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pissboy posted:Has anyone camped out at Shackleford Banks? I'm looking to go in early May. I plan on putting in our kayaks at the boat launch in Beaufort, NC, paddling over to Shackleford Banks as the tide is going out, hiking around the island for the rest of the day and the next day, and paddling back as the tide is coming in. I see that there are water tours and taxis out to the island, but hopefully they aren't too busy or annoying while school is still in session. I'll have to pack in all my water, but since we're paddling out, it shouldn't be too annoying. It looks like as long as I can find a place to park for a few days, and leave a float plan with the park I should be good to go. Any recommendations for staking my tent (http://www.rei.com/product/810115/rei-passage-2-tent) in sand with windy conditions? I have some snow stakes and it was recommended that I tie my lines off to the middle of them and bury them, but since weight is not really an issue this time, I could bring something larger/heavier. I might have been better off if I didn't bury my question in a wall of text.  I plan on camping on an island which will have 9-25MPH winds. Any recommendations for staking my tent (http://www.rei.com/product/810115/rei-passage-2-tent) in sand with windy conditions? I have some snow stakes and it was recommended that I tie my lines off to the middle of them and bury them, but since weight is not really an issue this time, I could bring something larger/heavier.
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Apr 8, 2014 12:43
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pissboy posted:I might have been better off if I didn't bury my question in a wall of text. I wouldn't be too concerned since that's a freestanding tent already, just put some weight in the tent (your pack, a rock, etc.) so it doesn't blow away. That said, I carry two MSR Groundhog stakes for my tarp's ridgeline tie-outs, and have yet to find anything they won't stay in. They're a little heavy, but work awesome. Maybe put a rock or fallen branch on top of the stake to keep it from popping out if you're still worried about sandy soil not keeping it in.
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Apr 8, 2014 14:30
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Can anyone recommend some snowshoes? My one trip has tipped me over the edge and I need to go more often..
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Apr 8, 2014 14:42
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What kind of terrain? Lots of steeps or rolling trails/flats? I really like my Atlas 1230s for mixed use: http://www.rei.com/product/860377/atlas-1230-snowshoes
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Apr 8, 2014 17:24
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Okay, I've been backpacking once or twice in my life but that was a while ago and I have no gear at all. My wife and I want to start hiking and backpacking now. Does anyone have recommendations for a cheap bag for a 5'0" 100lbs female? I would be carrying the bulk of the stuff, we just need a pack for her to carry her food etc.
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Apr 8, 2014 19:10
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beefnoodle posted:What kind of terrain? Lots of steeps or rolling trails/flats? Mix of steep off the beaten path and rolling trails. I want snowshoes that will let me climb like a mountain goat and run through the snowy woods like Sasquatch - bonus points for cheap and lightweight. Ropes4u fucked around with this message at 19:59 on Apr 8, 2014 |
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Apr 8, 2014 19:47
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GreyPowerVan posted:Okay, I've been backpacking once or twice in my life but that was a while ago and I have no gear at all. By bag I assume you mean backpack (judging from the rest of your post)? Best advice would probably go to a place like REI that has a large selection and have her try stuff on. At 5'0 it could be tough to find one with a short enough torso but having a large selection to work with helps.
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Apr 8, 2014 20:01
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Levitate posted:By bag I assume you mean backpack (judging from the rest of your post)? Best advice would probably go to a place like REI that has a large selection and have her try stuff on. At 5'0 it could be tough to find one with a short enough torso but having a large selection to work with helps. Yeah backpack, sorry. I don't think we even have any stores within 100mi being in the middle of bumfuck, Alabama. We'll figure something out when we both get out of college for the semester.
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Apr 8, 2014 20:07
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freebooter posted:What's the difference between a national park and a national forest? Also, how do they determine whether an area is at wildfire risk? I'm coming from Australia which is over-zealous about bushfires; in my area there's a total fire ban ($10,000 fine, one year in prison) between November and March. Yosemite can be very crowded with the tourbuses and folks from SF/LA trying to drive their Prius like a Lamborghini because they are in a hurry - so maybe that's why I don't see that many dual sport riders there for some reason. I did see a few down in Kings Canyon though last year, as it's a much less popular park. For some reason I see more folks on dual sports with camping gear along Big Sur Highway 1 and then again up in Oregon between Crater Lake and Bend off of hwy 97. There are a zillion bike trails around there so I think it's more popular up there. I know there are a lot of all terrain trails by Lake Tahoe but they seem to be overwhelmed with flat brim hatted X-games motocross douchelords that leave trash everywhere along with jeep enthusiasts, rather than motorcyle trail campers.
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Apr 8, 2014 20:37
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Picnic Princess posted:We arrive in Moab May 1! edit: that's around 26 degrees for you moon unit users. SubponticatePoster fucked around with this message at 23:08 on Apr 8, 2014 |
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Apr 8, 2014 23:06
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and camp in those conditions all the time anyway. We're not bringing any cots., sadly.
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Anyone got any Wisconsin camping (not necessarily backpacking) spots they could recommend? Im in Chicago so something within 3 hours or so would be ideal. I'm also looking to go early May when the weather is still cool. I've got a buddy who I'm trying to convince to go on an actual backpacking trip this summer out west and I think he just needs to get his feet wet before seriously considering it. I figure we could do a car camping weekend with some hiking added in. After hiking out west I'm really bored with things around the Midwest but it lends itself to car camping at the very least. I prefer secluded spots versus clustered parking lot style campgrounds. After backpacking it's really hard to imagine being 10 feet from another group. I have a spot I like in the UP of Michigan on the sturgeon river but that's a 7 hour drive and too long for a quick weekend. Any suggestions would be awesome.
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Apr 9, 2014 20:48
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I recently moved to Chicago so I've been looking as well. Here's what I've come up with: Knobstone Trail in southern IN Manistee River Trail loop in western MI Starved Rock state park near Ottawa, IL (might not be the best for camping but the landscape looks neat) Then there is Red River Gorge in KY and the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness in the UP, both of which are ~7 hour drives. I've only ever been to Red River Gorge, but it was fantastic. I'd be interested in any other options as well, preferably something with a little elevation gain.
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Apr 9, 2014 21:05
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Verman posted:Anyone got any Wisconsin camping (not necessarily backpacking) spots they could recommend? Im in Chicago so something within 3 hours or so would be ideal. I'm also looking to go early May when the weather is still cool. I've been to Kettle Moraine State Forest, it was nice. We spent a night at a backpack shelter that we reserved in advance, we just threw our tent up next to it instead of sleeping in the shelter because it was ~75 degrees out. It's on the Ice Age Trail. There's car camping available too. I'm in Green Bay, the only other places I know of are further north so hopefully someone else knows of a spot or two. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/kmn/camping.html for the north unit http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/kms/camping.html for the south unit edit: it looks like it's within 2.5 hours from Chicago. Ralphus fucked around with this message at 21:14 on Apr 9, 2014 |
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Apr 9, 2014 21:12
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I grew up in west Michigan so I'm very familiar with manastee national forest as it was only an hour or so from my hometown. I will look into that a little further. Kettle Morraine might be what we're looking for. I was looking at that prior to asking so based on what I found and some thumbs up in here I might try to make that happen.
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Apr 9, 2014 21:20
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Has anyone been out in Kananaskis/Canmore area recently? How are the scrambling routes looking snow wise?
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Apr 9, 2014 21:21
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You should do the porcupine mountains, you can do a nice 38 mile loop in 4-5 days. 17 miles are right along the lake. Manistee river trail is nice over night. Go up the mrt and come back on the north country trail. If you haven't done pictured rocks get after it. You can do point to point and they pick you up and drive you back. So beautiful. Brown county Indiana is really cool for mountain biking so maybe you could back pack there also.
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Apr 9, 2014 22:12
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Verman posted:Kettle Morraine might be what we're looking for. I was looking at that prior to asking so based on what I found and some thumbs up in here I might try to make that happen. Kettle Morraine is pretty good, and definitely one of your closer options. Buckhorn State Park in Necedah Wisconsin is my favorite state park for camping because the "cart-in campsites" are significantly more secluded than the car camping areas in most state parks. The Porcupines are nice too, but that's getting to be a really long drive.
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Apr 9, 2014 23:24
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Thanks for all the input. I feel like we might end up in kettle moraine or possibly buckhorn. The UP is out of reach for a quick weekend trip at 7 hours from Chicago. Unfortunately my friend is a PM for a huge construction company so his time off is fairly limited and we're trying to save his days off for a week-long in Colorado or PNW later this year. He's eager to backpack but was originally put off by the sticker shock of his first trip to REI. Considering I have a ton of extra gear he would essentially only need to purchase a decent sleeping bag. NO EXCUSES DAMMIT!
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Apr 10, 2014 01:49
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Verman posted:Unfortunately my friend is a PM for a huge construction company so his time off is fairly limited and we're trying to save his days off for a week-long in Colorado or PNW later this year! My wife feels his pain. It is a great and terrible industry. I basically take all my vacation by myself. Definitely find someone to do pictured rocks with though.
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Apr 10, 2014 02:52
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Anyone in the Southeast I recommend hiking in Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee. I went with some friends in 2012. It's not a hard hike at all and is really beautiful. The view.  
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Apr 10, 2014 05:23
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Ropes4u posted:Mix of steep off the beaten path and rolling trails. MSR lightning assents would be my recommendation for step terrain. Edit: some photos from a trip the other week.         
Dread Head fucked around with this message at 07:37 on Apr 10, 2014 |
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Apr 10, 2014 06:57
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Dread Head posted:MSR lightning assents would be my recommendation for step terrain.
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Apr 10, 2014 13:55
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I'm looking for some recommendations for hikes in Colorado. I'll be attending a conference at the Snowmass Base Village Conference center form June 22-27. During the week, I'll have the afternoons free from 12:30-4:00, and won't have transportation. I was hoping for a few recommendations for hikes that could be reached on foot from the base village, and completed in about 3-4 hours, preferably something that will get me some elevation gain for acclimatizing. After the conference is over, I was planning on renting a car on Friday and driving somewhere for a longer hike on Saturday. Then driving to Denver after the hike, and flying out on Sunday or Monday. I was hoping people had a recommendation for a good 14er to start with that would be generally between Snowmass and Denver, not too long (=<12 miles), and a trail with a fair amount of traffic (at the request of my wife since I'll be solo). I was planning on crashing in the car at whatever trailhead on Friday night, so an early start isn't a problem. Also, what can I expect in terms of snow, weather, etc the last weekend in June? What kind of gear do I need to bring?
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Apr 10, 2014 19:52
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Dread Head posted:MSR lightning assents would be my recommendation for step terrain. Awesome trip and resend action
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Apr 11, 2014 00:09
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EPICAC posted:I'm looking for some recommendations for hikes in Colorado. I'll be attending a conference at the Snowmass Base Village Conference center form June 22-27. During the week, I'll have the afternoons free from 12:30-4:00, and won't have transportation. I was hoping for a few recommendations for hikes that could be reached on foot from the base village, and completed in about 3-4 hours, preferably something that will get me some elevation gain for acclimatizing. Or Pike's Peak if you want the  easy 14er.
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Apr 11, 2014 01:05
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Defiant Sally posted:Has anyone been out in Kananaskis/Canmore area recently? How are the scrambling routes looking snow wise? I haven't been out at all, too busy with school and preparing to head stateside in just over 2 weeks. But these are my go-to sources for trying to find out conditions this time of year: Club Tread Message Boards (This one is Alberta) http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=36 Calgary Outdoor Club (people post photos in the calendar of past hikes) http://www.calgaryoutdoorclub.com/ I also recommend checking these guys out, they post a lot of important and interesting things: https://www.facebook.com/KCPublicSafety?fref=ts
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Apr 11, 2014 08:14
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Verman, there's also Devils Lake by Madison. Check out the crane foundation that's nearby if you go.
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Apr 11, 2014 16:19
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Discomancer posted:Mt. Bierstadt is relatively close to Denver and is a pretty easy day hike with a good amount of foot traffic. In June you can have any kind of weather on a 14er, it will probably be windy and a little cold, lots of UV, possible rain or snow. Bring enough water for the whole trip, don't expect to be able to fill up along the trail. Plus, you may see mountain goats there! Thanks, I'll look into Bierstadt. How are Grays and Torreys when combined? Depending on what day I fly out, I might try for two hikes. Waters not an issue. I'm paranoid about running out, and have been carrying about twice what I need all winter. I assume snow conditions can be quite variable from year to year depending on the snowfall. Any suggestions for resources for trail conditions etc? Will I need to brink along my crampons/microspikes/ice axe? (Packing more stuff isn't an issue since my employer will be paying for any baggage fees).
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Apr 11, 2014 16:50
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I wouldn't say either Gray's or Torrey's is particularly difficult. The only hard part about combining them is dealing with the number of people on the trail.
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Apr 12, 2014 00:04
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Try the east slope of Pike's peak, it's exactly marathon distance round trip and as grueling as it is beautiful. It's also the only mountain I've climbed with the surreal experience of seeing all the tourists from Texas who are having difficultly climbing back into their Suburbans because of the altitude at the top.
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Apr 12, 2014 00:25
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Mt Evans would be cool to do. Head out from echo lake. Neat view of Denver and the sprawl.
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Apr 12, 2014 00:38
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Elbert is the highest and the easiest, in my opinion.
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Apr 12, 2014 00:59
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GreyPowerVan posted:cheap, small bag Rio Grande 45L.  About $50 after shipping, you can get it in black, OD, Tan, various camos, and bright orange. I did some hiking the other week too!   
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Apr 12, 2014 04:46
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45L is solidly midsize. Look for something around 30L, maybe a Boreas?
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Apr 12, 2014 05:07
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Speleothing posted:45L is solidly midsize. Food + water + sleeping bag + clothes + first aid + survival gear, could totally become 45L if she has some clothes and enough food for a long trip. You could likely swing a 30L, I went on an overnight in good weather with a 32L patagonia bag I got for free from Appnexus. Tied my sleeping pad to the back but otherwise it was enough. If she is really only carrying food and you are a boyfriend/packmule then you might as well go nuts and get her a Flash 19 or something, at least it will get used outside of your once a month backpacking trips.
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Apr 12, 2014 05:40
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I'm attempting to squat on the mountains of Tasmania, and went for a hike in hopes of adding a summit to my belt but unfortunately strayed from the path, got lost and frightened and went home. But here are some photos. There apparently used to be a bridge here, but has long since been washed away  warm up squat, i was drat proud of this one   In order to get to the track you have to cross the rivulet, it was an omen of things to come  Mount cummings / chasm falls junction (4 hour return my rear end)  Less proud of this squat, i would later come back to this waterfall after my failed climb to try and fill my water bottle with the sweet nectar of falls-water in my naked splendour. but ended up slipping, hurting myself and drinking from the stagnant pool at the bottom as my punishment.  It was at this point I decided I had strayed from the path of the 'day walk' trail and precariously made my way back. I survived a bumble-bee attack, and my walking stick broke.  nice view though.  
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Apr 13, 2014 08:40
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what are some good multi-day hikes in the BC/Canadian west coast area that are comparable to the West Coast Trail? Looking to do something with my buddies in August but due to some coordination issues we can't do the WCT. Something with great views but is a fairly challenging 3-7 day hike. thanks
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Apr 13, 2014 16:24
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Keldoclock posted:Food + water + sleeping bag + clothes + first aid + survival gear, could totally become 45L if she has some clothes and enough food for a long trip. I can get all my winter camping & avvy gear into a 38L, for a 2-night ski trip in a quinzhee. With the pad strapped to the outside, but that's pretty typical for most people.. I'm 6'2", so an averaged-size girl with no tent and summerweight clothes and bag can probably fit a weeklong into a 30 or 35. Particularly if you aren't carrying extra crap.
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Apr 13, 2014 18:57
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Half Dome cable permit lottery results come out today. Mine was unsuccessful. Hopefully the friends I am going with have better luck.
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Apr 14, 2014 19:42
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Can anyone recommend some easy day hikes near Albuquerque, Santa Fe or Taos? I'll be exploring that area in a few days, would love to find an easy hike with great views to take some scenic landscape photos. I'd be by myself and not much in the way of equipment.
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Apr 15, 2014 14:51
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