rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 15, 2015 8:04:21 GMT -8
This year has been pricey after a long break on spending. I bought the middle kid his backpacking pack, and the youngest needs one next. They also got sleeping bags and other items, like new coats. Just instead of one growing, it is 2 growing.... Maybe check in with Ponderosa? Her kids should be outgrowing some stuff about now, though they are maybe too much older than yours? We don't seem to have so many hikers with kids around here as we used to (well, those kids seem to have grown up, but I'm hoping we'll get more new ones in--there are a couple of people participating in that forum now).
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 15, 2015 8:08:44 GMT -8
And that's an excellent point about the costs of backpacking vs. traditional vacations. We realized that even when we did our most expensive trips (excluding foreign travel), like flying to Texas and exploring Big Bend, including an overnight catered raft trip, we still spent less than a trip to Disneyworld. One hotel (on arrival, because we missed our flight and got in too late to pick up the gear we'd shipped ahead), air fare, a rental van, and a raft trip...IIRC the whole thing was under $3500, for a family of 4 (in 2007).
This summer, 7 days in the Sierra, and it cost us gas plus $37.50 for a campsite the night before and our permits. Food runs slightly more expensive than at home, but not too much, because I make it myself.
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amaruq
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Call me Little Spoon
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Post by amaruq on Dec 15, 2015 11:46:00 GMT -8
Hmm, while I could quickly look it up in the spreadsheet, I'm going to avoid that.
I can say that of all my hobbies' related gear, my drum kit is the most expensive. Then ice climbing. Then backpacking.
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RedDoug
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Trail active, stand back.....
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Post by RedDoug on Dec 15, 2015 12:09:59 GMT -8
No longer do I worry about the cost. I have multiple tents (1, 2 and 3 person) a hammock, multiple bags for different temps etc. Roger, you inspire me to take a look at a hammock. I have tried everything else. I never tried a hammock. Yet.
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 15, 2015 12:20:54 GMT -8
Roger, you inspire me to take a look at a hammock. I have tried everything else. I never tried a hammock. Yet. I am a hammock camper and I would have to lose a fight multiple times to go back to a tent except for specific times.
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Post by tipiwalter on Dec 15, 2015 12:49:08 GMT -8
I just got back from a 17 day backpacking trip into the Citico wilderness of TN. Money spent during trip? Zero. Backpacking is one of the cheapest lifestyles out there, and you can even go Dirtbag if you want---Carry all junk gear and cheap crap and still get hundreds of bag nights a year. We all started out this way, or least those of us who starting backpacking in the 1950's.
When getting out is more important than not, well, we'll use whatever it takes---army wool blankets, pile of dead leaves for sleeping pads, throwaway yard sale wool tops and pants, cheap ski gloves, etc. You can even carry your gear in a duffel bag.
As far as bag nights, let me count up 2015: Okay, it's 178.
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sarbar
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After being here since 2001...I couldn't say goodbye yet!
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Post by sarbar on Dec 15, 2015 14:47:32 GMT -8
So...this year I had the chance to take the kids to Disneyworld. I had been invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Conference, which is a huge thing for certain niches of bloggers. We went "cheap" using miles for 5 tickets to fly across the US, stayed first night for free at a Marriot property (we got in late) with points. No car needed, got on the Magical Express bus at the airport - it takes you to your hotel at Disney for free. The whole conference set me back $1200 (basically I had to cough up to cover my hotel room, had it just been me going, I'd have dropped $600). With it we had a high end room in the Yacht Club, most meals and had media passes in the parks. It also included parties and things like the front row dessert fireworks in Epcot. Now then...here is just how expensive a holiday with your kids can be at Disney: The hotel we stayed at we were given a room with a full lake view, over the boardwalk. It runs around $570 a night. A NIGHT. We stayed there 3 nights. At $1200 spent total..... Now tickets. As non-residents, the prices are NOT cheap. We were given 5 7-day passes with park hopper options (meaning you can go into any park, any day), along with a complimentary Memory Maker (where staff photographers take shots of you). The cost for this? $2,231 And our tickets I mentioned were media passes. This meant we got to go to the fast pass lane all the time. Normally you get 3 fast pass options that you have to set up online or at a kiosk. Nope. Just walk up and cruise by. That was priceless. So without plane tickets nor meals....we would have been up to nearly $4,000. That dessert party at the fireworks would have cost us $200 for our family of 5. It is very easy to see how a family of 5 can drop $7,000 on a week long trip to Disneyworld. I was eternally grateful though, because in the end with miles and points from Kirk's business travel and a sweet deal for my blogging...I got to take all 3 kids on a very fun trip PS: This is Walker on the pro video they gave me, of him on the 7 Dwarves Mine ride.
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greno
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Post by greno on Dec 15, 2015 16:10:17 GMT -8
We typically spend 1500 to 2000 on airfare to get anywhere out west from the southeast for our family of four. Rental car is usually $500. All of our camping stuff fits in 2 duffle bags and we ship food or carry on. Any national park trip for us is usually around 3K for a week. Public transportation doesn't work great due to the time required. It is a solid day each way to Yosemite from San Francisco or a 3 hour drive in a rental car that unfortunately stays parked, but you pay for convenience.
Vacations are just too expensive, but we have taken the kids to Disney four times (we can drive in 7 hours) and we are all over that.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 15, 2015 22:29:57 GMT -8
Wow, Sarbar! I think that might make Disneyland more expensive than our Peru trip, with 3 weeks of catered backpacking and 10 or so nights in hotels, plus plane fares, etc (more expensive per week, I mean).
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sarbar
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After being here since 2001...I couldn't say goodbye yet!
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Post by sarbar on Dec 16, 2015 7:19:23 GMT -8
I know! Crazy, right? When I priced it all out, before I decided to take the trip I was floored. How does an average family afford this (OK, they don't stay at one of the priciest hotels in the park I am sure) but you'd need to save up and scrimp, and forgo other trips. Kirk and I were having fun...but I'll take a trip to say Moab for a week where we rent an entire duplex house for say $125 a night off season and cook most nights!
The other bonus is most of our outdoor trips are not 98% humidity and 95* out :D
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idahobob
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many are cold, but few are frozen
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Post by idahobob on Dec 17, 2015 9:36:43 GMT -8
Backpacking is so cheap compared to many hobbies, that its a bargain. If I was into motorcycles, travel trailers, pickups, serious fishing (requires a boat and pickup) 4 wheeling, snowmobiling, ocean voyages, hang gliding, flying airplanes, sail planes, even serious photography, etc, the cost would be much more than backpacking. The scoutmaster of our troop bought a 4 wheel truck for $80,000, and put another $90,000 into it, to make it a deluxe ride. Compared to that backpacking is laughably cheap.
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