Backpacking, anyone?

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Just wondering. When I ran the search, nothing came up on the term outside of people's blogs.

I'm interested in picking up some more experience this coming summer. . .

Is previous experience required?

I've done a fair amount of backpacking.

Anything in particular you were wondering about?

Eh. . .

I guess my long term goal is to spend a summer on the AT. No intention to push myself to try and do the whole thing, but it seems like it would be nice to try and spend that much time out. . .

This summer, my goal is to make it out to the canyon for at least three backpacked overnights.

I guess I just thought it would be cool to randomly discuss. . . where the coolest places are people have been, advice on training and gear aquisition, brags, scenic photos, whatever.


I'm very lucky to live so near a lot of mountains. . .

You're in Utah?
Head down to Staircase... it's a great wilderness area.
There's a school down in Boulder, Utah... Boulder Outdoor Survival School (B.O.S.S.).
They have some real good courses and good instructors.
There was a death in one of their classes recently, but considering how many people have gone through their courses, it's still a good school.
I did the 30-day field course once... one of my dream trips... we were all over a small section of the Grand Escalante Staircase Monument for the month. Loved every minute of it and I'd do it again.

I taught Wilderness Survival for 7 yrs at Humboldt State University, as well as for Americorps here in my area for a couple of years.
If you want any info on survival, I'd be happy to share what I know.

I want to take my daughter backpacking in Utah this summer, but I'm not sure we'll have the time after all.
We'll probably just do a couple of weekend trips around the Trinity Mountains here in California.

Yosemite is a really nice place to backpack as long as you pay attention to keeping your tent or sleeping area clean so the bears don't mess with you. I spent 8 days on a trip down there once and had a really good time hanging out around 11,000 ft. ASL.

Alaska is another really great place except in the summer when the black flies and mosquitos are out.
I paddles down the Yukon river one summer from Whitehorse, Y.T. in Canada back to Alaska (720 miles, solo, in a canoe).
That was a fun trip even though it was mostly just floating since it was high water and just after breakup.

The Gila Wilderness in New Mexico (SouthWest) is another place I have always loved to visit.
You can drop by the clif dwellings but also head out into the woods to get away from the tourists.

I hope you tell us all about your trip... or trips after you get back.

I've backpacked a lot of Europe, it's great fun!! I've got plenty of practical tips should need them, just ask. Backpacking is absolutely amazing - the best way to get around imo (unless you have a bad back of course!). You meet the most wonderful people and see the most incredible things, it's brilliant!

hehe. .

I have a bad back, but I'm in denial.

You can pack with goats or llamas.
I didn't mention dogs since they are not welcome in a few places and they do not carry as much as goats or llamas.

There are people who guide you on trips with these animals or you could acquire your own.
Plus, if you have a yard to mow at home... the goats will help with that!

Llamas are actually better for the trails than horses, from what I've learned.
They don't beat up the trail like a horse, they supposedly don't spook like a horse might, plus they are smaller.

I've been told by a couple of llama guides that if a bear wanders in too close the llamas make some sort of sound that alerts you. I've forgotten what it is, but I think it's some kind of whistle.
Oh.. and their poops are just like elk or deer... pellets, but larger, instead of some humongous one like a horse or cow.

Hey, the AT is pretty close to me. I've hiked a small bit of it before.

I've done some backpacking before. Had a class for it a couple years ago and found it fun.
However I haven't done much except solo hikes since then. Would be nice to have someone to hike with but I don't got no one to do that with.
I got gear for camping too but I'm not going to to do overnight camping alone.

If you ever do make it out to the AT in Shenandoah, let me know and I'll join you for a bit.

awe. . maybe I will.

yeah. . My parents are back east, so I tend to make it thereabouts every now and then.