Who Wants to Go Backpacking

“Ah what the hell. I figured I'd try to start a post on backpacking (boy I'm going to get my @$$ burnt for this)

What trips are people thinking about for 2006?
What gear are some of you wanting? (not that I'm offering to buy said gear)

I myself am currently happy with my gear (maybe try and find a lighter pack)

I would like to do some small trips in the midwest and try and get out east for a extended weekend. I can't get into any long trips this year as I'll need some of my vacation for my wedding and honeymoon.”

“bump”

“2006? Sadly almost 3/4 of it is mapped out.

January - Savage Gulf (Wounded Knee's trip)
February – Marengo River/Porcupine Lake in Wisconsin – Winter Camping Trip
March - Grand Canyon (Crash Bang's trip)
April – Porcupine Mountain Wilderness Area, UP Michigan
May – Explore Keweenaw Peninsula, UP Michigan
June – Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin (Jerry Lake) – Summer Swamp Hike
July – Black River State Forest in Wisconsin – Birthday Hike
August – Apostle Island backpacking trip (Family Hiking)
September – Open
October – Return to Marengo River/Porcupine Lake in Wisconsin
November – Open
December - Open
last edited: 12/20/05 8:44:44 AM”

“Feb. Ouachita Trail - thats it for now.”

“March - Sipsey Wilderness, AL
late summer - hopefully Tetons

I suspect I'll make my usual 1-2 trips to the Smokies. I'll also take my son 1-2x over at Cheaha,AL That's probably it. I'm having to take a less is more approach this year. Last year I tried to do it all with work, family, etc and I'm scaling back my trips a bit.”

“So far:

January: Savage Gulf trip
March: Sipsey Parker Canyon trip

But that's it.”

“BTW, I usually get at least THREE winter trips in a year and you people on Trail Tail have lured me down south causing me to miss out on the good Wisconsin weather! :)”

“THE NERVE!!!!!
Bringing up backpacking with all this drama going on!
LOL”

“I like this thread !!
2006
Gear - I think I have more then enough now.
Trips - I will finish all of the "AT" for NJ & NY.
Black forest trail, West Rim Trail - PA
Devils path NY - In the Cat's
Then do as many other TT trips as possible!!”

“Jimmy scan looks like you have some trips around the midwest or uppermidwest planned. All all those trips filled up with hikers or any room left for others.”

“To day hike the full Devils Path this year is one goal. And, I will get to New Hampshire this Summer if it kills me! FYAO is on radar, but still a maybe.....”

“Devils path kicked my Arse last year, I dropped at the 1/2 way. Ofcourse ENS and I bagged 2 other peaks the day before, which wasnt smart before a hike like that.”

“I tend to only plan trips 1 to 3 weeks ahead of time.

I will begin my experiments in winter hiking this winter. I have no set winter plans other than testing out my gear and my comfort level in the blue hills of MA. If my wife can handle the cold we will probably buy crampons and better winter boots for serious winter backpacking next winter.

This summer I will be doing the Pemi Loop in NH as well as continueing to hit the peaks on the NH 4K list.”

“hey flasher, good to see another midwesterner on here...pretty soon this site's gonna have to be renamed themidwestbackpacker.com LOL...i don't get out nearly as much as i'd like and with a baby on the way i'm sure it will be even less

i'll be looking to join up with at least one trip in the midwest this spring/late winter...if i don't find one to my liking i've been throwing around the idea of starting one on the knobstone or techumsa(sp)”

“I don't know anyone other than people from TT that backpack. I have to guilt my friends into going with me. Most of my hiking (until I started hanging out on TT) was solo. Anyone is welcome and I am always open to adjusting my plans. I am just used to doing things on my own.”

“i'm with you jimmy san...i used to convince friends and family to go backpacking with me only to have it back fire on me...so i found this site with people who love to go, now my wife has a problem with me going camping with people i dont know...kind of a catch 22”

“I’m pretty careful about who I hike with. The TT trips are pretty cool because everyone’s on their own. I don’t ask my non hiking friends and family to go. I like the independence of hiking and having to nurse maid the non hikers isn’t it.”

“Sounds like we are all in the same boat (almost) I never had anyone to backpack with either till I found this site ( I have since met Liz, Firebug, Killer and Super Bee, Elemetryhiker, Roxyruby)

Then I was blessed this summer by meeting Laurie aka filtergyrl (she already like to day hike) now I have her backpacking and loving it.
So we have to keep posted up and get some trips in this summer. We are going to need some getaway time from all the wedding planning.”

“For sure!”

“I always want more gear, but right now I am in need of crampons and an ice ax, a small weekender pack, and a -15 down bag. I am set for summer camping though.

I am planning a trip in the San Juans of Colorado, probably the Weminuche Wilderness for June, then probably going on the TT Glacier trip. I hope to get out to Maine to hike Katahdin and visit my NE TT friends. Other than those, lots of weekenders are in store for me.”

“I would love snow shoes, but I think renting them will have to do for now...”

“Gear Maybe upgrade some of my winter clothing.

Trips FYAO, day hike the Devils Path, maybe take a second stab at last years Elevation Gain Bang itinerary.”

“DH: Don't fotget a mid-Jan hike in Cheaha ;-) If we can talk Stove into it of course...”

“Gear: the only thing I want is a Big Agnes insulated pad.

Jan-April: I'm open for trips, I haven't been to Shenandoah in a few years and I want to get more sections of the AT in lower PA done.

May-October: car-camping with the family at least one weekend every month, plus a week on the beach in June. Gotta love eating breakfast with a view of the water 10 feet away. Probably won't get much backpacking in during this time.

November - Dec: no plans yet.”

“After giving more thought I want to find more places than the two I know of in IA and IL, to go backpacking. And of course try to get out east for a trip.

Anyone know of places other than Yellow River state forrest in Iowa and Palisades State Park in IL to backpack I would love to know.

I also want to check out my states to the north in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and probably something down in Missouri. I'd also like to do a canoe trip. Current river or somewhere else.

Also maybe start gearing up for some more winter trips during the summer.”

“flasher, you just reminded me, I also want to buy a kayak and get more water time in. A friend got me into it last year.”

“I'd love to by a kayak but the new "big toys" are on hold till after the wedding.”

“Hey Jim!

I see you have September open. Check out my Quehanna Trail trip. Right now it is listed as an August trip, but I am leaning on moving it to September. This is a sweet hike.”

“Done deal. Even if it in August I may consider going.”

“Ooooh, I like the sound of a 20 mile day! I am in subject to the usual caveats of commiting to something 8 months in advance!”

“Cool. Make sure you bring rain gear!”

“Oh don't tease!”

““DH: Don't fotget a mid-Jan hike in Cheaha ;-) If we can talk Stove into it of course...”
DeoreDX
11:38:12 AM
12/20/05

Crap, I knew there was an email I needed to respond too! I'm ready! Let's go!
Savage Gulf is Jan 14/16 but Cheaha is lots closer. ;-)
I'm in dude, unless it's like 30-35 degrees and pouring down rain. LOL”

“Thank you, Flasher for this much-needed thread.

Trips planned: Nothing in particular, but I will be getting out there for sure. Going for at least 20 bag nights again this year. Jon and I hope to make at least one substantial trip to Montana and/or Wyoming in 2006.

Gear: Always like to drool over it. I'd like to get a Big Agnes sleep system as well as a Slinglight chair. Maybe even a hammock. I've been toying with the idea of getting a kayak.”

“You'll love the chair. I'm sure you've seen my testimonials around here.”

“Just one trip planned in 2006 for me.

AT thru-hike.”

“Very Cool!”

“I've sat in Mataharihiker's chair before. It's on my Christmas list. We'll see if Santa remembers.”

“bump”

“Just one trip planned in 2006 for me.

AT thru-hike.”lilmountaingirl

You go Girl!!!”

“I need to finish getting gear for Mrs. Tahoe. That said, I am planning on newbie trips for the first part of next year:
May-Dardanelles/Round Lake
June-Emigrant Lake
July-Winnemucca Lake
August-a B&B in Mendocino for our Anniversary (Backpack Optional)”

“Big trip for '06 is one a friend of mine wanted to do in '05 but no one else could go with him. But now I and another guy can go and he recruited his teenage daughter to go too. We're going to Tombstone Park in Yukon for 4 nights of XC skiing and "winter" camping in April. Technically, it's spring, but they'll still have full snow coverage there, which is good because those pesky grizzlies will still be asleep. We'll zip up to the Arctic circle for a bag night north of it, too.

I'm on board for the Loon Lake trip in Feb, too - bringing BowlderSon on that one. He's been seeing a therapist to prepare him for all of the debauchery.

At one time I was thinking about trying to do half of the JMT over the summer with BowlderSon, but he'll still be on his year 'round school schedule. Next year, at the same school, the schedule will leave all of August and half of July open, so I think we'll do it then. Then we'll do the other half the following summer. I'm just not a 12-miles-a-day kind of guy and can't take off more than 2-3 weeks at a time....”

“I think my next big trip will be the Northville Lake Placid trail. My wife would do at least a weeks worth with me, I'd probably solo the rest.”

““I think my next big trip will be the Northville Lake Placid trail. My wife would do at least a weeks worth with me, I'd probably solo the rest.”
pedxing
5:54:20 PM
12/20/05
ignore this user

Pedxing, when are you planning on hiking it? There is a possiblity that I may hike it again some time next year.”

“I pretty much have all the gear I need. It won't stop me from upgrading, of course.

I have big plans for 2006. The soonest "big" trip will be my third FYAO. Looking forward to seeing all those crazies, again.”

“HIKE?”

“Since I'm not sure when I can bp again I find this thread in extremly poor taste!

Matt - please delete this thread and Ban Flasher!!!!!!!!!”

“Chiricahua mountains- Crest trail, and up Rucker canyon to crest and down Raspberry Ridge. Up South Fork of Cave Creek and see if I can off trail it (fires burned trail up) to Sentinel Peak.
Mount Graham
Galiuro mountains--finish all trails in this range, as a solo.
Sierra Anchas--more ruins hunting
Climb Castle Dome in the Kofa
Utah-- Backpack into Dark Canyon, 2-3 days, then a 3-4 dayer into Dirty Devil River region. Spring--Fall will be a return to San Rafaeal Swell for a 5-6 day trek.
California-- try to get to Death Valley-- Surpise Canyon to Panamint City; and a trip over the top via the "fresh vegetable route" to Hungry Bill ranch.
New Mexico-- either a 35-45 mile trip down the whole middle or west fork of the Gila. I think one trip is about 60 miles depending on the version of it.
Oh, and the Safford- Morenci trail, an old ranchers route.

And how much vacation time can I accrue??? This work thing is interfering with my real life.”

“My plan if I can get it to pass,

Early spring Yellow River State Forrest

Mid Spring I woule like to try a boarder state of Iowa.

Early Summer Like to try for a eastern trip. Hook up with Treebeard as we've been talking in another post.

Mid summer Try another boarder state
Then I'm most likely done till the wedding.

Nothing planned for the winter as I don't have a cold weather bag yet and don't currently have the funds to buy one.

There should be alot of car camping inbetween these trips.”

“Ma n flasher,I paid for the beer and you don't mention me,ok you drove but ya called me bloody spleen,took me months to get rid of that name”