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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Aug 23, 2017 - 06:02pm PT
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Wow, I'm amazed at many of the answers. It sounds like there are a lot of people who didn't learn how to do this.
On a bright note for you, there has been a HUGE revolution in gear in the last 40 years. These days, I am amazed by what I put myself through.
Weight reduction is the amazing thing, facilitated by advancements in gear.
I think my weekend pack is about 6 lbs (packed) (not counting water)
My weeklong is about 20 lbs.
it takes experience/work/consideration to make that happen, but it is doable.
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ruppell
climber
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Aug 23, 2017 - 06:09pm PT
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For me it's just a means to an end. I haven't put my pack on without climbing gear in it in a very long time. The climb is the goal not the "backpacking".
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Gene
climber
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Aug 23, 2017 - 06:42pm PT
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Aug 23, 2017 - 06:55pm PT
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What is so great about backpacking?
Beats me.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Aug 23, 2017 - 06:59pm PT
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It beats being in the office. Plus a bunch of other stuff if you can get past the trees to see the forest.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Aug 23, 2017 - 07:53pm PT
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Backpacking is a combo of two things I find boring; hiking and camping. I know lots of city folk who LOVE camping. A buddy of mine can't help but continually repeat, "I LOVE this sh*t!", if he's out in a tent. Personally I try not to do either as ends in them themselves, but will for spectacular scenery. I've spent literally hundreds of days living out of a tent, am comfortable and fine, but find little novelty in it. I have no problem with walking a long way for multi days camping or bivying, if a good climb or good skiing is involved.
For overnights I dehydrate my own food and eat as well as at home. I absolutely refuse to eat crap freeze dried pouches.
edit - Especially for kids, or anyone not used to being able to live outside with what one can carry on one's back, its an eye opening, life altering, super fun experience!
It is cool to be able to carry everything one needs and live along the way :-)
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
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Aug 23, 2017 - 08:16pm PT
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I'm definitely a fan of humping it in to somewhere nice, ideally with large boulders and maybe a dip pool, and then kicking it.
Slogging down the trail every day like it's my job, not so much.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Aug 23, 2017 - 09:11pm PT
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Once you get used to the load, it's fun. Great way to travel. Cross country where no trails are is best. You can go some really cool places.
Climbing or skiing is better but packing is great. Good gear and knowing what you are doing helps make it more fun.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Aug 24, 2017 - 08:28am PT
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backpacking is how I got into climbing, I started backpacking with the boyscouts, my troop would go on a trip every month.
there is something to the idea that you could just walk anywhere you wanted to, one foot in front of the other.
I've packed light and heavy for various reasons, and the trips I have taken with my wife, and now my daughter have been some of the best times in the "wild" places.
It is a lot of work, the best part is discovering how important sleep is, and that I don't get enough when back in "civilization."
There are beautiful places to go, though perhaps not as remote as they once were.
And all you have to do is pack up the necessities lift it to your shoulders and walk out the door.
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Aug 24, 2017 - 09:15am PT
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If you have to ask...then..
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Nick Danger
Ice climber
Arvada, CO
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Aug 24, 2017 - 09:38am PT
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What's not to like about trees, sky, mountains, canyons, flowers, no phone, no traffic, no crowds, walking, smiling, smelling the out-of-doors, a cup of tea in a wilderness setting, stars undimmed by street lights...
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aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Aug 24, 2017 - 10:06am PT
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When I was about 12 yrs. old, we did a trip into Ten Lakes (around 1962)and we used pack horses to take in all the gear. Human beings are not pack animals, I've never liked backpacking. With horses, we had fresh eggs, bacon, etc. for breakfast, it was lovely. Use Llamas if you are more environmentally conscious. Pretty soon, we will have drones taking in the stuff. Then flying cars.
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rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Aug 24, 2017 - 10:20am PT
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Most of the backpacking I have done has been in the service of climbing objectives, but I have found other things to appreciate about it.
At the risk of stating the obvious, backpacking is about getting to places you have no other way of experiencing. So one shouldn't forget that appreciation of the the locales, both at the objective (if there is one) and along the way is the primary reason to embrace some of the discomforts of the genre.
It shouldn't be about the gear or the novelty of sleeping outside, and it shouldn't be about speed, endurance, overcoming adversity, or personal growth through tribulation. If you are too tired or too miserable to fully attend your surroundings, I think the trip is a failure.
I had an interesting illustration of this a week or two ago in the Tetons. I was by myself hiking up Stewart Draw on my way to climb the East Ridge of Buck Mountain. I was acclimatized and fit (for me at 73), but have found that although I can chug along for as long as it takes, I simply can't move very fast any more---not compared to people twenty or more years younger.
One of the benefits of this age-imposed languidness is that I notice my surroundings a lot more than I used to, and this connection to the places I'm passing through has made the hiking part of the mountain day far more interesting and pleasurable than it used to be when I moved fast and had to keep my eyes mostly on the ground immediately in front of me.
So I'm plodding up the hill, enjoying things like
and
when (inevitably) two young guys catch up with me, movin' fast and breathin' hard. One of them says, "Some hike, huh?" My reply seems to startle them: "Yeah, this is one of the most beautiful approaches I've done here." There's a moment of silence and then one of them says, "I'd like to shake your hand. Most people think of this has a tough grind---that's what I was referring to."
I realized we were having a somewhat different type of experience in the same environment. I think it fair to say that theirs was primarily athletic, and mine was primarily esthetic. And let's not forget that while I had to change my descent plans to avoid potential thunderstorms on the ridge, they were up and down and out of potential harm's way---the price for reverie is not necessarily inconsequential. But when backpacking is the activity, then I think that structuring it so that one really gets to enjoy the surroundings is of paramount importance.
Going light is a big help as long as it doesn't become a goal in itself that sacrifices possible comforts for minor weight savings. If kids or grown neophytes are involved, make sure their equipment is comfortable and already-tested and that they are fit enough for the contemplated activities. Then plan for plenty of time, so that things are never rushed and one can stop and enjoy as much as possible. And don't purposely head for misery: pay attention to the weather and the bugs.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Aug 24, 2017 - 03:18pm PT
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Backpacking and climbing are means to the same end for me: getting somewhere unique. I started climbing to get more places, if you climb for the athletic sport of it I can see how backpacking might not align with that.
Some people say backpacking is boring, my biggest complaint is that I get stressed because there's too much to do and not enough time in the day! Peak bagging, swimming, fishing, photography, identifying plants and animals, caving, climbing, sight seeing, relaxing away from people, exploring, snowboarding, learning about natural history, crossing off places on my maps, fishing again, etc etc etc
(it helps if you're a biology nerd, then it's like a scavenger hunt)
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Aug 24, 2017 - 06:23pm PT
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If you don't like or understand backpacking, then maybe you're into climbing for the wrong reasons.
'Nuff said.
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rbord
Boulder climber
atlanta
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Aug 24, 2017 - 08:56pm PT
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Backpacking is just a marketing scam designed to sell backpacking gear. What would the marketers do if we were all dead? We'll show them! Let's go climbing :-)
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Aug 24, 2017 - 08:58pm PT
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If you don't like or understand backpacking, then maybe you're into climbing for the wrong reasons.
^ City kids. ;-)
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Aug 24, 2017 - 09:33pm PT
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Ian Jewell for the win. wow
I'm going to just add reading. I never have a chance to unplug and just plow through books like I used to. Read three on this last trip.
Especially love being in a tent (no bugs) with the slightest breeze keeping temps right at 68 or so where I have to pull up the bag around me.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Aug 24, 2017 - 09:47pm PT
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It's a bit like driving on an LA freeway...not much fun while you're doing it but it gets you where you want to go.
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Inner City
Trad climber
Portland, OR
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Aug 25, 2017 - 07:11am PT
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I think one of the primary joys of backpacking is just being outside all day in
a wilderness setting. So much to see!
Ian, looks like you have done a bit of So. Utah outdoor time..is Gravel canyon part of your experience?
Just did a five day Yosemite loop..Red Peak Pass...it was grand...and yes Del, plenty of bourbon!
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