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Nice stroll up Slide Mtn yesteday in the Catskills. We had cramp-ons but it could of been done without them with only a few icy spots and hardpack for the most part. We first arrived around 10:00am and to our surprise, the parking lot was empty. We ran to the store quick to pick up a few things and upon our return, there was a bunch of cars. We thought for a second that people knew something we didn't so it was cool to see others show up. We knew at least that first creek was frozen over and passable. Was warm enough to shed layers and soak up some vitamin D
so hard sitting inside for work behind a desk right meow knowing how nice it was out there yesterday
any recommendations for hiking shoes/boots? looking to get into more hiking this summer, just little day trips, but i figured i should get the proper footwear instead of just using old sneakers
Peter.any recommendations for hiking shoes/boots? looking to get into more hiking this summer, just little day trips, but i figured i should get the proper footwear instead of just using old sneakers
I have used to Timberland Hikers for 2 seasons and they worked great. Comfortable and great grip. This year I am looking for upgrade but the Timberland's are great to start and great on the wallet.
Peter.any recommendations for hiking shoes/boots? looking to get into more hiking this summer, just little day trips, but i figured i should get the proper footwear instead of just using old sneakers
Scarp makes some dope ass shoes that are great for city walkin and mountain walkin.
Peter.any recommendations for hiking shoes/boots? looking to get into more hiking this summer, just little day trips, but i figured i should get the proper footwear instead of just using old sneakers
I live in western maine and spend most of my time in the summer hiking around here.
My favorite hike is Tumbledown in weld (about a fifteen minute drive from my house.)
The views are crazy cool and you can't beat swimming at the pond on top after a real hot hike. And camping up there is sick. If you're ever in the area its a must fer sure!
Just got back from fire fighting in Montana and it was basically one giant backpacking trip. I was working around the Libby and Kalispell areas and some great terrain around there. Definitely stuff I want to get back to when I'm not walking around in ash or flames. Also I wore old Salewa Alp Trainer GTX mid boots the whole time with Marino wool socks and no blisters to be had at all.
MLBJust got back from fire fighting in Montana and it was basically one giant backpacking trip. I was working around the Libby and Kalispell areas and some great terrain around there. Definitely stuff I want to get back to when I'm not walking around in ash or flames. Also I wore old Salewa Alp Trainer GTX mid boots the whole time with Marino wool socks and no blisters to be had at all.
I was quite the experience. Unfortunately my anxiety got the best of me and I had to bail out right before Shenandoah Nation Park after 78 days and 822 miles.
AT-ATI was quite the experience. Unfortunately my anxiety got the best of me and I had to bail out right before Shenandoah Nation Park after 78 days and 822 miles.
I certainly cannot frown upon anyone that is that dedicated for that long
Do you plan to pick it up where you left off?
I have accepted that I'll never be able to thru hike it and know that a week at a time every couple of years will be my way
AT-ATI was quite the experience. Unfortunately my anxiety got the best of me and I had to bail out right before Shenandoah Nation Park after 78 days and 822 miles.
fuck yeah man... Anxiety about missing home? Money? Various things? Just curious.
louie.miragsfuck yeah man... Anxiety about missing home? Money? Various things? Just curious.
I've always suffered from general anxiety and I just got stuck in the " I got to hike today, how many more miles?" mode and forget to breathe and enjoy it.
It was pretty dope though. A lot of stories and a lot of views.
The way things are setting up in my life, I might be able to finish up the remaining miles next year.
AT-ATI've always suffered from general anxiety and I just got stuck in the " I got to hike today, how many more miles?" mode and forget to breathe and enjoy it.
It was pretty dope though. A lot of stories and a lot of views.
The way things are setting up in my life, I might be able to finish up the remaining miles next year.
fuck yeah man I feels ya! And I could see getting stuck in that mindset. I would love to see any pictures if you them online anywhere
These were taken on Kaaterskill High Peak Mountain in the Catskills last friday. It was too foggy up top to get any nice pictures of the vistas. Here is one of the reference point used by surveyyors in the early 20th century at the summit:
Here is one of me. Best part of any hike for me is the climbing/rock scrambles:
Went on my first backpacking trip earlier in August in the Banff backcountry. Initially planned for an easy 30-40km over four days, but turned into 60km over four days (9, 21, 21, 9). My out of shape, 280lb body was not ready for that and it destroyed me... Looking back, I'm glad we did it and would like to go again, but perhaps something a little more relaxed.
saskskierWent on my first backpacking trip earlier in August in the Banff backcountry. Initially planned for an easy 30-40km over four days, but turned into 60km over four days (9, 21, 21, 9). My out of shape, 280lb body was not ready for that and it destroyed me... Looking back, I'm glad we did it and would like to go again, but perhaps something a little more relaxed.
That's sweet! Where did you go if you don't mind me asking? I did the Healy Creek, Egypt Lake, Mummy Lake, Sunshine Meadows loop a few years back. Super sweet mellow multi day. Check that out if your in Banff next time.
AT-ATI just got stuck in the " I got to hike today, how many more miles?" mode and forget to breathe and enjoy it.
Curious what you did with all your time. You averaged 10.5 miles per day, which is roughly 3.5 - 4 hours of hiking per day. What did you do for the other 20 hours per day? If you weren't breathing and enjoying it, what were you doing? Sitting in shelters to get the best sleeping spots? Hanging out in town drinking? Seems like a really relaxed pace to me, which should have given you plenty of time to breathe and enjoy it. Not trying to be negative, just trying to understand what went wrong and why.
MLBThat's sweet! Where did you go if you don't mind me asking? I did the Healy Creek, Egypt Lake, Mummy Lake, Sunshine Meadows loop a few years back. Super sweet mellow multi day. Check that out if your in Banff next time.
We hiked out to Sawback Lake and back. We were supposed to do something around Lake Minnewanka, but the dude who issued our permit made it out for three people even though the area is restricted to minimum of four. Ended up having to re-plan the hike, but because it was August Long, anything comparable was already booked up. We figured we'd give it a shot and we made it, but it was tough and not quite as enjoyable as I was hoping. Ha ha. Next year we'll do something a little more moderate.
saskskierWe hiked out to Sawback Lake and back. We were supposed to do something around Lake Minnewanka, but the dude who issued our permit made it out for three people even though the area is restricted to minimum of four. Ended up having to re-plan the hike, but because it was August Long, anything comparable was already booked up. We figured we'd give it a shot and we made it, but it was tough and not quite as enjoyable as I was hoping. Ha ha. Next year we'll do something a little more moderate.
to me it sounds crazy that you have to get permits.. Is that for National Parks? Crazy that they limit who can use the public land... In NY, a lot of the backpacking areas are state owned and no permits required.
iFlipCurious what you did with all your time. You averaged 10.5 miles per day, which is roughly 3.5 - 4 hours of hiking per day. What did you do for the other 20 hours per day? If you weren't breathing and enjoying it, what were you doing? Sitting in shelters to get the best sleeping spots? Hanging out in town drinking? Seems like a really relaxed pace to me, which should have given you plenty of time to breathe and enjoy it. Not trying to be negative, just trying to understand what went wrong and why.
I was in not the best shape when I started, so the going was quite slow until I got out of the Smokies.
I tried to take a zero a week to recover and I did that whole trail days thing in Damascus.
However, after Damascus I was averaging 15 miles a day including zeros. The problem was even when I was trying to relax I couldn't get my mind off of how many more mile to this, to that to the next shelter, the next state, Katahdin. My anxiety took off and with anxiety comes the inability to sleep and not feeling well. So then it turned into am I going to be well enough to make it to Katahdin, the next state, the next shelter, the next that, until I couldn't make it through the day without laying in the trail with a panic attack.
louie.miragsto me it sounds crazy that you have to get permits.. Is that for National Parks? Crazy that they limit who can use the public land... In NY, a lot of the backpacking areas are state owned and no permits required.
Banff is a national park so that might have something to do with it? Maybe they just want to keep track of who's out there? I couldn't tell you, but it is what it is. Ha ha.
I'm planning a PCT thru-hike in 2017. Will make a thread when my early graduation is approved and i'm 100% positive that I will be able to go. Definitely need some advice.
louie.miragsATAT, how did you like the hammock backpacking?
The hammock is great. I love it. It took me a little while to get used to but after that it was smooth sailing. I never got wet or had a rock digging in my side. The only issue is that if you dont have an underquilt it gets chilly.
I have a Warbonnet Blackbird with a Hex tarp from Helium Hiking Equipment. Some of the people in my bubble got a hennessey at traildays and were getting wet frequently and most of them returned it.
AT-ATThe hammock is great. I love it. It took me a little while to get used to but after that it was smooth sailing. I never got wet or had a rock digging in my side. The only issue is that if you dont have an underquilt it gets chilly.
I have a Warbonnet Blackbird with a Hex tarp from Helium Hiking Equipment. Some of the people in my bubble got a hennessey at traildays and were getting wet frequently and most of them returned it.
Obviously I don't have the experience you do, but I used my ENO when I went backpacking. It didn't rain (we got super lucky and had amazing weather the entire trip) and got pretty cool at night so I didn't have to worry about bugs. The first night was freezing, but the other two nights I ended up using my sleeping pad and that helped a ton. Probably not ideal, but it worked.
(I'm not a great sleeper to begin with, but I definitely think it beat sharing a tent with one of the loudest snorers I've ever met. Ha ha)
Thanks incredible. I've got a friend who's been teaching in Kathmandu for the past two years and she's done some minor hikes in the Himalayas. Looks amazing.
did the "Triple Traverse" a couple days ago up in big cottonwood canyon. ended up bagging 4 peaks but the length and elevation gain were brutal. made it off the mountain 13 hours after starting!
AT-ATThe hammock is great. I love it. It took me a little while to get used to but after that it was smooth sailing. I never got wet or had a rock digging in my side. The only issue is that if you dont have an underquilt it gets chilly.
I have a Warbonnet Blackbird with a Hex tarp from Helium Hiking Equipment. Some of the people in my bubble got a hennessey at traildays and were getting wet frequently and most of them returned it.
What do you use for insulation? Ive been a tent camper all my life, but I just ordered a dutchware half wit hammock, and if I like it Ill use it for my PCT thru. I just got the hammock, but tarp and insulation are my next purchase.
rsvpdid the "Triple Traverse" a couple days ago up in big cottonwood canyon. ended up bagging 4 peaks but the length and elevation gain were brutal. made it off the mountain 13 hours after starting!
Hell yeah Triple Traverse is awesome. How come you didn't finish it off with Monte Cristo? I did the "Big Cottonwood Traverse" a couple weeks ago in a little under 9 hours.
Loco-Deer-SlayerHell yeah Triple Traverse is awesome. How come you didn't finish it off with Monte Cristo? I did the "Big Cottonwood Traverse" a couple weeks ago in a little under 9 hours.
Have you heard of the WURL?
We actually did it in reverse kinda, started at lake blanche and ended at broads fork. The WURL is gnarly though man haha
byuboundWhat do you use for insulation? Ive been a tent camper all my life, but I just ordered a dutchware half wit hammock, and if I like it Ill use it for my PCT thru. I just got the hammock, but tarp and insulation are my next purchase.
I just used a Thermarest sleeping pad and my 20 degree sleeping bag. It worked okay, but it definitely wasn't the best.
Most other hammockers on the trail had some form of underquilt.
Be safe out there everyone, a close friend of mine and his girlfriend were caught in a small rock slide last weekend in southern Colorado. They were swept a few hundred yards down a steep coulier. They were luckily able to signal for rescue and escaped with their lives, barely.
Any recommendations for decent boots? I'm looking at something I can take on scrambles, day hikes, multi-day backpacking trips, etc. Anything I should be looking out for when I go try stuff on?
