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Post by bradmacmt on Mar 24, 2020 6:04:09 GMT -8
Would it be a reasonable and prudent thing to do, at that point, to travel to another state in order to backpack? Seems to me, if you drive and pack your own food you don't have to interact with anyone. Pump your own gas, don't buy anything face to face, park your vehicle and begin walking in an isolated world. Depending where you go, I think it can be perfectly responsible. As to timing, I think it will become somewhat self-evident in time.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Mar 24, 2020 7:50:32 GMT -8
Regarding simply the travel part I’m reading some of the small recreation towns such as Moab are restricting gasoline sales to residents only so unreliable fueling opportunities could impact a trip.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Mar 24, 2020 8:36:18 GMT -8
Well from an individual's perspective, that question varies greatly depending on some of the same things we now have for just going outside. Among those quickly brain stormed from an obvious longer list:
Where does one live? What are your regional hiking/backpacking opportunities? What kind of travel would be required? Where are you considering going to do so over the range of thru trails, to popular trails, to remote trails? Will it be a group trip or solo?
Will your trip have any significant dangers above average hiking/backpacking that could require SAR? How experienced are you at the level of your planned trip? How important is hiking/backpacking in your life? How much flexibility do you have in pushing a trip back to possibly safer times?
Do you have dependents that would be exposed if you become infected? How is the virus situation in your region in that future time? Are hospitals in the resort region you are considering already taxed due to the virus? Did you catch the virus and recover so now have some level of immunity? Do have other medical issues that make possibly catching the virus especially dangerous?
Also bearing on all of we enthusiasts is social responsibilities by example of doing the right thing regardless of experience. Reality is there is a great range of skills, experience, and wisdom. What is dangerous for one person may be trivial for another. Should all of us practice the same level of inactivity regardless of experience or skills? Is it the proper thing to do if it encourages the less experienced, less skilled, less wise to do so too? What if the experienced, skilled, don't advertise on public media what they are doing and rather quietly do whatever?
Personally I'm strongly confident I can engage in a number of outdoor activities that average others, much less Homer Simpsons, might create issues doing. And am also aware that significant numbers of the less experienced, less skilled will not look favorably on those beyond their level doing so as though that entitles them to more freedom while they enviously suffer because of their own shortcomings.
In the near term am I going to be content to for the next 2 or 3 months to just go outside walking about during the day a bit in local urban neighborhoods even though the current shelter in place order is not so rigid? Are people with experience going to be content at that level even after a couple weeks or more of doing so?
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Mar 24, 2020 14:43:59 GMT -8
Think that’ll be a decision made at the top. A number of states have stay at home orders but allow solo trips for exercise (would think a couple in a car would be ok as most cohabitate anyways).
However a return to work/normalcy order could be implemented Easter 4/12 (see TPA - no desire to get into it here) .. and with all the extra car traffic (gas stops, restaurants, bathroom breaks, etc..), buying stuff for Easter, and religious services tentatively scheduled, ... may as well hike. I’ll do my part to stay solo or just coupled up, but jeez..
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Post by hikerjer on Mar 24, 2020 15:57:25 GMT -8
As soon as the weather clears up around here - hopefully this weekend - I'm heading out on a solo overnighter. The state's not under lock down yet so it's legal. I'm going to an isolated area where I'm 95% sure I won't run into a sole. Easy drive from home requiring no stops coming or going. Just me and my dog and the great Big Sky. Gotta do something to stay sane.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Mar 24, 2020 16:19:25 GMT -8
Yes. I think at the moment my range for selection once the stay at home lifts for my county would be ~40% or less of a tank of fuel so I wouldn't have to rely/deplete any local stations.That's about 150 miles out with a safety factor. Fortunately that reaches a lot of interesting springtime destinations.
Somewhat echoing my earlier post.
Meanwhile I can vicariously relive some of my previous trips as Apple Photos does this fun "Memories" thing where some algorithm gremlin sorts through my photos and picks out a bunch to stitch into a Burns type 1 to 6 minute movie (stills that are blended through fades and shifts into a seamless video). It does a surprisingly decent job, I haven't compared it to the set it's selecting from to see how many gems it's missed, but the ones it selects aren't stinkers, and they're there believe me as I shoot a lot.
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balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Mar 25, 2020 12:12:14 GMT -8
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Mar 25, 2020 14:03:30 GMT -8
They’ve already had at least one case, but apparently there was a deluge of traffic just south at Bishop when all the universities released Spring Breakers at the same time inundating that town (and all those around it). rockandice.com/climbing-news/bishop-shuts-down/Imagine they got a bunch of spring break skiers too. I can see the vulnerability but they cater to tourists during flu season. That said, they should support more bike trails in the LA and SF areas so fewer feel like they need to get away when the next virus scare pops up.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Mar 25, 2020 15:30:32 GMT -8
Just remember that if you can justify driving somewhere that's clearly outside of your community to hike, it means everyone is entitled to do the same or whatever they feel is comparable to "hiking". Some of these things will mostly likely to be inappropriate and many will not be as self-sufficient as they're supposed to be.
Ultimately, whatever is "allowed", you have to prepare for the worst case scenario. It sucks, but it seems to be how we operate. :(
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Post by hikerchick395 on Mar 25, 2020 16:12:32 GMT -8
Four positive Mammoth (Mono County) cases. Two are now in Reno in critical condition. One occupying one of Mammoth Hospital's 17 beds.
And, ugh, the news I've been dreading. One positive case in Inyo County, presumably from Bishop.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Mar 25, 2020 20:28:52 GMT -8
Another thing Dr Fauci brings up is travel will likely lead to an uptick in cases again (note: China will be observed first as they recovered first, so not picking on any nation here). Something I heard on some business television with biotechnology CEOs .. USA-TODAY Dr Fauci warns of imported casesSo this virus may bounce back and forth until a vaccine is distributed.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Mar 25, 2020 21:17:22 GMT -8
Seems to me, if you drive and pack your own food you don't have to interact with anyone. Pump your own gas, don't buy anything face to face, park your vehicle and begin walking in an isolated world. Depending where you go, I think it can be perfectly responsible. That's my plan. Car camp, day hikes, overnight loop hikes in a remote area. Waiting for day 15 of my self-imposed man cave sequester ending March 30th. Then need a wee bit of spring weather, for final consideration and a go/no go decision. Take a road like this...To a trail less mountain range
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Post by dayhiker on Mar 26, 2020 17:28:48 GMT -8
They are already canceling tickets to shows here in August
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Mar 27, 2020 5:20:18 GMT -8
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Mar 27, 2020 6:46:15 GMT -8
A presumably fit 65 year old climber, plus trekking and river guide, Michalis Tsoukias (who guided clients up Everest in the past) died in Greece of COVID 19. Kind of puts things in a little more perspective. This thing is dangerous but then it’s like time to do some low-risk bucket list stuff: gearjunkie.com/greek-climber-michalis-tsoukias-dies-coronavirus
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