FamilySherpa
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Tangled up in Rhododendron
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Post by FamilySherpa on Jan 18, 2016 5:34:22 GMT -8
I never drink alcohol "on the trail", but occasionally at camp.
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jazzmom
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a.k.a. TigerFan
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Post by jazzmom on Jan 18, 2016 6:04:28 GMT -8
I don't want to drink enough to put in the extra work out to carry the extra X-lb to carry the alcohol. But if someone else carries it in and offers me a drink..
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Post by hikerjer on Jan 18, 2016 6:08:44 GMT -8
are indistinguishable from the real stuff (as far as I've heard). You've heard wrong. There is a definite difference in taste.
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Post by trinity on Jan 18, 2016 6:11:52 GMT -8
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Jan 18, 2016 6:41:38 GMT -8
I don't understand your questions, Lonewolf. First, non-alcoholic versions most definitely do not taste the same. Second, I don't think anyone has said that they don't drink alcohol for "the effect." A lot of people said they don't want to be drunk, etc. Alcohol, like caffeine and many other things, has a pleasant effect (for most people) in smaller quantities, but less pleasant (and potentially harmful) in larger quantities. Many folks find a small amount of alcohol helps them to relax. I guess hat may actually be the key to why I never take alcohol BPing--there is literally no where on earth that I am more relaxed than I am at camp after a day of hiking, so I really don't need any help. Now, at home after a long day at work might be a completely different story. Cweston nailed it pretty well, I think. Your responses here, Lonewolf, kind of beg the question of why you bother to ask questions in first place. I had to scratch my head and wonder where you got your points, as they bore little semblance to what anyone actually said.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Jan 18, 2016 6:50:27 GMT -8
I've been known to pack/drink some Dr. McGillicuddy on winter hikes. You know, to stave off the flu.
And I enjoy sipping different scotches / whiskeys at the Backpacker get-togethers.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Jan 18, 2016 7:26:32 GMT -8
Virtually all alcoholic beverages are available in non-alcoholic versions and are indistinguishable from the real stuff (as far as I've heard). You'll have to check your sources; they're lying to you. One of the first items in the food bag when packing is my small hip flask topped with good rye (Canadian whiskey). I don't rely on the 'effects' of alcohol to help relax as simply being in the bush is relaxing in and of itself. There is a simple pleasure in enjoying a finger or so of nice whiskey at the end of the day much the same way one would enjoy sketching, reading a book, or simply soaking in nature -- things which can be enjoyed while sipping the drink. Outside of that I have nary a drink; perhaps a lone ale every second week or so.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Jan 18, 2016 7:38:48 GMT -8
Since no one is taking the stuff for the effect (or admits to it anyway) Baloney
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Jan 18, 2016 8:01:01 GMT -8
"I have made what I consider to be a superior decision and now implore you to defend your decision to do things differently"
hyoh imo
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jan 18, 2016 8:41:39 GMT -8
So.... Since no one is taking the stuff for the effect (or admits to it anyway) I take it for the taste and the effect. I just don't want to get hammered. A beer is enough to relax me. Same goes for sipping on Whiskey or Peppermint Schnapps in my cocoa.
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Post by williamh4 on Jan 18, 2016 8:49:55 GMT -8
The only time I've ever come across alcohol being abused in the backcountry is with horse packers. But then they abuse a lot of things, IMO. Oh man--don't even get me started. The amount of trash I've packed out from horse camps. I don't understand it at all, since they (the humans) are not even the ones who would have to carry it out. It's a shame some lazy ******* would do that! I suppose you can't go anywhere in the world without finding someone's trash.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 18, 2016 9:22:05 GMT -8
I have to admit that there are few things I enjoy more after a long hike or hard day of skiing than a cold beer. It's true that after a hike on a hot day is about the only time I like a beer. Too bad that's not practical when backpacking But when we go to the desert, especially with my in-laws, I enjoy sharing a beer with my Father in Law when we get back to camp (what a pair of hard drinkers--we split a single bottle). For Lonewolf, I'm not much of a drinker, but I know the difference between enjoying the effects of a little alcohol and getting hammered (in theory, if not in practice). Sounds like most people here enjoy the former, but not the latter. Since most of us are out of our 20s, that makes sense.
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Jan 18, 2016 9:29:59 GMT -8
Funny story of hiking with alcoholics. Note for you young folk, unlike in this era drinking alcohol was much more acceptable decades ago in all matter of society. Just think of all the movies and old tv shows where people are often seen drinking and smoking. As for young people's attitudes of that day consider how popular the classic Animal House flick was. In fact in our culture getting people to stop drinking while driving was as difficult as getting people to stop smoking so took many years.
Back in the 80s did an easy July 4 backpack of about 5 miles and about 1200 feet, one day out and back with a layover with 2 others who I knew to be chronic beer drinkers. Being a short leisurely trip, I didn't bother to suggest they not bring beer as they were rather hopeless and that would only have started a bad vibe. The hike went well though they seemed less in shape than expected so we had to stop a lot but eventually arrived about noon. Even though I thought I was carrying the heaviest pack as usual due to my camera gear despite their being large guys, that was not in fact true. Our camp spot was along a snow melt raging creek well off a trail. A bit after each one of us set up our tents and gear, I wandered down to a nearby section of stream where the two were completing construction of a rock corral at the edge of the creek at one of the only sections that was shallow. So a little rock wall poking up above the water that they'd spent about an hour laboriously scouring the local granite bedrock for loose rocks much like someone building an extra large fireplace. Into the corral went a whole half case 12-pack of 16 ouncers bobbing about on the surface! So they had carried up an extra 6 pounds each of fluid.
After they'd enjoyed eliminating contents of one of their cans, the 3 of us went off a bit upstream for maybe 2 or 3 hours of fishing. That turned out to be rather futile in the raging whitewater but we had a good time laughing as one of the guys kept casting lures into trees including a few back to back. We returned to camp and shortly I hear a bunch of yelling down at the creek. Looking down in their corral are only a couple beers as the rest had escaped because during the day the sun had melted more snow higher up in the drainage, raising the level of the creek over the level of their rock barriers.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Jan 18, 2016 10:14:56 GMT -8
Since most of us are out of our 20s, that makes sense "You tell me that's it's evolution" I carried a six-pack of Budweiser on my very first, authentic backpacking trip. When packed in my Boy Scout Haversack, the cans were very uncomfortable, not to mention the Dinty Moore Beef Stew. In that first summer of hiking White Mountain 4,000 footers we evolved to a pre-hike strategy of placing our beer cache in a cold mountain stream at the hike exit point. This worked well as a hiking incentive. Since that first summer way back when, have packed a Jack Daniel's mini-bottle on a handful of occasions.
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desert dweller
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Post by desert dweller on Jan 18, 2016 10:22:29 GMT -8
If I remember, I'll bring along a hipflask about half filled with Drambuie or Tuaca. The stuff is too sweet to drink enough to get a buzz. I just like the warm feeling as I sip it on a cold night. Having said that, I did cache 4 cans of beer on my last long hike. The after breakfast buzz was nice and made for good start to the day.
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