Backpacking

[gollwoods]

So I'm a casual backpacker. Which means I do short trips not multi week or thru hikes. I can't claim any particular expertise or anything I just started because my son was a scout and the troop planned to go to the Philmont ranch in New Mexico.
We bought gear through catalogs back then. Or at local stores.
so we did our practice trips and gear was acceptable, then when we went to New Mexico with the troop everything went fine.
Still backpacking but my son did not really continue. He is talking about it and we may go again.
My most adventurous trip was to the Sierra Nevada mts.. 2018 and again 2019. 2019 was a high snow year so I was not thrilled and actually scared so I turned around and hiked the 25 miles back out.
This was ok I found some nice people who needed a little help exiting the mountains and we stayed together for a few hours because they had not downloaded the map for the trail. It was not on the plan to go out that way. We crossed Dusy Basin above 10k and much of it covered in snow.
Since you have read this far I will share a video if you are interested.
This is my video I made it I uploaded it it is sharable .
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cMzqQ36gi8L8msX2A

 

[Kevin]

Awesome! I was a scout but didn’t go to Philmont. Some other scouts from my troop went.

I always read about those people that hike the entire Appalachian Trail. The last news story I saw about it was a woman who died bectshe was lost. And apparently not too far off the trail.

When we lived in New Jersey (Morristown) we lived right beside the “Patriot’s Path.” Which I think is a spur from the Appalachian Trail. It was very fun to mountain bike the section by our house. But we never did any backpacking on the Trail.

How many pounds is your pack when you go out for a few days?

There’s a movie with Robert Redford and he decides to go backpacking. It’s a pretty good movie. “A Walk In The Woods”

 

[Yaworski]

I started hiking when my son was a Scout. I did Philmont at age 49 but I stopped shortly thereafter because of assorted age related health issues.

If I recall correctly, my pack for Philmont was about 40 lbs, including water. I don't know that I'd take much less for fewer days. Sleeping bag, half the tent, water, rain jacket, clean shirt, meds, duct tape.

 

[contender]

I've done my share of backpacking over the decades. Including (2) trips to Philmont. Once when I was 17 and an Eagle Scout,, and again later as one of the (2) required adults leading a group.

Philmont is/was? A spectacular place. But I understand that the BSA leadership had to put it up as collateral towards the sexual abuse lawsuits. If they lose that place,, it'd be a tragedy of HUGE proportions.

Philmont is not far from the NRA Whittington Center either. It was a great side trip for the boys after my last trip there.

 

[coach]

BTW the link to your video wants me to allow Google full access to my photos. Something I’m not prepared to do.
I did a lot of backpacking with the Boy Scouts back in the day. We did a good piece of the Appalachian Trail on a couple of summer hikes. I’m sorry my knee wouldn’t be able to stand up to the rigor of a loaded pack anymore. More than a few miles at a time can sometimes make me wish for a ride home now.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jeepnik]

Two years after he had a heart transplant my BIL did the Appalachian Trail. He did about half the first year and finished the second. He was 69 at the time. There are those that can do it in one season, but quite a few take years to complete the trek. Folks have ask him if he was afraid he'd die being so far from medical treatment if it was needed. His answer was simple. He'd rather die hiking the trail that sitting in his living room watching a documentary about someone doing it.

He had intended to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, but a fractured pelvis and femur from a fall put an end to that.

 

[contender]

My BSA Troop has done sections of the AT that are local to us several times. I've never been out of NC on it though.

 

[Mobuck]

When we worked in Colorado in 2010, we saw several of those 'dedicated hikers'. Hiking the Continental Divide was a big deal back then (maybe still is?) and the hikers would stage 'supply drops' and/or shower/laundry stops along the way. Buena Vista was a popular break spot and several businesses catered to these hikers. I did a day hike up to the Divide trail and that was enough for me. We worked/lived at 10,000' feet but the difference between 10K elevation and 14K can really kick your butt.

 

[blume357]

gollwoods, you started out this post with: "So I'm a casual backpacker." Then I read the rest and really have to wonder what a serious backpacker is after just reading what you did. I used to walk in the woods with a light pack for an hour or two and I thought that was 'casual'. Great video by the way, I'm envious.

 

[gollwoods]

Awesome! I was a scout but didn’t go to Philmont. Some other scouts from my troop went.

I always read about those people that hike the entire Appalachian Trail. The last news story I saw about it was a woman who died bectshe was lost. And apparently not too far off the trail.

When we lived in New Jersey (Morristown) we lived right beside the “Patriot’s Path.” Which I think is a spur from the Appalachian Trail. It was very fun to mountain bike the section by our house. But we never did any backpacking on the Trail.

How many pounds is your pack when you go out for a few days?

There’s a movie with Robert Redford and he decides to go backpacking. It’s a pretty good movie. “A Walk In The Woods”

Lbs in pack is about 17-20 food is not included in that. Everyone is now doing ultralight type of backpacking. Which means using the lightest gear possible.
Geraldine Lafay is the woman you probably are thinking of. The section up in Maine is called the 100 mile wilderness. But it really isn't too bad for a seasoned hiker. Her mistake was leaving the trail for a pitstop, then not knowing where the trail was she got lost. An interesting thing was she was in the location where military does training for evasion training. It is where a team goes out to catch you and you are supposed to evade them. It is likely the rangers in Maine avoided searching that area because it was known to be a military area.
Geraldine was hiking with support. Her husband had a RV and was meeting her at places where the road crosses the trail. Can you imagine waiting for your wife and not hearing from her or anything. She was found in her tent and had passed away. She left a note for her husband. I've hiked there, it is not fun walking in places as the trail is just roots and rocks mostly. But it is very beautiful.

 

[gollwoods]

gollwoods, you started out this post with: "So I'm a casual backpacker." Then I read the rest and really have to wonder what a serious backpacker is after just reading what you did. I used to walk in the woods with a light pack for an hour or two and I thought that was 'casual'. Great video by the way, I'm envious.

I watch you tube videos and people I've met on trail.
I'm so humbled by what these young people are doing. Roadrunner has a YouTube channel called hiking dancer. Quite an incredible hiker. Her first through hike of the AT was 2023 then last year she did PCT. A fire in Oregon made them run down the mountain.

 

[Cyrus]

Awesome! I was a scout but didn't go to Philmont. Some other scouts from my troop went.

I always read about those people that hike the entire Appalachian Trail. The last news story I saw about it was a woman who died bectshe was lost. And apparently not too far off the trail.

When we lived in New Jersey (Morristown) we lived right beside the "Patriot's Path." Which I think is a spur from the Appalachian Trail. It was very fun to mountain bike the section by our house. But we never did any backpacking on the Trail.

How many pounds is your pack when you go out for a few days?

There's a movie with Robert Redford and he decides to go backpacking. It's a pretty good movie. "A Walk In The Woods"

I live a few miles from Patriots Path. Wife passes it daily driving to Morristown for work.

 

[Cholo]

Very cool post and video, gollwoods!

My late friend's nephew is an avid backpacker. He's done the AT end to end about 4x and the Pacific Crest Trail about 3x--and everything in between multiple times. I told him he should write a coffee table book and I'd be the first in line to buy one.

 

[blume357]

Speaking of all this, I started reading a book this past Fall and then put it aside for work and it is pretty amazing:

This is the story of Grandma Gatewood....

https://www.outdoors.org/resources/...an-to-solo-hike-the-entire-appalachian-trail/

 

[JohnL]

I occasionally meet up with a troop of Scouts from Philmont in the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest. This is just west of Philmont. I am up there cutting standing dead trees for firewood. They lads always seem well equipped, in good spirits, and properly led.

 

[JohnL]

I am too old and feeble for backpacking now but recall my days in the Sierra Nevada and the southern Cascade range in Oregon. I always went out alone and enjoyed it so much without the whining of others. Too many city boys are not up to it. I still have my pack, bag, and a North Face Mountain Tent. Made it through some fierce storms inside that tent.

 

[Jeepnik]

I have never been a backpacker. I've carried a pack full of needfuls in the hinterlands but only in pursuit of other activities.

The idea of hiking day after day is for soldiers and Marines. Most places I went were either by vehicle or aircraft. Then again I am smarter than the average bear.

 

[JohnL]

Years back when actively backpacking, I never carried a firearm. Had one late night encounter in the Trinity Wilderness of northern CA when I wished I had but did not own a pistol at the time. I was 18. Something was crashing around in the brush and trees. Could have been a bear, Bigfoot, or a feral human. We used to have them back then. Old guys who wandered the wilderness area living off the land. Never saw what or who it was. Admit to some anxiety. If I were to go again, Ruger Speed Six or Redhawk.

 

[AJGUNNER]

A friend of mine from way back, did an epic trip last summer. My friend was 60 and his son 24. The did the entire Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. They did lots of miles in the dark because the snow was crusted over at night. If done during the day they would be hole punching up to their knees. Due to snow pack and heavy spring run off, they had to skip around 500 miles in the Sierras, but went back and finished that section after finishing in Canada. Was pretty interesting to read the lists they compiled of different things. Number of socks they used up, number of shoes/boots they used up, pounds of peanut butter and Nutella they consumed. Of course they shared incredible scenery photos of places 99% of the population will never see in person.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

the location where military does training for evasion training. It is where a team goes out to catch you and you are supposed to evade them.

That is most likely SERE School.

The Appalachian Trail practically goes though my back property, about a 15 min walk as the crow flies. We see folks crossing the road between Blue Ridge and Rouzerville frequently during the spring/summer months. There is a small parking lot and you often see folks geared up being dropped off or being picked up. That area is within the Michaux State Forest.

The last strenuous hiking I did was way back in the 80's during JEST in the Philippines....only gear was a knife ...other than that I once had a deer stand a mile or so in the woods and had a small pack/rifle. I was never much of a hiker

 

[turd]

Used to do the backpacking thing, but not as seriously as that. A friend and I would pick some where in the mountains of Colorado or Idaho or Washington, drive there then pack in for a few days. Got chased out of a wilderness area in Idaho once, by mosquitos! Never have I seen so many mosquitos. We were using Deet, but the suckers would burrow down through your hair and zap you in the skull. We were fresh meat from the flatlands, so were overwhelmed.

 

[edm1]

This popped up in my feed and I missed it before I guess. I’ve done Philmont 3 times. A month ago we did the first 43 miles of the AT in GA. Funny story, me and a buddie climbed a mountain to find cell service and as I was standing there I saw movement. It was a platoon in Ranger school. I think they were suprised to see us more than we were to see them. Talked to the instructor for a bit. He said they usually don’t see hikers. Going to do more of the AT in April. I hike a lot leading scouts. Gotta do it while I am able.