Camper Carl
Van Nuys, Calif.
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Joined: 10/07/2003
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Hi All,
Just wanted to know if there is anyone here who love to back pack? I haven't packed in since I have been 17 or so. We are going on a 5 mile warm up tomorrow morning. Then in 2 months we are going to hike up to Number Lakes in the Eastern Sierra's. We are going in August so I will have a couple of months to get into shape. This is going to be with a few kids from my buddy's church group, so being one of the "old guys" on the trail, I need to be there for these kids.....   Anyway, does anyone here do this all the time? Any input would be very very helpful. Thanks in advance......
Carl
If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of
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2007 campouts: 2
Days: 6
Miles Towed: 475
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laine34
Temecula, CA
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Joined: 05/15/2005
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My parents took me on many backpacking trips!!!!!!!!! My first was at the age of five!! What made it fun for me was having my own pack (even if did not hold much), trail mix with m&m's and lemondrops added  , and STORIES to get me through the hard parts. See this link for ideas.click here Someone passed it on to me(Dale I think)Have fun!!
Enjoying God's Gift...Nature
Proverbs 3:5,6
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weasel4
Alberta
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Joined: 07/06/2003
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Camper Carl
There's a guy out of Calgary that is probably rethinking his backpacking/hiking life today.
He crossed momma grizzly and her cub yesterday, got bit on the arm and swatted around a bit. Fortunately he's ok.
BTC
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
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TURK2500
USA
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Joined: 04/12/2005
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I've been backpacking on and off for thirty years. My son and I found it a great way to "disconnect" from the pressures of daily life, and to this day we talk about these past trips. We also backpacked Joshua Tree, California, while my son was serving in the Marine Corps.
I now use my TT as a base camp, and depending where I'm camping I will hit the trails for days.
Backpacking with a group will be challenge. My advice: preparation, preparation, and more preparation. Your five mile hike is good, but you should plan a weekend hike to prove out your gear and food allowances. Learn to pack as "lite" as possible. With a group you can "share the load" so that everyone earns that meal at the end of the day. When my son and I went backpacking for a week, we averaged 36lbs each when he was 16 years old.
Understand the conditions of the area that you are going to hike. Plan ahead on how to handle bad weather, and/or injuries. Plan to carry an extra day's worth of food to cover for emergencies. Leave behind your route plans with someone back home, and don't deviate from your planned route!
Have a rough itinerary for each day (ie, targeted campsite location, etc.). I would figure that I would hike 2mph on flat terrain, and 1mph on rough and hilly terrain. WATER, WATER, WATER! On rough terrain and hot days I would figure on consuming about a quart of water an hour. Know where and how safe your water sources are.
I just touched on a few items worth consideration, if you have any specific questions feel free to PM me.
Enjoy! 
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Camper Carl
Van Nuys, Calif.
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Joined: 10/07/2003
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Hi All,
Thank you so much for your reply's. We just got back from our morning hike. I feel great. My pack was up to 28 lbs, without my food. I did pack some clothes with me so I could get up to a regular weight. Anyway, we didn't see any bears this time. There is still a lot of snow on the ground here, that's why we are coming up in August to do the real back packing. Well time to eat a little something, get into the shower and then hit the road. Long drive back today, and check out time here is 1pm. Thanks again all. have a nice day off. be safe...........
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dagger4
Colorado
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Joined: 02/20/2004
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Stay together, travel only as fast as the slowest member. Check the weather beforehand but be prepared for the extremes. Check on wildlife alerts for the area you will be taking them and ensure all know what to do in possible scenarios. Avoid having to carry all your water by buying/borrowing a good filter.
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Traildust
Fallon, Nevada
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Joined: 02/06/2002
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My Wife and I have been backpacking over 30 years now. I have to admit we don't cover the distance like we used to but we still get out on the trail several times a Summer. Like pointed out already, get a good water filter cause water is heavy and if your going on a two or three day hike, it's to heavy. Know where the streams and creeks will be on your trail and then don't plan on them all having water late in the Summer. Become educated on Altitude Sickness, it can sneak up on your even as low as 7000 feet. We have hiked parts of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) John Muir Trail (JMT) lots of Yosemite and Sequoia. Also have done Wheeler Peak and Boundry Peak in NV. both over 13,000 feet ASL. There is nothing like a night out under the stars at 10,000 feet, looking up you almost feel like your falling up! Only had a problem with Bears once, that was at Little Yosemite Valley several years ago. We were on our way back from doing the cables at Half Dome and decided to spend the night there. Four different Bears formed sort of a tag team and kept everyone at the camp up almost all night. All food was properly stowed, these guys just wanted to harrass us was all. If your ever in Yosemite Valley or up at Glacier Point and you see a sign that says 4 mile trail to or from either, be very aware it's almost straight up!  Switchbacks all the way.
My user name Traildust comes from a particularlly long windy, dusty trail in late August. I made it one word as the dust and I that day were as one. 
Good Luck and Enjoy.
Traildust
* This post was
edited 06/05/05 02:24am by Traildust *
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dcairns
Orange, CA
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Joined: 05/05/2005
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When you go hiking up there, Say "Hi" to Lon Chaney for me. The actors old cabin is along the trail up there.
Looking down from the edge of the Palisade Glacier:
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Opie431
Bellevue, MI
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Joined: 06/19/2004
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My husband and I backpack at least once a year. We should have started before we were over 60 but we had gotten away from camping for over 30 years.
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retiredtraveler
Woodstock Il --- GO HIKING!!!!
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Joined: 08/16/2002
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We've never packed, but have taken almost nothing but day-hiking vacations for 30 years and have over 3000 miles of hiking just on vacations.
I assume you know the basics: proper footwear, out clothing (no cotton --- all synthetic), first aid gear (especially stuff for blisters), knee braces (we carry them all the time in case we overdo our knees), proper pack and wearing it so weight is properly distributed, food, water, all that has been mentioned. There are lots of primers on packing that you can find in the library or online to remind you of the more important things.
Just a thing about water as this pertains to day hiking too. NO water is safe. It doesn't matter if you can see the glacier the water has melted from. There can be a dead, rotting, animal anywhere between the water source and you. You have to disinfect ALL water.
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25 years tent camping, 4000+ miles of hiking, lots of biking
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