OT-Backpacking
- Thread starter CERU00
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I go once or twice a year, mostly in the Adirondacks. I usually go alone and for only 48-72 hrs at a time. By that time I’m usually very tired and ready for some meaningful human contact. And a real shower.
Of course the principle on gear is only what you need and light as possible. The super lightweight gear has been really pricey for years but there’s some lower cost stuff coming out from REI and others. Last year I upgraded my lightweight tent and water filtration scheme. Very happy with both. I’ll dig up links if you’re interested.
Of course the principle on gear is only what you need and light as possible. The super lightweight gear has been really pricey for years but there’s some lower cost stuff coming out from REI and others. Last year I upgraded my lightweight tent and water filtration scheme. Very happy with both. I’ll dig up links if you’re interested.
Pack a Smith and Wesson Model 37 (.38spl) Airweight, or something larger.
.02
and, Go Cats !!
.02
and, Go Cats !!
The Appalachian Mountain Club (www.outdoors.org) & REI both hold classes. the AMC also hosts backpacking trips if you want to go with some more experienced people.
For someplace close, just a single night out (which is probably the best bet to start someone off) I would recommend either Harriman St park or the Delaware Water Gap. Both are big enough to feel like you're away from people (depending on the trail) and small enough that you can't get into too much trouble.
For someplace close, just a single night out (which is probably the best bet to start someone off) I would recommend either Harriman St park or the Delaware Water Gap. Both are big enough to feel like you're away from people (depending on the trail) and small enough that you can't get into too much trouble.
My two brothers go. They went backpacking with a group they connected with through the Internet. One of the hikers was a college professor from Princeton.
They both said she was the most beautiful woman they ever saw.
Just a public service announcement for the OP
They both said she was the most beautiful woman they ever saw.
Just a public service announcement for the OP
#1 Be aware of ticks everywhere.
#2 Cheap packs from Walmart are fine for kicking around. Don't need packs made from NASA material with titanium zippers made by elves in German forests
#3 I like Osprey packs for the pricey stuff. I like their 20L pack
#4 Every once counts and an extra 10 pounds can be dif between fun and misery
#5 The smart people who hike the furthest and the longest use ultralight gear
#2 Cheap packs from Walmart are fine for kicking around. Don't need packs made from NASA material with titanium zippers made by elves in German forests
#3 I like Osprey packs for the pricey stuff. I like their 20L pack
#4 Every once counts and an extra 10 pounds can be dif between fun and misery
#5 The smart people who hike the furthest and the longest use ultralight gear
Im already mostly finished with equipment... didnt go crazy but am trying to keep my base wt below 20lb. Still undecided about trekking poles. Will probably wait on those. Really liked Harriman 15 yrs ago but will likely head further south for some warmth in the spring. Most likely headed to the AT in Virginia for a 1 or 2 day trip. Anyone been on the AT down there?
I have bought a ton of equipment from REI. Highly recommend and definitely keep an eye on their clearance page.
Longest trip I ever went on was 60 plus miles in the Rockies. Boots are the most important thing you will ever buy. Trecking poles are a luxury I would never do without. It all depends on your knees. They do make a huge difference.
Harriman is really popular now as are other Hudson Valley hikes (Breakneck especially). There are also a lot more bears and timber rattlers.
I forgot to mention water filters. The Lifestraw is handy but Sawyer filter makes more water and is used a lot
Got a mini sawyer on sale. Im very happy that purchase. Also snagged an entry brand 55l pack reduced from $200 to $50.
1st time I went hiking with my new in laws was in the Adirondacks. Well the leader of our merry band was my father in law, a career MP in the Marines and now at 67 still does ruck pack races. Somehow I got stuck with all the ammo.(drinks and bars for the women and children)
At one point during the march up the Himalayan mountain he chose in order to capture the Guns of Navarone. I yelled at him, "Hey, Tom nice leisurely walk, didn't realize we were going to reenact the Bataan death march. O and I think you just killed your 10 year old grand daughter, she's got her head stuck in a mountain stream do to heat exhaustion." Next time they asked me I said no, that's OK have fun storming the mountain fortress.
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For retailers, in addition to the oft mentioned REI, also consider Eastern Mountain Sports for rentals (particularly if you want to try out some equipment before buying) and Campmor in Paramus for some great values.
Depending on your physical condition, consider taking it easy to start. One of my favorite gems for low impact 'backcountry' camping is Round Valley Reservoir. Hike out along the Cushetunk trail, rent one of the wilderness campsites which open in April. Set up camp along the shore and explore the area via day hikes.
If you're thinking of the AT in Virginia in the Spring, make sure you plan to go pretty early. It seems every year, the though-hikers manage to get north a little bit earlier. Maybe it's the warmer weather allowing them to get through the Georgia highlands earlier/quicker. Yeah, it's the granddaddy of trails, but I just don't have the same appreciation anymore for the AT now that it sometimes feels like a pedestrian expressway.
Depending on your physical condition, consider taking it easy to start. One of my favorite gems for low impact 'backcountry' camping is Round Valley Reservoir. Hike out along the Cushetunk trail, rent one of the wilderness campsites which open in April. Set up camp along the shore and explore the area via day hikes.
If you're thinking of the AT in Virginia in the Spring, make sure you plan to go pretty early. It seems every year, the though-hikers manage to get north a little bit earlier. Maybe it's the warmer weather allowing them to get through the Georgia highlands earlier/quicker. Yeah, it's the granddaddy of trails, but I just don't have the same appreciation anymore for the AT now that it sometimes feels like a pedestrian expressway.
Get to Campmore on Rt 17 in Paramus. Bought my pack there a long time ago for a summer in Europe and for all 3 of my sons (much more recently) for their summer in Europe. They have a great selection and good prices on everything backpacking/hiking related. Seeing and handling items before you buy is a real plus.
I definitely can vouch for trekking poles. You will be surprised how much they help. Taking just a little bit of pressure off your feet and knees will help tremendously with fatigue over a long hike and save your joints. They also help for stability. The lighter your pack the better. I used to hike with 45-50 lb packs when I was younger and it just made the experience miserable. In my mid 40s went to lightweight gear and trekking poles and its more pleasant than when I was young and in great shape.
Did the Mt Rogers area and Grayson Highlands in Virginia and that is a fantastic area to hike. Great views, wild horses, fun trails.
For those that don't know, the Appalachian Trail has a lot of miles in NJ. Up north,lots of great hiking,shelters,and views at Wawayanda,High Point,Stokes,Del Water Gap.There are several hiking books about places in New Jersey and lots of hiking,as well as canoeing and kayaking clubs. Also chgeck out the New Jersey State Parks website. CamdenLaw,lots of places in South Jersey Wharton Bass River The Glades Brendan Byrne.There is a group called the South Jersey Outdoors Group.Also check the Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club for outings. Also in I think Marlton there is an LL Bean and REI stores right near each other off Route 70. The folks who work in these stores are very friendly and know lots of places. The Glades is one of my favorite places. Very different environment than most people would see when they think of NJ.
By the way,PSEG has preserved thousands of acres in various areas along the Delaware Bay near towns that look like something you might see in Maine. Really nice trails and views and one is near the AJ Meerwald tall ship which folks can ride certain times of the year.
Thanks! L.L. Bean is in the Promenade shopping center, off Route 73 near Evesham Road. REI is right across the street, I think. Both are near me, but I just wanted to point out the correct road in case someone else might want to go to either. I know the Batona nature club is in the area, but they hike like they're trying to break land-speed records, at least by my standards. I once met one of their leaders who was doing a Learning Annex class, and he was totally unreasonable in a bunch of ways. I didn't know of the Outdoor group before. Thank you again for the suggestions.
Was into it through my 20's. Last summer I was an adult leader for a group of Boy Scouts that went on a 2 week trip in the southern Rockies. Amazing experience for the boys (a bit tougher on us old geezers). Gear has changed in the last 20 years--everything is smaller and lighter. We trained for 2 years before the trip out west. Lots of great hiking/backpacking in the east. AT in CT and Mass are both great. VT and NH are more difficult. High peaks region in the adirondacks (near lake placid) is pretty amazing. AT in Pennsylvania is the stretch where many north-bound thru-hikers call it quits. The trail is difficult on your feet (boulder to boulder), elevation changes quite a bit. It's known to eat boots.
I have been on the AT in Pa. I hiked part of it on my 50th birthday. I understand hikers call the state "Rocksylvania."
I go out to the western national parks every year for about two weeks (Arizona, Utah, Cali, etc.). It's a lot of planning and digging around for information and trail permits but well worth it at the end. I'd be happy to help with any questions.
I did a stretch at Sunfish pond in NJ. The trails was just a path of boulders... not going back there.
Share gear. Not everyone needs a water filter and cooking gear. Get Leukotape for blisters, but more importantly make sure your boots fit. Don’t wear brand new boots. Google the tape - you won’t be sorry. Get a down sleeping bag and jacket. No warmer material for the weight. Blow up sleeping pad and blow up seat cushion. Sitting on rocks and the ground sucks after awhile. Must have rain gear.
My preference is an outer frame backpack - have a Keilty - you can tie and hang stuff on the outside frame. Minimize outer clothing that you bring but don’t skimp on clean underwear and socks.
My preference is an outer frame backpack - have a Keilty - you can tie and hang stuff on the outside frame. Minimize outer clothing that you bring but don’t skimp on clean underwear and socks.
I’ve hiked the AT around here several times. My most memorable journey was walking all of NJ (wawayanda to Del River Gap). I think it was 5 nights. I encountered rattlesnakes and black bears. NJ is known for its many bears on the AT.
Why not consider “walking across NJ” on the AT. It’s a better memory and accomplishment to know that you walked the entire state. I’ve also walked all of the AT in NY, all the way up to Bear Mtn and over to Connecticut. My elusive goal is to walk the entire AT, state by state.
Trecking poles are a must, btw. Water filtration system too. I added a little tang to my water bags just to have some taste and extra energy. It was worth the extra powder weight. Consider a “jetboil” system for morning oatmeal/coffee. I also liked having a hot lunch of ramen noddles so the jetboil system was needed. You can’t have an open camp fire in most places around here.
The trail guides and maps for the AT are wonderful and all you’ll need. Do some 10-12 mile hikes with full pack to get in shape before you go. If you hike in the summer, put your phone in a baggie with some rice so it doesn’t die from the humidity like mine did.
Why not consider “walking across NJ” on the AT. It’s a better memory and accomplishment to know that you walked the entire state. I’ve also walked all of the AT in NY, all the way up to Bear Mtn and over to Connecticut. My elusive goal is to walk the entire AT, state by state.
Trecking poles are a must, btw. Water filtration system too. I added a little tang to my water bags just to have some taste and extra energy. It was worth the extra powder weight. Consider a “jetboil” system for morning oatmeal/coffee. I also liked having a hot lunch of ramen noddles so the jetboil system was needed. You can’t have an open camp fire in most places around here.
The trail guides and maps for the AT are wonderful and all you’ll need. Do some 10-12 mile hikes with full pack to get in shape before you go. If you hike in the summer, put your phone in a baggie with some rice so it doesn’t die from the humidity like mine did.
Lol. From the Watergap to Sunfish pond is pretty much like all of Pennsylvania (it's just across the river). When it rains it's like wading upstream. It gets better the further you get from Pennsylvania. I was impressed with the condition of the trails in CT and Mass. Vermont was nice too, but there are more changes in elevation. We did a 5 day trip near Killington a couple years back and were among a large group of thruhikers. It was pretty cool -- like a nomadic village traveling north for 6 months. Not a one of them had a nice thing to say about Pennsylvania (kinda like this site
). As for optional gear that I added as I've gotten older: trekking poles and a seat. Sawyer filters and jetboil stoves/pots are nice innovations in gear.
Mini Sawyers are prone to clogging and are slow. Opt for the regular size. Aquamira drops are a great alternative or as backup.
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Hiked for many years. My fav carry in bear country is a Model 66 .357 with 180 grain corecast. Never had to use it... on a bear.
Another vote here for the trekking poles. They make a big difference. Just got back into backpacking a couple years ago. Have done the AT from Wind Gap in PA all the way through NJ to the Hudson River up near West Point, broken up into 2 or 3 day hikes. One suggestion would make is for footwear to look into Trail Runners. Light weight, great traction and comfortable. Also, when get wet, they dry off quickly.
I swear by trail runners as well. Makes for a more comfortable hike, in my opinion.
Come on out to the Great State of Washington. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is just out side of Wenatchee and contains an area called The Enchantments. Day hikes and longer trips are plentiful and enjoyed by hikers from around the world. "Broken in" quality boots will prevent blisters and give support for the 3 to 5 thousand feet of elevation gain encountered.
Agreed. REI and Sports Basement out west are great with helping select AND fit gear. Gear fit, especially for backpack and shoes, is critical to making your trips enjoyable. After that it is lightweight, but durable clothing and gear. We try to keep under 40 lbs total (incl food and water) for 2-3 days.
I've read quotes from a 1980s Swiss army study that showed average degradation of 20% in balance and time at pack weight of 10% of body weight. Im not a big guy so I am already counting ounces... going with a hammock rather than a tent for comfort but which will also work in my favor on weight..