Why do you go Backpacking?

“Some people think I'm nuts for heading into solitude, away from the "safety" of civilization, and heaven forbid I go alone. What if you get hurt? They ask. So why do I go "carelessly risking" my life in the backcountry up it thin air?

I go for the uncorrupted purity of God's creation. I feel more safe, more alive, and connected to the energy of nature. I love it, I'm addicted to it! I'll never expect people to understand it. Thats why I go, how about you?”

“I go partly for personal health. It is essential to get away sometimes and have some quality "Me Time" What better place to take some time than in the middle of a forest, hiking along a trail. Even though I'm often very tired when done, I am also refreshed by the trip. I find I have motivation again, and am generally cheerier.

It is funny when people give you the most horrified - or pitiful - looks when you tell them you hike on your own. A co-worker, when I told her I like to solo, looked like she thought my hiking by myself was the saddest thing in the world.”

“I feel like an astronaut when I'm backpacking. Everything you need for life attached to your back.”

“I've come to the conclusion, for me and me alone, that if I DON'T make the effort to spend time in the backcountry THAT is what risks my life, particularly my mental health. I can't point to one thing those doubters will immediately recognize and accept, but I've tried to talk about it on the backpacker religion thread. There is something in nature itself that shows me the way, but I have to spend the time in nature to have any chance at seeing it.”

“I've asked myself that question many times and can't put my finger on the reason...I just dig everything about it!”

“I used to go Solo a lot. Now, I'd rather share the fun with others.
For me it's for the work of getting to the top of the mountain or seeing how many miles or how much cold I can endure. Mostly it's to hang out with friends.”

“Some people like to a popular beach and soak up the sun to *get away from it all*. Not me. I'm like a fruit fly. I get nervous and agitated in the heat. Just sitting there leaves me plenty of time to think about all those problems I left behind.

When I'm in the woods, I'm not thinking about home, or the bill collectors, or work, or any of my problems. I'm thinking about my surroundings, what's around the next bend, or what's just beyond that *up and over*. It's physically, spiritually and mentally rejuvinating. I love it!”

“Its all about adventure for me. Each time I go somthing new and exciting comes up. It is also the perfect time for prayer and listening to God. In my opinoin there is no better adventure than backpacking in the whole wide world! if that last sentence didnt make sence I apoligize. My brain is overloaded with exam info still”

“I don't think it's sad to backpack alone. Some people can't even face the basement alone. You all have the satisfaction of knowing that you can thrive away from electricity and deadbolts. I don't pack yet, but hiking in larger than life scenery is way better than driving through it, and being there at all is better than watching TV.”

“Deja View....

A frequently posed topic.

Cause it's out there.
To lose 10 pounds off my considerable moon.
To piss off the llamas.”

“2 reasons:
1. Just to be outside away from everthing else. It feels good to get away from all sources of humanity.
2. The physical challenge. The same drive behind running and biking is also present when I backpack. I just want to see how far and hard I can go.”

“sometimes

i do things

i don't remember

but when the flashing light comes

and the men knock on my door

i need to go into the woods”

“Rad, That was me. I didn't have a flashing light. You were stairing into the lamp again weren't you?”

“Steve Hiker goes cause he LOVES them Fire Ants! hehehe”

“No deadlines, no assignments, traffic jams, fautly software, headcases, etc. Just where to put my foot next, water, food, and shelter. In otherwords, an escape from the role designated by neccesity (sp?).”

“Because I like it and I've got all the stuff to do it...but I could use some more...and more time on the trail.”

“See the thread on thebackpacker.com religion”

“When I've been out for two or three days, and the decompression is complete, this simple mode of existence seems to be the only way of life that makes sense.

"It's all too beautiful!"”

“1) For the first meal after coming out.

2) For the physical exhaustion and the mental, emotional, spiritual rest.

3) You meet some pretty nice folks on the tough hikes.

4) Solitude, escape from the ordinary people.”

“Because of the absolute simplicity of it, there is a powerful presence of life within you.”

“ldhiker made a good point (#4) "Solitude, escape from the ordinary people." You don't always get perfect solitude. You do however get to escape from the "ordinary people". I haven't yet met a hiker/backpacker who is less than respectable.”

“I like your #1 answer. That does seem to be a big topic on the way out.”

“because I love it.”

“I backpack for solitude, to see and be around nature and wild animals, and to be peaceful with myself. The excersize doesn't hurt either.”

“I started because I loved beautiful scenery and it's a (relatively) cheap way to travel.

I continued because I felt a little bit of pride in being able to get a little more rugged than everyone else.

I hike/backpack a lot now because I love my state and want to know all the little unknown spots. It's like a jigsaw puzzle. Look at maps, take a guess, go out hiking and then look at maps afterwards.

Side benefits are the physical benefits and the zen-like emptiness you feel after several hours of hiking. Oh, and I like the people.

So, simply: I like it.”

“I`m not big into backpacking, I never was. To me it`s just what I had to do to get there with enough to keep me there longer.

I`m no pack mule either, but if that`s what it takes I`ll do it. The jobs I`ve always had are back breakers and I used to get all the exersize any two men could ask for.

I know I`m strange, but I have to get lost in the deep woods, just to find what`s left of me at times and sometimes I can see what really matters the most off the top of a mountain, or high bluff.

I can spend time next to a trickling stream, or rushing white water and in no time at all my problems seem to just drift away from me on the water as it flows off to distant places.

When I get out in nature, I see how small I am compared to everything around me and it kindda puts me in my place and I see that there`s more to life than the things I`ve walked away from.

I guess it`s a good thing I can`t carry more when I go than I do, or I`d never come back out of those woods. My need for things draws me back home again and away from my second love, Nature.”

“The idea of seeing things I've not seen before. Things you can't see from a window or road.

The invigoration of a long, tough climb or a rocky stretch of trail.

Being around people who enjoy these same things. Including those I've met from here. I'm glad my family enjoys them.

Have you folks ever showed photos of some of your trips to people and thought to yourself the photos weren't even a fraction of the experience of being at that spot. To you, they are a reminder that can get you back there, in some manner, in your mind. That feeling makes me understand and enjoy other peoples photos and stories.”

“I go backpacking when the cops are catching up on my trail.

-Wrath of the Hiker”

“For my mental health.

Just spending time concentrating on the simple things in life like walking, cooking and preparing shelter gets my mind off the incredibly complex world we live in.

After a few days in the woods my soul is refreshed.”

“I backpack for a wide variety of reasons:
To feed the deepwoods misquitos,
To reflect upon past relationships, and why I was dumped,
To find bigfoot,
To improve my vulgar vocabulary when climbing hills and switchbacks, and.....
To get away from traffic, crime and our hectic lives and find peace in my inner soul.”

“Ditto to what every one said:-)”

“Reason #271: To later spend countless hours thumbing thru my photo albums and map box.”

“body odor”

“fire ants are my bruddas”

“I have always wanted to backpack. Lived next to a state rec area when I was a kid. We hiked everyday. I love being in the woods.”

“I hike to get away from the spiders living in my home.

baume66, you're right about that. Every trail holds a new surprise.”

“To get away from internet chat rooms, forums, and bulletin boards.”

“Isn't it the trendy thing to do? I like to stay on the cutting edge of trends and right now, outdoor related stuff is in. Once the fad fades, I'll probably lose interest and sell everything. Too many bugs anyway.”

“I go backpacking cause the trails are too bumpy for a wagon.”

“I love the quiet and serenity of the woods. A feeling of life and vitality completely envelops me, making it possible to gain a clarity and understanding of the way things are that isn't always possible in the "civilized world". However, the physical, health-building aspects motivate me too!”

“I love the newness of each step. Even if the trail is familiar. I imagine I could walk the same single track for a lifetime and still not fully appreciatte what is has to offer.

It's the closest I will ever get to being an explorer.

Superb quality time with my bride.

The smell of balsam fir.

Birdsong,coyotes singing at the moon, trillium in spring, the maple in autumn,a cool creek in july.”

“#1 After a grueling hike, I find a good inner-peace while I'm in the tent waiting to fall asleep.

#2 Taco-Bell tastes so much better after eating hike-grub all weekend!”

“Ah.... the sounds of nature-not of trucks

Ah.... The smells of fresh air- not of highways

Ah.... the beauty of the birds and animals- not of litter and graffitti

ah.... the serenity of the wilderness- not the stress of the city

ah.... the occasional fellow hiker- not the busy bodies

ah.... I can see for miles- not the next high rise”

“I go to West Virginia because there aren't enough hillbillies around here(Baltimore).....NOT!”

“Its fun”

“For the same reason I eat two honkin' bran muffins and three cups of strong coffee...it just feels good!”

“Couldn't have asked for a more timely thread. Ol' Lady caught me being duplicitous and is moving for divorce (no kids) and my eviction. Actually got beat-up last night. Can't go to the cops, 'cause she'd call 'em before I got there and blame it ON ME. Anyway, I've had a monthlong trip planned beginning June 29. My buddy and I are gonna go West, hike across the Pasayten (WA) and stop for an extended hike in the Wind Rivers on the way home. It's gonna be a great time. Compared to this?”

“Renewal.”

“I like to walk and sleep in the woods.”

“To pick up gear for my next garage sale.”