The Maiden of the Rock: A Deep Dive into Xunantunich Mayan Ruins in Belize

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The Maiden of the Rock: A Deep Dive into Xunantunich Mayan Ruins in Belize Belize is a land rich with history and adventure, and for those who love to explore, its ancient Mayan ruins offer a glimpse into a world both magnificent and mysterious. My wife, Linda, and our friends, Eamon and Athena, and I dedicated our third day in Belize to exploring one of the most magnificent of these sites: Xunantunich, or "The Maiden of the Rock." This post will serve as your comprehensive guide to this breathtaking archaeological site, sharing our firsthand experience and helping you prepare for your own unforgettable journey. The grounds are well-kept, which we noticed the moment we walked into the central plaza, and the site is much bigger than we anticipated. The Journey Begins with a Hand-Cranked Ferry Getting to Xunantunich is a part of the adventure in itself, and it’s a detail that adds to the site's remote and timeless feel. The day of our visit was incredibly sunny, and the dri...
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Book Review: 12 Steps To A lighter Pack

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12 Steps To A lighter Pack - Book Review

12 Steps to a lighter pack book cover

Time to add some real content to this blog now that my introduction is out of the way.  Since I'll be stuck inside for the next few days, my wife has job training, so I'll start with a simple book review. 

A little Background

12 Steps to a Lighter Pack is written by Steven Lowe, an outdoorsman looking to reduce his pack weight.  Having served in the Military, I can relate to always carrying a heavy pack and the desire to reduce its weight.  So, on a whim, and needing something new to read, I borrowed this book through the Kindle Lending Library for free (as an e-book). There are 65 pages, which provide a quick and easy read.  However, this book is clearly intended to build excitement for the author’s next full-length book, which, as far as I can tell, has not been published. This is a good book, but not necessarily a great book.  You can also check out Steven's website at www.swlowe.com, but it is currently a bit light on content.

Aims and Purpose

The book provides general information for creating a lighter pack/reducing your pack's weight. It frequently repeats “every ounce counts”, which seems to be the motto of many in the ultralight hiking community.  The author intends for the reader to view the steps as a thinking exercise and create strategies for reducing weight by using dual-purpose items, opting for lighter alternatives that perform the same job, and leaving non-essential items at home. Teaching the reader to streamline their pack is the key point of this book, achieved through trial and error, and perhaps a little forethought.  Once the individual has a few trips under their belt, this system is intuitive and can help determine items that are not used.  When using the strategy described above, the positives of this book far outweigh the few negatives.    

A Few Negatives

The author provides some suggestions for weight loss, but many of the suggestions are expensive, insignificant in terms of weight reduction, or unusual. However, if “every ounce counts,” eventually you can achieve a slight weight loss. Furthermore, many of the ideas presented can be found easily with a quick Google search. Finally, my largest issue with the book is that it appears to instruct readers to stop packing certain safety items if they are not used throughout the trip. This includes a compass, a first aid kit, sunscreen, and bug spray. I feel like the author meant to emphasize the importance of these items, but it just didn't happen.
Now for my soapbox moment, never leave an item, especially for the sake of minor weight reduction, which could prove valuable to your safety/survival, even if it is rarely used.

I would recommend this book to all beginners looking to reduce pack weight, but I wouldn't highly recommend it.  Seasoned hikers will probably need to look elsewhere. 

I purchased the reviewed copy and received no compensation for it.

Jarrett Morgan

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