|
I'm just kind of trying to decide if I'd want/like a longer pad or not. Still leaning towards the regular size, it just means not much extra head to toe room. On the other hand, I usually only use all of that when I'm on my back which isn't my preferred sleeping position. On the other, other hand we're about to have our first kid so I have no idea what my backpacking schedule will look like next year...kinda wish I had squeezed in another trip this fall but that's tough to do with all the other prep stuff that has to be done, etc
|
#
?
Oct 20, 2016 21:06
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 24, 2024 08:55 |
|
|
Levitate posted:I'm just kind of trying to decide if I'd want/like a longer pad or not. Still leaning towards the regular size, it just means not much extra head to toe room. On the other hand, I usually only use all of that when I'm on my back which isn't my preferred sleeping position. My feeling is to always err on the side of comfort when it comes to sleep. If I'm not well rested, the next day of hiking is miserable and I don't enjoy it as much. An extra 4 ounces on my back is worth having a better time.
|
|
#
?
Oct 20, 2016 21:17
|
|
|
Tigren posted:My feeling is to always err on the side of comfort when it comes to sleep. If I'm not well rested, the next day of hiking is miserable and I don't enjoy it as much. An extra 4 ounces on my back is worth having a better time. Definitely. On the longer trips you get used to whatever because you're just so drat tired, but the first nights are bad when you wake aching every hour. You can migitate that somewhat by trying to find a soft campsite, but good pads are just so much easier.
|
|
#
?
Oct 20, 2016 21:39
|
|
|
I went on a short dayhike yesterday with my wife, dog and friend. We tried to go somewhere new other than the I90 and 2 corridors out of Seattle which are always busy on weekends. This was an awesome hike with an incredible payoff and 2 other people on the trail. From the peak you could see Mt Baker (150 miles away), Glacier Peak, Mt Stewart, Mt Rainier and the Olympics. Rainier seemed so goddam loving huge that the photos don't do it justice. Absolutely perfect day and crazy to see snow so early and so low.    
|
|
#
?
Oct 24, 2016 04:11
|
|
|
Verman posted:Rainier seemed so goddam loving huge that the photos don't do it justice. If you're ever in Tacoma get a view of it from the waterfront. From sea level it just looms over the city.
|
|
#
?
Oct 24, 2016 05:40
|
|
|
I grew up in the Canadian Rockies and Ranier is loving huge. 
|
|
#
?
Oct 24, 2016 05:43
|
|
|
I just went to Ranier this weekend!  It was loving rad even though I only went like five miles. The group I was with wasn't ready or equipped to deal with the snow, but I just wanted to go outside and wasn't disappointed. It totes reaffirms that buying a buttload of cold weather gear was A Good Decision.
|
|
#
?
Oct 24, 2016 06:36
|
|
|
Rime posted:I grew up in the Canadian Rockies and Ranier is loving huge. I spend all my time in the Canadian Rockies and I saw Rainier from a plane once and yes, it is goddamn huge. It's prominence is 13,211'. Which significantly beats Mt. Robson with a prominence of 9281'. And Robson blows my mind every time I'm standing at it's base. The only thing that makes me think Robson is super badass is that it's prominence is basically all cliffbands. So when you're standing at it's base, you're looking practically straight up. SulfurMonoxideCute fucked around with this message at 07:49 on Oct 24, 2016 |
|
#
?
Oct 24, 2016 07:46
|
|
|
I picked up a pair of trekking poles yesterday, then did about 6 miles of hilly terrain in SE Michigan. They were really nice, and a fair bit of the hike was near or after dark, so the stability was helpful. I can't believe I was so disdainful of these things for so long.
|
|
#
?
Oct 29, 2016 20:13
|
|
|
What type of batteries are good in cold weather? Can I find that type in AAA format or will I have to switch to a headlamp that uses some weird battery shape? I'll mostly be using them for night climbing and hiking.
|
|
#
?
Nov 1, 2016 03:16
|
|
|
Anyone ever done an IWLS course and have an opinion of them? Thinking of signing up for the 20 day course in Argentina in January in hopes of getting some relevant skills I can apply to future summiting adventures.
|
|
#
?
Nov 1, 2016 03:23
|
|
|
Electoral Surgery posted:What type of batteries are good in cold weather? Can I find that type in AAA format or will I have to switch to a headlamp that uses some weird battery shape? I think the most important thing is trying to keep them warm. Sleep with them in your bag with you, carry them next to your body, etc. Lithium batteries are supposedly better performing in cold weather.
|
|
#
?
Nov 1, 2016 04:28
|
|
|
If you leave them out, just stick them in your armpit for ten minutes before you put them in your headlamp. It's cold, but it works.
|
|
#
?
Nov 1, 2016 17:48
|
|
|
a foolish pianist posted:If you leave them out, just stick them in your armpit for ten minutes before you put them in your headlamp. It's cold, but it works. Just plug em for a bit. With practice you can get 4-5 up there at once.
|
|
#
?
Nov 1, 2016 19:45
|
|
|
The only thing that cold does to lithium batteries is make them more efficient, it's not 1972 anymore don't think about it too much
|
|
#
?
Nov 1, 2016 23:30
|
|
|
Watching a movie called "backcountry" right before going to bed. It's a lovely horror/suspense movie on showtime. Not a great movie, bad acting, hot female lead, lots of terrible avoidable mistakes but it taps into one of my worst fears ... bears. It really captures the anxiety of hearing every little stick break through the night and there's a scene of a bear pushing his face against the tent wall while they sleep that freaked me out more than the mauling. The other thing was that they had 45-50l packs but had bacon, potatoes, a coffee pot, an axe, frying pan, champagne, beer etc with a fairly large tent but the dude can't bring a map. I think I was more angry through the movie than anything. I had a running list of mistakes going through my head that drove me crazy and distracted me. No map or compass Going off trail Bringing an inexperienced person too deep on their first trip Not bringing enough food Poor food hanging Not turning back after an injury Getting confrontational with strangers on the trail Hanging bloody clothing near your camp site Pushing through without knowing where you're going Not retracing your steps the moment you realize you're lost Running from a bear Investigating bad smells in the woods Hiding in your tent during a bear encounter Ignoring the suggestion of the Rangers per closed areas And the list goes on
|
|
#
?
Nov 2, 2016 11:35
|
|
|
Going to be in the vicinity of Great Smokey Mountain NP next weekend for work and I am considering spending a night or two car camping there and doing some day hiking. Anyone know how crowded the first come first serve campgrounds are going to be in the middle of November? Will I have a hard time getting a site? Also, what would be a good day hike that time of year? I will be by myself, which is why I am not backpacking, so I don't want to go some place too off the beaten path (e.g. if I break my ankle, someone would be along within a reasonable amount of time).
|
|
#
?
Nov 3, 2016 05:14
|
|
|
Looks like I am going on an overnight biking trip this weekend as I cannot convince my friends that just hiking is better. We are only doing like 20m a day but I am very worried about my rear end and balls. My friends claim I will be fine but I am still worried. Other then walking around in a cloud if Gold Bond, what else can I do?
|
|
#
?
Nov 3, 2016 13:38
|
|
|
chamois cream is what you want. It's available in most high-ish end bike shops.
|
|
#
?
Nov 3, 2016 13:55
|
|
|
20 miles is like an hour and a half or two of riding at a fairly slow pace (unless you're talking MTB with lots of terrain). The need for chamois cream is pretty butt/bib/shorts specific, I've done 100 miles and haven't needed anything for chafing. Sore sit bones are another story though. Balls shouldn't hurt with proper bike fit and rear end/sit bones shouldn't be too bad after an hour and a half in the saddle even if you haven't ridden much before.
charliebravo77 fucked around with this message at 15:49 on Nov 3, 2016 |
|
#
?
Nov 3, 2016 15:46
|
|
|
OK, I was wrong about 20 miles apparently it's 35 to 40 a day which they promised will not break me. I'm very suspicious of any hobby so I have to lube my rear end up for beforehand so we shall see how it goes I guess. I am a little excited at the idea of being able to carry so much more weight.
|
|
#
?
Nov 3, 2016 16:35
|
|
|
Yea your sit bones are going to hurt for a few days. The pain will sort of numb away but can be really bad at the start of the 2nd or 3rd day when you first hop in the saddle.
|
|
#
?
Nov 3, 2016 21:26
|
|
|
Ibuprofen, my friend. Be sure to eat something with it though, as it can be harsh on an empty stomach.
|
|
#
?
Nov 3, 2016 22:03
|
|
|
I was looking at 2p tents today as I'm thinking about doing a few solo overnighters this winter and I don't own a tent yet. Of the brands that are available to me here in Belgium, MSR stood out as the one with the best price/weight ratio. Especially the Hubba Hubba and the FreeLite 2 as they're both under 2kg and under 500€, including footprint. Sounds almost too good to be true, compared to the other brands I've checked out. How is their quality? I've had Hilleberg recommended to me as a good brand but they're heavier, super expensive (upwards of 800€) and have a tunnel design which is awkward to get inside. Other brands I've seen in passing are Fjallraven, Vaude and The North Face.
|
|
#
?
Nov 3, 2016 23:40
|
|
|
bongwizzard posted:OK, I was wrong about 20 miles apparently it's 35 to 40 a day which they promised will not break me. I'm very suspicious of any hobby so I have to lube my rear end up for beforehand so we shall see how it goes I guess. The big one is to make sure the bike and seat fit you. Are you borrowing a bike? It would be worth it to take yourself and the bike to a bike shop where they can fit you all together.
|
|
#
?
Nov 4, 2016 00:18
|
|
|
Verman posted:Watching a movie called "backcountry" right before going to bed. I watched Grizzly Man a couple days before going backpacking in the Rockies and a bear approached our tent in the middle of the night. That was an intense experience. That movie sounds like a good one for students in my program to watch. "If you do any of the following, you should probably just transfer out. Go into sport and rec management or something, I don't know. But you don't belong here."
|
|
#
?
Nov 4, 2016 00:36
|
|
|
Picnic Princess posted:I watched Grizzly Man a couple days before going backpacking in the Rockies and a bear approached our tent in the middle of the night. That was an intense experience. That's actually a really good idea. Have them watch the movie and take notes of mistakes and things that catch their attention. I could see it being useful to a wilderness/survival class. All said it's beautifully shot, maybe not Wild level cinematography but it got me to finish it and I've certainly seen worse. I'm a bit biased towards outdoor films so I'll pretty much watch anything related to hiking, camping, survival etc.
|
|
#
?
Nov 4, 2016 01:08
|
|
|
theroachman posted:I was looking at 2p tents today as I'm thinking about doing a few solo overnighters this winter and I don't own a tent yet. I own the MSR Hubba Hubba and it's really solidly built, easy to carry, and easy to put up. I'm 6'3" and just barely fit with maybe 8 inches of space at my feet for storage. It fits 2 sleeping pads+bags side by side, but it's pretty tight so make sure you like the person with you if you're not going solo. Mine has only seen two seasons worth of moderate backpacking, but it seems like it'll hold up - no cuts in the nylon, broken straps, or anything like that.
|
|
#
?
Nov 4, 2016 01:20
|
|
|
Atticus_1354 posted:The big one is to make sure the bike and seat fit you. Are you borrowing a bike? It would be worth it to take yourself and the bike to a bike shop where they can fit you all together. I am renting one so I hope to have it fit properly. It's only an overnight in any case. It seems crazy to go 70 miles in two days though, I hope we have some time to fart around a bit.
|
|
#
?
Nov 4, 2016 01:33
|
|
|
You'll be fine. My guess is that you'll only be riding 2-3 hours per day. Day 2 will suck because your butt will be sore from day 1. But really, that's not a lot of mileage on a bike. And you can coast.
|
|
#
?
Nov 4, 2016 04:30
|
|
|
Oh man, I love Grizzly Man! An amazing film. The incredible thing is that despite being crazy and doing things you just do NOT do, he wasnt killed by one of "his' bears, and maybe if he hadn't been forced to stay longer he'd still be living it up with his bear family (2% chance of this happening).
|
|
#
?
Nov 4, 2016 12:37
|
|
|
If I was looking into backpacking for 10 days in Oregon, Idaho, or Wyoming at the end of August, where would I want to go?
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 03:20
|
|
|
Picnic Princess posted:Oregon, Idaho, or Wyoming Don't know, Frank Church, Tetons, seem like the obvious answers.
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 05:01
|
|
|
jamal posted:Don't know, Frank Church, Tetons, seem like the obvious answers. Is there 10 days of backpacking in the tetons? There might be in the mountains south, but I'm not sure.
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 05:05
|
|
|
I haven't been to that region in almost twenty years, but my dream trips would probably be Wallowas/Eagle Cap in OR, Frank Church in ID, Wind River Range in WY.
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 05:31
|
|
|
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons sounds like a fun time
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 05:49
|
|
|
Picnic Princess posted:If I was looking into backpacking for 10 days in Oregon, Idaho, or Wyoming at the end of August, where would I want to go? In Wyoming, the Wind River Range.
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 05:55
|
|
|
Picnic Princess posted:If I was looking into backpacking for 10 days in Oregon, Idaho, or Wyoming at the end of August, where would I want to go? Washington State 
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 06:01
|
|
|
Officer Sandvich posted:Washington State Yeah, you could do something like the Wonderland or PCT Section J + 3 days of something else or any other number if ridiculous Washington backpacks that will blow away nearly anything else.
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 07:00
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 24, 2024 08:55 |
|
|
I've been living in CA for 5 years and thoroughly hiked here. Also been to UT, CO, AZ, and OR. But damnit, still no Washington. I want to go there on a long break (specifically Thanksgiving) but I hear Mt. Rainer and such are hard to hike during Nov-Mar. is it feasible? I've had moderate experience hiking in snowy conditions but it sounds dangerous up there this time of year, plus inaccessible roads. etc.
|
|
#
?
Nov 6, 2016 07:39
|
|
