Advice for a newcomer?

“A BIG welcome to vicsaw!!!”

“Yea, I'm short and I still gotta sit down and get changed. I wasn't talking about standing up in it or anything”

“Eureka tent?!!? SkankFire that is about the cheapest piece O Crap tent made. Get real dudette. BUY a VE25. I'm not sure I want to sleep with you on the Maryland trip if your going to bring a EuREEKa.”

“If yall leave that guy in Md tied to a tree or somthing it'd be ok with me.”

“me think yall had been had.... (or something like that)”

“Where were those sites with all the gear reviews?

Outdoor Review

Gear Finder

(What are the other ones, folks?)


Here are a few sites on keeping your load lighter. Your knees (and everything else) will thank you later.....

The Lightweight Backpacker

Backpacking Light

(lots more of these, too)



Where are the deals?

Sierra Trading Post

Backpacking Deals

REI Outlet

Killer Deals at Northern Mtn. Supply

Mountain Gear Sale Items

Patagonia Web Specials

(and this site, too!)”

“He's NOT coming. F==king troll.”

“scorch wanna hike somewhere after christmas? (don't know the exact date yet...got to wait 'til hubby takes kids to grandma)”

“...I didn't get all this info when I first got to this site...all I got was a dancing lesson at TC2”

“Have you checked out These guys? They have some sweet deals, especially on clothes.”

“Too bad he won't be there - it'd make for a good ole fashioned lynching opportunity.”

“Welcome Vicsaw...

Have you ever been to Boulder? (I'm assuming Colorado, right?)

I just happen to be wearing my Boulder sweatshirt as I type....”

“TNF Everything!

Ultra-light all the way!

Get yourself a trail #&%!$!”

“Gemini- Sure thing, sounds good! Just lemme know when you're up for it.

Roam- Tell me about it, I'd love to kick that bastard's ass.”

“Cool Site... I'll add it to The List...

(too bad it doesn't have the white Kelty Spectra pack on closeout)”

“Adventurist,

Been to Boulder and a few other CO hangouts. Love the Rockies. Would love to live there. Maybe I will some day. That's part of the reason for this trip. Need an escape and looking for new opportunties.

And a thanks sooooooooooooooo much to you, Tilt, for the sites. You will keep me busy.”

“Your quite welcome... Nothing to it.

There are so many resources on the 'Net these days --- It's pretty astounding.”

“If you like Southwestern food try Zolos in Boulder....I loved it!

I'm heading out to Idaho in 3 weeks to check out the area...can't wait to move west.

Can't Wait!

My wife went to high school in Portage, Indiana and college at Purdue.....”

“Hey, I'm looking to try and relocate to the Denver area this summer. Any tips, hints, job leads or whatever would be appreciated.”

“HOWDY”

“Welcome! The best thing you could do is get out on a trip with some people here. Like was mentioned, do a search on the piece of gear you are interested in and you will find lots of great discussions (and some thread degredation also).

My wife is from Lafayette, IN. We met at Purdue in the Student Union (OK, so it was 32 years ago).

...and don't forget to check out Phil's Photo Page (see link at right).”

“You all have been most helpful. So many links and sites to check out on gear and your personal links and pictures. Certainly inspiring. The West is calling me. I nearly moved out there in my early 20s, but life got in the way. Now things are different and we'll see where things go.

Girly Girl”

“You're in Indiana? As a matter of fact I'm in Ohio. I would like to take this time and gernerously offer to drive to Indiana with all of my gear and extra for you and take you on your first backpacking trip.”

“Golly gosh maybe this 40 somethin' cute blonde should do an intro or something, i feel left out....my birthday is next Sunday........”

“My goodness, Dub, How generous! I'm sure you are nothing but a gentleman. Where in Ohio?”

“Down boy!

(j/k)”

“Note to newbie - Dub is a tool.”

“what's a tool?

Ooooo, I'm learning so much tonight!”

“Tool = Loser, dork, etc..

Dub's cool, don't listen to BB.”

“Yes, I was kidding with Dub, he seems to be fairly normal.”

“I am NOW here. If there is one thing that you need to know, is that everyone else is a troll, and I'm the only REAL person here. I'd travel many miles to be your (or your girly friends) cabana boy...I can cook, massage, fold clothes, sherpa or ANYTHING that your lil heart desires. I am the TT sex machine...LOL. and since, shyness is a virtue that I DON"T suffer from...this is an official HIT upon you. move to south east Missouri, you'll want for NOTHING...and in a few years, we and all our children can move on up to Estes Park.

oh yeah...welcome to our nightmare. :-)”

“Enough said?”

“You'll have to excuse stiky, he's a little shy.”

“LOLOL”

“Okay Stiky, meet me tomorrow at the trailhead for the rest of your life.

Now see? Doesn't that sound scary? You shouldn't commit to such things so rashly without first having been on a few walk-abouts with someone I think. I snore very loudly.”

“Seems you've meet a few of the gang....and your still here....you'll do ok

Most are harmless........the rest I think you can handle.

Once again, welcome.”

“Welcome to TT, Vicsaw. You ever moved someplace, looked around and said to yourself, "This place is nice. I think I can like it here."? Well, this place is like that. Once in awhile, the traffic gets loud but you can just close the windows. We have this ignore button now too, that acts like your front door. Just slam it shut when you don't feel like listening to blah, blah, blah...this place is just like home. It's comfy after awhile and well maintained.”

“Thanks mtnsteve, looking forward to the experience. So far so good. It's been a pleasure so far. Now off to sleep. It's past my bedtime.”

“There are 2 REI's in Chicago 'burbs. One in Niles (IMHO better) and one on the FAR west side--more yuppish.

For some stuff there is a Gander Mountain in north-east Indiana, sales tax in much of the Chicago area is 8.75% and likely to go UP the first of the year on some stuff.”

“I am always a perfect gentlemen...I would open doors for you, bring you flowers for no reason, and carry most of the gear.

I am located in Columbus.”

“Stump, Went to Gander Mountain yesterday. Checked it out. I think I shall drop in at REI on my way to Minnesota later this week. What about that other big place, Galyans? I know I drive past that one on my way up north. Any thoughts?”

“Dub, how helpful. Can you come over and fix my f***ing Christmas tree lights?”

“Well, I was a fix-it man for three years...so sure.”

“Another Indiana resident! YEA!

Anything you need help with, let me know. I am not to far from you, (Highland, IN; near Chicago)

I just had to re-do my X-mas lights because the 2nd strand in line shorted out. AAAARRRRR!!!!”

“The Galyans near me (west chi burbs) has an excellent gear selection. REI's return policy can't be beat though.

Take the advice of many here and rent or borrow equipment for your first couple trips. You can even go out and do some simple solo hikes, depending on your confidence. But wait to invest in more costly gear until you have completed some trips with more seasoned hikers.

Welcome.”

“WKnee, We are sooo close. I live in Cal. Township. Thanks for the offer. I plan to join some of CMB's hikes in the new year. After all the good borrow and rent advice, I will steal what I can from my dad (major camper) and then rent. What's the closest place to here for rentals?”

“As you head to Minnesota, if you are on 90/94 through Madison, WI, there is a smallish REI there if you need a sudden gear fix. The next REI will be in the Twin Cities, on the south side just off the beltline -- it's a big one (not to mention Midwest Mountaineering on the "West Bank" near UM). You can plan your whole drive from gear shop to gear shop if you do it right. Buy it on the way up, return it on the way back, lol.”

“Sweet! Look foward to meeting you. As for rentals, no clue. If you are looking for something to use, let me know. I have 2 of everything.”

“Vicsaw, personally, I don't have much moolah, and little time for bping, let alone shopping for bp gear. So, often enough I just tell these guys what I'm after and often enough, they donate their old stuff. Very nice folks here. It's cool to get the hand-me-downs too. Then when I get out on the trail, I look like I've actually had a few darned chances to use my stuff. Anyway, just ask.”