Tomorrow I’m heading to one among my Slot favourite locations within the US: Acadia Nationwide Park on Mount Desert Island in Maine. This would be the third yr in a row that my girlfriend and I’ve taken a fall journey there, and I’m feeling like a seasoned professional at this level—I believe I’ve a reasonably sturdy deal with on what it takes to thrive each within the park and when tooling across the tiny, beautiful city of Bar Harbor, the place we keep.
I wish to be clear: I’m not an Open air Particular person. I’m not trying to camp and I desire a wise stroll in nature to a hardcore hike, and I don’t assume anybody, by any stretch of the creativeness, would describe me as “crunchy.” That stated, a number of years in the past I spotted that being exterior often is extraordinarily good for my psychological well being, and this—coupled with the work of Ken Burns—is how visiting a nationwide park ended up on my bucket checklist. Acadia is inside driving distance of New York Metropolis, and I had heard from a buddy that it was “bougie” (maybe as a result of it was financed, partially, by a literal Rockefeller!!!), so it was a simple promote. Now? I’m a full-on Acadia stan.
If you happen to, too, are planning a fall jaunt to Acadia (or another park or out of doors vacation spot within the Northern US) and are questioning what to deliver with you, enable me to share a number of highlights from my annual packing checklist. These are the objects I return to yearly, and which have served me effectively each in Maine and as an informal nature-appreciator at residence in Brooklyn.
1. Carhartt Rugged Flex Unfastened Match Canvas Bib Overalls
Whereas I’ve but to grasp the artwork of packing mild, I’ve gotten fairly good at determining “path to city” appears to be like for this journey—which suggests I find yourself packing a bit lower than I might if I had been bringing wildly totally different outfits for going to the park and tooling round city. My Carhartt overalls type the premise of this method, and are a wardrobe staple after I’m in Maine. (Whereas the precise pair I’ve is usually bought out now, the newer model above could be very, very related.) Overalls are extremely cozy and low-fuss—I actually like not having to fret about my pants slipping round after I’m out and about.
By the way in which, these are available a number of different colours, together with black, brown, and a rusty crimson, however don’t be afraid of the cream! I’ve gotten mine very moist and muddy, and have had no downside getting them clear once more through a traditional laundry cycle.
2. Columbia Hikebound Rain Jacket
Earlier than our first Acadia journey, I put all my anxious power into discovering the proper rain jacket: One thing that wouldn’t be too heavy or too mild, as a result of I wasn’t positive how chilly it will be; that was roomy sufficient to layer over a sweatshirt; that had a hood to guard my hair; and that could possibly be folded down and stuffed into my backpack if I didn’t want it in a given second. I additionally needed to keep away from something that was lower the way in which most girls’s outerwear is correct now—you recognize, very nipped-in on the waist, however with voluptuous “female” hips? After roughly 10,000 hours of analysis, I lastly discovered what I used to be on the lookout for in a males’s jacket from Columbia. (Mine is the now-discontinued Cabot Path jacket, however the Hikebound is an identical and has all the identical options.) I love this jacket; the hood is large enough to maintain my (slightly sizable!) dome dry, and the small is completely outsized on me. It’s unlined however surprisingly cozy, and I can layer it over the thickest sweater or put on it with a T-shirt on hotter days.
I’ve truly gotten tons of use out of this jacket within the three years since I purchased it. It additionally occurs to be nice for working errands or taking my canine out when it’s raining, and I wore it to work at this time as a result of it was dumping buckets in NYC.
3. Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped
I wasn’t positive if I actually wanted mountain climbing boots for my first journey—so usually, good sneakers work simply wonderful for spending time exterior—however I’m actually glad I went forward and acquired these boots. They’re snug, supportive, and waterproof in a manner that the majority sneakers will not be, which I’ve been grateful for each time we’ve encountered rain throughout our journeys. (At the very least as soon as per go to, if no more.)
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