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Gunkie
Trad climber
Valles Marineris
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 23, 2017 - 01:11pm PT
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Going backpacking for the first time in nearly 40 years. I don't remember liking it too much then. I've bivied many many time below El Cap, Half Dome, Cannon Mtn, other crags but haven't been on a real backpacking trip forever.
Taking two of my kids; the other is in college right now. What's so great?
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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Aug 23, 2017 - 01:18pm PT
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Nothing.
But with kids you can make it great.... Bring fun stuff for them to do. Make sure to include destinations with great sights, water, cool stuff.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Aug 23, 2017 - 01:23pm PT
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What's so great?
Eating food with dirt in it? Insect bites? Sleeping in a wet sleeping bag? Sunburn? Blistered feet?
Seriously, what's not to like?
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skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 01:49pm PT
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No Phuking phones, people trying to sell you stuff, and if you go to the right spots...people bothering you. Bonus is great fishing if you know where to look. Spending a week alone, or with good people, in the mountains resets my mind and puts me at peace. That's just me though...
Bring games for the kids. Both the boy and girl loved fishing. Oh yea, and don't piss off my daughter...
Edit; If you are eating food with dirt in it, or sleeping in a wet sleeping bag, sunburn, blistered feet, you have to ask yourself why. It's just backpacking, not mountaineering.
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Aug 23, 2017 - 02:01pm PT
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About 10 less pounds of climbing gear.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Aug 23, 2017 - 02:26pm PT
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Self-propelled and self-sufficent, can't beat the feeling. Gets better and better the more days you are out. Keep it mellow for the kids, they wil enjoy it.
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Aug 23, 2017 - 02:31pm PT
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Gunkie! Re: What's so great?
We ran into an old cowboy at about mile 10 of our 1970 trip in to climb Gannett Peak in the Wind Rivers. He was a little suspicious of 4 hippie backpackers/climbers on his turf, but after a couple minutes of light conversation, he warmed up a bit.
He leaned over towards us and said: "Backpacking is a lot like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer."
After a short pause, he added: "It feels so great when you stop."
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Pete_N
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 02:33pm PT
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The long approach to nowhere? (credit: Chris Kalous)
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Aug 23, 2017 - 03:12pm PT
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If I'm backpacking in to a climb it's like a mission. Head down, go!
If I'm just out for a few daze I tend not to get very far.
I'm thinking of doing a backpacking/photo trip soon, Wishon to the top of Tehipite, and maybe down into the valley. It depends on the smoke and air quality in October up there. And the weather outlook. If I go I'll probably get lazy and skip going down, and back up, from Tehipite Valley, preferring to tool around on the crest of the canyon looking across at the Monarch Divide...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 03:30pm PT
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It has its moments - once you get there.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Aug 23, 2017 - 03:32pm PT
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Hiking is kind of like climbing with no payoff at the end
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 03:52pm PT
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Backpacking is wonderful if you go ultra lightweight. It takes some selective purchasing and knowhow that a climber should have, but its a big difference going 10 miles into the mountains with 20 pounds versus 40.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Aug 23, 2017 - 04:00pm PT
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I like it pretty much.
Ferret does most of the cooking. That's good.
My fav is the shower once civilization is reached.
I do not like talus fields (especially after 7 hours)
Susan
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Inner City
Trad climber
Portland, OR
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Aug 23, 2017 - 04:08pm PT
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The Beauty!!
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 04:12pm PT
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About 10 less pounds of climbing gear. Classic!
Unplanned bivies are a wonderful thing for learning a minimalist ethic. It is remarkable how truly little we need in order to survive and be happy. I look forward to the freedom this will impart on my future backpacking trips.
I wonder though whether that knowledge makes us appreciate the accoutrements of civilization more, or whether we just parallel track those ideas and blindly ignore the pleasures and comforts around us in our civilized life while we focus on something else. I guess it depends on each of us and our moods.
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Aug 23, 2017 - 05:12pm PT
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Arriving.
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Gunkie
Trad climber
Valles Marineris
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 23, 2017 - 05:51pm PT
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Chris, that photo of your daughter is priceless :)
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Aug 23, 2017 - 05:52pm PT
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Hiking is kind of like climbing with no payoff at the end
Haha. My wife always says to me "you never want to hike anywhere unless there's a climb at the destination" and I say "yeah. And?"
Agree with super light if possible. Worth renting gear if it's only an occasional thing.
I did mt Whitney a few years back by the mountaineers route. First time in a long time I did a long hike without climbing gear. It was so easy!
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Aug 23, 2017 - 05:54pm PT
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endorphins are a helluva drug. i mean what's knott to like about endogenous morphine?
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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Aug 23, 2017 - 05:59pm PT
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I'm with you Fet.
Been doing more longer backpack trips to climbing or peak bagging destinations.
Great to be out for a long time and really disconnect from society and loose some weight. :)
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