Hiking/Camping Catch-all

Get the net! I've hooked a big one!

Edit: Aww... second page.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

Here's another pic I took at Lake Crescent...
IMAGE(http://imgur.com/AUCrI.png)

And who says that chemicals are bad for the environment? That thing is adapted for...hell, just about anything!

What happened to this thread? Did you all stop going on trips? I take it you all hung up your packs and said to hell with it. I am interested in where people are going this summer and fall. My friends and I are planning on going out west to Yellowstone N'tl Park and such. Anyone have some great ideas on where else to go?

I'm not geared up for 4th season backpacking yet so I've been in snowboard exclusive mode. Hoping to get out soonish though. Currently I'm looking around to find out where I want to go for my next trip.

EdemaKNN wrote:

What happened to this thread? Did you all stop going on trips? I take it you all hung up your packs and said to hell with it. I am interested in where people are going this summer and fall. My friends and I are planning on going out west to Yellowstone N'tl Park and such. Anyone have some great ideas on where else to go?

Check out the Wind River Wilderness since you'll be in the area. The Winds, as it is referred to by people in the area. This mountain range contains the highest peak in Wyoming, and miles of Sub alpine wilderness that I have been told many times is a required pilgrimage for any backpacker. I never made a trip into the winds, but have spent some time with the guidebook for the area I bought some time ago. If you're looking to really get away from it all, a Wilderness will usually have less traffic than a National Park. Unfortunately the trail systems tend to be less well maintained so make sure you're comfortable with the whole map and compass thing in addition to your GPS.

If you need any tips or whatever on where to go in Yellowstone, feel free to ask. I've worked 8 summers there, mostly in the backcountry and in theory could steer you around buggy seasons and whatnot.

I bought a 30 ft. Jayco four years ago and we love Rving. I would have said camping, but some of you purists may have been offended. My wife, oldest daughter and I used to tent camp years ago, but after having three kids, we have moved up to the pull behind "Embassy Suite" on wheels life. Here is a pic when we were in Pigeon Forge, TN last year.

IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3672455173_b4640b99c9_b.jpg)

You will need to quote if you want to see the pic. I'm trying to post more

KEA_Lightning wrote:

I bought a 30 ft. Jayco four years ago and we love Rving. I would have said camping, but some of you purists may have been offended. My wife, oldest daughter and I used to tent camp years ago, but after having three kids, we have moved up to the pull behind "Embassy Suite" on wheels life. Here is a pic when we were in Pigeon Forge, TN last year.

IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3672455173_b4640b99c9_b.jpg)

You will need to quote if you want to see the pic. I'm trying to post more :-)

Quoted so that the pic comes through.

Thanks. I'm getting close to being able to link.

Camping?! That's bigger than the trailer I grew up in.

We have a 12' pop up camper, our first trip this year is to a state campground close to home (we use it to verify the camper has fared through winter OK) at the end of May.

EdemaKNN wrote:

What happened to this thread? Did you all stop going on trips? I take it you all hung up your packs and said to hell with it. I am interested in where people are going this summer and fall. My friends and I are planning on going out west to Yellowstone N'tl Park and such. Anyone have some great ideas on where else to go?

"Going out west," so I assume you'll be approaching Yellowstone from the east along I-90. In that case, you'll definitely want to head over the Beartooth Highway. Some spectacular country and hiking available, but be prepared for 9,000-10,000 feet in elevation and extreme, violent weather changes (ie, 6 inches of snow in three hours in August). Unless you're coming out before May 29th, the road doesn't open till then.

Basically, you turn off I-90 at Laurel, MT, and head south to Redlodge. The Beartooth highway runs between Redlodge at Cooke City, just outside the park. For primo hiking, stop off at the Island Lake campground just below the top - cruise around the lake or up the trail. Hard to get lost since there aren't many trees.

Google Maps

It's national park free admission week starting Saturday.

If I didn't have a commission to finish that I'm behind on and some other stuff, I'd make a trip as my pass to Shennandoah expired in October.

Arise! It's that time of year again. I'm going through my gear as I type. Planning a family trip in mid-June down to NM to meet up with my parents, some car camping down in Cimarron Canyon. I think I'll probably try to squeeze in a quick backpacking trip before though, maybe I'll take my 9 year old on an overnighter.

So how about everyone else? Anyone getting ready to make a trip?

We have a general plan to take our 8 month old daughter camping in the state park near by. Probably just an over night car camp sorta thing. You know get her feet wet.

I never seem to wind up with anyone that likes to camp/hike. I love it and wind up going with other women once in a while, but it is a hard sell! I'm feeling very jealous.

I am spending the summer in Maine leading hiking, backpacking, camping, and canoeing trips for an all girl's summer camp. I can't wait to spend the summer doing the things I love!

I'll be spending the summer leading outdoor trips for soldiers just back from deployment. Just did a caving trip yesterday, which was awesome considering most of the soldiers were expecting to just walk into a cave and take some pictures. 4 hours later they emerged after some rappels, belayed climbs, and nice tight wormholes. Also, completely filthy. I saw a lot of nice new boots walk into the cave.

Other activities are klettersteig(via ferrata), Scuba, high ropes, and Mtn Biking. We'll see if I'm too burned out on the weekends to go have some me-time outdoor fun. Already have a 4 day weekend scheduled to go down to Lake Garda and do some climbing and, hopefully, a guided canyoneering trip. I still want to go down to Königssee Lake and do an overnight trip in the alps down there. It will probably be a hut to hut(Understand that a hut in the alps is a bed to sleep in, a hot meal, and beer) hiking trip, but that's the way they do it over here. I miss my western US wilderness' very much for the freedom they allow, but I'm definitely taking advantage of and enjoying what Europe has to offer.

peacensunshine wrote:

I never seem to wind up with anyone that likes to camp/hike. I love it and wind up going with other women once in a while, but it is a hard sell! I'm feeling very jealous.

The wife and I are hoping to end up back in the Sea/Tac area, maybe Portland. We'll have to get a GWJ Cascades hiking club together.

Druidpeak wrote:

Coolest Job Ever

I demand you post some pics.

That river shot would have been perfect for one of those long exposure fuzzy water effects.

KrazyTacoFO wrote:

I demand you post some pics.

I'm famous! And no, of course I'm not laughing at people in a tight spot that only gets tighter.

First hike of the season was a five mile loop with minor elevation changes. Damn, I'm pretty pooped. Gonna have to do a few more like that before I start hitting up the more uphill stuff.

New boots work good, though.

Boots! I've enjoyed my Asolo's that I picked up in the fall of '07. A bit too cushy, like putting on a pair of pillows when you first get them, but they settled in with some break-in time. This will be my first pair of boots that I have worn out the uppers before wearing out the sole in quite some time, but I can thank my return to trailwork in 08 and 09 for that.

Anybody have any recommendations? Boots that are working really well for you right now?

I need a new pair of boots myself. I backpacked 30 miles in early March along the Appalachian Trail with some friends, and by the end my feet loathed my old boots. The AT in Maryland/West Virginia grows rocks.

But the hike was excellent! It was pretty chilly but we expected that. It also rained a lot the second day, which we expected. We did not expect the snow, which we woke up to on the third day.

IMAGE(http://uvamagazine.org/images/gallery/submissions/appalachian2.jpg)

I'm on the left. Once we got over the "how do we find the trail" part of the morning, it turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous day. The snow was clean and untouched, and the woods were really peaceful. Plus, none of us got frostbite or hypothermia.

We hiked in Lehigh Gorge park in PA last week. Climbed a waterfall trail and biked the scenic river valley. Very much recommended.

IMAGE(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5673343359_8735c765ac_z.jpg)
that's my older son

IMAGE(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5184/5673345387_4f320c6e0e_z.jpg)
Almost at the top of the Glen Onoko waterfall trail

IMAGE(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5673349037_ed557b2786_z.jpg)
me, the older sun, and the younger son in tandem with me

IMAGE(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5673916376_903da8d670_z.jpg)
Moon of my life.

Full Flickr set is here.

KrazyTacoFO wrote:
Druidpeak wrote:

Coolest Job Ever

I demand you post some pics.

I demand he hook me up some time next year after I get back, because that sounds friggin awesome. Then I'll demand pictures

Also, awesome pictures.

Thankfully my little girl seems to enjoy hiking so far. Initial tests with the backpack carrier have gone well.
IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_eqAkC3DeJXQ/TbysdiPPYXI/AAAAAAAACwI/8tI-LgRqK_o/s400/IMG_6173.JPG)

Polliwog, sounds like a great trip. A dash of uncertainty, and unexpected circumstances, always makes for a fun trip.

Gorilla, awesome photo set there. Looks like a great weekend. I love how many areas are taking advantage of unused rail-beds for hiking/biking trails.

Norfair, that's probably the happiest little hiker I've seen in quite some time. Adorable!

I can't wait to get my future little ones outside. It will be interesting to see how I play it. I have family who are very careful about taking their little one out camping and hiking, whereas I have friends who have done some major backpacking trips in Canada with a little guy under 12 months. It always warms my heart seeing families in the outdoors.

Memorial day in Italy was fantastic. Lake Garda is beautiful, the wine is plentiful, and the food was fantastic. We spent one day hitting the outdoor shops in Arco and checking out the local sites, it was pouring down rain so our climbing plans were botched on the first day. We were able to go climbing on day two, which was my first experience doing true slab climbing. I'm not an aggressive climber and have never lead a route, so I was able to do my first sport route lead. Our Canyoneering reservation was botched, so we ended up doing a hike/climb(via ferrata/Klettersteig). It's the same one the folks do in the video. The ladders make it easier(possible), but you feel very exposed.

Still collecting photos from other folks on the trip. I'll try to put some up here soon.

Thread bump! I'm heading back to Lost Creek tomorrow. My brother is coming up from Texas and we're doing a three-night outing. We should have the place almost to ourselves getting out in the middle of the week.

Druidpeak wrote:

Norfair, that's probably the happiest little hiker I've seen in quite some time. Adorable!

Alas she didn't take to well to tents. There's a pretty decent campground within 15 miles of our house and we decided to try a night of camping there to introduce the young one. There were a few things against us.

First, it was hot, ungodly humid and completely still. It just made being out there completely uncomfortable.

Second, the little one really didn't like the tent at all. We spent an hour or two trying to calm her down and get her to sleep but alas we had to call it quits and head home.

On the plus side, a massive thunderstorm came through the next morning and knocked a bunch of trees over so in a way she saved us a bit.