The Hiking/Camping/Backpacking Thread

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

  1. Fargin' Icehole

    Fargin' Icehole 50% soulless
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    Furnace Mountain from Blackrock Summit.

    The Pinnacle to Mary's Rock to get some AT in.

    The entire area will be crowded this time of year. It's also fun to just drive Skyline and hike an hour in and an hour out of each trail as you come to it.
     
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  2. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Plan on doing a good amount of this, as we are staying at the Lodge right around mile 41-42
     
  3. Fargin' Icehole

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    You can find some sweet falls that are too small to be listed anywhere by doing this.
     
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  4. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    We just had a huge rain, so the Whiteoak waterfalls should be booming.
     
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  5. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Swimming on this one, right?
     
  6. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    At least 3 swimming holes on that trail near the waterfalls that I can remember. They can get crowded with people and there’s always a risk for cottonmouths so watch out.
     
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  7. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    Stupid question I’m sure, but do you all car camp or backpack to a camping site? Wife and I are looking to get started and are leaning towards car camping, but I think I would enjoy backpacking more. Only concern is knowing where to set up for the night.
     
  8. Matt Foley

    Matt Foley RIP EARL
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    We started the same. Start with car camping to appease the wife and work your way up to hiking in.
     
  9. Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone Deluxe Member
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    I've done that much in a day a few times. If your body isn't used to carrying weight while jogging/very brisk walk, it could be dangerous and hurt knees for longer than you would think.

    It just depends so much on elevation, quality of trail, your pace count, etc. I'm somewhat familiar with that area for hiking and it can be done. Best recommendation that I do would be to jog the easiest and boring stretches if concerned about pace and sunlight
     
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  10. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Luray Caverns worth visiting, when in Shenandoah?
     
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  11. Fargin' Icehole

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    Yes. It's actually pretty badass. Very touristy but actually an amazing cave system. Highly recommend one time. Not far is the South Fork of the Shenandoah river, some great fishing in a beautiful setting.
     
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  12. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    sold
     
  13. Fargin' Icehole

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    Also some pretty nice hikes right there too. Just use the AllTrails app to find them.
     
  14. Nug

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    Buddy convinced me to summit The Brothers with him next weekend, out on the Olympic Peninsula. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/the-brothers

    Only hiked the Cascades so far, haven't been to The Olympics. Sleep in the car by the trailhead Friday night, head out early Saturday morning, camp on the mountain Saturday night, summit early Sunday and head down. Will be my first overnight camping trip in WA, and first real "climb." Pretty excited.
     
  15. BP

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  16. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    The Brothers was an incredible climb. Not a technical climb, but the last 2 miles and 2,000 feet are just a scramble to the top. Last half of the mountain was all this:
    [​IMG] ''
    [​IMG]
    Camp before climbing to the top. So many fucking goats
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    It was pretty gnarly, the rocks were loose as shit, saw several groups turning back on the way up. But the summit was fucking incredible. Got really lucky with the weather. The Brothers is on the eastern edge of the Olympics, closest to Seattle, so this is looking out towards Seattle and then back over the entire Olympic Mountain Range.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Fargin' Icehole

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    Gorgeous.

    The 1st year I went to WA to hike a guy had just died in The Olympics from a goat. Got him in the leg in his femoral artery.
     
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  18. Nug

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    I've heard some stories, there have been a few incidents over the years. Mostly when dumbasses are trying to get too close/fuck with the goats.

    I was surprised at how big they were, saw a couple males that were enormous. They were inquisitive, but mostly minded their own business. Just have to walk far away form camp to pee.
     
  19. LeVar Burton

    LeVar Burton Knee deep in a dynasty, ROLL TIDE!
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    BamaNug how many days did it take you to do that? How long was the climb? Great pictures!
     
  20. Nug

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    We took it slow--got to the trailhead midnight on Friday, night-hiked to a lake about 3 miles over 1 1/2 hours, camped there. Wake up around 8, hung out at the lake until about 1, then another few hours to the base of the mountain, about 3-4 miles. Wake up Sunday at 5 AM, took about 3-4 hours to summit. You're really only "climbing" on the summit bid, the last 2 miles or so, but it's really steep and pretty sketchy. Coming down from the summit was not very fun.

    It's 18 miles roundtrip, from trailhead to summit. You could do it in a day if you were feeling froggy, but 2 days/1 night would be realistic.
     
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  21. DexterRutecki

    DexterRutecki Well-Known Member
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    How much vert?
     
  22. Nug

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    Peak was only 6800, last day when we summited we climbed around 2500
     
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  23. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    Jorts how was your Shenandoah trip?
     
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  24. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Shenandoah trip was a lot of fun. Did White Oak Loop & Old Rag on back-to-back days, then Luray Caverns the following day. Had 2 bear encounters, one of which was a mom & 2 cubs that were too close for comfort. The second was a large adult, that sprinted across the trail about 15-20 yards in front of me.
    DSC_0153.JPG
     
  25. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Caverns were really cool as well. The bottom half is a reflection, off about 2-3 inches of pooled water

    339601D9-4577-406D-A28A-43744D52728B.jpeg
     
    #1325 Jorts, Aug 12, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2018
  26. Fargin' Icehole

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    My favorite part of the caves. Very trippy.
     
  27. Fargin' Icehole

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    Thinking of going from a self-inflating pad (ProLite) to an inflatable (NeoAir XLite). Both Therm-a-rest. Last big trip was all in Lean-tos and I could feel the floor through my ProLite. Plus I'll be able to cut a few ounces. Anyone had any issues with an inflatable?
     
  28. UrsaGrande

    UrsaGrande wait, what?
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    XLite has served me well and is still going after almost 30 nights on it.
     
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  29. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Fargin' Icehole My lone complaint is that it’s noisy when I change positions, causing my wife to complain.
     
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  30. Fargin' Icehole

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    Read that about it. Not an issue, my wife doesn't come on multi-day treks.

    Was most concerned about the durability.
     
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  31. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    Do you go alone? That sounds awesome if so
     
  32. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    In that case, it should be perfect
     
  33. DexterRutecki

    DexterRutecki Well-Known Member
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    I have a neoair xlite and a zlite sol. it isnt all that noisy. if i am going to log a lot of miles per day i will usually bring the zlite because i hate having to blow up the neoair after a long day. i get light-headed. that being said, i sleep better on the neoair.
     
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  34. Fargin' Icehole

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    WA, I go with a couple buddies, east coast I go with 1 buddy. My son is only 7 but turning into a beast so soon he'll be able to do the multi nights with me. My son and I can sleep anywhere and though anything so a noisy sleep pad won't matter.
     
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  35. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Any suggestions on shirts/tops to wear for hiking trips? Glacier in 2 weeks (hopefully at least if the fires calm the fuck down) and need something good for the weather and 6+ mile hikes daily. Have never done this level of hiking so I have no clue.
     
  36. BP

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    You really don't need anything crazy. Just get some kind of tech/polyester t shirts or thin long sleeve shirts with some type of SPF or UPF protection. Arm sleeves are also an option if going with short sleeves. Most of these are quick drying and moisture wicking. If you want to get fancy, wool is a good way to go, Merino, Icebreaker, etc.
    Edit: Most of these will serve you well:
    https://www.backcountry.com/mens-hike-camp-shirts?p=attr_shirtstyle:Crew&nf=1
     
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  37. UrsaGrande

    UrsaGrande wait, what?
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    Columbia Silver Ridge pants and shirts are solid.
     
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  38. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Team head to toe Smartwool
     
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  39. BP

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    $$$$$
     
  40. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    Yes, but justified IMO
     
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  41. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    REI brand is probably the best value & easily accessible, so a good place to start.
     
  42. Fargin' Icehole

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    Agree. I'm still transitioning and it'll take awhile to completely replace everything.
     
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  43. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    I’m the same. I’ve learned what I like & don’t like over the past several years... I currently have a hodgepodge of gear. I just need to hike/backpack more, so I can wear it all out faster.
     
  44. BP

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    Agreed.
     
  45. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Upgraded from my Vasque trail runners to some actual hiking boots on Saturday. The guy at REI spent more than half an hour with me despite the fact that they were busy as hell and after trying several different ones I ended up with the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid. They have a little less cushioning in the heel than I'd like but otherwise they're perfect for me. Plus the sales guy showed me a lacing method that's perfect for my foot (I have a high-volume top ridge and also feels great on my ankles.

    I don't have time to break them in much before I go to Joshua Tree and the Santa Monica Mtns next month but they feel great right out the box regardless, plus those hikes should be 5-7 miles max.

    https://www.rei.com/product/789686/lowa-renegade-gtx-mid-hiking-boots-mens

    [​IMG]
     
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  46. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    All the lesbian hikers gonna be so jealous of your feet
    Those are great boots
     
    #1346 Jorts, Aug 20, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2018
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  47. wes tegg

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  48. UrsaGrande

    UrsaGrande wait, what?
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    Weird, the upgrade is usually going to trail runners after wasting your time with heavy boots.
     
  49. Jorts

    Jorts "Ask about my Mortgage Services"
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    I’m all about trail runners, but there are plenty of people in the other camp... especially on hikes with lots of elevation gain/loss.
     
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  50. UrsaGrande

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    There really is no wrong answer. Not sure that elevation change makes boots better, though. It's all personal preference.
     
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