my first time

“well after a long period of waiting, i finally have a gap in my schedule and am leaving for my first solo backpacking venture. actually, come to think of it, this is my first time going backpacking! i'm doin a 1 nighter (some of you may not think thats real bping) and it is supposed to be somewhere around 22 degrees tonight at the peak! I'll be along the AT in sw va at a place called dragons tooth. I'm really excited and very aware that i am going to learn probably more than i want to tonight, but by the grace of God i will be alive tomorrow morning to cook my oatmeal and hike out! thanks for all your tips youve all provided to this young and foolish college student!”

“Have fun. Be sure to give a trip report.”

“Enjoy!”

“There's no teacher like experience ---

Have a good one!”

“Dragons Tooth is a rugged hike for the first time out, also very pretty. Good for you. Enjoy it.”

“You will no longer be a solo virgin, good for you :)

I think going solo is better then doing it with others. I always seem to get more out of it when I go solo. Have fun!”

“bring some flares.”

“Don't forget your avalanche probe.”

“I remember my first time.”

“I remember my first solo but the date escapes me. I couldn't have been more than 11.”

“we all remember our first time........”

“I really didnt know what I was doing my first time. I still don't. I learn something new everytime.”

“September 1975, two nights in George Washington National Forest.

It was skeery!”

“the german club by neshannock creek, with what was her name?............does car cramping count?”

“my first was the lost coast trail in california. 3 nights, 2 days. I did it faster then I expected. I did it one night on a cliff, because the tide had trapped me, I did it the second night on Spanish Flat on the beach, and then I did it at the end of the trail...that cove, whatnever the name of that cove is to wait for my shuttle the next morning.”

“why do I have the feeling this thread is going to spawn a lot of out of context quotes?”

“wait, does getting lost in the desert and spending a night lost alone from your buddies count as going solo???

cause, that would be my first then.”

“the german club by neshannock creek, with what was her name?............does car cramping count?”
chappy
6:01:22 PM
3/17/07


Not sure. What does "car cramping" actually entail?”

“I signed on to this site two years ago hoping to get back to BPing after a lapse of 15 years,my girlfriend and I do a ton of carcamping which I enjoy, being in the woods is always good. I finally did my first solo BP on Jan. 6 just a little one nighter but it helped to get the motivation going and helped me learn what it is I need to get for gear and how it feels to be in the woods alone overnight. Tommorrow I am planning my fourth trip of this winter. It will be my coldest night yet between 10-15 degrees and I am psyched I am calling it my farewell to winter 07 trip.Each trip more is learned,getting that first trip down is the key to what becomes a passion.”

“

"... leaving for my first solo backpacking venture. actually, come to think of it, this is my first time going backpacking!"
amd618

Don't feel bad about it. We've all struck out at times. You might find a date next time!”

“Have fun! I just did my first (first bping trip, first solo) in February, a 2-nighter. It was a learning experience (I'm sure watching all my goofs and overpacking would have been very amusing for an experienced bper, so I'm glad no one was around). But it was still a huge amount of fun, even though the scenery wasn't anywhere near as exciting as the AT. Enjoy!”

“i just did my first solo last weekend. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!”

“watch out for girls named 'Zeke'.”

“oops, missing some...outside on the back porch with the misses, car cramping is when you are in a position that causes a cramp....”

“After an interesting experience...

I'm alive and well! wow it was incredible! i learned so much, yet felt relatively prepared at the same time. I didn't forget anything important, but did decide that winter packing is not fun for me. At least in my backpacking youth. I thought i might get bored so i brought a book, but honestly i spent the whole night trying to stay warm! without a fire it was interesting, and with the ventilation in my tent necessary to keep out the moisture, i had about a 10 degree 25mph wind coming through the tent the whole night.

while in my bag i was fine, but then theres setting up camp, breaking down camp... i kinda forgot about warmth techniques for that. some things i learned on my maiden voyage...

-the type of food you bring doesnt matter, it will taste good regardless

-gloves are life savers in camp

-you never know where you might stumble over a geocache

-dont bring too much water (like 2 litres too much)

-headlamps are a must

-make sure you get up for the sunrise

-making sure you backpack is adjusted correctly for the weight, your muscles will thank you

-bring nyquil for sleep

-don't picth on even the SLIGHTEST hill

-i wish i had a windbreaker

it was a great time, and i'd do it again in a heartbeat! i think i'll wait till it warms up a little to enjoy it again though”

“One word: Pocket Warmers”

“If you need nyquil then you

A. Didn't bring enough Alkeehol

and/or

2. You didn't go far enough.”

“"don't picth on even the SLIGHTEST hill"

Easier said than done sometimes on a TT trip. Whenever I go on a group hike I try to hammock it. that way I don't have to try to race into camp to get a good spot.”

“That Hill Business is an hoot, isn't it? There's just something about waking up squeezed into the downhill corner of your tent with all your crap on top of you... [GRIN]

I wonder if the tarp folks ever slide out from under and on down the hill? Or do they stake out the head end of their sleeping bags? [wink}”

“

"I didn't forget anything important, but did decide that winter packing is not fun for me. At least in my backpacking youth. I thought i might get bored so i brought a book, but honestly i spent the whole night trying to stay warm! without a fire"

Sure sounds like you forgot something. Otherwise, there is no excuse for "i spent the whole night trying to stay warm!"”

“well lets put it this way, i didnt forget anything i own. a 0 degree bag wouldve been nice, but simply laying in my 20 (unable to open it for the sake of all the trapped heat) was really all i did until i fell asleep. So yes, i forgot to drop the extra 200 on 0 degree bag!”

“If you were warm inside your bag then it's fine. It sounds like maybe you need to beef up your clothing selection so you can be comfortable in camp without being in your bag.”

“When I was on a hill the last time, I slept directly on my thermorest and used my 0 bag like a blanket, (unzipped). Even though I am usually very very cold, I was very warm this way. I did wear microfleece long underear to bed.”