I’ve always considered myself an outdoorswoman – I like hiking, biking and camping (i.e., renting a cozy cabin in the woods – indoor bathrooms, of course).

Then I met my co-worker Jacob Boie, and my free-air spirit was put to shame.

Jacob and his dog Beasley.

A designer at our Duluth office, WestmorelandFlint, Jacob works with the creative team to build and strengthen brands. He’s also awesome at illustrations. You may have read our post about the marketing Flint Group did for Eversmiles – those postcards were Jacob’s handiwork.

But let’s get back outside. Jacob told me he grew up camping and has always loved hiking along Minnesota’s North Shore. So when his girlfriend Kelly, also a Flintster, introduced him to backpacking – a combination of hiking and camping – he was hooked.

“I’d heard of people backpacking, but it seemed so daunting. I always thought you needed a lot of equipment,” he said.

Turns out, to transition from the camping he had been doing, all Jacob needed was a backpack. (To clarify, your typical Jansport won’t due. I asked.)

The professional backpacker fits everything they need into a backpack, I learned. Here’s what Jacob typically packs:

1. Sleeping bag and pad
2. Tent
3. Matches
4. Water
5. Stove (not essential, but nice, he says)
6. Garbage bag with change of clothes
7. Food (hashbrowns, beef jerky and perishable items that they freeze ahead if time, like scrambled eggs, brats and pasties with bacon and pepper chunks)
8. Books
9. Headlamp

Cooking hash browns over the stove. Beasley is a big help.

Time for breakfast. How's that for lake-view seating?

Oh, and he also brings his hatchet.

“Kelly thinks it’s ridiculous to bring, but I always bring it. It makes me feel more like a rugged explorer. I mostly use it for chopping up small kindling and opening cans of beans though,” he said.

Jacob and Kelly have backpacked all around Northern Minnesota, including the along the Superior Hiking Trail, at George H. Crosby Manitou State Park and Jay Cooke State Park. They’ve also been on overnight canoe trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Their trips are usually two-day excursions, but Jacob’s dream is to take a month off from work and hike the whole Superior Hiking Trail – a 286-mile path that tracks the rocky ridgeline above Lake Superior.

Jacob says fall is his favorite backpacking season. After seeing photos like this, I can understand why.

When I asked what he likes most about backpacking, Jacob said it’s the mental balance het gets from being outdoors.

“It’s amazing how all the stress from work and everything else going on just dissipates when you’re out in nature. I appreciate that. It’s really calming,” he said.

I was impressed to hear he also enjoys the physical labor – and sometimes pain – involved.

“Most of my life is so comfortable. I can hop in the car and drive to the store for food,” said Jacob. “I like doing things where it’s difficult. With backpacking, challenging yourself is part if the goal.”

That’s probably why he also likes winter camping.

One of his most vivid backpacking memories involved setting out around 6:00 for what he and Kelly thought would be a relaxing evening hike. After four hours and seven miles (two of which were in the dark) in the rain without dinner, they finally reached an open site.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been that tired. I was so tired I couldn’t even eat. We just went to bed with my wet, muddy, smelling dog in the tent,” said Jacob.

This is a photo from the first half of that rainy hike. You can tell because they're still smiling. The photos from two hours later? Not so happy.

Jacob told me another story about how he dislocated his shoulder while portaging a canoe in the Boundary Waters. I’ve never experienced this before, so I asked him what it was like. I immediately regretted my inquiry. (Warning: Those with sensitive stomachs may want to skip the following paragraph.)

“It makes a really weird sound and there’s this crazy feeling. It’s kind of like if you were peeling a grapefruit really viciously. Or when you’ve already peeled a grapefruit and you pull out a section,” he said.

And if his dislocated shoulder wasn’t enough for one trip, Jacob also fell victim to Minnesota’s unofficial state bird. He told me he’s never seen mosquitos so thick.

“Every time you went in the tent you’d have to spend 10 minutes killing them because a whole cloud would come in. You’d hear them outside the tent hitting the tent trying to get in. And if you went out, every inch of uncovered flesh was swarmed,” he said.

Beasley is wearing Jacob's jacket so he doesn't get eaten alive by mosquito.

Itchy yet?

I’ve always enjoyed my dry, injury- and bug-free cabin, but I really admire Jacob’s adventurous spirit. Some day, maybe – just maybe – he’ll convince me to take a trip with him.

Oh, and when I told Jacob I was writing a post about him, he wanted me to tell you that he also grills. A lot.

Get to know a Flintster: Q + A with Jacob!

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Fast Food.

Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours.
I was really into fingerboarding for a while (those little skateboards made for 9-year-olds). It was a nice mental break when I was working at my desk.

What is something you’ve learned in the last week?
Your brain can only handle one complex task at a time.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Anything by the Talking Heads.

What is your favorite kind of sandwich?
Pulled Pork.

What is your favorite blog?
Graphic Exchange.

What sound do you love?
Crashing waves.

What scent do you love?
Woodsmoke.