Alcohol and backpacking

“Do you drink before/during/after backpacking trips? If so, what's your poison?

I'm generally so dehydrated that I don't feel like pushing my body any further, but on the occasion I do, it would be a nice full-flavored lager, like a Hefeweizen. Might be tempted by a really good scotch too.”

“NO I'm high on life baby!”

“yes please. But in moderation, I hate to crash because of a hangover when hiking. I've done that the last two times I've been out. UGH!!”

“If your dehydrated, drink more, alot more. In Iraq, i tried to drink a quart of water an hour. On the trail, I know its not always possible, but I take a few moments everytime i come to a stream to refil my water bottles. Yeah, it slows ya down, but its better than doing with out. Camelbacks are great for having a steady supply of water on hand. I know before i started using them, i didnt drink near as often as i do now.
Anyway, befroe a trip, just bout anything but tequila, during the trip scotch, burbon or vodka, and baileys irish cream in hot cocao, after a beer with my steak.”

“I wish it was simply dehydration.”

“Sometimes, depending on the company, I'll drink a cheap cigar and smoke some whiskey.”

“I rarely drink on backpacking or day hikes but do drink (usually beer)on canoe trips.”

“I like a few pints after a day of hiking. I’ve been known to take a small bottle of rum and a big Coke on light trips.”

“Yes. Next question.”

“Depending on the trip I'll actually carry some beer. When it's going to be a bit of a work out I'll take a pint of whiskey instead.”

“MOONSHINE”

“Backpacking without tequila?
Perish the thought!”

“no - I don't drink any more”

“Drinking seems to be the focal point of many of the group trips organized on this site.

Too bad.”

“I normally pack in an 8oz flask of Johnny Walker Red label. Some times it comes home full, but most of the time it comes home at least half empty.”

“firewater!”

“My flask comes back empty everytime. When I carry beer I might come back off the trail with 1 or 2.”

“Only for "Special occasion" hikes. For example, a few years ago we took a bottle of champagne to the top of Mt. Whitney; no it didn't overflow to any great extent due to the altitude.”

“Sometimes at the campfire. Never while hiking.”

“Only to excess.”

“Actually, I like Knob Creek bourbon. Also hot cocoa with triplesec or brandy, or a hot brandy toddy on a cold day. Another cold weather favorite is hot cider and calvados. A Shiner can be really nice on a hot day. (Those from Texas will understand).
last edited: 2/03/05 9:23:30 PM”

“Not while hiking, just a nightcap or two before I get in my sleeping bag. Helps me relax and sleep well.”

“Nah, I get high on altitude.”

“Around the campfire?

Jager-bombs, anyone?
How about some TNT ((Wild) Turkey 'n' (Iced) Tea)?
Peppermint Schnapps goes excellent with Hot Chocolate
Sambuca goes excellent with coffee

Some people are known for the "cinnamon stuff"...”

“Captain Morgan and Gatorade”

“For basecamping trips I usually hike in a couple of beers per night. Roasting sausage hot dogs and drinking a cold one is good stuff. Longer trips I usually just drink water.”

“Not while hiking. I'll have a drink before bed though. I'd never wake up in the middle of the night to go pee and check out the world without it. Unless I got an alarm clock or something, but that's just not as much fun.”

“...anything, neat.

Except when with the scouts, of course. Though thats when I need it most!”

“I forgot to mention, that any alcohol I consume while backpacking is at camp, and only when I'm done hiking for the day.”

“Some people are known for the "cinnamon stuff"...”
PhantomSou

what are u tryin to say, fool?”

“I do not drink”

“Hmmm, is that the sound of someone being smitten, to the northeast?”

“I like a little bit of wine sometimes with dinner, depending on what I've fixed. Other than that, no I don't.”

“"Phuck the boots save your watch!" [holding left arm high above my head]”

“Always, shots of whisky on the trail and drinks when at camp.”

“Drinking seems to be the focal point of many of the group trips organized on this site.

I kind of noticed that too. I don't need an escape when I'm out in the woods, so I don't drink when I'm hiking. Nor do I need it to socialize. I drink to escape the "daily" grind. 3-4 beers a night, usually.”

“Drinking seems to be the focal point of many of the group trips organized on this site.

Too bad.”
bbw
7:02:12 PM
2/03/05
your just jealous cause no one wants to drink with you!”

“I drink to escape the "daily" grind. 3-4 beers a night, usually.”
Oryx
11:55:02 AM
2/04/05

That's a sign of an alcoholic.

I don't drink to escape. I drink at the bar so everyone will be beautiful. I drink in the outdoors because life is good, especially when I'm away from it all.”

“You're right Bearmagnet. I'm not trying to call Oryx an alcoholic, but anyone who drinks to escape on a regular basis is at risk for alcoholism.

bbw, I haven't been on any trips yet, so I wouldn't know. I've never been much of a "party" drinker. Well, I did it a bit in college, but only because I didn't know how to think for myself yet. But I love to socialize over a drink, and I think most others do as well. Don't know about TTer's , but some people just equate more to better.”

“I used to need at least one cold one after work on a daily basis. To me, there was no greater pleasure. I drank 3-4 beers daily for a few years. Than I stopped "cold turkey" and restricted it to weekends.

Coincidently, I stopped right after my fiance and I broke it off.

Coincidently, we started drinking like that just after we met.

Not sure if I was an "alcoholic" since stopping was a non-issue/zero "complications". Even so, it definitly was "not good".”

“snorting and injecting is so much more efficient.

What a lame thread.”

“I don't drink to escape or to make something beautiful. I genuinelly like the taste of various drinks with various foods. The point of getting drunk in the backcountry totally escapes me.”

“BM, sounds like it was more social than not.

I also don't completely agree with the AA method of quitting. I don't think that for 'everyone' it has to be all or nothing. I have a good friend who was about as alchoholic as you can get. Just about ruined his life. He gave up cold turkey, but has announced to his family that after 10 years (from the time he quit) he'll try to drink again, responsibly.

I think he can do it. Before it was an escape for him. Now, I don't think that's the case.”

“Has bacpac even been on a TT trip?

Oh, and Gem.....I know your secret!!!”

“Yeah, it's not the best habit in the world, but I almost never get drunk. I think the last time I drank to excess was last 4th of July. Alcoholism runs in my family, but I've seemed to have found a happy - albeit slightly unhealthy - level of indulgence.”

“em - he showed up at Sipsey last year, but didn't come to camp.”

“then how do you know he was there?”

“I rarely smoke cigars at home (sometimes I do with my buddies or my dad) and I'm just an occasional beer drinker at home. But I do sometimes smoke cigars when backpacking with certain buddies and sometimes I'll bring a flask of whiskey and pass it around as we bs around the the campfire. We don't get drunk, but it is relaxing and soothing and there's just something about it, especially when backpacking on the coast and hunkered over a driftwood fire watching the sunset over the Pacific. Plus it makes farting a little funnier. Personally I see no point in getting trashed in the wilderness, but that's just me. To each his/her own.”

“maple - Rabbitman ran into him at the TH. This was a basecamping trip with lots of folks coming and going.”

“although I did get trashed on my season opener up on the highlands in Va. I had a righteous triple vomitation...LOL...too much booze was bein passed around...but that is really a rarity and the last time that happened was like 10 years ago.

I do like a lil nip to take the edge of weariness off after a long day on the trail with the pack on...it helps to relieve tired muscles.

As for the injecting and snorting, I hope everyone knows that that was a joke and that I don't abide with those who are into DRUGS...and by that definition, I do NOT mean things that grow from Gods earth, I am talking about labratory created substances of abuse.”