile an impressive tool list, and indeed, many people become very skilled at using these tools, be it HD cameras, post-production techniques, steadycams, dollys or what have you. We all covet these tools but sometimes lose sight of the most important aspect of filmmaking: CONTENT.

Right from the get-go with the use of the old Macintosh standard font to the horrific use of green screen to the worst voice overs EVER I was in absolute stitches. Your blend of completely and totally terrible acting and super-cheese editing makes for a film of a caliber I have not had the opportunity to encounter in quite some time.

Were I to do it right now I would have extra clothing, some ability to cross creeks and immediately change into something dry, like perhaps some sandals for fording or a dedicated pair of hefty wool socks for wading. Extra food for itinerary problems, like backtracking or bailing. Extra padding, full length, for snow camping. The ability to stake a tent in snow, like snow stakes or baggies to fill and bury. An ice axe for navigating snow slopes; I would avoid travel across dangerous slopes when the snow was firm or frozen.