The Hiking/Camping/Backpacking Thread

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Chewie, Jun 27, 2009.

  1. Det. Frank Bullitt

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    Depends on how severe you want to make it

    One side of spectrum is camping in backyards with electricity and access to fridge, running water and and toilet.

    In a couple weeks I'm doing big bend...backpacking 10miles a day while packing in all of our own water.

    Personal preference and skill.
     
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  2. Wywan Bwowna

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    Are there no sources of water than you can filter or use iodine tablets? I've done plenty of multiple day backpacking trips and I've never packed in all our water.
     
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  3. TheFreak55

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    How much water should one plan for
     
  4. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    You doing the 3 day outer loop? Make sure to cache water at both stops the day before you start your trip. It's pretty much impossible to pack all the water you need to complete the loop.
     
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  5. TAS

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    1-2 gallons per day, per person, if you're hiking. If you're just camping, you can likely get by on 0.5-1 gal per day, depending on what you're cooking and how much cleaning you plan to do.
     
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  6. Det. Frank Bullitt

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    Don't know the trail off top of head but three days sounds right. No standing water sources in this region. I read reviews from those who ran out of water and got delirious and such. I don't want to mess with that. The guy planning said to expect one cache site, so either different trail or information is mixed up.

    Im not sure the sturdiness of the other guys, but I already suggested we ditch the weight and go dry food/no stove.

    I just acquired a UL 2 from Big Agnes because of the 20+ lbs of water I'll be carrying. Every little bit helps. I'll post a pic of my pack. Trekking poles are coming for sure.

    Will probably be my toughest backpacking trip so far.
     
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  7. Wywan Bwowna

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    I guess I'm used to East Coast/Colorado/Wyoming backpacking where I always have access to a stream or creek along my treks. Good luck!
     
  8. Jorts

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    Depends on hiking conditions. I typically carry no more than 1-3 liters, unless there is no water access. Water is heavy as fuck.
     
  9. TAS

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    Here's the traditional 3 day hike through Big bend.

    [​IMG]

    The two cache spots are the stars at the bottom right and bottom left. We did it Spring Break two years ago, so around the same time you did, maybe a little later. Basically everything outside the green, you're 100% exposed to the sun. The long horizontal run across the Dodson Trail was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. 10 miles of up and down and up and down over baby hills under a brutal sun. And we probably could have used an extra gallon of water between the two of us after the 1st stash spot to help with dehydration.

    If you can get a lightweight stove, I'd recommend it. You can cache food along with your water, so you're eating properly. We got by on Kraft Mac n cheese and Spaghetti with summer sausage chopped up and tossed in. Just make sure everything you cache is marked with a name and date so people don't think it's unclaimed.
     
  10. TAS

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    Oh and you'll likely run into border patrol and drug dogs on your way back from Big Bend, if you're into that sort thing.

    We had to let a drug dog go through our entire car after he alerted them to something, fortunately he was just picking up the scent of dirty clothes in the back of the car.
     
  11. Larry Sura

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    I feel like we lost so many hiking threads over the years. I've got dos two nighters coming up. I've been day hiking my ass off since I'm so bored.

    It looks like everyone is pretty spread out, any southern area hikers other than Mr. Freak?
     
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  12. Matt Foley

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    I am trying to get into it, but haven't had many opportunities recently.
     
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  13. Weedlord420

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    Blue ridge / Shenandoah / mid Atlantic Appalachian hiker here
     
  14. Larry Sura

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    It's easier when you have nothing else to do.
    We aren't too far apart.
     
  15. DexterRutecki

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    Maine here. Rarely venture to NH. Even less time spent in VT.
     
  16. Larry Sura

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    Backpacking in Maine is a dream of mine. Any recent trips or pics?
     
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  17. DexterRutecki

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    I hike quite a bit. In the winter I skin/ski. I usually don't have a camera on me because I opt to carry bins (I bird while I hike/skin).

    Maine is full of gems and what we lack in elevation (compared to the Whites) we more than make up for in solitude (most of the time).

    Any specific questions?
     
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  18. Jorts

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    Unfortunately, I'm stuck living in Jax until my step-daughter graduates from high school. We have a 6-7 hour drive to anything worth hiking. Saving grace is that my wife is finishing NP school in April, so we'll be able to travel again. Grand Canyon, JMT, PCT... here we come.
     
    #768 Jorts, Feb 9, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2017
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  19. DexterRutecki

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    upload_2017-2-9_19-56-12.png

    Actually, here is one recommendation I would like to make. If anyone is going to make a trip to Maine to check out the coast, like to go to Acadia, I would say keep chugging and go to Cutler. There is the Cutler Coast Public Lands and it is like a 10 mile loop along the coast. There are some remote campsites at roughly the half-way point. The grassy area in the picture is one of the sites. It is quiet, remote and beautiful. It is also free. Awesome spot.
     
  20. Larry Sura

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    We have a similar situation in Georgia- our highest elevation is 4,784 feet but solitude is everywhere (most of the time).

    The past two years on Cumberland Island we've gone during the bird count. It's amazing how many you'll see along the beach. Last week on the AT I almost snapped a picture of a woodpecker about ten feet from me, but I couldn't get my phone out in time. Cool stories bro.

    As far as Maine, do you have any recs for maybe 2-3 nights? What hikes do you usually do? Best time of year (I can deal with cold...kind of)? I used to have a sub to Backpacker magazine and I feel like every issue had a trail in Maine with a picture that I couldn't look away from.
     
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  21. Larry Sura

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    This is what I'm talking about.
     
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  22. Fargin' Icehole

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    Hiking Baxter this fall with a buddy. About 5 nights. Pretty excited.
     
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  23. DexterRutecki

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    I spend a lot of time around the Sugarloaf/Bigelow area. A nice hike, if you can get someone to drop you off/pick you up is Saddleback through the Crockers, or, if you're up for it, the Bigelows. That is all along the AT. Baxter State Park is obviously a highlight but it is a ways away. Katahdin is a remarkable mountain. It looks completely out of place in Maine. Katahdin can see crowds, especially on big weekends, but Baxter outside of Katahdin is huge and usually empty. There is so much cool stuff in there.

    My favorite time to hike is the late fall/early winter- nice and crisp. I would say my go-to hike is the Bigelows.
     
  24. DexterRutecki

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    Make sure you are on top of camp reservations. I would say that Davis Pond and Wassataqouik Stream are two awesome/quiet campsites.
     
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  25. Larry Sura

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    I'll spend the rest of my night researching those places.
     
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  26. Fargin' Icehole

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    Thanks. The website to reserve campsites was down for awhile and just came back up. Since we will be there late fall and plan on being in the North end of the park I'm hoping we won't have trouble reserving what we want. Gonna try to lock it up this month.
     
  27. DexterRutecki

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    Reservations have to be made 4 months or less in advance, FYI.
     
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  28. Fargin' Icehole

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    :respek:
     
  29. colonelrascals

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    bring a drink.


    fuck, pack what you want. You'll be ok, and its only too days. the most important thing in regards to packing is MAKE A LIST AS YOU PACK.

    when you unpack stop and check the items off the list if you didn't use them. its a super easy way to narrow the list down
     
  30. BP

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    Massdrop has a pretty good deal on granite gear packs at the moment.
     
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  31. Det. Frank Bullitt

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    I confirmed this is the same loop we are doing. Did you cache water at both spots? Not only is food not allowed anymore in the cache sites, the second water storage site (right star) is unofficial (bear locker, not a cache site) and the ranger said it may be inaccessible via car depending on rains. If you did cache there, what kind of car did you use to get there?

    I'm thinking 1.5 gallons per day, all for drinking.
    • I won't bring a stove or cook anything. 100% dry food..no coffee, no warm dinner, etc
    • That means no weight for the stove, fuel, dishes, or using precious water to clean them
    • I drink a ton of water, so I think this decision is an important one.
    • my UL tent is about 3.5 lbs and I can get it to less if I chose too.
     
  32. TAS

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    We got what I thought to be poor information from the park ranger and didn't cache anything at the first stop (bottom right). But there was a bunch of unclaimed water, so we helped ourselves to a couple of gallons. I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have made it, otherwise. They really didn't make it clear to us how you would cache at that location, but you obviously can, with the right vehicle.

    I'd spend some time on this site. Pretty much any question you have, they've probably addressed.

    http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/forum/big-bend-national-park-outer-mountain-loop/

    A quick look tells me you'll need 4WD to get there comfortably.

    http://www.bigbendchat.com/portal/f...ter-mountain-loop/help-in-caching-at-juniper/

    I've also read where people will get someone to cache water for them. Might be worth exploring, as caching at both spots can take up quite a bit of your time.
     
    #782 TAS, Feb 13, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2017
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  33. BP

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    Guess I forgot to upload these. We hiked Paria Canyon last year, which is a slot canyon here in AZ. I was around 39 miles. We did it in 3 days, 2 nights. 2 days before we left, 2 hikers had to be rescued in the adjoining Buckskin Gulch due to flooding and hypothermia.
    Here are a few pics:
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    [​IMG]
     
  34. Jorts

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    Stove, fuel, spork, pot/cup is negligible weight & not where I'd cut ounces. It provides an efficient means for boiling water , in an emergency. It provides warmth in cold/at elevation. It gives you the option of cooking something like ramen... calorie/sodium rich & a hell of a lot lighter than protein bars, nuts, trail mix, or any other dry food.
     
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  35. Det. Frank Bullitt

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    for this hike, no stove, didn't imply i was perpetually switching to dry food.
     
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  36. TheFreak55

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    Any of yall use a gps watch or apps?
     
  37. UrsaGrande

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    I used the Guthook JMT app while on the trail but otherwise I like maps.
     
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  38. Jorts

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  39. DexterRutecki

    DexterRutecki Well-Known Member
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    I have a Suunto Ambit3 Peak.
     
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  40. cheddarisbetter

    cheddarisbetter Well-Known Member
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    Doing south rim of Grand Canyon, the arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion in a 7 day stretch in early April. Mostly doing pull up camping so it should be easy

    I really am freaking out about doing Angels Landing trail at Zion, I will probably bitch out when you get to this stretch

    [​IMG]
     
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  41. TheFreak55

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    you like, wear it even when not hiking?
     
  42. DexterRutecki

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    I do. It is a little big but the battery lasts a wicked long time and I use it for a lot more than hiking- track runs, birding routes, ski logs, biking, etc. It just makes sense for me to have it on.
     
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  43. Weedlord420

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    The sodium bomb from ramen really helps you out after long stretches without electrolytes
     
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  44. UrsaGrande

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  45. Iron Mickey

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    it really isn't bad. just take your time and don't overanalyze it.
     
  46. Jorts

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  47. Larry Sura

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    Do fitbits or any of those fitness trackers register changes in elevation? It would be cool to know how much change you go through on each hike.
     
  48. TheFreak55

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    Think you're gonna need a Suunto or Garmin for that because mine doesn't measure it. Your iPhone will probably give you a shitty record of "stair flights."
     
  49. Larry Sura

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    I'm not a sheep so I don't have an iPhone.