23 years ago I hiked 110 miles on the Highline Trail of the High Unita Wilderness of Utah from Browne Lake to Mirror Lake. This took 11 days and my wife and I did not know if it was possible to do. We were experienced in the area, having done 60 miles on a three day weekend in the Uintas and some other trips. We met people who all said it was not possible but we worked to get enough food packed to do it in 12 days.

It was by far the best backpacking trip I had taken. To carry everything that far was interesting and to wake up in the middle of an Elk herd was outstanding. We came out with a candy bar and one hot chocolate, ran to a burger stand and ate. We threw it right back up. It was incredible.

In 14 days I am leaving to do it again. I am now 54 and have been practicing with my now 13 year old son. He is handling the weight well and I am doing far better than I thought. We are taking 14 days worth of food carefully measured and all tested along with some of the best equipment I have ever owned. Modern equipment is lighter than the 1980s stuff we used (and I used things in the 1960s that were positively torture...). Looking back at the photos I wonder why we carried all those heavier items.