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Shakespeare used to be my hiking buddy.

As I've mentioned, I used to train for backpacking trips by stuffing my red, leather-bound copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare into my pack (along with other assorted crap).

When the bard's life work began to look a little dog-eared, I swapped it for water. Lots and lots of water.

Water, if you haven't noticed, is really heavy. So on Friday, I crammed 10 liters of water (about 22 pounds) into my backpack along with my sleeping bag, a bear canister, a trail lunch and my regular first aid kit/headlamp/knicknacks.

The destination: six miles of the Sunset Trail in Grant Grove of Kings Canyon National Park, with 1.5 miles of the North Grove loop thrown in for giggles. The trail was nice -- downhill at the beginning, leading to a waterfall rolling down rock plateaus. Then, uphill on a dusty old road with lovely glimpses of Sequoia Lake through the trees.

I believe training with a heavy pack is wise -- sort of jogs the body's memory. Like riding a bicycle. Or, strapping a few bicycles and small children onto your body and walking uphill.

I do employ a mental trick when I put on the heavy pack.

When I moved to California about four years ago, I came directly from Texas. Three things happened. I no longer had a constant supply of mouth-watering chicken fried steaks. I began regular work outs. And, I eventually stopped drinking alcohol. As it turns out, you lose weight when you do that stuff. I dropped about 30 pounds.

So when I strap on 30-40 pounds of backpack, I give myself the pep talk that I once carried that weight around all the time.

I'll admit. It doesn't make the pack feel any lighter.

Harry Potter and the Magical Mystery Water Wand

Some friends gave me a gift certificate to a hiking store for my 28th birthday, and it's burning a hole in my pocket.

I've been tinkering with my pool of gear for a few years now, and I'm still happy with my titanium spork, teeny pocket knife/scissors, headlamp and other wonders. But, there was one thing I've been meaning to change: my water purification system.

For years, I've been using iodine tablets. Not surprisingly, they taste pretty crappy and turn the water an unsettling rust color. A second tablet removes a lot of the bad taste, and Gatorade powder covers what's left.

I've resisted buying a water-cleaning pump because they always seemed like a hassle to me. So when researching a new water purification system, I came across the Magical Mystery Water Wand (my name for it).

Basically, it's a wand you stick into the water. You flick a switch, and the thing zaps the water with UV light for a number of seconds. Then, you can drink it. Magic!

Here's a link to the magical device, which claims to use "science" to purify the water: http://www.hydro-photon.com

I'm hesitant to invest in this contraption because I'm not sure I believe it works. I mean, I want to believe. I like Harry Potter and everything, but I'm skeptical that he's invented a water wand for hiking muggles. I feel like I'd have to say, "Shazam!" or something each time I used the thing.

Anyway, I may just buy some (much cheaper) chlorine drops and invest the remainder of my dough in other ways.

I cheerfully told my friends that their birthday gift may be that of regular bowel function on the trail. I know that's what they wanted to hear.

Trail Named for Sheepherder with Lungs of Steel

My search for an alternative butt-kicker landed me in Kings Canyon National Park yesterday on a trail in Cedar Grove.

This trail, named for a sheepherder named Don Cecil, climbs 4,000 feet from Cedar Grove to the top of Lookout Peak above Summit Meadow. It's about a 13-mile roundtrip.

I didn't arrive at the trailhead until about 11:30 a.m. because I did the church thing yesterday, so it was pretty warm by the time I started climbing. Here's a rough chronology of events:

Mile 1: Already sweating vigorously. Pause by Sheep Creek to admire pretty waterfall.

Mile 2: Pause to pant. Resent sun for shining so brightly.

Mile 3: Panting continues. Dizzily rename the trail "The Dead Sheep Trail" in my head. (It made sense at the time).

Mile 3.5: Sit on rock to drink some water. A downhill hiker appears and offers me extra water. Although I still have two liters on me, I take it.

She cheerfully tells me how many groups are ahead of me and suggests I shouldn't be the last one out since I'm hiking alone. She shows me a large rock in her pocket, which she indicates is to fight off mountain lions.

I nod. I'm pretty certain mountain lions attack from behind, and I'd be dead as a doornail if one decided to attack me. Still, I decide not to shatter her security in the mountain lion rock. After all, she gave me water.

Mile 4.5: Pass another fork of sheep creek and eat lunch. Mmmm...turkey jerky.

Mile 6: Arrive at Summit Meadow. Although I hadn't planned to climb Lookout Peak, decide I'll kick myself if I don't go ahead and do it. Unable to see any clearly marked trail, I begin walking nearly straight up the side of the thing.

Mile 6.5: After scrambling like a bug, manage to perch myself on top of boulders on the peak. Admire view. Make stupid face for disposable camera photo.

Mile 10: The mosquitos begin swarming in front of my face, prompting me to wave them away about every 8 seconds.

Mile 11: I hate mosquitos.

Mile 12: Arrive at Sheep Creek. Fill my hat with ice cold water and dump it on my head. Decide it may have been the best moment of the entire day.

Mile 13: Blow kisses to my Honda Civic at the end of the trail. Happily remove boots. Eat large cheeseburger.

Overall, I was pleased with the trail. While it involved a lot of climbing, it didn't have any incredibly steep patches, and it was very well-maintained. Don Cecil should be proud.