Merry Christmas!!

Twas the night b'fore Christmas and all along the trail,
not a back was hurting, not even ones tail.

The food bags were hung in the trees with care,
In hopes that that Mr. Bear would not find them there;

The campers were sleeping, all snug in their hammocks,
while resting their muscles and bones, from that day's walk;

When out from the woods, we heard such a clatter,
we exited our hammocks to see what was the matter.

Away to my pack I grabbed my coat of down,
I put it on so I would be warm.

The moon was bright and our vision was clear
we all sighed with relief seeing that it was not a bear

Instead of a bear, we saw a man in a suit,
the suit was red and he had on black heavy boots

His back was bent from the weight of the pack,
he said he was beat and had a pain in his lower back


His name was Chris, and he was to hike across the land,
delivering presents to all the boys and girls and he needed a hand


We asked asked as we looked, why so much weight?
With a puzzled look, "I'm new at this and some help would be great,

He looked cold so,I offered him coco, as he stood by the fire,

he said with a shiver, I need to go a bit lighter."

I pulled from my gear a book called "12 steps to a lighter pack" and said here
He flipped through the pages while he drank his coco and I saw in his eyes a tear.

He smiled, and thanked me, "These are tips I have not thought of before"
this will make my Christmas better than before.

"Can I give this to others", he asked, "it will be great, to give the girls and boys,
to go in their stockings, along with other backpacking tools and toys."

Of course I said yes as he drank his last drop,
"The coco was good," he said, "it warmed me right up."

He donned on his pack, easier now that it was light,
With trekking poles in hand, he headed back up the trail,
As he turned, he wished a merry Christmas, and to all a good night.

For Christmas I will be putting my book up for free
"12 Steps To A Lighter Pack" to help you go lighter as you pack amongst the trees.


Go to Amazon and download it fast,
it will go back to 99 cents after Christmas

It will be FREE after Midnight on the 24th.

It should be free on Christmas eve after midnight
Download it then to help you go light.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.